ARTHUR SHUPE MECHLING 1877 - 1958
ARTHUR SHUPE MECHLING 1877 - 1958
February 3 will be the 147th anniversary of Arthur Mechling's birth. Great Grandfather Mechling was present in my young life, as the grandfather that stepped up to take care his daughter Josephine and her four little ones, abandoned by their father, John Kennison. Arthur married on September 20,1900 in Westmoreland Co PA to Elta Lee FRICK (1873-1941) Arthur and Elta had only one child, Josephine, born in 1901. They lived in German Township PA for most of their lives. We were frequent guests at their home in Ronco.
Arthur S. MECHLING, 71, of Ronco, a native of Mt. Pleasant and employee of the Union Supply Company (USCO) for 52 yrs before retirement, died at 8:15 o'clock Friday morning. He was a member of Marion Lodge 562, F & A M of Scottdale, Lodge of Perfection of Uniontown & Pittsburgh Consistory, an honorary member & past president of the Masontown Rotary Club, and a founder of the Ronco Union Church.
I have wondered if AS Mechling served in WWI. I found that he served as a 1st Lt. in the Pennsylvania National Guard from 1901 to 1910. In 1898, two years before he joined, this unit from Western PA served in combat in the Philippines.
Union Supply Company
The Union Supply Company was established by The H.C. Frick Coal & Coke Company to provide food and provisions to workers and families in their many coal patch towns in Western PA. The Frick companies became part of United States Steel (USS). Our dad Jack Kennison, was employed in his first job at the Union Supply Company store in Ronco, most likely sweeping floors and stocking shelves before he enlisted in Army at the age of 17. The prevailing story is that these company stores overcharged their captive clients, as made famous in the popular song by Tennessee Ernie Ford song "16 Tons /"I Sold My Soul To The Company Store". Here is an interesting article that shows with research their pricing was very competitive with other local stores.
2nd Great Grandfather - William Mechling - 1832 / 1894 - Mt. Pleasant PA
3rd Great Grandfather - Philip Mechling - 1800 / 1873 - Mt. Pleasant PA
4th Great Grandfather - John Macklin (Baptized John George Mechling) 1774 / 1853 - Northampton Co. PA - Mahoning Co. OH
5th Great Grandfather - John Jacob Mechling - 1747 / 1824 - Three months after Dewalt acquired his first land on 19 April 1774, his younger brother, John Jacob took out a warrant for 311 acres in Hempfield Township, Westmoreland Co., PA. Jacob paid fifteen pounds eleven shillings to Thomas Penn and John Penn, Esqrs. sons of William Penn, and proprietors of the province of Pennsylvania.
6th Great Grandfather - Rev. Diebold (Theobald) Mechling - 1694 / 1765 - Born in Hoerdt, France. Arrived in Philadelphia on the ship James Goodwill in 1728 with David Crockett as Captain. Another interesting bit that the port was Philadelphia and not Ellis Island.
June 1734 Theobald took out a warrant for approximately 125 acres in Bucks County, PA. When the land was surveyed it amounted to 144 acres and 120 perches. This land was agrant from Thomas and Richard Penn, sons of William Penn, and proprietors of the province of Pennsylvania.
As you can see from the map, Hoerdt was most likely as much German as French. This is a very interesting history. We will need to trace the Elta Frick line as well.
Comments
I don't remember Grandad but I do have a remembrance that he was laid out in bed at home when he died. ( I maybe wrong about that)