BIO: Simon HARROLD, Beaver County, PA Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Judy Banja & Joe Patterson Copyright 2005. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/beaver.html http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/beaver/bios/bbios.htm Index for this bio book. _________________________________________________________________ BOOK OF BIOGRAPHIES. This Volume Contains Biographical Sketches of Leading Citizens of Beaver County, Pennsylvania. Buffalo, N.Y., Chicago, Ill.: Biographical Publishing Company, 1899, pp. 401-402. _________________________________________________________________ SIMON HARROLD, a prominent contractor of Beaver Falls, and a member of the State Legislature from Beaver county, Pa., has been a resident of that borough since 1866, and it may be said that no man has worked more conscientiously to advance its interests than he. Mr. Harrold was born in Columbiana (now Mahoning) county, Ohio, November 3, 1840, and is a son of Samuel Harrold. His grandfather was David Harrold, a native of Bucks county, Pa., whose father fought under General Washington at Valley Forge, and a descendant of the sturdy Saxon race. Samuel Harrold, the father of our subject, was born in Columbiana county, Ohio, August 16, 1816. Simon Harrold received his education in the schools of Mahoning county, Ohio. Upon leaving school he went to Springfield, Ill., and started in business in partnership with a Mr. Eberhardt as a general contractor, continuing for three years. He then returned to his home and after his marriage moved to Beaver Falls, in 1866, becoming one of the first business men of that town. The population did not exceed 100, the borough being incorporated in 1868. Mr. Harrold built a planing mill in partnership with a Mr. Crane, and they procured lumber from the North and West. He purchased the first car load of lumber that was ever shipped to Beaver county from the West, the transportation charges from Cleveland amounting to $48. He also engaged in contracting alone and soon established a wide reputation. The planing mill was named the Beaver Falls Planing Mill, and after Mr. Crane's retirement, in 1869, our subject became the principal member of the firm and so continued until very recently, when he retired from the active management of the business. They manufacture doors, window sashes, and all kinds of building material. Mr. Harrold has always been engaged in contracting and has built more houses than any other contractor in the district, and has built every hotel in the borough. He has been awarded many large contracts throughout the surrounding country, including nearly every factory in Beaver Falls, in all or in part; the courthouses at New Lisbon and Coshocton; several locks and dams on the Monongahela and other rivers; street paving, - an example of which is the elegantly paved streets of Beaver Falls; the street railway from Pittsburg to Coraopolis, the People's line, and the Riverview; the waterworks at Beaver, Pa., and Leetonia, Ohio; and the pump station for the Monongahela Company at Becks Run and Esplin. Mr. Harrold was joined in wedlock with Louisa Schauweker, who was born in Columbiana county, Ohio, and is a daughter of Jacob Schauweker, who was born in Germany, but came to America where he followed the 402 BOOK OF BIOGRAPHIES trade of a tanner and leather dealer, a business followed by the family for many generations. This union resulted in seven children: Julia E.; Irvin C.; Alberta A.; Mary; Isadore; Katie; Alfred. They were all educated in Beaver county and are graduates of Beaver Falls High School. Politically, our subject is a Republican and cast his first presidential vote for Lincoln. He has always been an active party worker and although he has never sought office it has at times been thrust upon him. He helped to organize and was one of the first councilmen in the borough, and has served in all fifteen years. In 1898, he was elected a member of the State Legislature from Beaver county, in which body he has always been an active worker, doing his utmost to further the interests of his constituents and those of the state. He voted regularly with the Republican party for the election of Quay in the senatorial contest, and the resulting deadlock has convinced him that the proper way to elect a senator is by the direct vote of the people. Religiously, he is a member of the M. P. church. Fraternally, he is a Mason, belonging to Valley Echo Lodge, F. & A. M., of Beaver Falls, Pa. Mr. Harrold's portrait accompanies this sketch.