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Memorial
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Robert Anderson
(1817-1876) |
Robert Anderson was born in New York State on May 17, 1817. It is believed that he boarded at a farm owned by Michael McCullough on St. Mary’s Street, which was also called Donahue’s Rope Walk Street or Drury Lane. In 1866 this Lawrenceville street was renamed 45th Street. Following Michael McCullough’s death in 1849, the farm was sold and became St. Mary’s Cemetery.
In 1838 Robert Anderson married Susan McCullough, Michael’s daughter. After his marriage he moved to 208 Penn Avenue. The house was owned by Henry McCullough, who was probably Susan’s brother. In 1840 Anderson attained a position as a postal clerk in the Pittsburgh Post Office. His position with the Post Office was interrupted in 1847, when he enlisted to serve as a private in the Duquesne Grays during the Mexican-American War.
Following the end of the war Anderson returned to his position in the Post Office and was promoted to Chief Clerk. In 1852 President Pierce appointed him Postmaster. However, it was not until May 13, 1853 that he commenced serving in this capacity. He resigned in 1858 to go into business.
While it is not certain what type of business Anderson entered we do know that a Henry McCullough and a Robert Anderson served as directors of Iron City Trust Company at 256 Liberty Street (now Liberty Avenue) in November 1859. It is likely, therefore, that this is the business he entered.
During the Civil War Robert Anderson served in Company D, 38th Regt., 9th Pennsylvania Reserves. During this time he attained the rank of Colonel.
Anderson returned to the Post Office after the war where he served as Chief Clerk. He continued in this position until he retired in 1872. He died of a duodenal ulcer at West Penn Hospital on Polish Hill on June 17, 1876. He was laid to rest in the McCullough lot in Section G of St. Mary’s Cemetery in Lawrenceville. His likeness can be seen on page 33 of the book titled, Souvenir, Pittsburgh post office by Albert J. Edwards, copyright 1891.
Written by Jude Wudarczyk, based in large part on information provided by Robert Anderson’s great-great grandson, John Carnprobst.
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Stephen
Collins Foster (1826-1864)
Born on July 4, 1826, while the country celebrated its 50th anniversary of independence, Stephen Foster has become Lawrenceville’s most famous native son. He was the son of William Barclay Foster, founder of Lawrenceville and Eliza Tomlinson. Foster’s parents moved to Allegheny City (now Pittsburgh’s North Side) when Stephen was very small.
He developed a love for music at a very tender age of about three or four, and from that point forward there was no stopping him. Foster is considered by many to be the world’s foremost composer, and is the only person to have written two state songs – “My Old Kentucky Home” (Kentucky) and “Swannee River” (Florida). A third song “Oh! Susanna” was considered by the state of California as being their state song, but it was rejected.
Today he is considered the founder of “Pop Music” and his works are played throughout the world. There are many books written on Stephen Foster and the University of Pittsburgh maintains the Stephen Foster Memorial Center in his honor. It is located in the Oakland section of Pittsburgh close to the Cathedral of Learning. |
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