Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-11-13
A NOBLE LIFE ENDED.
John q. ShOenberger Died in New
York Yesterday.
WHICH EVOKES MANY MEMORIES.
His Useful Life Spanned Long Epoch of
Local History.
THE OBSEQUIES MAY BE AT TRINITY

AS foreshadowed by yesterdays Dis
PATCH John H. Shoenberger died in New
York City yesterday OF paralysis, the result
of old age.
He was born in Huntingdon county in
1909, and came to Pittsburg with his father,
DR.. Peter Shoenberger in 1926. Ex-Mayor
Henry A. Weaver, who knew John H.
Shoenberger for over go years, states that
the family on their way from Huntingdon
stopped at his (Weaver's) fathers house at
New Salem, % miles from this city on the
old Northern pike. DR.. Peter Shoenberger
built the old mansion, long landmark in
the city and in its day one of its pretentious
mansions, at the corner of Penn avenue and
Sixteenth street. 1t has been used of late
years as Catholic schoolhouse.
As stated yesterday, DR.. Peter Shoenber-
ger left each of his ten children an iron
furnace. He was pioneer in developing
the iron industries of the Juniata Valley.
When this century was in its teens he
worked up a trade with Pittsburg iron
workers. His Junista iron was hauled in
wagons across the Allegheny Mountains to
the headwaters of the Conemaugh, and there
loaded on hatboats, which conveyed it by
the Kiskiminetas and Allegheny rivers to
this city.
John h. Shoenberger, who by reason of
his fathers business interests made frequent
trips to Pittsburg in the good old days, at
last concluded to plant his stakes here, and
the wisdom of his choice was fully estab-
lished by events. The Shoenberger nail
mill dates back to the early 30's.
EARLY NAIL MAKING IN PITrsBURG.
When the Shoenbergers transplanted their
iron interests from the Juniata to the Allie
gheny they at once gave their attention to
the nail industry, and were properly the
pioneers here of this branch of the iron
trade The Shoenberger mill in old Bay
ardstown was one of the landmarks of that
section half century ago.
When the subject of this sketch began
active life there were just three iron facto-
ries in the city of prominence, his, the Sligo
Iron Works, William NJ. Lyon and the
works of Spang, Chalfant & Co., all estab-
ished about 1924 or 1926.
John II. received a collegiate and also
practical business training and his poise
in after life showed how well he had profted
thereby. After the death OF his father in
1858 be took the active management of the
business of j. H. & G. II. Shoenberger.
Such had been the title for 26 years, the
founder, DR.. Peter Shoenberger, having
retired in 1882. In 1860 the firm became
Shoenberger, Blair & Co. and in 1865 Gem
eral G. L. Fitzhugh, George Shoenberger,
of Cincinnati; John q. Speer and G. A.
Steiner leased the mill and still operate it,
though John II. Shoenberger always re-
tained an interest.
ENJOYING THE RESULTS OF HIS LABoRs.
In 1860, Mr.. Shoenberger made tour of
Europe, and has spent most of his life since
in New York City, living there continu-
ously during the past nine years. He was
a patron of art, and had one of the finest
collections in this vicinity. The room now
occupied by the Pittsburg Club for its
theater was Mr.. Shoenberger's art gallery.
He was public spirited man, and con-
nected with most new enterprises. He was
one of the incorporators of the Allegheny
Cemetery, chartered in 1910, in which his
remains will be laid. In addition to be-
ing director in the cemetery, he was Pres
ident of the Exchange Bank for many years,
and one of the Board of Managers of the
West Penn Hospital.
But not withstanding his prominence in
business, Mr.. Shoenberger will be recollected
more on account of religious and charitable
benefactions. Mr.. Weaver states that he
was considered very austere by some people,
but that it was on account of lack of &C.
quaintance.
HE MADE FRIENDS SLOWLY.
Mr.. Shoenberger was slow to give his con-
fdence, but when once established he
was inostentatiously charitable, and many
of his benefactions were only known to the
benefciaries. He was one of the corpora
tors OF the Episcopal Church Home. The
building was first known as Locust Grove
Seminary. Its cost was $4,000 half of
which was donated by Mr.. Shoenberger. 1t
was chartered in 1859.
When Trinity Episcopal Church parish
had grown too numerous for the old church,
Mr.. Shoenberger proposed to give 500, 900
toward the building of the present structure
on Sixth avenue, if the congregation raised
an equal amount, which was done. He also
made other donations to it, and some years
an annuity of $500 on the parish.
He also contributed $50, 900 to the erection
of st. Peters Episcopal Church, corner
OF Grant and Diamond streets.
He maintained three pews in
Trinity and erected an altar in il to COM
the memory ofhis first wife, whose
maiden name was Custer, at cost of $5, 600.
He held the position of Senior Warden in
Trinity for 90 years and at the last Easter
Monday election OF vestrymen was made
Senior Warden for life.
1t is said that the funeral will be from
Trinity Church and the remains will be laid
to rest in the Allegheny Cemetery.