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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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ELMER M. SOLES, conductor B. & O. R. R., McKeesport, was born in that city Nov. 14, 1846, a son of Peter and Jane (Bell) Soles. His paternal grandfather, David Soles, a farmer of Wilkins township, this county, was a son of Peter Soles, a native of Germany, who was among the pioneers of this county, and settled in McKeesport in 1798. Jonathan Bell, the maternal grandfather of Elmer M., married Rebecca Macklin, who settled in Pittsburgh between 1830 and 1840. Peter Soles, father of Elmer M., was a prominent coal-operator, and lived and died in McKeesport. His children were Melinda (Mrs. J. M. Dumm), Labana (deceased), Elmer M., Alferetta (Mrs. Robert Kay), Lizzie (deceased) and David (deceased). Elmer M. was reared and educated in McKeesport, and began life as a newsboy, carrying the Commercial Gazette in McKeesport for three years. He was a soldier in the civil war, enlisting May 18, 1864, and was honorably discharged September 6th, same year. After returning home he entered the employ of the B. & O. R. R. Co. as brakeman; later filled the positions of fireman and baggage-man, and in 1873 was promoted to passenger-conductor, which position he has since filled to the satisfaction of the railroad company and the public generally. He married, Nov. 20, 1867, Harriet, daughter of Thomas A. and Margaret (Young) Carnahan, of McKeesport, and by her had six children: Clarence E., Wilhelmina, Lizzie, David (deceased), Madge and Thomas (deceased). Mr. Soles is a F. & A. M., a member of the M. E. Church, and is a republican.

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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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