Borough of Etna - Centennial Festivities Yearbook (Etna, PA)

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JUDGE THOMAS J. FORD Thomas Ford was born in Cincinnati, Ohio, on September 3, 1856. He was just five when his father joined the Union Army and gave his life. Thomas was educated at the Soldier's Orphan Home in Union- town. Mrs. Ford came to Etna. At twenty-one Thomas came to Pittsburgh, earned his law degree, and was admitted to the Allegheny County Bar in 1880. He married and lived and practiced at 376 Butler Street, Etna, before moving to Aspinwall. He was elected Judge of the Court of Common Pleas in 1907 and again in 1917. .... of Butler and High, later in the offices now occupied by Dr. McHugh. He was graduated from Knoxville High School, and the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine. At various times during his 35 years of private prac- tice he served on the staffs of Magee Eye Sz Ear, and Presbyterian, and St. Francis Hospitals. For some time he was also Etnals school doctor and Associate Professor of Medicine at the Pitt Medical School. Dr. Griffiths died Jan. 4, 1962, in St. Petersburfz, Florida, where Mrs. Griffiths still resides. L I.. iii' e l 'Q Y . v it-. -, 0, . ISAAC HARTUNG Isaac was born in Butler County in 1845. He came to this area about the time of his marriage to Emma Elizabeth Braun, 1870. They had nine chil- dren. Two of their grandchildren still live in Etna. EDWARD P. GRIFFITHS, M.D. For 35 years Dr. E. P. Griffiths maintained an office in Etna, first in the Johnston building at the corner ll, Xt X X The Hartungas had a butcher shop and lived first where the Record Rama record store is now, then across the Plank Road, and finally they built the house at 638 Butler Street. P CHARLES HEUSEY '33

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Y' fi 1.9 'M' S T' ,gf ycs, LEE DONALDSON, SENIOR Lee A. Donaldson was born in Penn Township, attended Bellfield Public School, Central High and graduated Pitt in 1915. He came to Etna in 1916, worked in Arthur Young's Drug Store. He enlisted in U.S. Navy on June 16, 1917. He entered drug business in Etna by purchasing f1920l Saul Sigmanls Drug Store. He bought a second store at 632 Butler Street fformerly Keil's Drug Storel. He was in the drug business about 20 years. He was elected Burgess of Etna on November 7, 1933. succeeded Roy Morton. He resigned as Burgess in 1936 and was appointed to the Board of Viewers of Allegheny Countyg He was on that Board for 19 years, retiring to become B.P.O.E. Grand Secretary and was elected Grand Exalted Ruler of that lodge in 1962. LEE DONALDSON, JUNIOR Lee A. Donaldson, Jr. was born in Etna, Pennsyl- vania on August 11, 1925. He attended Etna Public Schools, graduating in 1942. He graduated Allegheny College and the Uni- versity of Pittsburgh Law School. He served in the U.S. Army. He is a member and Past Exalted Ruler of Etna Lodge 932 B.P.0.E., Etna Sportsmen's Club and Elmer E. Krohl Post 597 American Legion. Lee is a member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives since 1954. He is the Republican floor leader, 1967 to date. Lee has been solicitor of the Borough of Etna since 1952. JACOB AND SQUIRE ELESSER Jacob Elsesser died February 9, 1909, in his eighty- first year. The Pittsburgh Sun eulogized him with a feature article some fourteen paragraphs long referring to him as: NVeteran of the Civil War, one of the oldest and best known magistrates of Allegheny Countyf' Squire Elsesser served as ,lustice of the Peace of Shaler Township fnow Etnal from April 11, 1852, until his death. He was a naturalized citizen born in Alsace, France. He was wounded at Mine Run during the Civil 1Var. His most treasured possession said to be his army discharge. His 5th and 6th generation descendents live in Etna. Man on left is Squire Elsesser. S f-Q- ,47i,,,, 77,7

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ln the Lina congregational Church are two large and beautiful paintings. These are the work of the late Charles Heusey. of 23 Mt. Hope Street. These paintings have been viewed by judges of the Carnegie lnternational Exhibition of Art and pro- nounced masterpieces. Charles Heusey was born on November 3, 1891 in Etna. Mr. Heusey died ,luly 28, 1955. HUGO HOBURG Hugo Hoburg was born in Bavaria in 1833. Among his six children were the three sons with whom he established a flourishing Etna business. About 1888 Louis and Fred opened a hardware store in Sharpsburg. About 1895 Hugo and his youngest son, Richard. opened a feed store in Etna. ln 1905. the present Hoburg Building was built and the two businesses moved in. hardware on one side, grain on the other. The big floor scale over which farm wagons drove, is still well remembered. Vlfhen fuel for travel became gasoline rather Lhan hay. the two businesses combined. Hugo Hoburg died in 1909. JAMES M. HOLTZ. MD. Dr, James Holtz was born February 10, 1849. in Fairview, Ohio. About 1891 he. his wife and son came to Etna. He is reported never to have sent out a bill, and that when approached for the amount owed, to have gazed at the ceiling. I 34- N .lAMES M. HOLTZ, M.D. The Holtz home was the house at the lower corner of Vilsack Street on Grant Avenue and his office in the building where Mr. Fred Moyer ha.s his watch repair shop. Mrs. Holtz was the mother of Morty Henderson who managed the old Helma Theatre for many years. SUSAN LEOTA HUNTER fEdmondsl Susan Leota Hunter was born in O'Hara Township, 1870. She married Andrew E. Edmonds, who had grown up nnext doorf' She was a Gray Lady. beloved at the old Veteran's Hospital. where she worked five days a week for many years. She spent many years with the Red Cross. After the 1936 flood. she and a daughter of one of the affected families went to Wlashington. UC. to bring Etna's tragedy to the attention of Congress. ,1s..J.. Q. A- IBVINE