Biographical Sketches of Leading Citizens
Lawrence County Pennsylvania 1897
[p. 605] an engineer on the P. & W. R. R., whose residence is on Pine Street, in Mahoningtown borough, was born in North Beaver township, Lawrence County, Oct. 14, 1863, and is a son of George L. and Mary (McMillen) Leslie, who were married in Butler County Feb. 8, 1859. Our subject's mother was the younger of two children born to William McMillen, who married a Miss Boone. George L. Leslie was the youngest of three children born to George and Martha (Hopper) Leslie of Westmoreland Co., Pa. The latter was a daughter of Robert Hopper, whose wife was a Miss Watson; Robert Hopper was a son of Robert Hopper, Sr., and both came from County Down, Ireland, about 1790, where they had followed agricultural pursuits. Robert Hopper, Jr., died near Mt. Jackson, this county, at the age of ninety-six. George Leslie, the grandfather of our subject, was born in Washington Co., Pa., and died in Lawrence County in 1859, at the age of sixty-seven. He learned the wheelwright's and carpenter's trades, and followed them in his early life, but in later years engaged in agricultural pursuits. He was a soldier in the War of 1812. He and his wife were members of the United Presbyterian Church. George Leslie was a son of John and Jane (Neal) Leslie, the latter of whom was born in Scotland. John Leslie was born in County Down, Ireland, and was a farmer in Washington County, where he first settled; he came to Lawrence County in 1800, and in this county his death took place. To the parents of our subject three children were born: Elizabeth Florence, the wife of Alexander W. Hart of New Castle; Harriet May; and Howard D.
Howard D. Leslie lived in North Beaver township until he was five years of age, when his parents moved to Jackson Co., Mo., near Lee's Summit, where the family resided seven years, returning to New Castle in March, 1876. Our subject attended the schools at Lee's Summit and at New Castle until he was sixteen years of age. When seventeen years old he learned the trade of marble-cutting of Alexander W. Hart, his brother-in-law, in New Castle, and labored at that craft seven years, eighteen months of which time was spent at Lee's Summit. In February of 1889 he began firing on the P. & W. R. R., at which he was engaged until his promotion, in December, 1893, to the position of engineer, with a principal run from New Castle Junction to Akron, Ohio. He is a member of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers.
He was married in New Castle to Jennie Allen, a native of Allegheny City, and daughter of Thomas and Elizabeth (Simpson) Allen, the latter of whom was born in Mahoningtown, a daughter of John and Elizabeth (Sample) Simpson. John Simpson was a native of Ireland, and died in Mahoningtown in 1875, aged seventy-nine years. His father, William Simpson, was one of those who took part in the Irish Rebellion of 1798; he came to America in 1802, when his son was about six years old; they were both farmers by accupation [sic]. Thomas Allen, the father of Mrs. Leslie, was born in Allegheny Co., Pa., at McKee's Rocks, in 1830. He learned the trade of ship-carpenter, at which trade he worked many years in Pittsburg, until after the war. On his removal to New Castle, he became a contractor and builder. To him and his wife were born eight children, as follows: Eliza, (Rudisill); Jennie, the wife of our subject; William John; Charles; Rufus; Mary, deceased; George; and Ethel. To Mr. and Mrs. Leslie two children have come to brighten and cheer the home, George Allen and Mary Elizabeth. Mr. and Mrs. Leslie are members of the United Presbyterian Church of New Castle. Mr. Leslie is a Republican in politics. Firm in his convictions, and decided in his opinions, he never hesitates to take a bold stand against what he considers to be injustice, and fight to the best of his ability against the threatened evil. He is one of the best of good citizens, in the number of which Mahoningtown is especially fortunate, and has ever done what he could toward the betterment of the different phases of society found there.
Biographical Sketches of Leading Citizens Lawrence County Pennsylvania
Biographical Publishing Company, Buffalo, N.Y., 1897
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Updated: 20 Jul 2001