My Genealogy Hound

ZADOCK WESTON DEAN, JR., nailer, post office White Ash, was born in Pittsburgh, Sept. 1, 1848. His grandfather, Winslow Dean, was born near Plympton, Mass. He descended from the early settlers of New England, and seems to have inherited somewhat of the Puritan principles, as he was a strict disciplinarian, and conservative in his manner of living. He had an aversion to the steam cars, and never rode in them, but this was of little disadvantage to him, as he was never farther from home than Boston (where he went with the products of his farm) and Plymouth Rock, which he visited once a year. He lived ninety-four years, and worked up to the time of his death, which resulted from a fall down stairs, in the house in which he was born and always lived. The father of our subject, now residing on his farm at Uniontown, Pa., came to Pittsburgh in 1843, and was one of the first nailers employed at David Chess’ nail and tack-works. He was actively engaged in making nails and tacks for fifty-six years. His kindly nature has gained for him many friends, and he is one of the most widely known nailers in the country. His wife, Martha, was the daughter of Peter Mowry, brother of Dr. R. B. Mowry, of Allegheny City. She died at Uniontown in 1887. From six to twelve years of age Zadock W. lived on his father’s farms at Chalk Hill and Farmington, Fayette county, Pa., but the rest of his life has been passed in Allegheny county. His school days were for the most part passed in the country schools of these districts. After spending a year at school in Birmingham he went to work at Mulvaney’s glasshouse, under the care of Jenkin Jones. Working at this place for a year, he went to Chicago to work for Wheeler Brothers in their glasshouse, which was the first one built in that city. Though making good wages for a boy not yet fifteen, he preferred to be a nailer, and after working nine months for Wheeler Brothers he entered a nail-factory and learned the trade under his father. For the last nineteen years he has been employed by Shoenberger & Co., beginning as a nailer, and is now manager of their nailing department. In 1885 he built his present residence at White Ash, near Sandy Creek station, on the A. V. R. R. Aug. 11, 1867, he married Julia Eva Miller, who was born at Uniontown, a daughter of Thomas and Ann Miller. Ann Miller, nee Amos, is of English parentage, and was born in Baltimore, Md. The Miller family are of German descent, and one of the first in Fayette county. They were among the early slaveholders of the state, owning many slaves at that time. Mr. and Mrs. Dean have three sons: Thomas Norvelle, William Henry Harrison and Fredrick Irving. Thomas Norvelle is a student at Allegheny College, Meadville, Pa. Mr. Dean is a republican, and he and his family are associated with the Presbyterian Church.