My Genealogy Hound

WILLIAM FREW, only son of Samuel and Elizabeth (McCully) Frew, was born Jan. 10, 1826, in a house that stood until 1880 on the corner of Liberty and Wood streets, Pittsburgh. He completed his education at the Western University of Pennsylvania, at Pittsburgh, and was afterward employed in the wholesale grocery-house of his uncle, James McCully, located on Wood street, between Liberty and Sixth avenue. Later he was taken into partnership and formed one of the firm of James McCully & Co. Aug. 4, 1853, he married Martha Elliott, second daughter of Joseph and Sarah A. Long, and niece of Reuben Miller, Jr. In 1859, when petroleum oil was first discovered in paying quantities, he and Charles Lockhart, also connected with the McCully house, formed the partnership known for the next twenty-one years as Lockhart & Frew. This firm was among the pioneers in the production and refining of petroleum, and built the first Pittsburgh refinery, the Brilliant Oil-works. A successful business was done for seventeen years, and when, in 1876, the Standard Oil company was formed, the firm of Lockhart & Frew became part of that organization, Charles Lockhart being elected president of the Standard Oil company, of Pittsburgh, and William Frew vice-president. After a sickness of five weeks he died March 9, 1880, leaving a widow and one son, William N. Frew.

At the time of his death he was a member of the firms of Lockhart & Frew, Warden, Frew & Co., Philadelphia, and Hubbard Bakewell & Co., Pittsburgh, besides being connected with many other business enterprises. He was one of the earliest believers, in Pittsburgh, in the homeopathic method of treating disease, and for a number of years prior to his death had served as president of the board of trustees of the homeopathic hospital. In 1870, much against his will, he was nominated by the better class of citizens on a Reform Platform for Congress, but, declining to secure his election by what seemed to him questionable and undignified methods, was defeated by his opponent, Gen. James S. Negley. Prior to 1860 he was captain of the Keystone Rifles, a military organization of Pittsburgh, and during the war was connected as major with the 15th regiment Pennsylvania state troops, into which the smaller organization had been merged. He was an exceedingly liberal and philanthropic man, giving freely to many religious, charitable and educational objects; a valued supporter of the Christian and sanitary commissions during the war; a firm friend of the Y. M. C. A.; a prominent member of the board of trustees of the Pennsylvania Female College of Pittsburgh, and chairman of the investing committee of the Western University of Pennsylvania. In business he was regarded as a man of excellent judgment and sterling integrity; and in the Chamber of Commerce of Pittsburgh, of which he was a member, his advice and counsel were always recognized as carrying with them great weight. He was of good address, a pleasing public speaker, and thoroughly posted on all the questions of the day. He was a great lover of literature and art, had traveled extensively in the pauses of his busy life, in Europe and the far east, and had but just settled down to the enjoyment of well-earned rest when he was called away. As was said at the time, his death was a loss to his friends, to the city of Pittsburgh, and to the causes of charity, religion and education.