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Below is a family biography included in the History of Allegheny County, Pennsylvania published in 1889 by A. Warner & Co. These biographies are valuable for genealogy research in discovering missing ancestors or filling in the details of a family tree. Family biographies often include far more information than can be found in a census record or obituary. Details will vary with each biography but will often include the date and place of birth, parent names including mothers' maiden name, name of wife including maiden name, her parents' names, name of children (including spouses if married), former places of residence, occupation details, military service, church and social organization affiliations, and more. There are often ancestry details included that cannot be found in any other type of genealogical record.
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AUGUSTUS W. SMITH, carriage-manufacturer, McKeesport, is a native of Butler county, Pa., where he was reared and educated. He served four years’ apprenticeship at the carriage-maker’s trade in Pittsburgh, and in 1871 embarked in business in McKeesport, at the corner of Fourth avenue and Walnut street. Thoroughly posted in all the details of his business, his trade increased so rapidly that he was compelled to enlarge his facilities in 1872, and in 1874 he erected the large three-story building which was purchased by the Pittsburgh, McKeesport & Youghiogheny Railroad company in 1884, and is now occupied by that corporation as a freight depot. In 1880 he added the manufacture of harness to his already extensive business, and in 1884 erected his present complete mammoth works, at Nos. 561, 563, 565, 567 and 569 Fifth avenue, which he now occupies, and which are conceded to be one of the finest and most complete carriage-works in Western Pennsylvania. The works are one of McKeesport’s reliable industries, and turn out any style of vehicle desired. Mr. Smith gives personal supervision to his custom-made work, and connected with his establishment is a large repository, which is constantly kept filled with his own work and that of other manufacturers, of different grades, and his harness department is one of the most complete in the city. It is particularly worthy of note that his establishment has never been idle a day since it was started, seventeen years ago.
Mr. Smith has been vice-president of the McKeesport Building & Loan association since its organization, which position he has filled with credit to himself and profit to the association. He is a prominent member of the Board of Trade, and takes a lively interest in all matters of public interest. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church; of the I. O. O. F. and K. of P.; in politics he is a republican, and a stanch advocate of protection to American industries. He is a director of the McKeesport Oil company, of McKeesport Board of Trade and McK. & B. Bridge company.
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This family biography is one of 2,156 biographies included in the History of Allegheny County, Pennsylvania published in 1889 by A. Warner & Co.
View additional Allegheny County, Pennsylvania family biographies here: Allegheny County, Pennsylvania Biographies
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