PittBuff.com | History & Genealogy of the Pittsburg Buffalo Company

  



LINKS
Main: Introduction
The Company
Corporate Offices
Bibliography
Email Jay Holsing
MINES
Osceola 1878
Ivill 1881
Catsburg 1889
Rostraver 1890
Gallatin 1897
Johnetta 1899
Hazel 1902
Marianna 1907
Annabelle
Francis 1903
JONES
James Jones 1835
John H. Jones 1866
Thomas P. Jones 1868
William I. Jones 1869
David G. Jones 1871
Harry P. Jones 1873
Mary Agnes Jones 1877
E. Frank Miller 1882
IVILL
William Ivill 1819
Ann Agnes Ivill 1845
John J. Ivill 1862
William C. Ivill 1881
Harry E. Ivill 1885
HOLSING
W. F. Holsing 1840
W. J. Holsing 1869
Fredrick Holsing 1896
Stella Holsing 1900
James J. Holsing 1902
Holsing Family Photos
Patzsch Family 1912
OBITUARIES
James Jones 1912
Ann Agnes Ivill 1895
David G. Jones 1915
William I. Jones 1905
W. J. Holsing 1929
John H. Jones 1959
MEDIA
John H. Jones Mayor '05
James Jones B-day '07
THE GAR
"After the Civil War had ended and the soldiers who survived the war had gone home, some of these veterans began to miss the friendships and camaraderie that they had shared during the war. Veterans’ clubs began to spring up all around the country. Many were local and most did not last very long, but a few went on to become nationwide organizations. One of these was the Grand Army of the Republic."

"The Grand Army of the Republic, often referred to as the G.A.R., was founded at Decatur, Illinois on April 6, 1866. Dr. Benjamin Franklin Stephenson founded the organization on the three cardinal principles of Fraternity, Charity, and Loyalty and these principles guided the G.A.R. throughout its existence. To become a member of the Grand Army a man must have served in the United States Army, Navy, Marine Corps, or Revenue Cutter Service (today’s United States Coast Guard) between April 9, 1861 and April 12, 1865. He must have been honorably discharged from the service and have never taken up arms against the United States of America."



From the GAR Museum
PATZSCH FAMILY: Canonsburg, PA
Catherine and Karl Patzsch: my Great Great Grandparents

George Charles Patzsch abt 1900The Patzsch family that settled into Canonsburg PA were the descendents of the German immigrant Charles Gottlieb Patzsch. Karl, as Charles was known, came to America in 1854 when he was 22. In 1857 he married Catherine, also from Germany. They were living in Allegheny County when the Civil War broke out and he served in the Union Army. "He probably enlisted in one of the German speaking companies, possibly the Fifth Ward Home Guards." Gina Nestor

After the war Karl and Catherine had at least three sons. John, Albert, and my Great Grandfather George Charles Patzsch. They did some moving around before settling in Canonsburg. John C. was born in Indiana and George Charles was born in Pennsylvania. Karl and Catherine both died in 1916 after nearly 60 years of marriage. He was 83 years old and they are buried in Oak Spring Cemetery, Canonsburg, PA. His grave is marked with a GAR {Grand Army of the Republic} marker on Memorial Day. Thanks to Gina Nestor for her attention to his grave and all the Civil War veterans buried there.

George Charles was a tall man with a medium build. He had blue eyes and brown hair. He was married to Emma Brown in 1899 when she was just 16. They had seven children who survived into adulthood. My grandmother's twin sister Edith died at birth. There were two sets of twins.
George Charles Patzsch Family about 1912

The George Charles Patzsch Family about 1912.
Back: Emma Mae, {my grandmother} George Charles, his wife Emma, and Lois.
Front: Clarence {Hank}, Harry, Grace, Mabel {Sally}, and George. Grace & George are twins.

1910 Census

Emma Mae Patzsch, My Grandmother abt 1920The 1910 census show the names and ages of the George Charles Patzsch family. It says that they were married for 11 years at the time and that Emma had seven children, six who lived. Harry was born after the census was taken. None of the boys were old enough to fight in WWI although their father George Charles had to fill out a draft registration card in 1918 when he was 44. Harry fought in the South Pacific in WWII. I have the hand grenades he brought back from his tour. Census contributed by Janice Patzsch Graham

My grandmother Emma Mae {she was called just Mae} described her mother Emma as a stern woman. She said that Emma would just tightly grab any unruly children and squeeze her nails into their arm for discipline. This was accompanied with a dissaproving look from her dark brown eyes. Canonsburg historian James T. Herron remembers her. "Emma might have been stern to her children, but in her old age she was a pretty woman with twinkling eyes and a warm smile."

George and his wife Emma settled onto Iron Street in Canonsburg and he took a job nearby with the Fort Pitt Bridge Works. By 1918 he was a Foreman with the company. They employed about 700 men at the time. The Patzsch house still stands today and was in the family for over 75 years. George was 68 when he died. Emma was 89 and they are also buried in Oak Spring Cemetery.

Gracy's yearbook photo 1924

This is a page from the 1924 Pleiad. She looks like a sweetheart!

Fort Pitt Bridge Works Canonsburg PA

The Fort Pitt Bridge Works in Canonsburg PA around 1909. You can see the company houses from the Hazel Mine on Buffalo Hill in the far background. Photo contributed by James T. Herron Click to enlarge.

The Fort Pitt Bridge Works was first organized in 1896. During the company's first thirty-five years, it fabricated and erected bridges and buildings for the country's expanding industrial economy. In World War I, the company cooperated with the Submarine Boat Corporation in building prefabricated cargo ships, as well as fabricating large numbers of airplane hangars for the United States and France.
From the 1947 Canon Log