Allegheny County Pennsylvania Genealogy Trails A part of the Genealogy Trails History Group

Obituaries & Death Notices
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EDWARD VOSE BABCOCK DIED; ONE-TIME PITTSBURGH MAYOR Pittsburgh, Today (AP) Edward Vose Babcock, multi-millionaire lumberman and one-time mayor of Pittsburgh, died yesterday of a heart ailment.  He was 84.  For a quarter of a century he was a leading figure in Western Pennsylvania Rupublican politics.  As mayor of the steel city from 1913 to 1922, he was host to more kings, queens and princes than any other mayor in the city's history. He headed the Babcock Lumber Company - one of the largest lumber procurers in the world.  Its operations stretched from Pennsylvania to Tennessee, Georgia and Florida.  A few years ago the Babcock Florida Company completed the jogging of 156,000 acres near Fort Myers. He entered politics in 1911 as a member of a special council of nine appointed by Gov. John K. Tener to administer the affairs of the city which had become so corrupt and graft-ridden that many of the previous councilmen had been sent to jail. He was an Allegheny County commissioner for six years, retiring from politics in 1932 when his term as commissioner ended.  Personal monuments to him as commissioner are the county's North and South Parks with an area of more than 4,000 acres. He personally optioned most of the farms taken over for the parks and turned them over to the county without profit.  In tribute to him, the flags at both parks will fly at half mast for 30 days. Born near Fulton, N.Y., in 1864, he taught country school for three years and then went to work as a "lumber rustler" in Michigan for $1 a day.  He founded the Babcock Lumber Company with his brother, the late F. R. Babcock. He is survived by his widow and two sons.  Funeral services will be held Saturday. [Source: Lebanon Daily News (Lebanon, Pennsylvania) Friday Evening, September 3, 1948 - Submitted by Nancy Piper]

Mrs. CAROLINE BAER Mrs. Caroline Baer, of Millvale Avenue, died on Sunday last at her home aged eighty years.  Funeral services were held on Tuesday morning of this week.  Rabbi Rudolph Coffee officiated.  The remains were taken to Alliance, O., for interment. Mrs Baer is survived by eight children; Rose, Sophie, Max and David, Mrs. S. Gallinger, Jr., of this city, Mrs. Wm. Teplanski of Canton, O., and Bert and Lee of New York. [Source: Jewish Criterion, December 1, 1911, Transcribed by C. Anthony]

JAMES VAN HORNE BALLANTYNE, SR. Dr. James Van Horne Ballantyne, long-time Edgewood resident and staff member of Pittsburgh and Columbia hospitals for 37 years, died Wednesday [Jan. 7 1948] at his home, 429 Locust street. A graduate of Allegheny College and the University of Pennsylvania medical school, he was a member of Phi Delta Theta fraternity, the South Avenue Methodist church in Wilkinsburg, the Allegheny college Medical society, the American Medical society, the American Society of Surgery and the Pittsburgh Surgery society. He was a 23nd degree Mason. Dr. Ballantyne is survived by his wife, Linda Rigg Ballantyne; a daughter, Mrs. G. E. Milliken; three sons, John E., Carl Rigg, and Dr. James V. H. Ballantyne, Jr.; two sisters, Miss Gertrude Ballantyne and Mrs. S. E. Mauder [sic: Mauger]. Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. today in Turner funeral home. Wilkinsburg. Burial will be in Woodlawn Cemetery. [Source: 1948, Submitted by Allen Bankson, 1/6/2011]

ELLIS EDWIN BANKSON E. Edwin Bankson, of Point Breeze, died Friday, Dec. 12, 1997, at West Penn Hospital, Pittsburgh, after a long battle with cancer.  Mr. Bankson was born Dec. 23, 1920, in Pittsburgh, the son of Ellis and Lillian Kerr Bankson.  He graduated from Taylor Allderdice High School and Carnegie Institute of Technology (now Carnegie Mellon University), earning a bachelor of science degree in mechanical engineering.  He served as an officer in the Naval Construction Battalion during World War II, attaining the rank of lieutenant.  After the war, he became assistant manager of the New Kensington Water Authority.  In 1951, he resigned to form the enigineering firm of Ellis E. Bankson and Son (now Bankson Engineers Inc.) with his father.  Mr. Bankson served as state president and national director of the American Consulting Engineers Council.  He was a diplomat of the American Academy of Environmental Engineers.  Mr. Bankson served as chairman of both the Board of Trustees and the Building Committee of the South Avenue United Methodist Church.  He was president of the Wilkinsburg Chapter of Rotary International, president of the Wilkinsburg Boys and Girls Club and served as a member of the District Council for the Boys and Girls Club.  Mr. Bankson served as chairman of EDGE, president of the Wilkinsburg Chamber of Commerce and president of the Board for the Zoar Home.  He was a member of the Board of Goodwill Industries and the United Methodist Church Union.  Mr. Bankson is survived by his wife, Virginia Brown Bankson; his three children, Allen and Thomas Bankson and Joan Bankson Procopio; his three grandchildren, Katherine, Lynn and Andrew Bankson; and his sister, Carol Bankson.  The family will received [sic] friends at the T.D. TURNER FUNERAL HOME, 729 Wallace Ave., Wilkinsburg, Sunday, from noon until 4 p.m.  A memorial service will be held at South Avenue United Methodist Church in Wilkinsburg at 11:30 a.m. Monday, with additional visitation from 10 a.m. until time of service.  The family suggests memorial constributions to be made to either South Avenue United Methodist Church or the Boys and Girls Club of Wilkinsburg. [Source: Submitted by Allen Bankson, 1/6/2011]

ELLIS EDWIN BANKSON Ellis E. Bankson, 72, a prominent civil engineer for many years, died Sunday in his home, 6562 Bartlett Street, Suirrel Hill.  Mr. Bankson was a former partner in Chester Engineers, had served as managing engineer of the Allegheny County Sanitary Authority and at the time of his death was a partner in Ellis E. Bankson & Son, engineering firm.  He was born in Bethany, Ill., and received the degree of Bachelor of Science at Milliken [sic] University, Decatur, Ill.  He received his degree in civil engineering at the University of Pittsburgh.  Mr. Bankson taught at Pitt and at the University of Manitoba in Winnipeg.  He was a member of Sixth Presbyterian Church, Sigma Alpha Epsilon, Syria Temple, American Waterworks Association, American Society of Civil Engineers, Pennsylvania Society of Professional Engineers and the Engineering Society of Western Pennsylvania.  He is survived by his wife, Mrs. Lillian Kerr Bankson; two daughters, Mrs. J.C. Bowers and Miss Carol Bankson; a son, E. Edwin Bankson, and five grandchildren.  Memorial services will be held at 2 p.m. tomorrow at H. Samson's, 537 North Neville Street. [Source: Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, January 1, 1957, Submitted by Allen Bankson, 1/6/2011]

LILLIAN MARIE KERR BANKSON Suddenly on Saturday, Jan. 4, 1958, at 4 p.m., Lillian Kerr Bankson, wife of the late Ellis E. Bankson, 6562 Bartlett St.; mother of Mrs. Elizabeth Bowers, Carol Bankson and E. Edwin Bankson; also survived by 5 grandchildren.  (Notice of time and place of service to be announced later.) [Source: Pittsburgh Press, January 5, 1958, Submitted by Allen Bankson, 1/6/2011]

VIRGINIA LOUISE BROWN BANKSON BANKSON, VIRGINIA LOUISE BROWN. On Thursday, April 22, 2010 age 90 of Pittsburgh [sic; Plum Borough].  Beloved wife of the late Ellis Edwin Bankson.  Loving mother of Allen T. Bankson, Thomas and his wife Linda Bankson and Joan and her husband Peter Bankson [sic] Procopio.  Dear sister of the late Robert Brown.  Also survived by her grandchildren Katherine, Lynn and Andrew Bankson.  Friends will be received Friday 5-8pm at the ENGLISH FUNERAL HOME & CREMATION SVC., INC. 378 Maryland Ave. Oakmont, Pa. 15139 where a funeral service will be held on Saturday 10:30am.  Interment will be private.  Memorial contributions may be made to South Ave. United Methodist Church 733 South Ave. Pittsburgh, Pa. 15221 or Health for Life Summer Camp 820 Braddock Ave. Braddock, Pa. 15104. [Source: Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, April 23, 2010, Submitted by Allen Bankson, 1/6/2011]

REV. JOHN BARKER, D. D.  Thursday, May 31, 1860 - Death of The Rev. John Barker, D.D., President of Alleghany College--This gentleman died suddenly, in Pittsburg, Pa.  He was a member of the Pittsburg Conference of the M. E. Church.  He succeeded the Rev. Homer J. Clark, D. D., in the Presidency of the institution, in the winter or spring of 1847.  The college was just then emerging from the financial embarrassments which had long crippled its energies and usefulness,--the tide of prosperity set in motion by the endowment system then first perceptibly reaching its walls and landing within them hundreds of young men who gladly availed themselves of the cheap endowment to secure the advantages of a collegiate course.  This system was devised by the retired President, Dr. Clark, at a time when the institution was in a most desponding condition, and when those who had struggled and toiled for it through many years were despairing of sustaining it with any success.  The same system has since been adopted in other institutions, similarly situated, with the happiness results.   [Source: Vincent's Semi-Annual United States Register: This volume contains The Events Transpiring Between The 1st of January and 1st of July, 1860.  Edited and Published by Francis Vincent, Transcribed by C. Anthony]

OLLIE WINNETT BAXTER BAXTER - Ollie, formerly of Newbourne [sic] Dr., Mt. Lebanon, on Sunday, March 18, 1956, wife of the late J. C. Baxter, mother of Gladys Baxter of Churchill Valley. Friends received at Van Horn's, Irvin St. (at Monongahela Ave.), Swissvale. Services Tuesday at 3 p.m.  [Source: Pittsburgh Press, March 19, 1956, Submitted by Allen Bankson 1/1/2011]

JOHN BAYER At his residence, No. 220 Ohio street, Allegheny, on Sunday, November 10, 1889, at 12:05 A. M. John BAYER, aged sixty years, six months and twenty days.   Funeral Tuesday, November 12, at his late residence, No. 220 Ohio street, Allegheny, at * P. M.  M. Gustave Adolph Lodge, K. of H., and members of St. John's Lodge, respectfully invited to attend. [Source: Submitted by Ruth Sprowls]

DEATH OF REV. J. J. BEACOM PITTSBURGH, PA., Sept. 20.--Rev. Dr. John J. Beacom, treasurer of the Presbyterian Board of Freedmen, died of paralysis at his home at Coraopolis, Pa., aged 65 years. [Source: Philadelphia Inquirer, September 21, 1902, Transcribed by C. Anthony]

CONSTANTINE ANTOINE BEELEN BEELEN, Constantine Antoine, son of the Baron de Beelen de Bertholf ; came to this country with his father who was sent soon after the peace of 1783 in a public capacity by the emp. of Austria; resided at Phila., several years; political difficulties preventing their return, the parents remainded and d. in Penn., the subject of this notice settled at Pittsburg at an early age, where he resided through life and d. Dec. 16, 1850, in his 84th year.  [Source: American Biographical Notes:  Being Short Notices of Deceased Persons, Gathered from many sources and arranged by Franklin B. Hough - 1875, Transcribed by C. Anthony]

WILLIAM BEER South Ashland pa Newspaper: ASHLAND PRESS: 09 October 1879, Vol. XXXIV, No. 12 Obit: Beer, William - DIED - At the residence of Sherman W. Beer, in South Ashland, on Friday morning, October 3, 1879, Mr. William Beer, aged about 85 years, of apoplexy. William Beer was born in Northampton County, Pennsylvania, near the New Jersey line, in 1794. His father, Thomas Beer, served as a soldier in the American Revolution, and brought home from New Jersey a relic highly prized by his children, and exhibited by Mr. Beer with especial interest. It was an English bayonet, and had the words, "29 reg. 5 division, King George III" engraved on it. It had evidently been left by one of the British soldiers who fled or was killed during the battle. His father removed with his family to Allegheny County, Pa. in the year 1800, where he resided twelve miles below Pittsburgh, about thirty years. Mr. Beer was of Irish descent. In 1825 he married Miss Mary Mann, and removed to Montgomery Township, Richland - now Ashland County, in 1832, and located on a quarter of land adjoining his brother Richard. Here he resided about forty years, and cheerfully submitted to all the toils of a pioneer in clearing up and preparing his homestead. In 1857, he had the misfortune to lose by death, his excellent lady. His family then consisted of Thomas, Quincy, Henry, Calvin, Serena, Sherman W. and B.F. Beer. The entire family, except Sherman W., preceded Mr. Beer to the grave. Mr. Beer possessed, to the last, all his mental faculties. He was noted as retaining a most retentive memory for dates and events, and loved to dwell upon the border scenes of seventy or eighty years ago. From the gravity of his manners and personal dignity, he was familiarly called "Judge". Indeed, he was much more worthy such a promotion than many "limbs of the law", who preside over our courts. He had long been a zealous and worthy member of the Presbyterian church, and illustrated the goodness of his heart by many acts of kindness to the poor and the orphan. Though called suddenly to bid adieu to time and the scenes of earth, we cannot doubt his fitness for another and we trust a better world. His cheerful face and kind words will greet us no more, but be embalmed in memory. The tide waits for no man. Soon the bell will toll a last farewell to the aged pioneer. May they rest in peace.ASHLAND PRESS: 09 October 1879, Vol. XXXIV, No. 12 [Submitted 5/24/2010, Friend of Free Genealogy]

NELLIE MAY BERRY On Sunday, Nov. 10, 1889, at 6 o'clock P. M. Nellie May , daughter of Rebecca and the Late Thomas BERRY, aged five years and seven months Funeral services at the residence of her grandparents, Mr. and Mrs.  Thomas RIDER, corner Thirty-first and Smallman streets, on Tuesday, November 12, at 10 o'clock A. M.  Friends of the family are respectfully invited to attend.  [Source: November 12, 1889, The Pittsburgh Post, Submitted by Ruth Sprowls]

REV. JOHN BLACK BLACK, Rev. John , the oldest minister of the Ref. Protestant Dutch ch., and one of the oldest inhabitants of Pittsburg; d. at that place Nov. 1849, a. 82.  [Source: American Biographical Notes:  Being Short Notices of Deceased Persons, Gathered from many sources and arranged by Franklin B. Hough - 1875, Transcribed by C. Anthony]

WORRY CAUSES DEATH  Miss Emma M. Blatt, sister of Edwin M. Blatt of Avalon who was held in prison at Jaures, Mex., during the revolution and who made such a gallant fight for his release is dead. It is said that the worry brought on during her brother's confinement and the belief that he would be shot caused nervous trouble which left its trace. [Source: Indiana Evening Gazette (Indiana, Pennsylvania), November 2, 1911, Submitted by Nancy Piper]

ALLEN TODD BROWN  A. Todd Brown, 83, of Wood Street, Wilkinsburg, passed away at Columbia Hospital on July 17, 1969.  Mr. Brown was born in Cochranton, Pa. on July 4, 1896 [sic, 1886] and graduated from Penn State University in 1910 with a degree in Electrical Engineering.  In 1915 Mr. Brown obtained a degree in Mechanical Engineering from Penn State.  He was employed with Westinghouse [Electric] and retired in 1952. He sang with the Westinghouse chorus for 24 years and was an active member of South Avenue United Methodist Church of Wilkinsburg, where he taught church school, sang in the choir, was an official board member for many years, and served as head usher for 16 years. He also was a member of the Wilkinsburg Historical Society, and did genealogical research on his family history. Mr. Brown is survived by his wife, Edna Rigg Brown; a daughter, Mrs. E. Edwin Bankson (Virginia); a daughter-in-law, Dolores Silvio Brown, and 9 grandchildren. Friends were received at the Donald E. Eaton Funeral Home, 733 Ross Avenue, Wilkinsburg, where services were conducted on Monday, July 21 at 2 p.m.  Interment followed in Woodlawn Cemetery. [Source: Wilkinsburg Gazette, July 24, 1969, Submitted by Allen Bankson 1/6/2011]

ROBERT HUNTER BROWN  BROWN, Robert H., on Thursday, Oct. 20, 1966, of Corday Way, beloved husband of Dolores Silvio Brown; father of Robert, Katheryne, Nancy, Jeannette, Peter and Susan Brown; son of Allen Todd and Edna Brown; brother of Virginia Bankson.  Friends received at the WINTER FUNERAL HOME, 4730 Friendship Ave.  Funeral Monday at 9 a.m.  Requiem mass in St. Joseph's Church, at 10 a.m.  Visitation with the family 2-4 and 7-10 p.m. [Source: Submitted by Allen Bankson 1/6/2011]