The Torrance Brothers to USA and Peru

by Roberta McGee

Hew Charles Torrance was born on 5th June 1859 in Old Cumnock. He was the youngest of the nine children of John Torrance and Ann Crichton. John was a draper whose shop was on the corner of Glaisnock Street and Tower Street in Cumnock. The premises later became part of T.L. Murray's drapery business. 

When he left Cumnock Hew sailed to South America before arriving in the USA from there in 1880. He took up residence in Pennsylvania where he worked as an analytical chemist for The Carnegie Steel Company, which was created by Andrew Carnegie to manage businesses at steel mills in the Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania area.  

Hew married American Sophia Reiter Duff on 5th March 1889 at Allegheny, Pennsylvania. His residence at the time was Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania and he was superintendent of a Wire Mill. 

In 1899 his residence was 1112 Carnegie Building, 5 Brushton Avenue, Pennsylvania and his occupation was given as manager. In 1900 he was still living there with his wife Sophia and her widowed mother Anna E. Duff. He was naturalised by this time and he was a machine manager. 

The Company headquarters were located in the Carnegie Building which was the first steel-framed skyscraper in Pittsburgh. It was thirteen stories high and was the tallest building in the city. 

In 1901 the Company was sold to become a major component of US Steel and the deal was so large that it made Andrew Carnegie one of the richest men in history.

 Hew moved on to find employment with Brown's Hoisting Company in Pittsburgh and in 1910 Hew, Sophia and his mother-in-law Anne E. Duff were living at Elgin Avenue, Pittsburgh Ward 11, Allegheny, Pennsylvania. He was a sales agent in engineering and he seemed to be doing very well, employing a cook and a servant. 

Brown's Hoisting Co. became the world's largest company, dealing in cranes, materials and handling equipment. 

Hew was a very successful sales manager for Brown's, travelling all over the world selling their equipment. He made business trips to Great Britain, France, Belgium, Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland and Italy. 

On 25th May 1919 Hew and his wife Sophia arrived in Liverpool, England, en route to Bridge of Allan in Stirlingshire, Scotland where his spinster sister Maggie lived. She was 84 years old, blind and in failing health and had no relatives who could give her the personal attention she required. Hew and Maggie were the only surviving members of their immediate family and Hew financially supported her. Maggie had been a music teacher in Cumnock before the family moved to Bridge of Allan and she would accompany the singers at the "Penny Readings" which were held in the Public Hall at the rear of the old Dumfries Arms stable. Sadly she died five months later on 29th October 1919 at Bridge of Allan. 

Cumnock Chronicle 1919

On 5th October 1919 Hew and Sophia arrived in Montreal having sailed from Liverpool on the 'Empress of France'.  Maggie passed away a fortnight later so, unfortunately, Hew seems to have been absent when his sister died. Soon Hew and Sophia are sailing across the Atlantic again, arriving in Liverpool on 24th November 1919. They travelled first class and were staying at Claridges Hotel, London.

Hew and Sophia, who didn't have children, continued to travel regularly to Great Britain, their last trip being in 1931 to Liverpool. They returned to New York on 23rd August and on 19th October 1931 Hew died at Allegheny, Pennsylvania. He was 72 years old. 

Hew's brother John Hastie Torrance, the seventh child of John Torrance and Ann Crichton, was born in Old Cumnock on 12th December 1848.

The 1871 census finds 22 years old John lodging at 2 Carr End, Glaisdale, North Riding of York. He is working as a clerk at an Iron Works. 

On 12th March 1884 John arrived in New York, having sailed on the 'Gallia'. He was in transit to Peru and his occupation was mine manager, but what kind of mine? Peru had a great wealth of minerals - gold, silver, iron, copper, lead, coal and salt, to name some. Back in England he had worked as a clerk in an ironworks so perhaps it was an iron mine?

The only record I could find of John's time in Peru was his death certificate and it was in Spanish! However, thanks to Cumnock History Group member Ann MacLaren who translated it, we know the following:

John died of meningitis on 8th July 1893 in the Province of Huallaga, previously Portal de Botoneros. He was 45 years old, unmarried, and an engineer. His death was registered by an unmarried 65 years old merchant/trader Carl J. Davis who was an American citizen and lived in Lima. The two witnesses were James H. Hayball, aged 45 years old, a married engineer and John Blinkinsopp, a 43 years old mechanic who was also married. Both witnesses lived at Hotel Cardinal, Union Street, Lima. 

The Huallaga Province is one of the ten provinces of the San Martin Region in northern Peru and the Huallaga Valley is located on the eastern slopes of the Andes. 

Probate

John Hastie Torrance of Macate Province of Huaylas Department of Aucacho, Peru, mining manager died 8/7/1893 at Lima, Peru. Probate London 9/3/1894 to George Lambie Torrance, commercial traveller and James Torrance, warehouseman. Effects £691 4/10d.

Image - geology.com