Matthew McCusker: i. Mary, lived and died in Ireland. 2. Michael, owned
the homestead. 3. John, died a young man, unmarried. 4. Matthew, died
in Scotland, an iron worker. 5. Patrick, the youngest son, born in county
Derry, in 1826, died in February, 1894, was a farmer in county Derry for
several years, and there married. Later in life he moved to Rutherglen,
about two miles from Glasgow, Scotland, where he was employed as a
watchman in Dickson's steel mill. He married Margaret McCluskey, born
in county Derry, 1829, died December 16, 1893, daughter of John and Mary
McCluskey, born in county Derry. John McCluskey was a veteran soldier,
who fought at Waterloo under Lord Wellington and ever afterwarrl was
in receipt of a pension from the government, which also gave him a plot
of land upon which he resided. He is described as a man tall in stature,
well built, strong and courageous. Children of John and Mary McCluskey:
Rosanna, married and moved to Australia ; Margaret, married Patrick
McCusker, of previous mention ; John, Patrick, James and Thomas, who
all came to the United States, three of them settling in New York State.



From "catcher" to superintendent, John Edward Bulger, of
BULGER Carnegie, Pennsylvania, holds a continuous record of thirty-
six years as a worker in the steel mills of Pittsburgh and
vicinity. He is an expert "roller," in fact there is no department of steel
manufacture with which he is not thoroughly familiar and no position he is
not able to fill.

He is a son of Edward Bulger, born in Dublin, Ireland, in 1823, died
in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, in 1873. He there grew to manhood, was edu-
cated, and in his younger days was clerk in a mercantile house. Later he
became a quarry foreman, holding that position at the time of his coming
to the United States. He settled in Pittsburgh immediately after his ar-
rival and for a time followed the business with which he was most familiar,
quarrying. He then entered the employ of the Pennsylvania Railroad in
the transfer department at Pittsburgh, continuing with that company until
his death, residing at the corner of Penn avenue and 28th street, where
his son, John E., was born. He was a man of strong body, and until a
week before his death was rarely ill. He was a devout Roman Catholic, both
he and his wife belonging to St. Patrick's congregation in Pittsburgh. By
his first wife he had a daughter Ellen (Mrs. Doyle), who died about 1888.
He married (second) Mrs. Ellen (Sullivan) West, born in Cork, Ireland,
in 1838, died in Pittsburgh, in 1904. When she was quite small her parents
moved to Birmingham, England, where her father and brothers worked in
the iron mills and where she married her first husband, Mr. West. They
came to Pittsburgh shortly after marriage, where Mr. West died, leaving
two daughters, both now deceased. Children of Edward and Ellen Bulger :
John Edward, of further mention ; James, superintendent of the Pittsburgh
Cold Rolled Steel Company for many years prior to his death at his home,
corner of 46th and Butler steets, in 1910; he married Mary Baker and had
seven children.



3o8 WESTERN PENNSYLVANIA

John Edward Bulger was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, corner of
fenn avenue and 28th street, March 8, 1863. Although christened John
Edward, Mr. Bulger always signs his name and is known as "Edward."
He attended St. Patrick's Parochial School for a short time, but until fifteen
years of age his schools were Springfield and Bayard public schools, of
Pittsburgh. At the age of fifteen he began working in the Crescent Steel
Mill as "catcher" in the rolling mill department, remaining in that mill
twelve years and passing through various grades of promotion until be-
coming an expert "roller" with the Morris and Bailey Steel Company, of
Pittsburgh. In 1893 he was appointed superintendent of the Superior Steel
Company, of Carnegie, Pennsylvania, a position he has now held for twenty-
one years. He thoroughly understands his business, and under his man-
agement the company has prospered so far as the producing end is re-
sponsible. He resides at No. 448 Beachwood avenue, Carnegie, which
property he purchased several years ago. Mr. Bulger is a member of St.
Luke's Roman Catholic Church, of the Knights of Columbus, the Catholic
Mutual Beneficial Association and the Benevolent and Protective Order of
Elks. In political faith he is a Republican.

Mr. Bulger married (first) in 1888, Mary Mara, who died in 1906.
He married (second) in August, 1909, Margaret Heisel, born in Pittsburgh,
daughter of Jacob and Catherine (Keener) Heisel. Children: James, now
connected with the American Steel Wire Company, at Cleveland, Ohio;
Edward, a railroad trainman, located at Washington, Pennsylvania ; Marian,
a high school student; Margaret and Paul, twins, the latter attending the
Western Pennsylvania School for the Blind; Harry.



The embalming and preservation of bodies of the dead was
HACKIUS an art in which the ancients greatly excelled the embalmers

of the present day, and this fact has caused an amount of
experiment with embalming fluids that has vastly increased the prestige of
American embalmers. Among the most persistent investigators and experi-
menters in this line is George Frederick Hackius, of Carnegie, Pennsylvania,
who, although rated as an expert in embalming process and the discoverer
of a marvelous combination of chemical preservatives that has attracted the
attention of embalmers all over the United States, is still experimenting.
His discovery, it is claimed, produces the perfect results obtained by the
Egyptian embalmers, and is destined to have a world-wide sale. Although
a young man, Mr. Hackius has spent his life since boyhood in his present
business and has ever been the investigator and scientific experimenter in
embalming fluids.

He is a son of Philip Hackius, born in Alsace-Lorraine, then under
French dominion, died in Allegheny county, Pennsylvania, June 18, 1909,
aged sixty-one years, six months, four days, son of George Frederick
Hackius, who lived and died in Alsace. Philip Hackius grew to manhood,
served three years in the French army, and was engaged in the Franco-



WESTERN PENNSYLVANIA 309

Prussian War, suffering great hardship and often risking his life. In 1873
he came to the United States, settling in Pittsburgh, where he learned the
shoemaker's trade, and remained five years, an employee. He then, in
1878, came to Carnegie and for five years worked for John Kumpf, then
bought his employer out and ran his shop in Main avenue until 1896, when
he sold out. He then became manager in charge of all shoemakers, tailors
and bookbinders at the Allegheny County Work House, remaining there
six years, when he retired on account of poor health. He was a devout
Lutheran and one of the founders of the church in Carnegie, formerly
known as Mansfield Valley. He married Elizabeth Rolland, born in Bieron,
Germany, December 28, 1846, who survives him, and is now (1914) visiting
in Europe. She is a daughter of Johannes and Elizabeth (Engel) Rolland,
both Lutherans, who lived and died in Germany.

George Frederick Hackius, only living child of Philip and Elizabeth
(Rolland) Hackius, was born in Mansfield Valley, now Carnegie, Penn-
sylvania, February 28, 1882, his six brothers and sisters dying in infancy.
He was educated in the public schools, finishing with a course at Duff's
Business College in Pittsburgh. At the age of seventeen years he began
working in the undertaking establishment of T. W. Bockman, at Homestead,
Pennsylvania, remaining two years, then spent five years in the similar
establishment of T. B. Bryson & Co., at Washington, Pennsylvania, and
three and a half years with J. B. Steel, undertaker, at Carnegie. He pur-
sued courses in the study of embalming during these years and was so well
qualified that on June 13, 1906, he was granted a license as embalmer.
He then started for himself as funeral director and embalmer in Carnegie,
where he is now well established and in prosperous business, with a well
equipped establishment. Although, as stated, he has discovered a marvelous
combination of chemicals that he uses in his embalming art, he is still
carrying on experiments that will bring him the perfect combination known
to the ancient embalmer. His Carnegie establishment has been visited by
embalmers from different part of the United States, the worth of his dis-
covery already having made him famous.

Mr. Hackius is a member of St. John's Lutheran Church, of Carnegie,
is an elder, treasurer, Sunday school teacher, and a valuable worker in all
departments of church effort. He is a member of Centennial Lodge No.
544, Free and Accepted Masons; Carnegie Commandery, Knights of Malta;
Carnegie Lodge, Independent Order of Odd Fellows ; Daughters of Re-
bekah ; is past councillor of the Junior Order of American Mechanics ; past
commander of the Knights of the Maccabees, member of the Loyal Order
of Moose, and vice-president of Carnegie Board of Trade. His office is
at No. 300 Main avenue.

Mr. Hackius married, July 15, 1905, Cora May Stewart, born in Wash-
ington, Pennsylvania, daughter of William and Jenny (Van Vaukenburg)
Stewart, both deceased, her father a house painter, born in Washing-ton,
her mother born in Canonsburg. Pennsylvania. Children: Thelma, bont
April 18, 1906; Estella, March 17, 1913.



3IO WESTERN PENNSYLVANIA

W. Glenn Bigham is a member of a family originally of
BIGHAM Scotch-Irish descent, but which has lived in Pennsylvania
I for so many years that it has become entirely identified with

that state, particularly with Lancaster and Allegheny counties. His paternal
grandparents were probably born in Lancaster county, but removed to Al-
legheny county where they finally made their home. It was a time of con-
siderable religious agitation and unrest in western Pennsylvania, and the
Bighams were seceders from the older and more established forms. They
were the parents of four children, as follows : Robert, the father of our
subject; Alice, later Mrs. Robert Reed, of McKeesport, Pennsylvania; Mar-
garet, later Mrs. Walker, of Kittanning, Armstrong county, Pennsylvania ;
and John, who went west and of whom all trace was lost. Robert Bigham,
the father of our subject, was born April 25, 1805, in Moon township, Al-
legheny county, Pennsylvania, and passed his childhood and early youth on
his father's farm there. He learned while young, the miller's trade, and
upon reaching manhood, was married and removed to Mount Lebanon, Al-
legheny county. In this locality he conducted a farm for a number of years
with a high degree of success, and later went to Scott township, where he
built a flour mill on Georges Run on the Pittsburgh and Washington turnpike.
For eighteen years he operated this mill, but in 1854 sold it and removed
to Mansfield, now Carnegie, Pennsylvania. Here he bought the house,
now No. 343 Main avenue, the second house built in the town, and now oc-
cupied by his son, our subject. In the new location Mr. Bigham opened
a general store and grocery, which he continued to engage in until the
year 1859. He then once more sold out his business and going to Franklin
City, Pennsylvania, became an oil operator. In this business both his gains
and losses were very large until the year 1865, when he withdrew and,
returning to Mansfield, resided with his son, our subject, until the time
of his death in August, 1893. Mr. Bigham, Sr., was an active and prominent
member of his community, a member of the Republican party, and a member
of and an officer in the United Presbyterian Church. He married Jane Glenn,
of what is now Glenndale, Pennsylvania, where she was born, March 11,
1812. Mrs. Bigham was a daughter of William and Margaret (Herdman)
Glenn, natives of Lancaster county, Pennsylvania. They later moved to
Allegheny county. Mr. Glenn, whose birth occurred in 1776, made his move
to the latter place when twenty-four years of age, settling in Scott township,
where he owned a large farm. On this property is now situated the village
of Glenndale. Mr. Glenn was a soldier in the War of 1812. He and his
family were members of the United Presbyterian Church, in which he also
held the office of elder. He was very strict in all religious matters, and
died at an advanced age. His marriage to Miss Herdman occurred January
23. 1806. To them were born nine children, as follows: Martha, born in
1806, married the Rev. Mr. Waddle, president of Muskingum College, Ohio,
in which state he was a resident ; James B., born May 23, 1809, ^ farmer
on the old Glenn homestead, married Rebecca McCollough ; Jane, the mother



WESTERN PENNSYLVANIA 311

of our subject; Margaret, born April 6, 1814, later Mrs. J. Harvey Robb,
of Mount Lebanon, Pennsylvania; William H., born May 30, 1819, a mer-
chant and politician, who married (first) Miss Hearst, and (second; Miss
Buchanan; James K., born December 22, 1821, died in early youth; Sarah,
born October 20, 1825, later Mrs. Richard Fife, of Washington county,
Pennsylvania; John B., born April 14, 1828, died in early youth; Joseph W.,
born January 17 1832, died as a young man from injuries received in a
railroad wreck at New Brighton, Pennsylvania. To Mr. and Mrs. Robert
Bigham was born but one child, the subject of this sketch.

W. Glenn Bigham, the only child of Robert and Jane (Glenn) Bigham,
was born October 14, 1836, at Mount Lebanon, Allegheny county, Penn-
sylvania. He was educated in the schools of what was then known as
Upper St. Clair township, and later attended the Mansfield Seminary of
Mansfield, Pennsylvania. He began his business life by working in his
father's general store in Mansfield. In 1859 he accompanied his father to
Franklin City, Pennsylvania, during the elder man's stay in the Pennsyl-
vania oil fields, and there assisted him in the oil business in which he
engaged. In 1865, however, both returned to Mansfield, and here our
subject established himself in a mercantile business and opened a general
store on Main street. In the year 1869 he sold out and accepted a position
as agent for the Adams Express Company, holding the same until 1903.
in which year he retired from active business and has thus been living ever
since. His residence is still the old house built in 1852, the second house
and the first postofiice of Mansfield or Carnegie City, which his father bought
when he first came to the town. Mr. Bigham is a man of much prominence
in the community. He is a Republican in politics, and has served his fellow
citizens for fifteen years on the Carnegie city council, and for fourteen years
of that time has acted as president of that body. Mr. Bigham is a member
of the United Presbyterian Church and has served as trustee therein.

Mr. Bigham has been twice married. His first marriage, November
20, 1862, was to Frances Rebecca Crouch, a native of Allegheny county,
Pennsylvania, where she was bom, a daughter of John Crouch, a carpenter
of Mount Lebanon. To them were born three children, as follows : Robert
F., born August 27, 1863, the clerk in the court house at Pittsburgh, mar-
ried Noony Collins; Harvey R., born April 29, 1865, a real estate dealer
residing on Academy street, Carnegie, married Jane Moore ; Charles Glenn,
born November 20, 1866, married Laura Michaels, and is now a resident of
Ingram, Pennsylvania, employed as a conductor on the Panhandle Railway.
The death of the first Mrs. Bigham occurred October 20, 1868. Mr. Bigham
was married (second) June 28. 1888. to Sarah Yourd, a daughter of Samuel
and Sarah (Clark) Yourd, of Sandy Creek, Allegheny county, Pennsylvania,
where she was born. Mrs. Bigham's father is of Irish descent, his parents
having come to America from that country. Mr. Yourd's birth occurred in
1817. Mr. Yourd was a coal merchant in his early days, and about 1866
moved to Carnegie, Pennsylvania, and there opened a general store, re-



312 WESTERN PENNSYLVANIA

maining in this business until his death in 1893. Mrs. Yourd was born
in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, in 1817, and died in 1889.



In Fayette county, Pennsylvania, there are no survivors of the
CONN pioneer families whose pride in the record of their forebears is
better justified or more firmly founded than that of the Conns.
In past generations their part in the founding of the institutions of civiliza-
tion and the upbuilding of communities was a generous one, and to-day the
frequency with which the name is met in Western Pennsylvania in connec-
tion with the ownership of property, the incumbency of civil office, and in
other important relations shows that with the passing of time the star
of the Conns has not dimmed appreciably. American settlement was first
made by three brothers of the name who came from Ireland, the family
home, most of their descendants making Pennsylvania their home and di-
recting their efforts to the benefit and credit of that commonwealth. Through-
out the family line a large majority of its members have been associated
with the Baptist Church, pioneers in its founding in new communities, loyal
supporters of its projects, and steadfast strivers for its greatest good.

William Conn was probably born in Fayette county, Pennsylvania, and
there died. The greater part of his active life was spent in Smithfield,
Pennsylvania, where he was the proprietor of a cabinetmaker's shop, in
which business he continued until his death. He possessed great local fame
as a painstaking, skillful mechanic, and was constantly busied in executing
the commissions of his neighbors. He married Marie West, and had chil-
dren, among them Thomas J., of whom further.

Thomas J. Conn, son of William and Marie (West) Conn, was born
at Smithfield, Fayette county, Pennsylvania, September 9, 1846. His boy-
hood schooling was obtained in the public schools and in the Georges Creek
Academy, from which latter institution he obtained a certificate of promo-
tion. Completing his studies, he engaged in mercantile dealings in Smith-
field, in 1889 disposing of his interests in that place and moving to Sewick-
ley, where he established in the grocery business and conducted a popular
establishment until his death, which occurred October 11, 1907. Mr. Conn's
political convictions were Republican, and in Fayette county he held the
office of justice of the peace, for eight years, performing the duties of
postmaster at Smithfield. He was a charter member of the first organiza-
tion of the Royal Arcanum founded in Fayette county, and at his death
held membership in the Sewickley Valley Business Men's Association. He
adhered to the family faith, his wife also belonging to the Baptist church,
as had her forefathers. Mr. Conn held a high place in the regard of his
business associates and his social acquaintances because of his kindly spirit,
generous nature, unfailing cordiality, and strict rectitude of conduct, while
his friends were privileged to catch glimpses of the loftiness of character
that engendered these pleasing outward attributes.

Mr. Conn married. October 4, 1888, Elizabeth Abraham, of Welsh




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WJCSTI'KX IM<:.\\SYIAA\1.\ 313

descent, born in Smithfield, Fayette county, Pennsylvania, daughter of Aaron
Jones and Elizabeth (Jackson j Abraham, both natives of Fayette county,
where he was an extensive farmer. The father of Aaron J. Abraham was
William Abraham ; they were one of the most prominent families in the
State. Mr. and Mrs. Conn had children: i. William J., married Emma
Seckler, and is the father of Mary Elizabeth, Elmira Jean and Eleanor
Louise. 2. Ruth, lives at home. 3. Ralph Abraham, lives at home. 4.
Margaret, lives at home. 5. Mary, a student in the Sewickley public schools.



Dr. Robert James Murray, a distinguished member of the
MURRAY medical profession in Pennsylvania, is descended on both

sides of the house from that sterling type of Scotch-Irish
character, which has introduced so valuable an element of courage and
indomitable perseverance into the complex fabric of American citizenship.

(I) John Murray, the first of the line herein recorded, was a worthy
merchant of Belfast, Ireland, who passed his entire life in the land of
his birth.

(II) John (2) Murray, son of John (i) Murray, was likewise born
in Belfast, Ireland, but came as a mere lad to the United States, and made
his home in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Here he received the major part of
his education, and here, his studies being completed, he was employed on
the river, occupying many positions on the craft plying the great Ohio.
These were chiefly upon the passenger vessels. He later came into posses-
sion of a most valuable property, two hundred acres of which was then
largely farm land, but is now the site of Sewickley Heights. While taking
a legitimate interest in politics and public affairs, both local and general,
and while occupying a prominent position in his community, on account
of his character and wealth, he nevertheless consistently withdrew into the
seclusion of private life and never aspired to the public career tliat might
have been his. He married Elizabeth Graham, who was born in Pittsburgh.
Pennsylvania, daughter of William Graham, who had come from the neigh-
borhood of Mr. Murray's home town of Belfast, Ireland, to the United States
and finally died in Sewickley Heights, Pennsylvania. They were the parents
of five children, among whom was Robert James, of whom further.

(III) Dr. Robert James Murray, the eldest child of John (2) and
Elizabeth (Graham) Murray, was born June 13, 1845. in Pittsburgh, Penn-
sylvania. He received the elementary portion of his education under the
direction of private tutors, although he also attended the local private and
public schools, and later the Sewickley Academy, a boarding school under
the direction of the Rev. Joseph Travelli. In this institution the young man
not only took the regular course to the point of graduation, but continued
his studies in advanced work two years longer. He then matriculated in
the Jefferson Medical College of Philadelphia, and in due course of time
graduated with the class of 1867. He at once returned to Sewickley, Penn-
sylvania, and there laid the foundation of his present large practice in that



314 WESTERN PENNSYLVANIA

community. Dr. Murray is a member of the Allegheny County Medical
Society, and of the American Medical Association. In spite of the time and
attention necessarily taken up by his medical duties, Dr. Murray has found
a surplus of both to give to other aspects of the life of his town. Some
twenty years ago he and a number of others organized the First National
Bank of Sewickley, Dr. Murray being chosen president of the new insti-
tution, a position which he continues to hold to this day. Dr. Murray has
given a great amount of study to science, especially in botany, entomology,
and natural history, and is regarded as authority on botany, often being
consulted along that line by writers on that subject, and on his two trips
abroad he contributed articles of a general character to the Pittsburgh papers.
Dr. Murray has extensive real estate holdings and has handled considerable
in the past.

Dr. Murray married, October 20, 1867, Ellen Susan Hopkins, a daugh-
ter of Rev. Robert and Pamelia (Scott) Hopkins, of Cook county, West
Virginia, where she was born. To Dr. and Mrs. Murray have been bom
nine children, four of whom died in early youth, those surviving being as
follows : Lydia M., now Mrs. S. H. Anderson, of East End, Pittsburgh ;
Charles Scott, of whom further; Eugene, now treasurer of the Fidelity
Title Trust Company of Pittsburgh, and a rising man in his community;
Raymond G., a rising banker of Sewickley; Jessie, now Mrs. Dr. S. H.
Ralston, of Forbs street. East End, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Mrs. Mur-
ray's death occurred in the year 1886. Dr. Murray has been for many
years a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, as indeed his father
was before him, and in this persuasion he has reared his family of children.

(IV) Dr. Charles Scott Murray, second child and eldest son of Dr.
Robert James and Ellen Susan (Hopkins) Murray, was born February
16, 1874, in Sewickley, Pennsylvania, and there passed his childhood and
early youth. His education, which has been all that care and money could
make it, was begun in the excellent public schools of his native town, and
carried on in the John Way, Jr., Academy of Sewickley. He then matri-
culated in the medical department of the Western University, now the
University of Pittsburgh, graduating therefrom with the class of 1897. He
then began active practice in Sewickley, which, however, he continued but
a short time, as he had in contemplation a trip to Europe for the purpose