My Genealogy Hound

S. E. CAROTHERS, proprietor of Hotel White, McKeesport, was born and bred on a Westmoreland county farm, where he developed that sturdy disposition to work out his own ambitious aspirations, and that persistence in accomplishing the task which he had set for himself, which has, in later life, made him the successful business man and representative citizen. When approaching manhood he moved, with his father and the family, to a larger and more remunerative farm in Fayette county, and here nearly five more years of his life were passed in that round of healthful toil which was to so peculiarly fit him for the certain and unqualified success which he has since achieved. But the time came when the narrow limits of the farm were too circumscribed for his ambitious aspirations, and so, at the age of twenty-four, he started out to seek his fortune, with no greater opportunities or capital than a determination to succeed in life. He came almost directly to McKeesport, where he has remained seventeen years. He early purchased an interest in the “City Drugstore” of Dr. W. H. Hill, and for several years gave his time and attention to his business, and prospered. There were at that time no daily newspapers published in that town, and Mr. Carothers, without any experience in journalism, thought he saw an opportunity, and in 1876 purchased the Times. Calling a younger brother to his aid, he set out on a journalistic career, and for five years gave the people of McKeesport a live, progressive, enterprising, stalwart local paper. He was always a stanch republican and party worker, and was appointed postmaster by President Garfield, and for more than four years administered the affairs of the McKeesport office with credit to himself and to the satisfaction of the public.

During his residence in that city he has been more or less interested in the livery business, and is now proprietor of a fine stable on Fifth avenue. He has also recently purchased his former drugstore, now known as “Apothecary Hall,” and is also landlord of the Hotel White, one of the leading hostelries of the city. Though never aspiring to public honors, his name has been frequently mentioned for burgess and member of council, and for six years he was a borough clerk. Mr. Carothers is yet a young man, being forty-two years of age, is liberally endowed with good common sense, ranks among the foremost in all public enterprises, and is liberal with the means he has accumulated by application and industry.