Bios: CHARLES F. and FRANK E. ALBORN 20th Century History of New Castle and Lawrence County Pennsylvania and Representative Citizens
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CHARLES F. and FRANK E. ALBORN,
[p. 397] who stand foremost among the enterprising business men and
progressive citizens of Shenango Township, Lawrence County,
Pennsylvania, are proprietors of the Cascade Roller Mills, a flourishing
plant which enjoys an extensive patronage throughout that section of the
State.
The Alborn family is an old one in Western Pennsylvania, and was first
established here by Augustus Alborn, grandfather of the gentlemen named
above. He was a native of Germany, where in his youthful days he learned
the trade of a miller. In the summer of 1846 he emigrated from his
native land, and after an ocean voyage of fifty-one days landed in
Baltimore, Maryland. He immediately made his way westward to Pittsburg,
Pennsylvania, thence to Beaver County, where he joined friends who had
preceded him to this country. He soon after purchased a tract of
fifty-five acres in Franklin Township, Beaver County, and being a man of
great energy and thrift, he added to this from time to time until he was
possessed of 105 acres in that tract, and another farm in Franklin
Township of fifty acres, which became his homestead. There his death
occurred in December, 1885, at the age of seventy-eight years. He
married in Germany Miss Christina Elias, who was born in that country
near Fuerstenhaagen, and they became parents of five children, the three
oldest of whom were born in Germany.
Henry C. Alborn, father of Charles F. and Frank E. Alborin, was the
eldest of the children of his parents' family, and was born in the
village of Fuerstenhaagen, Germany, November 7, 1839. He was seven years
old at the time the family became established in Beaver County, and
there he attended the public schools until he was seventeen. He
continued to make his home under the parental roof until he was
twenty-two, at which time he rented of his father a farm in Perry
Township, Lawrence County, in which he lived for three years. He next
purchased a farm of seventy-five acres in Franklin Township, Beaver
County, which he farmed about ten years, when he took up his residence
in Shenango Township, Lawrence County. There he purchased a farm of
ninety-six acres, all cleared and well improved, being adorned with a
fine brick home and substantial out-buildings. He there lived and
prospered the remainder of his days and was classed among the
substantial men of the community. In his latter years he was associated
with his son, Charles F., in the proprietorship of the Big Run Mill, now
known as the Cascade Roller Mills, which was conducted under the firm
name of Alborn & Son. His death occurred July 3, 1904, and he is
survived by his widow, who is living at the old home and is now
seventy-two years of age. She in maiden life was Caroline Young, a
native of the village of Deitchweiler, Reinfels, Bavaria, and is a
daughter of John and Mary (Miller) Young. Her father came to the United
States in 1852, and located in Butler County, where he died in 1858. He
was the owner of a farm of fifty-six acres. Henry C. and Caroline Alborn
became parents of the following children: Mary Ellen, deceased;
Caroline, wife of Rev. Ivan Deitrich, of Allegheny City; Charles F.,
Henry W., who lives on the old home farm; Tillie and Frank E. Mr. Alborn
was a Democrat in politics, and religiously was a member of the Lutheran
Church.
Charles F. Alborn was born in Franklin Township, Beaver County,
Pennsylvania, October 11, 1865, and his educational training was
obtained mainly in the schools of Shenango Township, Lawrence County. He
learned the milling business at Big Run Mill, under the instructions of
Mr. E. D. Failer, and he has been actively engaged in this line of
business ever since. He was united in marriage January 21, 1892, with
Miss Annie M. Weinschenk, a daughter of George G. Weinschenk. The
following childred are the issue of their union: Carrie A., Emanuel H.,
Carl L., George W., Ralph P., Clara Matilda and Bertha May. Religiously,
they are members of the Lutheran Church. Mr. Alborn is independent in
politics, filling his third term as a member of the school board, and is
also road supervisor.
Frank E. Alborn was born in Franklin Township, Beaver County,
Pennsylvania, and received his schooling in the public schools of
Lawrence County. He was united in marriage with Miss Rose Weinschenk, a
daughter of George G. Weinschenk, and they have three children: Clare,
Harold, and Arthur L.
The Cascade Roller Mills is one of the leading business concerns of
Shenango Township. It is thoroughly modern in its equipment, is a
three-story structure, and is supplied with both water and steam power.
Steam is merely auxiliary, as the water power is excellent, there being
a twenty-seven foot fall of water. This has been a mill site since the
pioneer days, the first being established there by Henry Wolf. It was in
turn conducted by a Mr. Brice and a Mr. Sechler until it was destroyed
by fire. Some years later, in the fall of 1887, Henry C. Alborn and his
son, Charles F., purchased the land and erected the present mill, which
for some years was conducted under the name of the Big Run Mill. In 1901
the plant was remodeled and the oscillator system installed, giving a
capacity of thirty barrels per day. Their brand, "Purity," is well known
throughout this section, and the local consumption exceeds the capacity
of the mill. The proprietors are men of recognized standing in the
business circles of the county.
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20th Century History of New Castle and Lawrence County Pennsylvania and
Representative Citizens Hon. Aaron L. Hazen Richmond-Arnold Publishing
Company, Chicago, Ill., 1908
Updated: 16 Oct 2001