Get to know Samuel McKee, an early glass founder in Pittsburgh, PA. He was born in 1808 and married Mary Stewart. They had many children, some of which will also go into the glass business.
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Transcript
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Hi, I'm Melanie, and this is Artifact and Landmark. This episode is about Samuel McKee, who was a founder of a glassworks on the south side of Pittsburgh with his brothers Thomas and James. He was also involved in other businesses that would support the growth of the region of Pittsburgh, and specifically of Birmingham. So Samuel was born on March 29th, 1808, in Carlisle, Pennsylvania, to Daniel McKee and Mary Stewart, but soon after his father's death. His mother, Mary moves the family to Pittsburgh, and then they relocate to the other side of the Monongahela to Birmingham,
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now the south side of Pittsburgh. Birmingham was established in about 1811 by Doctor Nathaniel Bedford, and it took on the name of South Side in about 1872, when it was annexed into Pittsburgh. So when Samuel arrived in Pittsburgh with his family, he would have been only about two years old, and we're not sure when he moved to Birmingham.
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So he is also the youngest of five brothers, and Daniel was the eldest. Then there was John, then Thomas, and finally James, with Samuel being the youngest. In 1829, Samuel McKee marries Mary Ihmsen, who is born in 1810. She is the daughter of a leading glass manufacturer named Charles Ihmsen and he was one of the founders of the Birmingham Glassworks.
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So this union, this marriage connects Samuel to two of the most important figures of glass of his day. So one would be Christian Ihmsen, the son of Charles Ihmsen and brother to his wife Mary. And then Frederick Lorenz, who is married to another of the daughters of Charles Ihmsen. We believe that Samuel learned his trade at the Birmingham glassworks or a glassworks in Birmingham, and it isn't surprising that,
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in 1837, with his family glass connections, that Samuel, about 28 years old, along with brothers James and Thomas, establish S. McKee & Co. - it's also known as the Pennsylvania Glassworks. They at first produce hollow ware and window glass. We know by the mid 1850s the works are advertising the production of bottles, jars and insulators. Since the works are in Birmingham and the offices were in the borough of Pittsburgh,
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we aren't sure where Samuel would have spent most of his time. His works in Birmingham would have been located on the block of Denman, now 12th Street and Washington, now Sarah, Streets. His offices in the borough of Pittsburgh, would first be on Wood near Virgin Alley, which is now Oliver Avenue, then Second Street, which is now a Boulevard of the Allies, between Wood and Market and finally at 62 and 63 Water Street,
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now Fort Pitt Boulevard. And he will live on the south side of Pittsburgh for most of his life. He does move to Oakland, to the B.A. Fahnestock estate in about 1862. Samuel became involved in government and in utilities, bridges, banking and insurance companies.
So let's go over some key events. So in the 1830s, what he really does is establish his works and he gets involved in city politics.
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So we know he establishes his works in 1837 with his two brothers, Thomas and James. In 1839, we see him as president of the Birmingham Town Council and his brother Thomas as treasurer of the town of Birmingham. Now moving into the 1840s, we see more politics and a few family members pass away. In 1841, we see Samuel as Burgess and his brother Daniel as council member of Birmingham.
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Samuel's mother, Mary, the matriarch, passes in 1841 at the age of 66. In 1843, he also enters the dry goods business, with, it seems, the same partners. It's the same company name. That year we also see him giving a speech to the Birmingham Literary Institute. In 1844, we see his brother Daniel pass after a long illness, and he's only about 51 years old.
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The Harris Directory for that year, 1844. We see Samuel as director and president and his brother Thomas as director of the Birmingham Public Schools, which reports having 280 students. We have this map from the 1850s which highlight a few of the public schools at that time. In 1850, there will also be a new public school that will open.
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We also see in the directory of 1844 that Samuel McKee is captain of the military company for Birmingham, and he will at times throughout his life be called captain. Moving on to the 1850s, we now see him moving into county politics and investing in the bridges, railroads, some banks and more. In 1851, he becomes a member of the Young Men Mercantile Library and Mechanics Institute.
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He becomes a committee member for the Birmingham Bridge. In 1852, he's elected to the Pittsburgh and Steubenville Railroad Committee. In that same year, at the age of 44. He throws his hat in the ring, for becoming Birmingham's representative as part of the Allegheny elections. County elections. But he loses to George E Appleton. In 1853, he is elected as manager of the Birmingham Bridge Company.
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In 1853 we see Samuel elected as director of the Merchants and Mechanics Bank, along with his brother in law, Christian Ihmsen. Samuel is elected to President of the Birmingham and Brownsville Plank Road Company. In 1857, Thomas, his brother, effectively retires from the firm, and we know that his sons Frederick and James are busy building their own glassworks of F and J
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McKee, which will eventually become McKee Glass that operated out of Jeannette into the 1980s. In 1858, Samuel is on the ballot again, this time on the county assembly ballot, and was defeated by John P. Penney. Now moving into the 1860s, we see more county politics, and of course we see the Civil War. We see some family members passing, and we see him actually getting fairly severely injured.
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He relocates his warehouse during this period and he moves into his new estate. So in 1860, we have a first tragedy. His daughter, Wilhelmina McKee, who's the wife of William F. Van Kirk, dies at 28, about a week after the birth of her son, William. According to this article, Samuel McKee was traveling and he was surrounded by a number of his friends laughing heartily at a story.
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One of them was relating at the same time literally opening up the dispatch. A glance at a told him the mournful truth, and in an instant he burst into tears and was born helpless into his state room. The sudden transition from joy to sorrow has completely prostrated him. His friends sympathized deeply with him, and his bereavement. Now Wilhelmina would have had three children at this point, so she definitely had been married for a bit longer than what this article says.
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But perhaps some of this article is true. And we can only imagine Samuel McKee being very distraught by the death of his child. In 1861, we see Samuel's namesake, Samuel A. McKee, enlist in the Union Army that same year. Both his son-in-law, Robert Wallace and his son, William F McKee, join the firm.
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In 1863, we see regional manufacturers, including S. Mckee & Co., called upon to build forts in Pittsburgh and respond to the possible invasion of the Confederate Army. And S McKee & Co. will be responsible for the fort at the top of Mount Washington. He also decides around this time, to move his warehouses from Second Street to 62 Water Street.
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And we also see him move to a new home, in what is now Oakland. It's the former state of B.A. Fahnestock, which we think, he buys after his death. And this property, this estate, will eventually become McKee place. Now, 1864 was really a tremendously horrible year for Samuel. In early 1864, his brother James passes around that same time, his son, Samuel McKee, is killed in the Civil War.
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He's only 22 years old when he's killed in action a few months after his brother dies. His other brother Thomas also passes. And so that would have been in June, of that year of 1864. So it's almost no surprise that in July of 1864, Samuel, seriously injures himself. He's climbing aboard one of the passenger streetcars
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and, while he's getting on the streetcar, a horse has a sudden start. I don't know if it got spooked, but it starts going forward. And the rail, the rail car, of course, passes over him. He's thrown to the ground. His arm is broken, his leg is broken, and he does suffer some internal injuries. We see, of course, that he does recover because he goes on in his business, and he would have been about 56 years old when all of these events happened.
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So we see Samuel moving on with his life in 1865. He's donating to the Soldiers Orphans Fund. We see him elected to an insurance company called the Artisan Insurance Company. His son, Daniel, will actually also be associated with this company. In 1866, we see articles about the Allegheny Cemetery. They're covering how much people are paying for their monuments.
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It shows Samuel McKee's monument cost around $2,500. In 1866, we see Samuel throwing his hat in the ring again for county assembly. And unfortunately, he's defeated again. In 1867, we see Samuel being appointed as director of the Union Pacific Railroad. And then, that same year, unfortunately, we also see the partnership between Samuel, his son William, and his son in law, Robert dissolve.
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In 1868, they put up their warehouse at 63 Water Street for rent. And the next year, and in 1869, his former partner and son in law, Robert Wallace, passes. So in the 1870s we see, Mrs. Samuel McKee get involved herself in the Soldiers Monument, Allegheny Soldiers monument. We see additional family members passing, and we see the passing of Samuel McKee.
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So in about 1865, the citizens of Allegheny County were really calling for a soldier's monument. And there were many false starts. And, it took Mrs. McKee and other women forming the ladies monument Association to make the difference. And then in 1871, we see the dedication of the soldiers monument. Now, at first it will be on Seminary Hill or Monument Hill, and it would move in 1931
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and also go through a redesign. And it is now sitting in West Park on the North Side in 1873. William F. McKee, so this would be Samuel McKee's son and his former partner, also passes. In 1876, we see the patriarch Samuel McKee, passing at the age of 68. So if you're curious what happens to the heirs, meaning Christian McKee, Daniel McKee and his son in law, A.C. Drav,.
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I'll quickly run through some points about their lives. So in 1877, after the death of Samuel, we see a new partnership. The partnership will be between these three Daniel McKee, Christian and A.C. Dravo. And in 188, matriarch Mary also dies. So in the coming decades, we see the family selling many of the properties of Samuel McKee.
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But we can still see two landmarks, or at least two areas in Pittsburgh that are closely related, and that you can go visit today and know that Samuel McKee and his legacy and the legacy of S McKee & Co, the glass company, are still alive and well. So the first is Armstrong Field. It's a park on the south side of Pittsburgh at the old location of the works.
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So it would be on 12th between 12th and 13th and flanked by Sarah. So the second is the estate of Samuel McKee, which becomes McKee place. So let's start with McKee place. So McKee place, its official life begins in about 1892 when the city approves the plans. If you are interested in seeing old maps and the McKee residents, along with the development timeline, we have a short video and available for you to watch now.
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So going to Armstrong Field. Armstrong Field, began as a park in 1917. And then it evolved into the park it is today. And we have a few images we can share to show the evolution of the park. So let's get to the heirs and their stories. So, Christian Ihmsen McKee, so he's born in 1855, and he dies in 1903 at the age of 48.
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He's the youngest child of Samuel McKee. He marries Annie R. Patrick in 1885. And she is the eldest daughter of William Wallace or W.W. Patrick of Patrick and Co, who are bankers. Contrary to what you might expect to see a wedding of that day, the newspaper reports a few interesting facts, like the ladies were all dressed in white.
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The song was play was Mendelssohn's Wedding March, and the reception was at the bride's parents house, at 226 Ridge Avenue in Allegheny City, which is now called the North Side of Pittsburgh. The marriage did not produce any children. So he didn't seem to follow what other businessmen were doing in the day. He really didn't join any boards.
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But there is one, particularly an event, in his life, that must have greatly affected him. And this was the great flood of Johnstown. So the flood occurred Friday, May 31st, 1889, and it was due to the failure of the South Fork Dam, which there had been warnings about a few days before. His friend John A. Little from Sewickley, was leaving for a trip to Johnstown and he asked Christian to promise that if anything happened to him, that he would take care of his wife and children.
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So it must have just been a conversation in passing something, a reassuring conversation between friends. But unfortunately, John did perish in this flood. And it was a flood that took many lives. So Christian did raise money to build a house in Sewickley for the family, and he had some money left over to put in trust. And he did find employment for some of the children.
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So Christian actually dies at the very young age of 48. In 1903. He leaves behind his wife, who dies in 1934. So now let's talk about the next brother, Daniel McKee. So he was born in 1847, and he will die in 1913 at the age of 66. At his death, he's the last remaining son of Samuel and Mary McKee.
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He would never marry. He would associate himself with many businesses, some of which were businesses that his family had long been associated with, including the First National Bank of Birmingham. His cousin, also H. Sellers McKee, would also serve on that board. He also becomes a manager of the Monongahela Water Company and director of the Artisan's Insurance Company, which his father Samuel also served on.
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So although the family do try to keep the business running and do make a good go of it. In 1904, Daniel McKee filed for bankruptcy on behalf of S McKee & Co. Long time employees, actually raised money to save the business and they reorganized with Daniel as the manager. Unfortunately, this wasn't a success. And in 1908, the board decided to sell the plant.
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Daniel will spend his final years winding down the business. After Daniel's death, there is an article, and the December 16th, 1913 issue of the National Glass Budget that really highlights this character and gives us some fun facts. Daniel McKee, who for 40 odd years was identified with the window glass industry of Pittsburgh, is dead.
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His earthly career having been brought to a close last Tuesday evening at his home at 3500 Forbes Street, Oakland. Mr. McKee was 66 years of age, and if he had an enemy in the world, we don't know where he could be found. Always quiet and unassuming, he went about his business in such a manner as to command the respect and confidence of those with whom he came in contact. For more than 30 years, the late John Fetter and Daniel Winters Sr, were bosom companions at the McKee factory on South Side.
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All were about the same age, and as attentive to their duties as clockwork. McKee and Fetter, and the business office and Winters in the factory. One of the best blowers who ever occupied an American foot bench. When Mr. Winters died about a year ago, Danny McKee was one of the saddest men at the funeral, and at that time it was remarked by those who'd followed the remains of Winters to their last resting place that McKee would not long survive him the ravages of disease having materially shaken his former rugged physique.
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So Daniel McKee was the last man standing of all the family members who were partners of the McKee glassworks. But it's comforting to say that he was so well respected. Now, A.C. Dravo. So A.C. Dravo is our final subject of this video. An 1871 A.C. Dravo becomes part of the McKee family when he marries Phoebe McKee. So she was born in 1844 and he was born in 1842.
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He was a son of Michael Bravo, who was a successful coal merchant. He graduated from Western University of Pennsylvania, which is now University of Pittsburgh. He was also a member of the Knights of Templar. So he would be part of the family business of S McKee & Co until about 1890. That same year, his father dies. He will remain active in business and dies in 1918.
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His wife, Phoebe would die in 1928. A.C. Dravo will become attached to the banks, rails, insurance and gas companies. Some of the companies he was associated will include the Third National Bank of Pittsburgh and the Pittsburgh Bank of Savings, City Insurance Company. He becomes trustee of the Pittsburgh Gas Company, Director of Chartiers Valley Gas Company and the Hazelwood Oil Company.
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As with other McKees, he runs into some bother when it comes to his finances. He ends up declaring bankruptcy in 1900, with $285,000 in debt and $175K in assets. We also see him selling off many plots of the McKee plan over the next decade. So that's it for this episode. I hope you enjoyed this overview of Samuel McKee and his heirs.
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Some of the earliest glass manufacturers of Pittsburgh. You can find out more about the business as McKee and Co in another video.
