Abram Bentley Sr.    

About 1848-49 ABRAM BENTLEY SR. came from Leeds, England where he had been in the twine-making business. In 1850 he began the manufacture of twine in an old factory in Fallston, and was so successful that a more suitable building was soon necessary, so he removed his plant to New Brighton and resumed operations in a former felt plant, continuing there until 1862. in that year a limited partnership was formed consisting of Abram Sr., Henry, and Joseph Bentley, and Henry and Nicholas Gerwig. Abram succeeded his father after the death of the latter. They purchased about five acres of land south of Ninth Street, extending along the canal and the river, upon which there were already some factory buildings. But they promptly erected such other as were needed, the principal one of which was a two story brick 300 by 50 feet in dimensions, and soon were employing 150 to 200 men and girls. The plant gave steady employment for many years, operating under the name, Pioneer Flax Mills, and Bentley and Gerwig, but the popular appellation was the “Tow Bumps.” When along about 1910 the partners decided to retire on account of advancing years, the factory was closed and dismantled.

Abram Bentley Sr. was married to Hannah Wilkinson who died in 1879. He died in 1882. Their children were: Abram, Jr., Joseph, Henry and Richard R. Bentley.

Abram Jr. married Alice, daughter of Simeon Platt, and died in 1914. They were the parents of Louis L. who died in 1926, and Ernest who died in 1924. Louis L. is survived by his widow and six children. Ernest is survived by his widow, Virginia (Ellis) Bentley and a son Ellis E. Bentley of Orange Park, Fla. Joseph married Emily, daughter of Samuel Barnes, brick manufacturer, died in 1914. They are survived by their daughter Helen, wife of Dr. Ernest Mitchell of Washington. Henry married Mary Weber who resides in New Brighton. He died in 1916. They had one daughter, Mrs. Roy Hazlett of Long Beach, Calif. Richard R. was general baggage agent of the Fort Wayne Railroad (and credited with having originated the present system of checking baggage) until his retirement several years ago. He however still retains the presidency of the Beaver County Trust Co., and the Home Protective Savings and Loan Association of New Brighton. His first wife was Mary Herrick who died in 1910. She is survived by a son Edward A. Bentley of New Brighton. A second wife of R. R. Bentley was Ida McKibben, who died in 1929.

History of New Brighton 1838-1939, published by the Historical Committee of the Centennial, Butler, PA, pages 19-20. More Beaver County History Books  Search Hundreds of 1880s-1890s Pennsylvania County History Books for biographies and historical information on your ancestors.  View the book page images on line and print them out for your genealogy file!  Free Access to the old history books - plus birth & death records, census images and ALL other records at ancestry.com.