Sewickley Herald

              SEP 10   4904
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Fear no man, and do justice to all men."
Vol. I.
SEWICKLEY, PA., SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 1904.
No. 52
CHARLES ATWELL
One of Sewickley's Oldest Citizens
Has Passed Away.
/
SHORT SKETCH OF HIS CAREER.
Mr. Gharles Atwell, one of the
most honored, widely-known and
influential citizens of Sewickley,
died at his residence on- Linden
avenue, on Monday morning, in
the eighty-fourth year of his age.
Some ten years ago he suffered
from very serious nervous prostration, and ever since has been in declining health, but the end came
unexpectedly.
Mr. Atwell was a very superior
man, and his removal is a great
loss to the public. He was unobtrusive and retiring, but wherever
known his great force of character
was felt, and always for good;
his fine moral qualities diffused a
pure and wholesome influence. He
was possessed of a vigorous and
well cultivated mind; he had an extensive knowledge of books, was familiar with the general current of
thought and kept abreast of the
world's progress. He was a man
of the highest integrity and commanded the'entire confidence of all
who knew him, or were associated
with him. When he entered business in early life it was with the
fixed purpose that no man should
ever suffer loss by any failure on
his part. He had rare good judgment, was prudent and conservative, with a foresight that kept him
in the front rank in financial circles.
He was connected with some of the
leading business enterprises in the
city, and served for 26 years as a
director in the Union National
Bank, a part of that time as president of the board, until compelled
to retire by ill health.
Mr. Atwell was a man of kindly
sympathy and remarkable tenderness of heart. His home was the
center of his life, and it was a
Ghristian home in which Jove reigned. He delighted in the company
of the intelligent and pure in heart.
He was a member of the Presbyterian Ghurch, and for 26 years
served on the board of trustees of
the Sewickley congregation. His
religious convictions were moulded
in the spirit of charity, but they
were deep and controlled his whole
life; his faith in Christ was confident, and he looked forward to his
change with an assured hope. His
death was as peaceful and happy
as his life had been.
Mr. Atwell was born in Ireland
of English descent. When a young
man he came to this country with
his father and settled on a farm in
Ohio. Soon after he secured a
position in a store in the neighboring
town of Hanover, and later engaged
in business, first as a partner of his
employer, and then as sole proprietor. In 1835 he removed to Pittsburg and soon won for himself- a
high standing. For almost forty
years he had been a resident of Sewickley, deeply interested in all
that tended to the public good, and
leaves a name that will continue to be honored, and will be
cherished with loving pride by his
family. He was preceded a few
years since by his wife, and is survived by four children: Gharles
A., James R. Atwell, Mrs. Wilmer
B. Finkbine and Miss Eliza L. Atwell. A large number, many of
them former business associates in
the city, attended the funeral services, which were conducted by
Dr, A, G. Wallace, at 3:15 o'clock
Wednesday afternoon. The pallbearers were: Messrs. R.S.Smith,
G. F. Dean, C. D. Armstrong,'D,
A. Rees, John D. Carson and
Edward B. Taylor. Interment was
made in Sewickley cemetery,
Long Session Of Council.
Gouncil was called to order at 8
o'clock   on Tuesday   evening  byj
President Miller.
The only absentees were G. A.
Atwell and M. B. Brown.
Minutes of special meeting read
and adopted without correction.
Mr. McKelvy presented a petition for a sewer on Ghadwick
avenue from River avenue halfway to Ghestnut street. On account of improvements to be made
in that section Mr. McKelvy urged
immediate action on the matter.
Mr. McKelvy also brought up the
question of the River avenue grade,
which has been a bone of contention
for some time. A good deal of old
straw was threshed over, but nothing definite was done.
Mr. John M. VanGleve presented
a petition and profile on behalf of
some of the residents, asking for a
short sewer on Ghadwick avenue
west of River avenue. A plan of
lots is being laid out in that part of
the town, and it is desired to get
permission to lay this private sewer;
but as the plans conflicted with the
proposed grade of Ghadwick and
River avenues, Engineer Gampbell
was directed to look it up.
Mr. William Dickson made a vigorous complaint against the vacation1 of Hopkins street from Try
street to Blackburn avenue. He
protested against Gouncil taking
property worth $3,000 or $4,000
and donating it to adjoihingproperty
holders. He claimed that if it was
ever found necessary to open up
this part of the street it would
require $5,000 to do so;' that the
cost of opening the street before
vacation would not have been excessive; that the people along the
whole street should have been consulted; that he owned property
within two hundred feet of the part
vacated, and knew nothing of the
proposed action until the ordinance
was passed; and concluded his
argument by saying that if it was
good public policy to turn over
thousands of dollars worth of borough property to private owners) it
was a new idea to him. Gouncil
contended that the cost of opening
the street would have been too
great, and that the property was of
very little value.
The treasurer presented his rer
port of collections for the month,
which was accepted.
Mr. A. G. Drynan asked that a.
light be placed on Frederick avenue
between Little and Walnut streets,
as that part of the street was very
dark. The request was placed in
the hands of the Light Gommittee. '
President Miller read a letter
from Osborne borough council concerning the proposed connection of
their Beaver street sewer with the
one on Boundary street. As the
matter is still in the incipient stage,
it was held over.
Mr. F. G. Ghub, representing
some interests on Beaver street,
requested that the borough strengthen the sewer crossing Beaver
east of Walnut which is a part of
the run, and his clients would pay
half the cost. Gouncil demurred at
this, and then Mr. Ghub offered to.
pay all the extra expense if Gouncil
would fix, it at a maximum amount.
After a half hour of fruitless discussion, it was discovered,' what
was patent at' the beginning, that
Gouncil could not fix- the amount
until'it was decided to straighten the
run, getbidsfor the work, and have
viewers apportion the cost." Mr.
Ghub Was assured he would receive
due notice.
The following ordinances passed
third reading:
Establishing grade of Hopkins
stree't'frbm Try to Broad,
Establishing grade of Frederick^
avenue   from   Walnut   street  to
Ferry.
Macadamizing Frederick avenue
from Broad to Ferry.
(Continued oh page 7.)