[p. 397] who stand foremost among the enterprising business men and progressive citizens of Shenango Township, Lawrence County, Pennsylvania, are proprietors of the Cascade Roller Mills, a flourishing plant which enjoys an extensive patronage throughout that section of the State.
The Alborn family is an old one in Western Pennsylvania, and was first established here by Augustus Alborn, grandfather of the gentlemen named above. He was a native of Germany, where in his youthful days he learned the trade of a miller. In the summer of 1846 he emigrated from his native land, and after an ocean voyage of fifty-one days landed in Baltimore, Maryland. He immediately made his way westward to Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, thence to Beaver County, where he joined friends who had preceded him to this country. He soon after purchased a tract of fifty-five acres in Franklin Township, Beaver County, and being a man of great energy and thrift, he added to this from time to time until he was possessed of 105 acres in that tract, and another farm in Franklin Township of fifty acres, which became his homestead. There his death occurred in December, 1885, at the age of seventy-eight years. He married in Germany Miss Christina Elias, who was born in that country near Fuerstenhaagen, and they became parents of five children, the three oldest of whom were born in Germany.
Henry C. Alborn, father of Charles F. and Frank E. Alborin, was the eldest of the children of his parents' family, and was born in the village of Fuerstenhaagen, Germany, November 7, 1839. He was seven years old at the time the family became established in Beaver County, and there he attended the public schools until he was seventeen. He continued to make his home under the parental roof until he was twenty-two, at which time he rented of his father a farm in Perry Township, Lawrence County, in which he lived for three years. He next purchased a farm of seventy-five acres in Franklin Township, Beaver County, which he farmed about ten years, when he took up his residence in Shenango Township, Lawrence County. There he purchased a farm of ninety-six acres, all cleared and well improved, being adorned with a fine brick home and substantial out-buildings. He there lived and prospered the remainder of his days and was classed among the substantial men of the community. In his latter years he was associated with his son, Charles F., in the proprietorship of the Big Run Mill, now known as the Cascade Roller Mills, which was conducted under the firm name of Alborn & Son. His death occurred July 3, 1904, and he is survived by his widow, who is living at the old home and is now seventy-two years of age. She in maiden life was Caroline Young, a native of the village of Deitchweiler, Reinfels, Bavaria, and is a daughter of John and Mary (Miller) Young. Her father came to the United States in 1852, and located in Butler County, where he died in 1858. He was the owner of a farm of fifty-six acres. Henry C. and Caroline Alborn became parents of the following children: Mary Ellen, deceased; Caroline, wife of Rev. Ivan Deitrich, of Allegheny City; Charles F., Henry W., who lives on the old home farm; Tillie and Frank E. Mr. Alborn was a Democrat in politics, and religiously was a member of the Lutheran Church.
Charles F. Alborn was born in Franklin Township, Beaver County, Pennsylvania, October 11, 1865, and his educational training was obtained mainly in the schools of Shenango Township, Lawrence County. He learned the milling business at Big Run Mill, under the instructions of Mr. E. D. Failer, and he has been actively engaged in this line of business ever since. He was united in marriage January 21, 1892, with Miss Annie M. Weinschenk, a daughter of George G. Weinschenk. The following childred are the issue of their union: Carrie A., Emanuel H., Carl L., George W., Ralph P., Clara Matilda and Bertha May. Religiously, they are members of the Lutheran Church. Mr. Alborn is independent in politics, filling his third term as a member of the school board, and is also road supervisor.
Frank E. Alborn was born in Franklin Township, Beaver County, Pennsylvania, and received his schooling in the public schools of Lawrence County. He was united in marriage with Miss Rose Weinschenk, a daughter of George G. Weinschenk, and they have three children: Clare, Harold, and Arthur L.
The Cascade Roller Mills is one of the leading business concerns of Shenango Township. It is thoroughly modern in its equipment, is a three-story structure, and is supplied with both water and steam power. Steam is merely auxiliary, as the water power is excellent, there being a twenty-seven foot fall of water. This has been a mill site since the pioneer days, the first being established there by Henry Wolf. It was in turn conducted by a Mr. Brice and a Mr. Sechler until it was destroyed by fire. Some years later, in the fall of 1887, Henry C. Alborn and his son, Charles F., purchased the land and erected the present mill, which for some years was conducted under the name of the Big Run Mill. In 1901 the plant was remodeled and the oscillator system installed, giving a capacity of thirty barrels per day. Their brand, "Purity," is well known throughout this section, and the local consumption exceeds the capacity of the mill. The proprietors are men of recognized standing in the business circles of the county.
20th Century History of New Castle and Lawrence County Pennsylvania and Representative Citizens Hon. Aaron L. Hazen Richmond-Arnold Publishing Company, Chicago, Ill., 1908
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Updated: 16 Oct 2001