established meat merchants of McKees Rocks, and the excellent reputation
that he has acquired through years of fair and upright dealing has gained
him a generous degree of public favor, shown by the regular custom that
his place of business enjoys. His political convictions are firmly in favor
of the Republican party ; while he is a member of the Presbyterian Church
his wife is a member of St. Francis de Sales Catholic Church.

Mr. Hamal married, in 1890, Mary M., born in Pittsburgh South Side,
daughter of John and Sophia (Hammer) Kunzelman. Sophia, the eldest
of eight children, all of whom are living, is a daughter of George and Han-
nah Hammer, both natives of Germany who came to the United States
unmarried and were early settlers in McKees Rocks. There their deaths
occurred, he a farmer and land-owner. John Kunzelman was born in Ger-
many in 1842, coming to the United States in young manhood. He was a
butcher by trade but for twenty-seven years was a crippled sufferer from
rheumatism, his death taking place November 23, 191 2. Sophia Hammer
was born at Coal Hill, Pennsylvania, in 1844 and when four years of age
was brought to McKees Rocks, where her marriage was solemnized and
where she still resides. She is a member of St. Francis de Sales Roman
Catholic Church, to which her husband formerly belonged. Children of
John and Sophia (Hammer) Kunzelman: i. Charles G., a teamster of
McKees Rocks, Pennsylvania. 2. Mary M., of previous mention, married
Albert Hamal. 3. John, a butcher, resides in McKees Rocks.



346 WESTERN PENNSYLVANIA

The province of Potenza, compartimento of Basilicata, is
NATALE situated in the southern part of the ItaUan peninsula, its

southern boundary being the Gulf of Taranto, in that delight-
ful region where the bounty of nature seems to invite man to idleness. In
the little town of Cersosimo, in the latter part of the nineteenth century were
dwelling one Joseph Natale and his wife, Mary (Valincenti) Natale. With
them were living their children, of whom seven had been born to them,
though of these some had died in early childhood. Joseph Natale was
a man of some substance, a farmer and land-owner and, by the standard
of his neighborhood, very well-to-do. He had been a soldier in the army of
freedom during the Italian Revolution of 1848, and in addition to his other
wealth, drew, and still draws, a pension awarded to him in compensation
for a wound he had received at the taking of Rome. The seven children
born to the Natales were : Vincenzo, who died at the age of twelve years ;
Margurite, who also died in early youth ; Rosa, who married Antonio
Valincenti and now lives in New York City; D. A., our subject; Philomena,
now the wife of Gregario Folchi and a resident of Englewood, New Jersey;
Elizabeth and Catherine, both of whom died in infancy.

D. A. Natale, the fourth child of Joseph and Mary (Valincenti) Natale,
was born near the end of the month of August, 1877, in the lifelong home of
his parents, Cersosimo, Italy. He was educated in the public schools of
the province of Potenza and passed his childhood up to the age of fourteen
in his native place. To Italy, as to every part of Europe, even the most
remote, stories were brought at that time of the great opportunities to be
had in the great and youthful republic across the seas in far away America.
These stories found ready access to the lad's ears and his ambition was fired
to try his fortune in the new land. Nor were they without efifect upon his
father, who, when he found his son's intention of emigrating to be firm,
decided to accompany him on his travels. Accordingly the two set sail for
the United States in the year 1891, when young Natale was but fourteen
years of age. The father did not stay very long in America, however, but
contented himself with a visit of some eighteen months. Our subject re-
mained here in New York City, and there attended an English school, where
he learned the language, tending bar in the meantime and thus earning his
own maintenance. This continued until the year 1898, when he returned
to Europe and visited his family, remaining with them for full two years.
Upon the expiration of this time he was married and at once brought his
wife back to the United States. He stopped for a time in New York City
and then moved to Englewood, New Jersey, where he returned temporarily
to his old occupation and kept bar. Finally, however, he saw an opportunity
to engage in business for himself and, returning to the City of New York,
opened a retail stationery and book store there. In this enterprise he con-
tinued with a high measure of success for about a year, and then removed
to McKees Rocks, Pennsylvania, his present home. In McKees Rocks he
secured an excellent position as the manager of the foreign department of
the Chartiers Trust Company of that town. This was in 1902, and he con-



WESTF.RN PKNXSYLVANTa 347

tinued to serve in this cajjacity until 1910, a ])crio(l of eifjlit years, at the
end of which he had amassed a considerable personal fortune and erected
at No. 912 Island avenue, McKees Rocks, a large brick building, seventy-
five by fifty feet in the plan and four stories in height. This building was
fitted out as a flat houSe above and with stores on the ground floor. In one
of the latter Mr. Natale engaged in a twofold business, dealing on the one
hand in groceries and on the other in foreign remittances and steamship
tickets. He is still engaged successfully in these enterprises. Mr. Natale
is a fine type of the class, of whom we have many in this country, of
foreigners who have benefitted at once themselves and the land of their
adoption, through the value created by their useful labor here, who despite
their original handicap of being strangers unfamiliar at once with the man-
ners and tongue, have risen to positions of prominence and well-being in
their communities and who may well serve as an example to their indigenous
neighbors of industry, thrift and good citizenship. For Mr. Natale's in-
terests are not confined entirely to his private business. On the contrary
he takes a keen interest in public aiTairs, and is very much alive to the
questions of the day. He is a member of the Republican party and is
associated with a number of social and fraternal organizations, both those
connected with his fellow Italian-Americans and those of a more general
character and scope. Among these are the Independent Order of Hepta-
sophs, the Italy-America Citizen Society and several other similar orders.

During his visit to his native land while a young man, Mr. Natale
was married, September 15, 1900, to Therese Lauria, a daughter of Nicola
Antonio and Mary Angela (Dalba) Lauria, of his own native town of
Cersosimo. To them has been born one son, Joseph A. Natale, born July
18, 1902, in McKees Rocks, where he is now attending school. Mr. and
Mrs. Natale are Roman Catholics, and in that faith are rearing their son.



With the .marriage in Pittsburgh of Peter Yunker and
YUNKER Catherine Smith, the consummation of a romance begun

three thousand miles across the sea, in Germany, was
reached. The pair were natives of Germany, where their ancestors had
lived for generations, and in their homeland as children and as youth and
maiden had felt a strong mutual attraction which ripened into deeper affec-
tion as they advanced in years, the sentiment of youth realizing a happy
ending in the land far away. After their marriage they settled in Pitts-
burgh West End, and for about forty years he performed the duties of
roller boss in Painter's mill. He was a man of industrious habits, investing
the profits of his industry in real estate in McKees Rocks, where he lived
retired for ten years before his death, which occurred in January, 1905. His
wife had died many years previous and he married again, his second wife
being Mrs. Catherine Gast. He was the father of a large family by his
first wife, no children being born to his second.

(II) John Yunker, son of Peter and Catherine (Smith) Yunker, was
born in Pittsburgh West End, Allegheny county, Pennsylvania. March 2,



348 WESTERN PENNSYLVANIA

1857, died in 1905. His education was obtained in St. Philomena's Parochial
School, and after completing his studies he worked in a rolling mill until
1882. In that year he established in the grocery business in Pittsburgh West
End, where he was located for two years, continuing in the same business on
Ohartiers avenue, McKees Rocks, Pennsylvania, for nine years. In the lat-
ter place he extended his business to take in the departments of a general
store, and at the height of the oil excitement began dealing in furniture exclu-
sively. In 1900 he admitted his brother-in-law, Fred Yaggi, to partnership,
the latter having been associated in business with him since 1887. Their
original store soon afforded insufficient accommodations for their enlarged
business and they moved into a building in the same block. No. 212-216
Chartiers avenue, the present location. Since the death, in 1905, of Mr.
Yunker, the business has been conducted by his partner, Mrs. Yunker
retaining her husband's interest. For several years Mr. Yunker was en-
gaged in the undertaking business, and was one of the partners of the Jacob
Herbst Lumber Company. When the advantages of a national bank in
McKees Rocks became apparent to the merchants of the place, Mr. Yunker
was forcefully instrumental in the establishment of such an institution, and
for several years continued as director of the First National Bank. In the
same manner he supported and encouraged by his aid the introduction of
all of the institutions found in thriving cities, and the Gazette, a local
journal, was first published through his efforts and those of a group of the
responsible men of the city, who stood sponsors for the enterprise. So the
story goes throughout the entire list of municipal improvements that were
inaugurated during his lifetime, his public spirit, combined with his capacity
for achievement, promising success for any worthy project he promised to
promote. It was his fortune to be taken at his worth in the days that he
labored, and at his death no obituary notice was needed that his townsmen
might know that there had departed from them a citizen of unselfish in-
stincts, ambitious business enterprise, progressive tendencies, and a gentle-
man of courteous, considerate bearing. His political faith was Democratic,
and he held membership in the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks,
Lodge No. II, and the Knights of Columbus. He and his wife belonged to
St. Mary's Roman Catholic Church.

Mr. Yunker married, May 10, 1881, Magdalena, daughter of Christian
and Anna (Killmeyer) Yaggi (see Yaggi sketch). They had one daughter,
Mary Cecelia, born December 16, 1885, married John H. Taylor, and lives
at her mother's home. Children : Magdalene Flavia, Mary Matilda, and
Bertha Leah.



While the first members of this particular branch of the Singer
SINGER family came to this country at a comparatively recent date,
they have amply proven their worth to the community in
various directions.

Louis Singer was born "in France, February 9, 1840, and was but three
years of age when brought to this country by his parents so that he is



WESTERN PENNSYLVANIA 349

practically, in everything except the actual fact of birth, an American.
They settled, in 1843, ^^ Glenfield, Allegheny county, Pennsylvania, where
he was reared and received his education in the practical school of life. He
was apprenticed to learn the blacksmith's trade, a calling he followed for
some time, after his marriage removing to Pittsburgh. From there he
removed to McKees Rocks, Pennsylvania, and after a few years engaged in
business as an ice dealer. He was the owner of a pond four acres in
extent from which he supplied the town. When Mr. Singer took up his
residence in McKees Rocks there were but seven houses in the entire town.
He is one of the oldest residents of the town, but is no longer in business,
his sons having taken charge of this. He is Democratic in political matters,
and a member of St. Mary's Catholic Church. He married Elizabeth
Yeagle, who was born in Pittsburgh about 1841, and they had thirteen
children, of whom there are now living: Lena, married John McKernan,
and lives at McKees Rocks ; Mary, married Michael Beck, and lives in
McKees Rocks ; Cecelia, married William Rosenberg, and lives in Library,
Pennsylvania ; William L., is in the ice business at McKees Rocks ; Joseph
Andrew, of further mention ; Andrew A., also in the ice business at McKees
Rocks.

Joseph Andrew Singer, son of Louis and Elizabeth (Yeagle) Singer,
was bom at McKees Rocks, Allegheny county, Pennsylvania, September 22,
1875. He received an excellent education at St. Mary's parochial school,
and at an early age commenced to assist his father in the management of
the ice business. About 1899, he and his two brothers organized the Singer
Ice Company, and proceeded to erect an ice plant at McKees Rocks with a
capacity of ten tons. This was soon outgrown, and the plant enlarged to
hold forty-five tons, and later again enlarged to hold ninety-five tons. In
1907 the business had expanded to such proportions as to make it advisable
to start a branch in Coraopolis, which was accordingly done, and Mr.
Singer was placed in charge of this. For a period of three years the ice
was shipped from McKees Rocks to Coraopolis, but in 1910, a plant of
twelve tons' capacity was erected in Coraopolis, at Fourth avenue and Ken-
dall street, and Mr. Singer has been its manager since that time. He is a
Democrat, giving his staunch support to his party, and he and his wife are
members of St. Joseph's Catholic Church. He is also a member of the
Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, and of the Knights and Ladies
of Honor. Mr. Singer married, January 22, 1902, Clara, born in Sharps-
burg, Pennsylvania, a daughter of Joseph Farrell, and they have children :
Margaret, Joseph, Ruth, Francis and Clare Farrell. In December, 191 1,
Mr. Singer purchased a beautiful home at No. 1109 Fifth avenue.



The immigrant ancestor of this branch of the Donnelly
DONNELLY family in reality immigrated to the United States three

times, as after his first voyage he returned to Ireland, the
homeland, twice. This is Samuel, son of John and Ann (Winter) Donnelly.
John Donnelly was born at Rich Hill, county Armagh, Ireland, about 1814,



J50 WESTERN PENNSYLVANIA

and after his marriage became a farmer, owning a part of the land that he
cultivated, also working as a sawyer. He was four times married, dying on
the farm near the place of his birth about 1869. By his first marriage he
was the father of: i. John, lost at sea. 2. James, a veteran of the Crimean
war, lives in Oppenshaw, near Manchester, England. 3. William, retired,
resides in city of Armagh, Ireland ; was a plumber for fifty years. John
Donnelly's second wife was Ann Winter, born at Anaghmore, county Ar-
magh, Ireland, about 1813, died about 1850. They were the parents of: 4.
Joseph, died in Ireland. 5. Samuel, of whom further. By his third and
fourth wives John Donnelly had no children.

(II) Samuel Donnelly, son of John and Ann (Winter) Donnelly, was
born in county Armagh, Ireland, January 17, 1849, and there attended the
public schools, being reared by Thomas Weaver who is a real estate dealer
and served dairy products to the County Infirmary for half a century.
Learning the plumber's trade he immigrated to the United States, settling
first on Long Island, returning to Ireland three months later and there
m.arrying. The three following years he passed in the homeland, once more
coming to the United States and locating in Pittsburgh, where he was
employed at his trade for the Philadelphia Company and Smith & Wiley.
About 1886 he moved to Sharpsburg and installed the plumbing fi.xtures
in the first house in Aspinwall, remaining in that locality for eight years.
He then once more went to Ireland, where he lived for two years, at the
end of that time making his final voyage to this country, taking up his
residence in East Carnegie and entering the employ of George Lenfestey,
by whom he was engaged for two years. Mr. Donnelly subsequently estab-
lished in independent business and was successfully engaged in plumbing
until 1908, when his son William succeeded him as proprietor of the busi-
ness and the elder Donnelly retired. Mr. Donnelly's political action has
always been taken as the friend of the Republican party, while he and his
wife held membership in the United Presbyterian Church, to which he still
belongs. He was formerly a member of the Independent Order of Odd
Fellows. He has been twice married, his first wife, whom he married about
1869, having been Annie Odgers. of Ireland, who died about one year after
their marriage. He married. May 2, 1883, Jane, born in Lelaghan. county
Down, Ireland, died January 15, 1899, daughter of John and Sarah Lena-
ghan. By his first marriage Samuel Donnelly had one daughter, Sarah, who
married William Patterson and resides in Carnegie, the mother of four
children. Children of Samuel and Jane (Lenaghan) Donnelly: i. Hester,
unmarried, a trained nurse. 2. William, of whom further. 3. Robert Alex-
ander, employed by the Wabash Pittsburgh Terminal Railway. 4. Florence,
died in infancy. 5. James, a plumber, lives at home. 6. David, lives at
home. 7. Samuel Earl.

(III) William Donnelly, son of Samuel and Jane (Lenaghan) Don-
nelly, was born in county Armagh, Ireland, September 26, 1885, and, being
brought to the United States by his parents, was educated in the public
schools. He determined upon plumbing as his occupation and after learning



WESTERN PENNSYLVANIA 351

his trade worked thereat for a time before, in 1908, assuming the manage-
ment of the business founded by his father. Since that year he has been
its sole proprietor, and under his direction the flourishing trade attracted to
the house by Samuel Donnelly has steadily increased in volume, competently
handled by the son. Mr. Donnelly is a strong Republican sympathizer, and
he holds membership in tlie Independent (Jrder of Odd Fellows anrl the
Fraternal Order of Eagles.



The ancestry of William Everett Laughner is Dutch,
LAUGHNER Pennsylvania having ever been the American home of the

family. Samuel Laughner, with whom this chronicle
begins, was a native of that state, one of a family of four, three sons and
one daughter, born about 18 19. died in 1884. His youth was spent in Butler
and Clarion counties, and there he learned the trades of cabinet and chair-
maker, forsaking these callings after the big oil strikes in that locality to
engage in the building of oil rigging, for which there was great demand at a
highly profitable figure. For many years he was a resident of Salem, Clarion
county, and during the last ten years of his life was employed in the oil fields.
He was a Republican in politics and with his wife belonged to the German
Reformed Church. His life was passed in ceaseless activity, for he had a
large family dependent upon him for support, and until within three years
of his death he enjoyed perfect health, seldom missing a day at his trade or
occupation because of illness. He was thrice married, all of his children
being by his first two wives. He married (second) Sarah Jane Grant, born
near North Washington, Butler county, about 1825, died in 1886, her father,
a farmer of Butler county, of Scotch descent, attaining the unusual age of
ninety-six years. Children of the first marriage of Samuel Laughner: i.
Nathan, a lumber dealer of Peach Bottom, Elk county, Pennsylvania. 2.
Sallie, married Bart Dunkel, ex-sheriff of Clarion county. By this marriage
he had also a third child, who married a Ruppert. Children of Samuel and
Sarah Jane (Grant) Laughner: 4. Nan, married George Wise, deceased, an
oil operator, and resides in Butler, Pennsylvania. 5. James, engaged in the
oil business, lived on Anderson Road, Allegheny county. Pennsylvania. 6.
A daughter, died aged six months. 7. Perry O., an oil producer of Pitts-
burgh. 8. Melissa, married (first) William McMillan, (second) C. W.
Bolland, and lives in Seattle, Washington. 9. Emma, married Charles Gray,
deceased, and lives in Findlay, Ohio. 10. Elmer E., an oil operator, lives in
South Heights, Pennsylvania, married Mabel McNamee. 11. William
Everett, of whom further. 12. Mary, died aged sixteen. 13. John, a
farmer and oil operator, lives near Slippery Rock, Butler county. 14. Pearl,
married Andrew Wirtman, and resides in Robinson. Illinois. 15. Gertrude,
married Daniel McGuigan. Their home is in Robinson, Illinois.

William Everett Laughner, son of Samuel and Sarah Jane (Grant)
Laughner, was born in Salem, Clarion county, Pennsylvania. March 6, 1863.
For a time he attended the public schools of Salem, but at an early age it
became necessary for him to contribute to the maintenance of the family.



352 WESTERN PENNSYLVANIA

which was a large one, and he left his books to begin upon a career in which
the most severe labor has never been long wanting. When he was fifteen
years of age he obtained work on the neighboring farms, in 1878 going to
McKean county in search of a more lucrative occupation. He arrived in
this place with three dollars in cash as his total assets, and it required more
than frugality, absolute deprivation, to exist on this amount for the two
weeks that elapsed before he obtained his first work, cutting wood for
boiler fires in one of the plants of the locality. He was thus employed for
two years, subsequently working on oil leases, tool-dressing, and well drill-
ing. After his marriage in Allegany county. New York, in 1885, he was
engaged in the oil business at Oil City, Pennsylvania, Twombley, Ohio, and
North Baltimore, Ohio, in the fall of 1889 moving to Shannon, Beaver
county, and there conducting oil operations independently. On April i, 1890,
he and his brothers. Perry O. and Elmer E., opened a general oil supply
store on Mill street, Coraopolis, Pennsylvania, and for nine years he man-
aged this establishment. Disposing of his interest he set out upon a journey
to California, but was taken ill at Findlay, Ohio, and changing his plans
entered into a partnership with A. Chapman, of that place, engaging in well
drilling for two years, after which he was in Wireton, Pennsylvania, South
Heights, Pennsylvania, and Oblong, Illinois, remaining in each place for but
a short period of time. In 1908 Mr. Laughner took up his residence in
Coraopolis, where he lives at the present time, operating several wells in
that vicinity. He holds interest in the Minnetonka Oil Company, of Okla-
homa, and is also active in companies owning oil lands in Illinois and Kansas.
The year following his arrival in Coraopolis he erected a handsome cream
brick residence at No. 806 Sixth avenue, and in addition to this property
holds title to several other houses and considerable real estate in that city.
Mr. Laughner is liberal in his political views, although his belief is in the
principles of the Republican party, and for four and a half years rendered
public service as a member of the council of Coraopolis. His fraternal
orders are the Knights of the Maccabees, the Benevolent and Protective
Order of Elks, and the Free and Accepted Masons, belonging to Lodge
No. 674; he is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, his wife be-
longing to the Baptist Church, which both attend. For the material success
and prosperity he has attained too much credit cannot be tendered Mr.
Laughner, for he has risen to independence from a position of extreme
lowliness. Called from the rightful pursuits of youth to duties and re-
sponsibilities weighty enough for a man's shoulders, his mind was not
embittered against his fate, but, bravely accepting his lot, he stormed the
fortress of fortune and wrested from it victory. His lack of graded gen-
eral instruction has been replaced by business wisdom and shrewdness of
high order, and by its exercise he has arrived at a position in which he is
on a level with the leaders in his line. He has been allowed to cherish
no illusions throughout his life, viewing men and callings at their practical
value, and through his rigorous training, always amid stern competition, has
become self-reliant, keen, and forceful in his dealings with his fellowmen.



WESTERN PENNSYLVANIA 353

Mr. Laughner married, December 29, 1885, Flora E., born in James-
town, Mercer county, Pennsylvania, daughter of Hiram Loudin and Mary
(Holland) Loudin, the former a soldier of the Union Army during the Civil
War, died while a captive in Andersonville prison, Georgia. Children of