of completing and rounding out his education. This was not long delayed,
and he set sail for the "Old World," spending there seven years before he
returned to take up his active career in his native land. During this time he
attended three of the most famous of the great European Universities,
those of Berlin, Vienna and Edinburgh, and finally spent a year in travel
through the various European countries. He then returned to the United
States and to his native region, and since 1909 he has been in the active and
successful practice of his profession in Sewickley, Pennsylvania. Besides
the one just mentioned. Dr. Charles S. INIurray has made two additional
trips to Europe. He is a member of the Allegheny County and the Pennsyl-
WESTERN PENNSYLVANIA 315
vania State Medical societies and of the American Medical Association.
Dr. Murray married, March, 1901, Sarah Jane Woods, a daughter of
Robert and Mary (McCann) Woods, of Fairoaks, Pennsylvania, where she
was born. There is no issue of this marriage. Dr. and Mrs. Murray are
members of the Methodist Episcopal Church.
William G. Murray, son of John Murray (q. v.), was born
MURRAY near Sewickley, Allegheny county, Pennsylvania, September
14, 1857. He was reared on the home farm in Allegheny
county, Pennsylvania, being educated in the public schools and Ohio Wes-
leyan University, at Delaware, Ohio. He began his business career in a
steel mill, and in 1902 opened his present feed establishment in Sewickley,
Pennsylvania, a place ninety by one hundred and fifty feet, where he con-
ducts a profitable and successful business. To the public service he has
freely and unselfishly devoted a large share of his time, having as a Re-
publican been for six years justice of the peace of Sewickley Heights, then
Ohio township, a member of the school board, and for six years a member
of the council of Sewickley borough, at the present time serving his second
term as president of that body, both of his administrations having been
marked by worthy and efficient handling of the municipal problems that he
was called upon to face and solve. The confidence reposed in him by his
fellow merchants and those who, like him, are engaged in business in the
borough, was evinced by his two years' incumbency of the president's chair
of the Board of Trade. With his wife he holds membership in the United
Presbyterian Church.
Mr. Murray married, in 1902, Jennie I. Hutchman, of Dorseyville,
Pennsylvania, before her marriage a school teacher, daughter of Samuel
and Margaret A. Hutchman. Her father was a native of Allegheny county,
Pennsylvania, and was a soldier in the Union army in the Civil War, his
death occurring in 1903, when he was sixty-three years of age. Children of
Samuel and Margaret A. Hutchman : Elliott E., Sara, Jennie I., of previous
mention, married William G. Murray, and one deceased.
Harry H. Myers, of the well known firm of Myers & Myers.
MYERS and one of the most prominent of the merchants of Sewickley,
Pennsylvania, is a member of one of the old pioneer families
of that region. His great-grandfather on the paternal side was one of the
early settlers in Schaefiferstown, Pennsylvania. He was the owner of con-
siderable property in that section and lived with his wife on his large farm
which he operated with a high degree of success until the time of his death.
He had a son, Levi Cal Myers, the father of our subject, who was born in
the year 1840 on his father's farm at Schaefiferstown. Here also he passed
his boyhood, attending in the meantime the local public schools. Upon ar-
riving at man's estate he removed from his birthplace to Canton, Ohio, and
there went into business for himself. He prospered greatly in Ohio and
3i6 WESTERN PENNSYLVANIA
became a man of large substance, owning and operating for twelve years
the Congress Lake Hotel of Stark county in that state. Mr. Myers Sr.
entered the Union army at the time of the outbreak of the Civil War, en-
listing in the same regiment as the late President McKinley, and his brother-
in-law, James Barber. He was a member of the Grand Army of the Re-
public and a prominent figure in the community, though in his later life he
retired from active business and spent most of his time looking after his
many and large investments. He was a Democrat in politics, a man keenly
alive to the great public issues of his day, alert and practical. His death oc-
curred in the year 1904 and he is survived by his widow, who is at present
a resident of Canton. Levi C. Myers was married to Ada E. Heckman, a
native of Canton, Ohio, and the daughter of pioneers in that region. Her
father was a prominent merchant and business man of Canton in the early
days. To Mr. and Mrs. Myers Sr. were born eight children, as follows:
Clardie E., deceased; Lee Oscar; Harry H., the subject of this sketch;
Myrtle M.; Bessie E. ; Earl W., a sketch of whom appears elsewhere in this
work ; Margaret and Corinne.
Harry H. Myers, the third child of Levi Cal and Ada E. (Heckman)
Myers, was born December 24, 1876, in Canton, Stark county, Ohio, and
passed his boyhood and early youth in the place of his birth. He was
educated in the local 'schools, grammar and high, and later obtained a posi-
tion as a clerk in a grocery business there. He may be fairly said to have
grown up in the grocery business and had gained a large experience in his
line, before he ventured to embark upon an independent enterprise. In the
year 1904 he removed to Pennsylvania and settled in the town of Sewickley
and there, with his younger brother, Earl W. Myers, started the large and
successful grocery house of Myers & Myers, the business of which has
grown in the comparatively brief period of its existence, to its present great
proportions. The firm inpludes among its members besides the two Myers
brothers, Charles H. Little, also of Sewickley. Mr. Myers is a member of
the Republican party and takes a vital interest in the pubhc affairs of the
community.
Mr. Myers was married, June 4, 1907, to Armena Winings, of Canton,
Ohio, and to them have been born two sons : Harrison Howard Myers,
February 23, 1910, and Lee Nevin, February 15, 1914.
Earl W. Myers, one of the best known merchants of Sewick-
MYERS ley, Allegheny county, Pennsylvania, and a member of the firm
of Myers & Myers, which does a very large business in gro-
ceries in that town, belongs to the prominent Pennsylvania family of Myers,
so long associated with the western part of that state and with Stark county,
Ohio. His paternal grandparents were pioneers in Schaefferstown, Pennsyl-
vania, settling and acquiring considerable property there in the early days.
He was a farmer and spent the remaineder of his life in the region which he
helped to develop. One of the sons of the pioneer was Levi Cal Myers, who
WESTERN PENNSYLVANIA 317
was born at Schaefferstown, Pennsylvania, in the year 1840, and spent his
boyhood and early youth in that place, obtaining his education in the local
public schools. While still a young man he removed from his native place
to Canton, Ohio, where he entered the hotel business, in which he was highly
successful, and became a man of large means. He was for twelve years
the owner of the Congress Lake Hotel of Stark county, Ohio, and had a
number of large investments which he spent the greater part of his later
years in looking after. Upon the outbreak of the Civil War Mr. Myers
enlisted in the Union army and served in that historic struggle in the same
regiment and company as William McKinley and his brother-in-law, James
Barber. He was a member of the Grand Army of the Republic. He was
a prominent figure in his community and took a keen interest in public affairs
and the questions of the day. He was a member of the Democratic party.
His death occurred in 1904 and he is survived by his widow, who still re-
sides in Canton, Ohio. After taking up his abode in Canton, Mr. Myers
met and married Ada E. Heckman, a native of Canton, where she was born.
Mrs. Myers was a member of another pioneer family, her parents having
settled in the early days in that neighborhood. Her father was a respected
merchant of that Ohio town. To Mr. and Mrs. Levi Cal Myers were born
eight children, as follows: Clardie E., deceased; Lee Oscar; Harry H.,
whose sketch appears elsewhere in this work; Myrtle M.; Bessie E. ; Earl
W., the subject of this sketch ; Margaret and Corinne.
Earl W. Myers, the sixth child of Levi Cal and Ada E. (Heckman)
Myers, was born June 27, 1883, in Canton, Ohio, and passed his childhood
in that town, receiving his education in the common schools and the High
School there. He later took a course in the Business College of Stark
county, Ohio, and, in 1904, moved to Sewickley, Allegheny county, Penn-
sylvania, which has ever since remained at once his home and the scene
of his business career. Here, in partnership with his brother, Harry H.
Myers, and Charles H. Little, he founded the grocery firm of Myers &
Myers, the business of which has since grown to very large proportions.
But Mr. Myers' activities are not limited by his personal or business in-
terests. On the contrary he takes a prominent part in the social and public
life of the town. In politics he is of that best type of citizen who refuses to
label himself with the name of any party, preferring to call himself an
Independent, and stand for what principle and man he may choose, without
regard to party dictation. He is a member of the Masonic Lodge, of Sewick-
ley, and of the Knights of Pythias.
Mr. Myers was married, June 27, 1912, to Elizabeth Challis, a native
of Sewickley, where she was born, and a daughter of Daniel W. Challis of
that town, a sketch of whom appears elsewhere in this work.
From Bedford county, Pennsylvania, this line of Diehls was
DIEHL carried to Kansas in the person of Aaron Diehl, and in him
returned to the former state. The pioneer in Bedford county,
3i8 WESTERN PENNSYLVANIA
Pennsylvania, was Adam H. Diehl, who there owned land and cultivated
it until his death. He married and had twelve children, one of whom was
Aaron, of whom further.
(II) Aaron Diehl, son of Adam H. Diehl, was born in Bedford county,
Pennsylvania, died there about 1877. He was educated in the schools of
the county. He became a farmer, and in 1867 moved to Kansas. In that
state he was employed by the United States postal department, and while
performing the duties of his office was wounded when a band of Indians
attacked him to secure and rob the mails. He never recovered from the
effects of his wounds, and returning to Bedford county, Pennsylvania, died
therefrom. He married Jennie, daughter of Joseph and Elizabeth (Roller)
Armstrong, born in Bedford county, Pennsylvania. Her father was an
early settler in Bedford county and received a grant of government land,
his son David fighting in the Union army in the Civil War. Aaron and
Jennie (Armstrong) Diehl were the parents of one child, Aaron Haydn,
of whom further.
(III) Aaron Haydn Diehl, only son of Aaron and Jennie (Armstrong)
Diehl, was born at Fort Riley, Kansas, November i. 1869. Until he was
sixteen years of age he attended a country school at Chalebeatville, at the
same time working on a farm. His instructress was the first woman teacher
in the district, and she, perceiving his desire for knowledge, encouraged him
to continue his efforts for advanced education. The following year he
moved to Bedford, there continuing his studies. Large for his age, he was
placed in a class with younger and smaller pupils, and although this was
disappointing he felt no false pride, and applied himself to his lessons with
such determined assiduity that he completed the remainder of the course in
three years, taking two years work in one. During this time he took care
of the furnace and performed other work for the present lieutenant-gov-
ernor of Pennsylvania. While a school boy he became interested in photog-
raphy and had cherished an ambition to make that his life work, but being
without capital found it exceedingly difficult to obtain a foothold upon even
the lowermost rung of the ladder, at length prevailing upon a photographer
in Bedford to form a three year contract with him. In the first year he was
to receive three dollars a month, the second, six dollars, and the third, twelve
dollars. His employer, while admiring the pluck that led the lad to propose
such an arrangement, had little faith in the keeping of the contract, but
when he saw the eagerness with which his apprentice performed even the
most menial task and the avidity with which he studied the principles of
the profession, he bent his energies toward giving the boy all the assistance
possible. At the end of the three years his benefactor told Mr. Diehl in
frank sincerity that no opportunity awaited him in that place, and offered
to secure him a position in Springfield, Illinois. This Mr. Diehl gratefully
accepted, and was there employed for one year, later obtaining similar em-
ployment in Nebraska, living out-of-doors most of the time in order to
strengthen a none too robust constitution. He then returned to Springfield
and was there for five years, at the end of that time returning to Bedford
WESTERN PENNSYLVANIA 319
to visit his mother. While home he made a trij> to I'ittsburgh to attend
an encampment of the Grand Army of the Kepublic, and there was intro-
duced to Mr. B. L. H. Dabbs, a Pittsburgh photographer of wide reputa-
tion. It was about tiiat time that flash-light apparatus was first coming into
use, and Mr. Dabbs, while the owner of such equipment, had never used
it. Mr. Diehl had become familiar with its operation in the West and at
Mr. Dabbs' request took a flash-light picture of a group of the Grand Army
of the Republic, results which far surpassed Mr. Dabbs' fondest hopes.
Favorably impressed by the competent and confident manner in which Mr.
Diehl handled this situation, Mr. Dabbs offered him a position as manager
of the local studio, which was accepted. This connection continued for
twelve years and was interrupted by the death of the employer. At Mr.
Diehl's suggestion the printing room of the concern was established at his
residence, where there were greater advantages of light, a model printing
room resulting. After Mr. Dabbs' death Mr. Diehl was employed for two
years by his successor, Miss Patton. In 1901 he moved to Sewickley, pur^
chased property, and there opened a studio. For twelve years he had been
not only the trusted employee of Mr. Dabbs, but a close friend, and at the
latter's funeral he performed his last service for his deceased friend in the
capacity of pall-bearer, in which he was joined by Mr. William G. Diehl,
then mayor of Pittsburgh. In Sewickley Mr. Diehl has achieved an enviable
reputation as an artist and has prospered. His position in his calling is well
deserved, for never did youth strive harder for a goal and obstacles and
difficulties held for him no terror, their surmounting and circumvention
lending zest to the fight and value to the prize. While he was in business
in Pittsburgh he photographed nearly all of the leading men of the city,
those prominent in all branches of the city life, for a publication entitled
"Notable Men of Pittsburgh." He has been active in Sewickley in other
channels than those relating to his profession, and for eight years was a
member of the borough council, elected to that body as the candidate of the
Republican party, serving as president of that body. The local Board of
Trade has received his steadfast support, and for six years he has held the
office of secretary, still serving in that capacity. He is also a charter mem-
ber of the East End Board of Trade of Pittsburgh. His influence and
eflforts were important factors in the successful founding of the Boys'
Brigade movement in Pittsburgh, in which work he ably seconded the effi-
cient endeavors of Colonel H. P. Bape. His fraternal orders are the
Masonic, in which he belongs to Doric Lodge, No. 630, and Mispah Chapter,
Royal Arch Masons ; the Knights of Pythias, and the Modern Woodmen
of America.
He married, in June, 1901, Maude Isabelle Evans, of Pittsburgh. They
have two children, William Stanley and Charles Haydn. Mr. Diehl and
his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and to this organ-
ization Mr. Diehl gives the best of his time and labors, having been active in
church work all of his life.
320 WESTERN PENNSYLVANIA
Howard L. Speer is a member of an old family, originally of
SPEER Scotch-Irish stock, but identified for a number of generations
with Allegheny county, Pennsylvania, where they were among
the pioneers and earliest settlers. Indeed, the tract of land first owned
by the Speers was purchased by them direct from the Indians. The
family has always been Presbyterian as far back as the records go, and
during the time of its residence in Pennsylvania its members have been
farmers.
(I) James Speer, father of Howard L. Speer, was born in the year 1807,
in Robinson township, Allegheny county, Pennsylvania, as were his parents
before him. He was the eldest child of a family of four, having two
brothers, John and Robert, both of whom operated farms adjoining the old
Speer homestead, and one sister Jane. He passed his childhood in Robinson
township in his birthplace, and inherited upon his father's death a portion
of the home farm. On this he lived the remainder of his long life. He
might have served as the most convincing of arguments for a rural life,
reaching the age of eighty-five years, and maintaining during that period
such equable health that he actually never tasted medicine until the attack
of pneumonia which finally carried him ofif. He was a man of strong con-
victions, a Presbyterian in religion, as was the case with all his family,
and in politics a rnember of the Republican party. He married Agnes
Twyford, a daughter of Milo Twyford, a native of Beaver county, Pennsyl-
vania, and later a resident of Independence township, Allegheny county,
where Mrs. Speer was born in the year 1823. Here Mr. Twyford had a
very large farm of some one thousand acres and here he finally died at a
good old age. Mrs. Speer was the third of a family of four children. To
Mr. and Mrs. Speer were born ten children, as follows: i. Isaac N., who
now lives on the old Speer homestead ; married Emma Brenn. 2. Frank
B., a practicing physician at Duquesne, Pennsylvania ; married Alice Chick-
ering, of Louisville, Kentucky. 3. Elmer B., a fruit grower living near
Riverside, California. 4. Grant A., of McKees Rocks, Pennsylvania; a
graduate of the Boston Conservatory of Music and now a professor of
music, both vocal and instrumental. 5. Garnet R., an attorney connected
with Judge Miller's firm in Pittsburgh ; married Delia Faulk. 6. Howard
L., of whom further. 7. Wilhelmina, now the wife of Philip J. Magnus, a
gardener of Kennedy township, Allegheny county, Pennsylvania, and a
veteran of the Civil War. 8. Cordelia, now the wife of Dr. J. R. King, a
practicing physician, formerly of Braddock, Pennsylvania, where Mrs. King
was principal of the schools, and now of Riverside, California. 9. Harriet,
later Mrs. Louis Magnus, of Allegheny, Pennsylvania. 10. Cora, now Mrs.
Taylor, of Kennedy township, Allegheny county, Pennsylvania.
(II) Howard L. Speer, sixth child of James and Agnes (Twyford)
Speer, was born September 23, 1866, in Robinson township, Allegheny
county, Pennsylvania. The elementary portion of his education was ob-
tained in the public schools of his native township, and upon finishing his
studies there he employed himself at farm work until he reached the age of
WESTERN PENNSYLVANIA 321
twenty-three years. He was then matriculated at the University of Western
Pennsylvania, and graduated from that institution with the class of 1899.
He was examined in Philadelphia by the state board in the subject of under-
taking, and started in the autumn of 1899 an undertaking establishment in
McKees Rocks, Pennsylvania, an enterprise he has continued successfully
up to the present time. In 1904 he built a large brick building at 414
Chartiers avenue, McKees Rocks, for the operation of his business, and in
1909 sold this and erected a still larger one on Island avenue, containing
a garage which he conducts as an adjunct. On April 19, 1912, he also
built a large barn at the corner of Bell avenue and Linden street. His resi-
dence is situated at No. 1125 Tweed street, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Mr.
Speer is an active man in the afifairs of the community, an Independent in
politics, casting his ballot for the man and cause that he believes to be the
best.
Mr. Speer married, August 3, 1902, Mary J. Thomas, a daughter of
Thomas and Jane Thomas, of Petrolia, Butler county, Pennsylvania, where
she was born. MV. Thomas was a coal operator in the district but is now-
dead, and is survived by Mrs. Jane Thomas. To Mr. and Mrs. Speer two
children have been born, Marcella, born August 28, 1905, and Mary Alice,
born January 6, 191 1. Mr. Speer and all the members of his family are
members of the First Presbyterian Church in Sheridan, Twentieth Ward,
Pittsburgh.
The Fox family of which this sketch treats, had its origin in Ger-
FOX many, to which country the United States owes a debt of grati-
tude for the admirable characteristics which its natives have in-
troduced here. The name Fox was undoubtedly Fuchs in the mother
country, a word having the same significance as the English Fox.
(I) Henry Fox, the first of whom we have record, was born in Ger-
many, where his entire life was spent. He married and raised a family of
fourteen children, ten sons and four daughters, the greater number of whom
eventually found their way to the United States. Some settled in New
York, some in New Jersey and some in Ohio.
(H) Joseph Fox, son of Henry Fox, was the immigrant ancestor of
this branch of the Fox family, which has become closely identified with
the history of Crawford county, Pennsylvania, and has reflected credit upon
the community in which it has resided. He was born in Manheim on the
Rhine, Germany, in 1805, where he received an excellent education ; he died
in 1864. Coming to the United States in April, 1837, his first two years in
this country were spent in the state of New Jersey, about three miles from
Princeton. Unless well provided with letters of introduction, and backed
by influential friends, it is far more difficult for a foreigner of culture and
refinement to obtain a suitable position upon his first arrival here, than it
is for an ordinary laborer who can work with a pick and shovel, and is not
hampered by the lack of knowledge of the prevailing language of the coun-
try. This was the case with Mr. Fox and, having tried vainly to obtain a
322 WESTERN PENNSYLVANIA
position to which his education and breeding entitled him, he accepted that
of coachman for Professor Wolf, of Princeton College. This gentleman,
recognizing the ability of Mr. Fox, succeeded in having him appointed as
an instructor in German at the college, a position he held two years, until
he resigned it in order to gratify his desires which were in the direction
of locating considerably farther west than Princeton. Accordingly, in 1839,
Mr. Fox with his wife and family traveled westward, making the trip over-
land in a wagon, and arrived safely at Meadville, Pennsylvania. At first he
engaged in teaming, hauling coal from Greenville to Meadville by means of
a four-horse team. In 1841 he purchased a tract of fifty acres of land in
Mead township, which he cleared, and on which he resided for the re-
mainder of his life. He is buried in the Greendale cemetery, in Meadville.
He was very active in the interests of the German Reformed church, was
one of its first elders and one of the prime movers in erecting the church
edifice. In political afifairs of the section he was also a man of considerable
influence and served in the offices of supervisor and school director.
Mr. Fox married, in Germany, Barbara Hartman, who was a close
neighbor in their native land, and who was born in 1802, died in 1865 and
is buried in Meadville. Children: i. John, see forward. 2. Barbara, born
in Germany, March 5, 1834, died at about the age of forty years. She
married Michael Summer. 3. Joseph, Jr., born in Germany, April 3, 1837,
lives on College Hill, Meadville. He married Mary Hofifman, and has a
daughter Mary, who married William Beals. 4. Katherine, born in America,
died in Meadville. She married Henry Albouch and had one son, Joseph.
5. Francis, born in America, now resides at Chautauqua Grounds, Chau-