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Biographies for all names have not been completed yet.
CHARLES LESTER RAGER,
Pg 619
Charles Lester Rager, who has
had a varied career in the business world,
is at the present time engaged in agricultural
pursuits in Little Beaver Township,
Lawrence County, Pennsylvania, where he
owns a valuable tract of fifty-six acres.
He was born at Enon Valley, November
11, 1873, is a son of James C. and Cynthia
(Murbarger) Rager, and a grandson of
James Rager, who, with his wife, located
in Beaver County, Pennsylvania, at an
early date, having moved from Westmoreland
County.
James C. Rager, father of Charles Lester,
was born in Apollo, Armstrong
County, Pennsylvania, and when one year
old moved to New Brighton and was there
reared to manhood. At the early age of
twelve years he began the battle of earning
a livelihood, his connection with the
Pennsylvania Railroad Company beginning
at that time and continuing down to
the present. He moved to Enon Valley in
1872, and has since run on the Pittsburg,
Fort Wayne and Chicago branch of that
road, at the present time running a wrecking
train. He was united in marriage with
Cynthia Murbarger, and ten children were
born to them, namely: George W., an engineer
on the main line of the Pennsylvania
Railroad; Charles Lester; Margaret,
wife of L. H. Caskey; Leonore, wife
of E. E. Green; Susan; Wynn; Jean, wife
of Thomas L. Lynch; J. Verner; Walter;
and Gayle.
Charles L. Rager spent his boyhood
days in Enon Valley, attended the public
schools there and at New Brighton, and
the Piersoll Academy at West Bridgewater.
At the age of thirteen years he
struck out for himself, being employed at
setting up machinery by the Piano Machine
Company, for a couple of years. He
then learned the trade of a boilermaker
in the shops of the Pennsylvania Railroad
at Allegheny, continuing there for five
years. He then entered the railroad mail
service, in the employ of the Government,
and during the three years he served as
such, worked in every State south of the
Ohio River, except three. He next was
employed three years as assistant postmaster
of the village of Enon Valley,
which he relinquished at the time he moved
to his present farm. This farm was settled
by the Sproatts as early as 1789, being
the first settled in this part of the
county, and the log house originally built
on the place stood until the summer of
1904, when it was torn down. The west
branch of the Little Beaver passes through
the place, giving an excellent water supply
for stock, and it is otherwise well improved.
He has followed general farming
and has been very successful in this as in
other business employments.
October 15, 1902, Mr. Rager was married
to Miss Charity L. Martin, a daughter
of A. L. Martin, deputy secretary of Agriculture
and director of Institutes for the
State of Pennsylvania. Mrs. Rager is a
stockholder in the Enon Valley Telephone
Company. Politically, Mr. Rager is a Republican,
and three times served as judge
of elections. He is at the present a member
of the Republican County Committee,
and is a very active worker for party success.
LAWRENCE S. RANDOLPH
Pg 697
Lawrence S. Randolph, a prominent
grocery merchant of Ellwood City,
was born on his father's farm on Yellow
Creek, near Portersville, Butler County,
Pennsylvania, and is a son of J. V. and
Ann (Smith) Randolph.
J. V. Randolph, father of Lawrence S.,
was also born in Butler County, and remained
there until this son was seven
years old, when he moved to Coitsville
Township, Mahoning County, Ohio, where
he remained for eight years. He then purchased
a farm at Robinson's Crossing,
which is still in the possession of the family,
and resided there until his death. He
married Ann Smith, who was born in Ashland
County, Ohio, and they had the following
children: Maggie Irene, who is the
wife of McClelland Carpenter, residing at
New Castle; Sarah Emma, ummarried, resides
at Ellwood City; Lawrence S., of
Ellwood City; Clara Jane, who is the wife
of Warren Thompson, residing at Pittsburg;
William, who died aged two years;
Annie M , who is the wife of A. A. Galbraith,
of Rodgers, Ohio; Elizabeth M.,
who is a teacher in the public schools of
Ellwood City; and Nettie Zenia, who died
one year after her marriage to James Potter,
residing at Volant, Pa. The paternal
grandfather of this family was Job Randolph,
who was one of the early settlers of
Butler County.
From the age of seven to fifteen years,
Lawrence S. Randolph lived in Ohio, and
then came to Lawrence County and lived
on a farm in Mahoning Township until his
marriage, in 1889. He engaged in teaching
for some fifteen years in Lawrence
County, and the greater part of this period
was passed in Mahoning Township. In
1897 he came to Ellwood City and started
in the grocery business, renting an appropriate
building for a time, but later bought
three lots, and subsequently erected his
handsome residence on the corner of
Fourth and Franklin Streets. In 1907 he
built his store building, a commodious
structure, 24 by 60 feet in dimensions, with
pressed brick front. Here he carries a
large and well selected stock of both staple
and fancy groceries, and has built up a
very satisfactory business.
In 1889 Mr. Randolph was married to
Miss Duira A. McGraw, who is a daughter
of John and Ellen (Cole) McGraw, farming
people, near Hillsville, where Mrs. Randolph
was reared. Mr. and Mrs. Randolph
have two bright, intelligent young
sons, who are making records for scholarship
in the public schools: Lloyd Leverne,
who was born June 3, 1892; and James
Wilbur, who was born in 1895. Mr. and
Mrs. Randolph are members of the United
Presbyterian Church. He is a Republican
in his political convictions, is a strong
temperance man and a citizen who is ever
ready and willing to promote the general
welfare of the city by encouraging public
enterprises.
JAMES A. RANEY
Pg 710
James A. Raney, manager and one
of the proprietors of the Shenango Roller
Mills of Mahoningtown, has been established
in this business at this point since
1875. He was born in Lawrence County,
just above Edenburg, August 26, 1843, and
is a son of John D. and Jane (Park) Raney.
For some years the father of Mr. Raney
engaged in milling, owning a mill near
Edenburg, but in 1859 he removed to
Youngstown, Ohio, where he embarked in
a dry goods business. He became a man
of prominence there, and served for two
terms as mayor of that city.
James A. Raney was thirteen years of
age when his parents located at Youngstown,
and after that he was employed during
the summer seasons for several years
in the mill situated at the foot of Champion
Street, and went to school during the
winters. This mill was owned by his two
older brothers, Bostic and Almon Raney.
In 1864, James A. Raney enlisted for service
in the Civil War, entering Company I,
One Hundred and Fifty-fifth Regiment,
Ohio Volunteer Infantry, in which he
served four months. When he returned to
Youngstown, he resumed work in the mill,
and continued there until he came to Mahoningtown,
in 1875. The Shenango Roller
Mill was built by Mr. Raney 's uncle,
James Raney, who was a miller and millwright
in Lawrence County for sixty years
and built and operated many mills. The
present owners of the mill are James A.
Raney and Mrs. L. Raney. It is a modern,
well equipped mill, its machinery including
Stevens and Garden City rolls. The mill's
specialty is the White Lilly brand of flour.
Mr. Raney was married at Youngstown,
Ohio, to Lois McCollum, who is a daughter
of Ira McCollum, and they have five children,
namely: Myron, who is an engineer
on the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad, married
Rachel Kincaid, and has one child,
Helen; Jessie, who married Andrew Murphy;
Paul, who is cashier in the New Castle
Watenvorks office; Daisy, who married
Walter Harlan, has one child, James;
and Ralph, who is employed in the Shenango
mill.
Mr. Raney has taken an active interest
in public affairs at Mahoningtown, and
served as its first mayor.
ROBERT A. RANEY
Pg 757
Robert A. Raney, owning 102 acres
of some of the best farm land to be found
in Little Beaver Township, is a representative
resident of this section of Lawrence
County. He was born May 16, 1856, in
Lawrence County, Pennsylvania, and is a
son of McDowell and Lucy Ann (McClurg)
Raney.
McDowell Raney was born on the farm
now owned by his son Robert A., and was
the youngest member of his father's family.
In his younger days he worked at the
carpenter trade but later bought the farm
in Litle Beaver Township, on which he died
in 1868, aged fifty years. He married a
daughter of William McClurg, who was an
early settler near Enon. Mrs. Raney died
in 1905, aged seventy-five years. They had
the following children: William, James,
Nancy, Robert A., Sadie, John, Elmer and
Joseph. Nancy married William Failor,
and died July 29, 1908. Sadie married
James McGeehon. The sons all survive except
John, who died December 13, 1885.
Robert Alexander Raney has spent his
while life in this part of Lawrence County.
He was reared a farmer and had charge of
his uncle's farm, which he now owns, for
some years, it originally belonging to John
Raney. He has erected the excellent buildings
on the place, having to build a new
barn in 1903, on account of a bad fire.
On December 6, 1883, Mr. Raney was
married to Bertha Taylor, who is a daughter
of John Taylor, and they have four
children: Lucy, who married John E. Miller,
has one child. May Elizabeth, and they
reside in Little Beaver Township; and
Emma, Sadie aud Naomi. Mr. Raney and
family belong to the Methodist Episcopal
Church. In politics he is a stanch Republican
but he does not seek office, being a
member of this party from principle.
ALEXANDER RANKIN
Pg 702
Alexander Rankin, formerly well
and favorably known as one of Mahoning
Township's representative men, died in
Lawrence County in April, 1899. He was
probably born near Sharon, Pa., in 1825,
and was a son of George and Nancy
(Cowan) Rankin, old settlers in that neighborhood.
Although Alexander Rankin had a home
through early life and was given some
educational opportunities, he was entirely
dependent upon his own resources when
he came as a youth to Neshannock Township,
Lawrence County, where he worked
as a farmer for a number of years. He
was married (first) to Sarah A. Greer, a
daughter of Thomas Greer, of Neshannock
Township, and they had four children, the
one survivor being Nancy Isabel, who is
the wife of George Wallace, of Mahoning
Township. Mr. Rankin was married (second)
to Sarah Paden, who was born in
Lawrence County, Pennsylvania, November
14, 1833, and is a daughter of Thomas
and Elizabeth (McCready) Paden. Her
father was born in what was then Beaver
County and her mother in Ireland. Mr.
and Mrs. Rankin had one son, George. He
married Margaret Wilson, of Neshannock
Township, who was a daughter of William
C. and Mary (McCracken) Wilson, of
Scott Township, Lawrence County, and
thev have two children, Mary L. and
Wells C.
For many years prior to his decease,
Mr. Rankin lived in Mahoning Township,
respected by all who knew him, and his
death was felt as a general loss. He left
an estate of seventy-five acres, which is
one of the best improved farms of this locality,
and there his widow resides. She
is a member of the Disciples Church at
Edenburg, while Mr. Rankin belonged to
the King's Chapel Methodist Episcopal
Church. In politics he was a Republican,
but he took no very active part in political
campaigns, caring more for the quiet life
on his home farm and the contentment
found at his own fireside, where he is
greatly missed.
CHARLES A. REED, M.D.
Pg 405
Charles A. Reed, M. D., one of the
leading physicians and surgeons of New
Castle, who has been identified with the interests
of this city for the past twenty-one
years, was born September 18, 1858, in
Shenango Township, Lawrence County,
Pennsylvania, and is a son of John C. and
Phebe A. (Iddings) Reed.
On both sides of the family. Dr. Reed
can trace an old and honorable ancestry.
In early days these families were undoubtedly
followers of William Penn and adherents
of the Quaker faith. Both families
have been mainly agricultural, and
both names stand in Pennsylvania for people
of substance and of high moral standards.
William Reed, the paternal grandfather,
cultivated his own land and worked
also as a millwright. He married Ann
Cannon, who was a member of another fine
old family of the Keystone State, and the
eldest born of their children was named
John C, probably in honor of the maternal
grandfather. William Reed died in 1842
and was survived by his widow for some
years. They were good and virtuous people,
leading members of the United Presbyterian
Church.
John C. Reed, father of Dr. Reed, was
reared on his father's farm in Shenango
Township, secured a district school education,
followed agricultural pursuits, and
did his duty in furthering the improvement
of his community during the whole of a
life that was unusually useful to his fellow
citizens. In his early political views he
was a Whig, but from the date of its organization
was a firm supporter of the Republican
party. His death took place in
January, 1895, at the age of sixty-nine
years. In 1851 he married Phebe A. Iddings,
who was a daughter of Joseph and
Hannah (Hoopes) Iddings, natives of
Chester County, who came to Lawrence
County in 1820. The children of Joseph
Iddings and wife were: Mary, Mirabel,
Hannah, Ezra, Sarah, Elizabeth, Levinah,
and Phebe A. To John C. Reed and wife
were born the following children: William
E., who married Eliza Keller; Hannah, deceased;
Joseph H., a physician, who married
Kate Bowman; Charles A., Anna and
Mary, both of whom are deceased; Sarah
J., who married Harry Wright; Levinah,
who married Henry Weinschenk; John W.,
deceased, and Luther M., who married
Elizabeth McMillm.
The boyhood of Dr. Reed was mainly
spent on his father's farm and his early
education was secured in the country
schools. Later he attended the High
School at New Castle, and still later completed
the academic course at Edinboro,
Pennsylvania. Shortly afterward he began
the study of medicine, his preliminary
reading covering several years, and in
1882 he entered Miami Medical College at
Cincinnati, where he graduated three years
later. Prior to coming to New Castle in
July, 1886, he served as resident physician
in the Western Pennsylvania Hospital at
Pittsburg, but it is to the people of New
Castle that Dr. Reed has given the best
years of his life. With the passage of two
decades he can look backward over a path,
which often, undoubtedly, seemed filled
with difficulties, but which he now realizes
were professional triumphs. In twenty-one
years his beloved science has made great
strides forward and it has been his constant
aim to keep abreast of the tide.
On October 14, 1891, Dr. Reed was married
to Margaret E. Gaston, who is a
daughter of Philo and Mary Gaston, late
of New Castle. Dr. and Mrs. Reed have
two daughters, Elizabeth G. and Mary G.
Mrs. Reed is a member of the Methodist
Episcopal Church, in which Dr. Reed was
also reared. They have a beautiful home
which is situated at No. 26 North Mercer
street. New Castle, and Dr. Reed has his
well equipped office and his excellent library
located in his residence. He votes
with the Republican party, but is in no
sense a politician, never having consented
to hold any office with the exception of that
of health officer, his public spirit and sense
of civic duty making him consent to that
concession. Fraternally, he is an Odd
Fellow and a Mason of high degree.