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Archiver > PABEAVER > 2002-04 > 1019501168


From: "Robert Reese" <>
Subject: Re: [PABEAVER-L] how they wound up in Beaver Falls...?
Date: Mon, 22 Apr 2002 11:51:26 -0700
References: <003901c1ea27$0067a0a0$0b01a8c0@cfacts.com>


Steve: It is very interesting history okay!. My G/Grandfather, David V.
Reese, (b.1827-1902) immigrated from WALES. My G/Father, James N. Reese
((1862-1928) was born in PA. It had been passed down through my family for
ages that my G/Father was the son of one of two brothers who came from Wales
and settled in or around Oil City, Pa in Allegheny Township. That is what I
had to work with. Here is what I found. David immigrated from WALES and
was a coal miner. 1870 Census finds them in Allegheny City, Allegheny
County, PA (This is presently the Northside of Pittsburgh). By 1900 they
were in Beaver Falls. Now to your question, WHY? This is speculation on my
part, however, I think it had to do with the rivers. The Beaver River flows
through Beaver Falls, New Brighton, and flows into the Ohio River at Beaver
(or Bridgewater--I don't know for sure what they call it now--but Rochester,
Beaver and Bridgewater all merge there where the Beaver flows into the Ohio.
We all know that Pittsburgh would not be the Pittsburgh we know it today,
had it not been for the Ohio River. The rivers were a main source of
transport in those days. The manufacturing plants were all along the
rivers. The ore was transported to those plants on the rivers. Steel was
transported down the Ohio on huge barges. The Ohio eventually joins the
mighty Mississippi....and, oh well, you know the rest of the history.

My G/Father worked for a Bucket Works in Beaver Falls. I don't know what he
did, but I envision huge buckets of ore, slag, metal, etc. to be a primary
piece of equipment in those days. My father, William H. Reese (1895-1957)
as well as most of our family (9 in all) were born there as well. Bob
Reese, Santee, CA


---- Original Message -----
From: "Steve Bloomquist" <>
To: <>
Sent: Monday, April 22, 2002 10:56 AM
Subject: [PABEAVER-L] how they wound up in Beaver Falls...?


> My great-grandfather, Charles Alfred Bloomquist (Blomqvist), came over
from
> Sweden in 1892 or 93.
>
> By 1897 he was living in Beaver Falls, working in a rod mill, and marrying
> Rosia Von Allman, a local Swiss/German girl.
>
> I'm wondering how one ends up in Beaver Falls from Sweden (or anywhere in
> Europe) so soon after immigrating. As far as I know, he did not have any
> relatives in Beaver Falls, at least not with the same surname. Do you
think
> he may have gone to Pittsburgh first, and then to Beaver Falls? He
> ultimately ended up in Pittsburgh from about 1905 onward (with a short
stint
> in Scottdale, Westmoreland county circa 1922).
>
> Can anyone share a story of how their immigrant ancestor ended up in
Beaver
> Falls? It might help shed some light.
>
> Thanks,
>
> -=Steve Bloomquist
>
>
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>
>


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