BIO: David Philips ESTEP, Beaver County, PA
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BOOK OF BIOGRAPHIES. This Volume Contains Biographical Sketches
of Leading Citizens of Beaver County, Pennsylvania. Buffalo, N.Y.,
Chicago, Ill.: Biographical Publishing Company, 1899, pp. 343-347.
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BEAVER COUNTY 343
DAVID PHILIPS ESTEP, deceased, a gentleman whose life was marked by years
of activity in the industrial world, was a prominent dairyman in Chippewa
township, Beaver county, Pennsylvania. He was a son of Ephraim and Susanna
(Philips) Estep, and was born in Washington county, Pa., March 9, 1822.
His grandfather was Robert Estep, who was born in Baltimore, Md., in 1750,
and was of Welsh parentage, - his father having come from Wales to America,
in 1720, and settled in Baltimore, Maryland. Robert Estep, after reaching
maturity removed to Bedford county, Pa., making the trip on horseback, - and
there engaged in agricultural pursuits. He subsequently bought a farm in
Washing-ton county, Pa., and lived there during the remainder of his life. He
was a Democrat in politics, and served as a "squire" under the old laws, being
appointed by the governor. He was also burgess of Lawrenceville, when that was
a busy little town, entirely apart from Pittsburg. He was united in marriage
with Dorcas Wells, and they became the parents of thirteen children, namely:
Eliza; Nathan; Jemima (Dailey); Ruth (Potter), of Darlington, Pa.; John;
James, a physician, and later, a minister of the Gospel; Ephraim, whose
business was that of a merchant; Mary (Gaston); Elizabeth (Holmes); Thomas;
William, who died in infancy; Joseph; and William.
Ephraim Estep, the father of the subject of this sketch, was born in
Washington county, Pa., and was mentally trained in the public schools, after
which he took up the occupation of a farmer, but subsequently learned the
trade of a blacksmith, - buying a place which was furnished with water power.
He then removed to Pittsburg and became a prominent manufacturer of shovels
and axes, - buying the old plant of Orrin Waters. He supplied all the jobbers
of Pittsburg, and employed about forty-five men. Some time later, he moved to
New Brighton, Beaver county, Pa., and built a factory in which he
manufactured all kinds of edge tools, employing seventy-five men, and in
1849, he retired, and turned the management over to two of his sons. He
married Susanna Philips, a daughter of John Philips, who was a very
successful merchant in Philadelphia. He was appointed an ensign in
Washington's army during the Revolutionary War, and the commission is highly
prized by the subject hereof, in whose possession it has remained. He was a
man of extensive business interests, and besides conducting his store he was
an extensive weaver; for many years he was a "squire" of his district.
Religiously, he was a Baptist; politically he was a member of the Whig party.
Susanna Philips was born and educated in Philadelphia, and as a result of her
union with Ephraim Estep, she became the mother of nine children: Mary Hall,
deceased; Joseph Philips, manufacturer of wagons; William C.; David Philips,
the subject of this sketch; Dorcas (Marquis); Elvira; Harriet; Ephraim; and
Robert.
David Philips Estep was mentally trained and educated in Washington county,
Pa., in
344 BOOK OF BIOGRAPHIES
the public schools, and in the schools of Pittsburg, and thereafter became
prominently identified with his father's business interests. In 1849, he went
to California, and became an active speculator, - being one of the first
miners in that field. While in California he turned his attention to seine
fishing in the Sacramento River and supplied the camps and towns with fish, -
in this way doing a good business. In 1851, he returned to Pittsburg and was
employed at the Lippencott axe factory, for a time, but subsequently became
foreman for Hubbard & Bakewell. He served in that capacity for thirty-two
years, and as a workman was unexcelled. He seemed to possess the happy
faculty of procuring the best efforts from the men under his direction, and
yet, by showing them kindness and consideration, he gained their esteem and
affection. In fact, it was with great regret that they saw him take his
departure from their midst in 1879, and he was presented with what is,
probably, the handsomest set of engrossed resolutions ever drawn up in
Pittsburg. It was an extraordinary exhibition of their regard for him, and
was signed by a committee of seven, and by over two hundred of the employees.
It is a gift of which any man would feel proud. He then removed to Beaver
county, and purchased a tract of two hundred and seventy-one acres of land in
Chippewa township, one-half of which was in a state of cultivation. The
handsome brick house was then standing, and was known as the McKinley
homestead, but was subsequently owned by William Davidson and then by Mr.
Hamilton, from whom the subject of our sketch purchased it. He made many
important improvements on the place, - clearing a considerable portion of it,
- and engaged in dairying and farming. He possessed fifty head of cattle, -
making a specialty of Jersey stock, - and retailed milk, keeping two wagons
busy in selling directly to the consumer. Up to the time of his death, he was
ably assisted in the management of the farm by his son Edgar, who attended to
all of the active duties incident to so extensive a business. He also had
eleven head of fine horses, one of them being twenty-six years old, and still
a very good horse, - a fact which speaks well for the treatment and care it
has received. Mr. Estep made a host of friends after locating in Beaver
county, and was everywhere received as a man of worth to the community.
His wife was Hannah Squires, who was born in 1823, and received an
excellent mental training in the schools of Pittsburg, - being an
exceptionally bright woman. He was deprived of her companionship by death in
1892, when she was sixty-nine years old. They had the following children:
Frances M., who died in infancy; Thomas S.; Albert D., who died in infancy;
Susanna Catherine, who also died in infancy; Edgar S., who assisted his
father; and Harry Clay, a prominent real estate dealer, of Pittsburg.
Politically, the subject of this memoir was a Republican. In religious
attachments he was a member of the Baptist church, of New Brighton. He was a
member and past master of Pittsburg Lodge,
BEAVER COUNTY 347
F. & A. M.; past commander of Pittsburg Commandery, No. 1; past
commander-in-chief of Pittsburg consistory; and a member of Arsenal Lodge,
No. 480, I. O. O. F., of which he was, for some time, deputy grand master of
the Pittsburg district. His death occurred September 22, 1899, and he was
buried with Masonic honors in Allegheny Cemetery, Pittsburg, Pennsylvania.