Husband Major John Breckenridge Maitland 1
Born: 23 Jul 1838 - Rockland Twp, Venango Co, PA 2
Christened:
Died: 17 Jun 1903 - Oil City, Venango Co, PA 3
Buried: - Grove Hill Cemetery, Oil City, Venango Co, PA
Father: Andrew Maitland, Jr. (Abt 1812-1883) 2 4
Mother: Jane Elliott (Abt 1809-1871) 2 4
Marriage: 3 Oct 1861 - Emlenton, Venango Co, PA 3
Wife Henrietta Catherine "Etta" Pryer 3
AKA: Henrietta Caroline Maitland
Born: 20 Apr 1838 - Rockland Twp, Venango Co, PA 3
Christened:
Died: 12 Feb 1923
Buried: - Grove Hill Cemetery, Oil City, Venango Co, PA
Father: Perkins Lovell Pryer (1815-1906)
Mother: Catharine "Katie" Cox (1820-1909)
Children
1 F Jessie W. Maitland 3 5 6
Born: 8 May 1866 6
Christened:
Died: 25 Jul 1945 6
Buried: - Rockland Cemetery, Rockland Twp, Venango Co, PA 7
Spouse: William Elmer Askey (1861-1948) 3 5 6
Marr: 3 Oct 1886 5 6
2 M Edgar Gregg Maitland 3
Born: 1867
Christened:
Died: 1946
Buried: - Grove Hill Cemetery, Oil City, Venango Co, PA
Spouse: Matilda M. Berry (1871-1934) 3
3 F Minnie Maitland
Born:
Christened:
Died:
Buried:
4 M Arthur Shippen Maitland 3
Born: 17 Apr 1875
Christened:
Died: 1948
Buried: - Grove Hill Cemetery, Oil City, Venango Co, PA
Spouse: Jane Kribbs (1875-1957)
5 F Henrietta Katherine "Katie" Maitland 3
Born: 28 Dec 1879
Christened:
Died: 1959
Buried: - Grove Hill Cemetery, Oil City, Venango Co, PA
General Notes: Husband - Major John Breckenridge Maitland
He had better than average educational advantages for that period, attending the public schools and several terms at the Jane's Academy in Clintonville before taking regular employment, as a youth of sixteen, in the general store of Charles Shippen at Stapley Furnace, in Richland Township. He continued with Mr. Shippen until he enlisted for service in the Civil war, remaining in the army until after peace was declared. On Oct. 9, 1861, he became a private in Company L, 4th Pennsylvania Cavalry, and rose from the ranks to major in that organization, the record of his promotions reading as follows: Commissioned second lieutenant, April 2, 1862; first lieutenant, Aug. 17, 1862; captain, July 23, 1864; major, March 13, 1865. He took part in practically all of the actions of his command, and as may be judged served with distinction; for some time he was adjutant on the staff of General Gregg.
Returning home at the close of the war, Major Maitland entered into a business partnership with his former employer, the firm carrying on a successful general merchandise trade for several years, after which the Major was engaged in the manufacture of lumber at Mill Creek for a time. With the discovery of petroleum in the Oil Creek valley he was attracted to Oil City, beginning his connection with the pipe line business about 1873, as assistant to Capt. H. M. Hughes, general superintendent for Bradley & Company, owners of the Antwerp pipe line. The laying and use of pipe lines for oil transportation across the country was then a comparatively new feature of the oil industry, and, as it proved, one of the decisive factors in the large success of the business. Major Maitland, with his ideas and ability, helped to lay the foundations for the success of the pipe line, and played an important part in the evolution of its use, the splendidly organized system which unfolded gradually from the simple beginning being to a large extent the product of his alert mind and gift for practical application. In his first position he had charge of the construction of the Antwerp and Oil City line, from Clarion to Oil City, meantime making his headquarters at Clarion and St. Petersburg. Later, in 1877, when the Clarion and Butler divisions were consolidated under A. C. Beeson, he took charge of the work of constructing a pipe line from Bear Creek to Kane. His company had meanwhile been merged into the United Pipe Line Company, later into the National Transit Company, and when the latter divided its enormous business into separate departments, with specific powers, in 1880, he was made manager of the iron tankage department, holding this position to the close of his life. Though the expansions of the business and the complications introduced by modern scientific methods made his work increasingly difficult and responsible throughout this period, Major Maitland always kept ahead of its demands, showing a facility for progress which stamped him as a leader in thought and action. To his duties of manager of the tankage department were added those of manager of the right of way department about three years before his death, upon the retirement of J. C. McDowell, and he carried the responsibilities of both until incapacitated by illness several months before his death. As head of his special department from the time of its inception Major Maitland constructed practically all the tankage-for the storage of the surplus production in the fields-of the National Transit Company built during his lifetime, his office having control of work in nearly every oil field in the United States where the company had interests. The construction as well as location of tanks was under his charge, and most of the company's tank construction in the Olean, Colegrove and Tiona districts, in the Bradford and Allegany fields, as well as in Washington County, was built by him, besides that in their Ohio, Indiana and West Virginia fields, and though the number of tanks which he put up eventually ran into the thousands he retained all the details regarding their capacity, location, date of construction, etc., being able to recall the number, size and position of any tank readily. If a tank had been moved from one point to another he knew its history, and some idea of what this means may be gained from the information that over twelve hundred tanks were erected in the Bradford and Allegany fields alone between 1878 and 1884, and most of them later taken down and transferred to Ohio and Indiana. He could also tell accurately the day and date upon which fire destroyed any of the tanks, and all the particulars of the event. He never seemed daunted by the magnitude of any task, and he was always willing to do the lion's share of the work himself, never asking an employe to do any more than, or as much as, he undertook. He was never absent from business until during the illness which terminated in his death. Though strict in his conception of duty, so far as his personal obligations were concerned, and expecting employes to be dependable and timely in their labors, he was noted for the kindliness of his relations with them. His work necessarily brought him into contact with men in all parts of the oil country, and the unusual popularity which he enjoyed was a tribute to his likeable personality as much as a recognition of capability.
Along with business responsibilities of unusual importance and extent Major Maitland maintained social, church and civic associations so numerous and varied as to excite wonder by their mere enumeration. Nearest to his heart were his church interests. Early in 1867 he joined the Methodist Episcopal Church, and from that time was one of its most faithful members. Soon after his admission to the church he was licensed as an exhorter, and later became a regularly ordained minister of his denomination. In his home city he was identified with Grace Memorial M. E. Church and Sunday school, holding the most important offices in both, at the time of his death filling the positions of church trustee and Sunday school superintendent. For many years the congregation had its house of worship on East Third Street, and when the subject of a new edifice came up it was with his cooperation that the present site at the corner of West First Street and Central Avenue was secured by the purchase of the Greenfield property. As chairman of the building committee, and one of the generous financial contributors toward the building, he spared neither time nor means until he saw the church completed and the congregation in enjoyment of it, and the church stands “to-day one of the monuments that will be indissolubly connected with his memory.” He was a regular attendant at Conference, and in every locality where business or other duties called him he was active in establishing churches and Sunday schools.
All projects for the encouragement and furtherance of those things that foster the higher aims of life had his warm sympathy and substantial aid. The Y. M. C. A. of the city found in him one of its most faithful friends and laborers, and he served as president until ill health made it necessary for him to resign, the organization showing excellent progress in constructive work under his administration. He was active in the management of the Oil City Hospital, having been one of the members of its first board of directors, and his fellow directors availed themselves of his judgment in the matter of building materials and experience in construction, choosing him as chairman of the committee which had charge of the erection of this magnificent institution. Though he was a welcome and influential figure at public gatherings the Major cared nothing for the honors of temporal powers attaching to public office, but he valued the opportunities for service which such position presented, and it was with that idea that he accepted membership on the Oil City school board for a number of years, serving on various important committees-at the time of his death on the teachers' committee. All local philanthropic or charitable undertakings could count upon him for practical aid, both in the way of service and financial contributions. In his long connection with the Oil City Relief Association he gave aid and comfort to many of the poor of the city, either as a member of the board or personally, but his lack of ostentation makes any estimate of the extent of his benevolences impossible, for it was not his habit to make much of his activities of that nature. The association was founded largely through his efforts during the great fire and flood in 1892, and proved so efficient a means of distributing needed relief that it was continued. Major Maitland had been filling the office of vice president for several years before his decease, and he did his full share of the work of investigating cases of need and distributing the funds placed at the disposition of the organization.
Fraternally Major Maitland maintained active membership in Petrolia Lodge, F. & A. M.; Latonia Lodge No. 1018, I. O. O. F.; the National Union; Rutherford B. Hayes Post No. 167, G. A. R., and the Northwestern Association of the Pennsylvania Department of the G. A. R. His particular interest was centered in G. A. R. work, which he enjoyed above all other relaxations. He was true to the principles of the organization in their most liberal application to his relations with his former comrades. Again and again he was elected commander of his post, serving as such until his death, and the sentiment of his fellow members toward him is clearly illustrated by the fact that for several years prior to his decease he was continued in the office without opposition. He was also a junior vice commander of the National G. A. R. when he died, and president of the executive committee of the Northwestern Association, which he had previously served as commander. He always took a prominent part in its reunions as well as those of his old regiment, for though eminently progressive in everything he had the tenderest feelings for old associations and no wish to sever them.
The news of Major Maitland's death at his home in Oil City, after several months of illness and suffering, brought sorrow to every circle in the community. The multitude of his friends included all classes, and all were well represented at the large gathering which attended his funeral. The services, held at Grace Memorial Church, were conducted by the pastor and a former pastor, assisted by prominent members of his own denomination and ministers from other local churches, all eager to do reverence to a man whose earnestness and untiring zeal had been an incentive for their own labors through many a year. An Oil City newspaper observed: “It is seldom in the history of any community that such complete reverence to the memory of a private citizen is shown.” The National Transit Company's offices closed at noon in recognition of a general desire among officers and employes for opportunity to pay their respects. Other business in the city was practically suspended during the funeral. Each organization to which the Major belonged attended in a body, and over one hundred of his G. A. R. comrades took part m the interment services in Grove Hill cemetery, a delegation from Mays Post of Franklin having joined the local post. A squad from Company D, 16th Regiment, N. G. P., fired a salute over the grave. The Major had frequently officiated as chaplain on such occasions. [CAB, 625]
General Notes: Wife - Henrietta Catherine "Etta" Pryer
She received an excellent education, begun in the public schools and continued at private schools until at the age of eighteen years she took up teaching. She followed this vocation until after the Civil war, in Richland, Rockland and Cranberry Townships, Venango County, PA. [CAB, 627]