Husband Col. William Anderson Herron 1 2 3
Born: 7 Aug 1821 - Pittsburgh, Allegheny Co, PA 1
Christened:
Died:
Buried:
Father: John Herron (1792-1863) 1
Mother: Clarissa Anderson ( -1873) 1
Marriage: 23 Oct 1843 4
• Biographical Sketch: from Encyclopaedia of Contemporary Biography of Pennsylvania, Vol. 2 (New York: Atlantic Publishing & Engraving Co., 1889).
To read this brief biographical sketch of his life and career, click here.
Wife Louisa J. Hills 4
Born: - Amesbury, Essex Co, MA
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Died:
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Father: Dr. Rufus Hills ( - ) 4 5
Mother:
Children
1 M James A. Herron 4
Born:
Christened:
Died: Bef 1889
Buried:
Spouse: Isda Green ( -Bef 1889) 4
Marr: 1867 4
2 M Rufus H. Herron 4
AKA: Rufus H. Heron 6
Born:
Christened:
Died: Aft 1889
Buried:
Spouse: Jennie E. Shugert ( - ) 6
Marr: 30 Oct 1873 6
3 F Sarah Herron 4
Born:
Christened:
Died: Aft 1889
Buried:
Spouse: Ogden M. Edwards ( - ) 4
4 M John W. Herron 2
Born:
Christened:
Died: Aft 1889
Buried:
Spouse: Jane Ross ( - ) 2
5 F Louisa J. Herron 4
Born:
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Died:
Buried:
6 F Fannie D. Herron 4
Born:
Christened:
Died:
Buried:
7 M William Herron 4
Born:
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Died: Bef 1889
Buried:
General Notes: Husband - Col. William Anderson Herron
The house in which he first saw the light stood at the corner of Eighth street and Penn avenue, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He received a good education, principally in the Western University. He commenced his business career in the dry-goods store of A. Way & Co., but the confinement did not agree with him and he soon joined his father in his extensive coal interests, which embraced a number of mines in what is now the Thirteenth ward of Pittsburgh, but which was called Minersville. It was a very productive tract, and though coal was taken from it in large quantities for many years, it was still not exhausted. In 1846 he and his father, with W. H. Brown, purchased a coal-farm on the Monongahela river at Turtle Creek, with which they did a large business under the firm name of Herron, Brown & Co. They floated their coal in flatboats to Cincinnati, Louisville, Cairo and New Orleans. They supplied the iron- and gas-works in Pittsburgh. Mr. Herron's health failing at this period, he sold out his interest in the business and devoted two years to traveling, etc., until he regained his usual robust condition. Then he went into the lumber trade with his brother-in-law, Richard Sill. At the same time Mr. Herron was a partner in a brass-foundry, and had an interest in a cotton-batting factory and a glassworks, but bestowed only a small part of his attention upon the practical management of these establishments. He was also part owner of a large tract of coal-land on Pine run on the Monongahela, the firm being Herron, Blackburn & Co. They built a coal-railroad and did a large business. Mr. Herron and Mr. Hercules O'Connor, under the firm name of Herron & O'Connor, then purchased the steamboat George Albree and some model barges. Then they took a contract to supply the gasworks at St. Louis by running the coal to Cairo in flatboats and reloading in model barges to tow up to St. Louis. In 1855 Mr. Herron opened a banking-office at the corner of Wood and Sixth streets, continuing in the business until 1860, when he assisted in the establishment of the German Bank. He was also one of the founders of the Iron City Trust company (later the Second National Bank), and was one of the original stock-holders of the Third National Bank and the Mechanics' Bank.
In 1860 he was elected, by a large majority, clerk of the courts of Allegheny county, serving until 1866 with credit to himself and satisfaction to his fellow-citizens. His health compelled him to relinquish the office after six years' service, though he could have been easily re-elected had he desired it. In 1863 he, with two others, secured a charter for the People's Savings Bank, and organized it under the laws of the state, Mr. Herron being the first president. The bank became one of the most successful savings institutions in the city. On leaving the clerk of courts' office he went into the real-estate business, which was later conducted by his sons, Rufus H. and John W., the latter being vice-president of the Commercial National Bank.
Mr. Herron united with the Presbyterian Church in 1836, when only fifteen years of age, and was a consistent member thereafter. He held the offices of elder and trustee for many years, besides taking an active part in Sabbath-school work. He was superintendent of the school at Millersville for some years. He was always prominent in philanthropic enterprises. He was elected a director in the Western Pennsylvania hospital in 1863, and was one of the most energetic members of the board. He was a member of the executive committee of Dixmont Asylum for the Insane, vice-president of the Homeopathic hospital, a director of the Blind Asylum of Western Pennsylvania, a director of the Young Men's Home, and a member of the Young Men's Christian Association. He was a delegate to the Centennial General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church, held in Philadelphia in 1888, and was a delegate to synod and presbytery from the Third Presbyterian Church, of Pittsburgh.
He and his wife had seven children; four were still living in 1889.
General Notes: Wife - Louisa J. Hills
She was a native of Amesbury, Massachusetts, where she lived until she was thirteen years of age.