BIO: Harry CALHOON, Beaver County, PA Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Judy Banja & Joe Patterson Copyright 2005. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/beaver.html http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/beaver/bios/bbios.htm Index for this bio book. _________________________________________________________________ BOOK OF BIOGRAPHIES. This Volume Contains Biographical Sketches of Leading Citizens of Beaver County, Pennsylvania. Buffalo, N.Y., Chicago, Ill.: Biographical Publishing Company, 1899, pp. 393-395. _________________________________________________________________ HARRY CALHOON, district attorney of Beaver county, Pa., ranks high among the members of the legal profession of the county, and is a much respected citizen of the borough. He was born at New Brighton, September 15, 1862, and is a son of John and Nancy (White) Calhoon, grandson of Robert and Elizabeth (Scott) Calhoon, and great-grandson of Andrew Calhoon. Harry Calhoon attended the public schools of New Brighton, taking a finishing course at Geneva College. After this he began the study of law, reading in the office of J. R. Harrah in the evenings, and working through the day in the manufacturing department of the foundry of Logan & Strobridge. He finished reading law in the office of Thompson & Martin and was admitted to the bar, in 1892. He immediately began the practice of his profession in New Brighton. It was not long before his worth became known and brought him lucrative returns; being active and energetic, cases in which he is interested are pushed to a speedy termination, as his efforts are very rarely lacking in the elements of success. About the year 1893, he was elected solicitor of New Brighton; he was elected district attorney of Beaver county, Pa., in 1898, - in which capacity he now serves. In 1896, Mr. Calhoon married Florence Deitrick, a daughter of Frederick A. Deitrick, a worthy citizen of New Brighton. He and his wife live in a handsome residence recently purchased by him; it is modern in de- 394 BOOK OF BIOGRAPHIES sign, very convenient and attractive, and was built by R. E. Hoop. Andrew Calhoon, great-grandfather of the subject hereof, was a native of County Derry, Ireland. He came to America about the year 1785, while still a single man. For the first few years, he lived in New York City in a log house, which contained one of those historic old fire-places. The usual custom was to draw a huge back-log to the door of the cabin; after the laborious task of getting it through the door, it was rolled into the capacious fireplace, which it completely filled for a time, - smaller logs being gradually burned in front of it. Some of the back-logs were so large that it was not necessary to replace them for several days. During the latter part of his life, Mr. Calhoon used frequently to speak of the change in New York City, and to compare it with its early condition. He died in 1864, at the remarkable age of one hundred and three years. After leaving New York City, Mr. Calhoon settled in Chester county, Pa., and later in Washington county, where he followed agricultural pursuits, and accumulated some money. In the year 1800, he purchased one hundred acres of land where Kennedy Calhoon now resides. There in the forest, he built a log house so substantially that it is still standing, being used as a store-house. He set out orchards, cleared the forests into fine fields, and spent his closing years upon that farm. While in the East, Mr. Calhoon was joined in marriage with Mary Kennedy, who bore him the following children: Robert; James K.; and John S. The young wife and mother was called from her earthly home before her children attained manhood. Mr. Calhoon contracted another matrimonial alliance, his second wife being Mrs. Rogers of South Beaver township. No issue was the result of this marriage. John S., the youngest son, inherited the homestead, and it still remains in the possession of his descendants. Robert Calhoon, grandfather of Harry, in early life learned the carpenter's trade, and located in Brighton, now Beaver Falls. He built many houses, barns, etc., in that vicinity, and in adjoining counties, and also assisted in building the boat called the "Aaron Burr." He won an enviable reputation as a mechanic and builder, in his day. In 1848, he settled in New Brighton, where he served as justice of the peace, member of the borough council, and as burgess. He was a member of the Old School Presbyterians. His death was caused by consumption, and occurred April 1st, 1859, when aged fifty-four years. His marriage with Elizabeth Scott, of Darlington, Pa., was celebrated in 1828. She survived her husband until she attained the age of seventy-four years. Their union resulted in the following offspring: Mary Jane, who died at the age of twenty-one years; Thomas, whose death occurred as recently as 1898, at the age of sixty-five years; John C., father of the subject hereof; and Margaret, who died young. John C. Calhoon attended public school until his fifteenth year. Just previous to his sixteenth birthday, he became apprenticed BEAVER COUNTY 395 to learn the harness maker's trade. He served his time with James W. Baker, of New Brighton, completely mastering the trade, and in 1894, went into business for himself, at New Brighton. In 1861, he became employed in the Arsenal in Allegheny, and continued for three and one-half years, working on saddles and harness for the U. S. government. He built his present residence and shop at New Brighton, where he is now located, in 1859, and has engaged in the manufacture of harness, and in custom work ever since, keeping a separate salesroom of harness supplies, blankets, etc. On July 17, 1883, Mr. Calhoon received a patent for the "Calhoon Improved Truss" which he had previously invented, and which has been a great success. The use of this truss has effected many permanent cures. Mr. Calhoon put only the best of materials in these articles, and has built up quite a reputation for that line of goods, although he has not advertised them very extensively. The tidings of a cure effected by one of them are soon transmitted to another sufferer, and thereby his trade is increased. He makes various kinds of trusses to suit the requirements of each separate case. Mr. Calhoon is a man of sterling worth and is esteemed by all who know him. His life has been unusually successful, from a financial standpoint. He was a county commissioner when the present court house was built, has also been a member of the borough council, and is now serving his third term as justice of the peace. He chose for his life companion Nancy White, a daughter of Harvey White. Mrs. Calhoon was born in 1841, and died in 1867, at the early age of twenty-six years, - leaving the following children: Thomas, a prominent confectionery dealer in New Brighton, who married Emma Sheehan, and has one child, Eleanor; Harry, whose name heads this sketch; Edwin, a lumber dealer, in New Castle, Pa.; Robert, a molder by trade, who married Elva Guntner; and Harvey, who is associated with his brother. Mr. Calhoon married a second time. Miss Ellen McDaniel became his wife; they are both members of the Methodist church, of which he is a trustee and class leader. In politics, he is a Republican. Harry Calhoon, the subject of this narrative, by good management and careful methods has won success in his profession, and also has a large circle of friends in private life. He is a member in good standing of the Masonic fraternity, the American Mechanics, and the Royal Arcanum. Like his father, he worships with the Methodists.