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biography
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Alston, John M., a prominent architect and contractor of Pittsburg, was born August 22, 1823, in the town of, Lanarkshire, Scotland, where his grandfather Alston, a stone cutter, spent his ninety-four years of life. His mother's father, John Menzies, a blacksmith, attained the age of ninety-eight years; and John Menzie's wife lived to the age of ninety-six years. William Alston, the father of John M., lived in Lanark some years after his marriage, having there been a stone contractor. In 1830, desiring to improve his circumstances, he came to the United States, landing at New York, where his efforts to secure work proved futile. He then walked to Philadelphia, and thence to Pottsville, where he was employed for a short time. Returning again to Philadelphia, he started in the month of January, 1831, for Pittsburg on foot. The canals were then in process of construction; and, having secured remunerative employment, he sent for his family, which joined him the next June. Subsequently he worked on the court-house and on the Duquesne water-works in the capacity of foreman. Then he formed a partnership with a contractor named Fagan, and having organized the firm of Fagan, Swan & Alston, continued in contracting several years, building the old bank of Pittsburg and the Chestnut Street and the Ninth Street bridges. When the senior partner died, William Alston, in company with Mr. Hanna, built the locks on the Monongahela and Youghiogheny Rivers. They subsequently took a contract on the old Pennsylvania, now the Pittsburg Fort Wayne & Chicago Railroad; but before its completion, in 1852, Mr. Alston died. His wife, whose maiden name was Agnes Menzies, survived him, living until November, 1876. Of their eight children two died in childhood. Their son William died at the age of sixty-four years. The survivors are: John M., the subject of this sketch; Archibald, a stone contractor, in Allegheny; Christina, the wife of Joseph Williams, of Avalon, this county; Robert, the superintendent of the Standard Steel Works in Mifflin County; and Margaret, the wife of Joseph Stevenson, of the same county.
John M. Alston was eight years of age when he came with his parents to this county. After attending for a time the old academy at Allegheny, conducted by Master John Kelley, he went to work at stone cutting at the age of eleven, and continued so employed until the removal of the family to a farm, when he was needed at home. When fifteen years old he came to Allegheny to learn carpentering of an uncle, with whom he served a four years' apprenticeship, subsequently working for him six months as a journeyman carpenter. Mr. Alston then secured a position with J. W. Kerr, the first architect to open an office in Pittsburg, remaining with him four years. From that time until 1865 he was engaged in carpentering, millwright work, and pattern-making, and thereafter until 1877 in the business of contractor. Then, resuming the profession of an architect, he has since carried on a thriving business. Among the public buildings erected by him are: the fine school-house at Avalon; the Second Ward School-house in Allegheny, notable as one of the best in the State for school purposes; and the Buena Vista Street Methodist Episcopal Church.
On January 13, 1848, Mr. Alston married Miss Mary, daughter of William and Mary Lemon. She died March 10, 1875. They had eight children, of whom two died in early life. The others are: William and James, twins, who are machinists in Pittsburg; Archibald, who is a contractor in this city; John, a plasterer, residing in Allegheny; Charles, a blacksmith, who is a resident of Oakland; and Mary, who has kept house for her father since the death of her mother. Since he cast his first Presidential vote for Henry Clay, Mr. Alston has invariably supported the Republican candidates for office. He is a valued member of the Methodist Episcopal church. The other organizations to which he belongs are: the I. O. O. F., the Temple of Honor, the Academy of Science and Art, the American Institute of Architects, and the Chapter Association of Architects of this city.
Biographical review: containing life sketches of leading citizens of Pittsburg and the vicinity, Pennsylvania. Boston: Biographical Review Pub. Co., 1897, Author: Anonymous.
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