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Below is a family biography included in the History of Allegheny County, Pennsylvania published in 1889 by A. Warner & Co.   These biographies are valuable for genealogy research in discovering missing ancestors or filling in the details of a family tree. Family biographies often include far more information than can be found in a census record or obituary.  Details will vary with each biography but will often include the date and place of birth, parent names including mothers' maiden name, name of wife including maiden name, her parents' names, name of children (including spouses if married), former places of residence, occupation details, military service, church and social organization affiliations, and more.  There are often ancestry details included that cannot be found in any other type of genealogical record.

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WILLIAM PIPER DeARMIT, president New York & Cleveland Gas Coal company, Pittsburgh, was born in Hollidaysburg, Pa., Aug. 24, 1850. His grandfather, John DeArmit, was of Pennsylvania birth, descended from the French Huguenots. He was killed by the explosion of a boiler in Wallace’s marble yards, after having dwelt in Pittsburgh but a year or two. Alexander, son of John DeArmit, met his death while serving in the 16th P. C. (see sketch of T. B. DeArmit), having enlisted in Philadelphia. John Piper, father of Mrs. Alexander DeArmit, and of Scotch-Irish descent, born in Shippensburg, Pa., lived in Hollidaysburg, and was an extensive contractor for the transportation of mails, etc., in Western Pennsylvania. He died in 1870. One of his ancestors was wounded at the battle of Long Island, in the revolutionary war. William Piper, son of Alexander DeArmit, was reared in Hollidaysburg, and educated in the schools of that borough. When thirteen years old he entered the counting room of the Blair Iron and Coal company, where he remained three years. He served the Pennsylvania railroad three years as assistant agent at Cresson, and for three years had charge of the “over charge” department of the Union line in Pittsburgh. For the past seventeen years he has been associated with the New York & Cleveland Gas Coal company, beginning as bookkeeper, was thirteen years treasurer, and in 1887 became president. He is also a member of the Sterling Steel company (limited), and has stock in other institutions. He is married to Margaretta, daughter of Edward C. Dixon, of an old Virginia family.

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This family biography is one of 2,156 biographies included in the History of Allegheny County, Pennsylvania published in 1889 by A. Warner & Co.

View additional Allegheny County, Pennsylvania family biographies here: Allegheny County, Pennsylvania Biographies

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