Surnames: O'Neil, Caven, Lloyd
John O'Neil was born in 1815 in Allegheny county, Penna, and is the son of John O'Neil.John O'Neil Sr was born at Carlisle, Penna. His father was a devout Catholic who came from Ireland to America previous to the War of the Revolution. He died and was buried in a Catholic cemetery. His widow and children embraced the Protestant faith and joined the Methodist Episcopal
church.John O'Neil Jr received an elementary education in the subscription school of Allegheny county and was variously employed until 1848 when he engaged in the coal business. In 1887 he purchased the Fayette City Coal Works and operated the same until his death March 12, 1889.
July 22, 1837, he was married to Margaret Caven, daughter of James Caven of Washington county, Penna, who lived three years beyond the age of a nonegenerian. Of their union were born six children: Sarah O'Neil, dead; Samuel O'Neil; Elizabeth O'Neil, dead; Denny O'Neil; James O'Neil; and John W O'Neil.
Denny O'Neil is in the coal business in Tennessee.
Samuel O'Neil was married in 1866 to Miss Martha Lloyd of Huntingdon county, Penna. They have eight living children. He is a member of the Masonic frraternity and also belongs to the American Mechanics. He ranks high as a businessman and stands well as a citizen.
Samuel O'Neil, James O'Neil and John W O'Neil are operating the Fayette City Coal Works and are doing a splendid business, considering the disadvantages under which they have labored. In July 1888, their works were swept away by a flood. At present they employ 160 miners; their daily output of coal is 15,000 bushels. The necessary arrangements are now being made by them to largely increase the capacity of these works and will be among the most important coal mines in Western Pennsylvania.
John O'Neil Jr was a man of sterling integrity and deservedly popular; he began business with but little capital but acquired a fortune and lost most of it by reverses. He enjoyed the confidence of his associates and the respect of the public generally. During the strikes, the men in his emply remained at their work and always sustained and defended the course he pursued. During the late war, he sought out and gave unsparingly of his means to the families of Union soldiers and lived to see the country again reunited and prosperous. He was a member of church and for fifty years his house was a home for ministers of the Gospel.
The CHRISTIAN ADVOCATE said: But few men of his time were more extensively or more favorably known by the people of Pittsburgh. He was a patriot without boasting, a Christian without cant. His loyalty and devotion to country and church alike made him popular. With all his public duties and repeated acts of beneficence, his immediate hom circle was the center of his influence and the recipient of his thought and sweetest affection.