My Genealogy Hound

STURLEY CUTHBERT (deceased), son of Samuel and Mary Cuthbert, was born at Lynn Regis, county of Norfolk, England. Before reaching his majority he was the only survivor of the family. After serving an apprenticeship to a grocer, he came to Pittsburgh in 1818, walking over the mountains from Philadelphia. He took employment with Alex. McClurg in a foundry, and finally acquired an interest in the business. He established a dry-goods store on Market street, afterward removing to Liberty and Virgin alley, and had the first large show window in the city. He established the Union foundry at Bayardstown, now part of the city. He also established a foundry at Wheeling, W. Va., and built the machinery for the water-works of that city. While there he was very active in educating the colored people, but was forced to desist by the slave owners. He suffered with others in the great fire of 1845, and began a very successful real estate business immediately after that calamity, being the first in the city. He was a member of the first Pittsburgh hose company, and was among the most enterprising business men of the young city. Soon after his arrival he began to attend Dr. Brace’s Seceder Church, and there met Miss Margaret Miller, with whom he was united in marriage in 1820. Mrs. Cuthbert was born in Carlisle, Pa., and was a daughter of William Miller, who left Ireland when five years old, and was a soldier in the Indian wars, under Gen. William H. Harrison. Mr. Cuthbert was a trustee in Dr. Bruce’s church, and was very active in organizing Sabbath schools here and in Wheeling. He established a school on Mount Washington, and gave the ground for the present Presbyterian church, which he and his family have always sustained. His death, which occurred April 27, 1881, in his eighty-fifth year, was caused by exposure while visiting the old church, formerly Dr. Bruce’s, on Seventh avenue.

Following are the names, with residence, of his children: Sturley L., Pittsburgh; Mrs. Margaret K. Browne (widow of Andrew Browne), Bellevue; Mrs. Mary J. Fetzer (widow of James A. Fetzer), Moon township; Samuel, died in his third year; William M., Pittsburgh: Mrs. Anna M., wife of W. C. Armstrong, is deceased; Miss Sarah W:, Allegheny City, and Robert Bruce, Pittsburgh. S. L. Cuthbert became his father’s partner in 1852, and has been more or less in the real estate business ever since. He had previously been connected with the Pittsburgh Dispatch, as business manager, from 1849 to 1852. Has resided with his family on Mount Washington for many years, and with the exception of two or three years has been identified with the Mount Washington Presbyterian Church and Sabbath-school, ever since their organization.