burg, Pennsylvania. 5. John C, associated in business with his father, lives
at home. 6. Albert M., unmarried, lives at home. 7. Ruth Lee, unmarried,
lives at home. 8. Kenneth, died in infancy.
C76 WESTERN PENNSYLVANIA
(IV) Harry C. Graham, eldest son and child of Albert and Anna Belle
(Colling) Graham, was bom in Pittsburgh, Allegheny county, Pennsylvania,
April I, 1874. Completing his studies in the public schools of Pittsburgh, at
the age of nineteen years, he entered the employ of William Charles & Com-
pany, nut manufacturers, serving in various capacities until he became a
salesman, his territory, which he covered for a term of five years, being east
of the Mississippi river. He and his father became heavily interested in
this concern, and when it was incorporated in 1903 as The Graham Nut
Company, Harry C. Graham was made vice-president and treasurer of the
new company. The plant on Neville Island was erected in 1904 and a great
deal of his time has been spent in the active management of the producing
department of the business. Mr. Graham has been a resident of Coraopolis
since 1904, his home being at No. 1608 State street, and during the ten
years that have passed since his coming to that place he has become promi-
nently identified with several of its best institutions. Not the least worthy of
mention is his connection with the Young Men's Christian Association, he
having been a member of the committee in the campaign for the building
fund and is at the present time chairman of the board of directors, a position
carrying with it much responsibility and opportunity for service, both of
which he has eagerly accepted, holding the first as a sacred trust and exer-
cising the latter to' the full. Mr. Graham is a director of the Coraopolis
Savings and Trust Company, a Republican in political belief, and a member
of the Methodist Episcopal Church. His fraternal order is the Masonic,
and he belongs to Coraopolis Lodge, No. 674, Free and Accepted Masons ;
Zerubabel Chapter, Royal Arch Masons; Commandery No. i. Knights Tem-
plar, and Syria Temple, Ancient Arabic Order Nobles of the Mystic Shrine.
Mr. Graham married, in 1899, Jessie G., born in Pittsburgh, Pennsyl-
vania, daughter of Harry W. and Amanda H. Holmes, and has one son,
Charles H.
The Reppert family represented in Grafton, Pennsylvania,
REPPERT by Charles K. Reppert, a retired capitalist, was founded in
the United States by two Reppert families that came from
Germany, landing in Baltimore, Maryland, in 1792. By the marriage of
representatives of these two families, Jacob and Christianna Reppert, par-
ents of Charles K.. he traces through both maternal and paternal lines to
Adam Reppert, a glass manufacturer, of Clarenthal, on the River Saar, in
Germany, and to the year 1688. These glass works, erected by Adam Rep-
pert, became extinct through the devastations of war and internal dissen-
sion, but they were important in their day and owned by Adam Reppert,
whose family originally were seated in the neighborhood of Karlsrunn.
The heads of the two Reppert families that landed in Baltimore in
1792 were widows, their husbands having been killed in the wars that swept
Germany for so many years. Tradition said the two women with their
families had great difficulty in leaving Germany, finally having to build a
WESTERN PENNSYf.VANlA 277
boat that took them down the river to a port of departure and they were
delayed several months, finally after abandoning many of their belongings
were enabled to obtain passage. The maternal family consisted of the
widow, Sophia (Myers) Reppert, and her four sons: Louis Ralph Reppert,
born November 4, 1775, died in Baltimore, Maryland, January 2, 1822;
George Louis Reppert, born in Frederickstahl, Nassau, Sarbuchen, Ger-
many, January 2, 1777, came to the United States, January, 1792, died at
Baltimore, April 12, 1851 ; Jacob Reppert, born 1778, died at Baltimore,
December, 1837; Martin Reppert, born April i, 1780, died at Baltimore,
August 21, 1800.
Of these brothers, George Louis Reppert was the only one who left
descendants. He married Hannah, daughter of Christian and Anna Mar-
garet Satzinger, at Baltimore, August 24, 1808. Children, born in Baltimore:
I. Louis Frederick, born May 20, 1809, married Elizabeth Johnson, October
I, 1839, died in Baltimore, July 17, 1862. 2. Henry, born September 21,
1810. 3. Sophia Margaret, born May 16, 1812, married George Horn,
October 2, 1832, died January 9, 1835. 4. Jacob, mentioned below. 5.
Regina, born in Frederick, Maryland, March 4, 1816, married Benjamin
Horn, August 5, 1834, died December 15 1851. 6. Elizabeth, born in Bal-
timore, December 13, 1817, married Jacob Pfaflf, in 1838, died in March.
1846. 7. George, born in Baltimore, December 22, 1820, died in California,
November 17, 1849. 8. Hanna Louise, born in Baltimore, January 17, 1825,
married John Medinger, October 8, 1844, died October 14, 1855.
Hannah (Satzinger) Reppert, the mother of these children, was a
daughter of Christian Satzinger, born in Anspath, Germany, March 22,
1734, married in 1770, died in Baltimore, 1796. His wife, Anna Margaret,
born September 24, 1752, died in Baltimore, 1796. Their daughter Hannah,
born February 5, 1786, married George Louis Reppert, August 24, 1808,
died at Baltimore, October 16, 1865.
George Louis Reppert spent his American life in Frederick county,
Maryland, and in Baltimore, being fifteen years of age when he arrived in
Baltimore. John Frederick Ametung had erected a glass factory in Fred-
erick county on the Monocacy, in 1784, and in 1799 Ametung's son moved
the factory to Baltimore, later selling it to J. S. Friese. Later George Louis
Reppert and his brother Jacob purchased a half interest from Friese and
continued in business until 1830, then the business was settled up and the
works sold. From that time until his death in 185 1, George Louis Reppert
devoted his time to looking after his property and collecting his rents. When
the port wardens line along the water front of Federal Hill was carried out
to deep water he filled in several additional acres in front of his Federal Hill
homestead, which he cultivated, planting grapes and other fruit. He served
in the War of 1812, in Captain Schwargen's Fourth Company, Second Bat-
tallion, 27th Regiment Maryland Troops. At the battle of North Point,
September 12, 1814, he was wounded and later received a pension from the
government in consideration of his injuries. In this battle the 27th Reg-
278 WESTERN PENNSYLVANIA
iment bore a conspicuous part, being posted along the left of the North
Point Road. When they were obliged to retreat by overpowering numbers
of British regulars, George Reppert turned for one more shot, was strucK
in the head by a ball, fell to the ground, where he lay until made a prisoner.
The flag of the 27th Maryland Regiment, under which he fought, preserved
in the State House at Annapolis, is said to be the oldest American flag,
having been carried by Revolutionary troops at the battle of Long Island,
Harlem Heights, and at Cowpens, South Carolina, by the Third Maryland
Regiment. The wound received in the battle of North Point eventually
caused the death of George L. Reppert, but not until an attack made upon
him by one of his tenants, Gustave McCretshen, had opened up the old
wound, and prevented recovery from the blows of his assailant. He was
survived by his wife and four children : Louis, Jacob, Regina and Hannah.
He left an estate of over $100,000. The family burying ground, where
most of those mentioned lie, is Louden Park Cemetery, Baltimore, but no
stones mark their graves, having been moved by the city, he having a
family cemetery.
Jacob Reppert, son of George Louis and Hannah (Satzinger) Reppert,
was born in Baltimore, Maryland, February 8, 1814, died at Pittsburgh,
Pennsylvania, July 24, 1901. He was sent to a school at Nazareth, Penn-
sylvania, then attended St. Mary's College, Baltimore, for two and a half
years. He began business life in 1835 as clerk with C. A. Heineham and
Schunacher, at that time one of the largest shipping and importing firms in
the United States. A position with this firm was only secured by the pay-
ment of $700 by Jacob's father. He began work in the foreign correspond-
ence department, his only compensation being at first a new suit of clothes
each year. When the glass works on Federal Hill, once owned by the Rep-
perts, was sold at Public sale, Jacob Reppert bid up to $20,000, with the
intention of engaging in glass manufacture, a line of manufacture with
which several of the preceding generations in the United States and Ger-
many had been connected. He was unsuccessful in getting the works and
then resolved to go west. He closed up his Baltimore interests and left that
city March 20, 1838, going to visit his relative, John George Reppert, then
living near Greensboro, Pennsylvania. Here he met the daughter of his
host, Christianna Margaretta Reppert. to whom he was married October
10, 1839, at the Reppert farm on the Ohio river, four miles from Marietta.
At the time of his marriage he was a partner of the firm of Robertson &
Reppert, conducting a pork-packing and general merchandise business at
Madison, Indiana, having invested $10,000 in that enterprise. His partner,
John W. Robertson, was a brother-in-law, having married Elizabeth, also a
daughter of John George Reppert. Robertson was a man of fine appearance
and good moral character, but so devoted a worshiper of mammon that
it unbalanced his mind and led him into wild speculation that brought disaster
to the firm. In 1840 they moved to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, where they
rebuilt their fortunes in a commission and merchandising business, also
WESTERN PENNSYLVANIA 279
operating a linseed oil mill. Later a fire destroyed their warehouse, causing
a severe loss, and on April 10, 1845, '" Pittsburgh's "great fire," their oil
mill and store house was destroyed, but little insurance being collected.
Later they again engaged in business as private bankers at the corner of
Wood and Third streets, Pittsburgh, and in a commission business on Second
street, both being conducted under the old firm name, Robertson & Reppert.
Mr. Robertson managing the bank, Mr. Reppert the commission house.
During this period they purchased the Wells property in Ohio, now Wells-
ville, which was to be the terminus of the railroad building from Cleveland
to the Ohio river. A town was laid out, large brick warehouses built and
land donated to the railroad. Mr. Robertson imagined great wealth was to
follow, but his wild plans finally caused Mr. Reppert to dissolve the part-
nership in 1851, Robertson taking all the property of the firm and assum-
ing all debts. Mr. Reppert then sold out all his Pittsburgh interests and
with his family located on the Reppert farm near Marietta, Ohio, intending
as soon as possible to return to his old home in Baltimore. The death of
his father occurring that year, he went to the funeral alone, and was taken
ill and did not return home for several months. He then moved with his
family back to Pittsburgh, opening a commission house on Water street,
under the firm name J. A. Reppert. He shortly afterward purchased the
glass works at Cookstown, Pennsylvania, with a warehouse in Pittsburgh.
He experimented with costly German clay for glass pots, also with American
clays, finally, in 1856, discovered a clay in Missouri, which fully answered
his purpose. In 1857, he moved his family to Harmar, now part of Ma-
rietta, Ohio, and devoted himself to mining and shipping this clay. The
Civil War compelled him to abandon his Missouri clay mines and returning
to Pittsburgh he there resided until his death, July 24, 1901. Children of
Jacob and Christianna Margaretta (Reppert) Reppert: i. George L., con-
nected with the Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific railroad, located at Chicago.
2. Charles Kramer, of whom further. 3. William E., died in Alexandria,
Virginia, a veteran of the 15th Regiment Pennsylvania Cavalry, serving
throughout the Civil War and at the time of his death superintendent of the
National Cemetery at Alexandria. 4. Henry, died in Allegheny City, Penn-
sylvania, in 1887, a general bookkeeper. Christianna M. Reppert died April
18, 1902.
Christianna Margaretta (Reppert) Reppert, daughter of George (2)
and Christianna Margaretta (Kramer) Reppert, was a granddaughter of
John George (i) and Catherine Margaretta (Volz) Reppert. John George
(i) Reppert was a glass manufacturer of Karlsburn, principality of Nassau
Saibrucken, Germany. He had children : Catherine Magdalena, Catherina
Elizabeth, John George (2), John Christian, Catherine Margaretta, Sophia
Margaretta, all these recorded in the Evangelical Lutheran Church books
at Karlsburn, Germany. His widow, Catherina Margaretta (Volz) Rep-
pert, came to the United States in 1792 with another widow, Sophia (Myers)
Reppert (previously mentioned), both with their families. Of the children
28o WESTERN PENNSYLVANIA
of John George (i) Reppert, the Hne of John George (2) is carried forward.
John George {2) Reppert was born in Karlsburn, Germany, December
3, 1772, and as stated, came with his mother to the United States in 1792,
landing in Bahimore. He did not remain in that city, but being a young
man, nearly of age, he started out for himself, joining a party of Germans
bound for Western Pennsylvania and the West. They were looking for a
suitable location for a glass factory, but after reaching Louisville, Kentucky,
without success, they retraced their steps. At a wayside tavern in Ohio,
they met Albert Gallatin, the famous statesman, who persuaded them to
locate at Friendship, Fayette county, Pennsylvania, on George's Creek. They
later found a better location across the creek at Greensboro. He, John
George Reppert, remained for many years, building a home on Whiteley
Creek also saw, grist and fulling mills, selling his flour and glass at river
points as far south as New Orleans. Later he sold all his Greensboro in-
terests, glass, milling and farm, settling near Marietta, Ohio, where he
owned a 500 acre farm to which he devoted his entire attention, bringing
the tillable area to a higher state of cultivation, the property being yet
known as "Reppert's Farm." He married Christianna Margaretta Kramer,
who bore him eight children: i. Louise, married James Barclay, and died
at Marietta, Ohio. 2. Wilhelmina, married Otto Holland Williams Beall
and died at St. Loui-s, Missouri. 3. George A., moved to Kansas, where
he was killed in the border warfare, a "Free Soiler" ; married Anna Evans.
4. Louis H., killed accidently by militia at Ashland, Kentucky; married
Susan Jenkins. 5. Elizabeth, married John W. Robertson (of previous men-
tion) and died in New York City. 6. Sophia C, married John South and
died in Monroe, Wisconsin. 7. James, married Frances Hayes and died
in Marietta, Ohio. 8. Christianna Margaretta, married Jacob Reppert, of
previous mention, their marriage uniting the two Reppert families that came
from Germany in 1792, landing in Baltimore with considerable cash for
that early day and at once taking position among the business men of that
city, as the Repperts have ever done wherever located.
Charles Kramer Reppert, second son of Jacob and Christianna Mar-
garetta (Reppert) Reppert, was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, May 2,
1842. He was educated in the public schools, the University of Western
Pennsylvania (now University of Pittsburgh) and Marietta College, Ohio,
leaving college at the outbreak of the Civil War and enlisting on August 5,
1861. He enlisted as a private in Major Bennett's Regiment of reserves
and continued in the service until October of the same year. He then came
to Pittsburgh, entering the employ of the Pennsylvania Railroad as a clerk.
Later he became interested as an employee with steel manufacturing con-
cerns, continuing in that line for about five years. He then entered the
employ of the People's National Bank as general bookkeeper, remaining ten
years. He then became associated with the firm of J. Painter and Sons Co.,
and for twenty-five years was treasurer of that company, and an important
factor in its prosperous growth ; then was cashier of the American Steel
WESTERN PENNSYLVANIA 281
Hoop Co. In 1904 he retired, was for a time treasurer of Monongahela
Incline Plane Company, and now, although maintaining an office in Pitts-
burgh, has practically surrendered business cares. For several years Mr.
Reppert has resided in Crafton, Pennsylvania, his residence being No. 265
Noble avenue. He is a Republican in politics and is a member of the
Protestant Episcopal Church. He belongs to the Royal Arcanum and the
Heptasophs, and college fraternities, and in his comfortable home has sur-
rounded himself with the comforts of life and the things that appeal to
his tastes. He has never married, but takes a great pride in the history of
his family, the portraits of his ancestors gracing the walls of his rooms
where are displayed many mementos of those past and gone. He is fond of
books, has a well chosen library, and although now seventy-two years of
age, has the heart of a boy and takes a keen delight in the daily happenings
of his community and the world at large. He is passing a serene contented
old age, surrounded by his many friends and can review a life well spent.
He adopted his younger brother's (Henry's) son, Charles Miller Rep-
pert, born at Edgewater, Pennsylvania, October 10, 1880, educated at Cornell
University; a civil engineer, now district superintendent of the Bureau of
Engineers of Pittsburgh. He married Blanche Stevenson, of Sewickley,
Pennsylvania, April 25, 191 1, and has one son, Charles Miller, Jr., born
September 4, 1912.
Of comparatively recent arrival in the United States, the
GREASEL European home of the Grissel family is in Hesse-Cassel,
Germany, where lived Johann Christian Grissel, known in
the United States as Greasel. He was the owner of a mill and some ex-
cellent farm property, and as miller and farmer he passed his short life,
dying at about thirty-six years of age. He married Magdalene Smith, and
had children: i. Conrad, resides in Kansas, a prosperous farmer now-
aged eighty-four years. 2. Christian, of whom further. 3. Mary, married a
Mr. Brostmeyer, and died in Perry county, Illinois ; he was a wealthy
farmer.
(II) Christian Greasel, son of Johann Christian and Magdalene (Smith)
Grissel or Greasel, was born in Hesse-Cassel, Germany, in 1834, died in
1876. He was eduated in his native land and there lived until he was seven-
teen years of age, then coming to the United States and settling in Mahoning
county, Ohio, where he met and married his wife. After his marriage he
became the owner of a farm in Canfield township, that county, later adding
to his activities a contracting business. He specialized in bridge-building,
performing considerable construction work of that nature in that locality.
He was a Democrat in politics and with his wife belonged to the Lutheran
church. He married Lydia, born in Lehigh county, Pennsylvania, reared in
Ohio, where she died in 1892, daughter of Daniel and Sophia Weaver, her
parents probably natives of Lehigh county. Pennsylvania. Daniel Weaver
and his family moved by wagon from their Pennsylvania home to Mahoning
282 WESTERN PENNSYLVANIA
county, Ohio, making their home in Canfield township, where he owned land,
which he farmed. He was known throughout the country-side as an excel-
lent shot with any kind of fire-arm, and many were the wild creatures of
the forest that fell before his unerring aim. He was powerful physically,
being 6 feet 2 inches tall and was one man of the few who could carry nine
bushels of rye at one time. He died at the age of eighty-five years. Daniel
and Sophia Weaver were the parents of: Polly, Katie, Eli, Sarah, Mary,
Rebecca, Lydia, of previous mention, married Christian Greasel, and Lucy,
all deceased. Children of Christian and Lydia (Weaver) Greasel: i. Lewis,
lives on the homestead. 2. Lucy, married Charles Baird, and resides in
Greene township, Mahoning county, Ohio. 3. Clara, married (first) Urias
Sauerwein, (second) Sylvester Heintzelman, and lives in Canfield town-
ship, Mahoning county, Ohio. 4. Hattie, married Oscar Heintzelman, and
lives in Canfield township, Mahoning county, Ohio. 5. Eben D., of whom
further. 6. Granville S., a draughtsman, resides in Cleveland, Ohio. 7.
Perry W., an employee of the Bell Telephone Company, lives in Carnegie,
Pennsylvania.
(HI) Eben D. Greasel son of Christian and Lydia (Weaver) Greasel,
was born in Mahoning county, Ohio, January 25, 1867, and was educated in
the public schools, remaining on the home farm until he was eighteen
years of age. His studies completed, he learned the blacksmith's and the
boilermakers' trades, later taking up telegraphy. From 1890 until 1901 he
was in the employ of the Pennsylvania Railroad in the capacity of construct-
ing their telegraph and telephone lines. The last few years with the Penn-
sylvania Company was establishing telephone lines, and he became authority
on telephones for corporations, in June of the latter year coming to Carnegie,
Pennsylvania, and accepting a position as superintendent of construction of
the power and telephone lines of the Pittsburgh Coal Company. Of this
position he is still the competent incumbent, having under his direction a
department which requires a large force of linemen and operators. His
extensive knowledge has never failed to supply a solution of any difficulty
with which he has been confronted during his connection with the Pittsburgh
Coal Company, and mutual satisfaction has pervaded that association. Mr.
Greasel's home is on Boquet street, Carnegie, Pennsylvania, where he pur-
chased a house soon after being called to duty in that place. He belongs
to the Knights of Pythias, the Improved Order of Heptasophs, and, with
his wife, to the Presbyterian church. He is a strong Democratic supporter.
He married, in 1895, Jessie, born in Steubenville, Jefiferson county, Ohio,
daughter of William and Nancy Simeral, her father having died in 1892, her
mother in 1901. William Simeral was a civil engineer by profession, being
employed in the early extension of the line of the Pennsylvania Railroad
between Steubenville and Columbus, Ohio, after which he was auditor of
Jefiferson county, Ohio, for about twenty-five years. Mr. and Mrs. Greasel
are the parents of Francis Lydia and John Christian.
WESTERN PENNSYLVANIA 283
The Dutch ancestors of the Way family, who came to the Ameri-
WAY can colonies from Holland about 1692, settled first in Connecticut,
later coming to New Jersey. It was in this latter state that George
Washington Way spent his entire life and died. He married Letitia Brokaw,
whose father probably enlisted in the American army during the Revolution
from New Jersey. George Washington and Letitia (Brokaw) Way had:
Mary, married Stel Fitz Randolph, deceased, and lives in New Jersey, aged
eighty-five years; Alexander M., of whom further.
(II) Alexander M. Way, son of George Washington and Letitia (Bro-
kaw) Way, was born in New Jersey, in 1828, died in New Brunswick,
New Jersey, December 12, 1890. He was educated in his native state, and
after his marriage settled in New Brunswick, where his residence was ever
after located. He prospered in business and was an important factor in the
organization of the Horace Day Rubber Company, the first vulcanized rub-
ber manufacturers in the United States, and was associated with that concern
until the outbreak of the war between the States. In April, 1861, he re-
cruited a company of volunteers at New Brunswick, a body composed almost
entirely of students from Rutgers College, and was elected its captain.
Upon entering the service of the United States this organization became
Company G, First Regiment, New Jersey Volunteer Infantry, and was at-
tached to the First Brigade, Sixth Army Corps. Although Company G lost
its captain through his being called to higher rank and greater responsibility,
under other leadership it fought valiantly and well, bringing credit to each
member and honor to the locality and institution that sent it to the front.
The war career of Alexander M. Way was destined to be a brilliant one,
and his was the distinction, after the battles of Malvern Hill and Gaines'
Mills, of being awarded a medal by Congress and a letter of appreciation
and gratitude signed by Abraham Lincoln for bravery on the field in these
engagements. After the battle of Antietam he was raised to the rank of
major, and was later breveted colonel for personal bravery in battle.