ee re rr) PLA pint cee ne Se cehe ee eae a Pees * * ae tas Ps os‘. ny = whe tyltg ane ‘ * bene ak ies. Ce As a i : ‘F aaa csraae pS ord sack Rio hes Sete eto) glen ee een ata i ne nes eens 5 0 os = a a ers ie apr = aot ern okey er’ aed a 3 Sinssn ore ones reruns ‘ SLs ee cae eh C niet man ane eR ee s A ne = 4 “ nests SPS x ‘a 4, ons Srey . ' : ‘ ee e ey SS oe ser cod us .* OLA Rts at Se eet Se oe eas a ae Pr ees Pree tae i ee ae é ? My “+ “ a - a pee. e ° : ¥ : : - ° be pb » S A . f = < * . n m a a o S ‘ . Y ae A ve A a 4 a a nae Fie Ti ol abe Sons, e = Ct an eee ea mo4 os eats " so ‘ «y Pe eee ae ane t haan Sere t ell eal mired ets Shi -5 Mes ern CLOT pierre SSeS a dies . ~ be ° - > rw * ee aa AS mn Oa we pata - eas sre fe er me me ai ape ed es ee CET es = ere eas sara ert Sogo a Maro ee ae Seog ts! Ar Ipod nn eb en aehes cA f aire anarre te eas Sears 3 ie teeter Klas Bia ereccraste k a iw Peh ay pe CORNELL UNIVERSITY LIBRARY BOUGHT WITH THE INCOME OF THE SAGE ENDOWMENT FUND GIVEN IN 1891 BY HENRY WILLIAMS SAGE GAYLORD DATE DUE mi CORNELL UNIVERSITY LIBRARY TWENTIETH CENTURY HISTORY OF ALTOONA BLAIR COUNTY PENNSYLVANIA AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS BY JESSE C, SELL “History is Philosophy Teaching by Example” PUBLISHED BY RICHMOND-ARNOLD PUBLISHING CO. F, J. RICHMOND, Pres. Cc. R. ARNOLD, Sec, anp Treas. CHICAGO 1911 te $57 — sie t /F 2 Poth é ae : 3 /3 § 0 PREFACE. The aim of the publishers of this volume and of the author of the history has been to secure for the historical portion thereof full and accurate data re- specting the history of the county from the time of its early settlement, and to condense it into a clear and interesting narrative. All topics and occurrences have been included that were essential to this object. The reviews of resolute and strenuous lives that make up the biographical part of the volume are admirably calculated to foster local ties, to inculcate patriotism, and to emphasize the rewards of industry dominated by intelligent purpose. They constitute a most appropriate medium for perpetuating personal annals, and will be of incalculable value to the descendants of those commemo- rated. These sketches are replete with stirring incidents and intense experiences and are flavored with a strong human interest that will naturally prove to a large portion of the readers of the book one of its most attractive features. In the aggregate of personal memoirs thus collated will be found a vivid epitome of the growth of Blair County, which will fitly supplement the historical state- ment, for its development is identified with that of the men and women to whom it is attributable. Sketches unrevised by subscribers are marked by a small asterisk (*) placed after the name of the subscriber. The publishers have endeavored to avoid slighting any part of the work, and to fittingly supplement the editor’s labors by exercising care over the mi- nutest details of publication, and to give to the volume the three-fold value of a readable narrative, a useful work of reference, and a tasteful ornament to the library. We believe the result has justified the care thus exercised. Special prominence has been given to the portraits of many representative citizens which appear throughout the volume, and we believe that they will prove not its least interesting feature. We have sought in this department to illustrate the different spheres of industrial and professional achievement as con- spicuously as possible. To all those who have kindly interested themselves in the successful prep- aration of this work, and who have voluntarily contributed most useful infor- mation and data, or rendered other assistance, we hereby tender our grateful acknowledgments. THE PUBLISHERS. Cuicaco, Itt., February, 1911. ’ CONTENTS CHAPTER I TOPOGRAPHY AND GEOLOGY ....... 0. ccc cece cece cece eee n eee eneeeeereeens 19 Introductory—General Topography—Geology of the County—Soil and Climate. CHAPTER II SEITLEMENT AND ORGANIZATION OF THE COUNTRY........0-00eeeeeeeeeee 26 The Struggle with Nature and the Indians—Lot of the Pioneer—The First Settlement at Frankstown—Later Settlements—Indian Raids—An- noyance from Tories—Hardships Endured by the Early Settlers—Scotch Valley and Its Settlers—Organization of the County—A Historical Re- view by C. B. Clark, Esq.—Erection of Court House and Jail—Addition Built to Court House—Review of Court History by Judge Martin Bell— Address on “The Judiciary,” by Hon. Daniel J. Neff. CHAPTER III Briarz CouNTY SEMI-CENTENNIAL 2.0... 0. cee cece cece cece teen eee etanens 57 Ceremonies and Address—The Grand Parade—Unveiling the Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Monument—Perfect Weather—Exercises in the Court House —Exhibition of Relics—Address by Hon. John Dean—Poem, “Little Blair.” CHAPTER IV BENCH AND .BAR ¢ cesiciess wig ie tee deci sees ear eyeesareaae ye ag a aes 72 Historical Reviews of the History of the Bench and Bar in Addresses of Hon. John Dean, Hon. D. J. Neff, Hon. A. S. Landis, and Hon. J. S. Black—Obituary of Judge Martin Bell—Appointment of Judge Thomas J. Baldrige—Sketches of Blair County’s Six Judges. CHAPTER V TRANSPORTATION HACIEYTIES 22/3615 so.ag.ne ays osaWiate Na maw HEME Rede a a aes 113 Primitive Roads—Turnpikes and Toll Roads—Plank Roads—Taverns —The Stage Coach—Road Tax Levies—Road Construction in the Va- rious Townships—The Canal, Portage Railroad and Reservoir—The Penn- sylvania Canal—The Columbia Railroad—The Pennsylvania Railroad— The Railroad in War Times—The Telegraph Corps in the Civil War— Martinsburg Branch—Tyrone Division—Petersburg Branch—Bedford & Hollidaysburg Railroad—Altoona & Beech Creek Railroad. 5 ; , d 6 CONTENTS CHAPTER VI AGRICULTURE AND STOCK RAISING. .... ccc cece eee e cette eee eeneeeeneeeee 137, Farming the only Occupation of the Pioneer Settlers—Accessibility of , Markets—Growth of the Fruit and Dairy Interests—The Grange—Chief Agricultural Regions of the County—Cultivation of “The Barrens”’— Hours and Wages of the Farm Laborers in the First Half of the Nine- teenth Century—Rough Amusements—Increase of Wages after the Civil War—Agricultural Societies and Fairs—High Cost of Living and the Remedy—Abandoned Farms—The Pennsylvania Railroad Company’s Spe- cial Farmers’ Instruction Train. CHAPTER VII Wine are ae MINIS aA.) s odin ve eae kre ee orem rue uaten sense 147 The Lead and Zinc of Sinking Valley—Expedition of General Rober- deau—The Keystone Zinc Company—Coal Measures, Mines and Compa- nies—Manufacture of Coke—The Limestone Industry. CHAPTER VIII MANUFACTURING (0050.45 2ea es sea 0nd Coad se Nea Gee a ae ess 153 Iron Works—Early Foundries—Furnaces in 1882—The Blair Iron & Coal Co.—Hollidaysburg Iron & Nail Co.—Bellrough Foundry—McLana- han & Stone—Peter Shoenberger—Rodman Furnace—List of Former Iron Industries— Bloomfield Mines—Limestone Industry—Axe Factories —Ganister Quarries—Miscellaneous Industries. CHAPTER IX. BANKS' AND BANKING “Giac sree ieee y oedh see So aoe Saale ew 168 Branch of Exchange Bank, Pittsburg—Bell, McDowell & Co.—First National Bank of Hollidaysburg—Farmers’ Bank of Lancaster in Holli- daysburg—Bryan, Gardner & Co.—Gardner, Morrow & Co.—William M. Lloyd & Co.’s Bank—Second National Bank,of Altoona—First National Bank of Altoona—Altoona Bank—Altoona Trust Co.—Blair County Trust Co.—Mountain City Trust Co—The Union Bank, Altoona—Citizens’ Na- tional Bank of Hollidaysburg—Williamsburg Branch of the First National Bank of Hollidaysburg—Farmers’ and Merchants’ National Bank of Wil- liamsburg—Banks of Tyrone, Bellwood, Martinsburg, Roaring Spring, Juniata, etc. CHAPTER X RHE PRESS lA iGaseigiatict-o gueidaitsaaats heiaklnws Sante baad amarakes 174 Early Lack of Local Newspapers—Hollidaysburg Aurora the First Newspaper Published in the County—Hollidaysburg Sentinel—Canal and Portage Register—Hollidaysburg Register—Hollidaysburg Standard— Democratic Standard—Blair County Whig—The Shield—Leader—Tem- perance Vindicator—Inadequacy of the Early Newspapers—The Old- CONTENTS 7 Time Compositor—The Linotype Machine—Altoona Publications—Sun- day Newspapers—German and Other Foreign Papers—The Brown Booklet—Newspapers of Tyrone, Williamsburg, Bellwood, Martinsburg, Roaring Spring, etc—Local Literature. CHAPTER XI POUCATION xsiis pose ana ieee ee gas. a ele ae eas ee eediades aie eeets 184 .Pioneer Schools—Early Teachers—Branches of Study—The Birch as an Educational Factor—The School Act of 1809—School Laws of 1834 and 1854—School Superintendents—Teachers’ County Convention —State Provision for Schools—Some Noted Teachers—Academies and Seminaries—Education in Altoona—Manual Training—Parish Schools. _. CHAPTER XII THE MEDICAL PROFESSION ....... 002s cece cece een teen eeeeeeneaes 197 Early Conditions—The Pioneer Doctor—Some Noted Physicians— Resident Physicians of Altoona, Hollidaysburg and Other Towns Throughout Blair County—Altoona Hospital—The Nason Hospital— Mercy Hospital. CHAPTER XIII County INSTITUTIONS .......... ee ee ee eee 210 The Almshouse—Children’s Industrial Home—Blair County Hospital for the Insane. CHAPTER XIV Brain: COUNTY IN THE (WARS ..0.0%ea04 Veaede dah dade pala dies eae as 221 The Revolutionary War—Description of Pennsylvania Riflemen in 1775—-Act of April 9, 1799—War of 1812—The Huntingdon Light In- fantry—Militia Law of 1814—Mexican War—The American Highland- ers—Wayne Guards—The Civil War—Brief Histories of the Regiments Engaged Containing Blair County Men—Spanish- -American wee Ele County and the Militia. CHAPTER XV History oF THE TOWNSHIPS ............. eehaon ead Sasa tee degeeay eaiee 250 Allegheny, Antis and Blair Townships. - CHAPTER XVI History of THE TownsHips (Continued)...........ccceeecesceueeeeeeas 257 Catharine, Frankstown and Freedom Townships. CHAPTER XVII History oF THE TOWNSHIPS (Continued)....... 0.0... ccc eee e eee eee eens 266 Greenfield, Huston, Juniata and Logan Townships. 8 - CONTENTS CHAPTER XVIII History oF THE Townsuips (Concluded).......... ccc cece eee eee 274 North Woodbury, Snyder, Taylor, Tyrone and Woodbury Townships. CHAPTER XIX : ALTOONA—A HISTORICAL SKETCH ..... cece cee eee eee e eee nen eee cence 284 Location and Description—Altoona the Creation of the Pennsylvania Railroad Company—The Buildings—Car Lines—Streets—Water Supply —AIndustries and Labor Supply—Character of the Population—An Event- ful Epoch—A Bit of Altoona History. CHAPTER XX ALTOONA—Its CIVIL AND POLITICAL HISTORY ........000ceeeeees eda tees 294 Incorporation of Altoona as a Borough—Burgesses—Early Lockup— Early Borough Officials—Incorporation ‘as a City—Altoona’s Mayors— Centennial Celebration—Other Noted Events—Municipal Improvements —tThe City’s Finances—Some Important Dates—City Officials. CHAPTER XXI ALTOONA—PUuBLIC SERVICE DEPARTMENTS «2... ccc sse cece cere creer eens 315 The Police, Fire and Water Departments—Street Railways—Post Office—Cemeteries. CHAPTER XXII Arpoonn’s INURE { dcuseecanewiaiies ea yeavalseseyeeee vies ees eee 332 The Railroad Shops—Machine Shops—The Juniata Shops—East Al- toona Engine House—South Altoona Foundries—The Strike of 1877— ‘Altoona’s General Industries—The Car Works—Iron Company—Silk Mill, etc—The Gas Works—Electric Lighting—Altoona Theaters—Ho- tels—Breweries. CHAPTER XXIII Attoona—Its LeapinG SociaL IMPROVEMENT ORGANIZATIONS .........+6+ 347 Mechanics’ Library—Pennsylvania Railroad Y. M. C. A.—Young Women’s Christian Association of Altoona—Women’s Christian Temper- ance Union. : CHAPTER XXIV FRATERNAL ORDERS OF ALTOONA 2... ccc cece c cece eect eee n cece eet eeees 355 The Masons, Odd Fellows, Elks, Red Men, Maccabees and Other Se- -eret Societies—The G. A. R.—Sons of Veterans—Labor Organizations —Gun Clubs—Musical Societies, etc. CONTENTS 9 CHAPTER XXV ALTOONA CHURCHES ....... 0. ceeeeeeee cece ee eeneeees bc Qedeeac nie aise ataeaeta 363 History of the Lutheran, Baptist, Presbyterian, Episcopal, Catholic, United Evangelical, Church of Christ, Hebrew, and Other Religious Or- ganizations. CHAPTER XXVI History oF BELLWoop, DUNCANSVILLE AND JUNIATA ........0ccee eee eee 392 Bellwood—First Settlers—Forges—Early Utilization of Gas-Plotting of the Town—Narrow Gauge Railroad—Pennsylvania Repair Shops— Other Industries—Transportation Lines—Extension of Borough—Gas Franchise Granted—Schools—Population—Churches. Duncansville—Location—Early Settlers—First Stores and Mills— Taverns—Rolling Mill and Foundries—Good Times—Collapse of the Boom—Noted Citizens—Churches and Schools—Brick and Lime Indus- tries. Juniata—Location—Erection of the Locomotive Works—Steady Growth of the Town—Transportation—Fire Companies—Water Supply —Churches, Schools and Societies—Post Office—The Borough and Its Officials—Business Establishments—The First National Bank. CHAPTER XXVII History OF HOLLIDAYSBURG «2... ccc cece cee cnet n ence eet e nee eneennes 401 Founding of Hollidaysburg—Character of the Early Settlers—The Hollidays—Early Industries—Some Important Dates—Adam Holliday’s Experiences—He Loses His Land but is Reimbursed by the Government —Some Early Advertisers—Incorporation of the Town—Destructive Floods—Fire Department—Water Supply—Churches—Decline of the Early Industries—Their Successors—The Railroad Yards—Coal Mining —The Young Ladies’ Seminary—A Leaf from the History of the County Capital—Gaysport. CHAPTER XXVIII History or Martinspurc, Newry AND ROARING SPRING .........00-0005 417 Martinsburg—Location. and Early Settlers—Incorporation of the Town —Franklin High School and Blair County Institute or the Juniata Gol- legiate Institute—Indian School—The Building Now a Sanitarium—Uni- versity of Southern Pennsylvania—Schools and Churches—The Herald —Reminiscences of David Wineland—Some Martinsburg History, from the “Herald.” Newry—Location—Its Founder—Early Railroad Enterprises—Early Industries—Incorporation as a Borough—Schools and Teachers—The Mercantile Business—Churches—Noted Citizens. Roaring Spring—Origin of the Name—First Settlers—Some Indian History—The Tunkers—The Bares—Roaring Spring in the Sixties— 10 CONTENTS Prominent Citizens—Completion of the Railroad and Growth of the Town —Its Incorporation—Present Prosperity—Important Industries—The Roaring Spring Blank Book Co.—The Eldon Inn—The “News’”—Church History. CHAPTER XXIX HISTORY “OF “EXRONE: ¢.5 ce oii eale be pias dare glace y we aiulanm a ee act ae ny 438 Location—Early Settlers—The Town Due to the Pennsylvania Rail- road—Its Growth—Population—Incorporation—War Bounties—Borough Building Erected—Vote on Gas and Water Supply—Wards—Property Valuation—Receipts and Indebtedness—Water and Gas Introduced—The Post Office—Building and Loan Associations—Plank Road—Railroads and Railroad Shops and Yards—A Disastrous Wreck—‘“Tyrone of To- day,” a Historical Review—Principal Suburbs—Schools—Tannery—Paper Mill—Mining—Foundries—Planing Mills—Other Industries—Churches and Societies—Hotels—Art School—Wilson Chemical Company—Post Office—Shoe Factory—Banks—Theater. CHAPTER XXX History OF WILLIAMSBURG .........00 eee ee cece ees iefeenesteieasieaiee 450 Location—Original Owners of the Land—The Town Plotted—Early Industries—Building of the Canal—Incorporation of the Town—Revo- cation of the Charter—Mills, Stores and Factories—Banks—Second Or- ganization as Borough—C. E. McKernan’s Reminiscences—Churches—The Paper Mill—Williamsburg’s Awakening. CHAPTER XXXI THE ADVANCE IN VALUES .........-- eee eeeeeeeneeeeeeeuee . Mabpen as 465 Disappearance of Old Industries and the Establishment of New— Benefits of the Change—Increase in Property Values—A Few Illustrative Cases—Increase in Population and the General Prosperity—Credit Due the Pennsylvania Railroad. CHAPTER XXXII Counny Pores Orb ann New co. c4aaiedias ong pivewswesede edeeken 467 Early Interest in Politics Taken by Blair County Citizens—Pioneer Justices—State and National Elections—Political Conventions—Early Parties—Blair a Republican County—Some Hard-fought Battles—Visits of National Political Leaders—Altoona’s Politics—Blair County’s Officers. CHAPTER XXXIII Tue Lost BrorHErs OF THE ALLEGHENIES REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS INDEX Acker, Charles Os e:.csc002 cso cramese sa teres iaw oes 783 Acker, Martin L. ................. D sae scsiiua ese asqietiv. ts 898 ACKEES, PaCOD ice cise eet wad ainwan ds ceweee Oe oe 756 Ackling Wrank: Wee dissiacv.gtause site tarde were ane ares 952 Africa, Stephen ........ ccc eee cece cece eee eees 104 Ake; Joseph Ss ¢:csseves ewe csidecd needs ooalias 630 Ake, POWs. cece sc swew.cs sevaeereerss sdaa nee ees 630 Alexander, Milton ........ 0... cece cece eee eens 687 “Alexander, Robert ....... ccc ccc eee ence seen enna 748 Allen, Dre Dy Bs: asses cae hae ned vag wan eee eos 532 Allender; Harry Re jiccs scence see sieeee sea eee ees 581 Ames, Edwin M. oi. cscs dessa e ee aa gored head 654 Amies, Oswald A. ....... cece cet cette eect e eens 647 Anderson, John G. ...... cc ccc cece eee eee eens 856 Applebaugh, Charles EB. 1... .. ccc cece eee eee eee 569 Bachert, Augustus EH. 21... ... cece cece es 893 Baish, Prof. Henry H. 2. seis ccsseivca cen ccnaeeives 788 Baker; ‘Charles A. los cticnn vecttta aca dit Sees 791 Baker, Daniel. So 0.40.55 ncus.cc eae oe cesar s cee SEES 950 Baldrige, Hon. Thos. J. ....... eee cece cece teenies 573 Bankert,. Robert: Fh saqcuesee siege esigne aeeecn 668 Banks, Ephraim ............ cece cece eee eens 97 Banks, Thaddetis ...........cesceeeeeeeeeeccenee 97 Bare, Hon. D. M. ..... eee cee ee cee ee ee ee erence 498 Bart, Hairy Cn scaanos cerns Shs ah een canned wie yea 300 Beam; Je By ise enenciceociia bonnets eben aes inet 954 Beaston, Hon. Richard ..............- 0c eee eeeee 799 Beck, Dr. W. Frank .......2.-0 ccc ceec erence eeees 830 Beckman, A. W. ....g.ceee eee e cece ec eee e erent 622 Beckman, Ernst ....0+.. cece eee cree eee ete eeeee 622 Beegle, John A. ..... 00. e cece eee eee eee n eens 621 Bell, “Hd wards si sciseesus cd mn oe Gmina o alan se Sar ES bee 798 Bell; JoWn, Py ng cie cgi cca ciee nev ae sik eeeww ese e ee 741 Bell, Hon. Martin: «2 o:00.666sin ne gain easier: e pe res Anne 775 Bell; “William S.. sssguss vag eegane ss nek seds abies 930 Bender, J. A. tessa trac cenag se ane eee eae seen eyes 633 Beyer, A. Wesley ......... 5c: cece tees e cnn eee eees 948 Biddle, Andrew ©. .... ccc ccece ce ee ec c ence ere eeee 653 Biddle, John: As sens cee navies dese seeee eae 662 Black, Jacob ...-ce.scccc cerca t ec en ee eeteeetenee 645 Black, Jacob. <.23.26ear esses gb wae sese race ae eka ks 657 Black, Jeremiah W. .....-2--e- cc erce ere eee eeeee 645 Black, Capt. John H. ........... 00 seer e eee 657 Black, Samuel C. .....- essere eee rece rere neers 816 Blair, Hon. John ......... ccc ceee cece ect eee eens 34 Blair, John D. ........ eee eet eee ee eres ree eee 47 Blair, Samuel 8.0.2. ccucl ee imdss evesd ae wees gestae 965 Blair, Samuel 8. ......0: cece eee cece e teeter tees 97 Blodget, John’ A. ...........--- aleve e ati anstiend &avaca ty bet 97 Blose, Dr. Joseph U. ......2..-2--eeeeeeee sohkedsw 846 Bobb, E. G. .....-0.e0ee gi gadis ess Wiaparerese sedao santas 542 Bock, Rev. Geo. J. .....-..-0° Ce ee ee 667 Bohn, Dr. Daniel ............ 00. cece eee teens 674 Bolger, Levi oo... cece e eee seer ete eee eee ences 820 11 Bonebreak, Dr. John 8. ......... 0... ee ee eee 495 Book, L. L. ..... bios Mine tits Mahan a aoe Ainuit is Grane cue ayace 731 Books; “Di: Benj. Be cb cicies-cie wicca ewewaieosie teaahaowe a 565 Books, Dr. Clarence H. .......... cee sees eee eee eee 833 Bottenfield, Samuel S. ........00 tee cece eee eee 623 Bouslough, Harry F. ...... 2... eee eee eee 792 Bouslough, William W. .........00-eeecseeeeneee 502 Bowers, Geo. B. ..... cece eee eet eee ees 46 Bowles, Prof. James B. ...... esse cee cece cece eee 809 Bowser, Harry HB. #6 pias esdasseussi sea gee g setae 730 Boyer, Calvin A. os. .ccccc sear cusecuneseeceereee 819 Boyce; Jacob Ay ssisciewevseva es waa s eawew eee Mine 875 Boyles,” Wilbert: Nang wieeeoestistn dg 8 Boe a seas addled Snare 927 Bradley, William J. .... e+e. cece ese e cece ene eee 702 Brotherline, Dr. H. Hale .............0 00000 ee eee 676 Brotherline, John ..... ee cece eee cece eee teens 524 Brown; Albert: Mi ecivesy cocoa vaya seteeaneceae es 942 Browns ‘Clyde: By, ge csc wracg view von tase gual Soa vaseoniag eis a cee 623 Brown;sHarry Se yeas Gast aie cogs ae eee 8 et 5a Hoe 532 Brown; JacobiS. ae cw se eew esa eeaw peas hee sens 532 Brown, John [. ee... cee eee eee ccc eee eee 688 Brow, De Vs, acgpiesece eset tacue gta sais ea aod ales Bag RAO ede eeNy 874 Brua, Blair A. ...............04. Nyoe x aaa Siscita sateen 743 Brua, Elliott: He) ss2scaeiestoen cs nae det ee ey cee 658 Bras, Mey Lose sig, sce dese: je atesuaaignad waned Daman ba ES 688 BIUSs WPACOD: <2eisnceh Bet acuk: 9:8 Kinase aera aadueca aad bipie-arnles 527 Bria. DOWD: «sad suese: gc ead io Wane ace WR ew etree ae 809 Brua, Lynn As wesc sc escce cations cag east 2 Fea pa eee aya 6 527 | Brubaker, Dr. Augustus J. ...........2 00s. e eee 762 Brubaker, Elinas M. ........ ee eect tee e enews 816 Brubaker; Jacob 25.0000 sa see eine eed oe eee Rie 525 Brubaker, Dr. John L. .......... Bhan Ae. eesoe a ewae 762 Brumbaugh, David H. G. ........ 6. cee eee eee 548 Brumbaugh, Prof. H. Atlee ...................... 842 Brumbaugh, Henry D. ...........6 0. cee eee e eee 782 Brumbaugh, Ira E. ..... eee ees 960 Brumbaugh, John --...... ce. cee see eee teens 423 Brumbaugh, John H. .......... cece ee eee 669 Brumbaugh, Rev. John H. ............0- cee eee 951 Brumbaugh, Levi H. .......... 2. eee eee eee 509 Brumbaugh, Samuel ............... 000. e scenes 548 Buek,, Treva: s:so0 8 tees xa susie bee See see Hewes se eed 902 Burget;: Du Sissies ce snes ei salt te ve steep anes nee dei + 907 Burget; Levy Bex gc-24 wise wed Bale hoe aed s Baas oul 604 Burket, Abram ......... Ssvaie'd a ianals has Oe aeos edating 870 Burket, Drv Geos W.. a :sccswe csaces oo vide wwe see swan 863 Burns; [ra Re wigaccdetasowaa gat od 4 PRS R Re ead 895 Bush, William: BR. «+ ties cae dia ene eee yn eae ead Oe ten 827 Calderwood, Howard B. ...............00000-0000- 906 Calvin, Matthew ........... 0.00 cee ce eee eee ee 798 Calvin, Hon. Samuel ........... 0... cece ce eee 789 Gamerer:: Daniels‘... oa! ece-siere'es Sead a wed aed an < 424 Canan; Jolin, As .6% 5008 sens esse tsk RES ee dees 610 Canan,, John Js. ss scat s nasa eee ties cerned enews en 510 12 INDEX Carns JaCO boa. 5 ivciie naa deiee 6 aes Boa sede aR eee Borer’ 825 Carper, Jacob S. .. cece cee reece rere eee e eens 629 Cass, Joseph K. 2.2... cece cece eee ree e eens 901 Casanave, Germaine ......... 0... cece eee ene 639 Chamberlin, Harry E. ...-.... ee eee eee eee eee 868 Charles, James W. .... cesses cece eter eee e eee e eens 698 Cherry; Blain, accep sccas ety eon areia ares cde ee vee eae 819 Cherry; Drs -Hmil, Ty) escys5 said v owns bende seed tens 624 Clapper, Archibald CO. ......... cece eee eee eee eee 872 ‘Clapper, Elinas M. ......... 2... e eee eee 674 Clapper, Emanuel ........... 0... c cece e ee eee ee 674 Clapper, Peter S. .... 2... cee cece eee eee cence 720 Clark, Arthur’ (By oc ccs sous edeie cs os dalaae Ghnee's eas ..759 Clark: Be die wins s Apa vs sais sien 5 ee ges dd ws Be es aS 635 Clark, Charles; B. te cccacscceona sag eee seen ea wes 853 Clark, E. Thompson ........... 000 c cee eee eee eee 844 Clarke TON, aces ssavetts eke Sreuas gaya lds ei Goarie ese cate & bye 528 Clemson, Clarence C. ...... ee cece cece ee eee eet e eee 690 Clouse; "Wi He. keussiebas an veedeere cite ese verdes se 622 Cochran; Peter o22iieccsa cede scawnie ede seng waseee 615 Colclesser: Daniel, 4.8 sccm side Saar oe tid ose 598 Colclesser, Samuel .......... 00.00 ccc eee ee eee eeee 598 Coles. Joliny 2 ccceeesoiaat ag ons rede tae eee oe 807 Coleman, JObN. sci cma ack end $44 Beas eee ee ee Eee 519 Coleman, Thomas A. ........ce see e cece ence ee eeee 518 Coleman, Thomas L. ............ cece becca eee 803 Coltabaugh, William B. .........0 eee eee eee eee eee 787 Colvin, Major Joseph A. ... 1... cece eee eee eee 553 Condron, Joseph B. ......... cece eee cee eee 712 Confer; Frank Ji Fy: syecassa sani cciee ee kana ad wes 861 Conter, JaCOp Las aii su. cesceds-e< dpe el actya avers sone cade Baines 697 Conrad, We Fisk: occ eee inne oocy sak nas Sle 8 ee a shale aes Ose 959 Corl, AMbPOSE: He pecs i asuia eae iene selene edie aueoaiaes 800 Cornelius, Jolin Fe ix sevaisie esis os engueis eae te see gis 789 Cowen, Albert: Ay gscsesneld nes gee eg ene vee med ees 4 654 Cowen, David Na sisi inca se sinew 24 a0 Ves awe eae Be 654 Cowen, Edward H. ......... ccc cece cece eee eees 725 COWEN, RON <3.5.5 tosse p58 oispenedssersotcons. acouatarenatacaeveiaad ace 725 Cox, Howard Fe cas cacewn conaei sa dedaes owae cous 872 Graine, My. Wik sscecies ate dacciaws Hie es A aets vactewa case 743 Crawford, Dr. James C. ...... ee eee eee 837 Crawford, Dr. Luther F, ......... ce. cee eee eee 811 Creighton, George W. .......-se eee e eee cece een eeee 581 Crider, Henry C. ........... Daa ndsie Seaeuene Roe wane 887 Crissman, Benjamin F. .......... 00... eee eee eee 609 Culp, He. Wie sigiss oc fed appa oede eas tase ees 559 o Davenport, Dr. H. Lewis ............0.. ee cee ees ee 774 Daivis; Ts. Avy sieacee zie 2a 'saeinc cba ht sagas y tae denne 545 Davis; James Fe. ide cacac cacctes ss sem sauce pues 601 Dears Hom. Dy Ws. sec caseuica a och ced ce htt eg Sarg alias sce bseuaes wes 45 Dean, William E. .......... cee cc cect eee e cece ene 870 Delaney; (Drs C. Woe cies ssc eas Sue bene oe owen 608 Delozier, Austin B. .....-...0 ccc ccc ceccencceeerce 767 Delozier, Joseph M. .... 0... . cece eee eee eens 877 Derns Harry (Cae 2,2: danc vse ip pissnaen sb graeme es be 617 Dern, Henry !C.0 05 cscicennenamiaes a diealpuanen daa ea 617 Detrick, Harty (My aoa saye 34.2 doesn weeGin ¥ Stew w8a aces 756 Detwalens-Avsds st succseeiard sa cchiiere asciahens sara cnciers ata 4 862 Detwiler, James R. wo... ee cece eee eee eee 759 Detwiler, Michael K. .......... 0... cece cece ee ceee 673 Dick; Daritel: Pe cena stomata, ¥ Ave tec oi accatieeiea a aven wacnde, 797 Dickson; DORM <4 siete d.cssess oacece dined 2 Gears oateicnenog sd ox 793 Diehl ATOM Cy 5 scinedcses tere ey cna nh Ga Aig adn eh 779 Diehl; Wmiantiel, 34.026. 26 seggc ene hoerece s es 6 w ease-ah a aie 829 Dilling, George D. 0.0... cece eee e eee cece ce eaes 921 Dilling, John H. ...... Hanae a ee aug nei a iene om 573 Dilling, Samuel H. ......... cece eee renee eee ees 573 Dively, Augustus V. 2... 0... cece eee ee eee ene 501 Dively, Edwin L. ...............0- aaa Sera ne Seas 501 Dively, Morgan ..........0e cee e cece eet e eter e anes 836 Dixon, DOWN «366 jeaciieis ue fe Gta ok eaee A EAS ee a 939 Douglass, Charles L. 11.2... eee eee cece neces 879 Downing, Robert W. ........... 0.02 e cece eee eee 723 Downs, Charles 8......... 2... cece ccc e ete ene 830 Doyle, John A. .........-.. eS) Bao oe ara ge SHG Aa cot 47 Dudley; Charles: Be 83 cic tawdace4 tae eee 3 ee ae a 567. Durborow, Richard N. ........ 0... cc cece cece eeae 964 Dysart, Edward. By wie. secs tated cies s Ome ceria an 888 Dysart, James: Hy veces nee scans ss vevesieg eee aaen 561 Dysart; Wi. Be wuaes see easier es aad scat Git aie ae 830 Eckenlaub, Charles W. .......6..ce eset sc eee ec eeee 744 Hilder: RODE Di scsuee sg odie ga x ace hae eascassraees Ha eoed nee atlas 541 Eldon, Dr. William M. .......... 0.0 cece cece eee ee 801 Elisworth, Josiah F, ..........00.eeeuee eae ith Ree RS 590 Emfield, John 2.0.0... cece cece cece teeta eaas 496 Emfield, Martin L. ........c cece eee eee eee 496 Engstrom, Frans ..... ibaa iasiieia oe ee er 601 Farmers and Merchants National Bank of Tyrone... .925 Farrand, Fred C., D. O. 2.2.2... eee cece eee een 842 Fay, Dre JObn, oc vss nese tease kde es Gale dena ca eares 883 Feather, William H. ........... ccc cece cc ee cece eee 775 Fickes, Dr. Franklin K.............00. 0c ce eeeee 785 Biden, Re Re oc 30a acd betas ieee oi lad dal eine Sees 731 Piga rt, AK. ides ost vawie'si sures hans sak siete 886 Findley; Alex, (Te ecssmavas gadis werden ga daawawenii ¢ 848 Findley, Dr. Joseph D. .................. soe paae 682 Findley, Dr. William R. ...............0. 0.00 sees 848 Findley, William R. ......... 0. eee cece eee eee 199 First National Bank of Bellwood, The ......... ... 836 First National Bank of Tyrone, The .............. 968 Fisher, Andrew S. .........0 cc cece ese c eee eae arate 761 Fleck, Albyaim Ta. jis (avecsis vcs soni eee hs 3a wig b doa rgase ek oss 796 Wleck,. Ai T6640 4 wars eaeaive a was eateland aot mene ues iaeeoceiat 801 Bleek, Clair: ©. :<30gus eanqute Sick fice a Guha hae ee 8 954 Fleck, Harry S., M. A. oe. eee eee eee cece 944 Fleck, Orlando G. .....00. 0000. ce eee 900 Fleck, Thomas M. .............ceecceecceescceeee 955 Flenner, William H. ........0.0. 0.00. cecce cece 849 Flick, Edward H. ...... 0... cece cece eeeeuc cee, 528 Fhike, Galvin Roy oe. es sa ¢ 3 tucsee oe nwo en dae crey ve oe 765 Fluke, Robert 8. 1.0.00... cc cee ccc esc eee cee 615 Fogel, Augustus ........0.0 0000. c cece cece ce ces 554 Fogel, Rev. Joseph ............. ccc. ceeseeeeceae. 554 Ford, Dr. Frank A. oo... 00... cece ccc eee eee eee. 801 Forsht, John S. ...... 0... 0c cceeec sen cceel cee. 693 BOX), Drs © Wisscs-cdacices 4 anecaa sade ealeebduercen ne... 590 Franciscus, James P. .............0....00......., 845 Fraser, John R. oo... cece eee cc eee cece ele. 833 Freeman, R. B. .... 2... eee ec eee. 929 Fuoss, John ......2.......0004. a ays ets 'end serine nce aaa es 795 Fuoss, William .................0.0.0........... 908 Furry, Rev. John E........................0.0.., 588 Gailey, James... 00, Golem Sh Ay cig scr svn eGo caee c asic deneee donee: Galland, David A. ..... 0... 296 Garber, Aaron G. gua He seed vnine dante sik Wage eosin acca BOG AUBCR TNT se sie dh eae ndstn ox debian a acc +++. 916 Gardner, John W. ............00000000000000 0000! 8i7 Gamma, ABR EB. va waar taste bois iareeyae cnc. 781 Garman, Robert T. ROI EG Gre Sone de naawanae cen 2 6006 Gamer, George Wo ox. .c%eessoeetitacin se... 487 INDEX 13 Garver, Dr. Ac Deneck aniraseincas a ond ea geodata he 504 Garvey, Rt. Rev. Eugene A. ............ 0.0 eee eee 487 Geesey; Charles: dsc vc aws va eee oe tae how aes Goce made 712 Gheer, Hon. Thos. P. ........ cece cece eee eee 946 Gibbs, Alfred: Wii ciae eave ee sae nd aude os vung ee 940 Giles, Ellsworth PF. oo... . eee c eee ccc eee eee ees 300 Gilk, GeOr pee cjndeccsiiasss slnsuis ee BE AG BER Re ARR De 802 Gingerich, Roland D. ....... ec. cece cece eee eens 804 Gleichert, Frederick ........ 0.00. cee eect ence nee 648 Glenn; "Walter Bi. 0 ee csse ganic exacgcinbiad ondeask wo ac 517 Glenn, William H. ........ 0... eee 517 Glessner; Wrankk,. sisi dissieia. bs acsuan esis dias oc 6 Soe Saw aioenes 546 Good; Dr. Hi Wiyosesccsisinesd s am eed ous eat eeanns > 551 Good, William Hu. iis ésce sacs ccetae caw eds wdbeas 552 Graffias, William E.... 2... cc eee 899 Grau, Philip: 3 3,20. Jeee oe8 ae hang boned ign eens Mas 915 Grazier, Hon. John H. ........ 0... ccc eee eee eee 859 Greene, Hdgar By aesa sc cesta see obsessed Wee ne aan 696 Greevy, “Thomas: He. 2... sscesuiy nine eae ayia wo etneeen eae 949 Gromiller, James W. ......... 0.000 cee cee eens 576 Gurd cH. Se sce scadawsneseen set yee gisisins aise ance dle abe 854 Haagen, Dr. David F. ......... 0... ese eee eee 736 Haberacker, Dr. E. 0. M. ....... Sais y daar wank wine sb 710 Haffly; Samuel Ly. i stc.s ss sesiss seas dev se ies weak 540 Hagerty, Frank He ...... eee cece ences 879 Hagey, George W. ....-e.. cece cece ence eee eeeaee 502 Hagey,. JObn, Dy. ies casita cesta Cae te cae anetnn ge adnan 502 Hagey, John, Ey .sssensesaue eves cavednadueyewisa 760 Hahn, Ao Js. 3.2 scan sysae viasad ae wrens oseaesa raed 967 air, Howard | 3 jiecs ee dia age peed aus bandied dee Gud ares 639 aa) H, Go aida ear nsase Seeiaes tino eat wee Set anaidve auguacerdea A BIE 629 Hall FORM) sein s.ctratce, es-ansixand Meine marvels Beaune nee ET a 936 Haller: J ohn ge: 2 cases sg cain tgiaglnie oes ae Mga al ae eed ce 869 Halton, Edward R. 1... ccc ee eee ee eee 868 Halton; John » ss deus 2 ead conse eng serve see ee ges 868 Hamilton, John Ky ss... 6 co csdinw bid dine os eeon aes 964 Hammond, Harry K. ............. 0.0 e cece eee 951 Hammond, William 8. ........-: ee cece eee eee eeee 942 Hamor; John: Wo sic gccquw dacs Gis pe sasielie go alnies 641 Hamor,; Walter Js. is 24 suese ceeds eaes tee de ies Case 641 Hancutiy: Vis. Herb y secs aatieetca se tens Sie wae OE a 747 Hares. Adami: j.4 sees ve sees Sina s SE eae aS 533 Hare; Samiliel Bi. gos ei oso. qosa de nde ede pea ae 892 Mare, Thomas: Cx. acgsvatinad oad oe sewida sek aa alate 765 Hare; William: .4sie5 eos ca Gee eee A wOS A thes 566 Hare; William, is a¢2+2 Sass ees eee se wee cra ae da na eed 533 Hare, William Ma. soj6< se e06 cs eee eye sane ies oe bee ee 655 Harnish, Archibald C. ................ Feat eee 909 -Harpster, Howard ........ceeceeeceee eet e eet en eee 562 Harpster, JoDn ...... cece cece eee eects 565 Harpster, Samuel ........ 06. . cece ce eee tenes 562 Harpster, William H. .......0..ee sce e reese eer eee 681 Hart, Harry: eo 6 tig. p cia suese Hiden aga Bae Ha Fee oh 711 Hartman, Jesse L. ......... cece eee eee eens 753 Hazenstab, Adam H. ........-0..eecec eee eceeeneee 767 Hegerty, Hammond K. ..............-. ee eeeeeeees 817 Heinsling, H. T. ..-s-cee esc cc ees e cece ener seenees 719 Heinsling, William J. ......--- ee see eee eee eens 589 Henderson, Alfred J. 2.1... . cece cece eee 810 Henry; Harrison: « 3s ecinnigte ted teeant ea anaes 965 Herbert, Thomas G. ............ 2. cece eee eee 750 Hershberger, George ......... 0.0 ¢e eee e cece eens 753 Hess: Tsaae- Co. gcncscbtoaah teens doin ent metueeaite ee 656 Hetrick,. Sis ese cine i ais gitnces awa haw ania age Wares ERO OEY 856 Heverlys He As vias seed shane ga 28 bree Ee as 582 Hicks, Hon. Josiah D. ..... 1. wee eee 707 Hicks, William By ceca sacdaseces vad pee ped tare: 649 Hicks; William Li a eccassecasuiaeisave sae es aaa 839 Hileman, Christian .......0.. cee eee eee cc eens 558 Hileman, Harry M. ...... cece eee eee eee eee 928 Hiller, Hon, William F. ........ cece cee ee ene 854 Hillis, “Dr; Ride. esicues bing die a oS RETR GES Sak Re 813 Hirt; Hironimus: 65.05.04 sates cies Ra dade eae eas 922 Hoover; AGa Wis 5.6 jn erases eee TIGR edu ES OE Es ME 582 Hoover; Bz. By accde eats cawena oon ines cin che sd 926 Hooyer; Dante), sissies cacccre. cafe sete Cae iw es weal Se oe 762 Hoover; EW Be oa aacy ewe eek here eweneek swee Las 567 Hoover, Jacob Wi a.cisceiccdeadcesiaas seu waw ceed 736 Hoover, John EB. oo... ccc eee eee eect e eee eee 520 Hoover, Johii: Te svcsa cistacevasarecaiaaeeneen cas 575 Hoover, Liev ssccod sien ees sa Giese meats oe ie seca wyoreeae suet 661 Hoover, 8. Blair .......... pao Oana ea ean a area es 784 Howard, William T. ............-0..0005- eee eee 297 Hoyer, Hon. Samuel M. ......... eee eee cece eens 483 Hughes, James C. ...... eceeeeeeeeece eee -...587 Hughes, John D. 1.2.1... cece eee eens +. .575 Humes, Dr. James R. ........... iene tean a satya oa 640 Hurd, Thomas: We :siaae sie ais vase sjars oa 9 oe Vie RTS O 297 Ickes, Dr. George A. ...............-- sissies ibeepeees 749 TBO; PANIC ¥e eo. isie-n te nana Casa saa ST yin OMe aE 940 Trvini, Adie Be veces cs ae ain datas niin td seam HE aE es 821 Livin; JOM Js. isi sésco.a ge ape aga tend y ewslage es ca diad’s gu eat 694 irvine; Alfred! (Os siscec Oe ciccs ving els siesta cba oat 560 Irvine, Lloyd. i aa2 yes eden cas ee ceases eas aw ad Pees 560 Irvine; Oliver: Mi. 24. scurass s.cseea cats eo ete ae ba 560 Irvine; “Robert; G.- sc. t eda nos qpeus SSE aie cersars ek ace 559 Irwin, Abram R. ............ ervey ss saLavannta Wee araaL enn tot 876 Trewin, David. Wee iis ocediss Seba cise nade ene ause ee 826 Irwin, George (Ch, sera Brief addresses were made by T. C. Hare, Esq., Hon. J. D. Hicks, the latter said that he had watched the construction of the court house. with considerable interest, and I am free to say that I don’t take any stock in the alleged graft. = Hon. J. Lee Plummer said that a judicial investigation of this alleged graft, and the matter should be presented to the grand jury for investigation. The Altoona newspapers have been silent as to this dedication, and one newspaper charges graft. For my part I do not think there has been any graft on this work. I suggest that these contracts be sub- mitted to the grand jury next week. James H. Craig said that as far as the Ga- zette was concerned it has always favored the remodeling of the court house. Among the distinguished visitors were Hon. Francis J. O’Connor, J. P. Martin, Esq., Ellis G. Kerr, all of Cambria county. The exercises closed at 12:25. Chairman Stevens announced that the court house would be open the remainder of the day for the in- spection of visitors. The historical address was made by Judge Martin Bell, who spoke as follows: In 1877, at the dedication of this court house, Honorable John Dean, then president judge, afterwards justice of the supreme court, delivered an address covering the his- tory of the bench and bar of Blair county from the date of the formation of the county down to the time of said address. In 1896, at the semi-centennial of the county.. Honorable Aug. S. Landis delivered an address, fallow- ing in general the lines laid down by Judge Dean and covering the périod from 1877 to 1896. In the present address an attempt will be made to follow in the footsteps of my said illustrious predecessors and my desire will be to supplement their labors by bringing down ° the legal history of Blair county from 1896 to 1907. PRESIDENT JUDGES. To the dean of this bar, the Hon. D. J. Neff has been assigned the duty of preparing an ad- dress on the judiciary of Blair county. Any attempt on my part to elaborately review the history of the bench would therefore be ill- timed. But I know that Mr. Neff will pardon me if brief mention is made of some of the im- pressions left on my mind by Judges Dean and Landis. Judge Dean was a man of remark- able ability. Quick to decide, with a clear and penetrating voice atid a remarkably handsome presence he made a model trial judge. His mental methods, or processes, were orderly, accurate and logical. His vocabulary of words was extensive, his diction apt and emphatic, 46 HISTORY OF BLAIR COUNTY and he had the happy faculty of expressing his ideas concisely and at the same time forci- bly. It is not surprising then that many of his oral extemporaneous charges are models of elegant and forcible English, sound in their in- terpretation of the law and clear in their state- ‘ment of facts. But while he was president judge of this district Judge Dean wrote but few elaborate opinions. His decisions were in the form, generally, of Per Curiams in the Bench Book. We who knew him as a president judge were rather amused at the time of his first opinion handed down after he went on the supreme bench: Fisher v. King, 153 Pa. 5. In that opinion he roundly scores the court below for disposing of a rule to open a judgment with the mere decree, ‘‘ rule discharged.” But Judge Dean while sitting as a supreme justice was most painstaking and careful in preparing and writing his opinions. He never acquired the art of dictating but pen in hand worked out his decisions. And his labor was not in vain. His opinions are unsurpassed for clearness of statement, cogency of reasoning and elegance of diction, and are in every re- spect worthy of place with the decisions of Gibson, Black, Sharswood and other eminent jurists who have adorned the supreme bench of our state. As Mr. Chief Justice Mitchell said at the bar meeting held at the death of Judge Dean: “Hon. Judge Dean gave the best he had to Pennsylvania and Judge Dean’s best could not be excelled by any one else in the state.’ Hon. Aug. S. Landis, who succeeded Judge Dean as president judge, was a gentleman in appearance, in manner, in word and conduct. ‘but, although most dignified in manner, he had a kind heart and an ear ever ready to hear. When I began to read law in 1871, Judge Landis was forging to the front as an attor- ney. Messrs. Calvin and Banks were gradu- ally retiring from practice. Samuel S. Blair was at his zenith as a lawyer and an advocate . and in a few years Judge Landis was pitted against Mr. Blair in almost every important case tried at this bar. Asa lawyer he was in- dustrious, careful and learned; as an advocate he was earnest, logical, forceful and convinc- ing. One of the ablest legal arguments I ever lis- tened to was that made by Judge Landis in the lower court in Gardner v. Lloyd, 110 Pa. 279. His argument far outclassed that of Hon. R. Milton Speer (on the same side for plaintiff), a most learned lawyer and eloquent advocate, and the reply by Mr. Blair, for defendant, was by no means as forceful and convincing. I was junior counsel for plaintiff and tried hard to have Judge Landis assigned the duty of arguing our side in the supreme court. But my advice was not heeded; we lost our case; it was a very close one; had Judge Landis re- peated the magnificent argument he made in the lower court we might have won in the ap- pellate court. DECEASED LAWYERS. Hon. George H. Spang. Mr. Spang was a native of Blair county but commenced practic- ing law in Bedford, where he was one of the leaders of a bar composed of such able lawyers as Hon. John Cessna and others. He came to Blair county about 1884 and at once acquired an extensive practice. His knowledge of the law was wide and accurate. He was most painstaking in his practice. It would be well if some of the younger lawyers, and the older ones as well, would use the care Mr. Spang did in preparing papers in the orphan’s court. He had acquired his habits of practice before the days of stenographers and type writers, but for accuracy and care in_preparing his papers could not be surpassed. He was a most eloquent and’ fluent speaker, but had been trained in the old school of trial practice when unlimited time was given an advocate in ad- dressing the jury, and it seemed almost impos- sible for him to compress his speech into a half hour's time. Moreover, he had acquired the habit of writing down all the testimony and no amount of “prodding” on the part of the court could induce him to drop this method. George B. Bowers, Esq. Mr. Bowers was born and raised in Blair county, although AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS 47 shortly after his admission to the bar, he prac- ticed for a few years at Everett, Bedford county. Returning to Altoona he spent the balance of his life there. For a time he was mainly an office lawyer, but after he was elected city solicitor of Altoona he participated with marked ability in many important court trials. We will ever remember his smile, his pleasant voice and his kindly manner. He was full of the milk of human kindness. John K. Patterson, Esq. Mr. Patterson commenced the study of the law in my office at Hollidaysburg, but finished his course under N. P. Mervine, Esq., in Altoona, with whom after his admission, he was junior partner. Afterwards he was senior partner in the firm of Patterson & Hare, the junior partner being the present city solicitor, Thomas C. Hare, Esq. Mr. Patterson represented the county in the general assembly at Harrisburg, but was defeated for re-election by one of the reform waves which swept over the state. While not a profound lawyer, he had a vein of hard, shrewd common sense, which made a most valuable counsellor in matters of business con- cern. J. Horace Smith, Esq. Mr. Smith was born in Scotch Valley, Frankstown township; his parents being descendants of the early settlers. _He read law with H. M. Baldrige, Esq., de- ceased. He was a hard working, industrious, honest and promising young lawyer when _pneumonia claimed him for its victim. G. Lloyd Owens, Esq. Mr. Owens was born in Birmingham, Huntingdon county. His professional career was spent in Tyrone, where for many years he was junior partner in the firm of Stevens & Owens, afterwards Stevens, Owens & Pascoe. His practice was principally that of an office lawyer. John D. Blair, Esq. Mr. Blair was the son of Samuel S. Blair, Esq., deceased, for many years the acknowledged leader of this bar. The younger Mr. Blair received a most liberal education at Princeton and in Europe. His father died in 1890 and the son ever after- wards until his death in 1906 occupied the old office. Gentlemanly in appearance, speech and _back of this was a brick vault. deportment, he was universally esteemed and respected. He was a forcible and eloquent speaker and his knowledge of the law was ac- curate and extensive. Poor health and a lack of the stimulus, which necessity to earn a live- lihood affords, also prevented him. from taking rank as one of the ablest lawyers Blair county ever produced. John A. Doyle, Esq. Mr. Doyle was buried by his sorrowing friends but a few weeks ago. His specialty was building and-loan associa- tion practice, in which he was an expert. COUNTY OFFICIALS. This county ever since its organization has been blessed with most competent prothono- taries. Fifty years ago Jos. Baldrige was prothonotary. He was the soul of honesty, and quietly, but most efficiently, discharged the duties of the various offices which he filled. For many years prior to his death he was clerk to the county commissioners. Mr. Baldrige was succeeded by A. S. Morrow, Esq., who for many years was a most efficient officer, al- though during the last few years of his term, he became somewhat lazy and careless. Well do some of us remember the old prothono- tary’s office at or about the close of Mr. Mor- row’s administration. It occupied the relative space now taken up by the office of the county commissioners. Entering the door you came first on a brick pavement; then ‘up a short step and you were on a board platform or floor; f On the board floor were high tables; any one desiring to write stood up. Then there were three or four big tables on which were piled most of the papers belonging to the office in an apparent state of hopeless confusion, but Mr. Morrow seemed intuitively to know just where to dive into the pile for the required papers. The pro- thonotaries since Mr. Morrow have been James P. Stewart, Charles Geesey, Esq., J. L. Hart- man and H. E, Ferguson. One sheriff has died while in office during the last ten years, namely, G. T. Bell, who died in 1906. He was no relative of mine, al- though sometimes when running for office I 48 HISTORY OF BLAIR COUNTY received votes on the theory that he was either my brother or my cousin. Quiet in manner and speech, Sheriff Bell, by reason of his fair- ness and kindness of heart, had a wonderful hold on the‘ voters of Blair county and was elected sheriff three times. Of the many other officials-who have faith- fully performed their work time will suffice for the mention of but two. C. D. Bowers was deputy prothonotary for the period of nearly fifty years. He was a most honest and conscientious man and never willingly wronged any one. He was overly careful in the performance of his work and was almost morbidly fearful lest a mistake be made. He had somehow or somewhere caught the idea that the record must show just the ex- act minute the court convened. Despite all I could tell him as to this being unnecessary, that the court was supposed to convene at 9 o’clock, he would invariably get out his watch (a present from the bar) and with exactness even to the quarter of a minute note down just how tardy the president judge was. Mr. Bowers died at his post; while at work in the office a sudden pain struck him and in a mo- ment he had passed to what was for him most certainly the better land. Wm. H. Westover. Mr. Westover was janitor of the court house from its dedication in 1877 until his death in 1906. We all know how faithful he was in the performance of his duties. In cold weather he would remain on duty all night firing the heaters, and it seemed to be his pride to look after and care for the court house. In C. D. Bowers and W. H. Westover, Blair county had two model officials. Con- tented with their lot and aspiring not for pro- motion but only for efficiency, their record is a proud one. So long as we have such as they among us no one can say that this is a wholly wicked world and that all men are selfishly and graspingly striving to climb up the ladder by trampling down their fellows. In his address Judge Dean states that, in- cluding judgments, 39,205 suits had been brought from the formation of the county un- til 1877. Judge Landis in his speech says that in the nineteen years from 1877 to 1896, 48,514 suits were brought. I take it that he means suits and judgments combined. Neither of said gentlemen separate suits from judg- ments. From 1896 until the present time 27,866 suits have been commenced ; this aggre- gate includes 15,738 judgments entered. It will be observed that apparently the legal busi- ness in the prothonotary’s office has grown but little in the past ten years. But such ap- pearance results largely from the fact that fewer judgment notes are now entered than was the case some thirty years ago. It was then the custom for building and loan associa- ‘tions and other lenders of money to take as security therefor judgment notes, which were entered in the prothonotary’s office. But about 1876, in an ejectment suit, Building and Loan Association vs. Stains, Mr. Blair for defend- ant contended that a lender of money who re- lies on a judgment alone was not protected by the recording acts; that to obtain the benefit of such protection the lender must take a mort- gage; the judgment creditor was supposed to rely for the collection of his debt on the per- sonal property of the debtor, and the fact that the judgment was entered barred or cut out no equities as to real estate. In that case the title to the lot was in the name of Mr. Stains, but his wife proved that her money paid for the purchase of the land, and that her husband had promised to have the deed made in her name. Notice to this effect was given prior to. the sheriff’s sale. Judge Dean sustained. the contention of Mr. Blair and the building and loan association lost their money. After the trial of said suit associations and many other money lenders abandoned the former practice of taking judgment notes as security and re- quired of their debtors the giving of mort- gages. The result was that fewer judgments were entered in the prothonotary’s office, but the business of the recorder of deeds was largely increased. From 1846 to 1877 but six books had been required for the recording of mort- gages. From 1877 to 1896 forty-seven books AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS 49 were filled. From 1896 down to the present date sixty-seven of said books have been re- quired. Up to 1877 but thirty-six deed books were filled; from 1877 to 1896 seventy-four deed books were required, and since 1896 sixty-six additional books have been used in the recording of deeds. From 1896 to the present time 489 verdicts in civil cases have been taken, and judgments have been confessed on 298 cases which were on the trial list. In addition there have been a number of discontinuances entered, but I am unable to give the exact data as to how many of the cases discontinued were on the trial list. As Judge Dean said in his address: “Of course this, as every lawyer knows, does not show the extent of actual work done in the trial of cases for many of them after hours and sometimes days of trial ‘go off’ either by non-suit or settlement of the parties.” Under the rules of court 4,864 judgments have been taken for want of appearance or for want of an affidavit of defense. It will be ob- served that the foregoing figures as to cases disposed of falls far short of the aggregate of suits brought. The remaining cases may be styled unaccounted for. Many suits are brought with no intention of ever putting them on the trial list. Many others are lost sight of by the litigants or their counsel. Only a little over one hundred cases were put down for this fall’s trial list. Said cases so placed on the trial list may be taken to fairly repre- sent the number of cases which are now open and ready for trial. During the same period, to-wit, from 1896 to the present time, 312 divorces have been granted. This large-increase in the number of divorces applied for and granted is worthy of note on the part of our lawmakers. Speaking for myself I would amend our statutes so that absolute divorces would only be granted on the ground of adultery or for some very grave reason. If husband and wife cannot live to- gether let them live apart, but do not allow them to remarry. The business of our argument courts in- creased during the last ten years, but owing to the fact that we have an argument court al- most every Monday morning, at which mat- ters are: disposed of, it is impossible to give any data approximating accuracy on this branch of legal business. The character of trial litigation in the civil courts has greatly changed in the last fifty years. Then ejectment suits, involving the original location of tracts of land, were com- mon. In Blair county, since I have been on the bench, I recall but one such trial—Stiffler v. Calvin. But damage suits growing out of falls on pavements, and trolley accidents are numerous. The telephone and similar elec- trical problems and discoveries likewise are a fruitful source of worriment to the modern court. For a number of years in Blair county much time was taken up in disposing of litiga- tion between the contractor and the owner of the new house. Moreover, for some reason this court has been greatly burdened with mu- nicipal litigation growjng out of the affairs of the city of Altoona, and we have been called on to interpret and pass upon almost every section of the act of 1889 applying to cities of the third class.. In the orphans’ court there has been only a normal increase in business such as we would expect from the growth of population in the county. The same may be said as to the crim- inal business in the quarter sessions and oyer and terminer. The citizens of Blair county in the main are peaceable and well behaved. A number of interesting and. important cases have been tried during the last eleven years, but time will only allow reference to two of these cases. The Bonnecke murder case was a most important one and was ably tried by the respective attorneys. W. S. Ham- mond, district attorney, was assisted by Thomas H. Greevy, Esq., for the common- wealth. The defendants had as counsel George H. Spang and R. H. Henderson, Esq., and at one stage of the proceedings W. C. Fletcher, Esq., appeared as counsel for the ac- cused. Bonnecke was an old man living by himself in Altoona, and supposed to be a miser. One Sunday in April, 1895, his dead body was 50 HISTORY OF BLAIR COUNTY ’ found lying on the floor of his shanty. He had evidently been murdered. An indictment was found charging William Doran, Frank Wil- son and James Farrell with the murder. De- tectives testified to confessions alleged to have been made by Wilson. He sought to prove an alibi but Mrs. Lysinger, at whose house he claimed to have been on the night of the mur- der, contradicted him and she in turn was con- tradicted by other inmates of the house. There was evidence that shortly after the murder Wilson spent money freely. Farrell under- took to prove an alibi. He swore that he was in Aliquippa, Beaver county, when the murder occurred. But the servant girl at the house of his sister at that place contradicted his alibi. Likewise other witnesses. When Farrell was arrested a pocketbook alleged to have belonged to old man Bonnecke was found hid between the mattresses of his bed. Doran never was taken. Apparently he disappeared off the face of the earth and it has since been asserted that he went to Cuba and was killed in a battle with the Spaniards. Wilson and Farrell were both convicted, but while the case was pending on a motion for a new trial and in the supreme court nu- merous parties in various penitentiaries began to confess that they and not Wilson had killed Bonnecke. Most of these confessions were so improbable that no attention was paid to them. But a convict in a Maryland penitentiary con- fessed that he killed Bonnecke, and counte- nance was lent to his confession by the fact that the same day he committed suicide. The cases were taken to the supreme court, Com- monwealth v. Frank Wilson is reported in 186 Pa. page 1. Commonwealth v. Farrell is found in 187 Pa. page 408. The supreme court evidently doubted as to the guilt of the defendants and reversed this court for errors which to mind were far from being of a seri- ous character. When the cases were called for a new trial, Mr. Hammond, who was then district attorney, stated to the court that as the supreme court evidently had doubts as to the guilt of the accused he declined to retry the defendants. I thought at the time and still think that the course pursued by the district attorney in this matter was perfectly proper and right. Another case tried while Mr. Hammond was district attorney is Commonwealth v. Hutchison, reported in 6th Sup. Ct. 405. Mr. Hammond made a most able argument in this case. The superior court in their opinion vir- tually adopted his argument and ruled: “Solicitation to commit a felony is a mis- demeanor. But the classification of the crime as a felony or a misdemeanor, being wholly arbitrary, and governed by no fixed or definite principles, it is not the criterion by which to determine the question whether solicitation to its commission is an offense in law. The true test is to be found in its effect on society, since all acts that injuriously affect the public police and economy are indictable at common law. Solicitation to burn a store building is such an. act; incident to incendiarism being a direct blow at security of property and even-of life. It is therefore indictable as a misdemeanor.” A. V. Dively, Esq., was counsel for defend-' ant. EQUITY. From 1865 when the courts of - Pennsyl- vania were given equitable jurisdiction up to 1877 but sixty-three equity suits were com- menced. The first suit was brought by Joshua Roller and others v. Arch. McAllister and others. The subject matter of the controversy was the settlement of partnership accounts in a deal for forty-one mules. The papers in that case are very crude and to the equity pleader of today are perfect curiosities. From 1877 to 1896, 256 suits in equity were brought; from 1896 to the present time 374 additional bills have been filed. But these figures by no means represent the additional labor imposed on the president judge by rea- son of such great increase in equity litigation. In January, 1894, the supreme court. radi- cally revised and amended the equity rules. The office of master, except by agreement of the parties, was abolished and the labor of hearing and deciding all equity matters was AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS 51 imposed on the president judge. And my brethren at the bar I think will agree with me that this burden has been a heavy one on the court of Blair county. Time will only suffice to mention three of the many interesting and important equity cases tried in this county during the past ten years. In Tyrone Gas & Water Company against the Borough of Tyrone, 195 Pa. 566, the supreme court affirmed this court in refus- ing to allow the municipality of Tyrone to con- struct a separate water plant and virtually confiscate or render worthless the property of the water company. Stevens, Owens and Pascoe were counsel for the water company. Hicks & Templeton and Judge Furst, of Belle- fonte, were solicitors for the borough. Gable v. City of Altoona, 200 Pa. 15, was an aftermath of Altoona v. Bowman, 171 Pa. 307, referred to by Judge Landis in his ad- dress. In the Bowman case the supreme court ruled that the city could not collect paving frontage. After this ruling the city issued ‘bonds aggregating over $200,000 to the pav- ing contractors. Citizens of Altoona filed a bill to have said bonds declared illegal: court decided that said bonds were valid and would have to be. paid by the city. Such rul- ing was affirmed by the supreme court. The syllabus in the case reads as follows: “Where a city issues bonds payable out of assessments on property, and subsequently the assessments are declared illegal because both branches of city council had passed the ordi- nances providing for the assessments on the same day, the illegality of the assessment does not relieve the city from liability on the bonds. “Where a city in good faith provides that bonds issued for street paving shall be payable out of assessments on property, and it turns out that such assessments are illegal because of the improper manner in which the ordi- nances authorizing them were enacted, the city is liable for the bonds although at the time of their issue they increased the debt beyond the constitutional limitation.” M. M. McNeil and E. H. Fleck were for plaintiff; T. H. Greevy for defendants. This - Much important litigation grew out of the action of the Rogers collection agency of Wheeling, purchasing accounts from Altoona merchants; then obtaining judgments against the debtors by posting a notice on the court house door at Wheeling and then serving or attempting to serve an attachment against the Pennsylvania Railroad Company. One branch of said litigation is reported in Galbraith v. Rutter, 20 Sup. Ct. 354. When the county of Blair was formed in 1846 the population was about 17,000. In 1877 when Judge Dean delivered his address the population was approximately 45,000. Now I presume it is 100,000. In 1878 the as- sessed valuation of property in Blair county was $7,357,101 and in 1907 said assessment valuation has increased to the sum of $39,351,492. - I have thus hurriedly and imperfectly striven to give some account of the doings of the bench and bar in this county for the past eleven years. The next question that con- fronts us: ‘What of the future?’ In the new small court room is a beautiful picture of the. signing of the Declaration of Independ- ence. That event was an epoch in the world’s history. But even a more important epoch was that which transpired at Runnymede—al- most a thousand years ago—when our sturdy English forefathers, at the point of their good swords, extorted from King John (among other things), the declaration “I will sell to none, I will deny to none, I will delay to none justice and right.” Taken in a literal sense the words “TI will sell to none,” have to a great extent lost their importance. Happily in these modern days few judges can be bought with money; there are but few Cardosas among us. But what money cannot buy may still some- times be accomplished by flattery or over-per- suasion or the glamour of great power and in- fluence, And it behooves the modern judge to be on his guard to see to it that the hum- blest suitor in his court is treated with the same kindness, courtesy and fairness that is + extended to the rich and powerful and to the great corporations which have come to make 52 HISTORY OF BLAIR COUNTY up so much of the warp and woof of our mod- ern life. And the modern judge in the press of business and the hurry and bustle of the court is prone sometimes to forget that other clause in magna charta: “TI will delay justice to none, justice or right.” The lawyer too should ever bear in mind that portion of his oath which binds him to be true to the court and his client, and to delay no man’s cause for filthy lucre or malice. He should ever remember that he is an officer of a court of justice; that while he is to be true to his client he likewise owes an equal duty to the court and the community. The client is to be guarded and protected in his rights but not ‘in his wrongs; if he is in the wrong his attor- ney owes him no duty except to see that he is proceeded against and judged according to the law and no undue advantage is taken and no illegal procedure is worked. In court an attorney should ever keep in mind those two great maxims which should be the bed rock on which all legal rules should be founded. One maxim was laid down by the pagan Justinian some two thousand years ago. It is inscribed over the bench in the new court room: JURIS PRAECEPTA SUNT: HONESTE VIVERE, ALTERUM NON LAEDERE. SUUM CVIQUE TRIBVERE. “The principles of justice are these: live honestly ; injure no one; give to every man his just due.” The other maxim was laid down by our Savior in His sermon on the mount: “Do unto others as you would have others do unto you.” If the bench keeps in mind these maxims and strives to live up to the traditions handed down by Black and Taylor and Dean and Lan- dis, and if the bar likewise ever remembers the same great cardinal legal rules and copies after all the good qualities of Calvin, Banks, Blair, H. M. Baldrige, Hewitt and the other worthies who have gone before us, truly we will in the future have a model court. And when we have passed off the stage and others have come to fill our places may we have so lived that our successors at some future bar meeting, in the years to come, may be able truthfully to say good and pleasant things of us. COLONEL NEFF’S ADDRESS. The address on “The Judiciary” was deliv- , ered by Hon. Daniel J. Neff of this city, the dean of the bar, who spoke as follows: Those who were present at. the dedication of the court house, on July 2, 1877, will recol- lect that we were honered on that occasion by the presence of Hon. Jeremiah S. Black, who favored us with a brief address. I cannot pref- ace what I have to say more appropriately than by quoting one sentence from that ad- dress: “This building is dedicated to the adminis- tration of justice, which is the greatest of human concerns.” Blair county was formed in 1846, from parts of Bedford and Huntingdon counties, and became a part of the sixteenth judicial district, composed, before the formation of Blair, of the counties of Franklin, Bedford, Somerset and Fulton; as Hon. Jeremiah S. Black was the president judge of that district, he became the first president judge of Blair county, and his first term of court commenced on July 27, 1846. The associate judges at the first term of court were George R. McFarlane and Daneil McConnell. Judge Black contin- ued as president judge of this county until April 5, 1849, when the legislature, having re- organized the judicial districts of the state, and created the twenty-fourth judicial district, composed of the counties of Blair, Hunting- don and Cambria, Blair county was detached from Judge Black’s district. Judge Dean in his historical address, at the former dedication, speaking of Judge Black, said: “His legal opinions and arguments are the delight of the lawyer. For it may be said of him as Coke said of Littleton: ‘He cites not many authorities, yet he holdeth no opin- ion but is proved and approved by these two AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS 53 faithful witnesses in matters of law, authority and reason.’ ”’ Judge Black was a great lawyer and a great judge. In personal appearance tall, rugged, with massive head, strong features, great in- tellectual force, an analytical mind, of unques- tioned integrity in private and public life, he adorned every court in which he sat, and en- joyed a national reputation as a jurist. As common pleas judge, as justice of the supreme court, in which court he was a tower of strength, as attorney general in the cabinet of President Buchanan, as counsel for President Johnson at the time of his impeachment, as member of the convention which revised the state constitution, in every employment which occupied his versatile mind, in every depart- ment of the public service to which he was called, Jeremiah Sullivan Black was eminent. The people of Blair county may well felicitate themselves upon the fact that he was their first president judge. George Taylor, who ultimately became the president judge of the twenty-fourth judicial district, was born in Chester county, on No- vember 20, 1812. In his earlier years he was a blacksmith by occupation, as was his father before him, and as stated in J. Simpson Africa’s history of Huntingdon county, “through a long line of ancestors, the anvil and the hammer were the family ensigns.” But it was not the destiny of this young man to make that calling, honorable and useful as it is, his life work.. His advantages of educa- tion were very limited; he attended no school or other institution of learning after he was thirteen years of age; he was self-educated, and it may be said, self-made. After teaching a country school for a time, he was employed as a clerk in the office of David R. Porter, pro- thonotary of Huntingdon county. Later, he became a law student in the office of General Andrew Porter Wilson, of Huntingdon, and was admitted to the bar on April 12, 1836. He had various employments at different times; at one time editing a democratic news- paper, and he served a term of two years as county treasurer. He at one time, had other than legal aspirations as while he was acting as county treasurer, he commenced to prepare himself for the Presbyterian ministry, and. had made such progress in studying Greek, that :he could read the New Testament in Greek. But his ideal in this direction was not realized. He wisely concluded to return to the law, the profession to which his mind was peculiarly adapted, and which ultimately resulted in his elevation to that judicial office, for which: he seemed specially designed by providence, and in which he found his proper and legitimate sphere of usefulness. At the time the twenty-fourth judicial dis- trict was formed, the judges of the courts were appointed by the governor, subject to ratification by the senate, and George Taylor, having so distinguished himself as a jurist, while practicing at the bar, that he was con- sidered eminently qualified for judicial honors, was appointed by Governor Johnson president judge of the district in April, 1849, which ap- pointment was unanimously confirmed by the senate. He continued as president judge un- der this appointment until 1851. After the adoption of the amendment to the constitution, making the judiciary elective, he was unan- imously nominated as a candidate by the whig party, and was elected in October of that year. During his term of ten years, he made such a creditable record and established such a repu- tation for ability and integrity, that he was ac- corded the signal honor of a re-election with- out opposition for another term of ten years. He continued on the bench until November, 1871, when his long judicial. career ended with his death, having served the public faithfully and honorably for twenty-two years. Judge Taylor was a short-hand writer, and usually took short-hand notes during the trial of cases. His charges to the jury and his legal opinions, usually prepared with great care, showed profound learning and great legal acu- men, and were models of correct diction and vigorous English. Clearness, force, precision, logical reasoning and sound judgment marked all his judicial deliverances. Those lawyers, who practiced before Judge Taylor, take pleas- 54 HISTORY OF BLAIR COUNTY ure in spending a leisure hour occasionally in turning to some of the old state reports, and reading some of his charges to the jury, whence such charges are reported and in doing so, they seem to recall his manner in court; they seem to see him as he appeared in days of yore, and seem to hear again his sledge ham- mer deliverances from the bench. Speaking of his characteristics generally, without reference to his merits or demerits as a judge he was a positive character, with decided convictions, strong and outspoken in his likes and dislikes, unostentatious and unconventional in manner, constant in his friendship, intolerant of all sham and pretence, and unspring in denuncia- tions of doings which he deemed to be wrong, harmful or fraudulent. Judge Taylor was succeeded on the bench by that judge of lustrous name and fame John Dean. He was elected at the October election in 1871, and commissioned for a term of ten years to be computed from the first Monday in December, 1871. At the November elec- tion in 1881, under the new constitution of 1874, he was re-elected, without ‘opposition, and commissioned for the term of ten years, to commence on the first Monday of January, 1882. At the November electionin 1891, he was again re-elected and commissioned for another term of ten years to be computed from the first Monday of January, 1892. He did not serve out his full third term for the reason that at the November election in 1892, he was elected as a justice of the supreme court, and commissioned as such justice on December 19, 1892, in consequence of which election and commission, he resigned as judge of the com- mon pleas. My first recollection of John Dean. was when he entered the office of that brilliant lawyer, David H. Hofius, Esq., as a law stu- dent. After practicing at-the bar for some years, he was appointed as’ district attorney by Judge Taylor to fill the vacancy occasioned by the resignation of John H. Keatley; Esq., who enlisted in the army. elected: as district attorney for a term of three years. That office gave him an opportunity for the displdy of his abilities, and brought He was afterwards him prominently before the public. He prose- cuted the pleas of the commonwealth with such credit and distinction; he displayed such marked and signal ability, that the reputation he then made prepared the way for his subse- quent nomination and election to the bench. When he first entered upon the discharge of his duties as judge, there were a number of old cases disposed of, and as new cases were constantly accumulating, he found his judicial labors peculiarly arduous. He worked with untiring industry and-diligence to get the con- gested dockets cleared, frequently holding night sessions. In this way very satisfactory progress was made in the dispatch of the pub-_. lic business. After the old cases were cleared from the docket the court moved at a more de- liberate pace, and night sessions were rare. Judge Dean was, in every way, an ideal common pleas judge. His charges to the jury were models of clearness, preciseness and vig- orous expression, and they were delivered with great emphasis, the judge frequently bringing his fist down on the desk before him’ to emphasize his deliverances. He was a man of imposing presence; and without affecting any magisterial dignity or factitious show of authority, his appearance and manner on the bench were most impressive. His countenance bore the unmistakable stamp and impress of character. I have heard that some one said of Webster, when he was living, referring to: his imposing personality and majestic presence, that he must be an imposter, for no man could be as great as he looked. But Webster was not an imposter; he was as great as he looked. So without comparing Dean with Webster, it may be said, that whilst the personal’ appear- ance and general make-up of Judge Dean in- dicated great strength of character and great intellectual force, his attributes did not belie . these outward indications; he was as great in these respects as he looked. Whilst Judge Dean at all times exacted that respect and deference which was due to the judicial office, whilst he was most positive-and direct in his rulings and in his conduct of: the public business, he was most patient in hearing AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS 55 the arguments of counsel on both sides of a case; and was uniformly affable and courteous to the members of the bar. I do not recollect of his ever losing his temper, at any time, on account of any exasperating remarks that might be made by any dissatisfied lawyer. When a certain prominent lawyer, at one time, made a veiled threat of an appeal to the su- preme court, the judge was not offended, but with admirable poise and equanimity, but in unmistakable language, said, “the case is in this court now, and we will try it according to our best judgment and from the best light we can get.” Speaking generally of his mental characteristics and judicial accomplishments, it seems to me that while he was always well read in the law, his great strength did not con- sist so much in book learning, or in the mental equipment that came from delving in the musty tomes of the law, or the accumulated wealth of legal lore, although he did ‘not de- spise these, as in the breadth and depth of his understanding, his clear comprehension of fundamental principles,. his mental grasp, his sound judgment and his innate sense of jus- tice. He seemed to grasp the principles of the law by a sort of intuition. Distinguished as he was in the common pleas court, he was no less eminent in that higher tribunal, that wider sphere, the supreme court. The opinions he delivered in that court, in some of the most important cases that ever came before that tri- bunal, involving questions of vast and far reaching import, have become imbedded in the- jurisprudence of commonwealth, and have won for him enduring fame. Upon the resignation of Judge Dean as “common pleas judge, Hon. Aug. S. Landis was appointed by Governor Pattison to fill the vacancy from January 2, 1893, to January 2, 1894. As he was an incumbent of the office for so short a time, he did not have an oppor- tunity to attain an extended reputation as a judge. But during that short time he acquit- ted himself with credit and honor, and to the entire satisfaction of the public. At the time memorial services were held on the occasion of the death of ex-Judge Landis, a letter from Justice Dean was produced and read at the bar meeting. With the permission of the chair, I will read an extract from it as showing Justice Dean’s estimate of the char- acter and attainments of ex-Judge Landis. I cannot take the time of the meeting by reading the entire letter, although it is pervaded throughout by a noble and exalted sentiment: “Landis was a learned and profound law- yer. He was so well grounded in elementary principles, that often, without labor and re- search, he divined what the case law was. He indulged not greatly in emotion; his mind was analytical and logical; it was a pleasure to hear him brush aside all the chaff and rubbish which often gathers about a case and. go with the unerring insight of a logical mind, straight to the real point.” Hon. Martin Bell was elected president judge in November, 1892, and his first term commenced on the first Monday of January, 1894, ten years thereafter he was re-elected for a second term of ten years, his second term commencing on the first Monday of January, 1904. The judges who have, from time to time, presided in the courts of this county, and to whom I have referred, have all passed away. They are no longer among the living. But Hon. Martin Bell, our present president judge, is very much alive. I cannot, on this occasion, extol his merits as a judge, as I might feel in- clined to do, because the judge is present, and owing to his innate modesty, he might think I was indulging in flattery; and the critical and fastidious members of the bar might say that it savored of bad taste to laud a judge in his presence. Suffice to say that in his charges to the jury, and in his judicial opinions, Judge Bell has a way of “getting there” (craving the indulgence of the chair for the use of that ex- pression), of getting to rock bottom; of mar- shalling the facts and expounding the law in such fashion as to elucidate the real questions involved, without any irrelevant allusions, or superfluous verbiage, without any frills; that he has sized up to the full measure of the judi- 56 HISTORY OF BLAIR COUNTY cial office, and is a worthy successor to the eminent jurists who have preceded him upon the bench. It is very gratifying to us to meet on this occasion so many distinguished judges from other districts. They give tone to this affair. It will be an evil day for this country, when if ever the people have reason to lose faith in the integrity of the judiciary. If that evil day should come, there would be reason to appre- hend that the pillars of the temple of constitu- tional liberty would be sensibly shaken. But it should be a source of great satisfaction to the people of this county that from the time of its formation until this time, all our judges, albeit not infallible in judgment, have worn the judicial ermine without reproach. This fair and unblurred judicial record of the past, should be an auspicious.omen for the future, justifying a reasonable hope, that in future years, this county may be as fortunate in its judiciary as it has been in the past, and is now. CHAPTER III. BLAIR COUNTY SEMI-CENTENNIAL. Ceremonies and. Addresses—The Grand Parade—Unveiling the Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Monu- ment—Perfect Weather—Exercises in the Court House—Exhibition of Relics—Address by Hon. John Dean—Poem, “Little Blair.” \ The golden jubilee in commemoration of the completion of the county’s first fifty years of in- dependent existence, was celebrated June 10, I1 and 12, 1896. The celebration took place in Hillidaysburg and was attended by a great throng of people. Providence seemed to smile on the efforts of the people of Blair to prop- erly celebrate the occasion. The weather was all that could have been desired; frequent showers during the week preceding and on the first two days of the week of the festivities led to some apprehension that it might be a failure, but on Wednesday morning the clouds tions, at intervals, during the afternoon. Hon. Daniel J. Neff, the oldest active member of the bar, delivered the address of welcome. He was followed by Hon. Augustus S. Landis with a historical address which occupied an hour in its delivery. Other short addresses were made by Hon. William Dorris of Hunt- ingdon, one of the five surviving members of the original bar, Hon. John Scott of Phila- delphia, and Hon. John Fenlon of Ebens- burg, also among the few survivors of that first court in Blair county fifty years before. were dissipated and not another drop of rain fell until the last set piece of-the pyrotechnic display of Friday night had enacted its part and the curtain dropped on the scene. Wednesday afternoon, June 10, at 2:30 o'clock the first formal meeting took place. It was the bar of Blair county entertaining in- vited guests, distinguished jurists, and former members of the county bar with reminiscent speech at the court house, and in the evening with a banquet at.the Logan House, Altoona. The afternoon meeting was called to order at 2:30, on motion of A. A. Stevens, Esq., Hon. Martin Bell, president judge of the county was chosen chairman. Rev. D. H. Barron, D. D., pastor of the First Presbyterian church of Hollidaysburg, offered a’prayer, and a sextette - under the leadership of Charles Geesey, Esq., sang the national anthem “America.” The singers also rendered other appropriate selec- 57 Mr. Justice John Dean of the supreme court, was the last speaker, after which W. L. Pascoe, Esq., at 5 o’clock, moved the adjournment of the meeting in a few well chosen sentences. The addresses of Colonel Neff and Judge Landis are given in full in the following chap- ter entitled Bench and Bar, to which they most appropriately belong. In the evening at 8 o’clock the members of the bar and invited guests assembled at the Logan House, for a reception and banquet. They sat down to the banquet table at 9:45 and did not quit the banquet hall until 1 o’clock in the morning. No wines nor intoxicants of any kind were served, and the last two hours were spent in responding to the toasts, J. S. Leisenring, Esq., of Altoona, officiating as toastmaster. Mr. Justice John Dean responded to the toast “The Judiciary” and spoke feel- ingly. Thomas H. Greevy, Esq., responded to the toast “Our Clients” in humorous vein. W. 58 HISTORY OF BLAIR COUNTY I. Woodcock, Esq., in the absence of Judge Bell, who was unable to remain to the end of the banquet, responded to the toast “Our Guests.” Most of the guests of the afternoon were present at the reception and banquet at night, and selections of music were led by the . sextette, under the direction of Charles Geesey, Esq. The committee on arrangements was composed of Hon. Martin Bell, Hon. A. S. Landis, A. A. Stevens, Esq., Hon. J. D. Hicks, J. S. Leisenring, Esq., W. L. Hicks, Esq., W. S. Hammond, Esq., and H. A. McFadden, Esq. Thursday morning’s sun rose in a cloudless ‘sky and the temperature was not much above seventy degrees Fahrenheit. at any time; a gentle breeze making the day a perfect one for marching, no dust and no mud. This was Military Day and: shortly after 11 a. m. the columns of soldiers moved off over the route assigned in the following order: Chief Marshal Theodore Burchfield and Staff. Altoona City Band. Fifth Regiment Drum Corps. Fifth Regiment National Guards of Penn- sylvania. Battery B of the Second Brigade. Sheridan Troop, N. G. P., of Tyrone. Captain C. S. W. Jones. Carriages containing members of the gen- eral committee and distinguished guests. Second division—Marshall and Staff. Hollidaysburg Band. Post No. 39, Grand Army of the Republic. Logan Band. Post No. 62, Grand Army of the Republic. Roaring Spring Drum Corps. Post No. 82, Grand Army of Roaring Spring. Continental Drum Corps. Post No. 172, Grand Army of the Republic of Tyrone. St. Patrick’s Band of Gallitzin. Post No. 426, Grand Army of the Republic of Bellwood. Reese’s Cadet Drum Corps. Posts No. 468, 474 and 574, Grand Army of the Republic. People’s Bank of South Fork. Encampments Nos. 17 and 37 Union Vet- eran Legion. Camps Nos. Veterans. Carriages containing Old Soldiers. ‘Bellwood Band. German Veteran Association of Altoona. The route traversed was from the starting point near the depot in Gaysport, across the bridge into Hollidaysburg, Allegheny street, to Juniata street, to Mulbury street, to Amelia street, to Allegheny street, to Jones street, to Walnut street, to Juniata street, to Alle- gheny street, to Union street. Distinguished guests not in carriages reviewed the proces- sion in front of the court house. The parade ended about noon and at 2:45 the ceremony of unveiling the monument to the soldiers and sailors of the county began in front of the court house. The Semi-Cen- tennial Chorus of 200 voices, Charles Ueesey, Esq., director, sang “America,” and Rev. David S. Monroe, D. D., presiding elder of the Altoona district, Central Pennsylvania Con- ference of the Methodist Episcoapl church, of- fered the invocation and at its conclusion the choir sang “To Thee, O Country,” after which Comrade Henry L. Bunker unveiled the monu- ment and Captain Robert Johnson formally presented it to the county commissioners. Hon. J. D. Hicks, member of congress from Blair county, received it in the name of the com- missioners and made a brilliant ten minute ad- dress in which he said that 4,000 soldiers from Blair county fought for the preservation of the Union and that there was not.a battle fought during the war in which there were not men engaged who were from Blair county. _ Gen. Thomas J. Stewart, adjutant general of Pennsylvania, followed in an able oration occupying half an hour, after which the band played a patriotic air. The assembled multi- tude then sang the doxology, and the meeting adjourned at 4:06 p. m. In the evening the Grand Army posts held a camp fire in front 12, 89 and 234, Sons of AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS 59 of the court house and thus the exercise of the second day closed. Friday, the last day of the celebration, dawned bright and clear, and was a most per- tect summer day. Business throughout the county was suspended and the railway and trolley cars were crowded to their capacity throughout the day. When the great civic and industrial parade started there were at least 40,000 visitors in Hollidaysburg and Gaysport. The parade started at 10:30 from Gaysport and marched over the principal streets of the two towns, being reviewed at the court house by Justice Dean, Mayor H. C. Barr of Al- toona and burgesses of the different boroughs of the county. It consisted of eleven divisions, led by Chief Marshall W. C. Roller, Jesse L. Hartman, chief of staff and aides. The first division comprised the Red Men, representing the aborigines, carriages with guests, executive committee, the Altoona city band, the various lodges of Odd Fellows, and the Boys’ Brigade of Altoona. ‘Second division comprised the Order Sons of America, nine camps. Third division—Uniformed rank Knights of Pythias and U. R. K. P. band of Pitts- burg. Fourth division—Junior Order United American Mechanics, the Oneida Social Club of Altoona and the Tyrone Division Brother- hood of Locomotive Engineers. Fifth division—Order of Artisans, Reese’s Cadet Corps, Assembly No. 29, of Altoona and No. 11 of Hollidaysburg. Sixth division——Knights of the Golden Eagle, uniformed rank and subordinate castles. -Seventh division.—Catholic societies, in- cluding Knights of St. George, Emerald Bene- ficial Association, St. Patrick’s Band. Eighth division —Young Men’s Institue of Altoona, Logan band and St. John’s Temper- ance cadets. Ninth division—Firemen; Volunteer Fire- men’s Association, of Altoona, Pennsylvania Railroad Firemen, Tyrone Firemen, without equipment, and the Phoenix Fire Company of Patriotic Hollidaysburg with engine and full equipment, Bellwood Firemen, Bellwood Band, Duncans- ville Fire Company and hose cart, South Fork Fire Company and Band, and other visiting firemen. An old-fashioned hand fire-engine brought up the rear. Tenth division—Employes of Hollidays- burg Rolling Mill, 150 strong in working cos- tume and carrying some of their work im- plements. Eleventh division.—Floats, merchandise and machinery displays, ancient relics, old canal boat, old stage coach, etc. The float. of Wil- liam F. Gable & Company, of Altoona, was the most artistic and costly one in this divi- sion, representing an immense urn entirely cov- ered with expensive lace, “Justice,” with her scales, “Liberty” and “America,” all draped in white and drawn by eight gaily caparisoned white horses, in tandem with attendants dressed in white. The Young America Clothing Com- pany also had a beautiful historical tableau. The procession was about one and a half miles in length and was three-quarters of an hour passing a given point. Between 5,000 and 6,000 persons took part in it, while 25,000 to 30,000 spectators lined the streets. along which they passed. In the afternoon the semi- -centennial ex- ercises were held in the court house, beginning at 2:40. The room was packed long before the hour for beginning. After the Altoona City Band had played a patriotic selection, Judge Bell called the meeting to order and made a few brief remarks, in which he illus- trated the wonderful improvements that had taken place in the past fifty years. He paid a high tribute to the enterprise of Altoona and her wonderful growth and to the broad and liberal policy of the Pennsylvania Railroad Company. Rev. J. F. Hartman, pastor of the Second Lutheran Church, of Altoona, offered a prayer, the Semi-Centennial Chorus of 200 voices sang “Red, White and Blue.” After which Hon. J. D. Hicks read the prize poem, “Little Blair,’ written by Mrs. Ida Clarkson Lewis, and which will be found at the end of this chapter. The band and chorus rendered 60 HISTORY OF BLAIR COUNTY some more music, and the chairman intro- duced Hon. John Dean, one of the justices of the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania, a native and life-long resident of the county, who de- livered the historical address of the occasion, a masterly effort dealing largely with the’ re- ligious predilections of the first settlers of the county. The paper is given in full in the present chapter. The address was followed by more music and then, after a few preliminary remarks suitable to the occasion, the Rev. Father Cornelius Shehan, pastor of St. Mary’s Catholic church, MHollidaysburg, pro- nounced the benediction and the meeting adjourned at 4:35 p.m. The formal cere- monies of the celebration closed with the adjournment of this meeting, but one of the most entertaining features was yet to come—the pyrotechnic display on Campus Ridge, near Lakemont park. This began at 8:50 at night with the ascension of a large paper balloon, to which explosives were attached. The air being calm it went almost straight upward till it was lost to view among the stars. Fifteen hundred dotlars’ worth of fireworks were used in the entire display of the evening, some of the set pieces being very fine, among them a full-sized locomotive engine and tender. The closing one, “Good Night,” sent out: its last sparkling scintillation at 10:33 p. m., and Blair county’s semi-centennial passed into history. On the whole it was an im- ‘mense success from first to last. Not a hitch of any kind occurred. The assem- bled crowd was larger than any that Blair county had ever seen and not an accident worth recording happened during the en- tire time. icy gs In Condron’s Opera House, Hollidays- burg, was maintained an exhibition of relics worth many thousands of dollars, as such, loaned by the individual owners and free for the inspection of everybody. They were surrounded at all times with hundreds of appreciative visitors. Among these relics and other exhibits were old tomahawks, arrow-heads, Indian utensils, guns which had shot Indians, guns, pistols and swords that had been used in the Revolution and earlier, guns and swords that had been used in the War of 1812, the Mexican war and the War of the Rebellion, the first printing-press used in Blair county, copies of the first news- papers printed here in 1834-5-6, old deeds 100 years old and more, the original char- ter of the Portage railroad, a clock: that kept the time in the Portage shops in 1832, still in running order, a piano made at Flowing Spring in 1827, and hundreds: of other equally interesting relics; pictures of all the judges of the county since its or-. ganization, etc. BLAIR COUNTY AND ITS PEOPLE, Historical Address Delivered by Hon. John Dean at Hollidaysburg, June 12, 1806. My Friends: Accepting the assignment of an address on the history of our county, I have endeavored to perform that duty to the best of my ability, in view of the cir- cumstances. A history of the county would involve a narrative of the leading incidents of its growth from the period of its first settlement or its first settlers, run- ning back to about 1768. A chronological statement of important events during that period, important not only because of im- port to those who took part in them, but to us, because of their effect on our present condition, would take, even in its most con- cise form, five or six hours to deliver, in- stead of the less than one, which from the necessity of the case, the committee has allotted me. Therefore I have eliminated from my subject all but one phase of it; in so doing I have put aside much that is of historical interest, such as the source of our land titles in the different townships; how the Penns acquired them; how the first grantees under the Penns took them ; to what restrictions and reservations some of them were subject. This is an especially AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS 61 interesting topic, not only to the law- yer, but to the intelligent layman. How Judge Wilson, one of the first judges of the supreme court of the United States, could take up and have patented to him more than 100,000 acres of land, a large part of it within the boundaries of our county, when the act of assembly forbade the issue of a warrant for more than 433 acres to one individual, and made void the title to all in excess of that. How the Hollidays, who settled upon and really obtained title to 2,000 acres of the land upon part of which this courthouse stands, afterward lost that title; how the original owners, bring- ing with them the customs and legal no- tions of England, Scotland and Ireland, sought in some instances to impress upon their lands the law of primogeniture and entail, and how their purpose was defeated by the legislature and the courts of the commonwealth; how and why Tyrone township, that beautiful valley known for a hundred years as Sinking valley, is one of the Penn manors, how it came to be such, and the nature of the vexatious restric- tions upon its titles came to exist. All this, and much more, would be a part of the proper history of the county and would be interesting, but they must be set aside. I take up and speak of that part of the history of our county which to me is al-- ways the most interesting. Whether: the people about whom I wish to speak or wish to learn be an ancient one and centu- ries ago. disappeared from the earth, or be a- present dominant one, who have for hun- dreds of years been advancing in civiliza- tion, I want to know as much as possible of their daily lives, their customs, religion, manners; how they acted in their domestic relations; how they cooked, ate and drank, and protected themselves from the weather. So in the brief time before me I shall en- deavor to present to you the daily lives of our predecessors on the territory which now forms our county. The population in the first thirty years ‘ship faithfully kept. for refusing to take an oath, ten years be- ‘fore the date of his charter, had written a of its existence had reached about 3,000. This population consisted almost wholly of original settlers, their wives and chil- dren, that is, those who had purchased their lands from the Penns or the common- wealth, settled upon and improved them, and still occupied them, or having died, they were occupied by their families. At the date Penn obtained his charter for his colony from Charles II., in England and on the ‘continent, as the old hymn has it, “Re- ligion was the chief concern of mortals here below;” not exactly the mortal’s own religion, but chiefly that of his neighbor; no one had any doubt as to his own; he only doubted as to whether his neighbor’s religious belief was orthodox; if it differed from his, his neighbor, being wrong, must be brought to his way of thinking, or his neighbor’s soul was in danger of everlast- ing perdition. Hence it was an age of religious persecu- ‘tion; of inimical laws against heretics by those in power. And it mattered very lit- tle, so far as the persecution was concerned, which party was in power, Catholics persecuted Protestants; Protestants perse- cuted Catholics and each other; in England all sects detested and persecuted the Quak- ers. When this spirit of religious persecu- tion was rife, in the year 1681, Penn, who had been persecuted and imprisoned for his religion, acquired the patent to Pennsylva- nia, and commenced to colonize it, by in- viting immigrants, not only members of his own sect, but of all sects, promising to all freedom of conscience in religion, which promise he and his sons in the proprietor- Penn, while in prison pamphlet advocating the largest liberty of conscience in religious belief; from this po- sition he never swerved. It is a remarkable fact that the Quaker, whose religious belief excludes all dogma, resting wholly on the “inner light,” and the Catholics under Lord Baltimore, who set- 62 HISTORY OF BLAIR COUNTY tled Maryland, and whose religious belief rests almost wholly on authoritatively de- fined doctrine and dogma, should have given to the world within a few years of each other, the first examples of complete relig- ious toleration in the new world. Not a single one of the other colonies did it. I use the word “complete” religious tolera- tion, as applied to the facts of that age. The act of toleration in Maryland declared that: “No person or persons whatsoever professing to believe in Jesus Christ, shall from henceforth be in any way troubled or molested or discountenanced for and in re- spect of his or her religion; nor in the free exercise thereof; nor in any way compelled to the belief or exercise of any other religion against his or her consent.”’ This would not tolerate the Jew nor the Deist. But the humbers of these were so insignificant at that day, that it was altogether probable there was no intention thought to exclude them; they were simply not thought of. Under Penn’s great principle of religious toleration, emigrants began to pour into Pennsylvania from almost all European races. Quakers, Presbyterians, Episcopali- ans, Lutherans, Tunkers, Catholics and Moravians in religious creed; Dutch, Eng- lish, Irish, Scotch, Scotch-Irish, Swedes, Welch and Germans. Such a conglomera- tion of races and religions settled no other of the original colonies. Within the next hundred years, there reached the territory now composing our county, Presbyterians, Tunkers, Lutherans and Catholics in relig- ion. And in race there were Scotch, Scotch-Irish, Irish and Germans. The Cove, from North Woodbury township to Williamsburg, was mainly originally settled by German Tunkers; what is now Catha- tine township, Tyrone township, Logan township, Allegheny township, the land around Hollidaysburg and part of Franks- town township by Scotch-Irish; that part of Frankstown township known as Scotch Valley, by Scotch. In the territory now known as Greenfield and Juniata townships many Lutherans settled. Some of them also settled in Frankstown township and Sinking Valley. Blair township was set- tled principally by Irish Catholics in the latter part of the last century and most of the descendants of the original settlers still reside there. Besides these, Irish Catholics appear early in this century, from the old assessment books scattered all over the county; especially at the early iron works, furnaces and forges. 2 , As to the German element, most authori- ties estimate that at the commencement of the revolutionary war it constituted from a third to a half of the population of the - state. I would judge, in looking over the assessment of 1847, the first after the or- ganization of the county, it numbered fully one-third of our population. At an early day the Germans sought exclusiveness, pre- served their own language, and neither sought nor desired intercourse with others; especially was this the case with the Tun- kers; their principles were in one respect not unlike those of the Quakers; they were opposed to war, but they went further; they were non-resistants; whole families of them were massacred and scalped by the Indians in the Cove and they resisted not; a dozen savages would devastate and destroy a set- tlement containing thirty men without a hand being raised on their part. To every appeal to their courage and manhood in the frontier days the invariable answer was, “Gottes will sei gethan” (God’s will be done). While we cannot but admire stead- fast adherence to principle, we cannot fail to see they were utterly out of place as fron- tiersmen. These are not the people who conquer homes in a new territory with a savage foe facing them, and if they had not had for neighbors men of a different stamp the settlement of their great com- monwealth would have been delayed half a century. They are, however, the very embodiment of thrift and industry, and as cultivators of the soil have had no equals in the United AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS 63 States. Travel through the Cove, where their descendants still live on the splendid limestone farms; notice the fences, straight, with no broken rails; the large bank barns, generally painted red, a touch of old coun- try color; houses often of a size, that a half dozen would go inside the big barn, but al- ways neat and presenting an air of comfort; what sleek, contented cattle; heavy, fat horses. And these honest, simple people are the soul of hospitality; enter their houses, whether for a meal or lodging, without many words you feel you are wel- come; the food, though plain, always appe- tizing and well cooked; the liquid bever- ages, cider and milk; the meals were not French, principally napkins, cut-glass and » flowers; it was beef or pork, potatoes, dried apples or snits, the finest of bread in huge loaves, and large wheat flour cakes. Nearly all their clothing was made on the farm, from the wool clipped from their own sheep, their shoes from hides taken from the cattle on the farm, and then to the near- est tannery to be made into leather. Often at least such was the case thirty-five years ago—the women of the house did not speak English, and but poorly understood it. Pennsylvania Dutch was the language of a century; it is probably much the same now, for these people loathe change. In many respects, they excel in good citizen-. ship; they are never found in the courts, civil or criminal; their disputes among themselves are settled by the congrega- tion; often outsiders impose on them, feel- ing sure they will not seek redress at law. They are benevolent; they would consider it disgraceful for any of their own poor to reach the almshouse; but towards those without the pale they are also kind and charitable. Their taxes are always paid promptly, notwithstanding some grumbling at times at the amount. They hate debt, and sel- dom buy what they cannot pay for. Many years ago they did not vote, but this rule of their church is gradually becoming obso- lete. . They are still averse to serving on juries, and I know of no instance in this county where they have accepted public of- fice, though in other portions of the state they have done so. They were from the be- ginning opposed to public schools. In 1857, when superintendent of schools I often visted them in their homes and conversed with them on the subject. Always hospit- able and kind, still I remember of no in- stance in which I succeeded in persuading | the elder members of the faith to aid in promoting the cause of education. The fact is, their ancestors had been persecuted bitterly in Germany by both Catholics and Lutherans; in the hands of these religionists were the government and all institutions of learning; by tradition, they associated much learning with despotic power and persecution, and they abhorred it. But in the last thirty-five years this hostility has in a great part disappeared; the younger generation, more acute in its perceptions, is more favorable to education; these citizens, before long, we may hope, will take their proper place in the government of a great commonwealth to whose material wealth they have so largely contributed. I yet ex- pect to see a Tunker sheriff, or at least a county commissioner; my children, I douht not, will see Tunker governors, judges and congressmen. The other branch of German religionists, the Lutherans, had no such notions as the Tunkers. From their first coming into the colony, they took an active fighting part in affairs. In fact, when Muhlenberg, their great preacher, arrived among them in 1742, he called them a “rough set.” He was a learned, able and pious man; it was not long until his character was felt by his co-relig- ionists; he organized them into congrega- tions and sought to impress upon them the wisdom as well as duty of becoming Ameri- canized; he opposed, with all his great abil- ity, that segregation so dear to the Tunker. He taught English himself, had his children educated in it by an English governess. His 64 HISTORY OF BLAIR COUNTY son Peter was a prominent general in the revolution. Many of these Lancaster and Berks German Lutherans found their way into our valleys soon after the revolutionary war, and their names can be traced on the as- sessments from these counties. They were a far better class of citizens in one particular than the Tunkers; they took part in govern- ment, local, county and state; always voted; were always ready to take up arms in de- fense of their homes and country. Professor Wickersham, in his “History of Education in Pennsylvania,’ says: “The Germans when they first came to Pennsyl- vania, were no more opposed to education than other races. But, whenever they re- fused to learn English, they deteriorated and became obstructionists of progress.” I think this is applicable to Germans other than Tunkers; but the opposition of the lat- ter, I know personally, was often put upon the ground that education was hurtful. Con- fining themselves to German certainly tended to isolation and narrowness; they had not the Englishman’s nor Irishman’s instinct for politics and government, and, by self- isolation, their children did not acquire it. Comprising so large a part of the population of the commonwealth almost from its foun- dation, they have never taken that part in its government their numbers and wealth warranted. Whenever they abandoned their exclusiveness, and by education, busi- ness associations and inter-marriages, mixed with other races and their descendents, their natural capacity for science and affairs be- comes undeniable. Dr. Caspar Wistar, Dr. Gross and Dr. Leidy were of this German stock; Governors Snyder, Hiester, Shultz, Wolf, Ritner, Shunk and Hartranft were also. But all these eschewed German exclu- siveness and Tunker opposition to war anid education; they were of the Mehlenberg party and ideas. Of the two classes of Ger- mans, the Tunkers‘and the Lutherans, with their allied sects, the Lutheran contributes most to the greatness of a state, and is there- fore the better citizen. In so far as great- ness consists in well tilled land, large and well filled barns, the Tunker is superior. But no free commonwealth was ever built up nor long continued free, whose citizens took no part in the government ; who would vote for no candidate, from the governor to the township supervisor. The very genius of our constitutions: state and national, de- mands that all citizens who value life, lib- erty and property, should take an active and intelligent part in politics. We next have the Scotch and Scotch- Irish. They, as noticed, settled a large part of the most fertile part of the county. They were all Presbyterians. I never heard of a Scotch-Irishman in the first generation be- ing other than Presbyterian, until I became acquainted with Mr. Thomas Rooney, late of this town, a most excellent man, now gone to his rest. He was a most exemplary Lutheran, and came to this country from Ireland in his youth. The Scotch-Irish were not all Scotch, although all who came from the north of Ireland were so called. Many of them had emigrated to Ireland from Eng- land in the reigns of Elizabeth and James L., and were co-religionists with those who emi- grated from Scotland. Many of these. Scotch emigrants were Celts of the same race as the native Irish; the only difference ‘was in religion. Large numbers of these Irish settlers, Scotch and English, left Ire- land in the reign of James II., and came to Pennsylvania; this migration of the Scotch- Irish continued for years down to the com- mencement of the revolutionary war. It is generally supposed they were all driver from Ireland by Catholic persecution, but this is not the truth in all cases; many of them had taken long leases from the EnglisIr government of Irish lands in the reigns of Queen Elizabeth and James I., and these leases were expiring in those of Charles II. and James II.; the government would not renew them, or demanded such exhorbitant rents for the future that they preferred to emigrate. And this state of affairs contin- ued long after Protestant ascendancy on the AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS 65 English throne under Willian and Anne. As I always understood from the tradition in our family my paternal great-grandfather, Matthew Dean, came to Pennsylvania about the year 1760, because he preferred to own land here rather than lease it in Ireland. And I have no doubt this was the case with many others of that stock. The Scotch-Irish were intense Presbyte- rians. A copy of the Confession of Faith, with the Larger and Shorter Catechism. was in every Presbyterian family in my boy- hood. The copy in our family was quite old; it bore a London publisher’s imprint, and was said to have been brought from Ire- land by my mother’s ancestors. I don’t re- member that the doctrine was expressly taught—rather think it was not—but I got the impression somehow, from my drilling before I was twelve years old, that while those outside of the Presbyterian church might be saved, their case was an exceedingly doubtful one. I pitied my Methodist, Luth- eran and Catholic boy companions, because, not being Presbyterian boys, they were in peril of everlasting punishment. I can real- ize now, from my own teachings, which must have been greatly moderated in their tone by nearly a century of New World lib- erty, how intolerant, cruel and bigoted must have been the attitude of the religious sects pf Europe in the previous century. No one who has read history doubts that, in the seventeenth and eighteenths centuries, relig- ious persecution was the rule, toleration a rare exception. Catholics killed Protestants, Protestants or dissenters from the Estab- lished Church killed Catholics; the Church of England killed both, and all because of a difference of creed as to the authority of the pope, the efficacy of the sacraments, or the interpretation of revelation. And on their theory, logically, they were right. They assumed their particular creed was undoubtedly orthodox; every one that differed from it was rank heresy ; whosoever believed in and practiced the heresy, would incur eternal damnation; if no one but the then holder of the false religion should be- lieve in it the effect would be limited, but if the heretic should go on propagating the heresy and those imbibing it should so con- tinue, the result would be millions of souls would be destroyed. “It is my duty to God,” they reasoned, “to exterminate this soul-destroying heresy and thereby save millions of souls.” And they at once pro- ceeded to perform their duty by cutting off the heads of the heretics. And assuming their premises to be correct, they were right, whether Catholic or Protestant. It took a long time, almost a century and a half of religious civilization, before the large. ma- jority of Christians of all creeds fully com- prehended that there was no divine author- ity committed to any man or body of men to determine that another man would certainly be damned because of his religious creed; that the Great Judge had reserved that at- tribute of sovereignty to himself, and that the individual conscience was answerable to Him alone, for He alone can determine cer- tainly the wickedness of the offense and therefore can alone justly fix the punish- ment. But out of these religious wars, persecu- tions and cruelties, came the Scotch-Irish- man into the beautiful valleys of our county. They wanted a fertile soil, and they got it; they wanted to own it; in that their desire was accomplished. The first settlers had to war with the Indians. There were no “Got- tes wille sei Gethan’’with them, as with their Tunker co-settlers. Their idea was, “The Lord hath given to His saints the heathen for an inheritance.” They had not a spark of doubt who were the saints, nor who were the heathen. Their only season of respite from war in the early years was in the win- ter; the Indians seldom made a winter cam- paign; but in sowing and reaping, their fields were guarded by the boys as sentinels. Many of them were killed by the cunning and cruel foe. Not a half mile from where we are now assembled, part of the Holliday family was massacred; in Dell Delight, one 66 HISTORY OF BLAIR COUNTY of the Moores; in Catharine township, half of my great-grandfather’s family was killed and scalped, and his house burned. Permit me to show how closely tradition connects events; the massacre of the Dean family oc- curred in the autumn of 1780, almost 116 years ago; my great-grandmother and four of her children were in the house, her hus- band and three children in the corn field; while they were in the corn field the Indians killed and scalped all in the house, and set it on fire, without discovering those in the corn field. One of the girls in the corn field was Polly, who married Hugh Means, a farmer in the lower end of Sinking Valley. I visited her more than once in 1844 to, 1848, about which time she died, I being then Io to 12 years of age and she probably 80; more than once she narrated to me all the sickening details of the massacre, as far as she or any one knew them. So that tradi- tion in this instance, through but two per- sons, runs back 116 years toa terrible event in a family. I now tell it to my children, and they pass-it on, so that three or four lives will possibly reach 250 years. Some of the details of the story may be lost,-some possibly added, but the substance will re- main correct. I have frequently, of. late years, thought of this, when I have heard scientists hoot at the’ value of tradition as testimony to historical facts, arguing that written evidence alone can be relied on. Yradition, in the larger number of instances, has the kernel of truth. But this is a digres- sion. To hear the orators of the Scotch-Irish at times one would be led to think they were the embodiment of all the virtues; that. but for them there would have been no Pennsylvania, and possibly no nation. In these claims there is much pardonable exaggeration. In their domestic lives. the Scotch-Irish were probably more considerate of the comfort of the women of the household than the Tunkers ; they were always more liberal in expenditure ; they generally ate the best of the product of their farms and sold the poorest; whisky dis- tilled on the farm, or very near it, was used without stint; they favored education. The schoolmaster was installed as soon as possible after a settlement was made; and there were but few of the second generation who could not read, write and cipher. They lad one most erroneous idea brought with them from the old country; that is, that the girls could marry and needed no estate; so in their wills in the early part of the century you will -find they generally gave about nine-tenths of their estate to the sons and divided the remaining tenth among the daughters: I can even show you two or three wills of this kind probated after Scotch-Irishmen’s decease subsequent to the organization of this county. Sargent, in his “Introductory Memoir to the Journal of Braddock’s Expedition,” says, “They were a hardy, brave, hot-headed race, excitable in temper, unrestrainable in passion, invincible in prejudice. Their hand opened as impetuously to a friend as it clinched against an enemy. If often rude and lawless, it was partly the fault of their position. They hated the Indian while they despised him, and it dces not seem, in their dealings with this race, as though there were amy sentiments of honor or magnanimity in their bosoms that could hold way against their passionate, blind resent- ment. Impatient of restraint, rebellious against everything that in their eyes bore the semblance of injustice, we find these men readiest among the ready on the battlefields of the Revolution. If they had faults, a lack of patriotism or of courage was not among the number.” Scotch-Irishmen, as a rule, protest against » this picture as one that does them. gross in- justice. It is perhaps over-drawn against them, but it comes nearer a presentation of their true character than the indiscriminate laudation of their own orators. I feel war- ranted in thus speaking, because of my own blood, being Scotch-Irish on both paternal and maternal sides of my ancestry. While all the first settlers had passed’ away before my years of recollection, I saw and knew some of their immediate children, and many of their grand- AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS 67 children. My uncle, Samuel Dean, who lived to an advanced age, was born in the year 1800. James M. Bell, my preceptor in the law, in the year 1799. My father, 1808." Tobias Fore- man, late of Huntingdon county, lived with and was reared by my grandfather; James Clark, grandfather of John Clark of Williams- burg, an old Revolutionary soldier, an uncle of my father, was often at our house; he was vivacious, and a great narrator of past events; these all knew and mingled with the original settlers of Sinking Valley, Canoe Valley and Frankstown township. I have heard them tell of their domestic life, of their political dif- ferences, local feuds and church disputes. Sar- gent’s description, from my own opinion of mature years, approaches accuracy. Mr. Sydney George Fisher, in his most -val- uable book, “The Making of Pennsylvania,” says: “There is no doubt the Scotch-Irish were rough, but roughness is not always a serious vice, and there are various degrees of it. They had the lands of the Irish rebels given to them; they had entered on them with a strong hand, and they had grown accustomed to maintain- ing themselves among a hostile population from whom they expected but little considera- tion. They were not much addicted to polite- ness or asking leave for what they took, and they entered “Pennsylvania in a manner that was rather irritating to the proprietors. Large numbers of them marched to the York Bar- rens, in what was then Lancaster county, near the Maryland boundary line, without first of- fering to buy the land from Penn. When spoken to on the subject, they replied that Penn had solicited colonists and they had come ac- cordingly. A more serious offense was their settling without purchase on the lands of the Indians, an intrusion which is generally be- lieved to have caused several massacres.’ In the merry-makings they were rude; a rough and tumble fight with fists was not un- usual ; ‘whisky was among them a beverage partaken of on all ocacsions, whether feast, wedding or funeral; when a boy, within a radius:of‘two miles of where I went to school, there were ‘five distilleries, owned by Scotch- Irish Presbyterians and Pennsylvania Ger- mans. The Washingtonian temperance reform in 1843 and 1844 closed all but one of these. But without this, it is probable they would have closed. New means of transportation enabled them to ship their rye to market in bulk, instead of concentrating it into a small package of whisky. As noticed, the Tunkers would not vote or hold office. No one ever said that of a Scotch- Irishman; I have never known of his refusal to vote at least once, and he was willing to hold as many offices as he was eligible to. The records of this county since its organization will, I think, bear me out in this statement. Although many of them deny it, the Tunkers excelled them as farmers. As a rule, the Scotch-Irish farmers, after three~generations, are giving way, and their places are being taken by others. The Catholic Irish settled what is now Blair township, about the close of the Revolutionary war; the borough of Newry is, next to Franks- town, the oldest village in the county. I have heard the late James M. Hewit say that when a boy he went to Newry to see a circus; Hol- lidaysburg was then too insignificant to war- rant the showmen in stopping; Newry was the larger town. This Irish settlement for a time throve and was prosperous, but the loca- tion of the canal and the Portage road north of it, with their junction-at Hollidaysburg, ar- rested its growth and Hollidaysburg forged ahead, just as the location of the main line of ‘the Pennsylvania railroad six miles north of Hollidaysburg created Altoona, leaving Holli- daysburg standing still. But the Catholic Irish settlement at Newry, and Blair township, for many years, was a very important part of ‘Huntingdon county. The’ old settlers -were progressive and exemplary citizens, none bet- ter; the Cassidays, McIntoshes, Conrads, Mc- Graws, Malones and others, were all active in the formation of our new county. Besides these Catholics, as I have already said, there’ were others scattered all over the county, but for many years Newry had the only. Catholic church: ' There was, when I was a boy, a small 68 HISTORY OF BLAIR COUNTY Catholic graveyard in Williamsburg, how old I do not know; but here, every now and then, some devout member of the church was laid to rest in consecrated ground. A neat church has been erected there within thirty years. It is but a century ago that the two races, hostile in religion, and hating each other in Ireland, again met. In Ireland they had been implacable foes, but when they reached this New World of religious liberty, where every one had a right to pursue his own happiness, their resentments seem to have disappeared, and they-labored together for the common good. Up until 1854 I never heard of relig- ious proscription, or religious antagonism in politics. I know I have seen my father, at an early day, in consultation with the Catholic McKiernans and Harbisons relative to the pro- motion of education in the common schools, and other public measures affecting the town- ship. But in 1854 a wave of intolerance, bigotry and proscription passed over the state. The Catholic was persecuted, just as far as our constitution permitted; he was not im- prisoned, not killed on account of his religion, but he was voted out of every office he could possibly aspire to from state to township. It was a shameful persecution, and lasted about three years; in less than five years thereafter those most active in the movement were busy denying they had any connection with it. In less than ten years came the war for the pres- ervation of the union. Our Catholic fellow citizens all around us, then, by their patriotism at home in promoting enlistments, their cour- age on many a bloody battlefield, gave the lie to all accusations made against them in the know nothing crusade. Good citizenship is not determined by creed; conscience and ca- pacity for public service are not measured by doctrine or dogma. All religious proscription is utterly at war with the fundamental prin- ciples of our constitution. And whether our remote ancestors cut each other’s heads off in Treland two hundred years ago, because one did not acknowledge the spiritual authority of the pope, and the other refused to acknowl- edge the spiritual authority of a presbytery, or their descendants figuratively at this day cut each other’s political heads off at the polls, the principle is precisely the same, religious bigotry and proscription. I speak now as a citizen of this growing county. and this grand old commonwealth in which I was born and bred. No one doubts my religious creed; ef a Scotch- Irish Presbyterian ancestry, religious training and education, I could not be other and do not wish to be other than Presbyterian.. At the same time, with all my years of study, ex- perience and thought, I cannot but tremble — when I see the least sign of a revival of that intolerant religious spirit which for centuries bathed Europe in blood. Lincoln’ said of slavery, “A house divided against itself can- not stand.” I do not believe a house divided against itself on a religious question can stand. Once religious belief is made a political issue; once you determine a man’s fitness for office by his opinion on the doctrine of the “real presence,’’—intercession of the saints, of the Virgin Mary, the very foundation of our free institutions disappears. Take away that foun- dation stone, laid in all its breadth and beauty by Penn, and on which the great and glorious edifice of this free commonwealth has been builded, grand as is the superstructure, it may fall; if it does not fall, it will cease to grow; there will be no further additions, wherein may be sheltered and made happy the sons of men. Our Bill of Rights declares: “All men have a natural and indefeasible right to wor- ship Almighty God according to the dictates of their own consciences. “No person who acknowledges the being of a God and a future state of rewards and pun- ishments shall, on account of his religious sentiments, be disqualified for any office or place of trust or profit under this common- wealth.” Under this benificent declaration, or the sub- stance of it, declared by the wise founder of our state, the whole commonwealth has grown and prospered. Any departure from it must be a step backward into a dark age of persecu- tion and bloodshed, when ignorance undertook AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS 69 to fashion men’s consciences by cruelty and barbarity. “Lord,” said the woman of Sichem, “our fathers worshipped in this mountain, and ye say that Jerusalem is the place where men ought to worship.” Jesus replied, “Woman, -believe me, the hour cometh, when ye shall worship neither in this mountain nor yet at Jerusalem, but when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth.” It is almost nineteen centuries sincé the great Founder of Christianity proclaimed this sum of all religion at Jacob’s Well, yet, during all those centuries, it is only an occasional glimpse we get of it in practice. The Tunkers, Luth- erans, Scotch-Irish and Catholic Irish of this county lived up to it for almost seventy-five years, or until 1854. May we not hope, that since the miserable failure then to adopt a re- ligious test in politics, none other will ever be attempted. Such were the men, such their religion, such the race of the hardy people who originally set- tled the territory which now forms our county. When the county was organized in 1846 many of the descendants of the original Germans and Scotch-Irish had become Methodists, and some of them Baptists. The Methodist was a missionary church; its circuit riders had pene- trated into all corners of the county by that time; their congregations were organized in almost every school district ; they were specially effective at the iron works; two large settled congregations with comfortable churches ex- isted at Hollidaysburg and Williamsburg; but while strong in numbers, they were generally of limited means; their influence and wealth are mainly the growth of the last fifty years, and the same may be said of the Baptists. Many other religious sects have also in that period grown in numbers and importance. What I have sought specially to point out is the kind and character of the people who, by more than seventy years of struggle, made our county what it was in 1846, brought it to the point where its people had a right to demand a separate county organization and the legisla- ture was warranted in creating it. When the county was formed in 1846, in my judgment the population was about 11,000. I think fully four-fifths of this was made up of first settlers and their immediate descendants. The population rapidly increased; it certainly numbers now not far from 75,000. I doubt if more than one-third of these can trace de- scent to the Germans, Scotch-Irish and’ Irish of the first half of the century; take away the population of Altoona and its immediate sur- roundings in Logan township, of Tyrone and Bellwood, and the last thirty years would show but little change. The greater Blair county is made up of these progressive railroad towns. True, many of their citizens are descendants of the original stock, but the larger proportion is from other counties and states, and many from beyond the seas. By their joining us they have raised our noble old county from one of the smallest to one of the greater counties in wealth, population and enterprise. In the not distant future we shall see it reach more than 100,000 in population. Its past rapid growth has:been due in great degree to the growth and liberal management of that great corporation, the Pennsylvania railroad. Our material prosperity and progress in the future must depend largely on the prosperity of that enterprise. As it grows our county will grow. . But I have already wearied you in endeavor- ing to present in as concise a narrative as pos- sible a glimpse of the early physical, intellectual and religious growth of our beloved home. In it I was born and reared; with it are associated. all my fondest recollections; to its future cling all my most fervent hopes; if any want to point to some better, some golden age in some other county or some other years, I have no sym- pathy with them, for our county and our age, I feel sure, are the best attainable. WRITTEN SPECIALLY FOR THE SEMI-CENTEN- NIAL AND READ BY J. D. HICKS. As from the rock that towers high, The eagle gazes toward the sky, Then spreads his wings and soars away, To bathe his plumage in the ray That falls in freshness from the sun; 70 ‘ HISTORY OF BLAIR COUNTY So Blair from lofty Huntingdon, Gazed upward toward Dominion’s sky, And quick.to see and strong to fly, Sprang upward in her liberty, And rose to glorious destiny. For fifty years her wings she’s tried, For fifty years her strength and pride Have weakened not, but stronger grown, Till through the land her power’s known,. And Pennsylvania’s counties fair, Obeisance pay to LirrLe Brairr. Her rock-ribbed mountains, high and blue, Are. not more strong and not more true, Than: is her love for those who gave Their strong, young life our Land to save, Who heard great Lincoln’s call for men, . And died in field and prison-pen. Blair’s heroes sleep far, far from home, Their only epitaph, “UNKNowNn!” But angels bright are sent of God To watch beside their beds of sod. Long as our mountains pierce the skies— Till God shall bid the dead arise— Ne’er let the work our heroes wrought, By children’s children be forgot. Brave “Boys in Blue,” when strife was o’er, When cannon ceased to flame and roar; When God’s sweet angel whispered “Peace!” And caused the noise of war to cease; With sunburnt face and battle scars, Beneath the dear old Stripes and Stars, Marched homeward to the hills of Blair, While shouts of welcome filled the air. These “Boys in Blue,” so brave and strong, Are with us now, but not for long; For one by one they pass within The tent that has no “outward swing.” The debt we owe them never can Be paid on earth by mortal man. May He who died a world to save Smile on our heroes, true and brave. But Blair has other heroes true As those who fought in lines of blue For Freedom, and inscribed their name High on the scroll of deathless Fame. Who, in the time of testing, stood Where duty called, and never would Their post forsake, but did their part In face of Death, like noble Sharp. God’s richest blessings on him rain Who saved the wildly rushing train; Who bravely answered Duty’s call And gave the world a second Paul. Where robed in ermine justice stands, Her balanced scales within her hands, Blair’s sons now sit in court supreme Impartially to judge between The right and wrong of every cause— Maintaining justice and her laws. Where statesmen “clutch the golden keys To mould a mighty state’s decrees—” In congress halls her sons have gone And lasting honors there have won. In church at home and church abroad Her sons proclaim the truth of God, And heathen far beyond the sea Point to the Christ of Calvary. Her teachers, too, well “skilled to rule” In city or in village school, Have learning’s strong foundation laid In mind of boy and mind of maid Till all her sons and daughters fair Are now the pride of “Little Blair’; While some have climbed Parnassus’ hill, Whose name and fame the nations fill. Her Press so strong, so true and free, To plead for Right and Liberty; All shams expose, all truth defend; Has proved herself the People’s friend. As our own mountain air is free, So let our Press forever be! The peerless Corporation, too, Known o’er the world, as strong and true, As Johnstown Bridge, well known to fame, That stood so firm when torrents came; To all her men both kind and fair, Has brought large wealth to “Little Blair.” AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS , ; 71 In busy shops, on flying trains, For fifty years she’s done so well, With brawny-arms and giant brains, No mortal all her deeds may tell; With courage true and matchless zeal, While mountains pierce the ambient air, Her sons promote the Nation’s weal. O live and flourish, glorious Buair! Ipa CLarKson LEwIs. Altoona, Pa., April 13, 1896. CHAPTER IV. BENCH .AND BAR. Historical Reviews of the History of the Bench and Bar in Addresses of Hon. John Dean, Hon. D. J. Neff, Hon. A. S. Landis, and Hen. J. S. Black—Obituary of Judge Martin Bell —Appointment of Judge Thomas J. Baldridge—Sketches of Blair County's Six Judges. The history of the Bench and Bar of Blair county, from its earliest beginnings up to the year 1877, was comprehensively dealt, with in an historical address delivered by State Su- preme Court. Justice John Dean, then judge of the Blair county courts, at the dedication of the Blair county court house which took place in that year. This history was again reviewed and further continued on the occasion of Blair county’s semi-centennial celebration in 1896, in the addresses of Hon. Daniel J. Neff and Hon. Aug. S. Landis. These three addresses are here reproduced as together containing per- haps the best and fullest obtainable presenta- tion of the subject. They are supplemented by further data covering some more recent events in the history of our courts. HISTORICAL ADDRESS. BY HON. JOHN DEAN. President Judge of the Twenty-Fourth Judicial District. Ladies and Gentlemen:—The morals of a people are to be found in their laws. Statutes and the decisions of courts disclose what prog- ress has been made towards the enforcement of the perfect law, “Do unto others as you would have others do unto you.” This is the standard aimed at by Christian people. Since the “Great Lawgiver” announced this rule of action, the efforts of His subjects to render obedience to it have, for periods, been few and weak; at other times many and strong. How near they came to it, and how far they fell short, or how much nearer one nation or people came to it than another, is learned from the records of their courts. None have attained unto this standard; perhaps no court ever will; still, everywhere courts are trying to reach it, and, so long as the aim is high, a greater de- gree of progress will result than if they did not strive to reach an unattainable standard. This is shown by the progress already made; an advance so marked, even in the compara- tively short period of the last fifty years, as to be a matter of exultation to every true lawyer. The part borne by the several courts of this county in this general ‘move forward” has been no insignificant one. In its beginning, and for many years afterwards, the new and delicate questions adjudicated; the efforts to give effect to that Clause of our constitution which declares, that— “All courts shall be open; and every man for an injury done him, in his lands, goods, person or reputation, shall have remedy by due course of law, and right and justice ad- ministered without sale, denial or delay.” Have left a clear impress on the law of the commonwealth. This has been due to the learning and ability of the lawyers of the court; to the intelligence and honesty of the jurors; but in an especial degree to the strong sense of justice, manifested in all their rulings, by AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS a the two eminent lawyers, Judges Black and Taylor, who first presided. THE PRESIDENT JUDGES OF THE COURT. While we may not concur with Judge Coul- ter in his application of the proposition the fact of the particular case, no judge ever ut- tered a more evident one than he when he said in Cadbury vs. Noion (5 Barr, 320), “The apprehension, or more properly the compre- hension of actual fraud, depends much on the moral sensibilities of the individual who con- templates the facts.” This case, as my brethren will remember, was tried before Judge Wood- ward, in Clearfield county. Judge Coulter more than intimates that Woodward’s moral sensibilities were such that he eould not appre- hend gross fraud; and this was said of an eminently just judge, who was afterwards Chief Justice of our Supreme Court. But few lawyers will approve the correctness of the ap- plication of the proposition to that judge, on the facts, of that case; but as a general propo- sition, applicable to every case involving the rights and liabilities of parties, every lawyer feels its force. For, whether applied to the prevention of actual fraud, to the determination of conflicting claims, to the adjustment of mu- tual rights, or the prosecution and punishment of law breakers, a just decision depends much on the “moral sensibilities of the individual who contemplates the facts.” The moral sen- sibilities of these two distinguished judges (Black and Taylor),.were in no wise dull. Keenly alive to the wrongs of suitors, filled with perfect hatred to all unfairness, over- reaching and unconscionable conduct, possess- ing great learning and ability, under their eyes the judgments of the court were entered. At the time of the erection of Blair county Judge Black was the President Judge of the sixteenth Judicial District, composed of the counties of Franklin, Bedford, Somerset and Fulton, and in the act erecting the county it was provided that it should form part of this district. Thus Judge Black became our first judge. The original act (see P. L. 1846, p. 64), provided that the first court should be held on the fourth Monday of July, 1846. From that time up to and including March term, 1849, Judge Black presided. By this act the terms of the courts were to commence on the fourth Mondays of March, July, October and Decem- ber, but a supplement (see R. L. 1846, P 398), directed that after the first court the summer session should commence the second Monday of June. Judge Black held twelve terms of courts, when the Legislature, by the act of 5th of April, 1849, making a general re- organization of the judicial districts of the state, declared the counties of Huntingdon, Blair and Cambria should compose the twenty- fourth Judicial District, thus detaching this county from the sixteenth, Judge Black’s dis- trict. Of Judge Black, in presence of this audi- ence, as a lawyer and a judge, I need not speak at length. Whether as advocate at the bar, presiding in the Common Pleas, Judge and Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, Attorney General of the United States, delegate at large to the Constitutional Convention of 1873, everywhere, he has honored himself and has re- flected honor on the people who honored him. His legal opinions and arguments are the de- light of the lawyer, for it may be said of him, as Coke said of Littleton: “He cites not many authorities, yet he holdeth no opinion but is proved and approved by these two faithful wit- nesses in matter of law, authority and reason.” While his name and fame are ‘national, we claim the distinction of saying he held our first court; he was our first judge. As we have seen, on the 5th of April, 1849, the twenty-fourth district was created. George Taylor, then a young but able lawyer of the Huntingdon bar, was appointed by Governor Johnston, president judge. He held his first court in this county on the second Monday of July, 1849, the summer term having been agdin-changed back from June to July. Under this appointment he continued to hold court until October term, 1851. In the meantime the amendment to the Constitution had been adopted (called amendment of 1850), which 74 HISTORY OF BLAIR COUNTY provided for the election of the judges of all the court; that their terms should be ten years; that the terms of all judges then in office should expire on the first Monday of December fol- lowing the adoption of the amendment, and that the terms of those elected should com- mence at the same time. The first election after the adoption of the amendment was held in October, 1851, so that Judge Taylor’s com- mission by appointment expired on the first Monday of December, 1851; but at the election previous, having been nominated by the Whigs, he was elected for the term of ten years. His opponent was the Democratic candidate, Thomas P. Campbell, of Huntingdon, now of Davenport, Iowa. Judge Taylor had a ma- jority of 354 in Huntingdon county, 649 in Blair, and Campbell 499 in Cambria, making Taylor’s majority in the district 504. Under this election he served his term of ten years, and at the end of it, by the unanimous request of the members of the bar of the district, he was again a candidate and was re-elected with- out opposition. At the end of this term, he ran as an independent candidate against the nominees of the Republican and Democratic parties, and failed of an election. He died of paralysis in November, 1871, in the fifty-ninth year of his age. It seems like repeating ‘‘a tale that is told” to speak of him in presence of the bars of Huntingdon, Cambria and Blair, in whose pres- ence for twehty-two years he presided. Dur- ing all this time, but especially during the first years of his judicial life, his judgments were so just, and the opinions by which he sus- tained them so lucid and logical, that they are mile stones in the law, and models of judicial writing. In that long time his integrity was never questioned, even by disappointed lawyers or litigants. Mistaken he may have been, doubtless at times was, but he always sought to arrive at the truth—tried to hold the scales even, and if, at times, he erred, or at times was procrastinating in C. A. V. decisions, it only shows he was not perfect. Sometimes he would try the patience of suitors and coun- sel by cogitating over a difficult legal question for months, and this one failing (or virtue as some contend), as a judge, is the only one in the years I practiced before him I ever heard complained of. A man of wonderful patience and self-command, he was of most sensitive temper, if this peculiarity were even hinted at. I remember in 1860, on the trial of an eject- ment, Laugham and wife against Stifler et al, involving the question as to whether a sale by the sheriff on execution of the life estate of the husband in the wife’s hand, prior to the act 1848, would pass the wife’s right of pos- ~ session, he so forcibly impressed-me with his sensitiveness on this subject that I never for- got it. I was counsel for Laugham and wife, the plaintiffs; our esteemed Chairman, Mr. Banks, was of counsel for defendant; the. evi- dence was all in and facts undisputed Mr. Banks opened and argued to the court, that whatever doubt there may have been as to the regularity of such sales prior to the 24th of January, 1849, at that time the Legislature passed an act declaring all such sales good and valid. In reply I cited Gorden vs. Ingram, first grant, in which the supreme court declare (Judge Black dissenting), the act unconstitu- tional. Judge Taylor said he was not clear that case ruled the one before him, but he would reserve the point and direct a verdict - for the plaintiff. I, being rather young, rose to my feet and mildly suggested that my client, Solomon Langham, had been trying for twenty years to get his land, and therefore we would like “His Honor’ to decide the point now, as it was very inconvenient to wait longer. In an instant, in the most emphatic manner, he brought his fist down on the bench and in a loud tone said: “TI will decide this point when I am ready and when I please, and will not be driven by any lawyer.” Startled by his tone, manner and expression, confused and not a little frightened, I sat down. Not aware be- fore that of his extreme sensitiveness, I could not gather my thoughts sufficiently to make the proper apology and disclaimer; but my kind hearted antagonist, Mr. Banks, who was older and knew “many things” I did not, see- ing my discomfiture, but not rejoicing thereat, 2 AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS 75 rose and said that the opposite counsel had no intention of saying anything insulting, nor of even intimating any want of promptness in the court’s decisions upon reserved points, but, as he well knew, I had a very pestering client, of whom, doubtless, I was anxious to be re- lieved by a decision one way or the other. In a moment the storm was over and the atmos- phere calm and bright. The judge announced he would take the papers and decide the point as soon as he got home. He decided it in about three years by entering judgment in my favor on the verdict. It was his one failing— one to which our profession seems peculiarly prone—the one possessed in a marked degree, by one of the greatest judges of ‘this or any other commonwealth, the late Judge King of Philadelphia. But in the long years Judge Taylor sat on this bench how seldom, compara- tively, was there any exhibition of this in- firmity. With patience inexhaustible, he sat pleasantly through the most tedious trials, seemingly only anxious that all the law and evidence bearing on the issue should be care- fully heard and considered: He would pa- tiently bear, but would not be pressed to a hurried decision. And woe be unto the verdant young lawyer who attempted to press him! The older ones never tried it. But ‘when we look over the records of his twenty- two years’ work on the bench of this court, when we see his judgments and opinions il- luminating these records with the clear, pure light of mercy, goodness and truth, the little blot dropped there by his own infirmity is scarcely visible. ‘He delivered the poor that cried, and the fatherless, and him that had none to help him.” I was elected judge in 1871 and have been in office five years and six months. ASSOCIATE JUDGES. The first associate judges of the court were George R. McFarlane and Daniel Mc- Connell, democrats appointed by Governor Shunk the 8th day of June, 1846, to hold un- til-the next session of the senate of Penn- sylvania. Judge McFarlane was re-appoint- _within my knowledge. ed and confirmed by the senate on March 11th, 1847. The other vacancy was filled by the appointment of Davis Brooke on the 28th of January, 1848. James Gardner was appointed April 10, 1851, to fill the vacancy occasioned by the resignation of Judge Mc- Farlane and was elected for the full term the following October, with Levi Slingluff of Martinsburg. Both resigned before the ex- piration of their terms. These are about the only examples of resignation by judges James D. Rea, dem- ocrat, was appointed to fill the vacancy oc- casioned by the resignation of Judge Gard- ner on the 25th of July, 1854, and James L. Gwin to fill that occasioned by the resigna- tion' of Judge Slingluff in March, 1855. Judges Rea and Gwin held office until Octo- ber, 1855, when David Caldwell and John Penn Jones were elected, each for the: full term of five years; in 1860 Adam Moses and ‘Samuel Dean were elected; in 1865 Judge Moses was re-elected with B. F. Rose of Altoona; in 1870 George W. Patton and Joseph Irwin were elected; and in 1875 the present associates, Charles J. Mann and Samuel Smith. With the exceptions of Judges McFarlane, McConnell, Brooke, ap- “pointed by Governor Shunk, and Judge Rea, appointed by Governor Bigler, all of these officers have been whigs or republicans.— Whatever may have been their politics, it has been the united testimony of the bar that, one and all, they performed faithfully and impartially their duty. Of those dead, honor and respect followed them during life ; of those living, no blot touches their in- tegrity. They have the respect and good wishes of a profession which learns as no other one does, to appreciate unblemished official life. LAWYERS. From the 4th Monday, 27th day of July, 1846, until the 30th of April, 1877, the last term of court, exactly 200 lawyers have been sworn to the bar. Of these only 72 have been resident within the county. On ‘the 16 HISTORY OF BLAIR COUNTY first day of the court, 27th of July, 1846, there were forty-eight admissions, commencing with Hon. Moses Gana, of Cambria county, and ending with Andrew G., afterward Gov- ernor Curtin, of Centre county; and during that term of the court there were fifty-one admissions. Out of these, however, there were only twelve resident of the county and they all in Hollidaysburg, Calvin Cline, J. M. Bell, Kemp, Coffey, Brotherline, Lowrie T. Banks, Cresswell, Blair, McMurtie, Ho- fius. At October term following, Robert Wallace, father of the present United States Senator Wallace, was admitted and opened an office. Major Williams was admitted the December following. Up. to 21st of March, 1855, when I was admitted, nearly nine years after the organization of the county, only twenty-two resident practicing lawyers had been sworn to the bar, and of these eight had retired from practice or removed from the county, leaving fourteen. There are now in active practice forty-one. Among the names of those admitted from other counties who either were, or afterwards be- came, prominent in the law or in politics, I notice Ephraim Banks, father of our chair- man, auditor general of the state, Judge Alexander King, Judge Kimmell, John G. Miles, Senator Scott, Judge Hale, Governor Curtin, Francis Jordan, Charles Shaler, R. L. Johnson, John Cessna, Ross Forward, Judge Pershing, Gen. John Williamson, Judge Hall, Judge John P. Blair, Harry White, Samuel T. Brown, Charles J. Faulk- ner, and Randolph Tucker, of Virginia, Thaddeus Stevens, Judge White, Judge Pet- tis, Hon. R. M. Speer, Judge Thatcher, John. M. Bailey, Thomas M. Marshall, Joshua F. Cox and a number of others. Among them was John A. Blodget, of Bedford, noted for his acquirements in general literature, his poetical tastes, and wit. There was also admitted during the first year of the court a lawyer noted in the whole profession along the Juniata valley, Mr. Isaac Fisher, of Huntingdon. In person, mind and man- ners he was peculiar. He was a member of the Huntingdon bar, and during the first years after the organization of the county attended all the courts. In person he was huge, weighing about 300 pounds; generally neat in dress, seldom appearing in court without gloves; of very extensive reading, with no end of research in the particular case on trial. He was the horror of the court because of his unlimited citation of authorities. Always bland and respectful, but having a secret contempt for any lower one than the supreme court, he frequently said he would rather have one or two “good exceptions” in the court below than a ver- dict. He was a thorn in the side of Judge Burnside, and was about the only lawyer he was afraid of. While a law student I was present at the trial of several cases in which he was counsel. One case between John Dougherty and Jack, Wigdon & Co., about the year 1853, was on trial. I, a student, was sitting near the counsel table, drinking in all the law I could catch. Mr. S. S. Blair and Fisher were of counsel for Dougherty. A legal question arose during the trial, which was likely to prove disastrous to Dougherty’s case. Mr. Blair was on his feet, arguing the point with his usual force; the judge seemed to be against him when I heard Dougherty say somewhat excitedly to Fisher: “Why ‘don’t you say something, Mr. Fisher?” “Why, my dear sir,” he re- plied, “whenever I attempt it that young man of yours takes the words right out of my mouth.” He was the man who, after the jury had rendered a verdict against him, and in face of the charge of the court, moved at once for a new trial, which was instantly granted, when he turned to the jury, who had not yet left the box, and with a wave of his hand said: “You twelve lawyers can now go home!” He died about the year 1857. His last appearance was in the court at Huntingdon, on the hearing of a motion for a new trial. He always seemed to be. moving for new trials. He had argued his reasons ; the court’s intimations were strong against him. Mr. Fisher suggested that the AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS 77 jury must have totally misapprehended the evidence. Judge Taylor said: “I see, Mr. Fisher, you have but little confidence in modern juries.” Said Mr. Fisher, with a bow and the utmost blandness: ‘And very little more in modern courts.” With this parting shot at courts and juries, he left the court room never to enter it again. Of the lawyers resident here, Hofius, James M. Bell, George. A. Coffey and the two Hammonds, Jolly, Louis H. Williams, Dunmire, Harris and Rawlins, ten in all, are dead. Hofius died during the sitting of the July court in 1859. He was a man of most brilliant parts. A most effective advocate before a jury; clear, logical, and at times emotional, he had wonderful power. Judge Black once said of him that he was the most effective cross examiner he ever heard in- terrogate a witness. He died at the early age of forty. I cannot end this notice of him with more fitting words than those from Gray’s elegy, used by Mr. Blair in his eulogy of him at a meeting of the bar after his death: No further seek his merits to disclose, Nor draw his frailties from their dread abode. There they alike in trembling hope repose The bosom cf his Father and his God. James M. Bell died in 1870. He had re- tired from active practice many years be- fore. He was a man of great intellectual power, but seemed to lack the capacity to express his ideas with directness and point. Nevertheless, when in active practice, he was acknowledged by the profession as a very able lawyer. His name is connected as counsel with some of the most important causes tried in this and Huntingdon coun- ties. George A. Coffey removed to Philadel- phia in 1855. He was district attorney of the county from 1852 to 1854, acting instead of Joseph Kemp, who had been elected. He was United States district attorney for the eastern district, at Philadelphia, during the war, and died about the year 1865. His ac- quirements were very extensive, and his talents of the highest order. Fluent, -poet- ical, imagination unsurpassed, his addresses to a jury were intellectual treats. His tal- ents, however, seemed better fitted for the rostrum than the court room. As an orator he was learned, eloquent and instructive, but he lacked that practical force, that homely illustration, which are so convincing with a jury. Of those living, and who have not re- moved, we have them around us. Which of the three gentlemen, Banks, Calvin or Mc-- Murtrie, can of right claim, by reason of years, the honor of being the father of the bar, I shall not undertake to decide. All were here before the county was organized, and, from appearance, there is not much dif- ference in their years. Mr. Blair, although admitted on the first day of the court, was then a young man; and, while I have heard him addressed during the trial of a cause by. Mr. Calvin as my venerable friend, in years, he is far behind either of the others. How- ever it may be as to years, I can only say to the younger brethren, their unexceptionable lives and professional success are worthy of all admiration. Neff, Hewit, Landis and myself were admitted about the same time. We all claim to be young men. Of the many still younger, so full of hope and promise in the profession of their choice, time will not permit me to speak. We who are older can only hope that on some appropriate oc- casion, thirty years hence, they, in the prime of physical and intellectual manhood, will be able to speak of us as the departed or older lawyers, who brought no disgrace ona noble profession, and as having made the world a little brighter and better by living in it. CASES TRIED. Of the cases tried, and suits entered, in the thirty years since the organization of the county, when compared with the popula- tion, the aggregate seems enormous. In 78 HISTORY OF BLAIR COUNTY the common pleas, including judgment bills, appeals and centioraris, there have been entered 39,205 cases; in the quarter sessions, 2,619; in the oyer and terminer, 99, making altogether 41,913. In this are not included the large number of estates partitioned or appraised in the orphans’ court, nor the trust. accounts of assignees and other trustees, settled in the common pleas. There have passed through the or- phans’ court for confirmation and allow- ance, 1,770 accounts of executors and ad- ministrators, many of them involving pro- tracted litigation before auditors and an exception to auditors’ reports. Judge Black took 44 verdicts, Judge Tay- lor 878; and there have been taken since, 495. Of course this, as every lawyer knows, does not show the extent of actual work done in the trial of causes; for many of them, after hours, and sometimes days, of trial, “go off,” either by non-suit or settle- ment of the parties. By the act of assembly erecting the county, all undetermined issues between parties resident on the territory out of which it was formed, were to be transferred to the records of the new county. The first suit in the common pleas is one to No. 43, August term, 1826, of Hunting- don county, transferred. It is an action of debt by John Wilson and Rachael Buch- anan, executors of Dr. John E. Buchanan, deceased, against William Smith, executor of John Steel, deceased. When it was brought, in 1826, Judges Burnside, Adams and McCune were on the bench in Hunting- don county. Smith is marked attorney for plaintiff, and Allison and Steel for defend- ant. As appears from the record, more than seventy continuances were marked during the twenty years it stood on the Hunting- don county docket, and five after its trans- fer to Blair. It was then stricken from the record, under a rule of Judge Black’s, “be- cause not moved in by either party for one whole year.” This, after so long a life, was a most “lame and impotent conclusion.” One feature worthy of attention is, that; after pending all these years, in the courts of the two counties, the entire bill of costs taxed is only $21.63, of which amount the sheriff gets $2.65, and the prothonotary $8.65. The first case brought originally, in this county, is a libel for’divorce; subpoena is- sued 23d of June, 1846, by Mary Armstrong against her husband, John Armstrong. T. J. Coffey is attorney for libelant. John Cox, Esq., was appointed commissioner to take testimony, and a divorce was decreed there- on by Judge Black the 25th of March, 1847. The entire costs were $7.75. Divorces have become more costly since. : In the first year of the court 661 cases were entered in the common pleas, including original writs, centioraris and appeals. - In 1856, ten years later, 1,090; in 1866, ten years later, 1,100; in 1876, ten years later, 2,717. Many of the cases included in this last number are judgments on building asso- ciation bonds, but still, the natural increase in legal business the last ten, has been much greater than in any preceding ten years. Since the organization of the county many important cases, both civil] and crimi- nal, have been tried, and in a number of them writs of error were taken, and they were reviewed in the supreme court. At May term, 1848, of the supreme court, the first three cases were argued: Shoen- berger vs. Mulholland, Lowry vs. McMillan and Long vs. Labor. The first was a feigned issue to determine the right of Mul- holland to construct a lateral railroad over Shoenberger’s land and the amount of dam- ages to the land owner. The case was with Mulholland, and the judgment.was affirmed. The second was an action on the case for breach of promise of marriage, in which the plaintiff recovered and the judgment was affirmed. I noticed Mr. Banks was counsel for plaintiff in error. Judge Coulter, in the opinion of the court, says: “Seventeen er- rors are assigned, but the counsel, with a laudable economy at the time of this court, declined to press any but the twelfth ;” and AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS 79 then goes on to show there is noting in that one, of substance. The third is Long vs. Labor, a case stated, on the construction of a will. The question was whether the chil- dren of these children, dying after the tes- tator, but before distribution, should share in the surplus. Judge Black decided they should. Mr. Calvin, of counsel for the other children, took a writ of error, and Judge Gibson reverses Judge Black. Mr. Banks was Mr. Calvin’s antagonist. Mr. Calvin for the plaintiff in error, cites not a single authority, but he says, as the main point of his argument, “The will shows it was writ- ten by an ignorant man, and in ascertaining the intention, the court will pay but little attention to the technical terms used.” Mr. Banks cites thirteen authorities. But, al- though he had the authorities, Mr. Calvin seems to have had Judge Gibson. While acknowledging the force of the authorities, he scrambles over them all, and treats the words of the will, to which they are applic- able, as “an accidental form of expression adopted by an unskilful and illiterate pen- man.” These cases are all reported in 8th Barr. The next cases argued in the supreme court were at May term, 1849, Hewit vs. Huling (first Jones, 27). George Buchanan and his son Alexander sold a tract of land, which be- longed to the son, to Geo. W. Henry for $2,600. Alexander, at the time, was not of age. Henry paid $800 on the purchase, but, unable to pay more, got General Porter Wil- son to advance the balance, about $1,900. After Alexander Buchanan. came of age he conveyed the land, with consent of Henry, to Wilson, upon the condition that he should stand seized of the land until he was re-im- bursed the money advanced to Henry. A judg- ment having been entered against Henry, his interest in the land was sold upon it and pur- chased by Huling, who took possession. Wil- son alleging he had not been paid the money advanced by him to Henry, brought an eject- ment against Huling and Henry, and they con- fessed judgment, to be released on payment of $925, amount still due Wilson, within nine months. This was not paid, and three days after the expiration of the nine months Wilson assigned all his interest to Peter Hewit, who issued Hab. Fa. Pass. and turning Huling out, who afterwards brought ejectment, which was. the issue for trial. The question was whether the judgment in ejectment by Wilson, on the expiration of the nine months, without per- formance of the condition, gave him the land absolutely, or whether the deed to him from Henry to secure his: advances only gave him right to the possession until he was paid out of the profits. Judge Black, in a very lucid opinion, decided the case was with the plaintiff Huling, and substantially directed a verdict tor him. Hewit took the case to the supreme court. A number of errors were assigned by Mr. Miles, his counsel, all of which were over- ruled and the judgment affirmed. But, in the opinion affirming the judgment, the supreme court say: “Instead of framing a verdict in an equitable ejectment in such a way that an absolute title vests in the vendor on failure to pay at the time fixed in the verdict, we recom- mend that, if not paid at the time, it should contain a decree of sale, either by the sheriff or master, under the directions of the court, for the benefit of the vendor and vendee, and all persons having an interest in the proceeds.”’ Here, in this case, in the supreme court- from this county, we find the important suggestion of a decree of sale in equitable ejectments; a feature in this class of cases which from that day: to this has been the practice of Penn- sylvania. ‘ The next cases are Royer’s and McNamara’s appeals from decree of court on exceptions to a guardianship account. Mr. Blair was coun- sel for the wards and Mr. Cline for the guard- ian. The questions involved were, sub- stantially, what was the extent to the liability of the guardian for his ward’s money, lost by his negligence? As an example of vigorous expression in plain English, Judge Coulter’s opinion is very interesting reading. The next case is G. L. Lloyd vs. John Barr. Miles and Calvin were for plaintiff in error, a 80 HISTORY OF BLAIR COUNTY and Bell for defendent. In the court below, Judge Black directed a verdict for Barr, the plaintiff below, holding an award of arbitra- tors offered in evidence as an adjudication of the fact; then in issue and constituting an es- toppel by former judgment between the same parties or their privies. From the large num- ber of authorities cited by Mr. Calvin, and his elaborate argument in his “paper book,” he must have felt pretty sure of a reversal. The judgment of the court below was affirmed, doubtless much to his disgust. The next case is Patterson vs. Lytle and Lytle vs. Patterson, two writs.of .error to the same judgment. Calvin was for Lytle and Banks for Patterson. Both parties assigned errors to the judgment of Judge Black on the exceptions to a report of auditors, who had stated an account between the parties on a judgment of quod computet. Judge Coulter says in his opinion reversing the judgment, that the case was “vehemently” argued by Lytle’s counsel, Mr. Calvin. But I suppose the mild argument of Mr. Banks convinced the court, for his client got the judgment. All these cases were argued at May term, 1849, of the supreme court and are to be found re- ported in first Jones. The next cases are argued at May term, 1850, of the supreme court. Fisher against Patterson is the first. The Legislature, by act of 16th April, 1840, had declared: “And if any person, not being licensed as aforesaid, shall be found hawking, peddling, or travelling from place to place to sell any goods, wares, or merchandise, every person so offending shall be liable to a fine of $50, to be recovered be- fore a justice of the peace.” George W. Pat- terson ran a trading canal boat along the line of the Pennsylvania canal, stopping from place to place, selling goods for money or taking produce in exchange. He had no license. Fisher sued him for the $50 penalty before a justice and got judgment. Patterson appealed and the case came on for trial before Judge Black. The judge in his charge says: “Un- less the averments that defendant is a hawker and peddler are true, there can be no re- covery. What is a hawker? One who sells goods by outcry in the streets. What is a ped- , dler? One who carries about small commo- dities for sale on his back, or in a wagon or cart. These are the popular significations of the words and the only definitions given them by lexicographers. The Legislature hardly in- tended to use them in a larger or different sense. Penal statutes must be construed strictly. Your verdict ought to be for defend- ant.” The plaintiff took a writ of error, and Judge Rodgers, in an opinion reversing the judgment, says: “In the construction of acts of Assembly, although our lexicographers are not to be utterly disregarded, yet the definitions of legal terms are rather to be sought in our books of reports, elementary treatises, and in our law dictionaries.”” And he holds that the words of the act are sufficiently comprehensive to embrace a canal or any other. kind of boat. At this time also was argued Hileman against Bouslough, in which it was finally set- tled that the rule in Shelley’s case was the law of Pennsylvania. The case had been tried before Judge Black, and he held that Hester Bouslough, under a deed from her father, Joseph Rentch, took an estate tail, which de- scended to her eldest son, to the exclusion of her other children. A writ of error was taken and the case was argued by Miles for plaintiff in error and Bell for defendant in error. Mr. Miles, under the plea that there was a dis- tinction between this case and Shelley’s; that, as there was a limitation over in default of issue, and in this none, the rule should not be extended. To sustain this proposition he made a most virulent, able and elaborate argument_ against the rule itself. But the supreme court held the difference between the two cases was immaterial and would not change the operation of the rule. Judge Gibson, in delivering the opinion of the court affirming the judgment, says: “The rule in Shelley’s case ill deserves the epithets bestowed upon it in the argument. Though of feudal origin, it is not a relic of bar- barism, or a part of the rubbish of the dark ages. It is part of a system; an artificial one, it is true, but still a system and a complete AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS 81 one.” Although, in a subsequent case, the reasoning in Hileman vs. Bouslough is modi- fied, and it seemed once as if the application of the rule to a particular class of cases might ‘cease, the supreme court in still later cases has declared its adherence to Hileman vs. Bous- lough in no uncertain terms. The paper book of Mr. Miles in this case is a work of industry, extensive research and learning suchas I never saw in any other case. Of itself it is a com- plete treatise on the law of “‘estates tail,” with a citation or reference to almost every im- portant case where the rule had been applied in this State or England. His professional ‘conduct in that case is worthy of imitation by every young lawyer. The case is reported in first Harris, 344; Gibson, Rogers & Bell con- curring in affirming the judgment; Coulter and Burnside dissenting. Jackson vs. Summervilles was also argued at this term, and is the first of Judge Taylor’s cases, which appears in the supreme court. This was an ejectment, brought by Summer- villes for a tract of land on part of which Gaysport is built. -Mr. Blair and Thaddeus Stevens were counsel for Summervilles and Miles, Calvin, Banks, Hofius, Henry D. Foster and others for Jackson. The judgment was for plaintiff in the court below. A number of errors were assigned, but the one most per- sistently urged was that a judgment of a court of record was, even where actual fraud was alleged, a legal estoppel as to all those claim- ing to have been defrauded and who were par- ties to the judgment. But the supreme court held that even a judgment in a court of com- petent jurisdiction can be inquired into and overturned in a collateral proceeding, where fraud has entered into the procurement of it. The trial of this case excited great interest, both in the profession and out of it. The ablest counsel in the state took part. Mr. Blair, then a young man, by his masterly ef- forts, both with court and jury, placed him- self in that place in the profession he has ever since held with so much learning and ability. A second ejectment was brought and the case again tried, but after the jury came into court, and before delivery of their verdict, a non- suit was taken. Many cases were tried the years following and many of them were removed to the su- preme court, but as they possess no especial interest, and involved no new question, I pass on to the case of Walker vs. Reamey, twelve Casey, 410, which is a leading case under the married woman’s act of 1848. Mr. Banks was for Walker and Calvin for Reamey. In affirm- ing the judgment of the court below, the su- preme court undertakes to restrict the words of the act which declare that a single woman’s property shall continue hers as fully after mar- riage as before, and say, when the wife pur- chases property and pays for it, the presump- tion is that the money was her husband’s even though she had received money from her father prior to the act of 1848. Lloyd against Farrell is a case more curious than important to the profession. Farrell con- veyed a tract of land to Lloyd for the con- sideration of $6,000; paid $2,000 in hand and gave judgment bonds for $4,000. Farrell’s two sisters recovered two-thirds of the land in ejectment on the ground that their brother held two-thirds of the land in trust for them, it having been purchased originally by their father. This judgment was affirmed by the supreme court. On application of Lloyd the judgments for the unpaid purchase money were then opened and he was let into a defence as to the two-thirds. The question on which the case turned was whether the purchaser took the title from Farrell at his “own risk.” The tes- timony of William M. Lloyd, a witness to the article of agreement, as to what took place at the time the agreement was executed, was re- ceived under exception by Lloyd. The verdict was for Farrell. Lloyd took a writ of error, and the supreme court, in an opinion by Judge Strong, reversed the judgment on the ground that Judge Taylor erred in admitting the tes- timony of Wm. M. Lloyd. The case was again tried, and the same testimony offered, when it was excluded, and under the direction of the court a verdict was rendered for Lloyd. Far- rell now took a writ of error, assigning the 82 rejection of the testimony as error, and Judge Taylor was again reversed, in an opinion by Judge Sharswood, for, not admitting it. Judge Taylor having died in the meantime, and I having at one time been counsel for Lloyd’s administrator, Judge Butler of Chester county again tried the case, and there was a judgment for Farrell. The case was again taken to the supreme court and judgment affirmed. Mr. Blair was counsel for Lloyd and Hall for Farrell. Laugham vs. Stiffler, before referred to, has ‘been the Jarndyce and Jarndyce of the court. Brought originally in 1848, to Bedford county, it was transferred under the act creating the county to these records. Solomon Laugham married a daughter of one Dickey, who in 1836 died intestate, leaving a tract of land of about 200 acres, and six children. The land was appraised at about $1,500, and Laugham, in right of his wife, accepted it at the appraisement and entered into recognizance with one Baird as surety, to pay the other five heirs their shares. He failed to pay, and judgment being entered on the recognizance the land was sold and bought by his surety, Baird, at sheriff’s sale. He sold a considerable portion off in lots, and the village of Puzzle- town was built upon it. All this before 1843. In that year Laugham and his wife brought ejectment in Bedford county for the undivided one-sixth, alleging that the recognizance given by her husband only bound the shares of the other heirs taken by him, and the sheriff’s deed passed no title to her sixth. The case was tried before Judge Black, and while the de- fendants admitted they took the fee of only the five-sixths, yet alleged the sale passed the life estate of the husband, and the wife could have no possession during his life. It was replied, there could be no sale of a life estate on a fi. fa.; that sequestration was the only proceed- ing which would reach it. Judge Black so decided and directed a verdict for plaintiff, but at the same time entertained a motion for a new trial. Before the motion was argued the act of 24th January, 1849, was passed, validat- ing all sales of life estates on fi. fa.’s thereto- HISTORY OF BLAIR COUNTY fore made. A new trial was granted. In the meantime Gordon vs. Inghram was de- cided, declaring the act unconstitutional. It was again tried in 1860, with a verdict for Laugham, on which judgment was entered in 1863 by Judge Taylor. Mr. Banks took a writ of error, which was non prossed; then Solomon sued for mesne profits, and after a fierce contest got a verdict for three or four hundred dollars, which he alleged his lawyers kept for fees. He then commenced proceed- ings in partition, which were enlivened by a number of prosecutions for assault and battery, instituted by him or the citizens of Puzzle- town. The decree on the proceedings in parti- tion was taken to the supreme court and af- firmed. Then Solomon brought about fifty separate suits against the inhabitants of Puzzle- town for rents. These were all instituted be- fore an alderman and judgment was entered for plaintiff. The defendants appealed or cer- tioraried the proceedings. While these were pending, about two years ago Solomon at the age of eighty died. His wife soon after fol- lowed, and his heirs, and those concerned on the other side, referred all matters in dispute to A. S. Morrow, Esq., whose award was to be final and conclusive. He, a few weeks ago, after hearing, made a final award. I suppose from the organization of the county to his death, Solomon never missed a court. I re- membere very well one Monday morning, be- fore Judge Taylor opened court, he asked: “Ts the crier here?’ when the reply was, yes; then he asked, “Is Solomon Laugham here?” On receiving the same reply, he directed the crier to call the court. Poor old man! He was guileless as a child, yet such a fondness for litigation I never saw in living man. There have been tried in the oyer and ter- miner thirty cases of homicide. Of these eleven were found not guilty; three, Alexander Hutchinson, James Shirley and David McKim, were found guilty of murder in the first degree. The first, Hutchinson, was tried in 1850. After sentence his friends induced the legisla- ture to interfere by attempting legislation to relieve him from the death penalty. Nothing AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS 83 # effective was done; but the warrant for his execution was withheld until Gov. Johnston, during whose administration he was convicted, was out of office. Gov. Bigler declined to issue it because, as he alleged, it was a duty of his predecessor which he was not bound to perform. Hutchinson remained in jail until 1853, when he escaped. Shirley was tried at March term, 1853, for the murder of his wife, and executed in August of that year. McKim was tried at April term, 1857, for the murder of Norcross, and executed in July following. The other convictions in the oyer and ter- miner were either of murder in the second de- gree or-manslaughter. There were two hearings on hab. corp. in the case of alleged fugitive slaves; one before Judge McFarlane, in 1849, and one before Judge Moses, in March, 1862. In each case the detained persons were discharged. In 1855 a man named Parsons from Virginia, who at- tempted to seize a colored man in Gaysport, on the.claim that he was a fugitive slave, was indicted. for abduction.’ John Randolph Tucker and Charles J. Faulkner came here to defend him; a true bill was found, but a nolle pros. was entered by the district attorney, Mr. Hammond. There are quite a large number of cases, both civil and criminal, a notice of which would be interesting to the lawyers, and many non-professional people, but I cannot under- take to refer to them in a short address. Those mentioned will suggest the general nature of and amount of litigation carried on in the several courts since its organization. OFFICERS OF THE COURT. The first district attorney was Col. Cress- well, appointed by Gov. Shunk. He was suc- ceeded by Mr. Hofins, appointed by Gov. Johnston, who filled the office until 1851, when the office was made. elective. Mr. Kemp was elected: by the whigs; but his health failing soon after, Geo. A. Coffey performed the duties of the office until 1854, when Essington Ham- mond was elected. At the expiration of his term Mr. Hewit filled the office two terms; then John H. Keatley almost two terms. He resigned the last year of the second term, and I was appointed to the vacancy until next elec- tion; was then elected and served one term. Mr. Alexander was then elected and served one term; then James F. Milliken, the present district attorney, was elected. The office of prothonotary of the common pleas, clerk of the orphans’ court, quarter sessions and oyer and terminer, filled by the same officer, has not had many incumbents. First, Jeremiah Cunningham was appointed in June, 1846, to serve until next December. At the October election of that year Joseph Smith was elected and served a term of three years; then Geo. W. Johnson a term of three years; then Hugh McNeal one term; then Joseph Baldrige two terms or six years; then A. S. Morrow. four terms or twelve years; then James F..Stewart, present officer, two terms. The office of register of wills and recorder of deeds was first filled by appointment. of John M. Gibbony, to hold until December, 1846, or until his successor be qualified. At the election in October of that year Eph. Gal- braith was the whig candidate and Samuel Smith the democratic. Galbraith died the day of the election, before the votes were nearly all polled. Smith claimed the office on the grounds that he had a majority of the votes cast for a living man, although a majority of the people voted for Galbraith: Judge Black declined to decide in his favor and Gibbony held the office until the next election, when L. H. Williams was elected. He held the office nine years; was succeeded by H. A. Caldwell. who held it for six years; and he by D. M. Jones, who held the office for nine years, when the present officer, A. Lingenfelter, was elected. His term expires this year. The first sheriff was Jeremiah Betts, ap- pointed by Gov. Shunk. Then follow him, in order, Samuel Royer, Thomas Reese, William Reed, George Port, James Funk, Samuel Mc- Camant, Martin Bachtel,. John McKeage, Henry B. Huff, Alexander Bobb and James M. Stiffler, the last the present sheriff. 84 HISTORY OF BLAIR COUNTY TOWNSHIPS AND BOROUGHS. The territory in the original act and over which the court had jurisdiction, embraced Greenfield and North Woodbury townships of Bedford county; Allegheny, Antis, Blair, Hus- ton, Tyrone and Woodberry townships, in Huntingdon; also, that part of Morris town- ship in Huntingdon county west of a line run by William Reed, surveyor, to be called Cath- arine township. MHollidaysburg and Martins- burg had already been incorporated as boroughs. The townships formed since the organization are Juniata out of Greenfield, in 1847; Logan out of Allegheny and Antis in 1850; Taylor out of North Woodberry and Huston in 1855; Freedom out of Juniata in 1857. Altoona was incorporated as a borough in 1854, and came under a city charter in 1871. Tyrone became a borough in 1857; East Tyrone in 1873; Newry in 1876. Eleven constables made returns the first day of the court, twenty-three now. COUNTY SEAT AND PUBLIC BUILDINGS. The original act required the governor to appoint three non-residents of the county commissioners to run the county lines and fix the county seat. He appointed Henry McBride, of Westmoreland, General Orr, of Armstrong, and Judge Christy, of Juni- ata counties, who fixed upon Hollidaysburg as the county seat. The first court was held in an old Metho- dist church, which stood where the present Methodist church now stands. Mahony’s store house, alongside, was rented at the rate of $50 per year and used as a jail. A contract was made in 1846 with Dan. K. Reamey, then a prominent builder, for the erection of the court house and jail on the ground covered by the present court house. The contract price for both was $1 1,998.50, but because of changes and extras, the amount paid was $14,576.18. Both were finished and occupied by June term, 1847. As you are all aware, both years ago became entirely insufficient for the wants of the county. A new jail was erected at an ex- pense of over $100,000 in 1868 and 1869, and the old court house lasted but a few years longer. And although twenty-five or thirty years is not an old age for public buildings, yet a glance at the growth of the county in population and wealth in that period reveals, at once, the causes which demanded their de- struction and the erection of new and better. The men who designed these buildings did not forsee the rapid growth of the new county, in those particulars which are pro- lific of litigation. In 1816 only 2,187 votes were polled, in- dicating (at five to the voter), a population of about 10,000. In 1856 there were polled 3,520 votes, showing a population of 18,000. In 1866 there were polled 6,288 votes, point- ing to a population of 32,000. In 1876 there were polled 8,720 votes, indicating a popu- lation of 44,000, four times greater than when the county was organized. In the meantime, the assessed valuation of property far more than doubled; its cash value has doubtless trebled. The cost of the present building with all its surroundings and conveniences is very close to $139,000. It cannot exceed $140,- ooo. Our records, whose preservation is worth millions of dollars to the people, are now secured in fire-proof offices and vaults. For the sessions of the courts, for the delib- eration of juries, and for the detention of witnesses we have rooms spacious, com- fortable and convenient. Long after we are gone, this building, in. all its strength and beauty, will stand as a monument to the public spirit and ‘enterprise of the people who authorized it, as well as an indisputable evidence of the architectural talents of him who designed it, and the mechanical skill of those who carried the design into execution. We have met today, as lawyers and citi- zens, to dedicate it to its appropriate uses— the administation of justice between man and man. What we now say or do will soon pass from the memory; but what we say or do within these walls hereafter, will not be AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS 85 forgotten; the fruits of our words and con- duct will appear in ineffaceable lines upon the records of our courts; will be cut deep in the hearts and lives of those who shall here appear to have rights determined and wrongs redressed. May we so perform our part that we shall reflect honor upon an honorable profession; and so perform it, too, that, when called to appear in a higher court, there to be inquired of, we shall be ready to answer, although with awe, yet not with fear: “What thou gavest us to do, with the light we had, we did as best we could.” SPEECH OF HON. J. S. BLACK. Mr. President and Ladies and Gentlemen —I am the victim of a contrivance that I am sure the most of you will not approve of. I told your committee of arrangements, in language too plain to be misunderstood, and I am sure it was not misuhderstood, that I would come here on their invitation upon one condition, namely, that I was not to be asked to open my mouth in the way of mak- ing a speech. After that intimation the in- vitation was renewed and I am here upon that implied condition. This paper (holding up a programme of the exercises, including a speech from Judge Black), which sur- prises me very much, considering where it came from, I did not see until I got to the town—until I came into the court house here, where I found myself knocked down fora speech. [Laughter.] Now this makes it—take it altogether—absolutely necessary that I should appear before you, not to make a speech, but for the purpose of apologizing for not making one. That is all I am here for. I think that I am entitled fairly to a great deal of your sympathy, for am I not in the interesting predicament of a much injured_ and very ill-used gentleman? [Laughter.] I will tell you the reason why I very properly declined to make any speech on this occasion. I am sure you will appre- ciate my reasons. I said that Blair county might make and ought to make orations for herself, and the committee of arrangements or the gentleman who was conducting the correspondence for the committee, and who had their full confidence, and who has the full confidence of this meeting, as he is its president now, replied, and assented, say- ing that Blair county could and would speak for herself, but she desired that, I should be present. Now the members of the bar of Blair county have, among other qualities, that of remarkable fluency and readiness. I have often envied the gentlemen whom I see around me now the possession of that gift which nature has denied to me—we call it the gift of the gab [laughter], the faculty of speaking readily and fluently upon any:side of any case upon the shortest possible no- tice. [Laughter.] I could take any one of the gentlemen I see here and upon tapping them, wisdom and eloquence would flow out of them in a strong stream, as from a full fountain, and flow ou until you could man- age to close up the vent somehow, and it would always be good, smooth and consis- tent. [Applause.]} On the contrary, for some reason or another, it has been my mis- fortune not to be so blest. I do not perform well in what rhetoricians call demonstrative oratory—that is, the sort of speaking which has no particular object or purpose [laugh- ter] except that of talking. [Laughter.] A very distinguished gentleman, Mr. Mar- shall of Kentucky, whom you have all heard of, was called upon on an occasion like this to address an audience for which he had a very high respect, but he said he had noth- ing to say to them—no particular subject that he wanted to speak to them about, or that they wanted to understand upon which he could give them instruction. They told him that he should come forward and make a few general remarks.—Well, he said he would do that—“he would take his position on the outer edge of created space and crack away at all eternity.” [Laughter.] Now I cannot do that, because my intellectual run- ning gears would give out before I could reach the outer edge of created space, and I 86 think that all eternity. would be rather too much for me. [Laughter.] I have given a reason why I think the people who belong to the county of Blair ought to do their own speaking upon this oceasion. It is because I can add nothing to the force and effect of what has already been said. I regard that address of Judge Dean’s ‘as the most perfect that I could have con- ceived of [applause], and so with those of the other gentlemen who have spoken. You all know what has been said about the at- tempt to gild refined gold, to paint the lily, or add a perfume to the violet. That is ex- actly the sort of absurdity that I would be guilty of if I attempted to improve upon the speeches that have already been made. One thing I ought to say, and I do not know very well how to avoid it, or at least some notice of it, and yet it is very awkward to touch upon. You remember the closing remarks of Mr. Calvin. To be called upon, under these circumstances, and in that way, to ad- dress an audience, is, I admit, the highest honor that could be bestowed upon me. I would not ask for anything that could pos- sibly gratify my own vanity or self-esteein more than to have so highly appreciated the efforts that I made to do justice when I pre- sided in the courts of this’ county—I would not ask for anything stronger than that—I do not suppose it possible for anybody to re- gard the honor of it more highly than I do that I was here thirty years ago; began more than thirty years. ago, and was here, I believe, about three years altogether. During that time I did the best I could under the circum- stances. You have had, since that time, sev- eral successors to me; you have had the fullest cpportunity of contrasting their merits with my demerits, and if, after all that length of time, you can look back with approbation and with pleasure upon what I did, I have very great reason to congratulate myself. But as to Mr. Calvin, I must say that he is extrava- gant. I have no answer to make to him except the one which Lord Byron made to Jeffrey. ..c HISTORY. OF ‘BLAIR. COUNTY Jeffrey was the editor of the Edinburgh Re- view, and he published in that journal a very laudatory critique, upon the third and fourth cantos of Childe Harold. The Review was sent to him, and he was asked what he thought of Jeffrey now? He made the reply which I would make to Mr. Calvin. He said: “As to that Jeffrey, he is a devilish discerning fellow; [laughter] he has found out mv merits.” [Applause and laughter.]. As I am up, I may as well make one prac- tical remark. If I do not make it, you will be sure to forget it. You will go away and never think of it again. It is this: You have erected a court house which is beyond comparison, the most perfect structure of its kind in this country. It reminds one of the description that Horace gave of the woman that he ad- mired more thany any other—simplex mun- dities—simple in the abundant wealth of its beauty. There is another thing that you will not forget, and I am sure that the judge who pre- sides in this court will not permit it to be for- gotten, neither will the gentlemen of the bar, who practice before him, permit it to be for- gotten, namely, that this building is dedicated to the administration of justice, which is the greatest of human concerns. The most im- portant part of the machinery of justice is the county courts—the courts of common pleas— these courts whose function it is to take origi- nal cognizance of all cases affecting life, liberty and property and to do justice between man and man. All the other machinery of our gov- ernment is made for the purpose of bringing a competent judge upon that bench, and twelve honest men into that jury box, in order that they may do justice. For that you make a legislature; for that you have a congress; for - that you have a union of the states; an execu- tive department; an army and a navy. The ultimate object of it all is, that justice shall be administered between the people of a neighbor- hood. As long as you can maintain perfect purity in the judiciary and have justice ad- ministered promptly and speedily at home it AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS does not matter very much—that is, it is not a thing of vital importance how the other parts of your political machinery go on; and when- ever there is any serious corruption or wrong, by which the scales of justice do not hang with an even balance in these courts of: original jurisdiction, you are in the worst possible con- dition in which you can be placed. Now, gentlemen, have I made a sufficient apology for not making a speech? If I have not, why I will have to apologize for that. [Laughter.] If there was anybody here who would undertake to speak evil of the Blair county court, or its bar, or to falsify its history, or to say that the members of this bar were not the best men in the world, then I would have an issue which I could take up with them, and I think I could keep up my side pretty well. [Laughter and applause.] But I have nobody to fight! I am, therefore, in a situation some- ‘what like that of Jemima Wickersham, a fe- male prophet, who made her appearance in western New York. She said she was able to walk upon the water miraculously and called divers persons to witness the performance. They assembled in large numbers, and just be- fore she made preparation to step out on the lake, she asked the crowd there assembled, if they believed she could do it. They told her that they though she could not. “Then,” she said, “you have little faith—a generation of vipers, who seek a sign and shall find none.’ Therefore, she would not walk upon the water that day. [Laughter.] She tried them again, however, another day, and she put the same question to them, and, knowing what sort of an answer had defeated them before, they an- swered affirmatively, that they believed she could. “Very well, then,” said she, “there is no use to work miracles in your presence, you have faith enough!” [Laughter.] Now, I think you all have faith enough in your judge, and faith enough in your bar, and faith enough in yourselves to get on very well without any exhortation from me, and therefore I bid you an affectionate farewell. [Long continued ap- plause. ] 87 THE ADDRESS OF HON. DANIEL J. NEFF, WEL- COMING TO BLAIR COUNTY’S SEMI-CENTEN- NIAL CELEBRATION THE GUESTS OF THE BAR ASSOCIATION. The people of this county, and others from far and near, who were at one time residents thereof, or ‘who are interested in its history, will, during this week, commemorate the fif- tieth anniversary of the organization of the county. They will review the progress that has been made in art, sciences and invention, the improvements in machinery, in the modes of transportation and the growth and develop- ment of the county in population and wealth of the past fifty years. The occasion will be most interesting and instructive to all the par- ticipants. The judiciary and the bar of the county have deemed it advisable and opportune, that they also should observe the occasion and commemorate it in a suitable manner. The administration of the laws deeply concerns all the inhabitants of the county. In all enlight- ened commonwealths the due administration of justice has been esteemed as of great public in- terest, of supreme importance, and an upright and independent judiciary one of the: safe- guards of civil liberty. When we consider the character and attainments, learning and ability, of the judges, past and present, who have oc- cupied the bench, we cannot doubt that this county has been fortunate in its judiciary. Judges have sat in our courts who have shed a luster upon the jurisprudence of the com- monwealth, and who would compare not un- favorably with John Marshall, former chief justice of the supreme court of the United States; with Sir Matthew Hale, Chief Justice Mansfield, or with Sir Edward Coke, the greatest oracle of municipal jurisprudence in England. Speaking of the amenities of the bench, I once heard Judge Taylor pay a high compli- ment to the supreme court. A gentleman of the bar had beén arguing a question before him ‘at considerable length. The judge was against him, but he persisted in his argument. The judge finally told him it was useless to argue ‘ 88 HISTORY OF BLAIR COUNTY the question further; he had decided it. But he said, “you have your remedy; take an ex- ception, and you can take the case up and have my decision reviewed by a court that cannot err.” His honor specially emphasized the last two words. We can look back over fifty years of eventful history and contemplate with interest the many important issues that have been tried, the im- portant decisions of our courts that have been rendered, establishing the rights of person and property and defining the landmarks of the law. There is, at times, much in the proceed- ings of courts to excite and attract popular in- terest. There are witnessed the tragic and the comic sides of human life, its ups and downs; life histories and life tragedies are rehearsed with more of passion and pathos than upon the mimic stage, and the curtain falls upon many a scene of human misery and despair. The forensic displays of the Roman forum in the palmy days of the republic and the empire, the great trials of thrilling and historic interest in Westminster hall, in its meridian glory, are remembered with an absorbing and never fad- ing interest. There, within the old walls of Westminster hall, “has stood the Duke of Nor- folk, to answer the charge of asserting the right of Mary, Queen of Scots, to the throne of England; and the Earl of Strafford, accused of high treason against the sovereign whom he served too faithfully, and Warren Hastings, around .whose impeachment was thrown the gorgeous splendor of eastern imagery evoked by the spell of eloquence from the lips of Sheri- dan and Burke.” The gentlemen of the bar who attended the first court held in this county in 1846, and were then admitted to practice in the several courts of this county, and who are yet living will, no doubt, reflect upon the many changes that have taken place in the intervening years. They probably. journeyed to Holli- daysburg by canal boat, by stage coach, or perhaps partly canal and partly over the in- clined planes of the Portage railroad. The Pennsylvania canal, in connection with the Portage railroad, constituting a great pub- lic highway between the east and the west, was regarded at that time, and in fact was, a work of great magnitude, of supreme im- portance. Time had been when the mode of transportation, at least in central Pennsyl- vania, was principally by broad wheeled Conestoga wagons lumbering slowly along the pike between Philadelphia and Pitts- burg, or arks of rude and primitive design, floating down our rivers. The canal east and west of the mountains, traversing in many places dense forests, with the connect- ing links of the rail and inclined plane, across the Alleghenies, extending through a country abounding in mineral resources and undeveloped wealth, constructed with arduous labor and consummate engineer- ing skill, was considered one of the greatest achievements of the age. The Allegheny portage was pronounced by enlightened en- gineers in England and France as one of the then wonders of the world. The exalted purpose, the vast importance of these works, connecting as they did with the Allegheny and Monongahela rivers at Pittsburg, and with the Ohio and Mississippi establishing a great commercial waterway or highway to the gulf of Mexico, extending in their beneficial effects to the utmost limits of the national domain, and in their prospective operation and effects into the far future could not be overestimated. The engineers and scientists of that day were men of high intelligence and varied knowledge, who had studied carefully the most advanced sys- tems of inland navigation and railway con- struction in Europe and applied the knowl- edge thus acquired to the advancement of great enterprises at home. Standing in the van of civilization and human progress, they helped to build up a great common- wealth in enduring strength. The canal commissioner of that day was an important man, sometimes bigger than the governor himself or the legislature, the power behind the throne greater than the throne itself, making and unmaking the fortunes of men. The canal boat captain also was a big man. ‘ AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS 89 He walked the deck of his craft with as proud a step as the commander of a man-of- war walks his quarterdeck. These great public works, it was sup- posed, would be enduring, would last for ages, like the Roman aqueducts or the Ap- pian, over which, for centuries, the legions of imperial Rome marched to their distant conquests. But the tireless energy and the inventive genius of man have achieved con- quests over the forces of nature and the ele- ments undreamed of in that earlier day. The continent is spanned by great railways, grappling the states together with hooks of steel and bands of iron. Queen Victoria can say “good morning” to Grover Cleveland through the submarine cable. It is said that Chauncy M. Depew recently sent a message around the world—25,o00 miles—in four minutes. We have the inestimable advan- tages and conveniences of the electric rail- way. The telephone is an accomplished fact and the Roentgen ray has been discovered. During the last fifty years dynasties have risen and fallen, there have been social and political upheavals in various parts of the world, and mighty blows have been struck for civil liberty, the rights of men and the emancipation of the oppressed. The world moves and the young man of this ‘age who would keep up with the pro- cession must step lively. The changes in our laws have kept pace with the progress of the age in other re- spects. These changes and innovations upon the common law have been in the di- rection of reform and improvement tending to the elevation of man and the amelioration of the condition of woman. The act of April 9, 1849, exempting prop- erty of a debtor to the value of $300 from levy and sale on execution or by distress for rent is a humane and beneficent law, as are also all the various laws protecting and giving a preference to the wages of manual labor. The legal status of married women has been entirely changed, and sweeping mod- ifications have been made by the acts of 1848, 1887 and 1893. The act of April 11, 1848, was the first great departure. It pro- vided that every species and description of property, whether real, personal or mixed, which may be owned by or belong to any single woman shall continue to be the prop- erty of such woman as fully after her mar- riage as before, and all such property, of whatever nature or kind, which shall accrue ‘to any married woman during coverture, by will, descent, deed of conveyance or other- wise, shall be owned and enjoyed by such married woman as her own separate prop- erty, and such property shall not be subject to levy and execution for the debts of liabili- ties of her husband. The acts of 1887 and 1893 were still great- er departures in the same direction, tending to the protection of married women in their right of property. In our grandmothers’ days a married woman could hardly be said to own her spinning wheel in her own right. Now the dashing femme covert can spin along the public highway on her wheel and hold and own her spinning wheel in defiance of the world. The constitution of 1874 made great and radical changes in the fundamental law. The act of May. 25, 1887, known as the civil procedure act, abolishing the distinc- tions theretofore existing between the dif- ferent forms of actions ex contractu and ac- tions ex delicto, and providing that the plaintiff's declaration shall consist of a con- cise statement vf his demand, wrought a great and needed reform, and greatly sim- plified the pleadings and proceedings in the trial of causes. All these changes were made during the last fifty years. Much of the old and curious learning of a former age contained in old and musty tomes Dooms- day books has become obsolete. Much of what might.be termed the rubbish of the law has been swept away. At the time of the organization of the county and for many years afterwards, the 90 HISTORY OF BLAIR COUNTY judge and the lawyers usually wrote down all the testimony during the progress of the trial. We are relieved of that labor now. as the official reporter and stenographer does that work. The judge’s charge and the testimony are all typewritten by the re- porter, and the pleadings filed are also usu- ally typewritten. oe al In former times the Altoona lawyer would pack his grip on Monday morning and engage lodging at a hotel at the county seat for a week or during the sitting of the court. For many years during the terms of court I regularly occupied room 29, at the American house, then kept by that jolly landlord and genial host, Daniel K. Ramey. Now all that is changed by the electric cars, which run every fifteen minutes and land the Altoona lawyers at the steps of the court house. The Altoona lawyer can stand at the telephone in his comfortable office and by issuing his oral mandate through the ‘phone can put the whole clerical force of the prothonotary’s office in motion or he can be treated to a learned dissertation on prac- tice by Judge Bowers at long range. Judges and lawyers have, from time im- memorial, been inclined to polite, social in- tercourse and rational enjoyment. They have been disposed to reasonable relaxation after the labors of the bench and the con- ‘tests of the forum. In England, in the oiden time, the ser- geants at law were inducted into their office with great state and ceremony. It was at- tended with feasting, which sometimes lasted for several days, and at these feasts the lord chancellor and some ot the highest dignitaries of the realm, sometimes includ- ing the king himself, sat down. On these festive occasions, the lord chancellor usu- ally headed the procession to the banqueting hall, thereby giving the sanction of his of- ficial approval to this important function, The newly created sergeants at law were allowed the high privilege of paying the bills for these banquets. Rich and fragrant are the memories that cluster around the inns of court and chancery, which Ben Johnson characterizes as ‘“‘the noblest nurseries of humanity and liberty in the kingdom.” It is said that the inns of court and chancery were celebrated for the magnifitence of their entertainments. True to those hon- ored and immemorial traditions, and cher- ishing the past associations of the bench and bar of Blair county, the: Blair county bar association have invited the judges of adjoin- ing and adjacent counties, and all the law- yers now living who formerly were resident practitioners at our bar, and the judge of the supreme court who sat for many years as president judge in this county, and the only three ex-associate judges of this county now living, to participate in this semi-cen- tennial celebration. It is gratifying to us to meet here so many worthy representatives of the judiciary and gentlemen of the bar from other localities. Cambria county is here represented by its learned president judge. The rarified at- mosphere of that elevated plateau upon which Ebensburg stands seems to have quickened and sharpened the wits of its judges and lawyers, for they have always been celebrated for their wit. Michael Dan- iel Magehan, Michael Hasson and Robert L. Johnson were all in their day, noted wits; Frank P. Tierney,who many years ago, re- moved from Ebensburg to Altoona and died some years ago, was a genuine wit, and as a mimic, he had few equals. Although of Irish descent he could delineate the German or Irish character with equal facility. His mantle has fallen upon a gentleman who is now the acknowledged wit of our bar. I forbear to mention his name as he is pres- ent, and I know he is averse to public notori- ety. It may not be said of him, perhaps, as was said of one of the characters in the “School for Scandal” that his wit costs him ‘nothing, as it is always at the expense of a friend. It might be said, however, that it costs him nothing in this sense: It costs DUAATSAVAITIOH. “ASNOH. Lin09 OWMAMISAVAITIOH UVAN “AWOH ALNNOO AVGITIOH “TIVH TVdIOINIUVY MOS? 0 OUNASAVGITIOH “NOSTYd ALNNOO Hy | wit) a Lea] AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS 93 him no effort. It is spontaneous. It effer- vesces and bubbles like champagne. But I fear I trespass on Judge Landis’ domain. He is expected to give us the history of the Blair county bar. It is, I presume a clear case of trespass quare clausum fregit. The supreme court of the state is repre- sented here by one of its learned justices who, on this anniversary, can look back with satisfaction on the many years during which he occupied the bench in this county with credit and distinction. There is a gentleman here who former- ly practiced at this bar, although a resident of Huntingdon, now residing in Philadel- phia. He was admitted at the first court held in 1846. Those who heard him at the bar in days gone by will esteem themselves fortunate in having the opportunity of see- ing him and hearing him again. There is a gentleman from Harrisburg present who years ago enjoyed unbounded popularity and was a power in law and pol- itics in this county. His numerous friends will greet him with the cordiality of the days of yore. To the judges of neighboring counties, to the judges of the supreme court, to the old- time members of the bar, to the ex-associate judges of the county, the only three now liv- ing, to all who have responded to our in- vitation and kindly favored us with their presence, the Blair county bar association sends greeting and extends a cordial wel- come to a participation in all there is of in- terest, of cherished memories, and of enjoy- ment in the celebration of our semi-centen- nial. Few, if any of us, will see Blair’s centennial. May we now hope that the centennial of 1946 will be the dawn for our county and for our country of the millennial morn of a yet grander and nobler destiny. But as we may not be there to see it let us thank God that we are living to see the semi-centennial, and make the best of this occasion, while the train stops at this half-way station. ADDRESS OF HON. AUG. S. LANDIS, HISTORY OF THE BAR OF BLAIR COUNTY. It has been said that the history of a revolu- tion is often but the history of one man. By proper antithesis, it is perhaps just as true that the history of a legal bar is the history OF many men. When it is remembered that the component parts are the judges, invested with the dele- gated powers of the law, the attorneys and barristers who invite the application of these powers to obtain for suitors a resultant prod- uct called justice, the officer who records and perpetuates the adjudications of the court, and that other executive department, which relent- lessly enforces the law as crystallized into its peremptory mandate, many men with diversi- fied minds give it body, efficacy and character. What they thus have done during fifty years constitutes its history for that period. The bar of this county came into existence in the year 1846. It had been a long struggle whether there should be a Blair county. The subject was first discussed about the year 1839. This town was then a prosperous, growing town. It was at the head of canal navigation. Tt was the point of transhipment from canal to railroad transportation. It was on the only traffic thoroughfare in the state. These condi- tions brought many people here. The state employed many men to operate the public im- provements. . Large forwarding houses were erected, and their owners handled the ever- increasing freight tonnage passing east and west. Large capital was embarked in this business, and in mercantile and manufacturing enterprises. Bituminous coal found upon the land of Samuel Lemon, near the Summit, be- came a leading article of trade for domestic use and transportation. Whilst it was the only great distributing point for a neighbor- hood of large radius, it was also the entrepot for the products of a rapidly developing terri- tory. Its promise, of a future urban popula- tion and wealth invited many from other parts, who came to, share its generous and flattering fortunes. 94 HISTORY OF BLAIR COUNTY This increased population and business nec- essarily gave rise to litigation, and applications for various purposes to the public officers and the courts. Huntingdon county, of which it was part, had its county seat at Huntingdon, which lay thirty miles away, to be reached by laborious and wearisome driving over two mountains. This inconvenience gave rise to the effort to have erected a new county, of which this busy and growing center should be the county seat. ; During the six or seven years when the sub- ject was discussed, whilst all were favorable to the project, many were active in the work until it was finally accomplished. Among them should be named William Williams, afterward president of the Exchange bank at this place; Peter Cassidy, a well-known surveyor; Peter Hewit, Silas Moore, Ed. McGraw, John Walker, Dr. Joseph A. Landis, Dr. James Cof- fey, Samuel Calvin, William McFarland, Joseph Dysart, George R. McFarlane, Will- iam C. McCormick, James M. Bell and R. A. McMurtrie. The necessary legislation to erect the county having failed at the first session of the legisla- ture in which a bill was presented, it was finally enacted at the session of 1846, and was approved by Governor Francis R. Shunk on the 26th of February, 1846. When the news came to the people of the new county there was great rejoicing, and it was a day in this county capital in which the people were buoy- ant with an expectation they felt to be assured of great future development and prosperity. This only in a measure was realized, for in a few years the colossus which reared itself but a few miles away cast its shadow upon the new plant and chilled and checked its young life. It can, however, assume to itself one comfort—that it lives to celebrate its survival of its disappointment, and the possession of many advantages, conveniences and_ benefits which others do not have and which keep it abreast with the day’s civilization, socially, morally and intellectually. The county, under the act, took from Hunt- ingdon county the townships of Allegheny, Antis, Snyder, Tyrone, Frankstown, Blair, Huston, Woodbury, and part of Morris. Bed- ford was compelled to give up North Wood- bury and Greenfield townships. Since then, the townships of Juniata, Freedom, Logan and Taylor have been formed from other townships. The boroughs of the county are Hollidaysburg, Gaysport, Martinsburg, Dun- cansville, Roaring Spring, Tyrone, East Ty- rone, Williamsburg, Bellwood and Juniata. Altoona is the only incorporated city. Thus, in 1846, a new county was added to the state’s long list, with a population of some 17,000 and an area of 510 square miles. The population in 1890 was over 70,000. It was, by the same act, made part of the sixteenth judicial district. This district al- ready comprised the counties of Franklin, Bedford, Somerset and Fulton. Judge Jere- miah S. Black was the president judge,: and thus, by the enactment, he became the first judge of this county. It is well, also, to remark that Huntingdon county formed part of one of the original dis- tricts of the commonwealth—the fourth judi- cial district—which embraced many of the original counties, and which was justly noted for having furnished so many able and emi- nent judges and lawyers in both the supreme and common pleas courts. Until the new court house should be com- pleted court sat in the old Methodist church building on Walnut street west of Montgom- ery street. This was a one-story brick build- ing perched upon the brink of a hill, thirty feet from the street. The approach to it was by 2 broad stairway, and for the temporary pur- pose was convenient and suitable. In the 27th of July, 1846, Judge Black with his associates, George R. McFarlane and Daniel McConnell, at 10 a. m. ascended the platform, and the crier opened the court with the usual formality. Colonel John Cresswell was the district attor- ney, but there was but little to demand his official attention. The following persons were sworn to the bar: AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS 95 LIST OF ATTORNEYS COMPOSING THE ORIGINAL BLAIR COUNTY BAR ASSOCIATION. (Members sworn in July 27, 1846.) J. P. Anderson, Thaddeus Banks, Samuel S. Blair, A. W. Benedict, David Blair, Eph- raim Banks, Samuel M. Barkley, John Broth- erline, J..M. Bell, Moses Canan, Samuel Calvin, A. G. Curtin, John Cresswell, T. J. Coffey, Joshua F. Cox, A. J. Cline, Theodore H. Cremer, William Dorris, Jr., David. Huff, John Fenlon, James T. Hall, David H. Hofius, Charles H. Heyer, Michael Hasson, Isaac Hughes, Robert L. Johnston, William J. Jacobs, Alexander King, F. M. Kimmell, Joseph Kemp, J. R. Lowrie, William Lyon, Job Mann, John G. Miles, M. D. Megehan, R. A. McMurtrie, John Mower, H. N. McAl- _lister, A. J. Ogle, William P. Orbisonin, James M. Russell, Samuel L. Russell, William M. Stewart, J. S. Stewart, John Scott, Jr., Sam- uel H. Tate, John Williamson, A. P. Wilson, S. S. Wharton. Making forty-nine in all. On Tuesday, the 28th, three more were added: George Taylor, afterwards president judge; Alex. Gwin and John A. Blodgett; making fifty-two as the original number. of the membership. No causes were tried and the traverse jury was discharged, and the court adjourned on the 28th of July. Of the court and bar as thus constituted, ex- cept five, all are dead. The judges are all dead, and of the bar ex-Senator John Scott, Colonel William Dorris, Hon. Titian J. Coffey, ex- assistant attorney general of the United States, Hon. John Fenlon, ex-member of the house of representatives, and William P. Or- bison, Esq., alone survive; but some of these survivors are here today, and whilst I am silent as to them, they, themselves, will tell us of the past. A glance at the personnel of this court and its bar in the light of their subsequent history will disclose a remarkable body of men. They were educated lawyers. They were nearly all proficient in their professional knowledge and experienice. The same care, zeal, caution and research which the lawyer of today exerts, was practiced then. He strove to attain to the same acumen and success then as now. The professional ambition and ethics of that day are indeed made more conspicuous by the lower grade of principle and tarnished acts, which too often offend the honorable lawyer of the present. We can recall the appearance of the presi- ident judge. His massive head and intellect- ual face were impressive to both acquaintance and stranger. He was the man of whom, under Dr. Johnson’s conditions, it would be asked, who is he? He was learned, decided, courteous and dignified. He possessed the confidence of the bar, and during his remaining life he was the admiration of his many friends. He became a justice of the supreme court, at- torney general of the United States and a del- egate to the constitutional convention of 1873. He continued, after leaving office, to be one of the busiest and most eminent lawyers in the land. He was of counsel in the argument be- fore the presidential commission in 1877 and his effort before that tribunal exhibited many of his most conspicuous, as well as most val- ued, characteristics. Among those who were sworn to the bar be- fore him on that day was one who subse- quently became as widely known as Judge Black. Andrew G. Curtin was then but a modest lawyer in Bellefonte. “His career in state politics as the great war governor of Pennsylvania, minister to Russia, delegate to the constitutional convention of the state and member of congress with national fame, is now easily recalled. These two men met during the year 1873 in Philadelphia on the floor of the convention. With no partisanship, they vied in the respon- sible task of perfecting the fundamental law of the state. Both had achieved fame, both had the respect and affection of their colleagues, and both left their impress upon the instru- ment which now constitutes our organic law. Both were often participants in many contro- versies on that floor. The writer recalls a scene of pleasurable excitement and surprise 96 HISTORY OF BLAIR COUNTY when, in the discussion of the question of leg- islative apportionment, the judge learned from his adversary that his vast learning was of no value compared to the governor's practical knowledge of men and things. A well known figure at the bar in those days, and many years thereafter, was Mr. Miles. He was very fair in complexion, large and handsome. His reticence gave him a dig- nity which he never lost. He was laborious and indefatigable. His arguments were long and exhaustive. He stood at the counsel table to talk to the court, and sometimes stood at the witness box, requiring the judge to turn in that direction to face him. His voice was high and sharp and penetrated every part of the room. His manner was earnest and convinc- ing, and to the boyish mind the wonder was that anything more need be said. He contin- ued in active practice for many years and died in Peoria, Ill, in 1877, leaving an honored memory. Mr. McAllister, of Bellefonte, was an able and industrious lawyer. In professional zeal, energy and prowess he was an Ajax Telamon. He was a member of the constitutional con- vention of 1873, and brought with him for the fulfilment of the duties of that important office, a deep sense of his own responsibility. Noth- ing seemed to escape his attention, and no one department of the fundamental law was less worthy of his scrutiny than another. He was often admonished by his brethren that his zeal and labors must sap even his rugged health. He succumbed before the close of the session, and was succeeded by Samuel Calvin, whose name is likewise in this list of original attor- neys. Mr. Calvin, when elected to fill Mr. McAI- lister’s chair, had practically retired from pro- fessional duties, and the call to him was op- portune, and agreeable to his tastes. He had long been a successful and able lawyer, and was a lawyer, in its highest professional sense. His integrity and honor were his most valued possessions. They were never cheapened by being bartered nor tarnished by his holding them. He tried his cases in the old style. There were no stenographers then and with scrupulous fullness, he wrote down every word uttered by the witness. He had;no patience with the stupid witness. His “Sir,” “I don’t hear you, sir,” and “repeat it, sir,” uttered in intimidating tones to the astonished witness, was the delight of the student and young law- yer looking on somewhere in the bar. Few of the present bar knew him and his peculiarities; but some of us here today, remember him as the learned lawyer, a ripe scholar in literature and the classics, and the most warn hearted and genial of gentlemen. It only remains to be said of him, that he was a member of the thirty-first congress in 1851, and was a fol- lower of Henry Carey in his theories of social science. He met Mr. Carey on the floor of the convention, and a friendship sprang up be- tween them that lasted during his remaining life. His son, Matthew Calvin, succeeded him at the bar. ; Colonel McMurtrie was in this list. He was a close friend of Mr. Calvin. He was for many years the commander of the militia under the old state system, and he mustered his undis- ciplined forces in the month of May for many years. He was a member of the legislature in 1863. He was long an active practitioner and stood in the bar and community as a man and lawyer of great probity and honor. Robert L. Johnston, after many years of most active practice, became the president judge of Cambria county. Alex. King be- came judge of the Bedford and Franklin dis- trict, as did also F. M. Kimmell. Job Mann was a member of the twenty-fourth, thirtieth and thirty-first congresses and state treasurer. Samuel L. Russell was also in the thirty-third congress and a member of the constitutional convention of 1873. A. W. Benedict, of Huntingdon, was a member of the legislature of 1863. John Cresswell was a member of the state senate in 1857, and was speaker of the house in 1889, and Thaddeus Banks, a mem- ber of the legislature with John Scott in 1862. Mr. Scott afterwards became a United States senator, and at the close of his term. became AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS 97 the general solicitor of the Pennsylvania rail- road company. Ephraim Banks was the auditor general of the state in 1851, and an associate judge of the court of common pleas of Mifflin county. He was a man of great decision of character and of great dignity and worth. On one occasion, on the bench in the trial of a case, he differed from the president judge in his views, and, carrying his associate with him, he charged a jury over the head of his chief. Thaddeus Banks was long conspicuous at this bar and, during his very active career, was prominent in the most noteworthy ligitation. He was a man of fine social qualities, and of a warm and generous heart. He was the dem- ocratic candidate for judge against Dean and Taylor in 1871, but was defeated. Samuel S. Blair commenced a brilliant ca- reer a few years after his admission. His in- troduction to public notice in the celebrated case of Summerville vs. Jackson continued him in the public eye and brought him to the front. He developed into a strong and learned law- yer, and in all this part of the state he was for many years as an industrious and able lawyer, facile princeps. He was elected to the thirty- sixth and thirty-seventh congresses. He was succeeded in his office by his son, Mr. John D. Blair. John Williamson lived to be an octogena- rian. Though he lived in Huntingdon, it was his habit for many years to visit this court and participate in the trial of cases—mostly in the quarter sessions. His arguments to the jury furnished the most delightful entertainment to his hearers. He was a nervous speaker, but as he progressed he was fluent and accurate. He abounded in both humor and pathos, and won for himself a popularity that long survived is retirement from our midst. M. D. Magehan, familiarly known as “Michael Dan,” with his contemporary, Michael Hasson, came to us from the Cambria bar. The wit and fancy of those well known and excellent Irish gentlemen were the admi- ration of many indulgent friends in their day, yet free and social in his intercourse. and form the effervescent sparkle of many a story which survives to this hour. John A. Blodget was a frequent visitor from Bedford, where he practiced until he retired. He generally walked from Bed- ford, and was in his place when court was called. He was a tall gentleman, dignified He was a man of fine literary taste and attain- ments. He could write a legal opinion, or a poem, with equal ease. The ludicrous in- cidents of the bar were often rendered by this versatile gentleman in verse, and I know of no one in all this bar of fifty years of life who was like him, and could make himself so appreciable to his fellows. Not many years after the organization of the county, came from Bedford, David H. Hofins. His father was a German physi- cian, and coming to this country as a young man, he married, and David was born and educated here, graduating at Franklin and Marshall college. He was, during his short life, for he died in 1859, concerned in nearly all the important litigation of his time. His erect and well apparelled form gave him an imposing appearance. He was a bachelor, but most loyally recognized the claims of society, which then was conspicuous for its refinement and amenities. He was the idol of the people and it was common to hear him extolled as the “model lawyer.” The moment of his passing came early in his career, and as blindness became from day to day more imminent upon the unhappy man, the writer willingly helped him in his last work till the end came. It was my sad task to pen the sketch which told of his virtues and his frailties, to close his affairs, and place the stone that now marks his resting place. One more name of the fifty-two remains to be noted, George W. Taylor. He was then 34 years of age and resident at Hunt- ingdon. He early gave promise of the fu- ture jurist. His prosecution of the case of - the Commonwealth vs. McConaughy in 1840, and the Flanigans in Cambria county 98 HISTORY OF BLAIR COUNTY in 1842, on indictments for murder, it was customarily said, drew him from obscurity and established him permanently in the pub- lic estimation as a great lawyer. He suc- ceeded Judge Black as president judge, April 5, 1849, and remained upon the bench till November, 1871. He tried many im- portant cases and was widely known in the state and recognized by the supreme court as an able and learned judge. His later years to some extent were given to agricul- tural pursuits and though of great learning and judicial acumen, he was a man of plain manners and practical sense. and wisdom. His prepared opinions disclosed no attempts at useless embellishment, but were simple, plain and strong. They thus furnished no rhetorical entertainment but they addressed the perception of the mind and left it over- whelmed with conviction. He was a man of very social habit. In the old court house it was his daily custom to linger at the stove, or some other gathering place with McMur- trie, Calvin, Scott, Dean, Hewit and others of us around him to listen to his many sto- ries of people and things, till, in many in- stances, suitors, jurors, and counsel had noted a lost half hour by the clock. But when he ascended to the bench the familiar- ity of the social intercourse just related was left behind and as his eye swept the bar and the crowded spaces beyond, he was again the “judge” and the dignity and the power of the law seemed to cover him as with a garment. In closing these reminiscences of the first lawyers, I cannot omit-mention of George A. Coffey, though he was not one of the original members. He came from the minis- try to the bar about 1850. He was then in the full possession of developed mental power and learning. He was gifted, unique and brilliant. He was a scholar, an orator, a lawyer, though he had not the time to be- come a great lawyer. He was cultured, so- cial and admired. His conversational pow- ers were a delight to all who knew him and won him a welcome everywhere. This fac- ulty, and it was the chief of his gifts, never seemed to desert him. His cordial reception of the writer at his bedside, not many days before his death, and his pleasant, cheerful conversation though under the sad circum- stances of a fatal illness, seemed to show it would abide till the end. He died in Phil- adelphia, whither he went in 1861, to. ac- cept the appointment of United Statés dis- trict attorney from President Lincoln. Under the constitution of that date, lay- men were appointed, afterwards elected, as- sociate judges. Thev sat with the president judge and formed an important adjunct of the court. The first of this class of judges were George R. McFarlane and Daniel Mc- Connell. The latter was a man of strong mind and great practical intelligence and enjoyed the confidence of all who knew him. Judge McFarlane was then, and had been for years, a well-known man. He was.the proprietor of a foundry and machine works in this town, and evinced great energy and _ uprightness in his business. He was en- gaged in many schemes of social reform and enjoyed a notoriety through all the neigh- boring counties. He was greatly loved by many, and respected by all who knew him. His untimely death—the result of an acci- dent in his foundry in 1852—was deeply mourned by the entire community, and in- flicted upon it a loss felt for many years. In all the county has had nineteen asso- ciate judges. The constitution of 1873 dis- pensed with them by making this county a single judicial district. - Davis Brooke succeeded Judge McCon- nell in January, 1848. Judge Brooke was a man of fine personal appearance and great dignity. His snow white hair was in pleas- ing contrast with his florid complexion. The conventional black dress of that day, admi- rably supplemented those evidences of his advanced age, and harmoniously accompa- nied the striking appearance of his chief, Judge Black. In the second year of Judge Brooke’s term, there occurred a most interesting ju- AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS 99 dicial incident. It served to demonstrate the existence then of a cerebral or psychical influence as hypnotism is now. There came to the county seat one day a man of the name of Henry Loomis, and his wife, Submit C. Loomis. They advertised to give lectures on mesmerism, to be illus- trated and manifested by exhibitions of its influence upon a susceptible subject. This subject was their daughter, Martha. Whilst these exhibitions were being nighily given with great success, one C. J. Sykes appeared upon the scene and employed Mr. Banks and Mr. Cresswell to take out unon the al- lowance of Judge Brooke a writ of habeas corpus, to take and restore to him his wife, Martha, who was 21 years of age, and who, by her father and mother was deprived of her liberty: he further alleged that she was, under the spell of their mesmeric influence, deprived of her free will; her affections di- verted from the relator, her husband, her health, physically and mentally, being sapped, and she herself was being sacrificed to the greed of her parents, who could not entertain their audiences without her. To this the respondent replied that Mar- tha was married to Sykes in New York, but immediately thereafter he began to abuse her and treated her with great cruelty, so that she fled to her parents for protection, and desired to remain with them. The relator denied the allegations, alleg- ing mercenary motives on the part of the Loomises and praying to be allowed the companionship of his wife. Mr. Calvin and Mr. Hofius represented the parents, and during two or three days evidence was taken before Judge Brooke. Great interest was manifested by the public; not only whether there was a such a thing as mes- merism, but as to what would be done with Martha. The court house was packed with people, and public opinion and sympathy were sharply divided. Nearly a day was con- sumed in the argument of counsel, and dur- ing the entire progress of the case not a word had been uttered by the judge, and speculation was rife as to when he would be prepared to decide the ca’se. As soon as the last word was spoken by counsel the judge immediately rose to his feet, and, bowing with great dignity and with greater brevity, said, “Let Martha be discharged.” The house instantly rang with cheers, and amid the wildest excitement Martha and her par- ents were fairly carried from the court room, while the wifeless Sykes was left to pursue his solitary way. It is remarkable that the record shows no final disposition of this case and the writer recalls it only from memory. The business of the court grew slowly, though thirty-four suits were brought to the first term. The first suit brought was that of Joseph and Daniel Hollen vs. Thom- as Crissman. “Debt.” No. 11, July term, 1846; but there is no record of any judg- ment. The first record of a case tried was that of Matthew Miller vs. Henry Burt, assumpsit ;_ with a verdict October 20, 1846, for plain- tiff of $139.45. The first record of an action of ejectment was that of James Stevens vs. J. Helfmit- ter, in which there was on the 20th Octo- ber, 1846, a verdict for plaintiff. During that same week five cases were tried, and one non-suit entered after the jury was sworn. Names of counsel are not given. The first divorce suit was brought by Mary Armstrong against her erring and de- linquent husband, John. Mr. Coffey con- ducted the case and obtained for Mary the coveted decree. The first execution was issued by James Murty vs. John Dougherty to obtain $23.75 and costs. The sheriff does not seem to have ever returned his writ. The first case in which was made a mo- tion for a new trial was in Bride & McKee- hans vs. Zechariah G. Brown, No. 23, August term, 1843, brought from Huntingdon county. The verdict was for plaintiffs for $663.53, and Mr. Brown’s dissatisfaction is 100 expressed by his motion for a new trial. Judge Black was possibly no more favor- able to re-trials than modern judges, and the motion was refused. Mr. Brown was in his day a well known citizen and litigant. The first auditor appointed was Titian J. Coffey, on the 2d of January, 1847. This method of adjudicating many questions arising in the settlement of estates and dis- tribution of moneys has grown in favor and ~is employed with frequency and with con- venience to the court and bar at this time. In the criminal department of the court there have been interesting cases, which, at the time of their disposition, elicited great professional as well as public attention. I recall some of them. In June, 1855, a negro slave ran away from his master in Virginia, Mr. James Par- sons. He reached this town on his way to Canada, but was closely followed by Par- sons. As the negro entered a car early one morning to cross the mountain on the Old Portage railroad he was discovered by Mr. Parsons, who entered the car at the other end at.the same time. The negro instantly fled, pursued by Mr. Parsons, who caught him at Gaysport and brought him down to a point near the present Kellerman house. The occurrence produced great excitement. The entire colored population was aroused and those staunch ‘democrats, General George W. Potts, Major J. R. Crawford and Colonel John Piper, with other prominent white citizens, at once came to the aid of the slave, and:under the guidance of Snyder Carr, a colored barber, and others of his race, the refugee was taken in charge and spirited away, so that he was seen no more. Parsons, however, was arrested upon the: charge of kidnaping, assault and_ battery and breach of the peace and bound over to appear at the July session. Bills were found by the grand jury, but the trials were con- tinued to the October sessions. At the ap- pointed time Parsons appeared with his counsel, Charles J: Faulkner and J. Ran. dolph Tucker, appointed by the governor HISTORY OF BLAIR COUNTY of Virginia. After the commonwealth had progressed in the trial Mr. Hammond, the district attorney, by leave of court took non-suits and the prisoner was released. At this time, in view of the fugitive slave law, public feeling ran very high and run- away slaves all over tlie north were aided by the whites in their attempted escapes. Besides, the appearance of such eminent counsel sent by the great commonwealth of Virginia gave the occurrence a significance and an eclat entirely exceptional in the his- tory of the bar. Since the organization of this county there have been found by the grand jury forty-one indictments for murder. Of these four were found guilty of murder in the first degree. The others were either acquitted or convicted of manslaughter or murder in the second degree. The four who were con- victed of murder in the first degree were: Alex Hutchinson, killing’a negro; James Shirley, killing his wife; David S. McKim, killing his young traveling companion; Sam- uel Norcross, and Dr. Lewis U. Beach, kill- ing his wife. Hutchinson’s case had a most unusual conclusion. He was convicted at the De- - cember sessions, 1850, near the close of Governor W. F. Johnston’s official term. For some reason not explained the warrant for the prisoner’s execution was not issued by the governor before his term expired. Governor William Bigler succeeded him, and when his attention was called to the case, either for supposed legal reasons or from scruples of conscience, he declined to issue his warrant of death. Hutchinson re- mained a long time about the prison, help- ing in the daily work and going freely about the town, refusing to leave. One day, how-- ever, he went quietly away, no man pursu- ing, and he died some years later in an east- ern county. Shirley was hanged in 1853, and his was the first capital execution. George A. Cof- fey was the prosecuting attorney, having AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS been deputized by Joseph Kemp, who was the district attorney. McKim’s case attracted a good deal of at- tention. He had traveled to Altoona with young Norcross, a stranger here, won his confidence, beguiled him into leaving the train and going a short distance west of town, to obtain the little money he learned from him he possessed, he cruelly murdered him. The prosecution was conducted by Mr. Hammond and William A. Stoke, then _ an eminent and able lawyer, employed by the Pennsylvania railroad company. The defendant relied upon Mr. Hofius. McKim was a large fine looking man, and seemed incapable of committing such a crime. The jury, on the 7th of May, 1857, convicted him, and he was executed on the 2ist of August, following. . The most celebrated, however, of the homicide cases of the county, was the in- dictment and conviction of Dr. Beach. He was a practicing physician in Altoona, where he lived with his wife, but had no children. One morning at an early hour in the winter of 1884, he called at the house of Levi Knott, the brother of his wife, and in- formed him that he had killed his wife, but protested he had done the deed without present knowledge of the act. He was ar- rested and tried during that year and was convicted. Mr. Spang, Mr. Stevens and the writer defended him—the latter two by di- rection of the court. Hon. J. D. Hicks was then, district attorney. ~ The defense was insanity, and the proof showed that twelve of his blood relatives were. either idiotic or insane, furnishing the argument that there was a hereditary taint, or pre-disposition. Counsel for defense asked the court to rule that if the jury had a doubt as to his sanity, it should operate to reduce the grade of the offense to mur- der in the second degree. Judge Dean re- fused the point. Counsel endeavored to have the case reviewed by the supreme court, but the preliminary requisites could not be complied with, and the judgment of 101, the court was carried into effect on the 12th of February, 1885. We might add that there has been a fifth conviction of murder in the first degree, in the case of Commonwealth vs. Frank Wi'- son. As the case is still pending, we forbear to note it further. Many other criminal prosecutions have been tried, which at the time engaged able counsel and elicited more than ordinary at- tention, but we do not find it necessary to particularize. In 1874, we had the railroad riots at Al- toona and along the line of the railroad to Pittsburg. This gave rise to numerous prosecutions and the conviction of many persons engaged in those lawless and turbu- lent acts. These prosecutions were tried at the first court held in the present court house, which had just been completed and dedicated with the formal ceremonies re- ported and filed among the records of the court. It was on this occasion that Judge Dean delivered the address referred to in this history and Judge Black was present for the last time in the county seat. A great many civil cases have been tried, and some of them conspicuously memor- able. The case of Summerville vs. Jackson, tried in 1849, was perhaps the first of that class. It was an action of ejectment to re- cover the possession of about 160 acres of land near Gaysport. The case turned main- ly upon the question of fraud in defendant’s acquisition of his title. And the jury found with the plaintiff. The judgment was af- firmed in the supreme court in 1850. Mr. Miles represented the defendant, and Mr. Blair and Mr. Thaddeus Stevens the plain- tiffs. It is said Mr. Blair’s triumph in this case secured him his subseauent profes- sional success and eminence as a lawyer. Though Mr. Stevens has acquired his great- est renown since that date, he was then dis- tinguished for great professional ability. The writer, then a boy, remembers the peroration of his argument in this case. As he stood before the jury he was tall and im- 102 posing in his appearance, and his face, though white with impassioned feeling, im- pressed the possession of great intellect. He spoke in low and solemn tones, and he depicted so darkly what he denominated as the fraud in the case that he seemed to bring the jury under the spell of an unnat- ural power and left them terrified and bound. The case of Rauch vs. Lloyd & Hill was long a familiar case. Little Charley Rauch, a boy of five years of age, crawled un- der defendants’ car at the crossing, going for shavings for his mother. While just under the cars, defendants’ servants moved the train and his legs were cut off. Mr. Blair and Mr. Banks were their respective counsel. There was long-protracted litigation, both in this and the supreme court, but the case was finally set- tled. Farrell vs. Lloyd was also long a famous case. It arose upon the question whether there was a resulting trust in the purchase of land, and knowledge by the vender. In the name of Farrell vs. Lloyd and Lloyd vs. Lynch it was tried several times in the court below, and was four times in the supreme court. Messrs. Hall and Neff appeared for Farrell and Lynch; and for Lloyd, Mr. Blair. With the latter gentleman, later other counsel was associated. Another case was Louden et al. vs. Blair Iron & Coal Co. It was tried three times be- low, and argued twice in the supreme court— the judgment for plaintiff being there first re- versed, and finally affirmed. It was an action of trespass for removing ore from plaintiff’s land. The verdict was for about $14,000. The case involving the largest amount of money was the suit brought by James Gardner for use vs. John Lloyd. The defendant was one of a large number of persons, who had en- tered into a written guaranty that William M. Lloyd, a suspended banker, would comply with the terms of a settlement by extension of time, and pay the creditors certain sums periodically as therein stipulated. The aggregate of these guaranties was $425,000, and the suit against Mr. Lloyd was a test suit. The defense was, true it was, the signers of the paper had offered HISTORY OF BLAIR COUNTY to guarantee the faithful performance of the~ terms of extension entered into by W. M. Lloyd, but there had been no formal accept- ance of the offer by the creditors, and lacking that element of completeness to give it binding efficacy, there could be no recovery. About two weeks were consumed in the trial. The preparation of the case was one of unparalleled extent. There were over twelve hundred creditors of Lloyd, and the notices, exhibits and other papers in the case, many of which were printed, numbered over a thou- sand; and all this prodigious labor was per- formed mainly by the late George M. Reade,, of Ebensburg. It seemed to suit his indefat- igable nature. Mr. Blair, Mr. Neff and ‘Mr. Baldrige represented the defendant and with Mr. Reade for the plaintiff, were associated the late Mr. Speer, of Huntingdon, Judge Bell and myself: It only remains to be said Judge Dean affirmed the principle invoked by the de- fendant, and so instructed the jury. We car- ried the case to the supreme court, but that tribunal affirmed the judgment. There have been other very important suits, among which were actions affecting the inter- ests of the Pennsylvania railroad company, the Wopsononock railroad company, and the city of Altoona. “Among the latter was the case of The City vs. Bowman, involving the legality of the passage of an ordinance. It was finally decided against the city, causing a municipal loss of over $200,000. But we will not pursue this branch of our review further. The legal business of the county has grown with the increase of population. - Especially has this been the case during the peroid elaps- ing since Judge Dean’s historical address in 1877. Beginning with January of that year and ending with the January term of the.cur- rent year (1896), there have been entered suits and judgments 48,514. Of these the largest number was in 1894—3,816. The present practice of monthly return days with the requirements of the new procedure act has greatly facilitated the dispatch of business. _There was no equity practice till 1865. Since that time there have been filed 256 bills, AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS of which the greatest number—twenty-eight— were filed in 1893. The increased litigation has compelled longer sessions of court and during the last two years the court has sat about 140 days in each year. There have been but five judges since the organization of the county. Judge J. S. Black was the first to occupy the bench. He was succeeded by George Taylor and he by John. Dean for two consecutive terms. In March, 1892, he was elected a justice of the supreme court and, was succeeded in the court by the writer, who served till the election of the pres- ent incumbent, Martin. Bell. Mr. Bell was the district attorney from January, 1887, to. Jan- uary, 1890. Since Judge Dean’s review of the member- ship of the bar in 1877, there have been sixty- two admissions, of which thirty-four were residents of the county. Since 1877, eighteen members have died. The question then with the judge was, who had the honor of being the father of the bar? It lay between Banks, Calvin and McMurtrie, but these three prominent names have since disappeared from the roll. It is proper now to determine who is the father of the bar; and by virtue of my position as its latest historian, I may be allowed the right of decision and henceforth, my brethren are lawfully author- ized to award that distinguished recognition to Brother Daniel J. Neff. Of the original members of the bar in this county, not one survives, unless I except Mr. Coffey, now resident in Washington, D. C. Of the subsequent additions, many moved away. Some never came into prominence, whilst others became conspicuous, either as practitioners or as incumbents of public office. In March, 1890, Mr. Calvin died, and he was followed by Mr. S. M. Woodcock in Feb- ruary, Mr. H. H. Herr in October, and Mr. S. S. Blair in December of the same year. This was regarded as an unusual mortality. Mr. Banks and Mr. McMurtrie both died in 1880, whilst Mr. Cresswell, their contemporary, died in 1882, and Mr. Brotherline in 1879. Mr. Hewit died after a very short illness in 108 March, 1894, and Mr. Baldrige died suddenly in March, 1895. My predecessor has spoken of the older members who have departed, and we can only make reference to a few of those who have since appeared to take their places. Both Mr. Hewit and Mr. Baldrige were prominent members of the bar; and enjoyed the public confidence to a large degree. Mr. Hewit was a gentleman of great polit- ical ambition. He was district attorney for two terms, and was a member of the legisla- ture in 1871, 1879, 1881 and 1893, and speaker of the house in 1881. He was suc- ceeded in his office by his son, Oliver H. Hewit. L. W. Hall was for many years an active practitioner at this bar, and whilst here was elected to the senate, of which body he was speaker in 1867. He since removed to Harris- burg, where he now resides and practices. He is the resident attorney of the Pennsylvania railroad company in Dauphin county. J. F. Milliken was colonel of the Fifth regi- ment and district attorney of the county from 1874 to 1877. It was during his term that the extraordinarily large number of prosecutions — was brought for violation of the liquor law. The railroad rioters were prosecuted during the last year of his term. He afterwards went to Egypt, but now resides in New York. Mr. Alexander was the district attorney who preceded him. He was long known as the senior partner in the law firm of Alexander & Herr. Within the last year he removed to Lancaster. Thomas McCamant became the auditor gen- eral of the state in 1888 and now resides in Harrisburg. Edmund Shaw, a prominent member of the bar, and a union soldier in the late war, was a member of the legislature for the terms of 1885 and 1887. Mr. G. H. Spang removed to this county from Bedford in 1883. He was elected to the legislature from that county in 1875 and 1877. J. D. Hicks came to the bar in 1873, after the close of the war, in which he served as a 104 union soldier. He was district attorney from 1880 till 1886. In the fall of 1892 he was elected a member of congress from this con- gressional district, and re-elected in 1894. J. K. Patterson was elected to the legisla- ture in 1894. W. S. Hammond is the present district at- torney, having just entered upon his second term. The other older and prominent members of the bar are: Andrew J. Riley, one of the so- licitors of the Pennsylvania railroad com- pany; Thomas H. Greevy, N. P. Mervine, J. S. Leisenring, E. H. Flick, W. L. Woodcock, W. I. Woodcock, A. A. Stevens, A. V. Dively, W. L. Hicks and W. L. Pascoe. I could with pleasure name other bright and rising members of the bar, but time will not permit and besides I will be pardoned for grouping here a.few only of those who are best known by their long and active profes- sional services and residence in the county. The present prothonotary is Jesse L. Hart- man, an urbane and efficient officer. Two deputy prothonotaries are worthy of special notice. Stephen Africa came here in 1850 and re- mained till about 1870. He was a most com-. petent officer, understanding fully the intricate methods and details of the office. His prepara- tion for the quarterly terms embraced, among other things, the making of a dozen or two quill pens, which his skill alone could accom- plish. These were laid out for the judges, counsel and jurors. A steel pen was not yet in favor though now extremes have met in the stylus of the ancient and the steel of the modern. The other deputy referred to is Mr. Cor- nelius D. Bowers. He came here from Phila- delphia, and is fifty-eight years old. He has been a printer by profession and was an hon- orably discharged and wounded soldier in the Eighty-fourth regiment of this state. He has spent twenty-eight years of his life in the re- corder’s and prothonotary’s office. He is fa- miliar with all the duties of his present posi- tion, and by his courtesy and faithfulness he HISTORY OF BLAIR COUNTY has won the confidence of the court and the bar and the respect of the public. Mr. Jones Rollins, now deceased, was for nineteen years crier of the court and libra- rian. He was a most intelligent and oblig- ing officer and gentleman. The present recorder and register of wills is Mr. William H. Irwin. The sheriff is G. T. Bell with his deputies I. N. Eby and W. A. Smith. The county commissioners are James Funk, M. H. Fagley and John Hurd. The county treasurer is John T. Akers. Thus I have endeavored to recall some of the persons and incidents of the past. The retrospect is a changeful one. The faces and’ voices which make up one period, gradually pass to give way to another; and those ev- erchanging series like a relentless fate, de- stroy the familiar past, and replace it with the new and strange present. But it must be so. This-bar will grow with the county’s growth. Increasing pros- perity will be accompanied by increasing population, and the public business will be manifested in the courts. The younger members of the bar today will impose upon themselves the industry and zeal of those who have preceded them. As there have been.lustrous names in the - past, there shall be more in the future. If to any extent the bar of the past has sought to maintain the highest grade of learning and integrity; so the future bar should jeal- ously refuse to lower that standard. The entrance way to its privileges and powers is controlled by the membership, and when the unworthy or the ignorant seek to set their feet within those precincts—which are traditionally sacred to those only who have education, mind and learning, with high pro- fessional pride and honor—both court and bar will interpose their steadfast prohibi- tion. The perpetuation of a bar which is meas- ured by such a standard will not only add ‘to its own high character and adornment, but will win the confidence of the great pub- lic, who intrust freely to honest and capable AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS lawyers that vast variety of intricate ques- tions which constantly arise to affect their lives, their liberty and their property. Gentlemen of the present bar—animated by such ennobling aims, what shall be said of us and those who follow us fifty years from to-day? DEATH OF JUDGE BELL. Judge Martin Bell died January 2, 1910. His term of office would not have expired until 1914. He was a lineal descendant of Edward Bell, the founder of Bellwood, this county, and an early iron manufacturer in the Juniata valley. He was born in Antis township September 30, 1849, being in his sixty-first year at the time of his death. He was reared in Blair county and Allegheny city and received his education at Bucknell university, at Lewisburg, from which insti- tution he graduated in 1869. After gradua- tion he read law with Samuel S. Blair, of Hollidaysburg. His fellow student was George B. Orlady, now a judge of the state superior court. Judge Bell was admitted to the bar in 1873. He pursued the practice of law for twenty years before he was ele- vated to the judgeship. He was‘elected district attorney in 1886 and served so acceptably and with such effi- ciency that he was re-elected for a second term. In those days the criminal court cal- endar was a jumble with no system as to which case was first, second or last. Liti- gants and witnesses came to court on Mon- day morning, and were compelled to re- main until their cases were called, possibly four or five days later. District Attorney Bell brought order out of this chaos by in- augurating a daily calendar, or trial list, thereby working a great saving of the pub- ‘lic money, as well as the time of the court’s attendants. At the November election of 1893 he was elected president judge. He was peculiarly fitted for the responsible position. He was familiar with all the intricacies of the law, was a keen observer, possessed of a remark- 105 able and almést infallible memory, was pa- tient under perplexities, knew by intuition how to blend mercy with justice to uphold the dignity of the law and yet not unduly punish the offender. He was re-elected for a second term and had four years yet to serve when the summons came to quit the activities of earth. On the 12th of Tanuary Governor Edwin S. Stuart appointed as his successor Thomas J. Baldridge. Under this appointment he will serve until January 1, 1912. His com- mission was received on the 13th of January and he immediately went before Register and Recorder Claude Jones, at the court house, and took the oath of office. The appointment of T. J. Baldrige to: the president judgeship by Governor Stuart met with general approval, as shown by the fol- lowing in the editorial columns of ‘the .Al- toona Evening Gazette and the Morning Tribune, the leading newspapers of the county: JUDGE BALDRIGE, (From the Altoona Evening Gazette.) The appointment of Thomas J. Baldrige, Esq., to the position of president judge of the several courts of Blair county will. meet with general approval. As Governor Stuart told the delegations that waited upon him on Tuesday, he had a difficult task before him, inasmuch as all the aspirants for the position were eminently worthy, and he will be given credit with doing his best to meet with the expectations of the people of the county. Those who failed were well quali- fied and had either one of them been ap- pointed he would have received the same trib- utes that are now being paid Mr. Baldrige. The new judge comes to the exalted po- sition in the prime and vigor of his young boyhood, but he is not too young. In him are found all the requirements of the posi- tion. The son of one of the ablest lawyers our county has produced, he grew to man- hood in a legal atmosphere. He had the advantages of a thorough general and legal 106 education and the untimely death of his father threw him upon his own resources every one who has come in contact with him immediately upon his admission to the bar. That he made the most of his opportunities will attest, and he stands today the peer of any of his professional brethren of equal ex- perience at the bar. Judge Baldrige also goes on the bench with the prestige of an honored name. His ‘character is clean and unsullied and his rep- utation without a blemish. He has never been a partisan and he has no entangling al- liances which will in the slightest degree prevent him from giving a fair, honest and impartial administration of justice in Blair county. He has the entire confidence of his professional brethren, the capacity for the hard work that now confronts him and the natural ability and legal learning necessary for the position. The Gazette joins in the general chorus of congratulations that are being showered upon the new judge, and we bespeak for him the earnest co-operation of the defeated aspirants and their friends. not but be a feeling of disappointment on their part is but natural, but it is the fate of politics, that all cannot succeed. Let all work together in the cause of justice and let the highest expectations of the governor be realized. THE PEOPLE'S JUDGE. (From the Altoona Tribune.) Governor Stuart has justified the expecta- tions of the majority of the people of this county in the selection of a successor to the late Judge Martin Bell. He likewise heeded that the necessities of the case demanded a the suggestion of the members of the bar speedy appointment. The courts will now ‘resume their regular sittings and there is every reason to believe the future will wit- ness a very great improvement over the re- cent past. The action of the governor has been foreshadowed from the beginning. The republican organization of the county was That there can- ° HISTORY OF BLAIR COUNTY earnestly for Mr. Baldrige and had the ac- tive aid of many good people who have not taken any very active part in politics. It was the general conviction of the unpreju- diced citizenship of the county that the cir- cumstances required the appointment of a man like Mr. Baldrige. The matter was urgently presented to the governor, who was by no means unfamiliar with recent conditions. The result was the appointment of Mr. Baldrige. He will serve until Janu- ary I, 1912. A judge for the full term will: be elected in November, 1911. No doubt the incumbent will be nominatéd and elected. From the biographical sketch of Judge Baldrige which appears in another part of this number of the Tribune, it will be per- ceived that he is in the prime of life. He has been an active and studious member of the bar for over fourteen years, during which time he has acquired a large practice. He comes of a good family. His father, who died young, was one of the most eminent members of the bar and a gentleman with- out stain or reproach. His personal record since his childhood has been such as one might reasonably expect from the son of such a father. He has no entangling alli- ‘ances of any sort and never had. Under the circumstances the governor could scarcely have made a more fortunate appointment, although, as the Tribune suggested a day or two ago, there is no lack of admirable ju- dicial timber among the members of the Blair county bar. Some were for other as- pirants, as was their right, but we think a very large majority are pleased with the action of the governor and will wish his ap- pointee the largest possible success. The Tribune has known the new judge more or less intimately all his life. It ad- mires him as it’ admired his father and his grandfather before him. It feels that a young man with such a clean record as this young man possesses, a lawyer with the legal lore he has gathered, will give the county a judicial administration of which AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS every reputable citizen may well be proud. It congratulates him upon the honor that has come to him thus early in life. It be- lieves that honor well deserved and predicts that he will give the people of this county a conservative and efficient enforcement of the laws. It believes that judicial adminis- tration in Blair county is about to enter upon a new and a more dignified era. OUR JUDGES. Of the six judges who have presided over the courts of Blair county since its creation, nearly sixty-four years ago, two were demo- crats, one was a whig and three republicans. Judge Black was a democrat of the Jack- sonian type and, as the Tribune remarked the other day, was able to render the coun- try substantial service at a later and crisal day when a member of President Buchan- an’s cabinet. Judge Taylor served as dis- trict attorney before his elevation to the bench. He never aspired to any other office and was a republican during the closing years of his life. Judge Landis was an hon- ored member of the convention which framed the present constitution before he became judge. Judge Dean went from the district attorney’s office to the bench and later, as our readers know, was elected an associate justice of the supreme’ court. Judge Bell likewise served as-district attor- ney previous to his elevation to the bench. Judge Baldrige never held any other office and has all the possibilities of the future be- fore him. Judge Taylor made his reputation while serving as district attorney of Huntingdon county. A peculiarly atrocious crime gave him his opportunity. Several members of one family were murdered from the father and mother down to the youngest child. A man named Robert McConaghy, married to one of the daughters of the family, we believe, was arrested on suspicion of having committed the crime. District Attorney Taylor wove so convincing a web of cir- cumstantial evidence around the suspected man that the jury found him guilty of mur- 107 der in the first degree. The speech of the district attorney was long regarded as one of the most powerful arraignments of a criminal ever made in a court of justice, tracing as it did the course of the murderer from: the inception of his crime until its con- summation. Joseph Shannon, who spent the closing years of his life in this county, was sheriff of Huntingdon county and had charge of the execution. The murderer protested his innocence to the last. The drop fell and the rope broke. Then he told the whole story of his bloody deed, the nar- rative showing how truly District Attorney Taylor had conceived the actual facts. In 1871 the voters of the judicial district, at that time composed of Blair, Cambria and Huntingdon, were called upon to choose between Judge Taylor, running as an independent candidate, John Dean, the republican nominee, and Thaddeus Banks, the democratic candidate. The battle of the ballots resulted in the triumph of John Dean. The ability he displayed on the lo- cal bench was so marked, and his learning and sound legal knowledge were so widely recognized, that he was made one of the justices of the supreme court of Pennsyl- vania soon after he entered upon his third term as the judge of this county. Governor Pattison, appointed the Hon. Aug. S. Landis as his successor, and he in turn was succeeded by Hon. Martin Bell, who has just passed away. It is too soon to undertake to write dispassionately of those who have been among us until a little time ago. That must be left for another generation. But it is now generally recog- nizedithat the county has great reason to be proud of the record made by her earlier judges. When the future historian comes to sum up results let us hope that he will be. able to assign to every one of them a de- servedly high place in the history of the commonwealth. The following sketch of Judge Bell’s life and his sudden death appeared in the AI- toona Tribune January 3, I9I0. 108 Hon. Martin Bell, the president judge of the Blair county courts, was found lying dead in the bed chamber of his residence, corner of Clarke and Walnut streets, Hol- lidaysburg, yesterday morning, at ten o'clock. The waiting maid went to his room at that hour to hand him the morning newspapers, and was shocked to find the master of the house lyine on his side in the bed, with the vital spark of life departed. The family physician, Dr. H. H. Brother- lin, was of the opinion that the.death sum- mons had come about one hour before the discovery. Death was due to an affection of the heart. Judge Bell had been an invalid for three years past. While his body was racked and wasted by disease, his intellect was bright and unimpaired and his mind acute to the end. The members of his fam- ily had no thought of their coming loss and his wife was absent from home, at Indian- apolis, Indiana, whither she had been sum- moned to attend their sick daughter, Mrs. A. C. Hutchinson. Death apparently came to Judge Bell in an easy and painless form, like the snuffing out of a candle. His death was not totally unexpected in the commun- ity. A party of his most intimate friends sat in the rooms of the Hollidaysburg club Saturday night discussing his physical ail- ments, and expressing the fear that the hour of his dissolution was close at hand. Martin Bell was a lineal descendant of Edward Bell, the founder of Bellwood, this county, and an early iron manufacturer of the Juniata valley. He was a son of the Rev. Dr. A. K. Bell and Mary E. (Allen) Bell and was born in Antis township, Sep- tember 30, 1849, being in his sixty-first year at the time of his death. The founder of the pioneer Bell family of central Pennsylvania was John Bell, who settled in Sinking valley prior to the revolutionary war, during which he was often compelled to flee with his fam- ily to Lowery’s fort, to escape massacre by the Indians. His son, Edward Bell, was born in Sink- ing valley, March 17, 1769, and died April ' ‘state superior court. HISTORY OF BLAIR COUNTY 14, 1852, aged eighty-three years. He wasa millwright by trade, and in the first year of the last century he came to the site of Bell- wood, where he built a gristmill, distillery and saw mill, which improvements gave the place the name of Bell’s Mills and later, in honor of Mr. Bell, Bellwood. Edward Bell was aremarkably energetic man and in 1830 had come into the ownership of 3,674 acres of land. Two years later he built Elizabeth furnace and Mary Ann forge and in 1836 his son, Martin Bell, at Elizabeth furnace, was the first man in the world to use escaping gas from the tunnel head of a furnace for the production of steam. Edward Bell married Mary A. Martin, by whom he had nine children, seven sons and two daughters. Mrs. Bell was a daughter of Rev. James Martin, of Scotch-Irish descent, who was the first Presbyterian clergyman to preach in Blair county. Rev. Dr. A. K. Bell was born in Antis township in 1814 and died in 1888, aged seventy-four years. He was an able Baptist preacher, and served sev- eral churches in central Pennsylvania, as well as being pastor for a number of years of one of the largest and leading Baptist churches in Allegheny City. He was an abolitionist and republican in politics, and married Mary E. Allen, a native of Dauphin county, and a member of the Baptist church, who died in Hollidaysburg a score of years ago. Martin Bell was reared in Blair county and Allegheny City, and received his educa- tion at Lewisburg, Union county, new Buck- nell university, from which institution he graduated in 1869. Throughout his life he ‘treasured in his mind and heart the scenes of his alma mater and he never tired of eulo- gizing the merits and worth of the masters and professors of old Bucknell. After graduation, he read law with the late Samuel S. Blair, or Hollidaysburg, who stood at the head of the bar of central Penn- sylvania for thirty years. His fellow stu- dent in Mr. Blair’s office was George B. Or- lady, of Huntingdon, now a judge of the In the year 1873, Mr. AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS Bell was admitted to the bar. He first prac- ticed his profession as a partner of his pre- ceptor, Mr. Blair, and then became an inde- pendent practitioner, which course he pur- sued for twenty years before he was ele- vated to the judgeship. Martin Bell was a staunch republican in politics. He was a familiar figure at the early county conventions of his party and was in the thick of several hard fought political contests as the county chairman. He was elected district attorney of Blair county in 1886 and served so acceptably and with such efficiency that, at the end of his term, he was re-elected for a second term. In those days the criminal court calendar ‘was a jumble, with no head nor tail to the list of cases. Litigants and witnesses came to the court on Monday morning, and were compelled to remain there until their cases were called, possibly four or five days later. District Attorney Bell brought order out of this chaos, by inaugurating a daily calen- dar or trial list, thereby working a great saving of the public moneys and likewise of the time of the court attendants. In the November elections of 1893, Martin Bell- was-elected president judge, defeating. the Hon. Augustus S. Landis, who had been ap- pointed judge by Governor Pattison upon the occasion of the advancement of Judge Dean to the supreme court justiceship. Many causes celebre were tried during the judicial administration of Judge Bell. The trials of Frank Wilson and James Far- rell for the alleged murder of Henry Bon- necka were the most sensational in char- acter and attracted general attention and in- terest. The jurist revelled in knotty prob- — lems-and complexities of ejectment litiga- tion. He was chosen the trial judge of an ejectment suit pending in the Centre county courts, the trial of which lasted four weeks, which forms one of the leading cases on that ‘branch of the law in this state. He tried more pure food cases than any other five judges in the commonwealth. He was the first judge to declare the Tustin pure food 109 law unconstitutional and his decision was upheld by the court of last resort. In the case of the Citizens’ Supply Com- pany, involving the right of an Ohio grocer to solicit orders in this state, his decision, based on the interstate commerce law, went to and was affirmed by the United States supreme court. He possessed a wonderfully retentive memory, and his notes of testi- mony at a trial were larcely confined to the names of witnesses, the facts of the case at issue being buried in the storehouse of his memory. He was a firm believer in natural justice, and at all times adapted the harsh letter of the law to the mould of equity. He was most merciful and lenient in the sen- tencing of criminals, and in that work his sensibilities were sometimes far more hurt than were those of the offender sentenced. A man of abundant charity, he dreaded wounding and grieving a friend, and he oft- times delayed his judgments by reason of such dread. He and Judge Robert von Moschzisker of Philadelphia, rendered the joint judgment declaring the judges’ salary increase law, constitutional. _ Judge Bell was a member and officer of the state national guard for fifteen years. He was the captain of company C, Fifth reg- iment, for several years, finally resigning when he went to the bench. Re was with his regiment at Johnstown in the days suc- ceeding the flood, and marched at the head of his company into Homestead after the strike. The judicial campaign was on when he went to Homestead, and his friends ad- vised him that it was a suicidal policy to take any position antagonistic to labor, but Cap- tain Bell saw only his duty as a militiaman. He was an ardent lover of all athletic sports. He was a member of the Juniata baseball club that flourished in Hollidays- ‘burg thirty years ago and retained his affec- tion for the diamond to the last. He was a mine of information on the subject of base- ball, and could name the personnel of all the clubs in the major leagues. Columbia park loses in him a fast friend. 110 He was an organizer of the Allegheny hook and ladder company of Hollidaysburg, and the chief of the fire department of the town for many terms of office. He was one of the most prominent secret fraternity men of the county. He was a past master of Portage lodge No. 220, Free and Accepted Masons, a companion of Mount Moriah chapter No. 166, Royal Arch Masons, and a Knight Templar of Mountain com- mandery No. 10, of Altoona. He was also identified with the Elks, Moose and Eagles. In 1877 the deceased was united in mar- riage with Miss Irene Lemon, a daughter of Robert M. Lemon, of Hollidaysburg, and a niece of former Auditor General John A. Lemon, for many years a state senator from this district. He is survived by his wife and six children, viz.: Eliza, wife of A. C. Hutchison, of Indianapolis, Ind.; Misses Eli- zabeth, Allen and Roberta at home; Adie K., a student at Cornell, N. Y.; Martin, Jr., who is being tutored at Highland Falls, N. Y., preparatory to entering West Point, and Blair, at home. The funeral arrangements will not be per- fected until this morning, when the return of Mrs. Bell from Indianapolis, is expected. It was a request of Judge Bell that Rev. Rutledge T. Whitbank, formerly of Holli- daysburg, but now pastor of the Olivet Baptist church, Minneapolis, Minn., speak at his funeral. The interment will be made in the Presbyterian cemetery. A meeting of the bar association will be held this morn- ing at 10 o'clock, in the court house, to take proper action relative to the funeral. THE APPOINTMENT OF. JUDGE BALDRIGE. (From Altoona Tribune, Jan. 13, 1910.) Harrisburg, January 12.—Governor Stuart today announced the appointment of Thomas J. Baldrige, of Hollidaysburg, as president judge of the courts of Blair county to succeed the late Martin Bell. - Mr. Baldrige is a native of Hollidaysburg and has been practicing at the bar of Blair HISTORY OF BLAIR COUNTY county for years. Hie was endorsed for the place by a number of prominent Blair coun- tians. The selection was made from three names submitted to the governor by delega- tions from that county. The new judge will hold office until the first Monday of January, 1912. He is well known to a number of residents of this city as he was prominently mentioned for the position of as- sistant deputy attorney general. The news of the appointment of Mr. Bald- rige as president judge of the courts of this county was received soon after its announce- ment in Harrisburg and was promptly bulle- tined by the Tribune. It occasioned no sur- prise as it was agreed on all hands that, viewed from all sides, it was the logical outcome of the contest, as Mr. Baldrige represented no faction but stood simply upon his record as a lawyer, a record which none of his fellow members of the bar could say aught against. : Last evening, and during the afternoon, a number of the leading residents of the city on being asked relative to.their opinion on the appointment expressed their belief that no better choice could have been made. Judge Baldrige held an impromptu levee and reception at his law offices in Hollidaysburg yesterday afternoon, as soon as the people of the county became aware of the fact that Gov- ernor Stuart had appointed a new head of the courts. Congratulations came from all parts of the county and state, and the continual buzzing of the telephones and the arrivals of telegrams led the appointee to the realization of the fact that a great public responsibility had descended. upon him. Judge Baldrige will assume the reins of judicial authority on next Monday morning, when he will preside at a motion and petition court. He made this statement to the press: eo am deeply gratified upon receiving the appointment to the vacancy on the bench of Blair county. I want to thank my: friends for the very cordial endorsement they gave me. I will go on the bench without any hard feel- ings toward any person and will endeavor to AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS the best of my ability to discharge the duties of the high office. I have no personal feeling against those who felt that some one else should have been chosen.” The cause of Mr. Baldrige was championed before Governor Stuart on Tuesday by a com- mittee of citizens consisting of Postmaster Frank J. Over, Thomas H. Suckling, John G. McGraw, and Ard G. Steel, Mr. Over as the spokesman of the party made a compre- hensive and convincing statement of Mr. Baldrige’s claims for preferment, in the course of which, he argued, “The only objections of- fered against Mr. Baldrige are on the grounds of his youth, but he will overcome that, in time. ” Governor Stuart remarked that he was well acquainted with Mr. Baldrige and possessed a high regard for him, both as a man and as a lawyer. Thomas Jackson Baldrige, who will serve as the president. judge of the Blair county courts, by virtue of the appointment of Gov- ernor Edwin S. Stuart, until January 1, 1912, is the descendant of a family that has been closely connected with the legal affairs of the county for more than a half century of time. His grandfather, Joseph Baldrige, was the prothonotary and clerk of the several courts of the county, from 1855 until 1861. Mr. Baldrige was elected county treasurer in 1870, and subsequently served twenty years as chief clerk to the board of county commissioners. He was a living encyclopedia of public and legal information and in his day filled the same sphere of usefulness as did Deputy Prothono- tary Cornelius D. Bowers, in a later time. The father of Judge Baldrige was Howard Malcolm Baldrige, who was a prominent prac- tioner and ornament of the Blair county bar for forty years. He was mentioned as a proper successor to Judge John Dean, when the latter was elevated to the supreme bench, but he de- clined to campaign against his intimate friend, Judge Augustus S. Landis, for the office. He died in 1894. The subject of this sketch was a son of Howard Malcolm Baldrige.and Laura Mattern Baldrige, and was born at Hollidaysburg, on 111 April 5, 1872, being now in his thirty-eighth year. He received his preliminary education in the Hollidaysburg public schools, and under the tuition of Professor James A. Stewart, at the Hollidaysburg academy. After pursuing a course of study at the Andover academy, Massachusetts, he finished his education at Bucknell university and the University of Pennsylvania. He read law in the office of his late father at Hollidaysburg, and was ad- mitted to the bar, on March 11, 1895. Prior to his admission to the bar, he was on the government topographical survey along the headwaters of the Missouri river in Montana. Judge Baldrige possesses a large and im- portant clientage. He enjoys the largest or- phans’ court practice of any lawyer in the county, and many valuable estates have been entrusted to him, for settlement. He has been the treasurer of the Bar association for fifteen years, and has been a director of the Citizens’ National bank, of Hollidaysburg, ever since the organization of that financial institution. He has been an office bearer and treasurer of. the First Baptist church, of Hollidaysburg, for several years. In politics, he has always been a staunch republican. He has never been associated with any clique or faction of the party, and has never hitherto sought political preferment. A few years ago, he was offered the county chair- manship, but he declined the honor. He is affiliated with no: secret society nor fraternity, and goes upon the bench unhamp- ered by any entangling alliance, that might sway his better judgment. The county’s new judge is a lover of out- door sports and pastimes. He played shortstop on the lawyers’ baseball team at Hollidays- burg, and has also figured in the golf and ten- nis tournaments on the Altoona Cricket club grounds. He has twice visited Europe, has toured the west, and sailed to the isles of the Caribbean sea. Judge Baldrige is not only one of the youngest, if not the youngest judge, in the commonwealth, but he is also one of the few 112 bachelors on the bench. His friends give as- surances that he is not confirmed in the latter condition. He resides with his sister, Miss ‘Edith Baldrige, in a fine mansion home, at the corner of Allegheny and Clarke streets, Hollidaysburg, within two squares of the homes of the former judges of the county— Dean, Landis and Bell. He will bring youth and strength to the bench, to conquer the avalanche of untried and HISTORY OF BLAIR COUNTY undecided cases, that now cumber the court dockets. He is a man of temperate habits, and frequently represented the remonstrants at the sessions of license court. Those who know him best say, that while no reputable landlord who honestly tries to serve the traveling public, need fear him, yet the proprietors of. the dog- gery, the groggery, and the house of ill fame masquerading as a hotel must go down, during his judicial administration. CHAPTER V. TRANSPORTATION FACILITIES. Primitive Roads—Turnpikes and Toll Roads—Plank Roads—Taverns—The Stage Coach —Road Tax Levies—Road Construction in the Various Townships with Cost—The Canal, Portage Railroad, and Reservoir—The Pennsylvania Canal—The Columbia Ratlroad—The Pennsylvania Railroad—The Railroad in War Times—The TelegraphCorps im the Civil War—Martinsburg Branch—Tyrone Division—Petersburg Branch—Bedford & Hollidays- burg Railroad—Altoona & Beech Creek The construction of roadways through the primeval forests is naturally the advance step in the improvement of the wilderness country. At first these are mere trails through the forests for footmen, and later on such obstacles as rocks and fallen timber are removed to make the way practical for pack horses. In the early days of the county, vehicles as a means of conveyance were unknown. The trails or war paths of the Indian, and the water courses were the first highways. Only a few of the red men’s paths are definitely known. One led from Frankstown via Holli- daysburg, Fetter’s Fort, Eldorado and Kittan- ning Point across the Allegheny mountains, and another from Frankstown via. McKee’s Gap to Morrison’s Cove. A party of pioneers from the east, bound for Morrison’s Cove, were wending their way along the Juniata river by way of Frankstown. When they ar- rived at the Dry Gap, near where Kladder Station now is, they halted and consulted as to which route to pursue. - They suspected the presence of Indians and, in dread of an en- counter, they preferred not to meet them. They finally decided to leave the main trail along the river and proceed up through the Dry Gap. There was no path to follow, which made the advance tedious and laborious. They therefore decided to leave some of their more Railroad. cumbersome effects behind. They accordingly secreted them in the forests among the rocks. Their decision as to route proved to be most fortunate, as the Indians were at the precise time returning from one of their bloody raids in the Cove and were coming down along the river. Had the new arrivals taken that course a clash would have been inevitable. This in- teresting circumstance is given traditionally and dates are not available. The late Captain Francis Cassidy of Newry, when a young man, assisting his father, Peter Cassidy, in surveying in the vicinity many years after- wards, found some of the irons that were used in the construction of plows used in those days. So it would seem that. the hidden treas- ures were not wholly recovered by the original owners. There were doubtless a number of -roads opened from one valley to another where set- tlements were formed and of which no record was kept. The most important of these was doubtless the one from Frankstown up the river to McKee’s Gap, and then through East Freedom and across the Alleghenies to Johns- town. In the construction of the roads in those days no attempt was made at either ditching or filling. It.was simply removing obstructions. Rude as they were, they an- swered the purpose for travel and transporta- 113 114 tion on horseback. The only vehicles for con- veying purposes were sleds rudely constructed which were used both in summer and winter. It does not appear that any of the roads of Blair county were opened solely for military operation. The revolutionary war interrupted the building of roads and the larger streams were declared public highways. In 1787 the legislature authorized the construction of a road across the Alleghenies, to begin on the Frankstown branch of the Juniata river, to a branch of the Conemaugh river, a distance of fifty-four miles. An appropriation of 150 pounds was made and the contract was awarded to John Galbraith. It passed by way of Bell’s Gap, Creson and then on westward to Pitts- burg. At first it was simply a clay road, suffi- ciently opened and bridged so that wagons and horses could pass and repass. Although the streams were not bridged the road served the purpose of the early settlers for about twenty- five years. At this time the idea of a stone pike along the same line with bridges over the streams was entertained and soon found public- spirited citizens who urged and assisted in its construction. By 1820 it was completed and became a toll road with John Blair, a resident of the county, as its first president. It was then called the Huntingdon, Cambria and Indiana Turnpike Road Company. The proj- ect of constructing a stone road lengthwise across the state was considered at the time to be a stupendous undertaking. In fact the ex- citement and comment caused by it, was greater than that which attended the construction of the canal and railroad in later years. The various industries that were springing into existence in the development of the country’s resources very rapidly filled the marts of trade with articles for transportation which called forth trains of wagons which were constantly coming and going. The friends of the improvement persevered, however, and ultimately succeeded in opening a road reaching all the way from Huntingdon to Blairsville, a distance of seventy-seven miles. A considerable length of the line passed through a ragged and sparsely settled region, HISTORY OF BLAIR COUNTY unable to contribute any substantial aid; many of the subscribers to the enterprise were tardy in paying installments on their. subscriptions, and the managers felt compelled to resort to the issue of “scrip” to meet accruing debts for work performed. 150 Maryha (McKee’s gap)............. 140 Hollidaysburg No. 1................ 265 Hollidaysburg No. 2................ 165 Frankstown ....... 2. cee cee e eens 130 Bennington ........ 00. cece e eee eee ee 150 Williamsburg ........ 0... eee eee ees 50 Springfield, Etna, Rebecca and Sarah were all small, and were operated with char- coal. The Hollidaysburg, Juniata rolling-mill, 170 tons of bar iron and 1,200 to 1,500 kegs of nails weekly. Hollidaysburg Iron & Nail company, ca- pacity not known. Frankstown furnace, Antis forge, Mary Ann forge and Cove forge. In addition to these there were Allgheny forge, Cove forge, Franklin forge, Tyrone forge, the Altoona Iron company, Alle- gheny furnace, Bloomfield furnace, 'Eliza- beth furnace, Blair furnace and the Dun- cansville iron works and nail factory, de- scribed in connection with their respective towns. With the exception of the Altoona Iron company plant, all of these have ceased to exist. The Bloomfield mines are among the richest deposits of iron ore in the United States. This is true both as to quantity and quality. After a long and complete series of tests the metal made from this ore was chosen by Cap- tain Rodman for use in making the heavy or- 161 dinance for the United States government; and he strongly urged that the government should purchase the whole Bloomfield ore de- posits and thus secure a permanent supply of this valuable ore. The mine is three miles south of Roaring Spring. It. formerly be- longed to Dr. Shoenberger, and is now the property of the Duncan heirs. In the days of Shoenberger’s operations this mine was ex- tensively worked. It supplied the ore for Bloomfield, Sarah, Martha and later on the Rodman furnaces. After the dismantling of the furnaces above named Peter Duncan commenced to mine and ship ore July 1, 1888, giving employment to from sixty to 100 men. The low price of the ore, the high freight rates and the un- adaptability of the ore for steel making have made the business unprofitable, and for a num- ber of years very little has been shipped. Some time in the future when supplies in other parts of the country become exhausted the mine will be opened again. In 1903 Mr. Duncan constructed a tram road from the Morrison’s Cove branch rail- road to the top of the mountain below Mc- Kee’s Gap, in Blair township and began quarrying and shipping ganister rock. The shipment was from eight to ten car loads per day, giving employment to about thirty-five men. The panic of 1907 stopped operations, but work was resumed in 1909. The deposit is a large one and the industry promises to be a flourishing one for many years. It is de- scribed more fully elsewhere in this chapter. LIMESTONE QUARRIES AT TYRONE FORGES. These quarries were first opened and ope- rated by A. G. Morris in 1870. At one time ‘there were operated four crushers which turned out fifty cars of ballast stone a day. Another section of the quarry produced seventy-five cars daily for use in furnaces. This rock was of a superior grade both for chemical as well as for mechanical purposes, and orders were re- ceived from different parts of the country. In its palmiest days 300 men were given employ- ment by this industry. 162 KEYSTONE LIME AND STONE COMPANY. The quarries of this company are located along the Tyrone and Lewistown railroad near Tyrone and near Shoenberger and Union Fur- nace, along the main line of the Pennsylvania railroad. They extend for a distance of one and one-half miles and are equipped with all modern improvements for the preparation of limestone for its various commercial uses. They have seven kilns for burning lime and a mill for grinding both lime and the rock for fertilizing purposes. Their quarries rank among the largest in central Pennsylvania and have a ‘shipping capacity of 150 cars of stone per day, and 2,500 bushels of lime. The lime is shipped to all parts of the country. It is especially in demand in New York and the eastern states, where only the highest grade is used. The raw product is used for fluxing furnaces, manufacturing glass, railroad ballast and building purposes. This business is con- ducted by A. A. Stevens, Esq., of Tyrone. In 1805 John Gloninger & Co., built the Tyrone Forge, located on the Little Juniata, between Tyrone and Birmingham. Caleb Berry was the first manager. Eight years later the company built another forge half a mile up the Juniata, which was called the Upper Ty- rone Forge, and both were operated by the same firm. About 1807 a rolling mill and nail factory were built below the old forge which continued to be operated until 1830. The same power operated a grist mill which is now the only one remaining. In 1835 the Gloninger company sold its in- terests to William M. Lyon & Co. They re- built both the lower and upper forges about 1840. The capacity of both was increased. In 1865 a new and greatly enlarged forge was built on the site of the lower one. It con- tained twelve fires and one large steam ham- mer. The forge was operated by steam and its capacity was almost 2,000 tons of blooms per year. It was successfully operated until 1874 when work was suspended and the bit‘ld- ing has since been used for other purposes. In 1880 Sieman Anderson & Co., occupied HISTORY OF BLAIR COUNTY | the Tyrone forge in preparing iron for the manufacture of hearth steel, by submitting the crude ore to the action of Sieman’s rotating furnace. The metal produced is highly satis- factory and brings about $60 per ton. The operation requires the attendance of twelve men. Bald Eagle furnace was built on the stream of that name in Snyder township in 1830 by John Gloninger & Co., and five or six years later it was sold to William Lyon & Co., who operated it until it went out of blast in 1865. When it worked to its full capacity it pro- duced about 2,200 tons per year, and the work connected with the plant gave employment. to about 150 men. ; William Mann & Co., axe factory. is one mile above Tyrone on the site of the Cold Spring Forge. It was built in 1835 by. John Kratzer and operated until it was destroyed by a flood in 1838. It was rebuilt- again by Kratzer and Steele. . It later passed into the hands of John S. Isett & Son, and from them to others until the panic of 1873 stopped all operations. The Pennsylvania Axe Co. leased the plant and in 1881 commenced the manufacture of axes. In March, 1881, the company dissolved and the ‘business passed into other hands. A few years later operations ceased and the buildings are in ruins. It gave employment to about forty men and the output was 400 axes per day. While the details and particulars of the early iron works as forges and furnaces have gone into oblivion, fortunately the place of their location and the time of their operations is accurately recorded, and are given in the introduction to this chapter, being derived from Mr. Clark’s semi-centen- nial history. We will yet append some par- ticulars that have been preserved. John Royer, a native of Franklin county, moved into the lower end of what is now embraced in Blair county, and in 1811 built what is known as Cove forge, which. con- tinued operations for about seventy years. Rolling-mills were as yet unknown, and at ~ AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS this forge iron was drawn—hammered into bars. These bars found a market in Pitts- burg, and the only means of transportation was by wagons over the rudely constructed, primitive roads. The expense of conveying the finished product to market was from twenty. to forty dollars per ton. The out- put of the forge was about four hundred tons annually. It gave employment to about thirty men. Springheld furnace was the third favnace erected in the county. It was built in 1815 by. Daniel and John Royer. Daniel had the greater interest in the furnace, and contin- ued to reside here till his death, which oc- curred, in 1838. During the early days when foundries were few and far between, this firm did considerable business in cast- ing the old-fashioned tin-plate wood stoves. These huge stoves found their way into al- most every house in the rural districts and for comfort have never been surpassed. Artistic taste and scarcity of wood as a fuel consigned them to the junk pile. The fur- nace gave employment to about fifty men and produced about thirty-four tons of iron per week. — Daniel Royer became the owner of a large land estate which included the rich iron mines connected with his furnace. After his death his son John Royer and George Schmucker became the owners of the whole estate including Cove forge and continued the business under the firm name of Royer & Schmucker until 1854, when Mr. Sehmucker sold his interest to Mr. Royer, who continued the business while he lived. He died near the age of ninety. The analyses of the stratified and un- stratified rock is identically the same, the only difference being a geodetic one. The latter-carrying more impurities in the way of vegetable matter which adheres to the stone. stone. The analyses of Ganister rock as found on the Canoe mountain range is as follows: Silica, sadeiunddsaisieeedaasa wat Iron Oxide and Alumina Lime Magnesia Loss of Ignition The underlying statistics show the in- creased growth of this business from the years 1886 to 1910. Used for Brick Total Production Tons Year 1890 . 1891 .. 1892... 1893 .. 1894 .. 1895 .. 1806 .. 1897 .. * The tonnage given is “total for four years. GANISTER QUARRIES. The higher benches and summits of the mountains in the interior of Blair county contain an immense quantity of a whitish rock which is neither sand nor flint, but known in commerce as “ganister.” It ex- ists in vast piles of loose rocks, among’ which there is no earth to nourish any vege- table growth. It seems as though the all- wise Creator selected those secluded places to store them until man should find out their valuable properties. When they once took a place as an article of commerce in the industries of the country it became a problem how to get them down from their elevated positions. This was soon solved by the ingenuity of man, who found in the rocks a profitable article of trade. Tram roads were con- structed from a convenient point on the line of the railroad at the base of the mountain, which extended to the very summit. They 164 were operated by the force of gravity. A -strong steel wire cable stretched from the ‘foot to the top of the mountain which “wound around a cylinder, with a car at- tached to each end. The weight of the loaded car on the declivity would elevate the empty one. In this manner operations would continue day in and day out from year to year. Jesse L. Hartinan was the pioneer ship- per from this county. His operations com- menced in McKee’s Gap on land leased from Peter Duncan. As the demand in- creased, or continued, he purchased land from time to time until he has now in his own right about 7,000 acres and controls perhaps the largest ganister works in the United States. His son, James Denniston Hartman, furnishes the following very in- teresting and satisfactory account of the industry : The history of ganister or quartz rock as found in the central part of Pennsylvania may be said to first date back to the days of the old Pennsylvania canal. From the lands of the Isetts at Point View, Pa., several boat loads were shipped to the Cambria Iron company about the year 1870 as sam- ple rock, and which marked the first use of ganister in the manufacture of Bessemer steel in the United States. From 1870 to 1880, practically none of the material was used, but from 1880 to 1884 the quarrying and shipping of this material for Bessemer purposes assumed the role of an infant industry. The requirement of rock in this one branch of the steel industy was very limited and not until it found its way into the manufacture of silica brick did it as- sume any substantial growth as a perma- nent industry. In the year 1884 the first silica brick was manufactured by the A. J. Haws & Sons, Ltd., Johnstown, Pa., from ganister rock from the south range of Dunnings moun- tains, McKees Gap, Pa., and shipped by Mr. J. L. Hartman. The next company to manufacture silica brick was the Harbison HISTORY OF BLAIR COUNTY Walker company in 1886. Prior to the ‘above dates the famous Dynas silica brick were imported to this country at great cost, but from this time on the American brick plants steadily grew and importations of the material gradually fell off until 1889, when they ceased altogether, the brick plants in the United States having assumed such a marked growth that.they were able to take care of all the requirements for this material at a much lower cost. The most important fields in which silica brick are employed is the open-hearth pro- cess of making steel. The brick are used as a refractory lining for the sides, roofs and checker work in the furnaces, and are bound by heavy steel girders in order that the expansion of the brick may be taken care of. This is the chief characteristic of ganister or silica brick, namely the refrac- tory properties. The expansion of this ma- terial under a heat of 2,800 to 3,000 degrees Fahrenheit is so great that all crevises are completely closed and a tight compact fur- nace lining is the result. The composition of silica brick is pure ganister ground to the size of sea sand and bonded with a one per cent solution of lime water with a resulting analyses the same as that of the pure rock with the only excep- tion of CA CO; added. From the time the rock is received at the brick works about eighteen days is required before the mate- rial is turned out a finished product. Dur- ing this time the rock is crushed, ground, moulded into green brick, dried in the dryer tunnels and burned in the kilns at a temper- ature of 2,700 to 2,900 degrees Fahrenheit. The second chief use of silica brick is the construction of the new bi-product coke ovens. The mineral ganister exists in stratified and unstratified formation, the former in a very compact ledge and lying under ground, the latter, or unstratified, consists of broken deposits lying on the surface and averaging from four to six feet in depth. The strati- fied or formation rock is found in heavy AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS deposits on the Canoe mountain or Beaver dams range. In this locality the solid measures has been worked with much suc- cess for a period of five years. Its quality showing more uniformity and purity than the surface stone. The solid measures as found in most localities are unworkable, owing to the position of the ledge and the amount of stripping, together with the im- purities contained in it. On the Canoe mountain tract the pitch of the ledge is slightly less bv five degrees than the decliv- ity of the mountain, carrying with it practic- ally no impurities and small quantities of stripping. For successful quarrying of these solid measures the steam drill is employed and holes to a depth of fourteen feet are drilled. The blasting of the holes is about the same as in other ledges of solid rock, namely the use of black powder and dyna- mite. MISCELLANEOUS INDUSTRIES. As many of the industries of the county are part and parcel of the history of the towns with which they are connected, they are written co-jointly. By referring to the towns it will be seen that the county is all dotted over with industries of one kind or another. As one disappears another sprang up in its place and upon the whole the county with its loss of iron works has grown in wealth and prosperity. Among the industries of earlier days may be named distilleries, tanneries, hat factory, woolen mills, oil mill, cabinet making, axe factory. DISTILLERIES. At an early day distilleries were very nu- merous, but no attempt will be made to give the number, location, or the capacity but simply state the facts of their existence. The pioneers were not an intemperate peo- ple, neither were they tetotalers. The pre- vailing opinion was that the stimulating ef- fects of liquor were good for the system, and therefore used it daily as a tonic. It It seemed to be as much of a necessity to 165: them as bread and meat. The distilleries: were mostly small affairs, and their prod- ucts were made from the grain raised in their own community and found a market at the same place. The grain mostly used was rye, and the liquor was the pure distil- lation of the grain. The article being strictly pure had doubtless less injurious ef- fects than the adulterated article of com- merce of later years. Few, if any, of the present citizens of the county have any recollection of a distillery within our bor- ders in actual operation. A better knowl-. edge of physiological law has lessened the demand for stimulating beverages and its consumption is confined to the more intem- perate and depraved. HAT FACTORY. Newry in an earlier day contained among- its industries a hat factory. It was perhaps the only one in the county limits. Just when it was started, by whom, how long continued and its products, nothing is defi- nitely known. CABINET MAKING. This industry antedates machinery. As soon as the settlers erected houses they needed furniture. This opened up shops for the manufacture of household necessities. The means of transportation were not yet at hand, so they could not be brought from a distance; this made a growing and profit- able business at home. All work was done without the use of machinery and shops were numerous. Among the first of any importance was at Frankstown, operated by William McFarland in 1821. WOOLEN MILLS. Before the invention of the power-loom for weaving fabrics, and the opening up of highways for commerce, the cloth for wear- ing apparel was all manufactured within the county. The wool clipped from the sheep and the flax raised in the field were taken to the mill and there put through the 166 process of carding, spinning, weaving, full- ing and dyeing. It was then sold in retail to be made into garments. This was a ne- cessity from the start. as much of a necessity as flour mills. There were quite a number in different places, but the history of some of them seems to be lost. There were two in the vicinity of Claysburg. The one was afterwards con- verted into a flour mill and was for many years operated by Jacob Friese. It has been out of commission for a number of years and its site is now occupied by the Hollidaysburg and Bedford railroad and its seat is obliterated. The other was for many years operated by Mr. -Wertz and. continued in operation for a number of years after the spindles of all others had ceased, thus winning the laurels of an old time industry to that corner of the county. As noted elsewhere, Willis Gibbony built a woolen mill near the present site of Eldo- rado in 1806-8, which he operated till 1828 when he moved to Duncansville, and there erected a similar establishment which was continued in the Gibbony name and also in operation up to the time it was destroyed by fire. George Gardner in 1832 erected a woolen mill at what was afterwards called the foot of ten. Blair’s Gap stream and it continued in suc- cessful operation for many years. Col- onel John Halfpenny removed from Oak Hall, Center county, Pa., to the vicinity of Bell’s mills, now Bellwood, in 1853. He was an experienced woolen mill operator. He at once began the manufacturing of car- pets and woolen cloth and yarn. In 1867 he built a new mill which gave employment to ten or twelve men and women. On Decem- ber 13th, 1875, his mill burned and was never rebuilt. The proprietor died Jan. 8th, 1882. AXE FACTORY. Daniel Colclesser started an axe and pick factory at Eldorado in 1832 on the site of the old Gibbony woolen mills. It was the Woolen mills were. Power was supplied by the HISTORY OF BLAIR COUNTY only one in the county and for many years it gave employment to half a dozen men, After his death it was operated by his. sons, John, Samuel and Aden, and is still in oper- ation in IQIo. TANNING. Tanning was in earlier days a profitable ‘business and like distilleries, tanneries were to be found all over the county. Hides taken from animals slaughtered for meat, with such as were procured from game ani- mals, were made into leather, which called into requisition the shoemaker to supply the population with the boots and shoes now turned out by the more speedy means of machinery. It was a time of general re- joicing in a family when the leather and measure were left at the shoemakers for the supply of winter footwear. Among the nu- merous tanneries that dotted the county over from. 1810 to 1860 may be mentioned the larger ones. Michael Sellers of Wood- bury township operated one as early as 1800. Joseph Patton had one in Franks- town in 1810. Frances Smith erected.one in Duncansville about 1810. It was_en- larged afterwards and was rather a preten- tious establishment for a number of years. It is now in ruins. Long before the organi- zation of the county, David Caldwell owned and operated successfully for many years a tannery in Gaysport. In 1862 Louis Plack erected a large one in Altoona, but it ceased operations in 1884, and was demolished in 1889-90. There was quite an extensive one erected in Tyrone and has continued in successful operation for many years, and has survived all others as it is the only one now in operation in the county. OIL MILL, Christian Hoover owned and operated an oil mill from 1800 to 1830, but of the kind and quantity of oil we have no data. It was probably the only one in the country. LUMBERING. Saw mills were among the first indus- tries of the new country, and as settlers in- AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS creased the mills became very numerous. They were mostly associated with the grist mill, so that one dam could supply power for both. They were what was known as the “up and down” mills. The saw was straight and the ends were securely fastened in a sash which was operated by a piston connected with a crank on the water-wheel. Two thousand feet per day was considered a good out-put. With the introduction of the circular saws the timber of the county 167 soon disappeared, and lumbering, except in a few isolated places, is a thing of the past. PLANING MILLS. Tyrone, Martinsburg, Roaring Spring and Curryville are each supplied with a planing mill. Altoona with three and Hol- lidaysburg with two. The investments have been good, as all are doing a thriving business. CHAPTER IX. BANKS AND BANKING. Branch of Exchange Bank, Pittsburg—Bell, McDowell & Co.—First National Bank of Holh- daysburg—Farmers’ Bank of Lancaster in Hollidaysburg—Bryan, Gardner & C 0.—Gard- ner, Morrow & Co—Their Failure—William M. Lloyd & Co.’s Bank—Second National Bank of Altoona—First National Bank of Altoona—Altoona Bank—Altoona Trust Co.— Blair County Trust Co—Mountain City Trust Co—The Union Bank, Altoona—Citizens’ National Bank of Hollidaysburg—The Williamsburg Branch of the First National Bank of Hollidaysburg—Farmers’ and Merchants National Bank of Williamsburg—Frrst National Bank of Tyrone—Blair County National Bank of Tyrone—Merchants’ National Bank of Tyrone—Banks of Bellwood, Martinsburg, Roaring Spring—Jumiata, etc. In the year 1836 or 1837 the first banking institution: was established in Hollidaysburg under the name of the Branch of Exchange bank, Pittsburg, at Hollidaysburg, of which John Walker was president, and William Wil- liams, cashier. The building occupied stood ' on the site of the present standard office, and the business was continued until 1849, when the affairs of this house were closed, and all claims promptly liquidated. During its ex- istence this branch of the Exchange bank of Pittsburg had notes in circulation, and per- formed all of the banking business in a wide region of country. In 1849, James M. Bell, a prominent lawyer in the central part of Pennsylvania, and Thomas C. McDowell, a gentleman who had been engaged for some years in the trans- porting business on the old Pennsylvania canal, established a banking-house in Hollidaysburg, occupying the building vacated by the Branch of the Exchange bank of Pittsburg, under the firm name of Bell, McDowell & Co. In a short time Mr. McDowell withdrew from the firm, and Robert B. Johnston, a young gentleman of excellent business qualifi- cations, who had been engaged in the office, took his place as a member of the firm, the firm name being changed to that of Bell, Johnston & Co. In 1852, Mr. William Jack, who had been for several years acting as chief clerk of the lower house of the general assembly of the state, became one of the firm, and the firm name was then designated Bell, Johnston, Jack & Co. In 1854, Mr. Bell retired from business con- nection with the establishment, and Messrs. Johnston & Jack associated with them Mr. William Lloyd, and the banking business was conducted under the name of the old firm until 1862, when Mr. Lloyd withdrew, and the business was conducted by Messrs. Johns- ton & Jack under the firm name of Johnston, Jack & Co. In 1863 the establishment was changed into a national bank, designated the First National bank of Hollidaysburg, Pa., with a capital of $50,000, William Jack being elected president and Robert Johnston, cashier. On the 2tst of June, 1868, Robert B. Johnston, the cashier, was accidentally killed at Baltimore, and on the 24th of the same month William H. Gard- ner, a gentleman who had been for several years engaged in the service of the government at Washington, D. C., was chosen to fill the 168 AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS place of Mr. Johnston as cashier. The bank is now capitalized at $100,000, and the officers are as follows: President; Jesse L. Hartman; vice president, Dr. A. L. Garver; cashier, J. G. Shope; directors, H. A. Webber, W. I. Woodcock, D. L. Sillinger, W. A. Huff, J. W. Gromiller, Dr. A. L. Garver and J. L. Hart- man. The banking house, known in its later days as the Gardner, Morrow & Co., bank, stood as the last of a series of changes made in firm names following the establishment of a branch of the Farmers’ bank of Lancaster in Holli- daysburg, about the year 1850. It appears that soon after the branch. of the Exchange bank of Pittsburg had ceased to operate, the Farmers’ bank of Lancaster established a branch in Hollidaysburg, under the manage- ment of Edward R. Bryan. short time elapsed ere a law was enacted pro- hibiting the operations of branch banks, and in - consequence this branch of the Farmers’ bank of Lancaster closed up its affairs. Richard R. Bryan, Thomas Jackson, Wil- liam Gleim, Thomas E. Franklin, D. McMur- trie and James Gardner then formed an asso- ciation for the purpose of conducting a general banking business, under the firm name of Bryan, Gleim & Co., and purchased the ma- terial of the branch house just mentioned. A few months later some of the members of the firm retired, when the name of the house was changed to that of Bryan, Gardner & Co., and continued so until 1859. From the latter year until 1874, James Gardner conducted the business alone. He then became associated with Anthony S. Morrow, and under the firm name of Gardner, Morrow & Co., a general banking business was carried on until the bank failed on Friday, September 18, 1896. ‘This date was, indeed a “Black Friday” for many people in Blair county. For upwards of half a century this institution had enjoyed the confidence of the public and it was supposed to be on a solid financial basis. Hundreds of frugal people had their savings deposited there and not until a few days before the failure had . there ever been a question raised as to its: However, but a: 169 stability. To some familiar with the affairs of the bank the failure was not wholly a surprise, for it had been overburdened with paper which, while good, could not be realized on, A few. days before the closing there were rumors that the bank was involved and there began a run on the institution. It was then decided that an. assignment was the best method of liquidation and John Cree, who was connected with the First National bank of Hollidaysburg, was, named as assignee. The following statement concerning the failure was issued by the bank’s officials the day the doors were closed: “Owing to the general depression in busi- ness, the impossibility of making collections and with a view of affording the best of pro- tection to our creditors, we have decided it proper to close our doors and suspend busi- ness. We have made assignment to Mr. John Cree for the benefit of creditors and with time and opportunity thus afforded to convert our assets we hope and expect to pay our creditors every dollar of indebtedness. We ask the pa- tience and indulgence of our depositors and the work of liquidation will begin at once.” The failure of the Gardner and Morrow bank also temporarily embarrassed the First National bank of Hollidaysburg, and the banks at Williamsburg and Martinsburg. They were all in good financial condition, however, and the embarrassment was only temporary. As stated by the bank officials on the day the assignment was made the work of liquida- tion started at once and it has been going on ever. since, with the likelihood that it will be some years yet before the last chapter will have been. written. The Gardner estate contested the claims of the depositors and _ litigation which extended over a period of a number of years followed, the depositors finally winning their contentions in the highest courts: At various times distributions of funds realized have been made among the creditors, who to date have received about 50 cents on:the dollar. In connection. with the failure of this bank an interesting episode occurred during the year 1908, twelve years afterwards. One of the 170 depositors was a miner named Morrissey, who lived in a mining town in Cambria county. One day during 1908 he came to Hollidaysburg for the purpose of drawing out some of. his money, having several thousand dollars on de- posit. He had never heard that the bank had failed, although he did not live over twenty- five miles away. The first establishment to conduct a bank- ing business in Altoona was the firm of Messrs. Bell, Johnston, Jack & Co., of which William M. Lloyd was a member. About 1857-58 the first three named retired, and the firm name was changed to that of William M. Lloyd & Co. It continued to do a large business until overtakeri by the panic of 1873, and subse- quently closed and wound up its affairs. In 1882 the bank was reorganized under the name of the Second National bank, which for many years had been one of the leading financial in- stitutions. The capital stock is $100,000, with surplus and undivided profits amounting to $100,000. The present officers are as follows: President, John P. Levan; cashier, Frank Hastings; directors, John P. Levan, George H. Adams, Jacob C. Stineman, H. S. Prutz- man, and Frank Hastings. The late J. S. Leisenring and the late Dr. Charles B. Dudley were long identified with this bank as directors. The First National bank of Altoona was or- ganized in 1864, and has occupied its present location at the corner of Eleventh avenue and Twelfth street ever since. It is capitalized at $250,000 and is the local depository of the Pennsylvania railroad company. A. M. Lloyd was its first president, he being succeeded at his death by his son, John Lloyd, who has held the position ever since. J. B. Skyles is the present cashier and Robert C. Wilson the assist- ant cashier. Directors are John Lloyd, John Lloyd, Jr., M. H. Canan, Harry E. Ferguson and M. Lloyd. This bank has the confidence of the entire community and is listed as one of the best institutions of the kind in the banking business. Mr. Lloyd has other extensive busi- ness interests and is a busines man of ripe ex- perience, good judgment and _ conservative methods. HISTORY OF BLAIR COUNTY The Altoona bank was organized in July, 1872, with a capital of $100,000. Its officers at organization were E. B. Isett, president; R. P. Morrow, cashier, and the board of di- rectors was composed of Martin Bell, John B. Westley, William Murray, Matthew Mor- row and Samuel Wigton. Upon the death of R. P. Morrow, in 1873, Theodore H. Wigton was appointed cashier, serving until 1898, when he was succeeded by J. Gemmill Davis, the present incumbent. The bank was estab- lished in a building on Eleventh avenue, above Confer’s store, and was there located until the erection, in 1875, of the substantial building on Eleventh avenue between Twelfth and Thir- teenth street, which was replaced in 1902 by the present magnificent structure. The Al- toona bank was established as a private insti- tution and thus continued until 1902, when it was reorganized and took the name of the Central Trust company. It is capitalized at $240,500, and the present roster of officers-is as follows: President, M. H. ‘Canan; vice president, Milton Alexander; secretary and treasurer, J. G. Davis; trust officer, William B. Reed; directors, M. H. Canan, M. Alex- ander, J. G. Davis, D. E. Biddle, George C. Kelcher, H. E. Ferguson, John P. Levan, John Kazmaier, Oliver Rothert, John P. Lafferty, W. L. Woodcock, Warren S. Lee, James C. Hughes, I. C. Mishler and H. P. Wilson. The institution is very carefully managed and has always enjoyed the confidence of the com- munity. eae _ The Altoona Trust company was organized in 1901 by Altoona and Hollidaysburg busi- ness men, and the same year a beautiful five- story modern bank and business block was erected at the corner of Twelfth avenue and Twelfth street. The banking rooms are on the first floor and are magnificently fitted up. J. A. B. Melvin was the first president of the institution and he continues to serve in that capacity. The capital, surplus and undivided profits amount to $375,645.63 and three per cent interest is paid on savings accounts and certificates of deposit. Always reliable and careful, the Altoona Trust company has the AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS entire confidence of a large and steadily in- creasing clientele. The present officers are: President, J. A> B. Melvin; vice president, . William V. Hughes; secretary-treasurer and trust officer, William H. Weber; assistant treasurer, Samuel Wilson; solicitor, Samuel E. Morrow; directors, A. C. Shand, D. M. Clem- son, W. V. Hughes, W. W. Blackburn, H. K. McCauley, Robert J. Fay, J. R. Bingaman, C. A. Wood and J. A. B. Melvin. In 1900 a number of business men organized the Real Estate Title & Trust company. and a four story building was erected as a home for the new institution on Fifteenth street, between Eleventh and ‘l'welfth avenues. James H. Craig was the first president and George Harpham the secretary and treasurer. The in- stitution prospered and in 1908 the name was changed to the Blair County Title & Trust company and the capital stock greatly in- creased. The year before the company pur- chased the Schenk block at the corner of Eleventh avenue and Fourteenth street, and remodeled it, fitting up on the first floor one of the finest banking rooms to be found in the state. As its name indicates, the company abstracts titles for the public, this feature being a great convenience to the people of Altoona, as the county seat is located at Hollidaysburg. The Altoona Title company, which had been ‘in existence for a number of years prior to the organization of the Real Estate Title & Trust company, was merged into the latter institu- tion when it was formed. The present officers of the Blair County Title & Trust company are: President, E. J. Lomnitz; first vice presi- dent, John A. Schwab; second vice president, ' A. R. Wolf; treasurer, John D. Meyer; direc- tors, George W. Creighton, H. J. Culberson, P. W. Finn, W. F. Hill, E. J. Lomnitz, C. A. Preston, Joseph Savidge, John A. Schwab, J. W. Swartz and A. R. Wolf. Recently the word “‘title’ was eliminated from the com- pany’s name and it is now known as the Blair County Trust company. Altoona’s youngest financial institution is the Mountain City Trist company,. organized in 1906. It is capitalized at $162,000 and its 171 resources amount to over $400,000. Upon its organization a property was purchased on Twelfth street between Tenth and Eleventh avenues, and a portion of the first floor of the building was fitted up for banking purposes. H. L. Nicholson, for many years the Penn- sylvania railroad ticket agent in Altoona, was its president from the organization until his death two years later, when he was succeded by Dr. James E. Smith. The other officers are as follows: Vice president, Oliver Rothert and L. Z. Replogle; secretary and treasurer, Samuel S. Metz; directors, W. L. Nicholson, Oliver Rothert, L. Z. Replogle, J. .Banks Kurtz, L. F. Hinman, J. A. Kohler, W. W. Keagy, W. S. Aaron, W..H. McEldowney, ~Dr. J. E. Smith, V. A. Oswald, James 'S. Fleck, William H. Burgoon, L. T Book and C. G. Mattas. The Mountain City Trust com- pany pays interest in time deposits, has safe deposit vaults, and there is a bright future be- fore this, the latest bank to be established in the city. The Union bank, Altoona’s popular east side financial institution, has existed under five dif- ferent names. It was opened for business Nov. 1, 1870, under the name of the Me- chanics’ Savings bank, its officers for a num- ber of years being Maxwell Kinkead, president ; and E. K. Baldrige, cashier, the latter béing succeeded later on by William M. Lloyd, Jr. In February, 1886, it was incorporated as the Fidelity Banking company, limited. A few years later the name was changed to the Fidel- ity bank. In 1903 it was organized into a trust company and called the Union Trust company. This organization lasted for but one. year, and in November, 1904, it was reorganized for straight banking business and has since’ been called the Union bank. It is capitalized at $125,000 and the present officers are as: fol- lows: President, W. J. Heinsling; vice presi- dent, M. H. Mackey; cashier, A: P. Rupert; directors, John O’Neil, W. S. Lee, Dr. J. D. Findley, Lemuel Elway and D. S. Keith. James W. Findley was cashier of this bank for many years, until his death in 1908, when he 172 was succeeded by Mr. Rupert, who had been the bookkeeper. The Citizens’ National bank of Hollidays- burg was organized in 1903, when the present fine bank building on Allegheny street was erected. It is capitalized at $50,000, and the roster of officers is as follows: President, Lynn A. Brua; vice president, J. King Mc- Lanahan, Jr.; cashier, H. D. Hewit; assistant cashier, H. S. Smith; directors, L. A. Brua, Oliver H. Hewit, Thomas J. Baldrige, J. K. McLanahan, Jr., Peter S. Duncan and H. C. Burger. ’ A bank was established in Williamsburg, September 15, 1873, as a branch of the First National bank of Hollidaysburg. William Jack of Hollidaysburg was the president and John Clark its cashier. Its affairs were wound up in 1896. On May 10, 1909, the Farmers’ and Mer- chants’ National bank was organized in Wil- liamsburg with a capital of $25,000. Its of- ficers are as follows: President, George M. Patterson; first vice president, John B. Stroup; second vice president, D. T. Ketring; cashier, Jesse Nicodemus. C. R. Fluke was the cashier for a while after its organization. Tyrone has three banks, viz., the First National, the Blair County National and the Farmers’ and Merchants’ National. The First Natonal was known as the Tyrone bank, which was opened for the transaction of business April Ist, 1871. At that time the company was composed of John Scott, William Dorris, William. Orbison, George W. Garrettson, H. G. Fisher, George C. Wilkins, Caleb Guyer, G. W. Burkett, Israel Miller, A. B. Hoover and D. D. Wood. In 1874 the members of the firm residing at Huntingdon disposed of their interests to the Tyrone partners, and Col. D. M. Jones and P. Flynn were added to the firm. At the organization of the com- pany Caleb Guyer became cashier of the bank, a position he held until his death a few years ago. He was succeeded by D. S. Kloss. The banking office was first on the HISTORY OF BLAIR COUNTY é corner of Main and Juniata streets, but in the fall of 1876 the bank was moved to the Caldwell building, remaining there until its destruction by fire July 8th, 1880. On its site the Flynn block was erected, and in it an elegant and complete office furnished for the use of the bank, which took possession of it in January, 1881. In recent years the bank has become a national bank, and it has always enjoyed a most excellent repu- tation among the business men in this part of the state. a The Blair County Banking company was organized Dec. 15th, 1874, with the following members: S. C. Stewart, S. S. Blair, Stewart’ Greek, E. L. Study, E. C. Humes, Andrew G. Curtin, William P. Humes, John P, Har- ris and Robert A. McCoy. E. L. Study be- came president of the bank, and continued ‘until his death, Jan. 26th, 1880. At the same time Robert A. McCoy was elected cashier, and continued to serve in that ca- pacity. until his death, about 1890.. F. K. Lukenbach is the present cashier. The Farmers’ and Merchants’ National bank is a growing institution with ample facilities and abundant resources, and does a large business in the community. It is a government depository. F. M. Waring is the cashier. Bellwood has two banks, the Bellwood jand the First National. Both are in a flour- ishing condition, and enjoy the confidence of the people of the community. J. W. Lother is the cashier of the Bellwood bank and R. L. Scott of the First National. Martinsburg, located in the heart of the great Morrison’s Cove, supports two banks, the Morrison’s Cove and the First National: The Morrison’s Cove bank was formerly conducted as a branch of the Gardner and Morrow bank of Hollidaysburg. It is capi- talized at $15,000, and the officers are as follows: President, John B. Skyles; vice president, H. S. Burket; cashier, W. U. Skyles;; directors, J. B. Skyles, Jerre Mil- ler, H. S. Burket, S. B. Fluke, George B. AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS Wineland, A. B. Mock and Ira E. Brum- baugh. ‘The First National bank was organized in 1905 with a capital stock of $25,000, and its officers are as follows: President, C. A. Patterson; vice president, J. C. Sanders; cashier, S. S. Horton; directors, S. S. Hor- ton, J. C. Sanders, Jacob W. Galley, C. A. Patterson, George D. Paul, W. M. Bolger, E. H. Lytle and J. A. Wagner The Roaring Spring bank is an unincor- porated private institution with a capital stock of $25,000. It was organized in Au- gust, 1902, at which time the preserit com- modious and attractive bank building was erected. The officers are as follows: Presi- dent, D. M. Bare; cashier, S. H. Cree; di- rectors, Ed. Hair, S. H. Cree, E. G. Bobb, Dr. William M. Eidon, Horace G. Hair, and E. C. Korb. _ Juniata borough has one bank, called the First National bank. It was organized in 1907 by some of the business men of the town and capitalized at $25,000. The bank- ing rooms are located in the Hutchinson building. D. E. Parker, a prominent con- tractor, is the president of the institution, and David Meek is the cashier. It has pros- 173 pered since its establishment and has the. confidence of the people of the town. All the banking institutions of the county are conducted on a sound monetary basis, and are carefully and intelligently managed by those in charge. They all passed through the recent panic with its attendant depres- sion of business with confidence unim- paired. The history of the county’s banking insti- tutions is not, however, without a few dark pages. The failure of the Lloyd bank at Altoona in 1873 constitutes one of these pages and the failure of the Gardner, Mor- row & Co. bank of Hollidaysburg in 1896, is another. Still another was the defalcation of Harry Gardner, cashier of the Second National bank of Altoona, in 1894, tempo- rarily embarrassing the institution. Gard- ner’s defalcations were estimated at $100,- ooo. He disappeared and his whereabouts have since been unknown, except possibly to a few intimate friends. In spite of the heavy loss sustained, the bank was on a sound financial basis, and it was soon opened for business, never losing the confi- dence of the public and always enjoying a liberal share of the public patronage. CHAPTER X. THE PRESS. Early Lack of Local Newspapers—Hollidaysburg Aurora the First Newspaper Published in the County—Hollidaysburg Sentinel—Canal and Portage Register—Hollidaysburg Register —Hollidaysburg Standard—Democratic Standard—Blair County Whig—The Siueld— Leader—Temperance Vindicator—The Inadequacy of the Early Newspapers—The Old Time Compositor—Introduction of the Linotype Machine—Altoona Publications—Sunday Newspapers—German and Other Foreign Papers—The: Brown Booklet—Newspapers of Tyrone, Williamsburg, Bellwood, Martinsburg, Roaring Spring, etc.—Local Ltterature. Prior to 1833 no newspaper was printed in Blair county; mail facilities were poor; the mails were carried on horseback and by the time the few newspapers taken by the people reached their several destinations the news was stale. Philadelphia news- papers were about the only ones that en- tered the county, a few reading the Bedford and Huntingdon weeklies that had been es- tablished at an earlier date. These were filled with the doings of congress, the bick- erings of political parties and foreign affairs. ‘Very few original communications appeared in the newspapers of that day. No local news of any kind appeared and the comings and goings of the people were not men- tioned. The Hollidaysburg Aurora was the first newspaper published within the limits of Blair county. It was established by T. P. Campbell in 1833, the first number being issued August 9th of that year. It was a neutral five-column folio and bore the motto, “Truth incontestible in spite of all.” The terms were “Two dollars per annum if paid within the year, otherwise $2.50 will be charged.” Advertisements were in- serted at the rate of $1 per square. Notice was given that communications to receive attention had to be sent prepaid, and that subscriptions would not, be discontinued un- til arrearages were paid in full. Mr. Camp- bell continued the publication of the Aurora for one year when he sold out to H. and F. Semple. Their first issue was dated Sept. 4th, 1834, and contained Mr. Campbell’s valedictory. The new firm conducted the Aurora in the interests of the anti-Masonic party for a year or so, but the publication was not a isuccess and the business was at an end. The material of the office passed into the hands of Jacob Snyder and Peter Hewit. In 1837 they advertised for sale an ‘Imperial Clymer press” with the other material used in the publication of the Aurora. ° The Hollidaysburg Sentinel and Hunting-. don, Cambria and Bedford County Demo- crat was the next journalistic venture .in the county. It does not appear just who launched the enterprise, but William R. Mc- Cay was the éditor. The material was se- cured from a defunct Huntingdon paper. It was a five-column folio. The first issue was dated October 6th, 1835. It failed and ceased to be after a struggle of one year. It was succeeded by the Standard in 1838. The Canal and Portage Register was es- 174 AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS - tablished by John Scott and Henry C. Gray. It was a five-column folio and it seems to have been an exponent of.the whig party, as it advocated the election of William Henry Harrison for president. The first number was dated July 2, 1836. John Penn Jones, who only passed away “in the early part of 1910, purchased Mr. Gray’s interest October 26, 1836, and Messrs. Scott and Jones continued as _ partners until April urth, 1838, when Mr. Jones became sole proprietor and enlarging the paper to a six-column folio, changed the name to Hollidaysburg Register and Hunt- ingdon County Inquirer. From May Ist, 1839, to February 24th, 1840, D. B. Wil- liams was associated with Mr. Jones. After the latter date Mr. Jongs conducted the paper alone, and on the 4th of March, 1846, changed the name to Hollidaysburg Regis- ter and Blair County Inquirer, the county having been formed in that year. In 1855 the name was again changed to the Holli- daysburg Register and Blair County Weekly News. On September 25th, 1861, H. A. Caldwell entered as a partner and the new firm con- tinued until October 21st, 1863, when John Dean, afterwards judge of the county court and justice of the state supreme court, be- came the owner. In 1866 he sold out to -Samuel Hoover and son. They on the 16th of March, 1868, sold to David and Jacob Z. Over, and it has been in the hands of the Over family ever since. They changed the name to the Hollidaysburg Register, its present name, January 7th, 1870, and on the 27th day of November, 1872, Jacob Z. Over retired from the firm. The paper was en- larged from 24 to 36 columns on April 14th, 1880. Frank J. Over, who had been asso- ciated with his father, David Over, in con- ducting the paper, has been the editor and _ proprietor since the latter’s death a number of years ago. Throughout all the years of its éxistence the Register has been a loyal supporter of the principles of the whig or 175 republican party. It is now issued semi- weekly. : The Hollidaysburg Standard was started with the materials of the old Huntingdon Sentinel, by P. L. Joslin, with George R. McFarlane as editor, in the spring of 1838, and was originally owned by stockholders. On January ist, 1841, A. O. Traugh and H. A. Boggs took charge and conducted the paper until January Ist, 1843, when differ- ences occurred between the editors and stock- holders in regard to the Portage railroad. Messrs. Traugh and Boggs withdrew, and purchasing new material, started a new paper called the Beacon Light, a six-column folio, which was regularly published until June, 1845. Meanwhile John Dougherty purchased a lot of new material and began the publica- tion of the Democratic Standard October roth, 1844. Soon after that time Alonzo S. Dougherty purchased the Standard, while A. O. Traugh purchased the interests of Mr. Boggs in the Beacon Light. Messrs. Traugh and Dougherty then merged these papers-into a new series of the Democratic standard, the event being consummated May Ist, 1845. One year later Mr. Traugh became sole proprietor and it has remained in the family until the present time. It has always been a loyal exponent of democratic principles. Among those who served on the editorial staff were W. U. Jones, author of the History of Juniata Valley, and W. H. Schwartz, the present editor of the Altoona Tribune. The Blair County Whig was established by Jacob L. Slentz in 1846. After about three years it was purchased by George T. Raymond and William S. Wilson. Swbse- quently Mr. Raymond conducted it alone. After a suspension of a month or more John Brotherlin purchased it and continued its publication for a number of years. In 1861 John H. Keatly was associated with Mr. Brotherlin and about 1866 the name was changed to that of the Radical and Blair County Whig. On the 18th of May, 1868, it 176 was purchased by M. Edgar King and James H. Irwin and its name was changed to the Blair County Radical, and the office was soon after removed to Altoona. The interests of James H. Irwin were purchased by Samuel G. Irwin, May 6th, 1878, and by him leased to M. Edgar King. After that time James H. Irwin re-associated himself with Mr. King. Soon after another change took place and James H. Irwin became the editor and publisher. The paper ceased to exist in the early eighties. The Shield, a paper in the interest of the Catholic church, was published in Holli- daysburg during the years 1849-50, by Hay- den Smith. John H. Keatly commenced the publica- tion of the Leader in Holidaysburg in 1866. It was devoted to the temperance cause but it did not receive a paying support and after a little more than a year it was dis- continued and the material purchased by Dr. J. P. Thompson of Williamsburg, who at that place started the Temperance Vindi- cator in the spring of 1868. About 1870 the paper was sold to George F. McFarland who removed the office to Harrisburg, ex- cept the press and some office fixtures, which were taken to the Bedford Press office. A glance over the files of the various pub- lications enumerated as they were published in the early days, shows the marvelous pro- gress that has been made in the newspaper- dom. There were few editorials those days; the editor, if such he may be called, used the scissors and the paste-pot and never troubled himself about “leaders” and the like. It required half the week to print the meager edition on the miserable presses then in vogue, and the editor frequently took a turn at the press himself. In those days the industrious reporter was unknown. There was no county cor- respondence, no recording of neighborhood doings, comparatively little localizing. The old newspapers just plodded along. The publishers took nearly everything in ex- HISTORY OF BLAIR COUNTY change for subscriptions, wood, flour, gar- den produce and even whiskey. There was no display in the few advertisements that found their way into the early newspapers of the county, and the knack of writing ad- vertisements had not been discovered. The newspapers of the past were probably as much read by their patrons as are those of the present day, because they had nothing else to read, if we except the few dry vol- umes that looked lonely on the bookshelf of th home. The papers then were read aloud at night to the household by the head of it, including the month-old news that filled the ~ narrow columns. The old-time compositor was a character. He tramped the country, remaining for a few weeks or months at a place. Some of these geniuses did not belong to the temper- ance societies, and now and then the non- appearance of the paper was owing to the chronic “indisposition,” to use no harsher term. The “tramp. printer” has about disappeared, though now and then one puts in an appearance, works for a few days and again becomes a wanderer on the face of the earth. The linotype ended his career. ALTOONA PUBLICATIONS. In the spring of 1855 William H. and J. A. Snyder began the publication of the first news- paper ever publshed in Altoona. They used the equipment of the Standing Stone Banner and their paper was called the Altoona Regis- ter. After some four or five months it was discontinued, and the materials of the office were purchased by E. B. McCrum and Wil- liam H. Allison, who commenced the Altoona Tribune, Jan. 1, 1856. On the ist of May, 1858, Mr. Allison disposed of his interest to H. C. Dern, and July 19, 1875, the interest of Mr. McCrum passed into the hands of Hugh Pitcairn, who, with Mr. Dern, con- ducted the paper until Mr. Dern’s death in September, 1905. The Daily Tribune was first issued by McCrum and Dern, April 14th, 1873, which, “29 co W. H. SCHWARTZ AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS after “an existence of just two years, was discontinued. On the 28th of January, 1878, Dern & Pitcairn resumed the daily edition, which with the weekly, continues to be published. The Tribune has always been an advocate of the principles of the repub- lican party, and long regarded as the official organ of the party. Adam J. Green per- formed editorial work on the. Tribune for a number of years. On the first of February, 1881, he was succeeded by W. H. Schwartz, who in an editorial capacity had been con- nected with the Altoona Sun and the Al- toona Tribune for some years prior. Mr. Schwarts is a native of Williamsburg, Blair county, and is incomparably the most versa- tile writer the county has ever produced. His editorials have served to place the Tribune in the front rank of Pennsylvania journals, and as his active service antedates that of all others now in the field, he is the dean of the profession in the county. Following the death of H. C. Dern in 1905, the company was reorganized, the in- terest of Mr. Dern being retained by his family. The company is called the Altoona Tribune company, with Hugh Pitcairn as president, Henry C. Dern, treasurer, Alonzo D. Houck, general manager and secretary. E, Warren Everhart has been the city edi- tor of the Tribune for many years. Others who have long been connected with the staff of the Tribune are J. Virgil Taylor, chief of the reportorial staff; W. M. Withe- row, circulation manager, and Parson H. Crawford, advertising manager. The Altoona Vindicator was established by James F. Camblell May, Ist, 1868. In February, 1869, the office was practically destroyed by fire. New material was at once secured, but on the 10th day of Decem- ber, 1869, Daniel W. Moore became its owner, who changed the name to Altoona Sun, June 2nd, 1870. It was then variously managed, Moore & Son, Moore & McKin- ney and again by D. W. Moore alone. John W. McKinney entered the firm February 1oth, 1871. The Daily Sun was first issued 177 May 2nd, 1870, and was continued seven months. W. H. Schwartz was its first city editor. On the roth of May, 1874, the office was purchased by the brothers, N. C. and Cyrus N. Barclay, who enlarged the. paper Janu- ary 1, 1879. In November of that year a joint stock company was organized, com- posed of a large number of the most active democrats of Blair, Cambria, Huntingdon and Somerset counties, for the purpose of establishing a daily democratic paper in Altoona in connection with the Weekly Sun. The organization, under the title of the Sun Printing and Publishing company, was completed Nov. 25th, 1879, by the election of the following board of directors: An- drew J. Riley, Esq., John P. Levan, George W. Good, N..C. Barclay, S. M. Woodcock, M. Fitzharris, F. D. Casanave and R. W. Guthrie This board of directors at a subse- quent meeting elected A. J. Riley president, N. C. Barclay treasurer and business mana- ger, and R. W. Guthrie clerk. William P. Furey was elected managing editor, John M. Furey city editor and C. N. Barclay su- perintendent of the printing department. Under this management the first number of the Altoona Daily Sun was issued Dec. 11th, 1879. On the 17th of March, 1881, however, the property of the Sun Printing and Publishing company was sold at public sale, when Messrs N. C. and C. N. Barclay purchased the same and continued the pub- lication of the Daily and Weekly Sun. The publication of the Daily Sun was dis- continued after a few years, and the weekly was continued up to 1892, when the Ga- zette company was formed, and the equip- ment was sold to that company, the Bar- clays retaining an interest for a few years in the Gazette company. - The Altoona Evening Gazette, the youngest of the four daily newspapers at present occupying the field-in Altoona, was organized in March, 1892, the first edition appearing on April 5th. A stock company was formed, the chief of whom were the 178 HISTORY OF BLAIR COUNTY Barclays, who had conducted the Sun, and Rev. P. G. and James M. Bell, and the equip- ment of the Sun was purchased. The paper’s first home was located at No. 1012 Green avenue, where it remained three years, and then removed to 1327 Eleventh avenue. It remained at this location until the completion of the magnificent four-story brick building at 1110 Fifteenth street, which has since been its home, the plant occupying the first and fourth floors and the basement of the building. : Warner H. Bell was the managing editor of the paper from the time of its establish- ment until 1902. He was one of the most able and fearless editors that ever wielded a pen in the county. When he had anything to say he said it in a manner that admitted of no dispute. Under his management the Gazette soon came to be recognized as a power in the community. The Gazette is republican in principle and throughout its history has taken an active part in all political campaigns. ‘In 1901 the Gazette company was reor- ganized and James H. Craig, Esq., at the present time deputy secretary of internal affairs of the commonwealth of Pennsyl- vanid, acquired a controlling interest in the paper and became the editor in chief, a po- sition he still holds. Upon the retirement of Mr. Bell from the position of managing editor, this position was assumed by David H. Myers, who had previously been the city editor. Mr. Myers was one of the most virile of the younger class of newspaper edi- tors-in the state, and what promised to be a brilliant career was cut short by his un- timely death in 1904. He was succeeded by Jesse C. Sell, Esq., a member of the Blair county bar, who has held the position ever since. The business manager of the paper for a number of years was H. Mack Fair. He re- tired in 1902, since when the business inter- ests and general management of the paper have been’ in the hands of William B. Swayne, who has been identified with the Gazette from the beginning. Arthur B. Clark, the present city treasurer of Altoona, was advertising manager up to the time of his election in 1905, and recently has ac- quired a financial interest in the paper. “Among those who have at one time or an- other been members of the editorial staff and have contributed a share in bringing -the Gazette to the front rank of Pennsyl- vania dailies were Frank Bell, Edward Banks, -George Herring, Harry Reilly, Arthur S. James, Bayard W. Gable, R. Max Lewis, Harry P. Hays and Charles B. Sha- ver. Mr. Shaver is the present city editor. The Altoona Baptist, first a folio, but afterwards changed to a quarto, and pub- lished in the interest of the First Baptist church of Altoona, was established in No- vember, 1873, Rev. William Codville, edi-. tor. It was published by Harry Slep for about one year, when it was discontinued. In 1874 D. B. Ream commenced the pub- ‘lication of a temperance paper in Altoona, ‘called the Living Age, but notwithstanding its title, it survived by a brief period, and the material being purchased by George J. Akers, he established a Sunday paper called the Globe, which after a couple of months, or'in the beginning of the year 1877, was converted into a daily. The paper was con- tinued by Mr. Akers for some time, but lacking support, it was discontinued. It was purchased by John Tomlinson and was run as a greenback paper, but this enterprise also failing, its publication ceased. The Home Base, a baseball weekly, was published during the season of 1876 by Frank E. McCullough at the Mirror Print- ing House. The Gospel Trumpet was established in 1878 by T. B. Patton. It was printed at the Mirror office and was circulated gratuit- ously. The Altoona Advance was issued by Mr. and Mrs. T. P. Rynder, May 3, 1879.” It was devoted to commercial purposes, and temperance, and politically advocated the principles of the greenback party, also labor hee AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS : reform, high tariff, high wages and cash payments. It was delivered free to every home in the city. It was first printed by Harry Slep, but later on at the Call office and soon after was discontinued. In August, 1879, E. J. Slep commenced the publication of the Youth’s Mirror. It was at first issued monthly, but in course of time it was changed toa semi-monthly. It has long since ceased to exist. The Altoona Mirror was born June 13, 1874, on the second floor of the original Bowman block, at the corner of Eleventh avenue and Twelfth street, it being started, as Altoona’s first penny newspaper, by the firm of Slep & Akers, consisting of Mr. Harry Slep, who previously had come here from Harrisbiirg and was conducting the Mir- ror Printing House, a job printing establish- ment, and Mr. George J. Akers. The paper was a four-column, four-paged edition, which at once met with popular favor, and the paper soon had to be en- larged, the price being then raised to two cents. Mr. Akers withdrew from the firm in 1877, and was succeeded by W. J. Flem- ing, who fetired shortly after, and Mr. Slep conducted it alone until. December 11,1878, when he was forced to retire on account of ill health, and it passed into the hands of his editor and business manager, W. K. Buck- ingham and W. S. Nicodemus, respectively, who conducted it under the name of Buick- ingham & Nicodemus. The name was changed to the Democra- tic Call, but the new firm failed to prosper and their attorneys, Alexander & Herr, had to take it over to protect themselves. In 1879 E. B. Haines purchased it, changed the name to the Evening Call and in 1885 was forced to suspend the publication and move the Call to Harrisburg. Meanwhile Harry Slep and his eldest son, W. H. Slep, had continued the job printing office in the former’s own one-story build- -ing in the rear of 1122 Eleventh avenue, and in February, 1881, they moved the Mirror ‘Printing House into a new two-story build- ’ 179 ing they purchased for a permanent home, at 1012 Eleventh avenue. The Mirror was re-established June 16, 1888, with W. H. Slep as publisher, and was issued from his father’s plant, the volume and number being taken up where they had been left off when the Call had been started. The younger Slep was not long in discovering that he needed a guiding hand, and the man for the place was the elder Slep. So the news- paper and job offices were consolidated, and the firm of H. & W. H. Slep was formed July 4, 1890. Prosperity attended the new firm. The price was again placed at one cent, while the other city papers were charging two, and the circulation boomed from the start. More commodious quarters became neces- sary, and on May aist, 1892, was issued the first paper from the new three-story build- ing erected on the lot adjoining 1012 Elev- enth avenue. For a time the paper then stood still, during the panic of 1893, but, the effects of that past, boomed rapidly and, on June 13, 1896, the old method of printing a paper was abandoned and the first copy is- sued printed with the use of the Mergen- thaler linotype, the Mirror being the first paper in central Pennsylvania to install these modern machines. Prosperity again brought a demand for larger quarters and the corner lot, 1000 Eleventh avenue, was purchased and a fine three-story brick building, with basement, ae for a permanent home. On Nov. 7, 1899, flames swept the old building, se- riously crippling the plant, but the paper only missed one issue, and, in March, 1900, moved into its present home. A serious blow to the Mirror was the death, on December 8, 1906, of W. H. Slep, following which, on June 13, 1907, the Mir- ror Printing company was incorporated, this corporation now owning and publishing the paper. The stock is all in the Slep family, there being no outside interests. The offi- cers of the corporation are: Harry Slep, president; J. G. Humes, secretary-treasurer : 180 Edward J. Slep and Daniel Neff Slep, H., E. J..D. N., A. M. Slep and J. G. Humes are directors. The present editorial force of the paper is: Harry L. Johnston, editor; Elmer C. Ake, city editor; R. Max Lewis, John N. Tillard and Edward E. Murphy, reporters. The Altoona Times.—The Times is the expounder of democratic principles in the city of Altoona and possesses an influence which is felt over a wide extent of territory. The Times was founded in the year 1882 by a company of which Henry A. McPike was the head, and was conducted as an evening paper. In 1884 it became a morning publi- cation, under the proprietorship of the Times Publishing company, Frank E. Mc- Cullough and George F. Fresh being among those identified with the ownership and management. On November 26, 1891, the Times Publishing company transferred its interest in the paper to Potter Stahl & Co. A year later the firm name was changed to Potter, Lawyer & Stahl, and a little later Potter, Greer & Kelley. In 1905 Messrs. Potter and Kelley retired from the firm and a stock company, known as the Altoona Times company was formed, with Charles A. Greer as general manager and editor in chief. Mr. Greer retired in 1908 and the po- sition is now held by Charles M. Kelley. W. J. Heinsling is the president of the com- -pany and William Hahman treasurer. The Times is a member of the Associated Press and the official organ of the municipality of Altoona. Identified with the business management of the Times from the day it was estab- lished to the present time, has been Homer F. Coon. For a period.of sixteen years, ending in 1903, Charles J. Wehrle was the editor. Harry L. Johnston was the city editor from 1892 to 1899, and Elmer K. Rupp held this position from 1899 to 1904, when he was succeeded by’ Charles M. Kelley. Mr, Kelley, John S. Borring and William Stonebraker constitute the present editorial force. HISTORY OF BLAIR COUNTY When established the Times was located in a building at Eleventh avenue and Four- teenth street. After a few years it was movd to the Alexander block at Eleventh avenue between Twelfth and Thirteenth streets, where it remained until the com- pletion of the present handsome four-story brick structure on Eleventh avenue between Eleventh and Twelfth streets, which was erected by the Times company in 1905. SUNDAY NEWSPAPERS. In May, 1881, Dr. M. J. Buck and Messrs. F, A. Ward and George J. Akers originated the Sunday Morning Publishing company, limited, and on Sunday, May 27th, the Sun- day Morning, a paper to be published every Sunday morning, made its first appearance. Mr. Akers was city editor and business man- ager, while Mrs. M.-E. Furey became the editor. In November, Mr. Akers retired from the company, his place being taken by W. H. Slep, of the Mirror, as stockholder and business manager. In the fall of 1882 Homer Vaughn was employed as city editor and business manager, Mr. Slep retiring. In July, 1883, the office of. the Sunday Morning was entirely destroyed by fire. In the spring the paper had passed into the en- tire ownership of Dr. Buck, who then sold out to Jacob Smith. Mrs. Furey remained with him as editor, and Mr. Vaughan en- gaged in a newspaper enterprise for himself, starting a Sunday paper called The News. In 1887 Mr. Vaughn purchased the Sunday Morning from Mr. Smith, who had in the meantime changed its title to The Graphic and consolidated the two papers into The Graphic News. Mrs. Furey was still re- tained as editor under the new regime. Mr. Vaughn died in August, 1889, and in Sep- tember of the same year the plant was pur- chased by Walter J. Hamor. Mrs. Furey remained as editor until January, 1891, and was succeeded by T. S. Fettinger, who had previously been identified with the Sunday Morning. ° The Graphic News ceased to exist as a AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS Sunday newspaper in 1895, since when there has been no Sunday newspaper in Altoona. In that year Mr. Hamor, who had been elected city clerk, sold his interest to J. D. Hicks and J. S. Elway, who formed a com- pany and started the Daily News. William B. Hicks, son of J. D. Hicks, was installed as editor and business manager. The News was a morning newspaper and it was issued for about one year, when it ceased to exist. The Graphic News was independent polit- ically, while the Daily News supported Re- publican principles and candidates. Rev. W. W. Dunmire came to Altoona in 1886 and established the Daily Independ- ent. The Independent flourished for a number of years, either as a daily or as a weekly, subsequently becoming, as a weekly, an organ of the American Protect- ive association, the editor waging constant warfare against the Catholic church. In the later years of its existence it was called the Independent ‘Loyal American. Its pub- lication ceased in 1900, and the equipment of the office passed into the hands of Rev. Dunmire’s son, Harvey C. Dunmire, who has since conducted what is known as the Franklin Printery, issuing no publication. Associated with Mr. Dunmire in the busi- ness is Mr. L, P. Levan. GERMAN NEWSPAPERS. ‘ Altoona has two German newspapers. The German People’s Leader was issued by Harry Slep, March 28, for the benefit of the German people, it being the first Ger- man paper issued in the county. In March, 1881, Mr. Slep sold it to L. G. Lamade, who has since conducted it. Mr. Lamade afterwards changed its name to The Deut- cher Volksfuhrer. It is issued weekly from the office, which is located at Ninth avenue and Thirteenth street. On June 6, 1901, G. H. Hemminger began issuing The Deutche Wacht, a German weekly, which he has- issued regularly since. Mr. Hemminger has a well equipped plant, located at Sixth avenue and Twelfth 181 street, it being the only German newspaper office between Pittsburg and Philadelphia equipped with a type-setting machine. Altoona also has an Italian weekly news- paper, the L’Operaio Italiano. The paper had been issued for two years in the town of Windber, Somerset county, and was moved to Altoona on January 22, 1910. The proprietors are Michael S. Paretta and Giacomo Fusco, while G. Gesari acts as ed- itor. It is a four-page paper and is called a newspaper of instruction and working- men’s interest. The establishment is. lo- cated at 605-7 Ninth avenue. The Yellow Dog, afterwards called The Critic, was started by Jacob Kinsel about 1897 and issued monthly for a number of years. It was devoted to the interests of the workingmen. It was at first issued at the Mirror office and later the proprietor established his own office. It was discon- tinued in 1905. The Brown Booklet, established by Harry L. Johnston and Bayard W. Gable, was first issued April 3, 1901, and continued until August of the same year. It was is- sued monthly from the Mirror office and was an iconoclastic and literary magazine. It created quite a stir in the community during its short existence. The Musical Advocate, a monthly publi- cation, was started in July, 1877. R. B. Ma- haffey_ was the editor and proprietor. It survived only a few years. Our Work, a monthly, was established in February, 1880. It was published by the Young People’s Christian association of the Second Presbyterian church. It was printed at the Mirror office and was discon- tinued in June, 1881. The Bookkeeper and Penman was started in August, 1880 by J. F. Davis, editor and proprietor. It was soon discontinued. The Sunday Morning, a weekly eight col- umn folio, was established by George J. Akers in June, 1881. It was printed at the Mirror office, and was discontinued in about a year. 182 The first Altoona city directory of any consequence was published in 1873 by Thomas H. Greevy. This was followed by a directory for 1875-6 by the same author. The directory for 1878-9 was published by William H. Renner of Altoona. Later on for a number of years C. B. Clark issued a directory, and since 1900 it has been pub- lished‘in alternate years by R. L. Polk & Co. In the year 1875, George J. Akers com- piled The Mirror Hand Book and Compen- dium of Facts, a pamphlet of 47 pages. Harry Slep was the publisher. 4 In the early part of 1879, The First Ven- ture, a book of 60 pages, containing poetical quotations and other reading matter, was prepared by Harry I. Woods and was printed by Harry Slep. During the year 1880 James H. Ewing and Harry Slep edited a history of Altoona and brief sketches of the chief towns of the county, besides a considerable amount of other important information. St. John’s Quarterly, more recently called The Quarterly, has been issued regu- larly during the past ten years by the Rev. Dr. Morgan M. Sheedy, rector of St. John’s Catholic church. It is devoted to the inter- ests of religion, education and literature. TYRONE NEWSPAPERS. The Iron Democrat, a weekly paper, was established in 1856. The editor was D. A. McGheehan. After one year the pa- per suspended for want of patronage. The material was sold and removed. The American Era was established by a stock company in Tyrone about the year 1856, with W. S. H. Keys as editor, after- wards Benjamin Jones. The project failed. After a period of suspension the Era was revived as The Tyrone Herald by Robert Stoddard, which paper was suspended in about a year thereafter. After lying dor- mant for some time the Herald was revived as The Tyrone Star by James Bell, but -af- ter a year or two is passed out of existence, being next revived as The Herald by H. R. HISTORY OF BLAIR COUNTY Holsinger. After being issued for six months it was discontinued for want of pat- ronage. The Western Hemisphere was estab- lished by a stock company about 1860 and had J. W. Scott and Cyrus Jefferies as ed- itors.. The aim was to make it a high-toned literary paper, rather than a local news- paper. Its existence was brief. It failed for want of support. The Christian Family Companion was es- tablished in 1864 or ’65 by H. R. Holsinger as a church paper and was the first success- ful effort made in publishing-a paper in Ty-. rone. During the time of its publication, in August, 1867, The Tyrone Herald by Holsinger, and The Tyrone Blade by M. H. Jolly, entered the field sumultaneously. The Herald had the advantage of better equip- ment and succeeded and the Blade after a brief but ineffectual struggle ceased to exist. Messrs. J. L. Holmes and Charles S. W. Jones became the owners of the Herald April 1, 1868. In 1869 Mr. Jones became the sole owner. In 1871 W. H. H. Brain- ard became a partner and Al Tyhurst in 1875. On the morning of July 8, 1880, the Herald building with much valuable ma- terial was destroyed by fire. However, through the perseverance of the publisher, the paper was issued regularly as though nothing had happened. It subsequently was issued as a daily and as such has been published to the present time. Since the death of C. S. W. Jones in 1905, its editor. and publisher has been Claude Jones, at present register and recorder of Blair county. The Tyrone Blade was established by J. L. Holmes, June 1, 1870. George’ Stroup became its owner, November 22, 1872, who changed the name to The Tyrone Demo- crat and continued its publication until July 8, 1880, when the office was destroyed by fire. This was the end of its existence. The Tyrone, started as semi-weekly, June 1, 1880, was soon after changed to a weekly, and as such has continued until AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS the present time. The first proprietors were J. N. Holmes and Mr. Wooden. It is now conducted by Harry A Thompson, who has been one of Blair county’s repre- sentatives in the state legislature the past four years. WILLIAMSBURG NEWSPAPERS. Dr. J. P. Thompson commenced the pub- lication of The Temperance Vindicator in 1868. In 1870 he sold out to George F. Mc- Farland, who removed the office fixtures to Harrisburg and the press to Bedford. The Williamsburg Independent was es- tablished by Rev. W. W. Dunmire in May, 1884. It was a seven-column folio. It was afterwards moved to Altoona. BELLWOOD. The Bellwood Bulletin was started by J. W. Elway, February 28, 1888, and was sold to W. F. Balsbach, January 1, 1901, who has continued its publication to the present time. It is an independent weekly devoted to the interests of the town. MARTINSBURG, The Cove Echo was established in 1874 by Henry and John Brumbaugh and was subsequently sold to B. F. Lehman. In 1885 the name was changed to the Martins- burg Herald and as such it has since been known. It is published by the Herald Print- ing company, limited, with H. S. Burket as president; H. W. Burket, secretary and general manager, and M. Z. Bassler, treas- urer and editor. It is an eight-page weekly. ROARING SPRING. The Roaring Spring News was estab- lished in 1906 by Amos Claar, who had pre- viously successfully conducted newspa- pers at Queen and Osterburg, Bedford county, and at Windber, Somerset county. Mr. Claar has equipped his office with up- to-date machinery, and the News it a live weekly, devoted to the interests of the town and surrounding country. The foregoing is a list of the newspapers that have been and are published within the 183 limits of the county. During three-quarters of a century of editorial toil and trouble, the press of Blair county is to be congratulated _ upon its good work and the success it has had in furnishing reading matter to the masses. It long ago passed through the incipient stages of newspaperdom to emerge into brighter and more profitable fields. Not all the newspaper ventures have lived or thrived, but the fittest have survived and so far as is known, their present appearance indicates prosperity. The citizens of the county are a reading and intelli- gent people and there is probably no home within the borders of Blair county that some local paper does not enter. LOCAL LITERATURE. In the production of general literature the county has not been very prolific. Few books have been written and published by home au- thors. Mr. Jones, who wrote the history of the Juniata valley, was probably the first citizen to put forth a book. Rev. Dr. Morgan M. Sheedy, rector of St. John’s Catholic church, has written extensively for the press and is the author of several religious books. Rev. John W. Bain, at present pastor emeritus of the First Presbyterian church, wrote a little relig- ious work entitled “As It Was Fifty Years Ago;” J. A. Boyce, of Eldorado, wrote an in- teresting volume on temperance; J. S. Leisen- ring, Esq., compiled a work on legal forms, which has become a standard among lawyeres ; Charles B. Clark, Esq., wrote a history of the county in connection with the semi-centennial celebration in 1896; Rev. James A. Sell issued a small volume on “The Lost Brothers of the Alleghenies,” and has written extensively for the religious press; Samuel A. Hamilton wrote a novel that was widely read and appreciated and has contributed many articles to maga- zines on flower culture; Dr. C. B. Dudley, fer many years chief chemist of the Pennsylvania Railroad company, has written extensively on scientific subjects; Mrs. M. J. Furey has writ- ten extensively for various periodicals, and the opinions of the late Justice John Dean adorn many pages of the state court reports. CHAPTER XI. EDUCATION. Pioneer Schools—Early Teachers—Branches of Study—The Birch as an Education Factor— The School Act of 1809—School Laws of 1834 and 1854—School Superintendents— Teachers’ County Convention—State Provision for Schools—Some Noted Teachers— Academies and Seminaries—Education in Altoona—Manual Traimng—Parish Schools. PIONEER SCHOOLS. The pioneers in the territory now embraced in Blair county had no educational advantages and the early education furnished the youth of our county was of the most primitive charac- ter, forming an interesting chapter in its early history. The settlements were somewhat iso- lated and the few settlers. who lived adja- cent were not sufficient in numbers to bear. the expense of building and equipping houses for . school purposes. The selection of a site to embrace a sufficient number of citizens made it necessary for scrce of the children to go quite a distance to attend school. Prior to the establishment by the state of the free school system in 1834 there was no satisfactory provision made by state or township for taxation to meet the expenses, neither were all the people in favor of a for- ward movement which required an outlay of money which, perhaps they did not have, and which was hard to secure. It was, therefore, left to the more public-spirited to take the initiative and strike out into an enterprise that was new and which brought no immediate re- turns in dollars and cents. Without state ap- propriation or local taxation, these enterpris- ing men proceeded to erect ‘public halls of learning. The plans and specifications of architects were unknown. A few brawny men, equipped with an axe and an auger, com- menced operations. Trees of the smaller size were felled and piled up unhewn and notched together at the corners of the edifice. The roof consisted of clapboards, narrow slats about four feet long, split from larger trees and held in place by poles laid longitudinaliy across them. Not a nail was used. The win- dows consisted of one log on either side being cut out and a few panes of glass, ten by twelve inches, set on end, one against the other, for a space of from four to six feet. In some cases where the leaders in this advanced movement ‘lacked the means to buy glass, they invested in a strong paper which they varnished with. lard to make it transparent. This was a good sub- stitute for the glass and cost less money. The heating plant generally consisted of a huge fireplace in the back end of the building. The smoke was conveyed away by a large chimney, constructed jointly of wood and stones. However, in a locality where circum- stances were more favorable or where they were more advanced in matters of taste. a large oblong “ten-plated stove” was installed. The furniture consisted of desks and long benches. Holes were bored into the logs along the inside of the room into which wooden pegs were driven, extending back far enough to receive a plank or slab about one foot wide. This was the writing desk. Parallel with it ran a long bench constructed usually of a slab with wooden pins to support it. Seats of the same kind filled the space between for the 184 AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS juveniles. Without desks upon which to re- cline, or supports upon which to lean and with feet dangling from four to six inches from the floor, the coming men and women were receiv- ing their first instruction in discipline and mental culture, thus giving them a taste or dislike for the arts and sciences and a glimpse of the flowery fields of literature. There were no standards of qualifications for teachers in those days. They were not ex- pected to be graduates of higher schools. The teacher’s efficiency was altogether a matter of his own preference and judgment. The pa- trons knew not if the instructor of their chil- dren was prompted by mercenary motives or a-love of the profession. The main protection was to select one among their own acquaint- ance, if such could be found: The system was wholly on the subscription plan. The salary of the teacher was a certain amount. per pupil for so many months with board. This was apportioned according to the number of pupils and families. This was commonly known as “boarding around.” It proved to bé quite sat- isfactory, as it brought the teacher in close touch with the patrons and a very general good feeling was maintained: The’ average wages of a teacher were from $8 to $12 per month with board throwri in. This’ was con- sidered quite a snap for the winter months. The- only branches taught were reading, writing and arithmetic, the “three R’s.” Text books were scarce and of a very crude charac- ter. It was quite common for one book of each branch to supply a whole family. The most distinguishing trait of the old-time school teacher was his ability to wield the “birch,” as the rod was then called. All breaches of discipline and delinquencies were straightened out with the rod. The first schools in the county were estab- lished as early as 1790, the one at Williams- burg, and the other on Clover creek, near what was known as Red Ore bank. Jacob Ake, who was the owner of the land on which the village of Aketown, now Williamsburg, was laid out, seeing the necessity of educational. training among the young, secured teachers 185 and defrayed all expenses from his private purse. Mr. Ake visited village households, brandished his staff, and the children hied away to school. About fifteen. years of this system of instruction existed, through the same channel, when subscription schools be- gan. James Martin taught until 1825, after which followed Messrs. Camel, Irvin, Updyke, Spencer and Miss Nancy Anderson, some of whom were very rigid disciplinarians. Mr. Updyke was a minister, and one of his novel modes of punishing pupils was to stand them in some conspicuous position, cover their eyes with leather spectacles, and allow the school to laugh at them a lefigth of time according to the gravity of the offense. committed. The school on Clover creek was. taught by John Bridenthal, in a house which stood on what is now the Hyle farm. The building had been erected for a dwelling-house, but was abandoned by its”“owner, who moved west. The citizens of the neighborhood fitted it up for a schoolhouse; for which purpose it was used for a number of years. John Diltz taught a school in a private house in the vicinity of Leather Cracker, now Henrietta, about 1795: Among other teachers who taught in this vicinity during this period may be named William Loose, ‘George Glass and William Ketring. Another school was established near Etna furnace, at an early period, probably about 1797. About 1800 the house was de- stroyed by fire, and another, to take its place, was located near Keller's church. The only teacher connected with this school, whose name is handed down to posterity, is James Martin, and no doubt his name would have long since passed into oblivion, had it not been for the liberal use he made of the “cato’nine- tails.” About 1800 John Fisher taught a school in a private house near the village of Sharpsburg; and in 1802 a schoolhouse was built in the same vicinity, known as the Houser school. Most of the teaching at that time, in this vicinity, as well as most parts of the county, was German, and probably the first English school taught in Morrison’s cove was in 1800 by a Mr. Roach, in a house which 186 stood on the present site of Roaring Spring. Thomas Kinney taught a school near Eliza- beth furnace, as early as 1800. Another school was taught in a private house, near Bell’s mills, now Bellwood, about 1809. Alex- ander Kerr and Dudley Burnham were among the most prominent teachers in this commu- nity. These are the only schools coming within this period, of which anything like re- liable information can be obtained. There were doubtless others, but all traces of their history is lost. In 1813 John Steele taught the young ideas how to shoot, in a house which stood on the present site of the Kellerman house, in Gays- port. At that time Frankstown included the present territory of Blair township, and al- though the village of Frankstown was settled at a much earlier date, there is no record of any school having been etsablished in this dis- trict previous to this. Thomas Stearns, John Knox, Joshua Williamson, William Anderson, John Wertz, Robert McNamara, Joseph Cald- walder, S. F. Henry and Ephraim Galbraith are among the teachers who taught in this lo- cality during this period. About 1812, a school was taught by James Langham, in a schoolhouse that stood near Black’s mills, in Greenfield township. - John Dodson also taught for a number of years in this neighbor- hood. One of the most public-spirited men in this community at that time seems to have been John Swoveland, who built a house at his own expense, and donated it to the public for school purposes. In 1815, there was a house erected near Allegheny furnace, Logan township, called the Beales school, which served for school purposes and preaching for a number of years. John Gwin and John Summerville were among the teachers in this locality. The first schoolhouse with a shingle roof, erected within the limits of Allegheny township, was built in Duncansville in 181 5 In 1823 Peter Wilt deeded the piece of ground on which the Dry Run schoolhouse now stands for school purposes. The act of April 4, 1809, made it the duty of assessors “to receive the names of all chii- HISTORY OF BLAIR COUNTY dren, between the ages of five and twelve, whose parents were unable to pay for their schooling.” Such children were to be edu- cated and stationery furnished by the county. Schools under this system do not seem to have prospered. The law met with general disap- probation. Poor children did not like to -hear it said, “your parents are too poor to send you out to school;’”’ neither were parents willing that the names of their children should stand recorded as beneficiaries of the county. ‘Not- withstanding this law was so unpopular, it seems to have remained in force for twenty- five years. Governor Wolf, in 1833, found. that of the four hundred thousand. children of proper school age in Pennsylvania, but twenty thousand attended: school, and three hundred and eighty thousand were uninstructed: In his annual message to the legislature, he. strongly urged the passage of a law to remedy this ter- rible state of affairs. As a result the school law of 1834 was passed. This was the real be- ginning of free schools in the state.:- It -was largely through the indefatigable efforts of Thaddeus Stevens that the law was passed through the legislature, and Stevens is looked upon as the father of the free school system in Pennsylvania. The general school law of 1834 was, in many respects, similar to the present law. That part of it making provision for the ap- pointment of inspectors by the court was re- pealed in 1835, and the non-accepting districts were given two years in which to accept before forfeiting their share of the state appropriation. In’ 1837 another act was passed, in the main, the same as the present. The non-accepting districts, under the law of 1834, were Frankstown, which at that time included Blair; Greenfield, embracing the present territory of Freedom and Juni- ata, and North Woodbury, which was com- prised of Taylor and South Woodbury, now in Bedford county, and a portion of Hus- ton. It is said, however, that the returning board of Greenfield so manipulated the returns as to count them in. The law met with much opposition in all parts of the county.. Men of AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS wealth and influence opposed it with all their might and main. For many years the enemies of the system tried to cripple it by electing anti-school men as directors, and not infre- quently men went home from elections with bloody noses, resulting from a hotly contested battle. In justice to those who opposed the system, it may be said that many of its bitterest oppo- nents became its most ardent supporters. The trouble did not end with the adoption of the system. To comply with the law, houses had tobe built and teachers were to be paid. In Frankstown the funds, for several years, were expended in building houses, so that they did not have schools under this system for several years after its adoption. In course of time these difficulties were partially overcome, and things moved along as smoothly as could be expected. Scarcely twenty years had rolled around, however, when the opposition again manifested itself. - In 1854 a school law was passed introduc- ing some important changes. Among the most important was that of the creation of the office of county superintendent. This change was particularly offensive to the teachers. Addi- tional branches were to be taught, and instead of being examined by some “country store- keeper,” or “portly squire,” they were sub- jected to a more thorough examination by. an officer who was sworn to do his duty to the best of his ability. Front superintendent Cald- well’s first annual report we learn that the teachers feared these examinations so much that “no district had sufficient applicants to open the schools at the proper time.” For several years previous to the time the office of county superintendent was estab- lished, persons were appointed in various parts of the county to examine teachers. Among these examiners were Rev. Henry Baker and Christian Stoner. Hugh A. Caldwell was the first superin- tendent of Blair county, and received a sal- _ ary of $400. He was followed by L. H. Williams, in 1856, and George W. English, in 1837. In 1857. John Dean, afterwards for 187 twenty-one years judge of the courts of the county and later associate justice of the state supreme court, was elected, and the salary raised to $600. His successor was John Mitchell, who was appointed to fill the unexpired term of Mr. Dean. In 1860 Mr. Mitchell was elected for the ensuing term. J. Ginter Counsman was -elected in 1863, and was followed by Elexis Elder, in 1864. In 1865 the salary was raised to $1,000; . Mr. Elder served until 1869. John B. Holland was elected in 1869 and served until 1875, when he was succeeded by John H. Steph- ens, who served nine years, or until 1884, ‘when he was succeeded by John H. Likens, at the present time superintendent of in- struction in the industrial reformatory at . Huntingdon. He served six years, and- was . succeeded in 1890 by Henry S. Wertz, who was re-elected three times, serving twelve years, or until 1902, when the present in- cumbent, Tarring S. Davis was elected. The salary is now $2,500 per annum. The first county convention or institute held by the teachers of the county con- vened in a brick church, later the Collins- ville schoolhouse, in 1847. The meeting was attended by four teachers, and the Rev. Henry Baker, a Lutheran minister of AI- toona, presided. Upon the creation of the office of superintendent in 1854, institutes were held regularly and have been contin- ued until the present time. For many years ‘they have been held in the court house in \Hollidaysburg. In the earlier days the in- struction was entirely in the hands of the teachers, the practice of bringing in educa- tors of note as instructors and lecturers be- ing started during the superintendency of Professor Stephens. Before the advent of the hired .instructors methods were dis- cussed entirely, and class drills were fre- quent at the sessions of the institutes. Now institutes are conducted almost en- tirely for inspirational purposes. A number of noted men and women have appeared from time to time before the Blair county teachers, among them being Mrs. Belva A. 188 Lockwood, the Washington lawyer and women suffrage leader; William Hanley Smith, author of the Evolution of Dodd; Dr. Robert S. MacArthur, the noted New York divine; Dr. M. G. Brumbaugh, super- intendent of schools in Philadelphia; P. T. Corsin, former commissioner of education of Ohio; Captain Richmond Pearson Hob- son; Dr. S. D. Fess, president of Antioch college, and Dr. Russell H. Conwell, presi- dent of Temple college, Philadelphia. During the past two decades the schools have made great strides forward. Scores of new buildings have been erected, almost all of them being built of brick and equipped with all the modern conveniences and facil- ities for the comfort of teachers and pupils. In Logan township, especially, is this prog- ress noted. During the past dozen years, upward of twenty buildings have been erected, most of them at a cost exceeding $10,000. In recent years high schools have been organized in almost all the boroughs of the county and in the townships of Lo- gan, Tyrone, Antis, Snyder and Taylor. In Logan township two teachers are employed in the high school and a three-year course of' study has been adopted, while in the ‘other townships there is a two-year course and one teacher employed. Physical geog- “raphy, algebra, Latin, civics, botany, plane geometry and bookkeeping are taught in these schools. Logan township has forty- five schools and since 1890 has employed a district superintendent. J. Howard Wal- ters was first employed in this capacity, serving for two years. He was followed by John H. Cessna, who after serving for three years, gave way to John H. Hennen, who holds the position in 1910. In Tyrone and Snyder townships the high school teachers act in a supervisory capacity over the other schools of the respective districts. The state of Pennsylvania provides more liberally for its schools than any other state in the Union, the appropriation being at the present time $7,500,000 per annum. Blair county’s share of this fund for the term of HISTORY OF BLAIR COUNTY 1909-10 was $73,185.31, including the allot- ment of the city of Altoona, which received $31,498.90. A recent enactment of the leg- islature makes $40 the minimum salary which may be paid a teacher holding a pro- visional certificate, and $50 the minimum for a teacher holding a permanent, or pro- fessional certificate or a state normal dip- loma. As a result of the liberal provision made by the state the tax rate for school purposes has not been high, ranging from three mills, in Allegheny township, to eight mills in Juniata township. The cost per month to educate a child ranges from 98 cents to $2.20, the highest rate being in Juniata township, the most sparsely settled district in the county. For the term of 1909- 10 there were 259 teachers employed in the county outside of Altoona. It would require too much space to enu- merate all the teachers in the county who are worthy of mention. A few of those who -taught for many years and are held in grateful recollection by the hundreds, perhaps thou- sands, who came under their instruction, are D. M. White, Professor John Miller, John Z. Smith, Captain Francis Cassidy, Captain William McGraw, Captain John H. Black, Christian Stoner, Jacob Zeth, D. M. Lotz, John M. Kyle, George Eicholtz, George R. Stiffler, D. Elmer Sell, Lucretia Kennedy, Elizabeth J. Patterson and Samuel B. Smith. Captain Cassidy taught for fifty years, retiring from the service but a few years prior to his death in 1907 at the age of eighty-one. Mr. Kyle is a member of the Blair county bar, but he has been prin- cipal of the Duncansville schools for more than twenty years. One of the most unique characters who appears on the roster of teachers of the county is Jospeh Whittaker, who died in 1904. He taught for many years in Blair and Freedom townships. He was an Englishman by birth and in his methods was far in advance of contempo- raries in the school room. He sought by every means in his power to get his pupils to think for themselves, to read and make AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS researches. To this end he would advance opposite theories from those generally ac- cepted in matters of history, geography, etc., and frequently his school would be- come a forum of debate that would con- tinue for hours at a time. Teaching school has generally been used as a stepping stone by young men, and many who have risen to prominence ,as lawyers, physicians and clergymen in the county were at one time or another enrolled as teachers in the county. The school boards consist of six directors, elected for a term of three years, the terms of two expiring each year. Many of the best citizens of the county have served as school directors, and it can be said of them that, as a class, for intelligent devotion to the cause of popular education, it is doubt- ful if they can be surpassed anywhere. The total number of pupils enrolled in the schools of Blair county in 1909 was 19,584, of which number 8,693 were in the city of Altoona, and 10,891 in the county outside of the city. ACADEMIES AND SEMINARIES. Blair county has had few higher institu- tions of learning. The Williamsburg acad- emy, located at Williamsburg, was the first school of the kind in the county. The house was erected in 1847, and the charter was granted in 1851. It was built by a joint stock company. The original number of shares was 28, and the cost per share $50. The first teacher was Rev. John White. Professor John Miller, who figures largely in the educational history of the county, also taught here for some time. The school has long since ceased to exist. The Juniata collegiate institute, origin- “ally called the Franklin high school, lo- cated at Martinsburg, was completed in 1860. It was built by joint stock subscrip- tions, at a cost of $8,000. In 1867, a debt had accumulated against it, and, to save’ it from passing under the sheriff’s hammer, it was sold tothe Lutheran synod for $3,000. 189 It next passed into the hands of J. G. Herbst, who owned it for a short time, when it was purchased by Professor Lucian Cort, for $5,000. While owned by Mr. Cort, there was an addition built to the main building, which cost $8,000. In 1875, it was purchased by Henry Bridenbaugh for $10- 700, and it was in successful operation for a number of years under the principalship of Professor P. H. Bridenbaugh. For four or five years during the eighties it was used as a government training school for Indians, under the direction of Professor Briden- baugh, and in 1901 it was sold to the Church of the Brethren, who have since used it as an old folk’s home. Tipton seminary, located at Bell’s Mills, now Bellwood, was built by General B. F. Bell in 1866. Professor Orr Lossing first took charge of the school, and was followed by Robert Fulton and J. A. Stewart. The building has not been used for school purposes since 1875. In 1900 a number of influential citizens of Martinsburg, headed by J. C. Sanders, a druggist and later a banker of that place, and Dr. E. J. Gwynne, conceived the idea of establishing a college. A considerable amount of money was raised by popular subscription and a tract of land embracing about twenty acres was purchased. Upon this ground a large brownstone building was partially erected. Dissensions then arose among the promoters, subscriptions ceased and those who had already sub- scribed refused to pay the amounts pledged. Litigation followed and to this day the own- ership of the ground and partially com- pleted building is not determined by the courts. The institution was to have been known as Keystone college. Hollidaysburg Female Seminary.—The building Known as the Hollidaysburg fe- male seminary is one of the finest in this part of the state, and was completed in 1869. Erected by a joint stock company, it cost as it now stands about $75,000. It is built of stone, is four stories in height, and has a 190 frontage of 150 feet, and a depth of 160 feet. It contains, in addition to a large and com- modious school-hall, a laboratory, recita- tion-, reading-, music- and art-rooms, be- sides apartments for the principal and fam- ily and dormitories for boarding pupils. The location of the seminary building, on an elevated campus, the grounds embracing four or five acres, is a beautiful one, com- mands fine views in every direction, and in point of healthfulness is unexcelled. Rev. Joseph Waugh served as principal from the opening of the school until 1877, when he was-succeeded by-Professor W. P. Hussey, and the latter was followed by Rev. A. F. Walker. At the present time Mrs. Char- lotte Gray Comstock is the lessor of the building and the principal, the property be- ing owned by a company, at the head of which is J. King McLanahan. The school was formerly in a flourishing condition, but in recent years the number of pupils has fallen off, the multiplicity of similar institu- tions affecting the school unfavorably. Spe- cial attention is now given to vocal and in- strumental music, voice culture and elocu- tion, although provision is still made for the regular seminary course. Altoona has three flourishing business colleges, the Zeth school, founded and con- ducted by Professor George G. Zeth, the Anderson business college, conducted by Professor W. G. Anderson, and the Moun- tain city business college, conducted by Professor W. F. Isenberg. Courses in book- keeping, stenography and typewriting, com- mercial arithmetic and penmanship are open to students and each turns out many gradu- ates every year. EDUCATION IN ALTOONA. As early as 1815, the first schoolhouse was erected within the boundaries of the territory now occupied by Altoona. The southeast corner of Fourth avenue and Twenty-fourth street is the site where it stood. It was a log building, chinked and daubed, not plastered, and furnished with HISTORY OF BLAIR COUNTY slab benches. This house, surrounded by primitive forest, was used both for school purposes and for church services. Children, as far distant as two or three miles, attended school here, and often in winter, when the ground was covered with snow, there being but few roads, a track was made to the schoolhouse by dragging a log through the snow. This building served for school pur- poses until 1838. During this period only reading, spelling, writing and arithmetic were taught. Corporal punishment was in full force. The. pupils’ course of study be- gan with the alphabet, and it was custom- ary to introduce the whole number of. let- ters to the abecedarian at the first lesson. Spelling was pursued for some time before the pupil was.advanced sufficiently to take ‘up the Bible, which was the text-book used in teaching reading. In penmanship, the teacher wrote the copies for each pupil that .was ready for this branch, and manufac- tured the pens out of goose quills. Arith- metic was the last study in the course, and one who could solve “single rule of three’”’ was considered quite an arithmetician. This school was at first known as the Beales’ school, but later on as the Black Oak ridge school. Henry Adams and John | Gwin were among the first teachers. : In 1838, the trustees of the Presbyterian, Lutheran and Methodist churches pur- chased a lot of ground from Eli Hastings, on which to erect a union church. Shortly afterwards the school directors having de-. termined to erect a schoolhouse, purchased a lot adjoining for $10, and agreed with the church committee that the church and schoolhouse should be erected as one build- ing, the school part being on one lot and the church part on the other. The schoolroom and the chuch were separated by a swing partition, which, when it was necessary to enlarge the church-room, was swung up to. the ceiling and made secure by means of hooks. After the house was completed, which was late in 1838, a committee was ap- pointed by the school directors to secure a AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS teacher. Barton Hastings was elected first teacher and received $20 per month for his services. At that time Blair county formed a part of Huntingdon, the division not be- ing made until 1846. The Union building served for school pur- poses until 1854, and the building stood un- til comparatively recent times, being used asa place of worship by the African Meth- ‘odist Episcopal church. It was torn down _in 1902 and a substantial brick church edi- -fice, erected by the African Methodist con- gregation, occupies the site. During this period, some geography and grammar were taught, and a degree of ad- vancement, somewhat higher than that dur- ing the former period, was attained. How- ever, but little improvement was made in methods of instruction. Recitations were conducted in spelling and reading, but it can hardly be said that any were conducted -in arithmetic. As long-as pupils were able to obtain answers to questions, no assist- ance, in the way of explanation nor recita- tion, was thought necessary. When.a pu- pil could not-do a sum, he went to the teacher, who, if conducting a recitation, al- lowed the class to proceed, or permitted the pupil, who came to him, to hear the class, ‘while he solved the question; but, more generally, the assistance was given between recitations, and often some pupils went up and stood near the teacher, or took a seat near him, before the recitation was finished, so that being foremost, they might have their questions solved first. _ James Hutchinson, who was elected school director shortly .after the passage of the common school law, of which he was an ardent supporter, served twelve or fifteen years, and took an active part in education. _In 1854 the county superintendency was es- tablished. This change did not affect some of.the teachers very agreeably. Additional -branches. were to be taught, and a more thorough examination was to passed. The first examination under this law,.to be held in-,the Union schoolhouse, was advertised 191 for several weeks, but, on examination day, only one applicant, John Rutherford, was present. To be examined before the public, by the superintendent, was an _ ordeal through which many had no desire to pass; and private examinations being allowed, they preferred it to the public examination. Altoona was incorporated as a borough in 1854; and school directors were elected, of whom Thomas K. Burchinell was president. The erection of a one-story frame building, containing two rooms, in the fourth ward, was commenriced late in the year, and was completed February, 1855, at which time two schools were opened. The house was fitted with improved furniture. The desks, with seats, were made each to accommodate two pupils, but owing to the crowded con- dition of the schools, three or more pupils were put to one desk. This kind of furni- ture was considered a great improvement at that time. The sexes were taught sep- arately. John Rutherford was elected teacher of the boys’ school, and Miss Cor- delia White of thé girls’ school. Some time after the schools were open, a large number of pupils having been enrolled, an assistant was employed, who taught the primary pu- pils, both boys and girls, occupying part of the room in which Miss White taught. A term of four months was taught, with an enrollment of 158 pupils. The salary of the male teacher was $35 per month. The com- mon school branches were taught. During the ‘summer of 1855 a one-story frame building, with two rooms,was erected in the third ward, and was supplied with furniture similar to that in the fourth ward. Much the same kind of furniture was used in most of the rooms until 1870. The railroad di- vided the town into two districts, East and West Altoona. Mr. Rutherford, who was “put on his muscle,” taught the boys’ school in West Altoona, and served as teacher for a number of years. In 1856, another build- ing, with one room,.was erected in. the fourth ward, to. which were assigned the more advanced pupils, both boys and girls. 192 The elements of one or two of the higher branches were taught. This was the begin- ning of the Altoona high school. The num- ber of teachers was six, and the length of school term was increased to six months. As there were only five rooms, one of them was occupied by two teachers. Some schools were composed of both boys and girls, others of boys and girls only. This arrangement, which, for most of the time, was not restricted to any particular grade, was continued until 1875, except from 1860 to 1869, when the sexes were taught to- gether. In 1857, a building, similar to the one last mentioned, was erected in the third warg. The borough was enlarged the same year, and made to include part of what was known as Greensburg. About 1855, some of the citizens of Greensburg found it incon- venient to send their children so far out in the township to school, and therefore de- termined to build a schoolhouse for them- selves, where it would be convenient. The house was built on Howard avenue, be- tween Tenth and Eleventh streets, and since its abandonment, many years ago for school purposes, has served as a dwelling. Robert McCormick gave the ground, and, with his subscription and that of other citizens, a sufficient amount was secured to erect a building. It was used for private school until it came within the limits of the bor- ough, when the school directors got control of it, and used it about one year for public school. Professor John Miller taught a select school here about 1862, shortly after which the house was sold. In 1857, there were seven school rooms; nine teachers employed, and 550 pupils were enrolled. The schools were divided into three grades, primary, intermediate and grammar. J. Ginter Counsman, who was some time after- wards elected superintendent of Blair county, was teacher of one of the two gram- mar schools. Only eight teachers were em- ployed the next year. No more buildings were erected until 1864, and no increase in the number of teachers was made. The limits of the city also. HISTORY OF BLAIR COUNTY school population increased, and in some rooms from 150 to 200 pupils, under the care of two teachers, were enrolled. No other frame buildings were erected until 1870. The population increasing so rapidly, the erection of buildings required consider- able attention. In 1864, a house with one room was built in the Third ward, at a cost of $1,500. In 1866, a two-story building with two rooms, was erected in the Fourth ward, at a cost of $3,000; one of these rooms was assigned to the high school, and was occupied by it until a building was erected in the First ward., When the boundaries of Altoona were extended and it. was incorpo- rated as a city, what was known as Lou- densville, now the Fifth ward, came within the limits. Here were two schoolhouses, each with one room. One of them was built about 1859, and served for school purposes until 1876, when it was destroyed by fire. The other was erected in 1866, when two grades were established. Another house with one room, in the Eighth ward, which was erected about 1867, came within the The enrollment of pupils was greatly increased, and it was necessary to rent several rooms until more buildings could be erected. In a short time three houses were built—one with one room in the Fifth ward, and one with one, and one with two rooms in the Eighth ward. When Altoona became a borough and a sep- arate school district, little idea did the school directors have of the dimensions the place. would assume in a few years. Frame build- ings seerned to answer every purpose; and it was thought, too, that these should be only one-story, for when the first two-story school- house was built, some avowed educational in- terest was getting up too high. But when a city charter was obtained, and the population continued to increase, the directors began to think it was necessary to erect more’ perma- nent and larger buildings. In 1870, a brick building, with eight rooms, since known as the Webster school was erected in the First ward. Six rooms were supplied with patent AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS furniture; and all the buildings erected after- wards were fitted with such furniture, except a small addition put to one of the buildings in the Third ward in 1871. made the work of erecting large and commodi- ous buildings went on during the following years, with the following results: Franklin and Madison buildings, 1873; Penn. 1878; Emerson, 1882; Wright, 1885; Irving and Jefferson, 1887; Miller, 1889; Washington, 1890; Adams, 1891; Millville, 1892; Fair- view, 1896; Lincoln, 1895; Garfield, 1900; High school, 1905. In 1909 a large addition was built to the Adams building, and the ensu- ing summer will undoubtedly see the erection of one, and possibly two new buildings. All these buildings have every convenience that, would contribute to the comfort of the teach- ers and pupils, the directors having at all times given careful attention to the matters of heat, light and ventilation. The office of city superintendent was insti- tuted in 1869, to which Professor John Miller was called. He was widely known throughout central Pennsylvania, ‘and died ‘in Altoona, September 3, 1875. He was born in the city of Paris about 1800, and was taught to speak and read French by his mother. When he was about three years of age his father moved to Strasburg. He was sent to school at Leipsic, where he remained until he was graduated. Leaving Leipsic, he came to this country about 1825. After being some time in New York and Philadelphia he went to the western part of Pennsylvania, where he commenced teach- ing school. Being a fine scholar his services were soon sought. The chief places where he taught were Martinsburg, Williamsburg, But- ler, Hollidaysburg and Altoona. He filled the office of the city superintendent until 1874, when he resigned, being so feeble that he was unable to discharge the duties of his office. After his resignation he gave instruction in Latin,-German and French to pupils who went ‘to his house, until about two months before his death. He spent nearly fifty years in school work. Professor Miller was succeeded by Profes- With the start thus . 193 sor David S. Keith, who filled the office most creditably and with universal satisfaction for a period of thirty-one years, or until 1905, a length of service probably without a precedent in the history of the state. Professor Keith’s great services in behalf of Altoona’s public schools are more fully told in the biographical sketch of his career in this work. Since his volutary retirement he has devoted himself to private business interests. In 1909 he was tendered the nomination for school director, but declined. Professor Homer J. Wightman succeeded Professor Keith, serving one term, from 1905 to 1908. He was unknown in Altoona when elected, being a resident of New Jersey, where he was serving as superintendent of schools in a small city. He practically revo- lutionized the schools, introducing new ideas and new methods. He was re-elected in 1908, but resigned very shortly thereafter to accept a principalship in a suburb of Philadelphia. He was succeeded by Professor Henry H. Baish, who was chosen after a prolonged deadlock on the school board. Professor Baish had previously served as principal of the Third ward schools and was a teacher in the high school when elected superintendent. He is a comparatively young man, but has dis- played rare executive ability and is giving universal satisfaction. The property of the Altoona school district in 1909 is valued at $986,209.10. The bonded indebtedness is $594,500. The receipts from all sources for the fiscal year ending June 1, 1909, were $325,918.89, and the disburse- ments $289,318.89. During the term of 1909-10 there are 213 regular and twenty-one supply teachers employed, and the whole num- ber of pupils enrolled during the term ending June, 1909, was 8,030. For the first month of the term of 1909-10 the enrollment was 7,425. The Altoona high school had its inception in 1864, when a house with one room was built in the Third ward, at a cost of $1,500. A fourth grade, called the high school, was made, and E. H. Brunner was elected teacher. A few of the higher branches were taught in 194 addition to the common school branches. The next ,year- Professor John Miller was chosen teacher of the high school, for which a room was rented, all the schoolrooms being occu- pied by the other grades. In 1866, a two- story building with two rooms, was erected in the Fourth ward, at a cost of $3,000; one of these rooms was assigned to the high school, and. was occupied by it until a building was erected in the First ward, known as the Web- ster building, and the high school was trans- ferred to it. The course included the common school branches, with algebra, geometry, nat- ural philosophy, Latin, Greek and German. However, but few pupils advanced much be- yond the common school studies. The course was.not followed closely, every teacher chang- ing it as he thought it best adapted to the wants of his pupils. When Professor Miller was called to the superintendency in 1869, John S. Alexander was assigned to. the high school; however, Professor Miller continued to teach a few branches for one year. Nevin H. Fisher was next elected, and was followed by A. F. Histetter, D. S. Keith, N. P. Crouse, L. L, Book, T. P. Farr, P. J. Carmichael, the latter serving from 1885 to 1888; J. G. Schucker, from 1888 to 1893; William L. Avis, who served one month at the beginning of. the term of 1893, and George D. Robb, who has been principal since 1893. Professor Avis’s service affords an interest- ing incident in the history of the schools. He had served but one month, when at the close of a recitation he laid down his book, went to his boarding house, gathered up his belong- ings and left the city and has never been heard of by anyone in the city since, so far as is known. ‘The high school remained in the Webster building until 1879, when the Penn building in the second ward was completed and it was transferred there, remaining there until 1882, when it was moved to the Emerson building, which was erected for a high school building. In the meantime the school developed rapidly, more teachers being added each year, and in ¥895 the Lincoln building in the Fourth ward, HISTORY OF BLAIR COUNTY adjoining the Emerson. building, was erected. The number of graduates from 1880 to 1895 had ranged from twelve to twenty. The Lin- coln building was used until 1905, when the present magnificent structure, one of the finest of the kind in the entire country, was erected at an approximate cost of $350,000. At the present time twenty-three teachers are em- ployed in the high school, and the enrollment for the current term is 775 pupils, while the graduating classes for the past six years have exceeded 100. - : Manual training was introduced as a part of the school curriculum in 1903. Superintend- ent Keith had recommended its adoption -in 1902, saying in his annual report. that -year: “The time has come when manual, training should become a part of our educational. sys- tem. A city whose interests are largely indus- trial ought. to consider favorably the subject of industrial education. It trains the eye and the hand, as well as the mind; it gives the pupil that education which will be helpful..to chim in almost any pursuit in life, but espe- cially in adapting himself to the struggle for existence; it is-a subject interesting to. pupils, is of advantage in the pursuit of other sub- jects, and affords recreation by temporary re- lief from the studies that are more purely edu- cational in their nature,” if Continued agitation of the subject finally culminated in its adoption and Prof. C. C. Karlson was elected supervisor of manual training. Until the erection of the new high school building in 1905, the basement of the Emerson building was used for the depart- ment. In the new building special facilities were provided for manual training, and the school board provided liberally for it, while the Pennsylvania Railroad company, through its officials, who took a great interest in the movement, gave much valuable apparatus for its equipment. Manual training was also in- troduced in the grammar schools and shops fitted up in the Emerson and Wright schools. In 1909 Professor Karlson resigned ‘and was succeeded by Professor C. C. Dunning. Six teachers are now employed in this department. AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS Kindergartens were stablished in 1905, but were discontinued in 1907, for reasons of economy. On December 18, 1908, the new high school building caught fire and the flames, getting into the interior walls, for a time threatened the destruction of the build- ing. It was finally extinguished, the loss en- tailed amounting to $10,000. Altoona has been especially fortunate in having its best citizens serving as members of the school board. Among those who have served are Joseph Dysart, B. F. Custer, G. W. Slayman, H. C. Dern, John P. Levan, J. R. Bingaman, J. C. Hughes, John P. Lafferty, M. H. Mackey, J. I. Kleffman, J. N. Barr, B. M. Bunker, Dr. A. S. Stayer, Dr. S. L. Mc- Carthy, H. H. Pensyl, Fred A. Bell, William E. McKee, D. G. McCullough, H. C. Tussey, H, J. Cornman, George F. Jackson, William Murray, Rev. A. S. Woodle and W. S. Doug- lass. The members of the board in 1909-10 are as follows: W. F. Eberle; David K. Howe, Michael Poet, John W. Plummer, H. King McFarlane and H. R. Earlenbaugh. . About 1861, a district institute was organ- ized by the teachers for their improvement in methods of instruction and school manage- ment, and in general culture. These institutes . were kept up until 1875, when, the school directors refusing to remunerate the teachers for the time spent at these meetings, they were discontinued. Three years later they were re- sumed and have been continued ever since. During Professor Keith’s incumbency of the superintendency the institutes were held dur- ing the week immediately preceding the open- ing of the school term. Professor Wightman adopted the custom of holding three two-day sessions at intervals during the term, and this policy has been adhered to by his successor. Since 1895 the secretary to the school board has devoted all his time to the position. J. F.~ Wallace served in this capacity from 1895 to 1900, and Charles M. Piper has held the posi- tion from 1900 to the present time. THE PARISH SCHOOLS, The Roman Catholic church, always so- 195 licitous to educate the youth of her adher- ents in their own faith, established parochial schools at a very early date. From the foundation of the parish of St. John’s church in 1853 there was a parish school. It was established by Right Rev. J. Tuigg, and Mary Levi was selected as teacher, contin- uing in charge of lay teachers for many years. At first there were but twenty-five pupils, but the number rapidly increased. On May 12, 1867, the present imposing con- vent and school building was begun. On August 19, 1870, the school was opened with the Sisters of Charity in charge of the teach- ing under the direction of the rector. Later on it was found necessary to erect another building to accommodate the rap- idly growing number of pupils of the par- ish. In the year 1882 the present splendid building at the corner of Thirteenth avenue and Thirteenth street was built at a cost of $45,000. The Franciscan Brothers had charge of the boys in this school, whilst the Sisters of Charity trained the girls. At this time the regular enrollment of these -schools was over 600 pupils. Since the pres- ent rector has taken charge St. John’s schools have made wonderful progress, both in numbers and efficiency. Today they are unexcelled anywhere. They maintain a high standard; their pupils are among the best in the city high school and in the sec- ondary schools where they pursue higher education. The two large school buildings are admirably adapted for educational pur- poses. They are isolated, well-lighted and ventilated and provided with the latest equipment for school work. The teaching staff at present comprises sixteen Sisters of Charity who have charge of both boys and girls. One of the sisters is principal and the rector, Rev. Morgan M. Sheedy, L. L. D., gives much of his time and attention to the work as director of the schools. The schools opened for the term of 1909-10 with an enrollment of 755 pupils. Many outside the limits of the parish, were refused admission because of lack of room. 196 The course of study is practically the same as that followed in the public schools of the city. Hand in hand with the secular education there is religious training. The pupils are carried to the end of the grammar grade when they are ready to enter the high school, college or academy. There is a school committee which meets regularly once a month. The members at the present time of this board are: Messrs. G. Casanave, Charles Wolf, Frederick Ball, Joseph Har- ney and the rector, who is chairman. The school term covers ten months. St. Mary’s parish school—St. Mary’s German Catholic school began with the formation of the parish, being estab- lished in 1862 by Rev. M. Bierl, with one lay teacher and about forty pupils. The basement of the church was used as a school- room. In 1870 a frame structure contain- ing four rooms was built by Rev. John Schell. Three sisters from Fon du Lac, known as Sisters of St. Agnes, were secured as teachers, the school numbering at this time about 200. The growth of the school corresponded with the growth of the par- ish and in 1890 a new school building be- came necessary, and a fine brick structure was erected at a cost of $40,000. A new building was added to this in 1909. The school at present has twelve grades, in- cluding a commercial course in which sten- ography, typewriting and bookkeeping are taught. The school has 550 pupils in charge of ten teachers, the Sisters of St. Agnes, the HISTORY OF BLAIR COUNTY rector, Rev. D. Zwickert and his assistant, Rev. John J. Ergler, generally directing the work. In 1899 a branch school was built on Bell avenue and Second street, called St. Joseph’s school, to accommodate pupils of the eastern section of the city. It is at- tended by about eighty-five pupils. All the instruction, except the religious, is given in the English language in the schools of St. Mary’s parish. The parochial schools connected with the Sacred Heart parish are under the charge of the rector, the Rev. Thomas P. Smith and his assistant, the Rev. Matthew S. Smith, with the Sisters of St. Joseph in charge. The attendance is good, somewhat in excess of 500 pupils, and the schools have been brought to a high state of excellence and are a recognized educational institution in the city. The pastors and sisters are unre- mitting in their care of the schools and the progress of the pupils is deserving of great praise. The school was established when the parish was created in 1891. St. Mark’s parochial school is under the supervision of the rector, the Rev. N. J. O’Reilly. It was founded with the creation of the parish in 1890 and the present com- modious three-story stone building was erected shortly afterwards. The school is noted for its efficiency and is ably conducted by the © pastor and the Sisters of Mercy. Flourish- ing schools are also maintained by the St. Mary’s and St. Michael’s parishes in Hol- lidaysburg. CHAPTER XII. THE MEDICAL PROFESSION. Early Conditions—The Pioneer Doctor—Some Noted Physicians—Resident Physicians of Al- toona, Hollidaysburg, and Other Towns Throughout Blair Cownty—Altoona Hospital— The Nason Hospital—Mercy Hospital. EARLY CONDITIONS. In the literature of a century ago three figures stood out prominently from the gen- eral background in all efforts to depict American life. While this was especially true of the smaller towns and country villages, yet it also held good for the cities in a mod- ified degree. These figures were the min- ister, the judge and doctor. They were the types in the minds of the people of all that was respectable, cultured, refined and worthy of honor. By education and by pro- fessional attainment and association they belonged to a class by themselves, so dis- tinct indeed that in New England the great medical humorist, Oliver Wendell Holmes, designated it the “Brahmin Caste.” Of these three worthies the minister com- manded, to the highest degree probably, the reverential respect of the community; the judge was held in the greatest awe and his opinion was more constantly sought in political and civic matters; but the physi- cian held the affections of the people and on the whole was probably more of a con- trolling factor in shaping public opinion and in the dissemination of knowledge on familiar subjects than either of the others. Speaking as one having authority on med- ical matters, it is easy to understand how he became an authority on all subjects of a scientific nature and so was looked upon as a sort of walking encyclopaedia to be trusted as the ultimate reference on all sub- jects save those of religion and the law, which had their own special exponents. The intimate friend and confidant of his pa- tients, he became familiar with family his- tories and troubles and was constantly ap- pealed to for advice in the solution of do- mestic difficulties. His presence during circumstances of stress, anxiety and afflic- tion brought him very near to their hearts so that even the minister was scarcely bound to them by closer ties. Under his watchiul supervision families grew up, came to maturity and in their turn estab- lished families of their own, so that he be- came a traditional element in the family life to share in every rejoicing and to be appealed to in every emergency, medical or otherwise. The power for good which he thus wielded in his neighborhood cannot be overestimated, and the use which he made of it, as a general rule, contributed largely to making his profession honored and respected. The first disciples of Esculapius and Hip- pocrates to practice within the present lim-, its of Blair county did not have the advan- tages enjoyed by their brethren of the pres- ent day. The practice of medicine 100 years ago was crude and unsatisfactory. It was the day of the lancet, calomel and jalap. These, with the murderous “turnkey,” formed the stock-in-trade of the old doctor. 197 198 Without them he would have been as help- less as a rudderless ship ina typhoon. Peo- ple then were afflicted with many diseases arising largely from the climate and expo- sure. Doctors were few and far between. Sometimes they were half a day’s ride from the isolated cabin and not infrequently a swollen river intervened. Drug stores were unknown and the patent medicine shelf with its cure-alls and exploited nostrums had not come into existence to make poor humanity believe that it was afflicted with all the ills that belong to the human race. Every family was largely its own doctor. Each household had various remedies com- pounded from herbs and roots which were supposed and fondly believed to be effica- cious. Tansy was a favorite remedy, and poccoon, snakeroot and poke had their ad- vocates. Among the stimulents were prickly ash, Indian turnip, sassafras, gin- seng, and the flower of the wild hop. The list of tonics included the bark and flowers of the dogwood, the rose willow, yellow poplar, the cucumber tree and Spanish oak, while the maple, wild cherry and crowfoot were regarded as-astringents and so used. The early settler had a long list of nature’s remedies to choose from and he became his own diagnostician and prescribed accord- ingly. It mattered little how weak a patient might .be, he had to be bled. The very thing he needed most, blood, was. taken from him. This bleeding process obtained in this country till long after the birth of the nineteenth century. Diphtheria was known as croup in the early dawn of the county’s career and for this disease old doc- tors gave tartar emetic and bled. Bleed- ing was also considered efficacious in pneumonia. - THE PIONEER DOCTOR. _ The pioneer doctor with his saddle-bags and well-known horse was a character in those days. He was filled with the milk of human kindness, refused no calls and often rode miles through unbroken forest to the HISTORY OF BLAIR COUNTY bedside of his patient. Dr. John Buchanan, who resided in Alexandria, rode out through the villages of Blair, then Huntingdon county, as far as fifty miles through wintry forests and over snowy bar- rens to the bedsides of the afflicted. The materia medica of the old doctor was small. His surgical outfit was limited and crude, but with it he often performed marvels. There were broken limbs then as now, gun- ~ - shot wounds, fractures of every kind, and some of the adjustmeiits were as well done as those of the present day. The trees of the forest furnished him with excellent splints and his amputations nearly always redounded to his credit. It was long before the day of anesthetics and the patient either suffered in silence or roared out his pain till exhausted. When the torturing turnkey. fastened itself on a refractory tooth the stubborn molar was sure to come if the pio- neer doctor had the proper strength,:and he was generally a man of muscle. He has been known to ‘spend a week at a house watching with the tenderest solicitude over the bed of a sick child and to weep with the sorrowing family, and often charged. noth- ing for his services. The old doctors of Blair were faithful to their trust and did their duty under the most difficult circum- stances without a murmur. ie The prevailing diseases were many. The -winters were very cold and the weather changes produced rheumatism and pneumonia. Croup was the terror of the little household which at times was depopulated of its children by this cruel malady. Typhoid fever, typhus fever, dysentery, jaundice, measles, whooping- cough and diphtheria were common, the latter frequently becoming epidemic and carrying away families of children by wholesale. Epi- demics of smallpox frequently swept over the country, continuing with more or less fre- quency until as late as 1880 and carrying off hundreds of people. Many of the early resi- dents of the county died of cancer, and scrof- ula, rickets, scurvy, dropsy and apoplexy were common.. : AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS Of the early medical. practitioners within the present limits of Blair county, frequent mention is made in the separate township and borough histories found in this work, and to these narrations the reader is referred. for pertinent matters not found, perhaps, in this chapter; for it would prove an impracticable, never-ending task to attempt the work of pre- paring a complete medical history of this re- gion from the early days. SOME NOTED PHYSICIANS. Dr. John McCloskey, who began when a young man, in Frankstown township, in 1787, was one of the earliest practictioners in the - county. A Dr. Bond also located in this township at about the same time. Dr. John Buchanan, already mentioned, practiced exten- sively. throughout Blair and Huntingdon counties. His immediate successor was Dr. Alexander Johnston. Dr. Johnston was the son of a Presbyterian minister of Huntingdon. He continued at: Frankstown until about the year 1856, when he moved to Armagh, Indi- ana county, and died there about 1878 at the age of ninety years. Dr. James Coffey, Dr. John Metzger and Dr. Thomas Stark were also early physicians of Frankstown township, their names being mentioned in the records as early as 1830. In Williamsburg, Dr. George Kneophler was es- tablished as a practicing physician at the be- ginning of the nineteenth century. Dr. Daniel Houtz, Dr. Alfred Keisey, Dr. Jesse Wolf, Dr. James Trimble, Dr. Robert Hamill and Dr. John D. Ross were also early physicians in that village or its vicinity. Dr. Thomas Johnston was at Davidsburg, at least he owned property there, in 1830, and in Mar- tinsburg Dr. John Getty and Dr. Schmidt were established as early as 1840. Among the early physicians of Hlollidaysburg were Dr. Joseph A. Landis, who located there in 1837, and Dr. Crawford Irwin, who practiced there from January, 1854, for a period. of al- most half a century. The medical profession in Altoona has had a high standing from the earliest days. Many \ 199 ‘of its representatives have obtained deserved recognition in their calling. Ome of the pio- neer physicians of the city was Dr. John T. Christy. He was born in Cambria county, Dec. 13, 1828, and graduated at the Univer- sity of Pennsylvania, in March, 1851. There- upon he returned to Hollidaysburg and_be- came*an associate in practice with his precep- oe Dr. Aristide Rodrique. In 1852 he joined J. C. McKee, later a surgeon in the tite States army, in establishing the first drug store in Altoona. He retained his resi- dence in Hollidaysburg until November, 1854, when he moved to Altoona, remaining there in active practice until his death almost half a century later. William R. Findley, born in Lewistown, October 12, 1811, became a resident of Al- toona in 1858 and was actively engaged in the practice of his profession for more than forty years. Prior to becoming a resident of Al- toona: Dr. Findley was located at Williams- burg and Frankstown. Two of his sons em- braced the medical profession, Thomas F., who graduated in 1874, and practiced until his -death in 1879, and William M.,. who grad- uated in 1866 and practiced until his death in 1907. The latter was for many years one of the city’s leading physicians and surgeons. At his death he was succeeded by his son, Joseph D. Findley, who also succeeded him as, the representative of the state department of health in Altoona. Dr. John Fay was for many years recog- nized as the leader of the medical profession in Blair county. He was born in Williams- burg and received his degree of doctor of med- icine from the Jefferson Medical college, of Philadelphia, March 10, 1855. After practic- ing for some years in his native town and after a service in the army during the Civil war, he became a resident of Altoona. He was the chief of staff of the Altoona hospital from the time of its organization until his death in 1907. He was also chief surgeon of the Pennsylvania Railroad company for many years. Dr. Fay was endowed to a pre-eminent degree with a gift that enabled him unerringly 200 to read the nature and seat of the disease brought under his inspection at a glance, and at the same time he was conspicuous in sur- gery. A monument to his memory has been erected on the grounds of the Altoona hospital. Other Altoona physicians who attained prominence in Altoona and have since passed away are Drs. Samuel D. Ross, William D. ‘Hall, George F. Arney, Edwin S. Miller, E. M. Ike, Harvey K. Hoy, J. Tietze, John H. Weaver, David J. Appleby, J. W. Rowe, J. H. Hogue, H. C. McCarthy. Following is a complete list of the resident physicians of the county: Altoona.—C. W. Burket, D. Kaufman, Gibbs Bisco, L. C. Mundy, H. H. Walker, H. T. Simmonds, D. F. Haagan, Louis E. McKee, George D. Noeling, Louis E. Walton, J. Roy McKnight, Charles A. Duff, H. A. Mowery, Gerald D. Bliss, Charles W. Noss, Joseph M. Taylor, Henry B. Replogle, J. C. Reed, Jesse P. Seedenberg, W. P. Harlos, D. M. Roudabush, Peter Giacchelli, Edwin B. Miller, Charles W. Delaney, Jolin D. Hogue, S. Lloyd McCarthy, Frank Keagy, Roswel T. Eldon, Arthur S. Brumbaugh, Homer C. Mil- ler, Frederic Otterbein, Eugene C. Fetter, Daniel Bohn, Joseph D. Findley, Fred H. Bloomhardt, Proctor T. Miller, David E. AL len, Charles W. McConnell, Simon J. Snyder, Thomas A. C. Kephart, Elmer E. Neff, Albert L. Baker, Charles F. McBurney, Olin K. Mc- Garrah, Albert S. Oburn, Amos O. Taylor, Ralph C. Klepser, W. J. Sharbaugh, L. F. Worthley, Andrew S. Stayer, J. E. Powley, George A. Ickes, W. K. Maglaughlin, C. C. Miller, Benjamin F. Books, E. H. Morrow, H. L. Hartzell, Horace R. Smith, William S. Ross, David W. Crosthwaite, E. O. M. Haberacker, E. E. Goodman, James E. Smith, Mary E. Nowell, Mary I. Thompson Shaffer, George Price, A. L. Feltwell, Emil T. Cherry, Emil Reith, Albert L. Spanogle, John Felt- well, John M. Sheedy, Francis M. Christy, Samuel L. McCarthy, C. H. Clossen, Joseph U. Blose, George C. Way, W. Frank Beck, Samuel P. Glover, Davis A. Hogue, W. H. Howell, Charles Long, Thomas M. Morrow, HISTORY OF BLAIR COUNTY C. E. Robison, Orr H. Shaffer and George F. Tate. 2 Hollidaysburg.—James R. Humes, Robert W. Christy, Robert C. Irwin, Edwin M. Duff, Jonas W. Stitzel, Wayland R. Palmer, Ernest R. Myers, Webster Calvin, Henry H. Broth- erlin, Frank R. Shoemaker, Samuel C. Smith, J. A. Gold and H. J. Somers. Juniata—H. B. Cunningham, J. G. Wat- son, J. L. Brubaker, R. J. Hillis and W. H. Memminger. ‘ Williamsburg. —J. F. Arnold, J. L. Isen- berg, J. E. Earnest, Thomas C. Twitmire. Martinsburg—S. M. Royer, John Bone- brake. Roaring Spring—-W. Albert Nason, Wil- liam McKee Eldon, Charles W. Fox, W. H. Robinson. Claysburg.—John W. Johnston, Charles O. Johnston, J. E. Ellinger. Tyrone.—Irvin D. Metzger, R. L. Piper, F. K. Fickes, G. W. Burket, L. F. Crawford, James C. Crawford, E. C. Farrand, W. L. Lowrie, John B. Nason and Thomas Tobin. East Freedom.—W. S. Madden. Newry.—J. L. Gallagher. Duncansville——Emory Miller, D. C. Con- fer. Mines.—C. H. Books. South Altoona.—Charles A. Duff. Bellwood-—-\W. H. Morrow, E. B. Leven- good. BLAIR COUNTY MEDICAL SOCIETY. In pursuance of a call which appeared in the Hollidaysburg newspapers under date of July 1, 1848, and signed by Drs. James Coffey, J. A. Landis, A. Rodrique, Robert W. Christy and Harry T. Coffey, a meeting of physicians was held in Hollidaysburg, July 25, 1848, at which were present besides those signing the call, Dr. William R. Findley, of Frankstown, and Dr. John Getty, of Martinsburg. At this meeting Dr. Getty served as the p residing officer, and Dr. Harry T. Coffey as secretary. Before adjournment Drs. Landis, Findley and H. T. Coffey were appointed a committee to draft a constitution and by-laws. AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS On the 15th of November, 1848, an ad- journed, meeting was held at the Exchange hotel in Hollidaysburg. A constitution and by-laws were adopted and signed by those present, viz: Drs. James Coffey, Landis, Rod- rique, Christy and H. T. Coffey, and the fol- lowing officers elected: Dr. James Coffey, president; A. Rodrique, vice president; Rob- ert W. Christy, secretary, and J. A. Landis, treasurer. The constitution adopted describes the ob- ject of the society to be the advancement of medical knowledge, and to sustain and elevate the medical *profession, to protect the interests of the members, to extend the bounds of med- ical science, and to promote all measures cal- culated to relieve suffering, to improve the health and to protect the lives of the commu- nity. Formerly no physician could become a member of the society unless he had been a practitioner at medicine for at least fifteen years, but this has been changed and now anyone who is a graduate of a recognized medical institution, and who is in good stand- ing in the profession, may become a member. The society is governed also by the code of ethics of the American Medical association. The society holds meetings at stated intervals, cnce a year a banquet is held. and each sum- mer an outing is held. The present officers of the society are as fol- lows: President, Dr. Andrew_S. Stayer, Al- toona; first vice president, Dr. E. B. Leven- good, Bellwood; second vice president, Dr. Charles W. Delaney, Altoona; secretary, Dr. Charles F. McBurney, Altoona; treasurer, Dr. W. S. Ross; censors, Drs. James E. Smith, Albert S. Oburn and Charles Long. BLAIR COUNTY HOMEOPATHIC MEDICAL SOCIETY. Since 1901 the physicians of the homeo- pathic school have maintained their own or- ganization in the county. Prior to that date they were identified with the Central Pennsyl- vania’ Homeopathic Medical society, which embraced Blair and half a dozen nearby coun- ties. In 1901 the Raue Medical club was or- 201 ganized by Blair and Cambria county physi- cians with Dr. J. W. Stitzel, of Hollidaysburg, as president, and Dr. M. A. Wesner, of Johns- town, as secretary. It continued under this name until 1908, when the name was changed to the Blair County Homeopathic Medical society. The present officers of the society are as follows: President, Dr. Daniel Bohn, of Altoona; vice president, Dr. W. F. Shar- baugh, of Altoona; secretary, Dr. Henry B. Replogle, of Altoona; treasurer, Dr. E. H. Morrow, of Altoona; censors, Drs. M. A. Wesner, of Johnstown, I. D. Metzger, of Ty- rone, and J. R. Humes, of Hollidaysburg. Meetings are held once a month, the members taking turns at entertaining the society at their homes. At these meetings subjects of interest to the profession are discussed. ALTOONA HOSPITALS. Blair county has four hospitals,—the Al- toona hospital, located in Altoona, the Na- son hospital, located at Roaring Spring, the County hospital, near Hollidaysburg, and the Mercy hospital in Altoona. In this chap- ter a history of the Altoona, Nason and Mercy hospitals will be given, the County hospital, which is an institution exclusively for the insane, being treated in the chapter devoted to the county institutions. The Altoona hospital, one of the largest ‘and best equipped institutions of the kind in the state, was established in 1883. For a number of years prior to that time the ne- cessity for an institution of this character had been apparent to a great number of citizens, and as time progressed and as the population and number. of accidents multi- plied, the public interest also increased. Colonel Theodore Burchfield, afterwards mayor of Altoona, was the representative from Blair county in the state house of rep- resentatives at the session of 1883-84. He was in sympathy with the people in regard to this need, and after consultation with some of the most prominent citizens, deter- mined to introduce a bill making an appro- priation to aid in establishing a general hos- 202 pital in Altoona. Acting on this determina- tion, Colonel Burchfield prepared, and on February 23, 1883, read in his place in the house of representatives, a bill entitled, “An act making an appropriation towards the -erection and furnishing of a hospital at the city of Altoona.” While Colonel Burchfield was thus inter- esting himself in the legislature in behalf of the project, the citizens of Altoona were not idle. A public meeting was called, to be held in the common council chamber on February 26, 1883, at which time resolu- tions were adopted to make a vigorous and systematic effort to raise the sum to $15,000 and also to secure a plot of ground on which hospital buildings could be erected. At this meeting a committee, consisting of Mil- ton Alexander, Thomas H. Greevy and Henry H. Herr, was appointed to appear before the committee on appropriations of the house of representatives and urge that body to make an affirmative report on the bill offered by Colonel Burchfield, to the house. These gentlemen fulfilled their mission and on March 2, the committee made an affirmative report on the bill, which passed the house on May 24, the senate on June 1, and on the fifth of July 1883 became a law by the signature of Governor Robert E. Pattison. Before any. of the $15,000 appropriated was to be paid, the president of the board of trustees chosen for the hospital, Mr. John P. Levan, was to certify on oath to the state treasurer that the further sum oi $15,000 had been subscribed, and that suit- able grounds had been secured. By No- vember, 1884, there had ben paid in cash the sum of $15,177 and on No- vember 26, the Pennsylvania railroad com- pany conveyed in fee, to “The Altoona hos- pital’ a lot of over four acres, situated on Howard avenue and Seventh street. Thus the two conditions named in the bill were fulfilled, in a little over a year. The thir- teen trustees having been chosen, the char- ter having been obtained, and duly recorded HISTORY OF BLAIR COUNTY at Hollidaysburg, in the office for recording deeds, all attention now could be turnéd'to the question of the erection of the hospital buildings. “A committee on real estate and construc- tion of buildings” was provided for in the by-laws, which committee was “to have charge of the real estate and the erection and construction of the hospital building, and all other structures.” Bids were in- vited for the excavation and construction of the main‘building; seven were received for the first and eight for the second. On March 23, the-contract for the excavation was awarded to Thomas F. Martin; the contract for the construction work to Frank McClain. Late in October, 1885, the work was completed. The building, constructed of brick and wood, contained two wards, each with a capacity of twelve beds, a dis- pensary, operating room, office and various other rooms. A superintendent and matron were elected and a medical staff, consist- ing of Drs. John Fay, William M. Findley, John T. Christy, Samuel. M. Ross and Al- bert S. Smith, was appointed by the board of trustees. The hospital continued in this manner; with minor changes and improve- ments until the year 1887. In this year a separate ward for female patients was ar- ranged for; this ward was completed and _ready for occupancy early in the next year, 1888. During April, 1890, the entire hos- pital was thoroughly renovated under the direction of the committee on real estate and construction of buildings, but no new. wards or additions built. The next year it was seen, that, to promote the usefulness of the institution, at least one new ward should be added. The subject was referred to the committee on real estate, together with questions of various repairs and im- provements to be made on the present buildings. The year 1892 was occupied with having these repairs, all important, made, and in 1893, a new ward, now needed more than ever, was constructed. The year 1893 is an important one in the history of the hos- Se HOSPITAL AND NURSES’ HOME, ALTOONA POSTOFFICE AL TOONA ’ HIGH SCHOOL, ALTOONA AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS pital on account of the enlargement of the buildings. A third story was added, among other changes, and an isolated ward estab- lished. This, a frame building, separated from the main buildings by ample open space, is used in case patients develop con- tagious diseases while in the hospital. Here they can be cared for without danger to the other patients. Thus the years passed, each bringing with it greater success for the hospital. As needed, new improvements were added, each helping to increase the usefulness of the institution and making it a well equippe:] hospital. The number of patients treated increased each year. The people of the city, as well as those from the surrounding dis- trict, were very generous in their support, donating money and provisions of various kinds cheerfully. Several public entertain- ments were held, the proceeds of which went to the hospital ; and in 1899 a lawn - fete, the first of a series since held annually, was held on the hospital grounds, for the ‘benefit of the institution. A year previous to this, in 1898, the hospital received a fa- vorable notice from the governor of the state of Pennsylvania, Daniel H. Hastings, for services rendered in connection with the Spanish-American war. Twenty-nine sol- diers, regardless of regiment, company or state, were treated for malaria and typhoid fevers and all recovered. Fifteen years af- ter the founding of the hospital Altoona had an institution, well equipped, generously “supported, and greatly appreciated, of which it might well be proud. Much of the suc- -cess was due to the untiring efforts of the board of trustees, the medical staff and the superintendent and her assistants in behalf of it. A training school for nurses was es- tablished by Miss Hulda White Renfrew, su- perintendent of the hospital from 1902 to 1904. _ A-number of young ladies have graduated from this school each year since its estab- lishment and it has proved an advantage to the institution. At the meeting of the board held in June, 205. I90I, some rough sketches of improvements and additions to the hospital were pre- sented. ‘These improvements consisted. principally in tearing away the east wing, and replacing it with a three-story brick. structure. While this plan met with ap- proval, on account of the absence of the nec- essary funds, nothing was done at that time. In 1903 a plan was presented by: Messrs. Robinson and Winkler, architects of Pittsburg, Pa., showing proposed exten-. sion to the hospital, which was accepted, subject to slight alterations as might be found desirable. The contract was awarded to W. V. Hughes & Son, Altoona, .and in the fall of 1904 the work was finished. ‘This extension which is known as the Wom- en’s ward extension, has proved a valuable adjunct. The next important step in the history of the hospital was the building of the Nurses’ home, a handsome brick structure to the east of the hospital and connected with it by a covered passage way. This ‘home provides comfortable quarters for the nurses, and is a credit to the institution, it being one of the finest nurses’ homes in the state. The Women’s auxiliary of the hos- pital took a great interest in it, and. credit is due them for their efforts which helped to bring this plan of a home toa reality. This building was opened on October 12, 1905, having been in process of construction less than six months. The demands upon the hospital contin- ued to increase. In 1886, the number of pa- tients was 113. In 1907 the number ag- gregated 1,000, and it thus became neces- ‘sary to enlarge the institution. As a re- sult an extension to the west end, similar to that at the east was built. This ‘addition increased the capacity of the hospital to such a degree, that it is probable that no new extension will be required for some time. As the hospital is a state institution, it is dependent on the state appropriation for the greater. part of its maintenance. In 206 1887 the appropriation was $2,500; at in- tervals it has been increased, until in 1909, the appropriation was $25,000. The Penn- sylvania railroad company each year makes a liberal contribution to the hospital, and on Thanksgiving Day, each year, contribu- tions are made by the churches of the city and by the people in general. The man- agement of the hospital is looked after by a board of trustees numbering thirteen men. The first board comprised the follow- ing: Messrs. John P. Levan, Theodore N. Ely, S. M. Prevost, George W. Stratton, H. J. Cornman, Henry C. Dern, David K. Ramey, Frank L. Sheppard, A. J. Anderson, William Stoke, Benjamin F. Custer, Wil- liam. Murray and Theodore H. Wigton. Many changes have been made from time to time as a result of deaths and resigna- tions and the members of the board at pres- ent are as follows: H. J. Cornman, M. H. Canan, J. R. Bingaman, A. W. Gibbs, George W. Creighton, R. N. Durborow, J. S. Leisenring, J. King McLanahan, Ir., Germain Casanave, D. S. Kloss, C. A. Pres- ton, W. F. Eberle and ‘Harry Slutzker. Mr. Cornman is the only one of the original thirteen. The medical staff now consists of fifteen members, an increase of ten over the first staff. Dr. John Fay, the chief of staff from the founding of the hospital until his death, which occurred December 6, 1907, was a man loved and honored by all, old and young, rich and poor. His large med- ical library at his death was bequeathed to the Altoona hospital, whose success was dear to him through all the years of its growth. He was succeeded as chief of staff by Dr. Orr H. Shaffer. The corps at the hospital today consists of a superintendent, assistant superintend- ent, night superintendent, head nurse, ma- tron and dietitian, two resident physicians and a training school of about twenty nurses. The superintendent is Miss Anna C. Wray. The officers of the hospital are as follows: President, H. J. Cornman; secretary, J. R. HISTORY OF BLAIR COUNTY Bingaman; treasurer, J. G. Davis; solicitor, Andrew J. Riley, Esq. Mr. Cornman has been the president since August 13, 1906, succeeding John P. Levan, who served from the beginning. The secretaries have been B. F. Custer, L. B. Reifsneider, C. A. Wood and J. R. Bingaman; Thomas H. Wigton and J. G. Davis have held the office of secretary, and Mr. Riley has been the solicitor since the organization of the hos- pital. The medical staff at the present time is as follows: Dr. Orr H. Shaffer, chief of staff; Dr. William S. Ross, Dr. ‘Albert S. Oburn, Dr. William H. Howell, Dr. Samuel P. Glover, Dr. James E. Smith, Dr. Joseph D. Findley, Dr. Charles W. Delaney. Ob- stetricians, Dr. Fred H. Bloomhardt, Dr: \Charles F. McBurney. Consulting physi- cians, Dr. Joseph U. Blose, Dr. George F. Tate, Dr. H. H. Brotherlin, Dr. J. B. Nason. Pathologist, Dr. Aruthr S. Brumbaugh. - X-ray work, Dr. G. D. Bliss. Anesthetist, Dr. E. B. Miller. Resident physicians, Dr. Louis E. McKee, Dr. D. F. Haagan, Dr. H. T. Simmonds. The Ladies’ auxiliary, an organization composed of ladies of the city, has-been in existence for several years, and has con- tributed by pecuniary aid, much to the char- itable work of the institution. | Its officers are as follows: President, Mrs. George W. Creighton; secretary, Mrs. W. -W. Mur- ray; treasurer, Mrs. McClellan Wilson. THE NASON HOSPITAL. The Nason hospital is located at Roaring Spring. The building was originally built and equipped as a hotel or a summer resort. The location being beautiful and the situation healthful, people in failing health sought it as a pleasant place to rest and soon found bene- ficial results in returning to strength. After some preliminary discussion it was finally de- cided to open it to the public as a hospital. As such it was incorporated April 9, 1900, with the following board of trustees and medical staff : AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS Trustees: J. L. Hartman, president; J. P. Martin, treasurer; Hon. Martin Bell, Hon. J. C. .Stineman, Hon. William H. Irwin, H. E. Ferguson, Ferd Bendheim, John S. Elway, J. H. Stephens secretary ; John H. Snyder, solic- itor; W. Albert Nason, I. S. Mock, James S. Bobb, Samuel A. Hamilton, D. S. Brumbaugh, H. Cc. Burger and James Foust. Medical staff: Dr. W. Albert Nason, su- perintendent; Dr. William S. Ross, Dr. H. H. Brotherlin, Dr. C. W. Fox, Dr. W. M. Eldon, Dr. E. M. Duff, Dr. John B. Nason, Dr..A. S. Stayer, Dr. E. R. Myers. Superintendent of nurses, Miss Olive M. Bayer. The members of the board of trustees at present are as follows: J. L. Hartman, presi- dent; J. H. Stephens, secretary; J. P. Martin, treasurer; W. I. Woodwock, solicitor; Hon. Martin Bell, Hon. J. C. Stineman, Hon. James Foust, D. S. Brumbaugh, I. S. Mock, W- Al- bert Nason, D. M. Bare, E. G. Bobb, Dr. A. L. Garver, James S. Bobb. Medical staff: Dr. W. A. Nason, superin- tendent; Dr. W. S. Ross, Dr. H. H. Brother- lin, Dr. E. M. Duff, Dr. C. W. Fox, Dr. W. M. Eldon, Dr A. S. Stayer, Dr. E. R.- Myers, Dr. John B. Nason. The building is a handsome brick structure of three stories. It is heated by steam, lighted by electricity and provided with an elevator connecting the basement with three floors. The basement is fitted up with bathrooms. On the third floor is a modern operating room, equipped with aseptic furniture and well lighted by side and overhead windows. Con- nected with the operating room are the private rooms and wards for surgical cases and acute medical cases. Other rooms in the house are arranged for convalescent patients and: those with chronic ailments. There are beds for forty people. The parlors are large and pleas- ant for the use of convalescents and those able to be around. The house is surrounded by spacious verandas where patients may sit in summer. The grounds are attractive. A large lawn is in front, and a handsome grove of natural oak and maple at the rear, three acres in all. Another feature of its location is 207 the grand water supply. The Roaring Spring, noted for years as one of the largest and pur- est in the state, provides an inexhaustible sup- ply of water of easy'access. The mountain spring water, shown by analysis to be abso- lutely pure, supplies the water works system for the town and is piped through the house. Its location is in one of the most picturesque towns in the state, among the mountains. Roaring Spring is an active manufacturing place, surrounded by other towns of like size, and of easy access to Altoona, which furnishes many of its patients. It is near the centre of a group of counties which have no hospital. The Nason hospital was opened May 1, 1896. It was chartered April 9, 1900, as a charitable institution. During the past ten years there has been treated here several thou- sand patients, representing a great variety of ailments, including both medical and surgical diseases. There have been operations of all kinds done and many confinement cases cared for. While there have been many accident cases treated, a larger share of the surgical work has been in the field of gynecology and abdominal surgery. Numerous cases of ap- pendicitis, gall-stones, strangulated hernia and obstruction of the bowels have been oper- ated upon. Of medical cases there were treated many of typhoid fever, acute alcohol- ism, acute rheumatism and pneumonia. Among the pay patients there has been a great diversity of chronic diseases. A few cases, also, of mild insanity have been successfully: treated, thus saving them from the stigma of being placed in an insane asylum. Though located in a small town, it is so easy of access that it is well filled at all times. The work of the hospital is done largely by the superintend- ent, who is also the resident physician. He is ably assisted by a corps of physicians selected from Roaring Spring and nearby towns, in- cluding Altoona, Hollidaysburg and Tyrone, from which places a good share of the patients come. The ‘hospital is open for all reputable physicians to bring in and treat cases, those not on the staff being accorded the same priv- ilege.in this respect as are those of the staff. 208 Such physicians are given the assistance of the superintendent and other members of the staff. It has been the policy of the institution to require all patients able to pay, to do so. Only the real charity cases are allowed the privileges of free treatment. Such cases are never refused, no matter from what ‘part of the state they come, if they are suitable cases for treatment in a hospital. The income from pay patients has always been a large part of the support. They have been self-sustaining, paying their share of the cost of running the hospital. During the past two years the dona- tions from friends have been generous, and received from a great many persons, thus showing the general interest in the work of the hospital. There has also been quite a nice income from the services of the nurses, - who have been sent out to cases, thus helping to bear the expense of the training school. The past two years has been a very hard period for the hospital. While the number of cases:has been about the same average as in past years, there had been a great increase of free cases and a cor- responding decrease in those able to pay. This is accounted for by the hard times and also by the added number of the poor who are at- tracted by the hospital. The cost per patient is less than perhaps any ‘other, hopsital in the state. The trustees regret that the means at their disposal does not permit them to make needed additions to keep pace with the grow- ing demands. State aid was solicited and in 1891 an appropriation of $5,000 was made; in 1903 it was raised to $6,000. In 190s, $8,000. Then a commission was sent by the legislature to investigate the merits of the in- stitution. They reported favorably and the appropriation was raised to $11,000 in 1907 and 1909. An excellent training school for nurses is conducted in connection with the hospital. It was organized and incorporated on April 9, 1900, with Miss Olive M. Bayer as superin- tendent and instructor. The lecturers are as follows: Dr. John B. Nason, surgery; Dr..A. Albert Nason, abdominal surgery and gyne- HISTORY OF BLAIR COUNTY cology; Dr. William S. Ross, eye and ear; Dr. H. H. Brotherlin, diseases of women and children; Dr. E. H. Myers, bacteriology and obstetrics; Dr. C. W. Fox, materia medica; Dr. W. M. Eldon, pharmacy; Dr. A. S. Stayer, physiology and hygiene; Dr. E. M. Duff, special nursing. of The instruction consists of one lecture. each week by a member of the staff, one lesson each week on bandaging, four recita- tions each week on the branches pertaining to nurses, including studies from the text- books. The student nurses are given in= structions in the hospital in the technical knowledge and practical éxperience pertain- ing to a nurse’s work. A thorough course is given in massage, special instruction in the giving of baths and the use of electric- ity. ee ian Since the organization of the school twenty-three young ladies have graduated. The graduate nurses have formed an Alumni association, and are furnishing’ a ward. Each year they give a banquet at commencement time and thus cement and. keep alive the friendships for each other~ and for their hospital. The present officers are: President, Miss Carrie -Lee; vice- president, Miss Annie Graffius; secretary, Miss. Myrtle Metz; treasurer, Miss -Lottie. Hollenbaugh; executive committee, Mrs. Sara Baughman Nason, Miss Daisy Wheat- ley and Miss O. M. Boyer. A band of little girls formed themselves into an organization known as the Twen- tieth century club. They have-furnished a ward for children, and have raised over $100 with which they have purchased two hos- pital beds, a crib, a bedside table, a glass topped table and other necessary furniture. St. Patrick’s Catholic church at Newry has also furnished a room with furniture, a hard wood floor and other necessaries. Much credit is due the pastor, the Rev. Father Davies, who had this accomplished. MERCY HOSPITAL. The Mercy hospital, the latest addition AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS to Blair county’s eleosinary institutions, is in process of creation as this is written and will be open for public use some time in the early spring of 1910. It is located at the corner of Eighth avenue and Twenty-sixth street, in the city of Altoona, and was char- tered on November 8, 1909. The feeling had been growing among the people of the community that there was a field for the activities of another hospital. In the course of each year hundreds of patients had been’ . taken to hospitals in- Philadelphia, Pitts- burg and other cities crowded conditions existing at the other local hospitals, and an organized effort was finally made to establish another hospital. A meeting was accordingly called and it was largely attended by physicians and business and professional men, and an or- - ganization was effected by the election of the following board of directors; James A. Elder, president; John Schenk, vice-presi- dent; David J. Davis, secretary; A. P. Ru- pert, treasurer; F. A. Winter, W. J. Heins- ling, T. D. Hughes, Warren S. Lee, A. Abel- son, William Hahman, John Dughi and Rev. N. J. O’Reilly. A committee on sites was appointed, and this body, after looking at a number which had been offered, selected the property at the aforesaid location, ownd by M. V. Orner, and known as the McCauley property. It was leased for a period of five years and an option secured on it and adjoining properties, embracing an entire block, owned by Mr. Orner. At a meeting held on November 5, a set. of plans submitted by Architect A. W. Ru- - dolph for the remodeling of the building, a large brick structure, was approved and the building committee was authorized to ad- because of the « 209 vertise for bids to have the building con- verted into a hospital. A committee com- posed of Drs. B. F. Books, E. E. Neff, J. Dan Hogue, O. K. McGarrah, R. T. Eldon and H. B. Replogle, was appointed to pur- chase the necessary equipment for the pro- posed institution. It is the intention of the promoters of the Mercy hospital to make it a state institu- tion. An application will be made to the state legislature at the session of I910-11 for an appropriation large enough, if pos- sible, to enable them to purchase the build- ing already leased. A feature of the rules and regulations will be that a physician of any school of medicine may take a patient to the hospital and give the case his per- sonal attention. Almost all the physicians of the county are lending their moral and financial assistance to the project aud its success from the outset is assured. The site selected is an admirable one for the purpose, being at the outskirts of the city ‘and commanding a fine view of the city and surrounding country. The building is large and commodious and well adapted to the purposes of a hospital. Physicians of both schools have joined enthusiastically in the project, and as many of the best physicians of the county have been enlisted in the en- terprise, the best medical skill will be at the command of the patients when the doors of the institution are thrown open. Much credit is due Mr. Orner, the owner of the property, who not only offered the promoters every possible inducement until they should be able to get on a substantial financial footing, but made a generous contribution to the fund for equipping and furnishing the institution. CHAPTER XIII. COUNTY INSTITUTIONS. The Almshouse—Children’s Industrial H. ome—Blair County Hospital for the Insane. THE ALMSHOUSE.’ Although little Blair met with prosperity from the beginning, she was not unmindful of the poor within her borders. In less than four years from the time that the honor of being a separate county was thrust upon her, she had provided a comfortable home for the aged and unfortunate who became dependent upon pub- lic charity. A farm was secured in Allegheny township, one mile west of Hollidaysburg. Two tracts of land containing 267 acres were purchased from Joseph Patton and John Cochran by Samuel Royer, who transferred the same to the county for the sum of $10,000. Hayden Smith, a famous architect of that day, planned a building two and one-half stories high, containing fifty-two rooms, aside from two kitchens and two dining rooms, halls and corridors. It was substantially constructed of brick and was considerably more than an up- to-date house, being in advance of the general- ity of buildings in its day. The net cost was $7,866.50. It was built in 1849-50, and was first occupied in April, 1850. The first stew- ard was John Lytle, who continued until 1852. His successor was Edward McGraw, who held the position until 1863. Subsequent changes were as follows: O. E. Crissman, until 1870; Joshua Aurandt, until 1873; Wil- liam Shinefelt until 1881, and Seth Campbell until 1884. In October, 1891, when John Loudon, Alexander McKee and J. A. Crawford were the directors of the poor, the building was totally destroyed by fire. They secured tem- porary shelter for the inmates in the old Franklin school building in Martinsburg and proceeded to build a new house. Plans were drawn and contract was awarded to John G. Kline, of Altoona, whose bid was $40,000. The house is a model of its kind and possesses all the conveniences for the maintenance and comfort of the poor of the county. It was completed and put in service in 1893. At first the insane among the dependents of the county were kept in separate apartments and the harmless given their liberty on the premises, but later on this was forbidden by acts of assembly. Accordingly steps were taken to erect buildings to be known as a hos- pital for the insane. A design was drawn by Mr. Plack, of Philadelphia, at a cost of $8,000. The contract was awarded to P. W. Finn for $129,000. Work commenced in 1904, and the building was completed in 1906. The heating plant was installed by Harry Murphy, of Philadelphia, and when completed cost $75,000. The power and heating house, including the grading and cement walks, cost $15,000. Other extras about the buildings cost an additional $4,000. In 1900 an addition was made to the alms- house proper, at a cost of about $10,000, this work being done by the Byers Planing Mill company of Tyrone. In 1902 a contract was awarded to the Altoona Construction company for the erection of a contagious diseases hos- pital. A neat and commodious brick building, with every convenience for caring for the sick, was built at a cost of $5,500, and was occu- pied in 1903. 210 - AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS The farm is under an excellent state of cul- tivation and is equipped with convenient and suitable buildings, substantially constructed. The total investment of the county in farms and buildings reaches a total of almost half a million dollars. Blair county is one of the foremost counties in the state in the care of her indigent insane and poor, and is pointed to as model by the Pennsylvania board of chari- ties. To make such a state of affairs possible, has required the expenditure of immense sums of money, but that it has been judicially spent, is the universal judgment. The insane hospital or asylum is conceded to be one of the finest built and maintained by a single county-in the entire country. It is as nearly fireproof as it is possible for modern ingenuity to construct such a building, and every possible provision is made for the comfort and treatment of the unfortunates who are taken there. In the institution there are now comfortably domi- ciled 212 residents of the county, who have been so unfortunate as to be deprived of their reason. In the almshouse, Steward Briden- baugh has under his care about 120 poor, most of whom are infirm from old age or cripples. They have clean, comfortable wards, good boarding, and warm clothing, and seem to be a happy and contented lot. The buildings are supplied with water from a spring at the Alle- gheny mountain, about five miles away. The water is conveyed in a four-inch iron pipe, to a small distributing reservoir. The present steward of the almshouse is Professor P. H. Bridenbaugh, appointed in January, 1910. - Professor Bridenbaugh had previously held the position for a period of twelve years, from 1895 to 1907, when he was succeeded by R. W. Robison, who held the position for three years. The general oversight of these institu- tions is committed to a board of three poor directors, elected for a term of three years. The board is at present composed of Messrs. Hiram H. Pensyl of Altoona, Simon H. Shoemaker of Hollidaysburg and Thomas L. Coleman of Tyrone township. Mr. 211 Pensyl was a member of the board during the time the insane hospital, and to him and his associates then, James M. Stiffler and A. Lee Fleck belong much credit for the manner in which they handled the big un- dertaking. The auditors’ report for maintenance of the home and hospital for the year 1909 is as follows: Salaries and wages..........ecceeeccuceeeeees $11,002.35 Provisions: « ssusmevawsa x tendon os ccnueean he 11,331.19 Dry goods and furniture...............0000es 2,130.58 Clothing and shoes...... 5 iiresieda gees. TFIO.AS Medicine and equipments.........:.......00- 474.23 Fuel, light, water and telephone.............. 4,434. Examination of insane.............0.0 eee eves 153-00 Repairs ..........cc sees 894.09 Constable and justice fees... 85.53 Printing and stationery............c50ceeeuee 282.49 State hospital and maintenance............... 784.32 Farm expenses ........... cc ccccecseeveccees 2,693.32 Improvements ..............cccceeesceeeetae 8,318.43 Transportation and traveling expenses........ - 1,684.29 Outdoor funerals .............0. 0.0 eee ee ee 1,194.50 Outdoor physicians and relief................ 0,424.79 otal sich caanenrsic ne wa naeaceetnean te 4 $56,579.21 Receipts.from all sources...............00005 16,857.31 Net cost to taxpayers.............c..eeceee $38;721.90 CHILDREN’S INDUSTRIAL TRAINING HOME. From the time of the introduction of the policy of dispensing the public charity through the almshouse, people of all ages were kept in the same institution. In 1891 an act was passed by the legislature requiring that when any children under the age of sixteen years shall be found to be dependent or neglected, the proper authorities are required to have such children committed to some suitable institution, or to the care of some respectable citizen of good moral character, or to the care of some training school. The act further provides that it shall be lawful for the parents or anyone having the right to dispose of a dependent child to enter into an agreement with an in- corporated institution for the purpose of caring for or placing in homes such children. The rights of parents or guardians are to be sur- rendered to such institutions to put them into some friendly home where they may be adopted and reared as children of the home into which they are taken. 212 -In accordance with these humane provisions of the law for the proper care and training of dependent children the “Children’s Aid So- ciety of Western Pennsylvania” was estab- lished in 1895. The first officers were Mrs. Dr. Bruner, Mrs. George Harper and Mrs. ‘Letta Wilson. They were authorized to se- cure homes for the friendless and for each one. so placed they drew an order from the court for $1.25 per week. While this arrangement did a good work, it did not give the satisfac- tion desired, and at a conference participated in by Judge Martin Bell, the county commis- sioners and the directors of the poor, a new project was introduced, looking towards the establishing of a permanent institution. The Franklin high school building, now the Col- legiate Institute of Martinsburg, was leased in 1897 as a children’s home. It was given in charge of Mrs. Shaffer. After a year or two she was succeeded by Miss Grace Varner. The new movement was so successful and satis- factory and such a decided improvement over the former method that the couny officials felt justified in making it more permanent. They, therefore, in 1901 purchased a three acre plot of ground on a beautiful elevation on the bank of the Juniata river, adjacent to Williamsburg. They proceeded at once to erect a suitable building. F. J. Shollar of Altoona was au- ‘thorized as an architect to design a suitable structure for the purpose. The contract for the erection of the same was awarded to W. H. Laughlin & Son, of Altoona. The contract work amounted to $12,629. It was completed in 1902, and in the same year all the children who were the wards of the county were taken there, and Sarah Murray was appointed the superintendent of the institution. She con- tinued in charge for several years and was succeeded by Miss Linda Burger, who re- mained in charge until April 1, 1910. The building is two and a half stories above the basement. It is brick cased and has a ‘spacious porch in front and one end. The basement is used for storage, laundry and heat- ing purposes. Wide and convenient halls and stairways communicate with all the rooms. HISTORY OF BLAIR COUNTY There is a large and conveniently arranged kitchen with a larder on one side and a dining room on the other. Besides the rooms for daily occupation there is a parlor, public and private office, school and bath rooms. From the heater in the basement the temperature is kept at a uniform degree throughout the build- ing. By this arrangement no more covering is needed for beds in winter than in summer. The walls are papered and tastefully hung with portraits and pictures of scenery. Potted greenery adorn the windows, the floors are covered with oilcloth, thus giving the place a pleasant, homelike appearance. The building is electrically lighted. . The children of school age receive the same instruction from a competent teacher that is given in the public schools. A room is fur- nished with desks and all the necessary para- phernalia for school purposes provided and the usual time of school hours is devoted to in- struction for eight months of the year. The girls are also taught sewing, cooking and gen- eral house work. There is no industrial train- ing for the boys except work in the garden in its season. The institution is called the Children’s In- dustrial Training Home. For admission, ap- plication is made to the directors of the poor under a sworn statement that the right to the child is relinquished by the parents and the county commissioners are empowered by virtue of an order from the court to have such child _adopted into some good and respectable per- manent home in the state. The age limit is between two and sixteen years. At the begin- ning of 1909 there were in the home sixteen boys and ten girls. During the year there was admitted twenty-eight boys and twenty girls, making a total of seventy-four for the year. Out of this number fifty were placed out in homes. BLAIR COUNTY HOSPITAL FOR THE INSANE. Annual Report. To the Directors of the Poor of Blair county: The following is a report of the Blair county hospital for the insane for the year 1907: AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS Men Women Total No. in Hospital Jan. 1st, 1907...... 87 57 114 Admissions during the year....... 46 41 87 Discharges during the year........ 28 24 52 No. in Hospital Jan. 1st, 1908...... 75 74 149 RESULTS OF THE YEAR. Discharges Men Women Total Recovered ...ccceeeeeceeeeecenes 6 6 12 Improved ..... 0... ee eee eee eee eens 9 4 13 Unimproved ........-eeee eee eeees I I 2 Diéd®. .cccnncserinessts+ 6 senses II 14 25 On parole ....... ee ee cece rere oeee 10 II 21 CONDITION OF THOSE IN HOSPITAL JANUARY I, 1908. Men Women Total No. in Seclusion .........seeeeees o I I No..in Restraint .....-.-eeseeeeee ° 3 3 No. taking Medicine ............- 25 28 53 No. Employed .........ceeeeeeeee 45 45 90 NUMBER OF DAYS WORK DONE DURING THE YEAR. Men Women Total Days Days Days I sieve 816 On the farm and at stables......... 816 Garden ssseissivausiansceeees esses 120 120 Milking ........eceee cece renee eee goo 900 Hauling coal, ice, etc.........-.--- 125 125 Grading lawn and road...........- 1,673 wees 1,673 Ward work ..........eeseee eens 1,769 1,850 3,619 In kitchen and dining-room........ 305 a — Sewing-roOm ... ee eee eee eter eee wees : 0 Tovey MeN eNe $i aeleb aeaagrweae’s 60 2,306 2,366 me Sigua Mined er eee wae = ois a Ce-SHOP .... 0. cece eee e eer ee eens nee Carpenter-shop ........+-----e ees 60a... 60 Tailor-shop ....-...:eee eee eeeeeee 35k tes 35 Mattress-shop ......-.--ee eee eeees TO! grsrtee 10 Quilting ..........ec eee e eect eee . 40 40 Specially employed .....---+--++++ cess 305 305 For neighboring farmers.......... mo rsttie 74 On State road. .....--se eee e ee eeeee TS uses 18 Cleaning reservoir ......-..+-+++- 15 ane 15 ARTICLES MADE IN SEWING-ROOM AND WARDS DURING THE YEAR. 00) <0) | Chemises csiccsvaeseosene 04 63 i Gacenwehe ee Eee es Coffee-sacks ......0:e cece ete e eee eeeeeetes Corset COVErS 1... .. cece cece e teen e eee tee eeeeee Center pieces 0.1.6.0. cece eee reece cere ene eneenees Dresses ...0cccece cece cece eee e cece tent nent ees Drawers oo. sec cc cece renee cree ence erence eneenaee Mittens: 2 css ecsewageacns eed ouseeneneaede es bene ey Fating bibs... e200 cee ce cece eee ene e renee eenn eens Tron holders ......2-.s ce ceee cere eee tence een enes Laundry bags ......ceeceece eee ee tee eee eteeeecees Tadies’ ties: ciscavccoameats os c0s4aVebowes ie deca s Ladies” Cutts ice cs suaiisieicea gees ee eicreuseme cece haem Nightgowns ......cceecme cer cen cence eee eee enes Quilts 2... cece ee ce teen eee eee e teen tee nenen nes 3 Pillow CASES co.cc ce ccccccceceeeeensncesnseansestess 16 Ghaets. sz. cease dies caw etek euca cies aanmemenr ness 162 Carpet-rags, IDS. ....--2 eee e erence etter nen eeeennes 100 Dresser scarfS ....... cece cece eects eee eeeteeeeee 15 Bandages ......ececee cece cere cence tent eet een eees 1,015 Slate! fccnanceous d vied pele bivesiae ee beets Roectewtee es 5 Strait jackets ‘SHirt: waists: es isiccnd said vee Co 4 caeaeRee Te ead Stage curtain Sa Table cloths ....... Sage UD DH a eS sla aM iEritAS shy waka gael TT OWEIS: “ccc daluoreeee nny a. cee gpaciemeai nee vas Sete elats TéastOwelS: iccciua csc aed coveve saeeeda dese tea cases CUE LATTLS: «5 a veers dit co sere 4-0 BGG ibn ah abet tases ode naselhobendeatele Mattresses. cri esa core sie sorelgaawhw eed amarhig tigcvneinm Dréssér'scarts osc sevi vasa ataasieedae bre raeenaoes 8 PRerchiess:. ascicae cas s5 048 oe bee esis be vemndeRs 12 COMA: ceean.clewa ls av. 8G. 5 Sos leperece suaters 38 aresed Anerouatete 15 Shirt waists 3 Dress skirt I BG] tS i ccntanyeiccaeslceroinse Caen Geausuaptiamenun a eae tae erase amatbcenenese 4 Dresses: cx ee sive aeier ae iacaen ees Seka eeek 734 Skirts: cneu sug csa'saeawuwncmaweneiers cease amaonmets ae Underweat o.3ss204cscswscexeawressiaet sederiawwees 9 Memis: Cloth int e.c..0 casters sosrasdcasisvaieog a vee RisverSraqcaee 1,333 SDTIOTIS © -couesbsaus’¢-0ik sate ec vans bvalAtesdive west Seoeace ol Gi ae ea 35 Stockings~ wos cvnwe spaaneaanenie evicdnale eek oel een 1,583 Since the opening of the hospital for the in- sane, it has been our aim to make the institu- tion, a hospital for the cure or improvement of the patients rather than using it for a big jail in which to detain them. To secure the best results, we must get the patient at the onset of the attack and to this end we ask the earnest co-operation of physicians and relatives, and implore them not to bring patients here as “a last resource,’ when perhaps the patients have reached the chronic stage and the opportunity to benefit them has passed. Another obstacle in the way of a permanent recovery is encountered as the patients are convalescing. At this stage, while yet here under the rules and discipline of the hospital and free from all responsibility, the patient feels, and it seems to his eager relatives, that he is perfectly well; but the grave danger in taking the unstable mind away from the con- trolling influence of the hospital and throwing it on its own resources, is the liability of a re- lapse, which too often means a decline into an incurable state. We are bending every effort to find employ- ment for our patients, firmly believing that it plays a large share in the cure of insanity by deviating the mind from delusions, releasing the pent up excitement, stirring up dull and sluggish circulations and building up healthy 214 bodies, the lack of which is often the cause of the mental condition. The farm, garden, roads, wards, kitchen, dining-room, mattress shop, laundry, etc., fur- nish excellent employment for our patients. Summer with its busy times, gives us little trouble in this line; but in the winter, especially with the men, it is impossible to find work for all and we must fall back to amusements and reading. The mattress factory, shoe-shop and quilting room have only recently been installed, but promise to not only furnish employment, but will be of considerable economic value. The board of directors has generously agreed to furnish needed trees and shrubbery as the grounds are extended. Several large shade trees have already been transplanted on the lawn. It will take many months to com- plete the work on the grounds, but it will be a source of employment for our patients and will be free from expense to the county. Since the occupancy of the hospital, the problem of getting a sufficient water supply to it has been under discussion, but we are glad to report that at last a contract has been let to lay a four inch main to the mountain source. Considerable improvement in appearance and sanitation has been and is being made by interior painting. This work is also done with- out cost, by two of our patients who are painters by occupation. We have cause to be thankful for and proud of our chapel, which has been furnished with stage scenery and a piano at a total cost of but $232. Here some eighty patients attend religious services each Sabbath and enjoy the monthly entertainments during the winter. Plate glass panels and grill doors have been placed at the side entrances which adds to the lighting and ventilating of the halls. Practical guards have been secured for all the windows on the mens’ wards, making it impossible for the most violent to escape. The old ones cov- ered only half a window. They will be used to cover the unprotected half of the windows on the womens’ wards. HISTORY OF BLAIR COUNTY Rooms have been furnished for the accom- modation of private patients. These rooms afford this class of patients all the advantages to be had in the more expensive private insti- tutions. Needless to say, they are nearly al- ways occupied and the revenue therefrom has been a great financial benefit to the institution. When the hospital was opened there were no private patients. The roll now shows ten pri- vate and twenty-five semi-private cases. This means an increase of over $3,000 annually to our funds. All of the work done in the laundry and dining-room is done by the patients. The greater part of that done in the kitchen, on the farm, lawns and garden is also done by them. The saving of expense to the county can be readily seen and it is due largely to this method that the hospital has been placed: on a paying financial basis, instead of being a great expensive drain on the tax-payers of the © county. Though Blair county and other counties have gone to the expense of building institu- tions for their unfortunate insane, thereby re- lieving the state of part of its burden and the state institutions from their greatly over- crowded condition; yet the state not only fails to appropriate sums to these county institutions as it does to state hospitals, but it also fails to give them an equal amount of maintenance per capita. It is to be hoped, however, that at the meeting of the next legislature, this in- justice will be righted. J CONTRIBUTIONS. We take this opportunity to thank all friends of the institution for so generously supplying us with books, magazines, county papers and other gifts all of which do their part in direct- ing the thoughts of these people into right channels. We also wish to thank the board of directors and the employees for their hearty co-operation in this year’s work. Tuomas F. Net, M. D., Superintendent. AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS REPORT OF THE STEWARD OF THE BLAIR COUNTY ALMSHOUSE FOR THE YEAR END- ING MARCH 31, 1908. To the Directors of the Poor, Blair County, Pennsylvania: In submitting our first annual report, we beg to state that many improvements have been made, most of which were absolutely necssary. The dairy room, and the room in which the slaughtering is done, required re- pair. The spouting on buildings had to be replaced. Steps leading to the various out- buildings were also renewed. Old and worn-out walks relaid. The fence enclos- ing yard where insane were formerly exer- cised has been removed. Other “eye-sores” such as dilapidated buildings, dog kennels, etc., have been cleared away. The laundry machinery has been given a general over- hauling, which has greatly increased its ca- pacity. The heating plant, which we found to be working badly, has been improved, and we are glad to state that two of the three boilers furnished ample heat for the in- sane hospital, almshouse and contagious disease hospital. Here steam is generated, for all purposes, cooking, heating and power. By making the necessary connec- tions, we now drive the threshing machine, fodder-cutter, chop mill and cream separa- tor with power derived from the heating plant. The visitor as he enters the heating plant, located between the twin institutions. could scarcely realize the vast and varied work the power here generated performs. We have the past year fitted up a com- plete shop for new and general repair work. This has been done without any expense to the taxpayers. The equipment consists of blacksmith shop, turn lathe, drill press, wood planer, jointer, rip saws, etc. This machinery is driven by an eight-horsepower engine, which derives power from the heat- ing plant. This is one of the most com- plete shops in the county. ee During the past year the interior and porches have been painted. The walls 215 nicely stenciled and floors treated to a coat of paint, which not only adds to the appearance but makes them much easier to clean. The main office has been painted and papered, which makes it one of the most cosy rooms in the institution. Swing doors have been placed in hallways leading to water closets, which makes same more private. Wardrobes, something much needed, have been built in women’s dormi- tories. The store room, formerly located in the basement, has been removed to room di- rectly beneath the office, where it is not only more convenient, but secure as well. The lawn has received careful attention. New terraces have been built and sodded. The front terrace has been nicely lettered in small flowers, spelling “Blair County Home.” The space surrounding the foun- tains, formerly neglected, has been sym- metrically laid out in flower beds, walks and driveways. This work has been directly under the supervision of the matron, and is regarded as an artistic piece of land- scape gardening. We found in taking charge of the institu- tion the need of storage room for wagons and farm implements. To supply this need we now have in process of erection a large wagon shed, and corncrib combined, which when completed, will add creditably to the institution. . The farm has been carefully cultivated ‘the past season, although we were in many ways handicapped in the start we are pleased to say the yields, barring the un- favorable season, have been very satisfac- tory. , In our estimation it is highly important that every effort be put forth to so increase the fertility of the soil as to make this one of the most productive farms in the county. During the past season we have handled this farm with only two paid employes. Whilst it. required patience to get much work out of the average inmate, we have no cause of complaint, inasmuch as our meth- 216 ods of exacting labor from this class of peo- ple usually proves effective. We have found that to handle an institu- tion of this kind economically, requires skill, judgment and executive ability. The class of people who find their way into a county home are, as a rule, men and women who have failed to make life a success. The ma- jority of them do not appreciate the care they receive at the hands of the frugal and industrious. The least cause is made the subject for complaint; but we have them and must provide a home, the question of comfort and economy in providing for their welfare arises. A farm has been provided wherein healthy employment may be fur- ‘nished inmates; but unfortunately, none are farmers, and just here we would add, farm- ers should be congratulated that none of their number are to be found in our county home, which speaks well for the tiller of the soil. The absence of men experienced in farm work handicaps the successful man- agement of the farm. However, we have bridged this drawback by educating men in the handling of team and plow. ~ Our aim is to furnish employment to all; but unfortunately during the summer sea- son, a time wherein work can be found for all, we find ourselves hampered by a scar- city of help. In the spring many of them leave the home; to become wandering “Willies” and a nuisance to the public, by tramping about the country, begging, steal- ing, and perhaps working a little, and thus exist during the summer season. When the chill November winds begin to blow, we find them gathering into our alms- houses, at a time of year when we have no. work for them to do. Here we must clothe, feed and warm them at the expense of the taxpayers. Some method should be de- vised to retain this hobo element in the home during the summer season and com- pel them to work, that they may become at least partially self-supporting. In supply- ing the needy with alms, much care should be exercised in order to guard against pau- HISTORY OF BLAIR COUNTY perizing and degrading the recipients more ° and more with each cent’s worth that is given to them, thus rearing an unhealthy class of citizenship, unhealthy in both mind and body, and ever increasing the vast army of tramps that infest our country. The almshouse is intended to relieve the dis- tress, found to exist among our people; but also we too often find that instead of good, evil is wrought by extending help to people who, when misfortune overtakes, then they at once throw up their hands and cry for aid. Our aim in the position we occupy is to encourage the weak, lift up the fallen, and above all, to banish the saloon, the fac- tor that is filling our almshouse, insane hospital, jails and penitentiaries with a mass of helpless humanity. CLOTHING MANUFACTURED—HOME, APIONS: e3kssnbneue cheats Oaeda ee ceeded Gaveeen 93 Children’s Dresses: xii) ea.c etuetiwienie cdg anaes e's 15 Infants’ Dresses ............ecceeece ecu secuceeuce 12 Women’s Dresses ..........02ccceceacccccceacses 6 Infants’: Clothes) svsscewe sivas Seawe v¥6 6 5S sie eases 96 Pillow: (Gases. i4 3a siseai oa landa eatieds aca eulconeennis 124 SCTE ES) ied. 5:5 avaravclenclorssalong. vai art elabsyae ia gisherat beauciete Ghee 128 LOWES - ceaweaite vilasing aac waeheas + sae aurea Gaels 127 SHES) seine sda ee tree ea <4 FROME vitae hemes IIr Infants’ Clothes .......... ccc cceecccuceceeuceeaes 36 FARM AND GARDEN PRODUCTS. Potatoes, Bushels ............... wid ts wie dod sale ator amarante 1,000. Corns Bushels.. ¢..24siwuaretwsk.c so keesn dese oo + aiaceuss sivas 1,900 Oats; Bushel sacs sticiccas-d asi ecahstecnie « gave ecsiolohauwaes 1,275 Whats ais incre tattannatectaactes tacknacit Crna ain cee 507 Ryes Bushels:c.0 cones avassuceslele i's y cosine eed aseraninea 133 Sauerkraut, Barrels ............ ccc cc ccceceeceees 13 Beets, Bushels ................00- ees Cheon catic thy anianave 35 Turnips, Bushels 1.0.0.2... 00.0.0 ccc ee eeceeeeeees 250 Onions, Bushels ..............ccccecescucecececs 15 Applebutter, Quarts .......... ee ree Ilo Plays: SLOWS) Sepaigs.& bx 2 etesiaicssa dele era aotandeatacaiadeanvhecsiacn 50 : Men Women Child’n Total Population of Almshouse for the fiscal year ending March BE, 1908: acs -swe wasn ce scsleen 104 32 4 140 Admitted during the year.... 62 33 16 Ill Discharged during the year.. 58 13 15 86 Died during the year......... 14 7 2 23 ¥ Males Females Total Children Born during the year...... 2 8 10 Inmates cared for during year..... 307 Tramps fed and lodged............ - 298 Children placed in Industrial Home, Williamsburg .................4. é j 8 Reviewing the past year’s work enables us to see where some mistakes have been AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS made, however, taking into consideration the fact that we previously had no exper- ience in institution work, we are gratified to know our efforts have met the approval of the board of directors, and I trust—also that of the public. R. W. Rosison, Steward. Following is the report of Dr. J. M. Som- mer, Jr., superintendent of Blair county hospital for the insane, submitted at recent meeting of the board of directors of the poor: STATEMENT FOR YEAR 1909. - Warrants drawn in 1909 and bills ‘remaining unpaid Jan. 1, 1910. 5 5 cisccaess $25,115.64 Supplies. on hand Jan. 1,’09.. 135.70 Provisions received from Almshouse ..........+++ 4,555.57 29,800.91 Less— Amount warrants drawn ’ 09 ~ chargeable to ’08......... 921.97 Supplies on hand Jan. 1, ’10 1,604.48 $2,526.45 Gross cost for the year ’09 + ——_——$27,280.46 CASH STATEMENT. Received from state....... $9,766.01 Proportion chargeable to ’07-08 for money with- held by Auditor General, quarter ending Aug. 31, ’09, earned in ’o9, -there- fore credited ........... 638.44 Cash due from state...... 6,391.81 Cash received from private : patients ...6 26s. seawess 6,816.84 Cash due for private pa- tents: nzdcrcrasesadanaenc 6098.75 Profit from truck-patch, mattress room and chick- OLY xox uninieusienie eee sa te 826.22 ————— $25,133.07 Less cash received from state credited to Dec. ’08.. 923.85 Cash received for private patients credited to ’08 and previous ..........- 598.06 Cash received for private patients credited to ’10. 64.00 \ ———— $1,585.91 - ———— $23,552.16 Net cost to county for ’o9 $3,728.30 Number of patients in Pope Jan. 1, 1908.......... 129 Jane 1s 1000 ssewsics se aetecaioacte ata Sraeaan elie eais 142 Jani. c2) 1910 eeaecccia sr eeieese s Sis sus dsteiciasiverses 2.207, 217 1908 1909 Number of admissinos........... 85 141 Average number patients each year 146 186 Gross cost of each year........... $21,425.33 $27,280.46 Cash or credit for each year....... 15,143.73 23,552.16 Cost to county for each year...... 6,281.60 3,728.30 Average number patients treated GACH “VEAT secacinewssa eS 44a G4 RS I 186 Gross average cost of maintenance’ 2.822-10 2.82 3-100 Net average cost of maintenance to COUNTY sss nernaeaed oe ee ees eae 959-10 .38 53-100 [These figures are the absolute cost for 1909, includ- ing permanent improvements, such as new roadway, street electric light line, trees, nightwatch time clock, etc., totalling about. $1,800.] In comparing the figures of the state- ments for 1908 and 1909, it must be remem- bered that the population has increased. On January 1, 1909, there were 142 patients in the hospital; on December 31, 1909, there were 207, an increase of sixty-five in one year. This meant the purchase of sixty. beds, bedding, furniture, etc. It meant an increase in the number of attendants, be- sides the increase in maintenance; there- fore the gross expenditure for 1909 must be greater than in 1908. The per capita cost of maintenance in 1908 was $2.82 2-10 per week; that of 1909 was $2.82 3-100. The actual cost from January I, 1909, to January 1, 1910, was $27,280.46. The cash receipts for the year, together with credits carried over into 1910, but earned in 1909, was $23,552.16, leaving a net cost to the county of $3,728.30, or a per capita cost to the county of .38 53-100 cents per week. If the indigent patients of this county, 175 in number, December 31, 1909, were con- fined in state hospitals, the cash outlay per patient would be $1.75 per week, or a total of $15,925 per year. At the last session of the legislature a bill was passed increasing the maintenance al- lowance from the state to county hospi- tals from $1.50 to $2 per week for each patient treated in such hospitals. This bill became operative July 1, 1909. With the number of indigent patients we maintain, this will make a net increase of about $5,000 per annum in the. income of the hospital. The private patient account was also in- 218 creased by nearly $3,000 over that of last year. On January 1, last, when I assumed charge of your hospital for the insane, there “were 142 patients in the hospital. During the year 141 were admitted, thirty-two dis- charged, cured or convalescent, twenty-four died and forty-nine were paroled in care of their friends (nearly all those discharged were first paroled). Of those remaining in the institution, five are bedfast; the balance are for the most part in good physical’ health. The number in the hospital Janu- ary I, I910, was 207, or an increase of sixty- five in one year. It was early recognized that an adequate store room and a system to check all goods coming into and going out of same must be devised. An unused portion of the base- ment about 12x65 feet was partitioned and shelved. Larger quantities of goods can now be bought at a time at a lower cost and issued as required. An order and voucher system has been inaugurated. The grounds surrounding the buildings were practically bare. Much grading had to be done, the previous fall allowed not be- ing sufficient to carry water from the build- ings. All able bodied patients were required to work on the grade on all seasonable days, beginning about March 1, the number em- ployed being from forty to sixty men daily. About 9,000 cubic yards of earth were moved and about 1,000 square yards of sod planted. Excavation and grading for about 2,000 feet of roadway fifteen feet wide, lead- ing from the home entrance to and around the hospital buildings, was made. Suffi- cient limestone was quarried on the farm to make a stone bed for the road from eleven to eighteen inches, depending on the na- ture of the ground. Twelve hundred tons were crushed for top dressing, the whole rolled with a steam roller. About 250 trees were planted, a large number being orna- mental evergreens. Some evergreens were transplanted from the forests, among them HISTORY OF BLAIR COUNTY two large pines and two large hemlocks. The pines died but the hemlocks are thriv- ing well. About eighty-five per. cent of the trees planted are growing. Several large flower beds were made and planted, and added materially to the general outside ap- pearance. A truck patch of about five acres was fairly productive. The net profit from same was $602.02. About one-fourth was planted in cabbage and cauliflower, but on account of the extreme dryness of the season, only one-eighth of these plants matured. With sufficient ground adapted to truck- ing there is no reason why much cash should be expended for green vegetables of any kind, and sufficient should be raised of such vegetables as are easily stores or preserved for winter use. At least thirty acres should be devoted to this purpose yearly. Eggs were purchased for hatching in in- cubators. This was almost a failure. How- ever, we obtained sixty-eight chicks of which eight died young and seventeen were killed for table use, leaving January I, 1910, forty-three chickens. Eighteen ducks were purchased. Counting the balance of chick- ens and ducks on hand, together with those killed for table use and twenty-four and a sixth dozen eggs gathered from the hen house since October 7, shows a profit of $35.40 to January 1, 1910. The chicken house is in charge of an inmate. With an adequate chickery our bills for eggs could be materially reduced. Cases of acute in- sanity require the most nutritive food that can be supplied, therefore the consumption of eggs is great, this being one of the best foods in the treatment of mental diseases. In fact, eggs are medicine. When it is realized that thirty to thirty-six dozen eggs are used weekly, measures should be adopted to relieve the county of this cash outlay. The mattress-room was also a source of profit besides giving employment to several patients; 111 mattresses and ninety-five pil- lows were made, costing $292.82. . The AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS wholesale value of the finished articles was $471.62, showing a net gain of $188.80. The sewing-room gives its usual good ac- count. The following work was done: New articles of clothing, sheets, etc., pieces, entire year. c ccs ee wee aes 1,992 Clothing marked, pieces ............. 1,758 Repairs (record not complete) Sep- tember 1 to December 31, pieces... 860 Altered clothing, September 1 to De- cember 31, pieces................ 88 Total, scctawe sees ae ees 4,705 All clothing, including shoes, hats, suits, shirts, underwear, etc., for the patients have been marked with the patient’s name wear- ing same. All bed linen, towels, blankets, etc., have also been marked. This work is done in the sewing-room. With patient labor poles were cut in the mountain and put in place on the grounds for an electric light line from the gate to the hospital. The light was a necessity and will prevent accidents on dark nights. Be- sides the above work, patients and attend- ants from the hospital husked most of the corn, picked the potatoes and aided in the hay and grain fields, in acting ensilage and threshing and do nearly all the milking, be- sides other work for the alms-house. Above all things, this institution should have a hydrotherapeutic plant to treat all acute cases admitted. We cure (or rather, they recover in spite of our old-time meth- _ods) about twenty-five per cent of admis- sions. In New York state, where modern methods obtain, the percentage of cures is fifty per cent, and steadily rising as their knowledge is broadened. In other words, in this or in most other hospitals for the insane outside of New York state, the per- centage of new admissions that are allowed to pass into chronic insanity is about thirty per cent. for 1909. Thirty per cent. of the new admissions added to the chronic cases, means forty-two men and women consigned for life to a hospital to remain charges on the state and county for that period. 219 The following extract from an article in Pearson’s magazine for January will illus- trate the ultimate saving to the county: “The state commission in lunacy (in New York) has estimated that, based on the average life of unrecovered patients, the ultimate cost for maintenance to the state is $6,231 per capita. Professor Irving Fisher, of Yale, estimates that the loss to the state from enforced non-employment is $1,700 for each person. Wherefor, from economic view, taking all elements into consideration, it is evident that each recov- ered case results in a gain of the state of $7,931. “It does not take a mathematician to demonstrate the economic inadvisability of confining and so mishandling cases of men- tal sickness as to make those primarily cur- able incurable. It costs a lot of money not to provide proper care. It is very expen- sive not to provide ample hospitals, modern hgydrotherapeutic and electrical treatment and every possible facility for making the insane sane; the sick well. “Fifty per cent. at least of the number of patients annually admitted to the New York state hospitals are discharged, re- covered, or so much improved as to become self-supporting.” Further comment is not necessary other than that it is the duty of those in authority over hospitals for the insane to provide every possible means of cure or ameliora- tion in the condition of the most unfortu- nate class in the world. The percentage cured or paroled conva- lescent of the new admissions to this hospi- tal in 1909 was 28 2-10 per cent. Much work remains to be done about the grounds, additional grading and filling, to- gether with the planting of many additional trees, shrubbery, etc. A hot house should be built not only to care for plants used in beautifying the grounds during the sum- mer months, but also to furnish cut flowers and plants for the wards during the winte1 months. This I regard as a necessity and 220 not as a luxury. Plants and flowers give to a clouded mind something that nothing else can touch. From July to date, the artesian well and pump installed for an auxiliary water sup- ply, furnished about seventy-five per cent. of the water used by the hospital and home. No water could be stored as it was used as supplied. I most earnestly recommend that a storage basin be made in the mountain at the end of our pipe line, sufficiently large to store water sufficient for at least six months’ use. This would remove a great danger in case of fire, and add water for the truck patches during the dry season. With the hope of your continued support and interest in the welfare of the hospital and with my sincere thanks for past courte- HISTORY OF BLAIR COUNTY sies, the above report is respectfully pre- sented. H. J. Sommer, Jr.,” Superintendent. January I, IQIO. The year 1909 goes into history as famous for the severest drouth that ever visited this county. But in spite of its sever- ity, the almshouse farm gave the following splendid results. 10 horses and 27 cows kept. 64 hogs slaughtered. Wheat, 809 bushels. Corn, 1,800 bushels. Oats, 617 bushels. Barley, 241 bushels. Beans, 45 bushels. Peas, 11 bushels. Hay, 90 tons. Cabbage, 2,000. : Potatoes, 9,050 bushels, Stock hogs, 61. Stock.cattle,. 5.. CHAPTER XIV. BLAIR COUNTY IN THE WARS. The Revolutionary War—Description of Pennsylvania Riflemen in 1775—Act of April 9, 1799 —War of 1812—The Huntingdon Light Infantry—Militia Law of March 28, 1814—Mexi- can War—The “American Highlanders’—Wayne Guards—The Civil War—Brief Histories of the Regiments Engaged Containing Blair County Men—Spanish-American War—Blair County and the Militia. At the time time of the revolutionary war the territory now embraced in Blair county was part of Bedford county. It was but sparsely settled and did not furnish very many soldiers for the continental army. At a meeting of deputies chosen by the people of the several counties, held in Philadel- phia, July 15, 1774, in which Bedford county was represented by George Woods, the Boston port bill and other parliamentary measures affecting the people of the colo- nies were denounced, and a congress of dep- uties from the several colonies to consult together and adopt some measures for thie relief of grievances recommended. Congress, June 14, 1775, authorized the raising of six companies of expert riflemen in Pennsylvania, two in Maryland and two in Virginia, to join the army near Boston. On the 22nd the colony of Pennsylvania was directed to raise two more companies, making eight in all, which were to be formed into a battalion. Lancaster county furnished two companies, instead of one, and thus the battalion, which was com- manded by Col. William Thompson, was swollen to nine companies. Besides the companies from ‘Lancaster, there were two from Cumberland, and one from each of the counties of York, Northumberland, Bed- ford, Berks and Northampton. This com- mand passed the Hudson above West Point 221 about the rst day of August, and a few days thereafter reached Cambridge. Thatcher, in his Military Journal of the. Revolution; under date of August, 1775, thus describes this battalion: “They are remarkably stout and hardy men, many of them exceeding six feet in height. They are dressed in white frocks’ or rifle shirts, and round hats. These men are remarkable for the accuracy of their aim, striking a mark with great certainty at 200 yards’ distance. At a review, a com- pany of them, while on a quick advance, fired their balls into objects seven inches in diameter at the distance of 250 yards. They are now stationed in our lines, and their shots have frequently proved fatal to Brit- ish officers and soldiers who expose them- selves to view, even at more than double the distance of common musket-shot.” This battalion was designated as the sec- ond regiment, and after January 1, 1776, the first regiment of General Washington’s army. At first it was under the command of General Charles Lee, but subsequently became a part of General Putnam’s depart- ment. The British abandoned Boston March 17th, and soon after the regiment, under Lieut-Colonel Hand, marched to New York, and was stationed at New Utrecht during May and June. The term of enlistment had been for one year, and at 222 the earnest solicitation of General Wash- ington, congress made provision for their re-enlistment, and most of the men con- tinued in the service. On the first day of July this body entered its second term of service as the First Penn- sylvania regiment of the continental line. The enlistment was for two years, but was subsequently changed to “during the war.” This regiment participated in various bat- tles during the continuance of the war up to its close. How many of the soldiers which made up the regiment were from what is now Blair county is difficult to say, as Bedford county then embraced a large area. Among them, however, were John Holliday and John Bowman. Holliday was the first lieutenant of one of the companies and died in Frankstown township on August 19, 1823, aged 76 years. Bowman also resided in Frankstown township. On March 17, 1777, an act was passed to regulate the militia of the commonwealth, by which the president of the supreme exec- utive council was authorized to appoint one lieutenant and more than five sub-lieu- tenants in each county, and provision was samade for organizing the male inhabitants between the ages of 18 and 53 into com- panies and battalions, as well as the adop- tion of a general strict military code. In 1780 another militia law was passed sup- planting the enactment of 1777, but retain- ing many of the provisions of the former laws. The office of sub-lieutenant was abol- ished after April 1, 1783. Among the sub- lieutenants under the first mentioned acts in Bedford county were William and Thomas Holliday. An act was passed April 9, 1799, mate- rially changed the military system of the commonwealth, and provided for its more complete and efficient organization. The white male inhabitants between the ages of 18 and 45, made subjects of military duty, were arranged into divisions, brigades, regi- ments, battalions and companies. Nifflin and Huntingdon, the latter now including Blair, HISTORY OF BLAIR COUNTY formed a division, the tenth. The, fifty- eighth regiment, under command of Lieut- Colonel Holliday, was composed of Blair county men, and Hollidaysburg was the regimental training place from 1803 to 1812. WAR OF I812. With the exception of North Woodbury and Greenfield townships, the territory now embraced in Blair county, was included in Huntingdon county when the war of-1812 occurred. The county furnished several companies of soldiers that rendered service during the war, in all of which were men who lived within the present boundaries of Blair county. On Monday, May 4, 1812, the Hunting- don light infantry, a volunteer company, officered by-Robert Allison, captain, and Jacob Miller, first lieutenant, voted unani- mously to tender their services to the presi- dent in the then impending war: with Great Britain, more than a month in advance of the formal declaration of war, which was is- sued June 18th. The tender was accepted, and Monday, September 7, the company marched from Hunting/lon to Niagara and reached Buffalo on the 2nd of October. The company took. part in several engage- ments in connection with the invasions of Canada by the American forces. The names of those who formed this company have not been preserved. Governor Snyder, by general orders, dated May 12, directed a draft, in the man- ner prescribed by law, of 14,000 militia, to be formed into two divisions, four brigades and twenty-two regiments. The quota of the eleventh division, Huntingdon, Mifflin and Center counties, consisted of two bri- gades, one of 255 men and one of 431 men. The captains of these companies were Wil- liam Morris and Edmund Tipton. The other officers of Captain Morris’ company were as follows: Lieutenants, Daniel Wea- ver, William Isgrig, Cornelius Crum and John McIlroy; ensign, William Love; ser- geants, Alexander Cresswell, Henry New- AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS ingham, John. Stratton, Joseph Metzbaugh, William Wilson, John Brotherland and Jo- seph Eckley; corporals, Samuel Hollings- head, John McNamara, John B. Riddle, John Mack, Benjamin Scott and John Gal- braith. The officers of Captain Tipton’s company were as follows: First lieutenant, John McCabe; second lieutenant, Isaac Van Tries; third lieutenant, John Cox ; fourth lieutenant, Christian Denlinger; ensign, Patrick Madden; sergeants, John Calder- wood, Benjamin McCune, Jesse Moore, Peter Hewit, Jacob Shafer; corporals, James Mathers, Thomas Rees, Abraham Law, James Parks, Zaduck Westover; drummer, Elisha Ross. March 28, 1814, another general militia law was approved by the governor. Six- teen divisions were created. The tenth em- braced Mifflin and Center, constituting the first brigade, and Huntingdon and Clear- field, the second brigade. These men did not see any actual service. After the com- pletion of the vessels that were to consti- tute Commodore Perry’s squadron on Lake Erie, in the fall of 1813, volunteers were so- licited to complete the required force on board. A number of Pennsylvania militia tendered their services, and were accepted. The legislature, approved by resolution ap- proved January 31, 1814, after expressing the thanks of the government of the com- monwealth to the commodore, his assistant commandants and the Pennsylvanians who volunteered on board the squadron, di- rected the governor to present each of the latter, “in compliment of their patriotism and bravery, a silver medal of the weight of two dollars,” with his name thereon. A number of Huntingdon county men were the recipients of these medals. MEXICAN WAR. Blair county furnished at least one com- mand and possibly 200 soldiers for service during the Mexican war. Congress, May 13, 1846, declared that “by the act of the republic of Mexico, a state of war-exists be- 223 tween that government and the United States.” Troops were called for, and the president made a requisition on the gov- ernor of Pennsylvania for six regiments. Over ninety volunteer companies, number- ing 8,374 men, responded to the call. One of the companies, No. 60, known as the Williamsburg Blues, was recruited in Blair county. Thomas K. Fluke was the captain; James M. Kinkead, first lieutenant; Alex- ander McKamey, second lieutenant, and seventy-six non-commissioned officers and privates. The company saw but little serv- ice. A detachment from Blair county, raised in the fall of 1846, joined the “American Highlanders,” a uniformed company which had been organized in Cambria county be- fore the opening of the war, and of which the captain was John W. Geary, afterwards governor of Pennsylvania, but at that time employed at the Summit, now Cresson, in the office of John Snodgrass, superintendent of the old Portage railroad. Captain Geary offered the services of his company to the governor of Pennsylvania, and they were accepted, but as the strength of the Highlanders was considerably below the standard required, he desired to fill their ranks by recruitment, and in order to do this he proposed to William Williams of Hollidaysburg, who afterwards, during the civil war, was appointed and commissioned major in the fourteenth United States in- fantry, to raise twenty-five men for the company, and for which service Williams was to receive the appointment of sub-lieu- tenant in the Highlanders. Under this agreement twenty-two or twenty-three men were enlisted in Hollidaysburg and vicinity, among which were Thomas Hurd, Freder- ick Nesser, James Nealy, Washington Stone, Andrew Dripps, Don Revalon, Rob- ert McNamara and John Campbell. Major Williams and John Campbell lived until quite recently. The detachment of men raised at Holli- daysburg and vicinity left that place in De- 224 cember, 1846, and joined Geary’s Highiand- er’s, the strength of which company was raised by this accession to about eighty-five men. At Pittsburg it was assigned to duty as company B of the second Pennsylvania regiment, of which Captain William B. Roberts was elected colonel, and Captain John W. Geary lieutenant. Upon the pro- motion of Captain Geary to the lieutenant colonelcy of the regiment, the following named were elected to the commissioned officers of company B: Captain, John Humphreys; first lieutenant, Samuel W. Black; second lieutenants, Elisha Luckett and William Williams. The company embarked at Pittsburg on the steamer Cambria, and with the regi- ment proceeded down the Ohio and Mis- sissippi rivers to New Orleans, encamping for atime at Plaine Chalmette, a place some miles below the city, and where General Jackson fought the British forces under Packenham, January 8, 1815. Here the sec- ond Pennsylvania lay encamped adjoining a Mississippi regiment commanded by Col. Jefferson Davis, afterwards notorious as presi- dent of the so-called Confederate States of America. From this camp the regiment embarked on sailing-vessels bound for Mex- ico, Companies B, D and G taking passage on the ship General Veazie, Captain Fair- field. The Veazie was driven from her course to the coast of Cuba, and was at sea twenty-five days, during which time the small-pox broke out among the men. on board, and in consequence they were landed at Lobis island, while the other transports, with the remainder of the regiment, pro- ceeded to Vera Cruz. The three companies which were landed at Lobis island from the ship Gen. Veazie re- mained there in quarantine for about a month, at the end of which time, the smallpox having disappeared, they sailed for Vera Cruz, where on their arrival they found that the strongly- fortified city had surrendered to Gen. Scott, who had already marched with the main body of his army on the road to the city of Mexico. HISTORY OF BLAIR COUNTY The Second Pennsylvania had marched inland with Scott’s forces, but the three companies which had been quarantined at Lobis, under command of Lieutenant-Colonel.Geary, joined the division of General Quitman, which had not yet left Vera Cruz, and marched with it to Cerro Gordo, where they arrived after Gen. Scott’s battle and victory at that place. The army had moved on from Cerro Gordo to- wards Jalapa, where it was overtaken by Quit- man’s division, and where the three companies from the Second Pennsylvania, under Geary, rejoined their regiment, encamping about three miles from the city. When the army moved on towards Orizaba, the three companies of the Second which had come on the Gen. Veazie re- mained at Jalapa, being ordered into the city on garrison duty._ Here Lieutenant Williams was in command of the company. Capt. Humphreys and Lieuts. Black and ’Lackett being on the sick list: Williams afterwards became first lieutenant of the company by the resignation of Lieuts. Black and Luckett, First Sergeant Frank McKee being at the same time promoted to second lieutenant. From Jalapa Lieut. Williams was ordered to Pennsylvania on recruiting services, and did not return to the army. On his way home, when in New Orleans, he met two companies, respectively commanded by Captains Taylor and Caldwell who were on their way to join the Second Pennsylvania regiment in Mexico. The companies commanded by Capts. Taylor and Caldwell formed a part of the Wayne Guards, mustered into the service at Pitts- burg, May 19, 1847, contained a number of. Blair county men. Captain Caldwell’s com- pany was recruited in Blair, Huntingdon and Mifflin counties, the largest part being from Mifflin. There were about twenty-five from Blair, most of them from Williamsburg and vicinity. -Captain Taylor's company was raised prin- cipally in Bedford county, but, contained sev- eral men from Hollidaysburg and the south- eastern part of Blair county. The company was raised in the spring of 1847, and organized under command of Captain Taylor of. Bed- AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS ford. In May, 1847, it proceeded by March and by transportation on the canal to Pitts- burg, where it was immediately joined by Capt. Caldwell’s company, and two embarked on board the steamer “Colonel Yell,’ and moved down the river to New Orleans, where they arrived early in July, and were there met by Lieut. Williams on his return from Jalapa, as already mentioned. They encamped at Blaine Chalmette, Camp Carleton, below the city, where large numbers of men in other com- mands were sick with measles. The disease, however, did not spread to any great extent among the soldiers of the two Pennsylvania companies. After a short stay at Plaine Chal- mette the companies of Capts. Caldwell and Taylor embarked on the ship Florida, and pro- ceeded to Vera Cruz, whence they marched with the division of General Franklin Pierce, afterwards president of the United States, to Puebla, where the division joined the army of General Scott, and where the companies of Capts. Taylor and Caldwell were assigned to the Second Pennsylvania, the former being designated as L and the latter as M company. ~ The Second Pennsylvania. regiment. having marched with its division (Gen. Quitman’s) from Jalapa, by way of Orizaba, to Pueblo, where it received the two new companies, as above noted, moved thence with the army of General Scott towards the Mexican capital. During the campaign that succeeded it took part in all the principal battles, including those of Contreras, Churubusco, Molino del Rey, San Pascual, and at the storming of the Belen Gate (in which last-named engagement, as also at Chapultepec, it lost very heavily in killed and wounded), and was the first regiment, to enter the city of Mexico after its surrender, Sept. 13, 1847. Fhe commanding officer of the regi- ment, Col..W. B. Roberts, died in the city on the 3rd of October following, and upon his death Lieut. Col. Geary was promoted to the colonelcy. Not long after the occupation the second regiment was moved outside the city, and was posted successively at several neigh- boring points in the valley of Mexico, where it remained until May, 1848, when it marched 225 to Vera Cruz, embarked, and proceeded by sea to New Orleans, and thence by steamers up the Mississippi, and Ohio rivers to Pittsburg, where the men were mustered out of service on the 29th day. At the time this is written, so far as known, but one of the men from Blair county who served in this regiment survives. He is Fred- erick Liebig, of Altoona, also a veteran of the civil war. He is eighty-five years old, hale and hearty, in possession of all his faculties and apparently good for many more years. He has a perfect recollection of all the stirring events of which he was an active participant. He proudly asserts that he was one of the first men to enter the city of Mexico after its cap- ture by the American forces. THE CIVIL WAR. In no county of the state were the portentous events that preceded the civil war watched with more interest than in Blair, and few coun- ties in the entire country gave more men to save the union. The first shot directed against Fort Sumpter had hardly ceased to echo in the north before enlistments began in the county, and from the time when the first call for troops was made known until the surrender of the southern armies made further calls un- necessary, the young men, the middle-aged men, and not-infrequently the old men of Blair county responded to each appeal with a pa- triotic-alacrity not excelled in any other part of the state or union. Men of every walk of life came forward and offered their services to the national government, and altogether about 4,000 of the flower of the county donned the blue at one time or another during the progress of the war, of which number between 400 and 500 laid down their lives on the altar of their country. Parts of eighteen or more regiments were raised in Blair county during the war. These were the Third, Fourteenth, Fifty-third, Sev- enty-sixth, Seventy-seventh, Eighty-fourth, One Hundred and Tenth, One Hundred and Twenty-fifth, One Hundred and Ninety-sec- ond, Two Hundred and Second, Two Hundred 226 and Fifth, One Hundred and Fifty-second and One Hundred and Ninety-first regiments of in- fantry, the Ninth, Twelfth, Thirteenth, Nine- teenth and Twenty-second cavalry and the First Artillery. Individuals from the county also enlisted in other regiments, while not a few took service in the navy. The story of the soldiers of the county is almost the story of the war. They proved their valor in almost every battle of the war, and a number of them suffered untold agonies at Andersonville and Libby. Within a few hours from the time when the call of the president and Governor Curtin were flashed westward over the telegraph wires, men from Blair county were preparing to march to the defense of the capital, and within three days six companies were on their way to the general rendezvous at Harrisburg. A few days later another company went for- ward to the state capital to join the rank’s of their country’s defenders. Following in de- ‘tail are given the services of these regiments, beginning with the Third: THIRD REGIMENT. The six companies embraced in the first con- tribution by Blair county of men for the national armies had previously existed as inde- pendent organizations, and they became incor- porated with the Third Regiment of Pennsyl- vania in the three months’ service. The com- panies were designated in the regimental or- ganization and commanded as follows: Com- pany A, of Hollidaysburg, Captain John R. McFarlane, of Hollidaysburg; first lieutenant, John McKeage; second lieutenant, Thomas McFarlane. Company B, of Altoona, captain, Henry Wayne, killed at Pocotaligo, S. C.; first lieutenant, Joseph W. Gardner; second lieu- tenant, John M. Clarke. Company C, of Wil- liamsburg, captain, William L. Neff; first lieu- tenant, Jacob C. Yingling; second lieutenant, Robert Johnson. Company D, of Tyrone, cap- tain, James Bell; first lieutenant, William B. Darlington, second lieutenant, Francis M. Bell. Company E, of Altoona, captain, Jacob Sczink; first lieutenant, Richard J. Crozier; second HISTORY OF BLAIR COUNTY lieutenant, Frederick Shillinger. Company H, of Hollidaysburg, captain, Alexander M. Lloyd; first lieutenant, Christian N. Snyder; second lieutenant, Stephen C. Potts. All these six companies were mustered into the service on the zoth day of April, 1861, which was also the date of the organization of the Third regiment, of which these companies formed the principal part. ; The rendezvous of the Third regiment was Camp Curin, at Harrisburg, that historic camp being first occupied and used as such by Com- pany G, of Johnstown, of the Third, on the morning of April 18, 1861. The organization and muster of the regiment was effected here, on the 2oth of the same month, its field and staff officers being: Colonel, Francis P. Minier, of Hollidaysburg; lieutenant-colonel, John M. Rower, of Johnstown; major, Oliver M. Irvine, of Pittsburg; adjutant, James C. Noon; quartermaster, Jacob M. Campbell; surgeon, R. S. M. Jackson. Oin the evening of the day of muster the regiment received wmarching orders, and immediately departed from Harrisburg by railroad for Baltimore, but did not reach that city, being stopped at Cockeysville, Md., by the destruction of a bridge a little further on, also at that point receiving orders from Gen. Scott to halt at Cockeysville and not attempt the passage through Baltimore, which had been made at the cost of bloodshed by the Sixth Massachusetts regiment on the 19th. On receipt of these orders the Third encamped near Cockeysville, and remained there until the 22nd, when it re- turned to York, Pa., reaching there in the morning of the 23rd and remaining there four days, during which time the. officers and men of the regiment were recipients of the most liberal hospitality from the citizens-of the town. On the 27th the Third moved from York to Chambersburg, where it was assigned to duty in the second division, second brigade, com- manded by Brigadier General George C. Wyn- koop, the other regiments composing the brigade being the first and second regiments of Pennsylvania. The regimental camp about three miles from the town, and named Camp AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS Chambers. At this camp the Third remained until the 7th of June, when it moved with its brigade by railroad to Hagerstown, they thence marched immediately to Funkstown, at which place orders were expected to march on Har- per’s Ferry, Va., where there was a consider- able body of the enemy’s forces in position, commanded by Gen. Joseph E. Johnston. The expected orders, however, were not received, and the regiment remained at this camp, quietly engaged in drill and other routine duty, for more than three weeks, and on the first of July moved with Keim’s division to Williams- port, Md., on the left bank of the Potomac. On the 2nd it crossed the river to the “sacred soil” of Virginia, and advanced with the troops to Martinsburg, in that state, arriving there on the 3rd. The camp of the regiment was made near that town, to the northward; but after a short stay at this place the Third was ordered back to Williamsport, as a guard to the depot of supplies which had been estab- lished at that point for the use of the forces of General Patterson at Martinsburg and neighboring points in Virginia. On this duty, and in the guarding of communications with Williamsport, the regiment remained until after the expiration of its enlistment, when, on the 16th of July it was ordered to Harrisburg. Moving by way of Hagerstown, Md., it reached the capital of Pennsylvania on the fol- lowing day, and there, on the 29th of July, 1861, was mustered out of service. Most of the men afterwards re-enlisted. FOURTEENTH REGIMENT. In the Fourteenth regiment, three months’ service, were two Blair county companies. One, designated as Company I, was recruited at Martinsburg and vicinity, and its commis- sioned officers were: Captain, Alexander Bobb; first lieutenant, J. C. Saunders; second lieutenant, John H. Typher. The other com- pany, H, was recruited largely in the town- ships, and its commissioned officers were: Cap- tain, Thomas Holland, first lieutenant, William McGraw; second lieutenant, Samuel A. An- drews. 227 \ The regiment was organized at. Camp Curtin in the latter part of April, 1861, under the fol- lowing named field officers: John W. Johns- ton, colonel; Richard McMichael, lieutenant colonel; Charles N. Watts, major. It was mustered into the United States service as a regiment April 30th. On the goth of May it was moved from Camp Curtin tothe fair grounds at Lancaster, and there remained until the 3rd of June, when it moved to a camp about five miles from Chambersburg, and was there assigned to the fifth brigade, commanded by Gen. James S. Negley, of the second divi- sion, commanded by Gen. William H. Keim. After a stay of about two weeks at the camp near Chambersburg, the regiment moved to Hagerstown, Md., and thence on the 2oth to a camp near Sharpsburg. At this point it re- mained until the 2nd of July, when it moved with the column under Gen. Patterson across the Potomac into Virginia, and on the 3rd, having encountered Ashby’s confederate cav- alry on the march on the previous day, arrived at Martinsburg, where it remained on provost and other duty until the 15th of July, when it moved with the forces of Gen. Patterson to Bunker Hill, Va., upon a report that the enemy was in force at that place. No enemy was found, however, but only his deserted camp, and on the 18th the regiment marched to Charlestown, Va., and on the 21st, to Har- per’s Ferry, where two days later, the news was received of the great disaster at Bull Run. This ended the Virginia campaign, and soon afterwards, the term of service of the Four- teenth. having nearly expired, it crossed the Potomac, marched to Hagerstown, thence to Carlisle, where after a stay of eleven days it was mustered out and disbanded on the 7th of August. FIFTY-THIRD REGIMENT. The fifty-third regiment, of which Col. John R. Brooke, of Montgomery county, was the first commanding officer, was organized at Camp Curtin in September and October, 1861, being composed of companies. re-— cruited in Montgomery, Chester, Blair, 228 Huntingdon, Clearfield, Center, Carbon, Union, Luzerne, Potter, Westmoreland, Northumberland and Juniata counties. The men recruited in Blair and Huntingdon counties formed company C, and the com- missioned officers were as follows: Cap- tains John H. Wintrode and Henry J. Smith; first lieutenants, Robert McNamara Samuel M. Royer, D. S. Fouse and Andrew J. Merrett; second lieutenant, John Mc- ‘Laughlin. Moving from Harrisburg, November 7, 1861, the regiment proceeded to Washing- ton, D. C., whence on the 27th of the same month, it crossed the Potomac and went into camp near Alexandria, Va., which be- came its winter headquarters. In March, 1862, it moved forward with the Army of the Potomac in the fruitless advance on Manassas, and from that march returned to Alexandria, where it was assigned to the Third brigade of Richardson’s division of the Second corps, commanded by General Edwin V. Sumner. About the first of April the regiment with its corps was transported by water to the Virginia peninsula, and moved with the Army of the Potomac to the line in front of Yorktown. The enemy evacuated that place on the night of the third of May, and on ‘the following day the army moved on in pursuit, arriving the same night at Wil- liamsburg, where a bloody battle was fought on the fifth. On the sixth the Forty-third returned to Yorktown and remained five days, then moved by steamer up the York river to West Point, marching thence to the line occupied by the army along the Chicka- hominy. Crossing that stream on the night of the thirty-first of May, it took part in the battle at Seven Pines on the following day, losing nearly 100 men in killed, wounded and missing, and showing through the con- flict a steadiness and bravery that elicited the commendation of the division and corps commanders. On the twenty-seventh of June, when the right wing of the army was closed in deadly conflict with the enemy at HISTORY OF BLAIR COUNTY Gaines’ miil, the Fifty-third, being a part of the left wing, was posted on the York river railroad, on the other side of the Chicka- hominy; but late in the afternoon, when the battle had turned against the Union forces under General Porter, this regiment with its division was thrown across the river to their succor, and entering the fiery arena, helped to hold the victorious Confederates in check until the friendly darkness came on, and then amid the shades of night all re- crossed to the south side of the stream, de- stroying the bridges behind them. Then followed the seven days’ fight, the Fifty- third with its division covering the retreat and being hotly engaged with the pursuing enemy at Peach orchard and at Savage sta- tion. The regiment was not closely en- gaged in the tremendous fight at Malvern hill, although under fire for several hours. It assisted in covering the retreat of Mc- Clellan’s army to Harrison’s landing, where it remained until the sixteenth of August, when it was ordered to reinforce General Pope, who was being overwhelmed on the Rappahannock. It did not arrive in time to take part in the second Bull Run battle, though within hearing distance while on the march towards Centreville, where it arrived the following day. It was at once placed in position to cover the retreat of the defeated Army of Virginia to the Potomac, and hav- ing done this with the usual steadiness and gallantry, it moved across the river to a po- sition northwest of Washington, September 3rd, and a few days later was again on the march in the campaign of South Mountain and Antietam. In the first of these two en- gagements it took no part, being held in re- serve. It reached Antietam creek on the sixteenth, and in the great battle of the seventeenth was engaged early in the day, holding position on the extreme right of the division, charging the enemy and driving him from his strong position in its front, and holding the ground against all attempts of the Confederates to reoccupy it. Later in the day the regiment was posted in support AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS of a battery, and was under an exceedingly heavy fire for many hours. Its loss at An- a was twenty-eight killed and woun- ed. In the campaign of Fredericksburg, the Fifty-third crossed the Rappahannock on the twelfth of December, driving the enemy’s light forces from the bank of the river and occupied a part of the town. - Early in the day of the great battle the regiment with its brigade formed in line of battle along the south border of the town, and after a halt of nearly two hours in that position, all the while under a terrible fire from the enemy’s batteries, advanced at double-quick towards the famed stone wall that barred the way to the acclivity of Marye’s heights. Here, as at other points along the line, the rocky barricade proved impregnable to the Union’ assault, but the Third brigade charged up to within twenty-five rods of it, and held its position there in the face of a fire as de- structive as any that was ever poured into an advancing column, and through all the remaining hours of the day held it against repeated attacks of the enemy until night closed in on the scene of carnage, and then, and not till then, they retired from the ad- vanced line and made their cheerless bivouac in the town. The Fifty-third lost in this en- gagement 156 killed and wounded, which was considerably more than half the effective strength when it entered the fight. In the spring campaign of 1863, the regi- ment moved from its camp at Falmouth on the twenty-eighth of April, crossed the Rap- pahannock, and marched to Chancellors- ville, where it took part in the great battle during the three days of its continuance, suffering considerable loss. At the battle of Gettysburg three. companies of the regi- ment were absent on detached duty, and “only 125 men participated in that great battle, out of which number it suffered a loss of seventy-three killed and wounded. From this time to the close of the war the Blair county men in Company C partici- pated in all the campaigns and battles in 229 which the regiment was engaged. Among the battles in which the company was prom- inently engaged were Rappahannock sta- tion, Bristoe station, Mine Run, Wilderness, Po river, Spottsylvania courthouse, Cold Harbor, Petersburg, Ream’s station, Boyd- ton plank road, Five forks, Deep creek, and at Appomattox court house at Lee's sur- render. -Shortly after this the company, with other troops, returned by way of Washington to Harrisburg, from whence ‘the men returned to their homes and to the pursuits of civil life. THE SIXTY-SECOND REGIMENT. The Sixty-second regiment, of which Col. Samuel W. Black was the first commanding officer, was raised in the month of July, 1861, under authority given on the fourth of that month to Colonel Black by the secre- tary of war. The authority was afterwards extended, allowing the regiment to include twelve full companies, of which seven were recruited in Allegheny county, two in Clar- ion and one in each of the counties of Arm- strong, Jefferson and Blair. The company from Blair, which was the first full com- pany that left the county to enter the three years’ service, was designated as M com- pany of the regiment, Captain Richard J. Crozier. The rendezvous of the regiment was at Pittsburg, but soon after its organi- zation it moved to Harrisburg, where it re- mained in camp several weeks, thence pro- ceeding to Washington, where it received equipments and arms, and on the eleventh of September crossed the Potomac to Vir- ginia, encamping at Fort Corceran, and was assigned to Gen. Fitz-John Porter’s divi- sion, In the spring of 1862 the Sixty-second moved with the Army of the Potomac to Yorktown and participated in the Peninsula campaign, taking part in the battles of Han- over court house, Mechanicsville,, Gaines’ mill, the Seven Days’ fight and Malvern hill. At the battle of Gaines’ mill Colonel Black was killed and the command -of the 230 regiment devolved upon Lieut.-Col. J. Bow- man Sweitzer, who was taken prisoner on the following day and sent to Richmond. The entire loss of the Sixty-second in these battles was 208 killed, wounded and miss- ing. The regiment was next engaged with the army of General Pope in the vicinity of Manassas, but took no part in the second battle of Bull Run, being held in reserve with General Porter’s corps. After that battle and defeat, it retired with its division to Centreville and thence to Minor’s hill, near Washington, reaching there Septem- ber 4. In the Antietam campaign, the Sixty- second was present on that famous field, but was not closely engaged, its division and corps being held in reserve, though it was for hours posted in support of batteries and under a heavy artillery fire. The regi- ment shortly afterwards engaged in a recon- noitering expedition into Virginia, where it had a spirited fight with a large force of the enemy. In the reorganization of the army which fol- lowed the appointment of Gen. A. E. Burnside to succeed General McClellan in the chief com- mand, the brigade of which the Sixty-second was a part (the Second) was under the com- mand of Col. Sweitzer, the division under Gen. Griffin, and the corps (Fifth) under General Butterfield, the Fifth and Third corps together forming the Center Grand division, under com- mand of “Fighting Joe” Hooker. In the great battle of Fredericksburg, Dec. 13, 1862, the Second brigade crossed the Rap- pahannock at noon of that day, and marched through the streets of the town under a terrific fire of artillery, and deflecting to the right moved past a brick-kiln to and across the rail- road to the front of the enemy’s almost im- pregnable position on Marye Heights. There .it was met by a fire as destructive as was ever hurled in the face of an assaulting column. The right of the line gave way, but the Second brigade moved steadily forward through the infernal fire to a point within ten rods of the stone wall which sheltered the enemy. To ad- HISTORY OF BLAIR COUNTY vance beyond that point was impossible,. but the men lay down in mud and water, a position so exposed that a man could hardly rise to his feet and live a minute afterwards, and re- mained there until Sunday evening, December 14th, when they returned under cover of dark- ness to the town, and subsequently occupied its old camp on the north side of the Rappahan- nock. The loss of the regiment in the battle of Fredericksburg was seventy killed and wounded. In the spring campaign of 1863 the Sixty- second left its winter quarters on the 27th of April and moved with its corps, the Fifth under General Meade to and across the Rap- pahannock, where it tooks a conspicuous part in the great battle of Chancellorsville. After the disastrous termination of that battle it was the last regiment to cross the swollen Rappa- hannock, from which it marched back to its previous camp at Falmouth, where it remained until about the middle of June, being employed at picket duty and in observing the movement * of the enemy. About the middle of June the regiment marched northward with the army on the cam- paign that culminated in the battle of Gettys- burg. It arrived with the Fifth corps on that historic field at daylight on the morning of the 2nd of July, having been slightly engaged with the enemy at Middleburg, and the men having suffered terribly from the heat, dust and fatigue of the long march. The corps was first placed in position in the rear of Cemetery hill, where it remained awaiting orders during the greater part of the day. It was finally or- dered in to support Sickles’ corps, which was hard pressed and in danger of being forced back in disorder. The position of the Second brigade was in front of Little Round Top. The Sixty-second occupied the left of the brigade line—an exposed position—which the enemy attempted to flank, but failing in this, made a vigorous attack, which was repulsed, but the Second brigade was withdrawn to a new line behind a wheat field, across which it soon afterwards charged, under a terrible fire, but while doing so its advance was checked by the AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS giving way of a brigade, which was pursued by a heavy force of the enemy, who came on with a rush and yell, and gained the flank and rear of the charging Second brigade, which was thus placed in an extremely perilous posi- tion, and was extricated only by the unsur- passed bravery and steadiness of the officers and men, who retired slowly, but fighting over all the ground, until they gained a position of comparative security at the base of Little Round Top the enemy in the mean time having been checked and driven by a brigade of the Pennsylvania reserves. During the night the men built a rough stone wall, connecting the slopes of the two Round Tops, and this rude defense was held by the Sixty-second, which was not again closely engaged in the battle. Its losses at Gettysburg were heavy, reducing its strength to less than 100 men. Among the mortally wounded in this battle was Lieut. Patrick Morris of Company M. During the ensuing winter the regiment re- ceived many recruits from Pennsylvania and on the opening of the spring campaign of 1864 moved with its corps to the Rapidan and took part in all the engagement beginning at the Wilderness and ending at Petersburg. On the 3rd of July, 1864, the ten original companies of the Sixty-second regiment were mustered out of the service, their term of enlistment ex- piring and the two remaining companies, L and M, were transferred to the Ninety-first Pennsylvania regiment, and remained with it until the expiration of their term of service, and were mustered out on the 8th of August. All told, the Blair county Company M, partici- pated in twenty battles. THE SEVENTY-SIXTH REGIMENT. The Seventy-sixth regiment was raised in the fall of, 1861, and organized at Camp Cameron, Harrisburg, under the following- named field officers, viz.: Colonel, John M. Power; lieutenant-colonel, D. H. Wallace; and major, Oliver M. Irvine, of Blair county. Two companies of the regiment were raised in Blair county, viz.: Companies C and F. The first captain of Company C was John 231 W. Hicks, who was promoted to major, May 1, 1863. He was succeeded by Alfred Hicks, who was previously second and first lieutenant. He was mustered out Nov. 24, 1864, at ex- piration of term, and was succeeded by John McNevin. The first lientenant was George S. Hower, who died at Hilton Head, S. C., Sept. 2, 1862, and Joseph Harlin. The second lieu- tenants were Joseph D. Huch, Philip N. Hicks, Sr., and Benjamin White. Michael Poet, one of the present members of the Altoona school board, was one of the corporals. Company F had five captains during its service, viz.: Henry Wayne, killed at Poco- taligo, S. C., Oct. 22, 1862; Joseph R. Find- ley, T. L. McGlathery, killed at Fort Fisher, N. C., Jan. 15, 1865, James H. McDivit and William Blanck, Jr., George H. Gwinn was first lieutenant and Joseph W. Cannon and John Hubert, second lieutenants. The regiment left Harrisburg on the 1oth | of November, 1861, and proceeded to Fortress Monroe, and thence by ocean transports to South Carolina, to join the expeditionary forces which had previously gone forward to Beaufort, in that state, under command of Gen. T. W. Sherman. From then until May, 1864, the regiment was engaged in the operations along the coast. It participated in the battle of Pocotaligo, where Captain Wayne was killed and in the assault on Fort Wagner, sustain- ing here a loss of fifty-two killed and 135 wounded, among the latter Major John W. Hicks of Blair county, who had succeeded Major Irvine, who resigned. In the spring of 1864 the regiment was transported to Virginia, and there attached to the Army of the James under Gen. B. F. Butler, at Bermuda Hundred. It participated in an action on the Weldon railroad, the destruction of which was the object of the expedition, losing sixty-one in killed, wounded and miss- ing. On the 27th of May, the regiment, with its division, the Second, of the Tenth corps, joined the Army of the Potomac at White House Landing, and joined in the battle of Cold Harbor, where it sustained a heavy loss. It subsequently rejoined the Army of the James 232 and after spending some time in the destruction of railroads, again joined the Army of the Potomac and was at the mine explosion, July 30th, and suffered considerable loss. From the 13th to the 17th of August it was daily under fire at Deep Bottom and vicinity. From that time until in November it was constantly engaged in fighting and skirmishing. In De- cember, 1864, the regiment accompanied Gen- eral Butler’s disastrous expedition against Fort Fisher, and it formed part of the new expedition sent out for the same purpose in January under General Terry. It participated in the assault and lost heavily, Captain Mc- Glathery of Company F being among the slain. The regimental colors, carried by Cor- poral Albert Sanders, of Company C, was torn and shredded by shells and canister. until a mere fragment remained on the staff. — After the capture of Fort Fisher the Seventy- sixth moved to Wilmington, and thence to Raleigh, N. C., where it remained ‘until July 15, when it moved to Wilmington, and from thence the men of the regiment returned by sea to their homes in Pennsylvania. . SEVENTY-SEVENTH REGIMENT. This regiment was organized in October, 1861, by Col. Frederick S. Stumbaugh, and was joined by a Blair county company, desig- nated as F, under the command of Captain Daniel Shock of Claysburg, after it had been in service for three years and five months. The regiment saw service in the west and was joined by Captain Shock’s company in East Tennessee in the middle of March, 1865. About the last of April the regiment returned to Nashville, where it was assigned to the First brigade, First division, Fourth Army corps. In June it left Nashville and passing down the Mississippi by boat to New Orleans, went into camp at Plaine Chalmette, Gen. Jackson’s old battle-ground, 1815. It subse- quently was assigned to duty in Texas, re- maining there until December, 1865, when the men were embarked and proceeded by sea to Philadelphia. Arriving there on the 16th of January, 1866, they were duly discharged and HISTORY OF BLAIR COUNTY returned to their homes and the vocations of civil life. Miles Zentmeyer was first lieutenant of Company F and J. O. Brookband second lieutenant. EIGHTY-FOURTH REGIMENT.. The Eighty-fourth Pennsylvania volun- teers probably contained as many Blair county men as any of the others. Its com- mander was a Blair county man who lost his life on the field of battle, and its long and arduous service has given it a place in the hearts of Blair county people possessed by no other. It was raised in the summer and fall of 1861, and organized under the following field-officers: Colonel William G. Murray of Hollidaysburg; Lieutenant Col- onel Thomas C. McDowell and Major Wal- ter Barrett. The rendezvous of the regi- ment was established at Camp Crossman, near Huntingdon, but it was removed from there to’: Camp Curtin about the first of De- cember following. The companies compos- ing the regiment were recruited in the counties of Cameron, Clearfield, Columbia, Blair, Dauphin, Lycoming and Westmore- land. Of these Blair county furnished two full companies, A and E, and a large pro- portion of two other companies, C and I, the former of these two being partly raised in Westmoreland, and the latter partly in Clearfield county. Robert L. Horrell was the first captain of Company A. He resigned July 24, 1862, and was succeeded by Jonathan Derno, who had been first lieutenant. The second lieu- tenant at organization was Charles Reem, who was killed at Winchester, March 23, 1862. Sergeants Joseph Delehunt and Jo- seph W. Daugherty were promoted to lieu- tenancies. i Abram J. Crissman, B. M. Morrow, Wil- liam Logan and James J. Wirsing- were the captains of Company C, while the grade of lieutenant was held by Archibald Douglass, Charles Mummey, Charles O’Neil, William M. Gwinn, William Hays and Joseph Me- Master. AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS Patrick Gallagher, the first captain of Company E, was killed at Winchester. successors were Patrick F. Walsh, Alexan- der Dobbins, Albert A. Steinman and Rob- ert Johnson. The lieutenants were Alex. H. Taylor, John Maloney and John C. Wolf. Company I had four captains, Joseph L. Curby, John H. Comfort, Arthur G. Gilbert and John R. Ross. The lieutenants were Isaac Hooper, Clarence L. Barrett, John B. Ferguson, George S. Good, John W. Paul- ley and Alban H. Nixon. The regiment was mustered into service on the twenty-fourth of October, 1861. On Wednesday, November 27, it left Camp Crossman for Harrisburg, where it arrived the same night, and on the following day pitched its tents at Camp Curtin. On the twenty-first of December the state colors were presented to the regiment by Gov- ernor Curtin. The flag was received by the colonel, and by him placed in charge of Color-Sergeant Stokes, who, on receiving it, said: “Governor and Colonel, if I don’t re- turn this flag, ’twill be because Ned Stokes will occupy five feet eight on the ground.” On Tuesday, December 31, the regiment left Camp Curtin for Williamsport, Md., proceeding by railroad to Hagerstown, Md., whence it marched to Clear Spring, camp- ing there on the night of January Ist. Mov- ing forward the next morning, it arrived at Hancock at 3 o’clock p. m., and was quar- tered in the town for the night. On Friday, January 3, it crossed the Potomac, and marched to Bath, Va., reaching there at 1 o’clock p. m., and on the following day had a sharp skirmish with the enemy at that place, the Eighty-fourth being supported by the Thirty-ninth Illinois, with a section of battery and a small body of cavalry. The enemy, a part of Stonewall Jackson’s forces, drove in the Union skirmishers at 8 o’clock a. m., but was held in check until 3 o’clock, when the Eighty-fourth and other troops were compelled to retire before the superior Confederate force, and marched: by way of Sir John’s run to Hancock, crossing the His © -should he attempt to cross; 233 river at about dark. General Lander ar- rived at Hancock the same night, and on the following day assumed command of the troops at that place. The enemy who had been fought at Bath following the retreating Union troops to the Potomac, and shelled the town from the south side of the river. The Union troops” were formed in line to resist the enemy but it was found he had no intention of doing so, his advance being merely a feint to cover his real design against Romney, Va. Discern- ing this, General Lander made a counter- movement, marching his regiments to Cum- berland, Md., where other troops of his command were concentrated, and where the Eighty-fourth arrived on the twelfth of January. During the winter the regiment was posted successively at the railroad bridges over the north branch and south branch of the Potomac and at Paw Paw tunnel. On the second of March, General Lander died, and the command devolved on Colonel Kimball. On. the fifth the regiment moved to Martinsburg, Va., arriving there at mid- night on the sixth. On the eleventh the First, Second and Third brigades were or- dered to Winchester, and moved towards that town, arriving at a point within two miles of the Winchester on the night of the twelfth. There the information was received that the town had been evacuated by the Confederates, and thereupon the regiment went into camp, which was named Camp Kimball. Here Colonel Kimball was suc- ceeded by Gen. James Shields. On the eigh- teenth of March the regiment moved south- ward about seventeen miles, passed through Middletown, and bivouacked one mile south of the town. On the nineteenth the Eighty-fourth marched southward, its advance-guard skir- mishing with Ashby’s cavalry, and losing slightly in wounded. That night it biv- ouacked one mile south of Stransburg. On the twentieth it left this camp and marched 234 back to Camp Kimball, two miles north of Winchester, which it reached before 8 o’clock p. m., having marched twenty-three miles without a halt for rest. On the evening of the twenty-second of March it moved through Winchester southward to meet. the forces of Stonewall Jackson, who was reported to be approaching the place. The regiment marched about four miles, and bivouacked two miles south of Winchester. On Sunday morning, March 23, the Confederate army under Jackson, 11,000 strong, and having twenty-eight pieces of artillery, moved for- ward to a point near the village of Kerns- town, something more than four miles south of Winchester, where at about II o’clock a. m., they attacked General Shield’s advance brigade, which retired in good or- der towards the main body. The Eighty- fourth stood in line supporting a battery. The enemy moved up rapidly with infantry and artillery, advancing through a piece of woods on the right. The Eighty-fourth be- ing ordered to charge, moved qitickly for- ward from the high ground on the Kerns- town road across open ground and entirely without cover to the place where the enemy held a strong position behind a stone wall and partially covered by woods. From this position a most destructive fire was poured in at close range upon the advancing column, but the Eighty-fourth moved for- ward unflinchingly through the leaden storm. Colonel Murray leading with great gallantry, officers and men falling on every side, strewing the ground with the dead and dying. In the midst of the struggle his horse was shot under him. Extricating himself, he renewed the charge on foot. A little later his cap-cover was shot from his head. The carnage was now terrible, the enemy screening themselves behind the stone wall and curtain of wood. But, noth- ing daunted, Colonel Murray led on his regiment, and just as it was entering the grove which crowned the summit, while rushing on, with sword in hand, and ex- claiming, “Charge, boys! charge!” he was stand of small arms. HISTORY OF BLAIR COUNTY struck by a rifle-ball, which crashing through the bugle of his cap, carrying away the figures “84” with it, passed through his brain, tearing away the top of his skull. After the loss of Colonel Murray, the regi- ment partially gave way and fell into some disorder; but rallied under the command of Captain George Zinn and held its ground. An advance was then made all along the line and soon the enemy was forced back through the woods by a fire as destructive as ever fell upon a retreating foe, falling back in disorder upon the reserve. There they took up a position for a final stand, and made an attempt for a few minutes to re- trieve the fortunes-of the day, but again there rained down upon them the same close and destructive fire. A few minutes only did they stand up against it, when they turned dismayed and fled in disorder, leav- ing the Union forces in possession of the field, their killed and wounded, 300 prison- ers, two guns, four caissons and a thousand Night alone saved them from total destruction. The Eighty- fourth went into the battle with only 260 fighting men, and lost ninety in killed and wounded. The body of-Colonel Murray was moved from the battle-field and taken to Harris- burg, where it was received with imposing ceremonies, the governor, heads of depart- ments, the two houses of the legislature and military and civic societies moving in the sad procession. The body lay in state at the residence of his mother, and was viewed by great numbers. From the capital it was taken to Hollidaysburg, where even more universal sorrow was manifested and tok- ens of respect shown. At the residence of his father-in-law, John Dougherty, Esq., thousands of sorrowing friends and rela- tives gathered, eager to take a last look at the fallen soldier. At St. Mary’s church high mass was celebrated, and a most touching and eloquent discourse was de- livered over the remains by the Rev. John Walsh. He was finally laid to rest beside AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS 235 his wife, whom he had but a few months be- fore followed to the grave. Colonel Murray was ‘born July 25, 1825, at Langford, Ireland, and came to America when but nine months old. He served as a private soldier in the Mexican war, and was delayed in entering the service of the Union by the illness of his wife, who died in Aug- ust, 1861. He then devoted his attention to recruiting troops and was commissioned colonel of the Eighty-fourth by Governor Curtin. He was a man of large, active be- nevolence, warm and ardent in his impulses, though singularly calm and equable, and energetic and untiring in the path of duty. In person he was six feet in height, with a large and muscular frame. He was of light complexion, brown hair, eyes of bright gray and expressive, features prominent, move- ments quick, and to courage of the highest order was united a strong sense of religious responsibility. Col. Samuel M. Bowman succeeded to’ the command of the regiment, which remained in the Shenandoah valley during the spring ‘and into the summer, taking part in the demonstrations of the armies under Shields, Banks and Fremont against the Confeder- ates under Jackson, and participating in the -battle of Fort Republic. In August it was attached to the army of Gen. John Pope and took part in the second disastrous Bull Run battle. The position of the regiment was first on the right and afterwards on the left of the line. It was very heavily engaged during the afternoon and remained on the field until after dark, at which time it occu- pied an extremely exposed position far in advance of the other troops, and was in im- minent danger of being cut off by a Confed- erate division, but finally succeeded, though with great difficulty, in withdrawing from the field and crossing Bull Run in safety. The Eighty-fourth moved that night to Centreville, and from there on the follow- ‘ing day to the defenses of Washington. The strength of the regiment had by this time been reduced to eighty men and during the fall it was largely increased by acces- sions of recruits and the return of convales- cents. In October it joined the Army of the Potomac, being made a. part of General Franklin’s grand division, with which it took gallant part at the: great battle of Fredericksburg, losing heavily in killed and wounded, and receiving complimentary mention for its bravery and steadiness from General Carroll in his official report of the operations of the twelfth and thirteenth of December. On the following spring it took part in the battle of Chancellorsville. It took no part in the battle of Gettysburg, be- ing posted at the time of Westminster, Md., as a guard to the trains of the Second corps. After the retreat of General Lee from Get- tysburg it crossed the Potomac in Virginia, in Virginia, where, during the remainder of the season of 1863, it fought at Wapping heights, July 23 and 24; at Thoroughfare Gap, October 10; at Bristoe’s station, Octo- ber 14 and 19; at Kelly’s ford, November 7; at Locust grove church, November 28; and Mine Run, Noveinber 30, and in several other minor engagements, but suffered only a slight loss in killed and wounded. After the close of the Mine Run campaign the regiment went into winter quarters near Brady Station, Va., where a large number of its men re-enlisted for the war and received the usual “veteran furlough.” ~* On the opening of the spring campaign of 1864, the Eighty-fourth joined the army un- der General Grant, taking part in all the desperate battles fought during the sum- mer, beginning at the Wilderness. During the month of December, 1864, the men orig- inally enlisted in the Eighty-fourth were mustered out of service, except those who had re-enlisted as veterans, who, with the recruits of the regiment, were organized into a battalion of four companies. On the thirteenth of January, 1865, the battalion was consolidated’ with the Fifty-seventh Pennsylvania under Colonel Zinn, pre- viously lieutenant-colonel of the Eighty- fourth. The Fifty-seventh was mustered // 236 out of service June 29, 1865, having served honorably through the campaign which was ended by the surrender of General Lee at Appomattox court-house. NINTH CAVALRY. The Ninth cavalry contained no Blair county company, but one, Company M, commanded first by Captain George W. Patterson and later by James Bell, Thomas S. McCahan and Doctor A. Shelp, was recruited in Huntingdon county and contained a number of Blair county men. George W. Kuhn, at present residing in Altoona, was mustered in as first sergeant, and .later was commissioned second lieutenant. Other Blair county men in the regiment were Harrison T. Stiffler, Jacob J. Noffsker, Wil- liam Harpster, John P. McGinnis, Samuel C. Tussey, George Bleiler, and William Irvin, the » latter being promoted from first sergeant to first lieutenant. The regiment was organized in the fall of 1861, under command of Col. Edward C. Wil- liams. It first operated in Kentucky against Morgan’s guerillas, later joining the main army of the West under Buell and later Rose- crans, and participating in the various battles, including Perryville and Chickamauga. It afterwards joined the army of General Sher- man, participating in all the engagements at-- tending the march to the sea and in the subse- quent battles against General Johnston’s army, including Bentonville, Morrisville and Averysboro. It was the Ninth that received the flag of truce which brought a letter from the confederate commander, Gen. Johnston, to Gen. Sherman, proposing a surrender of the southern army. A detachment of the Ninth escorted Gen. Sherman when he advanced to meet Gen. Johnston to arrange the terms of sur- render. The terms were agreed on, the sur- render made accordingly, and the war thus ended; the Ninth being engaged in the last battle fought east of the Mississippi. The regi- ment was mustered out of the service on the 18th of July, 1865. HISTORY OF BLAIR COUNTY TWELFTH CAVALRY. The Twelfth cavalry, designated as the One Hundred and Thirteenth of the Pennsylvania line, contained one company raised in Blair and Cambria counties, viz.: Company G, Cap- tain Adam Hartman. The regiment was or- ganized at Philadelphia, under Colonel Wil- liam Frishmuth, in November, 1861. Col. Frismuth resigned soon afterwards, and Lewis B. Pierce became colonel, Jacob Kohler lieu- tenant-colonel. and Darius Titus, James A. Congdon and William Bell majors. The regi- ment moved to Washington about May 1, 1862, and in June crossed the Potomac into Virginia, though the men were not mounted until the latter part of July. Joining Gen. Pope’s army of Virginia, it was engaged with the enemy at Bristow station, where it was sur- prised by the confederates, who made a fierce assault, resulting in a loss to the regiment of 260 of its men killed, wounded and taken prisoners. The remainder escaped to Centre- ville, whence they were ordered to Alexandria and from there to the north side of the Poto- mac to picket the line of the river as far up as Edwards Ferry. In the Antietam campaign the regiment joined Pleasanton’s division. At the battle of South Mountain it was in reserve and not en- gaged. On the 16th of September two squad- rons, one of which was under the command of Captain Hartman of Company G, while on a reconnoissance towards Hagerstown, became engaged with the enemy’s cavalry at Boones- boro, taking a considerable number of prisoners. In the latter part of the month of September it was placed on duty guarding the line of the Baltimore and Ohio railroad above Harper’s Ferry. It took part in several cav- alry raids—anl fought in an action at Fishet’s hill, suffering some loss but driving the enemy from his position. : On June 12, 1863, the Twelfth led the ad- vance of a reconnoissance towards Front Royal, soon discovering heavy masses of con- federate infantry moving towards the Poto- mac. This was the first knowledge gained of s AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS the actual movement of Gen. Lee’s army from the Rapidan to the invasion of Maryland and Pennsylvania. Encountering the cavalry of the enemy’ s advance, the regiment skirmished sharply in the neighborhood of Winchester, and fought on two or three successive days at Apple Pie ridge, but being of course over- powered by the enemy’s infantry, retired to Winchester, where the troops were entirely surrounded by Lee’s army. The brigade man- aged to cut its way out, most of them reaching Harper’s Ferry. When Lee’s army was on the retreat from Gettysburg, the Twelfth, with the First New York cavalry attached his trains at Cunningham’s Cross Roads, captur- ing a guard of 640 men, three pieces of artil- lery, 125 wagons, and more than 500 horses and mules. During the remainder of the year and through the ensuing winter the regiment was engaged in picket duty, with occasional skirmishes. When Gen. Early moved north in 1864, with a force of 20,000 men, intending to capture the city of Washington, the Twelfth formed part of the cavalry forces that harassed the confederate advance. It fought at Cramp- ton’s gap, Pleasant valley, and several other points. Early having advanced to within sight of the city, was driven back by a rival’ of the Sixth corps from Petersburg, and retreated into Virginia as far as Berryville, but from there turned back towards the Potomac. On the 20th of July the Twelfth fought a part of his forces at Winchester, capturing several guns and a considerable number of prisoners. Again, on the 23rd and 24th, it fought dis- mounted, and was repulsed with heavy loss. On August 21st the regiment, then forming a part of the Army of the Shenandoah under General Sheridan, took part in an action with the enemy’s cavalry, losing slightly. In No- vember it was stationed at Charlestown, Va., but its ranks were sadly thinned and the greater part of the men dismounted. During the winter it was on duty guarding the rail- road between Harper’s Ferry and Winchester, and frequently engaged in skirmishing. In the spring of 1865 it took part in an expedition 237 against the guerrilla bands which infested the eastern slopes of the Blue Ridge, and. on the 23d of March was closely engaged with the enemy at Harmony, Va., losing twenty-five killed and wounded. In a raid on Lynchburg it had a brisk fight with the enemy at ,Edin- boro. This was its last battle and it: was mustered out on July 20, 1865, at Winchester. ONE HUNDRED AND TWENTY-FIFTH INFANTRY. The One Hundred and Twenty-fifth in- fantry contained the largest number of Blair county soldiers. It was raised in July and August, 1862, under authority from Governor Curtin to Lieutenant-Colonel Jacob Higgins, of Blair county, to recruit a nine months’ regiment as a part of the quota of Pennsylvania under the president’s call of July 1, issued on account of the disas- ters to the army of General McClellan on the the peninsula. Of the companies so raised, six were recruited in Blair county, viz. Company A, Captain Francis M. Bell Company B, Captain Ulysses L. Huy- ett; ‘Company D, Captain Jacob S. Szink; Company E, Captain William McGraw; Company G, Captain John McKeage; and Company K, Captain Joseph W. Gardner. Captain Szink was promoted to lieutenant- colonel in the organization of the regiment and was succeeded as captain by C. R. Hostetter. The rendezvous of the regiment was at Camp Curtin, Harrisburg, where it was or- ganized August 16th, under Col. Jacob Hig- gins, Lieut.-Col. Jacob Szink, and Major John J. Lawrence as field officers. The ad- jutant of the regiment was Robert M. John- ston. On the day of the organization the regiment left Harrisburg and proceeded to Washington, where it was made part of a provisional brigade, commanded by Colonel Higgins. Crossing into Virginia, it was en- camped first at Hunter’s chapel, and was soon afterward stationed at Fort Barnard. It remained a few weeks on the line of the Washington defenses, engaged in garrison 238 duty and infantry and heavy artillery drill. On the 6th of September it was ordered to the north side of the Potomac, in view of the imminent invasion of Maryland by Gen- eral Lee’s army, and to Rockville, Md., where it was assigned to duty in Crawford’s brigade of General Mansfield’s division. The other regiments of the brigade were the Forty-sixth, the One Hundred and Twen- ty-fourth, and One Hundred and Twenty- eighth Pennsylvania, the Fifth Connecticut, Tenth Maine and Twenty-third New York. Marching from Rockville on the gth of September, the regiment arrived at Antie- tam creek on the 16th. On the afternoon of that day General Hooker’s corps, compos- ing the right wing of the army, crossed the creek, and opened the battle by an attack on the enemy’s position at that point. Late in the evening the One Hundred and Twenty- fifth leading, the brigade took position in the front line and remained there during the night, Early in the morning of the seven- teenth, the day of the great battle, the divi- sion was ordered forward to dislodge a body of the enemy who had taken cover in a strip of woods. This service was per- formed with great gallantry, the enemy be- ing driven a considerable distance up the road towards Sharpsburg; but the division sustained the loss of its noble commander, General Mansfield, who fell mortally wounded in the attack. Shortly afterwards the One Hundred and Twenty-fifth was again ordered forward to drive the enemy from a new position in the woods near the small Dunkard church building. The regi- ment went in with a ringing cheer, ad- vanced rapidly and with great steadiness through a storm of iron and lead, drove the Confederates in disorder from their posi- tion, and took a number of prisoners; but in turn a heavy body of the enemy came up and charged the Union troops in front and flank with such impetuosity that they were compelled to retire, escaping from their perilous position with no little difficulty. The One Hundred and Twenty-fifth’ was HISTORY OF BLAIR COUNTY next ordered in support of a battery in an advanced and exposed position. It did so, repelling two successive charges by the enemy, who were determined to capture the guns. Through all the desperate con- flict at Antietam the officers and men of the regiment displayed the greatést courage and steadiness, though this was their first - battle. The loss of the regiment at Antie- tam was 150, of whom only four were miss- ing, all the remainder being killed or wounded. Among the wounded were Captains Hos- tetter of D and Simpson of F' company; Lieuts. W. F. Martin of A, and Alexander W. Marshall and P. S. Treese of D, William. C. Wagoner of F, and George Thomas of I company. Five successive color-bearers were killed, and the adjutant, Lieut.. Robert. M. Johnston, was mortally wounded. . He. died on the r9th, and was succeeded by Lieut. John G. Cain of Company E. oo After the close of the Antietam campaign the regiment remained in Maryland. until the first of November, when it crossed the Potomac into Virginia, where it was for a short time stationed on Loudon heights. On the tenth it marched via Leesburg to- wards the Rappahannock, whither the main body of the army had preceded this corps. It advanced to a point near Dumfries, but being too late to take part in the battle of Fredericksburg, moved back to a camp at Fairfax station. On the 28th of December it moved out from this camp to Wolf Run shoals, where it was engaged in action with the enlemy’s cavalry, and returned to camp on the 29th, the men having suffered terribly from cold, fires not being allowed on account of their near proximity to the enemy. On the 8th of January the regiment again took part in a movement against the enemy at Wolf Run shoals. In General Burnside’s projected forward movement of the army in January, 1863, the regiment marched from camp on_ the twenty-ninth of that month, moving to. Dumfries, to Stafford court-house, where it remained in camp, but constantly doing AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS picket duty and frequently engaged in movements to neighboring points on ac- count of the near proximity of the enemy’s cavalry. In March it was moved to a new station at Acqua creek landing. On the 28th of April the regiment, then in the Second brigade of Geary’s division, of the Twelfth corps, moved to the Rappahan- nock, crossing at Kelly’s ford, thence to the Rapidan, crossing at Germania ford, and from thence to Chancellorsville, avhere it arrived on the afternoon of the 30th, and immediately went into line ot battle. On the following morning the brigade ad- vanced east, soon encountered the enemy’s pickets and drove them back to and through a belt of timber. On emerging from the woods, it was found to be in a very perilous position, far in advance of the other troops, and away from their support. in front opened a tremendous fire of artil- lery, and the brigade being in imminent. danger of being flanked, was withdrawn with some difficulty, and retired to its posi- tion of the previous evening. During the night the men threw up some quite formid- able defenses, though they had no intrench- ing implements, and were obliged to use their bayonets and tin plates for the work, the enemy at the same time being only a few rods away in front. On the following day (May 2), the regi- ment lay under a heavy artillery fire until 3 _o’clock p. m., when it advancéd with the brigade on the Fredericksburg plank road, and made a demonstration against the enemy in the woods and behind his defen- ses; but failing to dislodge him, returned at about 6 o’clock to the position of the pre- vious evening. A little later in the day came the tremendous assault of Stonewall Jack- son on the Union right, which broke before the fury of the attack, and one division of the Eleventh corps came rushing in dis- order and panic to the position of the One Hundred and Twenty-fifth and its brigade, which was the first point where the wild re- treat of the fugitives was checked. Geary’s The enemy 239 division formed line facing the rapid ad- vance of the exultant Confederates, and held them at bay during the night and until the middle of the forenoon of the 34d, bravely holding the ground against re- © peated attacks, in which canister was used at short range on both sides. At 10 o’clock a. m. of the 3d the enemy had succeeded in flanking the position on the right, and the division was compelled to fall back to a new and more contracted line, which was held with comparative ease, though the enemy made frequent and vigorous assaults upon it. During the remainder of the great bat- tle the regiment was continually in line and for many hours under a heavy fire, but was not again closely engaged. On the morn- ing of the 5th it was ordered to the left of the line and commenced intrenching. In that position it remained during the day and succeeding night, and on the 6th recrossed the Rappahannock, and returned to the old camp at Acquia. Chancellorsville was the last battle of the One Hundred and Twenty-fifth, as its term of service had expired. It was then ordered to Pennsylvania, and on its arrival at Har- risburg was received with unbounded en- thusiasm and admiration by thousands of people who had assembled there to greet its return. It was mustered out of service on the 18th of May. Many of the men of the Blair companies afterwards enlisted in other regiments and served until the end of the war. NINETEENTH CAVALRY. The Nineteenth cavalry, designated as the 118th regiment, contained one company from Blair county, Company L, commanded by Cap- tain D. Ross Miller, at present a prominent pension attorney of Altoona. ‘The regiment was organized at Camp Stanton, Philadelphia, in the fall of 1863, and mustered into the service for a term of three years, under Col. Alexander Cummings, as its commanding of- ficer. In the first part of November it moved from Camp Stanton to Washington, D. C., where it was ordered to Eastport, Miss., but 240 its destination was afterwards changed to Columbus, Ky., where it arrived on the 3d of December, and was assigned to duty in the cavalry division commanded by Gen. B. H. Grierson. The regiment was then commanded by Lieut. Col. Joseph C. Hess, Col. Cummings being absent on detached duty. In January, 1864, it was ordered on dtuy with Grierson’s division in Mississippi in the destruction of railroads and. Confederate magazines of sup- ply. In this the expedition was very successful, . immense quantities of grain and cotton being destroyed. The regiment was several times slightly engaged with the enemy’s cavalry, los- ing fifteen killed and wounded from the time of starting until its return to Memphis, Tenn. About the 1st of April it again moved for- ward with the division against the rebel gen- eral Forrest. On this expedition it fought one entire day at Cypress Swamp, Miss, Om the 1oth of May it fought at Bolivar, defeating the enemy with severe loss. In June it was en- gaged at Guntown, where the Union forces were defeated and driven back with heavy loss. The Nineteenth fought dismounted and _ lost fifteen killed and wounded. In July and August a detachment of the regiment, operat- ing in Mississippi, fought in the actions at Grand Gulf, Port Gibson, Big Black, Cold- water and Oxford. On its return to Vicks- burg, the Nineteenth was ordered, with other troops, to Little Rock, Ark., and moved thence northward to Independence, Mo., to take part in the operations against the Confederate forces under General Sterling Price. There it fought in a number of engagements, among which were those of Marion, Greensboro, Pilot Knob, Osage, and Big Blue, taking part at the latter place in a daring and successful saber charge. Returning to Memphis it was sent eastward through Tennessee and Alabama, to operate against the forces of Gen. Hood, who was then advancing from Atlanta towards Nashville. In the latter part of November, it moved by steamer from Memphis to Nashville, Tenn., where it arrived December 3d, and on the 15th fought dismounted with the forces of Gen. Thomas, in the great battle at that place. HISTORY OF BLAIR COUNTY When the enemy fled in rout from Nashville the regiment mounted and joined in the pur- suit. It fought the cavalry rear guard on the - 16th and again on the 17th. In the latter en- gagement it joined with other regiments in a gallant saber charge, driving the enemy... .The Nineteenth in pursuing unintentionally charged into the main body of the Confederate in- fantry, where it was received by a storm of musketry and canister that- caused it to recoil and fall back; but the remainder of the brigade came up, another charge was ordered, and the regiment charged a. strong position behind a stone wall, being at first repulsed, but soon afterwards charged the enemy’s flank; and drove him. to his next line of defense, where the regiment again attacked. The fight closed by the rout and flight of the Confederates. In this day’s fighting the Nineteenth lost. twenty- two killed, wounded and missing, but took about 350 prisoners and three stand of.colors. Beyond Duck river the regiment continued.the pursuit, and fought at Anthony’s hill and at Sugar creek, where it lost eleven killed. and wounded. This closed the campaign: The ‘regiment then moved to Gravelly Spring, Ala., where, in February, 1865, it was consolidated into a battalion of six companies, and the. supernumerary officers mustered out. Captain Miller had previously resigned and his men were transferred to Companies C and F. The battalion was afterwards engaged in Louisiana and Texas against guerrillas, and in April, 1866, the four companies concentrated at New Orleans, where they were mustered out on the 14th of May. TWENTY-SECOND CAVALRY. The Twenty-second cavalry, designated as the One Hundred and Eighty-fifth regiment, was formed February 22, 1864, at a camp near Chambersburg, Pa., by uniting seven com- panies which had been raised in 1861-62 in Washington county, and which was known as the Ringgold cavalry battalion, with five other companies which had been raised for the six months’ service in July, 1863, and at the ex- piration of their term of service mustered out, 4 AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS then reenlisted and reorganized, to form the Twenty-second cavalry, with the Ringgold battalion. In the six months’ battalion there was one Blair county company, D, commanded by Captain William L. Neff; first lieutenant, William Gayton; second lieutenant, J. Brown Wingate. The field officers of the Twenty-second at its organization in February, 1864, as above mentioned were: Colonel, Jacob Higgins; lieutenant-colonel, Andrew W. Greenfield; and majors, George T. Work, Alias S. Troxell and Henry A. Myers. The consolidation of the various companies was effected at Cumberland on the 5th of March, 1864. It first did duty about Washington and in Maryland and in August, being then under command of Lieut.- Col. Greenfield, it joined the cavalry division of Gen. Torbert, in the Army of the Shenandoah, under Gen. Sheridan, and fought in numerous actions, including Kernstown, Opequan, Berry- ville, and Charlestown, Va. In the meantime a detachment of the regiment had joined the forces of Gen. Hunter and took part in that general’s campaign against Lynchburg, Va., where they fought on the 12th of July, and afterwards fought in the battles of Kernstown and New Market, it being then under com- mand of Major Work, and in the brigade-com- marided by Colonel Higgins, of the Twenty- second. Afterwards it formed part of the forces which, under Gen. Averill, pursued the Corifederate General McCausland in his retreat from the burning of Chambersburg, Pa., and overtaking him. at- Moorefield, Va., fought a decisive battle, totally rotting the enemy and capturing all his artillery. In this engagement the -battalion under Major’ Work performed very valuable service, and behaved with marked galfaiitry. S6on after this thé two neeeaen: of the : regiment were united at Hagerstown, and the entife regiment, then under command of Lieit.- Col: Greenfield, -moved with the cavalry forces of -Gén. Averill across the Potomae- inte Vir~ ginia; taking part’ in engagements at Falling Watets, Darkesville, Bunker Hill,--Stephen- son’s Station, again at Bunker Hill, Buckle- 241 town and Martinsburg. The Twenty-second also took part in the furious charge of the cav- alry at Opequan, which ended in the entire rout of the confederate forces under Early, and sent them “whirling up the valley.” At Fisher’s Hill Early again stood for battle and again he was routed, the Twenty-second sus- taining its full share of the fighting, as it also did on the 26th at Mount Vernon Forge. On the 27th, Early’s forces attacked in superior numbers, and the regiment suffered severely, but held its ground in the face of overwhelming odds, and did as much as any other regiment towards averting general disaster and saving the wagon-trains of the whole division. In the action of this day Major Work and Adj. Isenberg were seriously wounded, and several officers of the regiment taken prisoners. Lieut.- Col. Greenfield was on this occasion in com- mand of the brigade. On the 19th of October the regiment fought splendidly and sustained severe losses in killed and wounded in the historic battle of Cedar Creek, where the day was barely saved by the arrival of Sheridan “from Winchester, twenty miles away.” A few days later’ the Twenty-second “went into camp at Martinsburg, remaining there about two months. During the winter the regiment was constantly engaged in scouting and opera- tions against Confederate guerrillas in the mountain regions of West Virginia, in which service the men were kept almost continually in the saddle, exposed to every kind of hard- ship and privation. Most of the men of the regiment were mustered out in April, 1865, while some of them remained in the service for several months longer, being consolidated with> the Eighteenth cavalry, and forming what was known asthe Third Provisional cavalry, which remained on duty in West Virginia about four. months longer, and was mustered out of service on the last day of October at Cumberland, Md. ONE HUNDRED AND NINETY-SECOND REGIMENT. This regiment was originally composed of fourteen-.companies, enlisted for 100 days’ service, largely made up of members of the 242 One Hundred and Twentieth regiment of militia, which had been called out in 1862, and again in 1863, with the short term troops which were put in the field to repel the Con- federate invasions which were defeated re- spectively by the battles of Antietam and Gettysburg. The regiment was organized in July, 1864, and was stationed at Fort McHenry, John- son’s island, Lake Erie, Gallipolis, Ohio, and at Ironton, Ohio, at the latter. places guarding boats and stores, and was dis- banded November 11, 1864. In February, 1865, a second regiment, also designated as the One Hundred and Ninety-second, was organized for a one year’s term of service, under command of Col. William W. Stewart. In this regiment was one company, D, composed largely of Blair county men. The officers were. Cap- tain S. A. Andrews, First Lieut. James Rodg- ers and Second Lieut. John Swires. The regiment entered the field in the spring cam- paign of 1865, but never became actively en- gaged, as the surrender of General Lee at Appomattox, on the 9th of April, included all Confederate troops in Virginia and vir- tually ended the war. The regiment was mustered out on the 24th of August following. TWO HUNDRED AND FIFTH REGIMENT. The rendezvous of this regiment was at Camp Curtin, where it was organized on the 2d of September, 1864, and was mus- tered into the service for one year under the following-named field-officers, viz.: Col- onel Joseph A. Matthews, Lieut.-Col. William F. Walter, Major B. Mortimer Morrow, who had previously served with honor in the Eighty-fourth regiment. Many of the enlisted men of the Two Hundred and Fifth were vet- erans of the early service. Three companies were from Blair county, viz.: Company A, Company C and Company I. The commissioned officers of the com- pany were Captain George C. Gwinner, First Lieut. Levi W. Port and Second Lieut. Morris Davis. Company C was commanded HISTORY OF BLAIR COUNTY by Captain Louis D. Spiece, with Henry A. Lower as first lieutenant, and David M. Butler and John Robertson as second lieu- tenants. Lieutenant Lower was killed at Petersburg, Va., April 2, 1865. Ira Ship- ley was captain of Company I, being suc- ceeded October 29, 1864, by John A. Mc- Cahan, who was subsequently promoted to be major. Henry Hawk was first lieuten- ant and Henry Elway second lieutenant. On the 5th of September the regiment left Harrisburg and went to the front, camp- ing at Fort Corcoran, on the Washington defenses, but soon after moved to City Point, Va., as an escort to about 1,300 re- cruits and drafted men, destined for Gen. Grant’s army in front of Petersburg. At City Point the regiment was engaged in fatigue and picket duty. Early in October it joined the army of the James, but about three weeks later it was transferred to the army of the Potomac, and assigned to Gen- eral Hartranft’s provisional brigade, which was attached to the Ninth corps, and which, about the middle of December, became a part of the Third division of that corps, General Hartranft commanding the divi- sion, and Colonel Matthews the brigade. The camp of the regiment was at Fort Pres- cott, on the Army Line railroad, where, with the division, it made winter quarters, the other divisions of the Ninth corps holding positions in its front. The first battle of the regiment was the retaking of Fort Stedman, which had pre- viously been captured by the enemy in a sudden and overwhelming assault. It was in the gray of the early morning, March 25; 1865, that the troops were formed in line for the assault. The Two-Hundred and Fifth was held in reserve, and in support of Hartranft’s first line, where it remained for more than an hour. The assault.was made with great impetuosity, and the work was carried in gallant style. The regiment cap- tured a number of prisoners, and lost ten wounded in the action. But the severest battle in which the Two Hundred and Fifth AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS was engaged was the first assault on the works of the inner line at Petersburg, in the morning of April 2. The regiment formed at 11 o'clock p. m. of the Ist, and at I a. m. of the 2d moved forward to the rear of Fort Sedgwick, then ad- vanced and formed line of battle nearly on the picket line. At daylight the whole line advanced to the attack. The regiment as- saulted Battery No. 30, carried it, taking a. number of prisoners, and held the work against several determined assaults made by the enemy during the day. It remained in the front line till 2 o’clock a. m. of the 3d, when it was relieved. In this engagement the regiment was exposed to the heaviest fire of musketry and artillery, and _ suffered a loss of 121 killed, wounded and _ miss- ing. Lieutenant Henry A. Lower of Com- pany C was among the killed; Major Mor- row was wounded, losing a leg. Others among the wounded were Captain Gwinner of Company A; Lieutenant David M. But- ler, of Company C, and Lieutenant David H. Geisinger of Company D. On the 3d of April the regiment moved to the front of the Petersburg works, and found them evacuated. It then marched with the other troops to Burkesville junc- tion, repairing the South Side railroad as it proceeded. It remained at Burkesville till after the war had been ended by the sur- render of the Confederate armies under Lee and Johnston, when it moved back to City Point, and there embarked for Alexandria, near which place, at Fairfax seminary, it remained until ordered to Pennsylvania, It was mustered out June 2, 1865. Beautiful monuments in honor of the Two Hundred and Fifth and other Pennsylvania regiments of Hartranft’s division, have been erected recently at Petersburg and Fort Stedman by the commonwealth of Pennsylvania, their unveiling being the occasion of the return to the former scenes of bivouac and strife of many of the survivors of the regi- ments. Lieutenant Henry Elway of Com- 248 pany I, was a member of the monument commission appointed by Governor Stuart. TWO HUNDRED AND EIGHTH REGIMENT. One company of the Two Hundred and Kighth regiment was composed principally of men from Blair county. This was de- signated as B company. The rendezvous of the regiment was at Camp Curtin, where it was organized September 12, 1864, under the following named field officers: Colonel Alfred B. McCalmont, Lieut:-Col. M. T. Heintzelman, and Major Alexander Bobb of Martinsburg.’ The regiment moved from Harrisburg and proceeded to Ber- muda Hundred, on the James river, where it was assigned to the First brigade, Third division of the Ninth corps, the division be- ing under command of General Hartranft. During the winter the regiment was on ac- tive duty and in the front, and frequently under fire.. In February, 1865, it took part in an expedition to Hatcher’s run, and re- turned after five days’ marching, but with- out having participated in a general engage- ment. On the 25th of March the enemy assaulted the Union lines with great fury and cap- tured Fort Stedman: The regiment was ordered forward, and made a vigorous at- tack, driving the enemy from the position. In the general assault made to retake the works, the Two Hundred and Eighth cap- tured Battery No. 12, with 300 prisoners, suffering a loss of forty-two killed and wounded. From the morning of the 27th it was constantly in motion until the 2d of April, when it took part in the final assault on Petersburg. Its position was a point in front of Fort Sedgwick, where the works were carried and held against repeated at- tacks made by the enemy during the day. The loss of the regiment in this engage- ment was forty-eight killed and wounded. At daylight on the 3d it was found that the Confederates had abandoned their last , de- fenses, and the Union troops entered Peters- burg. In pursuit of the retreating enemy, ne 244 the regiment moved with its division to Nottoway court-house, arriving there on the 9th, in the evening of which day the news was received of ‘Lee’s surrender. It remained there until April 20, when it moved to the rear, passing through Peters- burg to City Point, whence it proceeded by transports to Alexandria, near which place it remained in camp till the Ist of June, when the recruits were transferred to the Fifty-first regiment, and the Two Hundred and Eighth was mustered out of service. Company B of this regiment was under the command of Captain James S. Shollar, with Calvin C. Hewitt as first lieutenant and William B. Blake as second lieutenant. ONE HUNDRED AND TENTH REGIMENT. Early in the summer of 1861, J. G. James, a citizen of Warren, received authority from the war department to recruit a brigade, to consist of three regiments. Recruiting was commenced on the 23d of August, and on the 1st of September, a camp of rendezvous and instruction was organized’ near Hunt- ingdon: troops occupying this camp were trans- ferrred to Camp Curtin, the arrangement for a brigade was changed, and independ- ent ‘régiments were organized from them. The One Hundred and Tenth from compan- ies recruited, A and H in Blair county, B and D, in Huntingdon, C in Blair and Bed- ford; E, F, C and I in Philadelphia and K in Center and Clearfield, was organized by the selection of the following field officers; William D. Lewis, Jr., of Philadelphia, colonel; James Crowther of Blair county, lieitenant-colonel, and John C. Johnson of Philadelphia, major. Colonel Lewis had served in the militia and had commanded the Eighteenth regiment in the three months’ service. On the 2d of January, 1862, the regiment left Camp Curtin and proceeded to Hagerstown by rail, where it made a forced march to Hancock, the en- emy under Stonewall Jackson, at that time threatening the place. Arms were distrib- About the 1st of December the: HISTORY OF BLAIR COUNTY uted immediately after its arrival at mid- night on the 4th, and it reported for duty to ‘General Lander, in command of the Union forces at that point. On the morning of the 5th, the troops were formed to resist the crossing of the enemy, who had already approached the town on the opposite side of the Potomac and was demonstrating in force. After considerable shelling at long range by Jackson, which was replied to by Lander, the former withdrew and pushed on to Romney, that being his objective point. As soon as this was discovered, Lander made a corresponding movement to Cum- berland, where the main body of his division concentrated. Here the One Hundred and Tenth was assigned to Tyler’s brigade, and during the ensuing months guarded the ap- proaches of the Potomac: On the 8th of March the regiment broke camp at Paw- (Paw and proceeded by rail to Martinsburg whence it marched to Winchester. On the 18th the division moved on a_recon- noissance to. Strasburg, involving ~ brisk skirmishing with Ashby’s cavalry, the en-. emy retreating and burning the bridges as he went. : The command bivouacked at Strasburg on the 19th and on the 20th returned to camp, north of Winchester. morning of the 23d, the enemy under Jack- son approached in force, and attacked ‘Shields’ advanced brigade near the little village of Kernstown, four and a half-miles. .. Shields promptly or-. . from Winchester. dered: his forces forward, Tyler’s brigade. wall. The One Hundred and Tenth’ occu- pied the extreme right of the line and in the charge upon the enemy was forced” back through the woods by as destructive a fire as ever fell upon a retreating foe. Jackson with his supposed invincible Stonewall brie : gade, and their accompanying brigades, much to their mortification and discomfit- Early in the being assigned to the duty of attacking and .. turning the enemy’s left flank, which had.. ., been.thrown forward to a commanding po-.__ ‘sition, screened by timber and by a stone... AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS ure, were compelled to fall back in disorder upon their reserves. Here they took up a position. for a final stand, and made an at- tempt for a few minutes to retrieve the for- tunes of the day, but again had rained down upon them the same close and destructive fire. A few minutes only did they stand against it, when they turned dismayed and fled in disorder, leaving the Union forces in possession of the field, the killed and wounded, 300 prisoners, two guns, caissons and a thousand stand of small arms. The loss of the regiment was thirteen killed and thirty-eight wounded, out of 300 engaged, the severe marching of the few preceding days having rendered many unfit to stand in the ranks. Lieutenant William Kochers- perger was mortally wounded. The regi- ment was complimented in a special order for gallantry in this action. On the morn- ing succeeding the battle, the division ad- vanced in pursuit of the retreating foe as far as Harrisonburg. The regiment then did provost duty at Winchester and later was assigned to Colonel Carroll’s brigade which became a part of McDowell’s corps and was ordered back to the Shenandoah valley, to the sup- port of Banks and Fremont, in their en- counters with Stonewall Jackson. On reach- ing the Luray valley, Shields’ division was ordered down on the right bank of the river, to Port Republic, where the advance under Colonel Carroll met the advance of Jackson. ‘In the battle which ensued the One Hun- dred and Tenth was posted on the left in a wood with the Fifth and Sixty-sixth Ohio thrown forward -as skirmishers. Seeing the.‘ right hard: :pressed, General Tyler ordered: the regiment to the threatened point, but. before reaching it the enemy was driven, and it returned again to the former position. By. this time the enemy had come up in heavy force on the left and outflank- ing-it; compelled it to fall back, losing some guns: and prisoners.. Unable to stand up against the entire force of Jackson’s army, General Tyler ordered a retreat and the divi-. 245 sion fell back to Front Royal. The loss of the regiment was considerable in killed and wounded, especially so in prisoners. With the brigade the regiment retired to the de- fenses near Washington and upon the or- ganization of the Army of Northern Vir- ginia under General Pope, the brigade, now a part of Rickett’s division of McDowell’s corps, moved to Warrenton, where it re- mained until the close of July. It then moved forward to Culpepper court-house, near which on the oth of August was fought the battle of Cedar Mountain. The One Hundred and Tenth supported several bat- teries during the engagement and sustained some loss. After the battle Pope advanced to the Rapidan, but soon commenced fall- ing back towards Washington, the enemy threatening his right and rear. At Thor- oughfare Gap, on the evening of the 28th Rickett’s division was pitted against the en- tire strength of Longstreet’s corps, strug- gling to force a passage and form a junction with Jackson. By presenting a bold front and by hard fighting the rebel chieftain was held in check by this one small division un- til after nightfall, when finding that further resistance was vain, it fell back to Manas- sas, and on the afternoon of the 2oth, ar- rived at the battle ground of Bull Run. Early on the following morning, Rickett’s division was sent to support Heintzelman and Reno, on the right, but later in the day was brought-to the left, where, with Schenk and Milroy, and the Pennsylvania reserves, it maintained the unequal contest with great gallantry during the afternoon, but © at night, overborne by superior numbers, together with the entire army, it was forced .. from the field, and fell back to Centerville. The color bearer of the One Hundred and Tenth, finding his capture inevitable, tore the colors from the staff and concealed them about his person. He was taken pris- oner but managed to escape and brought the flag safely into camp. During the An- tietam campaign the regiment was retained within the defenses of Washington, and 246 was posted on Arlington heights. Later it rejoined the army and participated in the _ battle of Fredericksburg, where it sus- tained severe loss. On the 20th of Decem- ber Colonel Lewis, on account of physical disability, resigned and Lieutenant-Colonel Crother was promoted to be colonel, Major David M. Jones to lieutenant-colonel, and Captain Isaac Rodgers to major. In the movement upon Chancellorsville, Sickles’ corps first supported Sedgwick in his feint upon the left, at Franklin crossing. Starting from camp on the 28th the regi- ment lay with the corps on the left bank of the Rappahannock, opposite the pontoon, in readiness to cross, until the morning of the 30th, when it marched away to United States ford, and crossing the river, joined Hooker at Chancellorsville. The corps was posted on the right center and during the day and night operated on the flank of Jack- son’s corps, then moving upon the right wing of the Union army, held by the Elev- enth corps. On the morning of the 3d Sickles having fallen back to the Chancel- lorsville house, and posted his artillery with his infantry in support, the enemy attacked them with the energy of desperation. Jack- son had been mortally wounded, and his soldiers threw themselves upon the Union lines with reckless daring, to avenge his fall. Colonel Crowther was killed in this terrible encounter, and nearly half of the effective strength of the regiment was either killed, wounded or taken prisoners. General Whipple, in command of the division, was also killed. At the conclusion of the battle the regiment returned to camp near Stone- man’s switch. Under the command of Lieutenant- Colonel Jones, the regiment moved on the Gettysburg campaign, about the middle of June, and on the evening of the 1st of July, arrived on the field, taking position on the left, at that time forming part of Trobri- and’s brigade, of Birney’s division. In the formation of the corps on the following morning, the regiment was posted at the HISTORY OF BLAIR COUNTY front, across the brow of a rocky, wooded eminence to the left and nearly parallel with the Emmettsburg pike. Skirmishing commenced early in the day, followed by a hot fire of artillery, but not until afternoon did the battle open in earnest. Ward’s bri- gade was first struck away towards Round Top and two of DeTrobriand’s regiments were hurried to his aid, leaving the latter with only a single line without support. Soon the tide of battle, sweeping on to- wards the right, reached DeTrobriand with desperation. The rebel horde came on but was again and again swept back by the steady fire of the One Hundred and Tenth Pennsylvania, and the Fifth Michi- gan. Finally with ammunition expended and ranks terribly shattered it was relieved by Zook’s brigade, and retired to the line which had originally been selected for the Third corps to occupy, where it rested and intrenched and where it remained until the close of the battle. Lieutenant-Colonel Jones was severely wounded, losing a leg and Captain Cassidy of Company H was shot in the leg, receiving a wound which made him a cripple for life. The regiment after- wards participated in the pursuit of Lee and during the ensuing months participated in several lively skirmishes, eventually go- ing into winter quarters at Brancy station. In the reorganization of the army, prepar- atory to the spring campaign of- 1864, the One Hundred and Tenth was transferred with its brigade to the second corps under General Hancock. The commanding of- ficer of the regiment was Colonel Isaac Rod- gers, who had been promoted successively through all the grades from first lieutenant of Company B. Moving with the army to the campaign of the Wilderness, the regi- ment crossed the Rapidan on May 4, and camped.that night on the field of Chancel- lorsville. On the 6th it was engaged in the second day’s battle of the Wilderness, and from that time until the 10th was daily un- der fire, losing one-fourth of the men with which it had crossed the Rapidan on the AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS 4th. On the 12th it was actively engaged in the bloody battle at Spottsylvania court- house, taking a prominent part in the cap- ture of the entire Confederate division. In this action Lieutenant John W. Manning of Company H was killed and Colonel Rod- gers mortally wounded. The regiment subsequently fought in all the engagement leading up to the capture of Petersburg and Richmond, including Cold Harbor, North Anna, Shady Grove Church, Tolopotomy, Weldon Railroad, Deep Bottom, Hatcher’s Run, Fort Steadman and Amelia Springs. At Fort Steadman Col. Isaac T. Hamilton was severely wounded, Amelia Springs was the last-battle of the regiment. At Clover Hill, Va., in the afternoon of the 9th of April, it received the joyful news of the surrender of the Confederate army, which vir- tually ended the war. Early in May the regi- ment faced north, and took up the line of the homeward march, passing through Richmond, reaching Washington defenses on the 15th and taking part in the great review of the-Army of the Potomac at the national capital on the 23d of May. It was mustered out of the service on the 28th of June, 1865. BLAIR MEN IN OTHER REGIMENTS. Besides the regiments whose formation and services have been sketched in preceding pages, there were many others, serving with equally honorable records in the war of the rebellion, which contained men and officers from Blair county, though less numerous than they were found in the organizations already mentioned: Among such regiments may be mentioned the following, viz.: First artillery, Battery D, Capt. Ed Flood, raised partly in Blair county. Fifty-fifth regiment, Company I, Capt. David W. Madara; One Hundred and Fifty-second regiment, Capt. E. H. Miles and Lieut. John W. Blake, the One Hundred and Ninety-first, One Hundred and Ninety-fifth regiments of infantry and the Thirteenth Pennsylvania cav- alry. The Fourteenth United States infantry, of which Maj. William Williams, of Holli- daysburg, was one of the field officers, con- 247 tained in its ranks a considerable number of men from the county. Soldiers from Blair county also served in several of the Pennsyl- vania batteries, including the famous Knapp’s battery, and many men went to the field with the militia in 1862 and again in 1863, under the calls for forces to repel the Confederate in- vasions of those years. The Third Emergency men was called into service September 11-13, 1862, to assist in repelling the threatened in- vasion of the state at that time and discharged September 23 and 25. In this regiment were many of the most prominent men in the state, together with two companies, F and G, made up largely of Blair county men. SPANISH-AMERICAN WAR. When President McKinley issued his call for 75,000 volunteers after the destruction of the Maine in Havana harbor and the formal declaration of war against Spain was made by congress, there was an instant response from Blair county and steps were taken for the en- listment of a number of companies and the pa- triotic spirit of the people was roused to the highest pitch of enthusiasm. Only two com- panies, however, were permitted to enter the service of the government, both of which had previously been affiliated with the state Na- tional guard. They were Company C, of Hollidaysburg, which formed a part of the Fifth regiment and the Sheridan troop of Tyrone. The Fifth regiment, made up of companies from Blair, Huntingdon, Mifflin, Clearfield, Center, Somerset, Indiana and Cambria coun- ties, left Altoona on Wednesday evening, April 27, for the rendezvous at Mt. Gretna, Pa., where the members of the command en- listed in the service of the government. The Fifth was commanded by Colonel Theodore Burchfield and Captain John H. West had command of Company C, with H. A. Miller, who had seen service in the Civil war as first lieutenant and, William Van Allman as second lieutenant. The Sheridan troop of Tyrone left on the same evening, under the command of Captain C. S. W. Jones, with T. M. Fleck 248 as first lieutenant, H. S. Fleck, second lieuten- ant, Dr, J. L. Brubaker, first lieutenant and sergeant, and H. A. Gripp, second lieutenant and sergeant. Both commands were given tremendous ovations upon their departure from their home towns. The Fifth regiment remained at Mt. Gretna until May 18, when it was transferred to Chickamauga, Ga., remaining there until September 1, when it was transferred to Camp Hamilton, Lexington, Ky. They were there mustered out on September 17, and immedi- ately returned home, arriving in Altoona on “Sunday, September 18. They were given a tremendous ovation upon their arrival in Al- toona, and escorted by various civic and mili- tary organizations and marshaled by Major John R. Garden and veterans of the Civil war, paraded over the principal streets of the city. Prior to the parade a brief program was ren- dered on the Logan House porch, where an address of welcome was delivered by Captain Robert Johnson, chairman of the reception committee. Thirteen members of the Fifth regiment died while it was in service, one of whom, Joseph Robinson, was a member of Company C. Energetic efforts were made in the course of the war to have the regiment — participate in active service, but without avail. The Sheridan troop, after a brief stay at Mt. Gretna, was made a part of the command of Gen. Nelson A. Miles, which occupied Porto Rico, it being a part of the Pennsyl- vania squadron of cavalry, with Major C. S.. W. Jones, who had been promoted from the captaincy, in comamnd. Captain L. F. Craw- ford had command of the troop during its service. The command arrived home on Sep- tember 20, and was given a grand reception by the people of Tyrone. The troop consisted of three commissioned officers and 100 men. Quite a number of Blair county men. took part in the subsequent operations in the Phil-. ippines, although there was no distinct Blair county command. Three non-commissioned officers: of the Fifth regiment, Edgar S. Stayer, John S. Fair and George E. Steele, HISTORY OF BLAIR COUNTY oe obtained commissions in the regular army of the United States, and all saw active service on the islands. In all there were about thirty Blair countians who participated in the vari- ous campaigns in the archipelago, and there were several in the command that assisted in putting down the Boxer uprising in China. These have since formed an association which is affiliated with the American Veterans of Foreign Service. BLAIR COUNTY AND THE MILITIA. The National guard in the form in which it existed until the Dick law went into effect January I, 1910, was organized in 1879, and in the same year Company C, of Hollidays- burg was organized. Martin Bell, the present judge of the county courts, was the captain of . the company for a number of years, and was in command of the company when it was in service at the time of the great strike of em- ployes of the Carnegie Steel company at Homestead in 1888. He resigned when he became judge in 1893 and was succeeded by John H. West, who as already noted, was in command during the Spanish-American. war. He was succeeded by H. A. Miller and the company is at present commanded by Capt. Woleslagle, of Altoona. Company E of Altoona was ‘organized in - 1903; with Elmer K. Rupp in command. His -~ successors have been William C. Leamer, William P. Maclay and L. M. Keim. ‘ The Ffth regiment was disbanded January I, 1910, under the provisions of the Dick law, making the militia a part of the regular army © of the United States, and the companies scat- tered through the regiments requiring more companies to fill up the prescribed twelve- company standard of the War department. Companies C and E were assigned to the . Tenth regiment, with headquarters at Greens- . burg. The Fifth was commanded for.a num- ber of years in its. earlier days by James F. Milliken, of Hollidaysburg, and subsequently AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS 249 by Theodore Burchfield, of Altoona. Col. Hugh S. Taylor, of Bellefonte, was in com- -mand when it lost its individuality. Among those prominently identified with the militia in the county is Dr. A. S. Stayer, of Altoona. He enlisted as a private in Com- pany C in 1879 and the following year was promoted to the post of surgeon of the regi- ment. At the present time he is a division surgeon and is not affected by the disbanding of the Fifth regiment. Dr. Stayer will reach the age limit and will be retired in 1913. e CHAPTER XV. HISTORY OF THE TOWNSHIPS. Allegheny, Antis and Blair Townsmps. ALLEGHENY TOWNSHIP. Allegheny township was formed from Frankstown in 1793, and originally em- braced, besides its present territory, the townships of Antis and Logan. As now de- fined its boundaries are Logan township on the north, Logan, Frankstown and Blair townships on the east, Blair and Juniata townships on the south, the latter township and Cambria county on the west. The township embraces some fine farming lands. The borough of Duncansville is located within the bounds of the township. The township received credit for 1,841 inhab- itants in 1900. The people are largely en- gaged in farming, special attention being given to market-gardening and dairying. Upon the organization of Huntingdon county in 1787, the resident tax-payers of that part of Frankstown now known as Allegheny township were Thomas Arm- strong, Jacob Burgoon, from whom Bur- goon’s run takes its name, Captain Thomas Blair, from whom Blair’s gap derives its name, who then owned a large tract of land, horses, cattle, negro slaves, grist-mills, saw- mills and distilleries; John Blair, son of Thomas, after whom Blair county was named; Robert Curry, Henry Caldwell, John Edmiston, John Fetter, Michael Fet- ter, Jr., George Fetter, Matthew Hoffstadet, James Hart, John Kerr, William, McFar- land, Hugh McFarland, Luke McGuire, Christopher Nipps, Matthew Patton, Dan- iel Titus, John Williams, Jacob Whittinger, Matthew White, Charles Wellbaum, Henry Wetz, Francis Whitinger and William Williams. These men had all been wit- nesses of the exciting events transpiring during the Revolutionary struggle, and of the old French and Indian war which preceded it. Born as subjects of the reigning house of Great Britain, they were at the time of which we speak freemen, part and parcel of the then infant republic. It is very prob- able, too, that a majority of those of whom we have here mentioned had been active participants in the stirring events of the Colonial and Revolutionary times. Captain Thomas Blair, the father of John Blair, after whom the county was named, was, prior to the beginning of the Revolu- tion, a resident of Path valley. He was ac- tive during that war in clearing the Upper Juniata valley of Tories and Indians, and at its close ‘settled at the mouth of what has since been known as Blair’s gap, in this township, where in 1788 he owned a grist- mill, saw-mill, one slave, four head of cattle, four horses, and 300 acres of land, the latter by virtue of a warrant. He was an ener- getic man, and by his untiring exertions succeeded in getting a pack-horse road cut through the gap at an early day. He was a native of Scotland, and was one of four or five brothers who settled at an early date in various parts of Pennsylvania. His son, Hon. John Blair, just mentioned, was also a prominent and useful citizen, and resided for many years at the same place. 250 AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS ‘His usefulness and standing in the commu- nity made him probably the most conspicu- ous man of his day in this part of the state. He was foremost in the projection of the canal and Portage railroad. Blair town-. ship was so named in honor of him in 1839, and in 1846, when Huntingdon county was divided, his old friends paid another tribute to his memory by giving the new county his name. In this township, near the mouth of Sugar run, occurred the massacre of the “Bed ford Scout,” an account of which will be found in another part of this volume. After the conclusion of peace between Great Britain and the United States, and the consequent cessation of Indian hostili- ties on the eastern slope of the Alleghenies, settlements in the old township of Franks- town increased rapidly. From its great ex- tent in territory, however, many of the resi- dents were put to countless inconveniences, and in 4792 moved to have the township div- ided. The question was decided in favor of a division the following year, by the Hunt- ingdon county court of quarter sessions. The decree was signed on the second Mon- day of November, 1793, by Thomas Smith, president judge, and David Stewart, Robert Galbraith and Benjamin Elliott, associate judges.. The first assessment of Allegheny town- ship was made in the spring of 1794, and ac- cording to the roll, which is still preserved, there were seventy-seven residents within what are now the limits of the township. Thomas Williams was the assessor in the year 1810, and at the close of his report he said that there were then within the town- ship 33,426% acres of resident land, 558 horses, 285 cows, seven distilleries, seven- teen occupations, four grist-mills, one full- ing-mill and one tannery. Total valuation of the foregoing, $99,328. There were 60,- 685 acres of unsettled lands, valued at $26,- 837. Total valuation of property to be as- sessed in the township, $126,165. Villages.—Duncansville, which became a ‘ments to the highways. .. 251 borough in 1890, will be treated in another place. Bennington was formerly a town of considerable importance, but its glory has departed. In the days when the iron industry flourished in Blair county a fur- nace was located at Bennington. It was built in 1846. For some years it was owned and operated by the Blair Iron and Coal company. It furnished employment for sev-: enty-five men, and its products amounted to 550 tons of pig-iron per month. | The hamlet known as the Foot of Ten, or Germanyville, so named because. stand- ing at the foot of the tenth inclined plane of the old and famous Portage railroad, con- tains a grist-mill, schoolhouse and about twenty dwelling houses. Blair creek af- fords valuable water-power privileges, and the Huntingdon and.Indiana turnpike also passes here. - Other villages that have sprung up in recent years are Cross Keys, where a post- office has been established, and Canan sta- tion. At Sunbrook, on an eminence over- looking the surrounding country, is the magnificent country place of John Lloyd, the president of:the First National bank of Altoona. Much attention hag been paid to fad building in Allegheny township in recent years. Many miles of road have been mac- adamized and thousands of dollars judi- ciously expended in permanent improve- — The educational welfare of the children has always received the consideration of the people of the town- ship, and as a rule the teachers here have been better compensated , than those of other districts in. the county. There are nine schools in the township, the township co-operating with the borough of Duncans- ville in the maintenance of the high school in the latter place. ANTIS TOWNSHIP. Antis township was carved from Allegheny in 1810, and forty years later a portion of it was detached to form the present township of 252 Logan. As now organized it has Cambria county and Snyder township on the north, Snyder and Tyrone townships on the east, Tyrone and Logan townships on the south, the latter township and Cambria county on the west, while its water courses are the Juniata river and various tributaries, known as Tay- lor, Coal Bank, Shaw, Collier, Bell’s Gap, Sugar Beaver Dam and Laurels runs. Antis township embraces a_ considerable portion of the famous Tuckahoe valley. The main line of the Pennsylvania railroad crosses the eastern part in a northeasterly and south- westerly direction, and on this line at Fostoria, Tipton and Pinecroft, are centered a majority of the inhabitants. Bellwood borough, ’ for- merly known as Bell’s mills, is located within the bounds of the township. The population was 2,204 in 1860; 1,893 in 1870; 2,282 in 1880; 2,060 in 1890, and 2,368 in 1900. The Pennsylvania & Northwestern division of the Pennsylvania railroad, formerly known as the Bell’s Gap railroad, starts from Bellwood, and in following up the course of the Bell’s Gap run, which flows southeasterly, it gains an al- titude at Lloydsville of over 1,100 feet above its starting point, nine miles away. This road was built in 1872, chiefly to bring coal from the mines on the mountain top to the main line, but, on account of the grand and roman- tic scenery along its course, its mountain peaks, deep gorges, cuts and windings, it is much visited and admired by summer tourists.” Lloydsville has become a noted summer resort and picnic ground. Immediately after the close of the Revolu- tionary war and the consequent discontinuance of Indian and Tory ravages under British auspices, several families settled within the present limits of Antis township, and finally became possessed of homesteads by right of eccupation and improvements. Among these early settlers, located here as early as 1787, were William Allen, James Crawford, Jona- than Edington, Philip Edington, John Glas- gow, Robert Ricketts, Jesse Tipton, Edward Tipton and Measaugh Tipton. Later on we find the names on record of Christian Black, HISTORY OF BLAIR COUNTY Manasseh Bradley, William Clark, John Clark, Abraham Crane, Robert Edington, Jacob Fetter, John Hunter, Jacob Myers, Daniel Swartz, John Swartz, Giles Stephens, John Tussey, Caleb Tipton, Timothy Van Schoick, Aaron Van Schoick and Peter Wertz. During the April sessions of the court of quarter sessions of Huntingdon county, in the year 1808, before Hon. Jonathan Walker, president judge, the petition of a number of the inhabitants of Allegheny township was read, praying for a division of the township. Whereupon the court appointed John Blair, John Patton and Andrew Henderson a com- mission to inquire and report to the next court agreeably to the act of assembly of March 24, 1803. At the August term of 1808, it being the “next term,” the same order was contin- ued, and was continued through succeeding terms. until the August session of 1810, when Messrs. Henderson, Patton and Blair ren-- dered their report, recommending a division of the township. Thereupon the court or- dered the division, directing the newly created township to be called Antis. From 1810 to 1850, Antis included, besides its present ter- ritory, a considerable portion of Logan town- ship, the latter division having been formed from Antis and Allegheny in the latter year. Edward Bell was the first retailer of mer- chandise in the township, and he had the field to himself until 1828, when he had a compet- itor, Dudley H. Burnham. From 1829 to 1841, Edward Bell again occupied the field alone. During the latter year, though,- and for a few years succeeding, Graham McCam- ant and John Krotzer were mentioned as merchants. John Bell and Josiah Clossen were the inn-keepers in 1830. In 1840 the merchants and inn-keepers noted were John Dougherty, Martin Bell, Benjamin F. Bell, John Bell and Graham McCamant. The Cranes were also early inn-keepers at Davids- burg, or Hensheytown. Bellwood, having been incorporated as a borough, there are left but three villages in the township, Tipton, Fostoria and Davids- burg, or Hensheytown. Tipton was laid out CHURCH OF GOD, ROARING SPRING M. E. CHURCH, ROARING SPRING i AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS by Herman Haupt on January 21, 1856. The original plot contained 154 lots, besides the station grounds of the Pennsylvania Railroad company. William P. Dysart was also an early resident and large property owner, and his descendants still own the property he ac- quired. The first settlers in the vicinity were the Tiptons, and from them the place derives its name. In 1828 the Antis forge was built by Dysart & Lloyd. It had three fires and was sold to Graham McCamant in 1833. About the year 1855 operations were discon- tinued and the town never had any industry afterwards. The Baptist church was built in 1841, the Presbyterian church in 1845, and very soon thereafter the brick Methodist Episcopal church, which was subsequently burned. Fostoria is a station on the Pennsylvania railroad, having about 100 inhabitants. It contains a few stores. Davidsburg, or, as now known, Hensheytown, was laid out by John Henshey in 1827, and so named in honor of his son David. Long before the beginning of the Revolutionary war Captain Logan, the Indian chief, and the firm friend of the Amer- icans, built his wigwam at the beautiful spring here which still bears his name. Subsequently he removed to the locality now known as Ty- rone. In 1792, however, Christian Black, a tanner as well as farmer, became the owner of the lands surrounding Logan’s spring, and as the remains of old tan vats attest, here carried on his business for some years. He finally sold out to Thomas Ricketts, who transferred the premises to John Henshey in 1824. Until the building of the Pennsylvania railroad and the consequent diversion of travel from the wagon road which led from Bellefonte to the Portage railroad at Duncansville, Davidsburg was quite an active business center, and at one time could boast of two taverns, three stores, a tannery, two shoe-shops, two tailor shops, blacksmith, cabinet and carpenter shops. Its glory has departed, however, it being now but a quiet little village, having no business inter- ests. For many years John Bell, as post- master, handled all the mail matter arriving 255 in the township at the Antis postoffice. Dr. Crawford Irwin, for many years a leading physician of Hollidaysburg, was the first phy- sician to locate at Hensheytown. After him came Drs. Giles, Baldwin, Confer and Clark, the last named having been in the vicinity un- til the spring of 1881. The most important industry within the confines of Antis township at the present time is the manufacturing plant of H. S.' Kerbaugh, limited. The firm is largely engaged in rail- road contract work, and at these works all the tools, shovels, cars, etc., used by the firm in its operations are manufactured. The plant is located near Bellwood and gives employment to about 100 men, mostly skilled workmen. The Tyrone division of the Logan Valley Railway company extends through Antistown- ship and it has given an impetus to building operations, many people who are employed in Bellwood, Altoona and Tyrone having erected homes at places along the line. Some very fine farms are found in the Tuckahoe and Logan valleys and much attention is devoted to market gardening in recent years. The people of the township have always been abreast of the times in matters of educa- tion. A township high school has been suc- cessfully conducted for several years and al- together there are seventeen schools in the township, the directors at present being Wil- liam Fouss, Harry Manley, Fred Bland, D. W. Irwin, F. M. Glasgow and William L. Snouffer. BLAIR TOWNSHIP. The township of Blair, one of the three interior divisions of Blair county, enjoys the distinction of including within its bor- ders three boroughs, viz.: Hollidaysburg, Gaysport and Newry, besides a portion of the borough of Dunsansville. It was formed from Frankstown in 1839, and, as now defined, is bounded on the north by AIl- legheny and Frankstown, east by Franks- town and Taylor, south by Taylor and Freedom, and west by Freedom and Alle- gheny townships. Although its surface is 256 broken, hills, dales and bottom lands abounding, good farm lands predominate. Including Newry and Duncansville it con- tained 1,176 inhabitants in 1860; 1,571 in 1870 and 1, 426 in 1880. Exclusive of these places the population in 1890 was 1,054 and 1,043 in 1g0O. During the Revolutionary period, or from 1768 to 1786, a considerable number of set- tlers had located in that portion of Franks- town township now known as the township of Blair. Among them were Patrick Cas- sidy, the founder of Newry; Henry Cham- pinou, Michael Fetter, who built the fourth grist-mill in the upper valley of the Juniata, and who with his sons, Michael, George, Samuel and John, occupied the premises, later known as McCahan’s mills, now the residence of John N. Vipond; Paul Frazier, William and John Holliday, John, James, Angus and Patrick McDonald, Thomas and John McCune, Jacob Shingletaker, William Pringle and John Wareham. During the January sessions of the Hunt- ingdon county court of quarter sessions in the year 1839, before the Hon. Thomas Burnside, president judge, and Joseph ‘Adams and John Kerr, esqs., associate judges, the report of the commissioners, appointed at January sessions, 1838, to in- quire into the propriety of forming a new township from the township of Frankstown, continued to the same commissioners. at April sessions, 1838, August sessions read and approved, November sessions contin- ued, was, January sessions, 1839, read and confirmed and the division decreed. Max- well Kinkead and Alexander Dysart were the commissioners. In April, 1863, George L. Cowan, Job M. Spang and Jacob L. Mar- tin, commissioners appointed by the court for the purpose, ran a new line between HISTORY OF BLAIR COUNTY Blair and Freedom townships, which changed the boundary line, increasing the area of Freedom township, and _ conse- quently diminishing that of Blair. The creation of the boroughs of Holli- -daysburg, Gaysport, Newry and Duncans- ville left Blair township with no towns of any size. There are, however, the villages of Catfish, Vicksburg and Reservoir. At Catfish were located two hotels, which by their location along the pike leading from Hollidaysburg to Morrison’s cove, enjoyed a large patronage. The Ingram house was conducted for many years by Humphrey Ingram, and the Catfish hotel by William Detrich, whose widow still conducts it. Vicksburg, near the Pennsylvania railroad station of Brooks’ Mills, had for most of its residents for many years the sons of Daniel Delozier, one of the pioneer residents of the township, and their descendents. A church, built by the Progressive Brethren in 1885, is located here. Reservoir, located at the breast of the old reservoir, which fed the canal, is a village of about 100 inhab- itants. It contains two churches, a Meth- odist and a Baptist, both established as mis- sions by the Hollidaysburg churches. The ‘reservoir, which is treated fully in a sep- arate chapter, was located within Blair township. The dismemberment of the township left it with but four schools, but its people have always been abreast of the times in educa- tional matters. In 1909 a handsome two- story brick building replaced the old struc- ture in the Rhodes district, it being dedi- cated with appropriate ceremonies on Oc- tober 30. The members of the school board im 1909-10 are Thomas A. Stover, C. C. Young, A. L. McIntyre, R. S. Delozior, David Garland and W. J. Ellenberger. CHAPTER XVI. HISTORY OF THE TOWNSHIPS (CONTINUED). History of Catharine, Frankstown and Freedom Townships. CATHARINE TOWNSHIP. Catharine township occupies a central po- sition on the eastern border of the county. Formerly a part of Morris township, in Huntingdon county, it began its existence as a separate organization in the year 1846, contemporaneously with that of county, section two of the act organizing the latter county, approved February 26, 1846, reading as follows: “That each of the portions of said Morris township, according to the said division line made by William Reed and others, shall hereafter be separate and distinct town- ships for all purposes; the portion lying westward of said line to be called Catharine township, and shall hold its general and township elections at the house now occu- pied by Walter Graham.” Its name-was bestowed in honor of Cath- arine, wife of Alexander Gwin, who was a member of the house of representatives at the time the act was passed. A little more than ten years later, or on the 19th day of June, 1857, the report of Robert.R. Hamilton, Thomas B. Buchanan and John H. Stiffler, commissioners ap- pointed to survey and establish a new boun- dary line between Catharine and Franks- town townships, was confirmed and ordered to be placed on record. This line is de- scribed as “beginning at a post by the Juniata river near Canoe Furnace; therice north five and one-half degrees west 385 perches west to a chestnut-oak on the sum- Blair” mit of Canoe mountain; thence north thir- ty-three degrees west 695 perches to the summit of Brush mountain.” Thus the territory of Catharine township was con- siderably increased. As now formed the township is bounded on the north by Tyrone township and Hunt- ingdon county, east by Huntingdon county, south by Woodbury township, and west by Frankstown and Tyrone townships. Its principal water-courses are the Frankstown branch of the Juniata, which in its north- easterly flow forms the major portion of the boundary line between Woodbury and Catharine townships. Canoe creek, Fox, Roaring and Yellow Springs runs. Its sur- face, although broken by mountains and ridges, affords a considerable scope of good farming lands, which are utilized success- fully, well-cultivated fields and handsome farm buildings dotting a landscape most picturesque. In 1846 its taxables numbered 185. It had 815 inhabitants in 1860; 907-in 1870; 579 in 1880; 513 in 1890, and 712 in 1900. The decrease after 1870 was owing to the abandonment of the canal and the cessatioz of work at Etna furnace. The Etna furnace was the first establish- ment for the manufacture of iron erected within the present limits of Blair county. Messrs. Canan, Stewart & Moore became the owners of the lands upon which it, the forge, grist-mill, etc., were situated, in 1808. They began the erection of.the furnace soon 257 258 after, and it was completed and put into blast in 1809. Mr. Stewart finally became the sole owner, and continued to operate the mills, furnace and forge until 1823, when Thomas Jackson by purchase became the owner. Since Mr. Jackson’s time the prop- erty has been in possession of Henry Fisher, Henry Spang, Harry A. Spang, Spang, Keller & Co., Isett, Keller & Co., Samuel Isett, who with his son, continued the business until 1877, when work at Etna was abandoned. Only its ruins remain to- day. The township can boast of no village, but at Yellow Springs, in the central part, is a store, post-office, blacksmith shop and a few dwellings. The turnpike passes here, and during the pike’s palmy days the Yel- ‘low Springs tavern and toll-gate were im- portant and well-known landmarks on this once famous highway. On the turnpike, but a considerable distance east from the Springs, is situated a frame Lutheran church edifice and burial-place, and _ still further to the eastward stands a commodi- ous Presbyterian house of worship con- structed of brick. At Etna there is a Meth- odist Episcopal chapel and in the northeast part of the township stands a building known as Keller’s reformed church. The Kittanning path, or trail, famous and widely known during the colonial days and the war of the Revolution, in passing from [Trankstown to Water street, inter- sected the present township of Catharine; and it is probable that in following up this broad aboriginal avenue and the valley of the Frankstown branch of the Juniata, the hardy pioneers of a century and a half ago obtained a first glimpse of the present county of Blair from a point within the borders of this little township. When this immediate region was first vis- ited by the whites it is now impossible to determine, but probably not earlier than the year 1750. In 1756 Colonel Armstrong led his avenging expeditionary force through this township and on westward along the HISTORY OF BLAIR COUNTY Kittanning path to his objective-point, the Indian town of Kittanning, lying west of the Alleghenies, which was reached and de- stroyed. Doubtless these fertile valleys then presented an inviting aspect to many of his followers, and they resolved that at no distant day their homes should be es- tablished here, but they were then in the midst of what is known as the French and Indian war, and for seven long years there- after the border settlements ot New York, Pennsylvania, Maryland and Virginia were ravaged by the Indians and their no less savage allies, the French from Canada. In consequence of the state of affairs existing during the continuance of this war it was not possible for settlers to locate and remain in the Canoe valley, nor is it likely that any attempted it prior to the year 1765. After the latter date, however, and before the beginning of the war of the Revolution, it is presumable that a few families became established as residents, forming an outly- ing settlement, as it were, in their re‘ation to the settlers of the Sinking valley. Among the early settlers who had made homes in the neighborhood of Water street and in the Canoe valley before the war of the Revolution began were John and Mat- thew Dean, the Stewarts, Ferguses, Beattys, Moreheads, and Jowrys, Jacob Roller, John Bell, the Simontons, Van Sants, John Sanders, Samuel Davis and Ed- ward Milligan. Following them, probably after the cessation of hostilities in 1783, came the Kinkeads, Clarks and others. The early settlers were mainly Scotch, or Scotch-Irish, stanch Presbyterians. They endured great hardships, met appalling dangers, and until 1781 frequently bap- tized this soil with their blood. The mas- sacre of the Dean family and other thrill- ing events of the times -are set forth in another chapter. After the restoration of peace the settle- ments here, as well as in other portions of the county, increased but slowly. The es- tablishment of the Etna furnace and forge ‘' AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS in 1809 accelerated improvements some- what, yet at the time of the secone war be- tween the United States and Great Britain the major portion of the present township was denominated unseated land. Most of those now residing in the township are .the descendents of the early settlers, and the township has given to the county and the state many men of prominence. There are five schools maintained by the township and great interest has always been taken in educational matters. The present mem- bers of the board are Lewis H. Isenberg, I. Martin McCall, S. M. Isenberg, J. M. Koo- ken, A. C. Shultz and L. E. Hetrick. FRANKSTOWN TOWNSHIP. ‘Frankstown township of today embraces by | a very small part, comparatively speaking, of its original proportions. Organized as a town- ship of Bedford county at an early day, it be- _came a part of Huntingdon upon the organi- zation of that county in 1787, and then con- tained territory comprised in the present town- ships of Allegheny, Antis, Blair, Frankstown, Logan and a part of Catharine, and by a change made in the boundary line dividing _.Frankstown and Catharine townships, a por- tion of the former was transferred to the lat- ter in 1857. As now organized this ancient township is bounded on the north by Logan and Tyrone, -east by Catharine, Woodbury and Huston, south by Woodbury and Huston, and west by Taylor, Blair, Allegheny, Logan and Tyrone; it being very irregular in form, and touched by. eight different townships. Some portions of its surface are rugged and lying waste, but along.the streams, and particularly in Scotch Valley, some fine farming lands are found and utilized to a large extent. It had a population of 1,363 inhabitants in 1860; 1,553 ten years later, and 1,783 in 1880. In 1890 the number had decreased to 1,505, and in 1900 the number reached 1,609. _ The village of Frankstown, once a place of .considerable commercial importance, a bor- -ough, and in early days a prominent landmark 259° in the central portion of the state, has long since been nothing but an insignificant ham- let, its glory having departed with the begin- ning of the rise of its near neighbor, Holli- daysburg. It had a furnace, but like all the other furnaces in Blair county, it went out of blast in the early eighties, which accounts for the loss in population between 1880 and 1890. The town is a station on the line of the Peters- burg branch of the Pennsylvania railroad and recently has received some impetus by reason of the fact that it is at the eastern end of a large classification. yard built by the east of Hollidaysburg. Early History, Settlers, Etc. —Assunne- pachla was the Indian name of Frankstown, signifying in their language a meeting of many waters, or the place where the waters join. Here they had a village known to the Indian traders as early as 1730, and here they continued undisturbed until during the French and Indian war, or in the year 1755, when the major portion of the warriors at Asunne- pachla went to the Ohio river valley, and took ‘up the hatchet for their “brothers” the French. This act the colonial government officials per- suaded themselves to believe was mercenary . on the part of the savages. The real cause, however, was the great and universal dissatis- faction which followed the purchase of the Juniata valley, besides the greater portion of western Pennsylvania, by the Penns, for four hundred pounds, from the Iroquois at Albany in 1754. After the final settlement of this difficulty by a treaty held between Penn’s representa- tives and the savages, and confirmed October 23, 1758, it is believed that a considerable number of those who had joined the French returned to the wigwams at Assunnepachla. At least this town continued to be a prominent Indian settlement ‘until the-army of General John Forbes marched up the Raystown branch in 1758, when the spies sent out by the Indi- ans brought back such exaggerated reports of the warlike appearance and strength of the army that the settlement was entirely broken up, and the warriors crossed the Alleghenies 260 by the Kittanning Path, and bade farewell to the valley which they were only too well con- vinced was no longer their own. Some years before the departure of the In- dians from Assunnepachla, however, the local- ity had become known to the Indian traders as Frankstown, from the fact that an old Ger- man Indian trader by the name of Stephen Frank had established himself here, and was engaged in bartering with the Indians. He, in common with other Indian traders, lived upon terms of the greatest friendship with the savages. He died among them, and it was after his death that one of the chiefs took his name of Frank; hence has arisen the errone- ous impression that the was given to this old town in honor of an Indian chief. Soon after the close of the French and In- dian war settlements of whites began to show in the region west of Tussey’s mountain, and to distinguish the locality a wide scope of country stretching from the mountain afore- said to the Alleghenies was given the name of Frankstown district. The Scotch and Scotch- Irish, the German Lutherans, and many native Americans equally as hardy and venturesome were gradually pushing out their settlements to the westward, and before the close of the year 1770 it is probable that a score or more of families were snugly domiciled in the re- gion then known as the Frankstown district. Frankstown Village——Just when this local- ity assumed the aspects of a village we cannot determine, but probably about the year 1800, upon the establishment of Lazarus Lowry’s grist- and saw-mills. At that time John Cun- ningham was the inn-keeper. In 1810, Dr. John Buchanan was the resident physician, and the manufactories consisted principally of distilleries, though Joseph Patton had a tan- nery in operation. The village then contained twenty houses and lots. In 1820 among its business men were Samuel Crawford, Henry Denlinger, each of whom owned mills; Peter Hewit, a distiller and merchant; John F. Lowry, proprietor of a grist and saw-mill; Lowry & Garber, merchants, and Joseph Pat- ton, tanner. The merchants in the township HISTORY OF BLAIR COUNTY in 1834 were James McNamara, Robert Mc- Namara, Christian Garber, John Swope, Alex- ander Knox, William Shiffler and John M. Blair & Son. The tavern keepers in 1832 were Henry Denlinger, Charles Cox, John Kinports, James Buchanan, David McKillip, Jacob Weidensall, William Donaldson, Wil- liam Johnson, Philip Leamer, Jacon Noffsker, John Cannon, Jeremiah, Murray, James John- ston, John Lytle, Bartle Hartford and Michael Hayden. The Huntingdon, Cambria and Indiana turnpike was then an important avenue of travel, and the proposed canal and Portage railroad, which its projectors intended should connect at Frankstown, was then agitating the minds of all of those in the state foremost in works of internal improvement. Supposing that Frankstown must be the western terminus of the eastern canal, and consequently the eastern terminus of the Port- age railroad, the residents and property-own- ers in the village during the years from 1825 to 1831, or until it was determined that Hol- lidaysburg should be the terminus, became possessed of great expectations as to the fu- ture. The village was incorporated as a bor- ough, real estate rose rapidly in value and various business enterprises were projected. But a property owner demanded an exorbit- ant price for a sufficient quantity of land on which to construct a canal basin. The resi- dents and friends of Hollidaysburg were pressing their claims and offering special in- ducements meanwhile, and it was finally deter- mined that the latter town should be the terminus of the canal and railroad. This de- termination and its speedy accomplishment ended the prospects for future greatness of Frankstown and it has remained a quiet little village to this day. The Frankstown furnace was built by Daniel Hileman and Stephen Hammond about 1836. After various changes of ownership it came into the possession of the Blair Iron and Coal company in 1878 and was managed by that company until about 1885, when it was put out of blast and dismantled. During the AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS» latter years of its operation it afforded em- ployment for fifty men and produced 550 tons of pig iron per month. George W. Grier was the last manager of the furnace. Geeseytown and Canoe Creek are the only other villages in Frankstown township. The former place. was settled by Conrad Geesey, the progenitor of the family in this county and a sturdy German Lutheran, and the Geesey homestead is one of the old landmarks of Blair county. Geeseytown contains several stores, shops, a Lutheran church and about a dozen dwelling houses and a granger’s hall. Canoe Creek, located along the old pike, formerly had several taverns and a postoffice, from which many of the farmers of the sur- rounding valleys were served with their mail, and several stores. Joseph Stiffler was post- master for a period of twenty-four years, from 1861 to 1885. He was succeeded by ‘Alvin McKenzie, who after four years’ service gave way to H. T. Stiffler, son of Joseph, and he in turn was succeeded by his brother, A. L. Stif- fler, who now holds the position, with a life tenure of the office under the civil service rules. The opening of several stone quarries near the village and the building of a branch railroad thereto from the Petersburg branch of the Pennsylvania, has given quite an im- petus to the village recently and it now has a population of several hundred. The village has a United Brethren and a Methodist Episcopal church. Frankstown township has generally been in advance of most of the other townships of the county in educational affairs, paying higher wages to the teachers, providing better build- ings and equipment and maintaining a longer term. It has twelve schools in operation and each year pays the tuition and traveling ex- penses of all those who desire to attend the high schools of the adjoining boroughs. The members of the school board in 1909-1910 are J. L. Confer, G. R. Stiffler, J. F. Mentzer, J. B.. Wertz, Jacob Boyer and Christian Hile- man. FREEDOM TOWNSHIP. Freedom township was erected. from 261 Juniata in 1857 Its boundaries are Juniata and Blair townships on the north, the latter and Taylor on the east, Greenfield on the south, and Juniata on the west. It is drained by the Frankstown branch of the Juniata river, Poplar, McDonald’s, Dod- ‘son’s, South Dry, and Paw Paw runs, which are tributaries of the former stream. The surface is broken but some fine farming lands abound. On Poplar run, in the west- ern part, is the hamlet known as Poplar run postoffice, or Puzzletown. On the Frankstown branch of the Juniata, in the eastern part are the picturesque little vil- lages of East Freedom and Leamersville, and one mile south of the latter place, on the Martinsburg branch railroad is the town of McKee’s Gap, the station being known as McKee. In 1880 it had a population of 1,214 inhabitants and the value of all real estate then was placed at $85,465. In 1890 the population had decreased to 1,140 and by 1900 it had further decreased to 1,114. The census of 1810 will doubtless show a considerable increase over these figures, as the building of the Altoona & Bedford rail- road, which passes through the township, started in the fall of 1909, has given a great impetus to business. The first settlers came to what is now Freedom township about 1887. Among them were Stephen Delaney, George My- ers, William Early, John Shade, John Gost, Christopher Gost, Edward McGraw, Peter McGraw, George McKee, from whom Mc- Kee’s Gap derived its name; William ‘Leamer, from whom Leamersville derived its name; Richard Shirley, father of James Shirley, the first man hanged in Blair county; Peter Miller, Samuel Donner, Ja- cob Glass, John Dodson, Nicholas McGuire, John Stiffler, Michael Stiffler, Michael Nipps, Henry Helsel, Jacob Smith, Peter Stiffer, William Shaw, William Dickey, Samuel West, Joachim Storm, John Tick- erhoof, Charles Malone, Nicholas Burke, Peter Hetrick, Jeremiah Rinehart, Mat- thew Ivry, John McConnell, William Craw- 262 ford, David Crawford, Harmon Forber, William and John Riddle, Alexander Knox, Dr. ‘Wallace, Henry Colclesser, Philip Beight and Frederick Singer, an ex-Hes- sian soldier. - Among the residents of the townships at the time of the formation of Blair county in 1846 were John Albright, John Curtis, Levi Donner, Joseph Dodson, who lived to be 100 yeats old and never was on a rail- road train; Jonas Diehl, Eli . Donner, Charles Huston, George H. Harker, Dan- tel Sell, Jacob Sell, Samuel G. Leamer, Christian Lingenfelter, James Marsden, Bernard Lorenz, Edward McGraw, Joseph McCormick, Samuel Noffsker, Jonathan Noffsker, Samuel Rhodes, Daniel Ressler, Jacob Smith, Samuel Singer, Samuel Shaw, Jacob Wilt, George Weaver, John Stiffler, Solomon Smith and Emanuel Ruggles. .. The building of Maria forges in McKee’s -Gap,.and Sarah furnace in Greenfield, and ‘ later. still the Martha forge and furnace at McKee’s Gap, all added. to the prosperity of this section of thé country. Population was rapidly increased thereby, -and the farming classes. were afforded ready pur- ‘chase for much of their surplus products. Job M. Spang and John Ullery were the commissioners appointed by the court on the division of Juniata township and their report was confirmed after exceptions had been filed and corrections made, on June 19, 1857, the court directing that the new township be called Freedom. Villages——East Freedom.—Until the year 1838 the site of East Freedom, then owned by Edward McGraw and Valentine Lingen- ‘felter, could only boast of a log schoolhouse, which stood on the lot now occupied by King’s store, and was known locally as the Johnstown and Bedford crossroads. Dur- ing the year mentioned, however, Joseph McCormick, a saddler, deeming it a good point for carrying on his business, pur- chased a corner lot of Edward McGraw, and built the first house and shop. This HISTORY OF BLAIR COUNTY house was a frame building, and is now part of the Freedom hotel. Teams owned by Dr. Shoenberger and others were constantly passing the “cross roads,” and soon after McCormick had lo- cated here there came George W. Kephart, who opened an inn, and George Yinger, a shoemaker, who also bought a lot and built a house thereon. In 1839 or 1840, Edward McGraw, as proprietor, laid out a village plot. Prior to 1842, John Yerty, a cooper, Robert Todd, and George McBride, the first merchants, Dr. A. T. Shriver, a prac- ticing physician, and Joseph Blackburn, a tanner, had likewise established themselves here. The first postoffice was established about 1840, Robert Todd becoming the first postmaster. E. F. Shoenberger’s store- house was built in 1844, and the Methodist Episcopal church edifice, now the United Brethren church, in 1845. In 1846, William Anderson came here from Newry and also engaged in merchandising. Among other early merchants were Jonas Diehl and Alexander Knox. The growth of the town was but gradual and for many years, until the fall of 1909, it was at a standstill, but the construction of the Altoona and Bed- ford railroad, which passes through the vil- lage, has given it an impetus and already many additional buildings are being erected and it is likely to become a town of some importance. Among its professional and business men during the past forty years have been D. J. Appleby, physician; Jacob Burger, merchant; Jeremiah Klepser, tan- ner; Joseph Burger, carpenter; A. Kurtz, tailor and postmaster; Joseph McCormick, hotel proprietor; William McGraw, justice of the peace and school teacher; Michael C. Murphy, merchant; Andrew Ott, shoe- maker; William Price, wagon maker; George Ruggles, blacksmith; George Young, carpenter; Thomas A. Trout, dealer in farming implements; .H. G. King, merchant; Fred Gonsman, contractor; David Mauk, huckster; John H. Hileman, farmer and H. C. Burger, merchant. AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS Physicians.—Dr. A. T. Schriver settled at East Freedom in 1840, and remained some eight or ten years. Dr. L. F. Butler then occupied the field, and for about a quarter of a century practiced extensively in this and surrounding townships, achiev- ing a high reputation in the profession. He died in 1873. Just before the death of Dr. Butler, Dr. J. D. Kirk became a resident of the village. He remained six years, re- moving to Roanoke, Va., where he has amassed considerable wealth. He was suc- ceeded by his pupil, Dr. Ralph C. Klepser, now a leading physician of Altoona. He re- mained in East Freedom but one year and was succeeded by Dr. Robert C. Irwin, of Hollidaysburg, who practiced for a brief period and was succeeded by Dr. D. J. Ap- pleby, who removed to Tyrone, after prac- _-ticing in East Freedom for about ten years. Later physicians have been Dr. J. W. Wen- gett, Dr. E. E. Mong, Dr. William M. El- don, Dr. E. M. Duff and Dr. J. L. Gallagher. Schools.—The log schoolhouse which stood on the grounds now occupied by H. G. King’s store was the first building erected on the village site of East Freedom. It. was built in 1835, and among the . teachers who there presided were Moses McIlvaine, John Lingenfelter, Dr. A. T. Schriver and John Long. In the house which succeeded the old one the teachers ‘of years ago were James Condron, Thomas Condron, and John Cunningham. Then followed Peter McGraw, William McGraw, Dr. George W. Grove, James E. Butler, Joseph Whittaker and William H. Diehl. A modern building two stories high was erected in 1889, the first teachers there be- ing Jesse C. Sell and Miss Emma Benson. Later teachers in the town have been May- berry E. Sell, Miss Blanche Schwerdt, Charles R. Croyle, Frank A. Noffsker, Mer- rill Williams and D. Elmer Sell. ‘ Churches.—Among the early members of ‘the East Freedom Methodist Episcopal church were Bernard Lorenz, John Hamil- ton, Samuel Noffsker, Jacob Leamer and 263 Thomas Dodson. For several years meet- ings were held in the old log schoolhouse. In 1845, however, the present church edi- fice in East Freedom was built as a Meth- odist house of worship, and thereafter was occupied for many years. The building was never paid for though, and finally, on the 23d of January, 1879, the entire property was transferred to Samuel Noffsker, who had been the principal owner. The same year the Methodists erected a church edifice in the village of McKee’s Gap, at a cost of $1,200. It was dedicated August 12 of the same year, Rev. James M. Clark preaching the dedicatory sermon. It has always been a part of the Duncansville charge. Members of the Lutheran church have lived in this locality from its first settle- ment, but it was not until 1883 that they attempted to have a house of worship of their own. In that year, however, they built a neat and commodious structure, which has since been a part of the Newry charge. The successive pastors have been Revs. J. W. Henderson, A. H. Sherdt and C. F. Gephart. Members of the Catholic church,residing in the town belong to St. Patrick’s parish at Newry. ; The United Brethren -church at East Freedom, was organized in September, 1879, and soon after the old Methodist church property was purchased of Samuel Noffsker’s heirs for $110. East Freedom is the center of what is known as the Hol- lidaysburg charge, there being’ mission churches at Canoe creek, Bobb’s creek and Puzzletown. A union church has recently been erected in what is known as the Smith corner. Among those who have ministered to the spiritual wants of the congregation are Revs. Knight, Armour, Edward Trim- bath, J. F. Talhelm, Hugh Conley, J. Clem, A. E. Fulton, J. M. Smith, W. H. Mattern, George Noden and J. F. Shaw. Leamersville—The pretty village of Leamersville is located on the banks of the Juniata, a mile north of East Freedom. Four roads intersect at this point, and in 264 the early days when the highways were the only means of transportation there was a tavern and a store located here, both being conducted at various times by Perry Trout, William Leamer, after whom the place was named, and Bernard Lorenz. Near the vil- lage are two flouring mills, both of which have been successfully operated for more than fifty years. In 1872 a church edifice ‘was erected by the Church of the Brethren. In 1909 this structure was replaced by a handsome new edifice. The congregation has always been a large and flourishing one, and was presided over for many years by Rev. James A. Sell. More recently its pas- tor has been Rev. David D. Sell. Among those who, have been and are residents of the village are Emanual Ruggles and James Ruggles, blacksmiths; John Shade, wagon maker; Miles Lingenfelter, miller; Harry Hileman, miller; James A. Sell, minister; Martin Greenleaf, farmer; Samuel B. Lea- mer, painter; Henderson Gorsuch, black- smith; John Sell, farmer; James Riddle, farmer; E. J. Akers, miller; Joseph Soy- ster, miller; H. C. Lorenz, Peter Stroup, Milton B. Shade, Fred Benton and Peter Stroup. Being the center of a thickly settled com- munity, the village always had a large school. The first teacher, in the early fiftids, was Henry Scaggs. Among his successors have been Dr. Edward Beegle, Dr. George W. Grove, Joseph Whittaker, William H. Diehl, W. R. McCloskey, J. E. Butler, Miss Mazie L. Eckhardt, Harry L. Koons, H. G. King and Miss Jennie Benton. The murders were committed within the precincts of the village. One man was killed by an officer, and the other victim, the wife of James Shirley, was cruelly beaten to death with a hammer by her hus- band, who carved a name for himself by being the first in the country to tread the platform of the gallows, a few years after the formation of the county. McKee’s Gap.—During the early days this locality was included within the boundaries of HISTORY OF BLAIR COUNTY old Frankstown township, and before the year 1800 George Myers was the owner of grist- and saw-mills here. The property seems to have remained in the hands of the Myers fam- ily until some time after 1810, when George McKee came into possession, and from him the village derived its name. - Through this gap in Dunning’s mountain flows a never-failing stream, and since the first settlement of the region by the whites a wagon-road has been improved and traveled upon as well. The Martinsburg branch of the Pennsylvania railroad passes through the gap. The stream passing the gap is formed by the surplus flow from Roaring Spring and Plum Creek, in Taylor township; its fall is - rapid, its volume even, and as we have seen, it was early utilized for mill purposes. As early as 1830 its waters were driving forges for Dr. Peter Shoenberger in the gap, but it was not until 1838, when E. F. Shoenberger, son of Dr. Shoenberger, built Martha forge, and iron works were established in the terri- tory now embraced by Freedom township. In 1843 or 1844 Martha furnace was built by Edwin F. Shoenberger. Hence, by construct- ing and operating the mills, forge and furnace, quite a number of families had been gathered at this point, and for many years it had worn the aspects of a small village, yet it contained no regularly laid out streets or lots of uniform dimensions. On the 4th day of April, 1871, John Brawley, surveyor, under the auspices of A. K. Bell, president of the Hollidaysburg and McKee’s Gap Iron company, laid out the town of McKee’s Gap. As then plotted it contained eighty-three lots, and streets named Spruce, Cedar, Front, Patterson, Irwin, Bed- ford and Freedom. An additional plot was laid out May 5, 1871, by the same surveyor and proprietors. The furnace built by E. F. Shoenberger was regularly operated until 1890, it being the last of the many furnaces in Blair county to close down. The furnace was enlarged and rebuilt several times and for many years was owned and operated by the Hollidaysburg and Gap Iron company, an incorporated association, AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS with a capital stock of $140,000, at the head of which was James Denniston, of Hollidays- burg, president and general superintendent. The Gap furnace produced about 7,000 tons of pig iron per annum, and furnished employ- ment for about 200 men. Jesse L. Hartman, son-in-law of Mr. Denniston, was the manager of the furnace from 1878 until it was closed down in 1890. After the furnace closed down Mr. Hartman leased several hundred acres of land on Dunning’s mountain, containing valu- able deposits of ganister rock and operated quarries for ten or twelve years, giving em- ployment to most of the men who had been employed in the furnace. With the close of these operations the men have found employ- ment at Roaring Spring, Altoona and other places and the town has remained stationary. All the old tenement houses have disappeared and some very fine residences have been built in recent years, making it a very pretty village 265 nestling between the mountains. The Penn- sylvania Railroad company in 1908 built an attractive station, the railroad agent for a number of years past being John S. Wertman. The town contains a Methodist Episcopal church, a school building and several stores. Puzzletown.—About the year 1840 a man named Baird or Beard, established the town of Puzzletown, or Poplar Run postoffice, and sold village lots. Afterwards the site was in contests in the courts for years. Puzzletown has never grown beyond its original propor- tions, yet it boasts of several small stores and a house of worship owned by the United Brethren. Freedom township at present has eight schools and the members of the board of ed- ucation are H. G. King, D. L. Wineland, J. S. Wertman, Charles W. Benton, Thomas A. Trout and Milton B. Shade. CHAPTER XVII. . HISTORY OF THE TOWNSHIPS (CONTINUED). History of Greenfield, Huston, Juniata and Logan Townships. - GREENFIELD TOWNSHIP. Greenfield township is the southwestern division of Blair county, and at the time it was detached from Bedford county, in 1846, to form a portion of the new county of Blair, it embraced, besides its present ter- ritory, Juniata and Freedom. As now con- stituted, its boundaries are Juniata and Freedom townships on the north, Taylor township and Bedford county on the east, Bedford county on the south and Bedford and Cambria counties on the west. Abutting the Allegheny range of moun- tains, its general surface in consequence is broken, and narrow valleys and precipitous mountain-sides abound. However, along the valleys formed by the principal streams good farming lands are found, as well as upon the hills not too steep for culture. The Blue Knobs, on the western border of the township, one of which is the highest peak in Pennsylvania, are prominent natural features, and divide its arable lands into two distinct portions. The township is drained by the Juniata, which has its foun- tain head on the side of one of the Blue Knobs, in this township. Among the smaller streams are Bobb’s creek, Polecat run, Beaver Dam creek, Poplar, Pine and Smoky runs. The village of Claysburg is situated on the Juniata river, just above the mouth of Beaver Dam creek. Further up, on the same stream, at a distance of about two miles from the village, is the site of the once famous Sarah Furnace, while throughout the township are scattered an industrious people, numerous saw- and _ grist-mills, schoolhouses and churches. Greenfield had 1,099 inhabitants in 1860, 1,223 in 1870, 1,286 in 1880, 1,319 in 1890 and 1, 427 in 1900. The first settlers of Greenfield township were Valentine, Lingenfelter and the Dively family, who located in the vicinity of Sarah furnace about 1770. They were followed soon afterwards by Thomas Ives and John Nicholas. It is not probable that there were many other in the township prfor to the commencement of the Revolution. Soon after the conclusion of peace between Eng- land and the Independent states, and the consequent cessation of Indian incursions, other settlers came in, yet it is likely that even at the beginning of the present cen- tury the heads of families then located in the “region in question did not number a score. Among them, however, were Henry Bennett, John Barnhart, Adam Black, the Dodsons, the Justices, and the brothers Henry, David, John and Joseph Walter. The Walters came from Maryland, near the Pennsylvania line, and settled on Smoky and Pine runs soon after the close of the Revolution. Their descendents are still very numerous in the township. Other early settlers were John U. Zeth, who built a saw- and grist-mill; James McCormick, father of Joseph McCormick of East Free- 266 AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS dom, who came from Virginia and settled in the township in 1808; Jacob Yingling, born in Maryland, settled near the Knobs, in 1812, and Frederick Dibert, from an older settled section of Bedford county. The Di- berts are of German origin, and were among the first settlers of Bedford county. From 1820 until the completion of Sarah furnace, in 1832, population increased very slowly. The residents were denied the ad- vantages of markets for the sale of surplus products, and male and female alike were clad in homespun garments. The building of Sarah furnace, however, and its attend- -ant store, church and schoolhouse-were im- portant events in the history of Greenfield township, and the forerunners of a certain degree of prosperity. It has always re- mained isolated and to this day many of the people live in rather primitive fashion and the German language is generally prev- alent. At the present time the Hollidays- burg and Bedford branch of the Pennsyl- vania railroad is in course of construction, and as is extends through the township, it will doubtless have a tendency to modernize the community. Claysburg.—The picturesque little village of Claysburg is situated upon the Franks- town branch of the Juniata river. Although the pioneers, John Barnhart, Adam Black and Henry Bennett were early residents in the vicinity, it appears that John Ulrich Zeth was the first to locate upon the site of the village proper. He was a German, by birth, and settled here in 1804. In 1805 he built a saw-mill, and the following year a grist-mill. Part of the original grist-mill building, which was constructed of hewn pine logs, remained until very recently. There seems to have been no other build- ings erected at this point until 1838 when Conrad Ling built a stone house and began the business of inn-keeping. Paul Mauk, for many years prominent as a huckster and innkeeper, also became a resident and iden- tified with the history of the hamlet at about the same time. On the 23d of March, 1839, 267 John Bennett, surveyor, laid out lots on the east side of Main street for George B. Spang, and April 10, 1840, he plotted a tract lying on the west side of Main street for Jacob Zeth. The town grew slowly, and after ten or fifteen years had about 200 inhabitants. The population has remained at about that figure to the present day. Among the most prominent men who have lived in the village are Daniel Shock, black- smith, who setved as captain in the Seven- ty-seventh Pennsylvania volunteers during. the Civil war and represented Blair county. in the state legislature; Dr. John W. John- ston; George W. Mauk, merchant; S. E. Hoenstine, dealer in furniture; Henry Wertz, proprietor of woolen mills; Dr. F. H. Herr; Jacob Walter, surveyor and jus- tice of the peace; John D. Eckhardt, farmer; and Dr. J. H. Weaver. Church.—Since the first settlement of the township the Lutheran, German Reformed and Methodist Episcopal churches have pre- dominated. The earliest meetings were held in dwelling-houses, and later in log school buildings. In 1810, however, mem- bers of the Lutheran and Reformed churches, jointly, built the old Greenfield church. It, too, was of logs, and stood some two miles south of Sarah furnace, just over the line of Bedford county, as the lines are now drawn. This was the only church structure in a wide section of country for many years. Soon after the building of Sarah furnace, or about the year 1834, Dr. Peter Shoenberger completed a log church edifice there, which remained until recent years. It was placed at the disposal of all denominations, and was the first building erected for purposes of religious worship in the township as now formed. The Sarah furnace church was then used by the Re- formed, Lutheran and Methodist Episcopal denominations until 1846, when the Union church edifice at Claysburg was built by the’ Reformed and Lutheran people, the Method- ists continuing to worship at the Furnace church until 1879. The corner stone of the 268 Union church was laid in August, 1846, and the dedicatory services held on Nov. 8 of that year. Rev. Frederick A. Rupley, who lived until 1909, organized the new congre- gation of the Reformed church and preached the dedicatory sermon. The first Lutheran pastor was Rev. Mr. Eyler. In 1882 the Lutherans built a church of their own, and the Reformed congregation has continued to worship in the old Union church, al- though it has been practically rebuilt. The Methodists have worshipped in Odd Fel- lows’ hall since 1879. Claysburg Lodge No. 713 Independent Order of Odd Fellows, was instituted July 21, 1870. A handsome two-story frame hall was erected and dedicated on Nov. 6, 1873, at a cost, including furnishings, of $2,200. Sarah Furnace was built by Dr. Peter Shoenberger, the great iron-master, in 1831- 32, and first went into blast Aug. 12 of the latter year. Ore was obtained on the oppo- site side of the mountain, in the present township of Taylor, and the furnace was operated in conjunction with the Maria forges in McKee’s Gap. If Sarah furnace ever paid for operating, however, it was un- der the management of Dr. Shoenberger, for with all others it was a dismal failure. It was demolished in the winter of 1881-82. HUSTON TOWNSHIP. Huston township, lying between Woodbury and North Woodbury townships and occupy- ing a portion of Morrison’s cove, possesses all the natural features, beauties and advantages in common with its neighbors. From the date of the organization of Woodbury until the year 1842, when it was erected as a separate township, it formed part of the first mentioned division. By the formation of Taylor town- ship in 1855, however, its territory was dimin- ished. As now organized it has Woodbury township on the north, Huntingdon county on the east, North Woodbury township on the south, Taylor and Frankstown townships on the west. HISTORY OF BLAIR COUNTY Clover and Piney creeks, flowing to the northward, are its principal sources of water supply and drainage. Fine farming lands and comfortable farm buildings abound along the highways, which take the direction of these streams, and the appearance of things gener- ally throughout the township indicates thrift and prosperity. On Clover creek, in the north- west corner of the township, is- situated the hamlet of Fredericksburg, known as Clover Creek postoffice, while in the southeast corner, on Piney creek, is located the Rebecca furnace. Two years after its organization, or in 1844, Huston contained 221 married taxables, and fifty-one free men. Dr. Peter -Shoen- berger and Samuel Royer & Co., then owned all the unseated lands, and the total valuation of all property assessed was $289,383, on which a county tax of $367.75 and a state tax of $324.84 was levied. In 1860 the township had a total population of 1,214. There were 1,385 inhabitants in 1870, in 1880, 1,533, in 1890, 1,391, and in 1900, 1,145. Settlements were made in the territory now termed Huston township simultaneously with or immediately succeeding those first estab- lished in other parts of Morrison’s cove. Among the early settlers about the time of the Revolution were Jacob and Conrad Brum- baugh, Harmonus, John, Jacob and Henry Clapper, David Goughenour, Isaac Huston, Christian Hoover, Paul and Jacob Rhodes, Philip Metzker, Jacob Smith, James Spencer, William and John Shirley and Christopher Shrom. The Rebecca furnace was erected in the year 1817, being the first furnace built by Dr. Peter Shoenberger, who afterwards became the most prominent iron-master in the state of Penn- sylvania. Edward H. Lytle became the owner of the furnace many years ago, and the prop- erty is still owned by his heirs. Essington Hammond operated it for about five years prior to 1870, then B. M. Johnston & Co. un- til 1873. It then remained idle until January, 1881, when Dr. S. M. Royer, of Martinsburg, operated it for about one year, employing over fifty men, and producing thirty-five tons AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS of pig metal per week. The furnace was after- wards dismantled and only a dreary waste re- mains where it once stood. In the year 1842 a new era dawned upon the small bit of territory now under consider- ation. The ancient township was then di- vided, and to the southern part was given the name of Huston. John Clark, John Aurandt and John M. Gibboney were the viewers ap- pointed by the court to report on the division, and their report was confirmed on Aug. 19, 1842. It was named Huston in honor of Hon. Charles Huston, a judge of the supreme court of Pennsylvania and formerly an eminent member of the bar of Huntingdon county, of which the township formed a part until 1846, when Blair county was created. In 1872 the boundary line between Huston and North Woodbury townships was slightly changed at the order of the court, John M. Gibboney and D. M. Bare having been appointed commis- sioners for the purpose. ‘The township maintains nine schools and the present members of the board of education are M. L. Acker, D. W. Smith, L. D. Acker, A. S. Wagner, John Dixon and A. L. Sno- berger. JUNIATA TOWNSHIP. In 1847 Juniata township was erected from Greenfield, and ten years later its limits were reduced by the formation of Freédom town- ship. As now organized, therefore its bound- aries are Allegheny township on the north, Freedom township on the east, Greenfield township on the south and Cambria county on the west. Generally speaking, it may be termed a mountain township, yet its inhabi- tants are chiefly engaged in agricultural pur- suits. Iron ore and bituminous coal abound in various localities. The Huntingdon and Indiana turnpike, as well as the roadbeds of the Portage and New Portage railroads, in following up the Blair Creek valley, passes from east to west across the southern border. In the southern part is the hamlet known as Blue Knob, where there is a postoffice, a small Lutheran church edifice, \ 269 schoolhouse and blacksmith shop. There is also a lodge of the Patriotic Order Sons of America here, and they have a neat little building which they use for lodge purposes. Among the early residents were the Wilts, Burgers, Bowsers, Costlows, Champenours, Diehls, Beegles, Feathers, Gaileys, Helsels, Conrads, Leightys, Lingenfelters, MclIn- toshes, Mashes, Morgans, Rhodes, Stifflers, Shaws, Longs ,and others, which names pre- dominate to this day in the township. Prior to 1800 there was not probably more than a score of people residing in the township. In 1900 the population was 612. It was part of Bedford county until the spring of 1846, when by the formation of Blair county it became ~ part of the latter organization. In the fall of: 1846, in response to the petition of many in- habitants, praying for the division of Green- field township and the erection of a new one, viewers were appointed by the court of quar- ter sessions, to investigate and make report. The viewers, C. McConnell and Samuel S. Barr recommended a division and the report was confirmed March 27, 1847. One of the most remarkable men in the his- tory of Juniata township was Thomas Kea- gan, who died about 1885 at- the age of 106 years. He was a native of Ireland, served un- der the Duke of Wellington at Waterloo, and came to America, settling in Juniata township about 1820. He retained his faculties to the last and the year before his death went to the election and voted for Grover Cleveland for president. Among thase who have held the position of justice of the peace in the town- ship are George Weaver, Adam ‘Moses, Jacob Leighty, Simon Diehl, Henry Costlow, Fred- erick S. Wilt and Michael.Moyer. What is known as the Swites, a plateau, upon which is some excellent farming land, extends through this township. Attention was given to educational matters in this township at an early date. From a deed in possession of the secretary of the dis- trist school board it is learned. that in 1823 Peter Wilt, Sr., “for and in consideration of the sum of one dollar, to him in hand paid, 270 sold to Peter Wilt and Christian Lingenfelter, trustees of an English and German school, all his right, title and interest in a certain piece of ground situated,” &c. The Dry Run school- house is located on this lot. At the present time there are six schools in the township and the directors for 1909-1910 are L. W. Diehl, A. B. Long, E. J. Leighty, Calvin Wilt, S. G. Wilt and L. A. Shaw. ’ LOGAN TOWNSHIP. Logan township was formed from Alle- gheny and Antis in 1850. The term Logan, as applied to various sections of the country, public houses, organizations, balls, etc., in this region, was derived from the Cayuga chieftain known to the first white settlers in the Tuckahoe valley as Captain Logan, a name given him by the whites. He came here from the Susquehanna valley prior to the year 1768, and settled at the spring near Grazierville, a locality still known as the Logan valley. A firm friend of the Ameri- cans during the struggle for independence, he it was who discovered and disclosed the diabolical plot of John Weston and his To- ries. Although he had learned to read from the Moravian missionaries when a lad, he knew very little of the forms of land pur- chases; so, through his ignorance of the cus- toms of civilized communities, he failed to purchase the spot on which his cabin stood. As a consequence, after the war, some envi- ous white man bought the land and warned the friendly savage off. He was too proud and haughty to contest the matter, or even bandy words with the intruder; so about 1785 he left and located at Chickalamoose, where Clearfield now stands, and there con- tinued until the Great Spirit called him to a happier hunting ground. Logan township is bounded on the north by Cambria county and Antis township; by Antis, Tyrone and Frankstown townships on the east; Frankstown and Allegheny townships on the south, and Allegheny and Cambria county on the west. The city of Altoona and the borough of Juniata occupy HISTORY OF BLAIR COUNTY a central position within its boundaries, and by reason of the fact that various suburban points, known as East Altoona, Greenwood, McCartneyville, Collinsville, Llyswen, Lake- mont, Lakemont Terrace, Eldorado, Rose- lawn, East End, Kittanning Point and Glen White, lie just without the city’s corporate limits, the population of Logan exceeds that of any other township in the county. Thus it had 2,538 inhabitants in 1860; 2,422 in 1870; 4,582 in 1880; 7,688 in 1890, and 9,089 in 1900. The estimated population at the present time is 15,000. Embracing in the western section the’ eastern slope of the Allegheny range, and.a portion of the western inclination of Brush mountain, much of its territory, although rich in deposits of bituminous coal and iron ore, can never be rendered valuable for agri- cultural purposes. However, in the south- east and northeast quarters, some very good farming lands abound. The township is drained by the Little Juniata, Homer’s mill, Brush, Glen White Scotch Knob, Glen White and Burgoon’s runs, all of which af- ford excellent water power, and the last four named fill the reservoirs upon which the in- habitants of Altoona depend for supplies of | water. The Allegheny Water company, which supplies many of the suburban vil- ‘lages, gets its supply of water and has a reser- voir on Mill run. The present township includes a portion of the famous Tuckahoe valley, which ex- tends from Altoona to Tyrone, and within it quite a number of white families had lo- cated before the beginning of the Revolu- tionary war. Among them early were Thomas and Michael Coleman, Michael Walleck, James Hardin, James Hart, John Torrence, Jacob Burgoon, John, Guilleford and William Guilleford. There were some depredations commit- ted by the Indians in the Tuckahoe valley, but, except upon one occasion, none of a very serious nature. The cause of this can be traced in a great measure to the fact that Thomas and Michael Coleman and Michael AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS Wallack lived in the upper part of the valley. These men were so well known and so much feared by the Indians, that although the Kittanning trail leading to the Bald Eagle valley ran directly through Tuckahoe, they always avoided it, for fear of finding those old and experienced hunters ambuscaded along their route. Besides Captain Logan, the friendly chief, lived for some time in what is now known as Logan valley. He was also known and feared, and he was constantly on the alert to guard against the incursions of hostile savages. Add to this the fact that the val- ley was thinly populated, and the risk at- tending the hunting for scalps immeasur- ably great, small roving parties on but two or three occasions made their appearance in Tuckahoe. In the fall of 1777 two savages took cap- tive two children while at play near a cabin located somewhere near what is known as Hutchinson’s crossing. Thomas Coleman happened to be out hunting, and saw them come up the path. Each one was carrying a child, but neither of them had fire-arms, so that he felt quite at ease. From behind the tree where he stood he might easily have shot one of the savages, but he would not run the risk for fear of hitting the child, so, waiting until they had passed him, he jumped into the path, leveled his gun at them and shouted “Surrender!” The af- frighted savages dropped the children and disappeared in the woods. On another occasion they entered the val- ley, stole three horses and set fire to a stable. A number of the pioneers tracked them through the old warpath to the top of the mountain, which was quite as far as it was prudent to venture, as that was con- sidered the line dividing the white settle- ments from the Indian country. The only massacre in Tuckahoe ever com- mitted by the Indians took place in the sum- mer of 1778. A man named John Guilliford cleared a small patch of land a short dis- tance south of where East Altoona now 271 stands, and erected his cabin near the Trout homestead. In the spring of 1778 he aban- doned his ground and cabin, after the first alarm of Indian depredations, and sought safety in Fetter’s fort. In the course of the summer, after the alarm had somewhat subsided, Guilliford went down to see how his crops were progressing. His body was found the same day by Coleman and Milli- gan. It was lying at the threshold of his cabin door, so that in all probability he was shot just as he was coming out of his house. Coleman and Milligan dug a grave near the hut and buried him as he was, without:a coffin. The most remarkable feature about this murder was that Guilliford was not scalped. When it is ,remembered that scalps were paid for at the British garrison at Detroit, the omission to scalp Guilliford appears inexplicable. Coleman and Milli- gan went in search of the Indians, but did not succeed in getting upon their trail. The Revolutionary struggle over, the war-cry of England’s savage allies was never more heard on the eastern slope of the Alleghenies, nor, indeed, east of the headwaters of the Ohio; and in conse- quence of the security then afforded to both life and property, the log cabin homes of the pioneer whites increased year by year here in the Tuckahoe valley, as well as in all contiguous districts. Yet, by reason of the great distance from general markets, and the almost inpassable condition of rude highways, unbridged streams, etc., the in- crease in population and values was not by any means rapid, and even until the build- ing of the main line of the Pennsylvania roalroad through this portion of the valley, the number of inhabitants, comparatively speaking, was insignificant. The building of the Pennsylvania rail- road and the founding of Altoona in 1849, rapidly increased the population of hereto- fore sparsely settled regions of Allegheny and Antis townships, and it was soon deter- mined by those interested to ask for the erection of.a new township. Accordingly, 272 in response to the petitions of many inhabit- ants, William Brooke, Joshua W. McCord and Levi Slingluff were appointed, at the May adjourned court of quarter sessions in 1850, commissioners to inquire into the pro- priety of erecting a new township, to be called Logan, from Antis and Allegheny townships, and make report oftheir pro- ceedings, together with their opinion of the same, which was read at June term, 1850, was again read on the 30th day of October, 1850, and confirmed and ordered to be re- corded. In December, 1851, John M. Gib- boney, Joseph P. Dysart and William Brooke, in accordance with the request of various petitioners, were appointed by the court commissioners to change the line be- tween Antis and Logan townships. These commissioners corrected the line from “Da- vid Smith’s white-oak corner” to the Cam- bria county line, thus creating a straight boundary line between the townships men- tioned of more than 1800 perches in length. During the October sessions of 1867, Mar- tin Bell, William H. Brooke and D. N. Bare were appointed commissioners to adjust and establish a boundary line between Ty- rone, Logan and Frankstown townships. On the 25th of October, 1868, they reported as follows: “We do establish the summit of Brush mountain as it runs in all its mean- derings to be the line of Tyrone, Logan and Frankstown townships, so far as the two latter townships border on said Brush mountain. In recent years the area of Lo- gan township has been steadily decreasing as a result of the creation of the borough of Juniata, in 1890, and annexations of terri- tory to the city of Altoona from time to time. The largest recent annexations to the city were Fairview, 166 acres, now the Elev- enth ward, in 1906, and Millville, 124. 5 acres, now the Twelfth ward, in 1907. MANUFACTURING. The Allegheny furnace, the seeond iron furnace erected within the territory now known as Blair county, was built in 181 1, by HISTORY OF BLAIR COUNTY Alison and Henderson. In 1835, after hav- ing been out of blast eighteen years, it was purchased by Elias Baker and Roland Dil- ler of Lancaster county, Pa. Mr. Baker became a resident of the township the same year, and before his death, in 1854, became possessed of large landed interests in the adjoining townships. He erected a mas- sive stone dwelling, at a cost of $75,000, and a grist-mill in 1854, at a cost of $20,000. ' Until 1867 charcoal was used at the furnace: From that time coke alone was employed for smelting purposes. During the later years of its existence this furnace produced from fifty to eighty tons of pig-iron per week, and was managed by Dr. S. C. Baker after his father’s death. It was put out of blast in 1885 and later dismantled, going the way of all other furnaces in the county.. The axe and pick manufactory of Colcles- ser brothers, at Eldorado, was established by their father, Daniel Colclesser, about the year 1832. He carried on the business from that time until 1878 when he was suc- ceeded by his sons John and Samuel. The former has since retired and the business is conducted by Samuel and another brother, Aden. Motive power is derived from the waters of Burgoon’s run, and half a dozen men are steadily employed. Colclesser Brothers make many of the picks used in the maintenance of way department of the Pennsylvania railroad. Willis Gibboney had occupied the same site and power with wool-carding and fulling mills from about 1806 to the date of the establishment of the axe and pick manufactory. The works of the Altoona Brick and Tile company, limited, are located on the Holli- daysburg branch of the Pennsylvania rail- road company, a short distance from the city limits. They were established in 1880, and under able management have achieved an enviable degree of success. The ground oc- cupied is about two and a half acres in ex- tent, and upon it are erected the most thor- oughly constructed and appointed buildings and kilns. Among the leading specilties are AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS fire-clay bricks for rolling-mills, coke ovens, etc., locomotive tiles, gas retorts and the va- rious designs and patterns of fire-clay arti- cles necessary for steel works and manufac- turing establishments requiring high grades of material. The present officers are James C. Hughes, president, and Charles W. Moore, secretary and treasurer. With the growth and development of the city of Altoona, Logan township, which sur- rounds the city on all sides, has also grown, and co-incidentally has lost some of its most thickly populated districts through annexa- tion to the city. Thus in recent years the towns of Fairview and Millville have be- come a part of the city and are known as the Eleventh and Twelfth wards. Network of trolley lines leading from the city to the surrounding towns has resulted in the springing up of pretty villages here and there, and the population is steadily increas- ing as a result of the development of Lake- 273 mont park, Llysen, Lakemont terrace, Rose- lawn, Oakton, Collinsville, Newburg, East End, Greenwood. : In educational affairs Logan township is far in advance of most rural communities. Every district is provided with a commo- . dious brick building, and a high school with a competent corps of teachers is conducted. A district superintendent has the general supervision of the schools of the township, this position being held for a number of years past by Prof. John H. Hennen. His predecessors were John H. Cessna and John H. Walters. Logan township has kept pace with the progressive tendencies of the day in the matter of road building. In 1908 the tax- payers gave their approval to a loan of $50,- ooo which was judiciously expended in per- manent road building, and some of the fin- est stretches of road in the county may now be found in this township. CHAPTER XVIII. HISTORY OF THE TOWNSHIPS (CONCLUDED). History of North Woodbury, Snyder, Taylor, Tyrone and Woodbury Townships. NORTH WOODBURY TOWNSHIP. North Woodbury township is the south- eastern division of Blair county. From the extinguishment of the Indian title to lands in this region in 1758 to the time of the forma- tion of Bedford county in 1771, this bit of the vast domain of the commonwealth was in- cluded within the boundaries of Cumberland, and from the latter year until the erection of Blair in 1846 it formed part of Bedford. In 1855 a considerable portion was detached to form the present township of Taylor. With Tussey’s mountain on the east, it em- braces a portion of the beautiful and fertile region known as Morrison’s cove. Martins- burg borough is situated in the northwest part. About three miles east of Martinsburg, near Clover Creek, is the small village of Freder- isckburg, otherwise known as Clover Creek postoffice, southward from the latter place the hamlet known as Millerstown, and in the southeastern part of the township is Henri- etta, also a postoffice station, and the terminus of the Morrison’s cove branch of the Penn- sylvania railroad. Between Martinsburg and Henrietta is the village and station, Curry- ville. Its only considerable water-course, Clover Creek, flows northerly through the eastern part. About 1755 a colony of Dunkards, now known as the Church of the Brethren, began to settle in the southern portion of the cove; they gradually worked their way northward, until many of them became residents of the present township of North Woodbury, Tay- lor and Huston, and numbers of their de- scendants hold possession to this day. About the same time Scotch-Irish immigrants. set- tled in this region. During the Indian wars of 1762 quite a number of murders were com- mitted in the cove and mary captives were taken. In May, 1781, a band of marauding Indians entered the cove and murdered a man, woman and two children and took one man prisoner within a mile of the fort of John Piper, who was then colonel of the county. At another time several other prisoners were taken. It is also related that during one of the Indian forays a man named Houser and his son were killed, and two children of the same family were carried away into captivity. - Soon after the close of the Revolutionary war, and consequent cessation of the Indian depredations, bona fide settlers swarmed into the cove, and it is to be presumed that prior to 1790 all desirable lands had passed to indi- vidual ownership. During the war of 1812 Captain Bridenthal led a company which was recruited in the cove to the Canadian frontier, yet, by reason of their conservatism, their peculiar religious tenets and customs, and the present appearance of their surroundings, it may readily be inferred that during all the years a large majority of the people of North Woodbury township led the same quiet, un- eventful lives which they seem to do today. By the erection of Blair county in 1846, North Woodbury, including the greater portion of the present township of Taylor, was detached 274 AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS from Bedford county to form part of the first- named civil division. SNYDER TOWNSHIP. Snyder township occupies the extreme northern point of Blair county. Center Hunt- ingdon, Cambria and Clearfield counties border it on three sides and on the east natural boundaries are formed by Brush Mountain and Bald Eagle ridge. The western section is almost wholly on the Allegheny mountains, and the entire surface of the town- ship is more or less broken. Along the Little Juniata, which flows through the southeast part of Snyder, are some fertile lands, and the upper valley of Bald Eagle creek is also tilla- ble. The remaining area has been valuable only for its timber supply, which was largely consumed in the manufacture of iron in the period when charcoal furnaces flourished in this part of the state. Moore’s, Hutchinson’s, Sinking and other runs help to drain the country and have a con- stant flow from mountain springs. The latter has a subterranean passage for more than three-fourths of a mile,-emerging from the earth at the borough of Tyrone in the form of a very large spring of unusually pure water, which soon mingles with those of the Juniata. Close at hand is the mouth of Bald Eagle creek, which flows along the western base of a ridge bearing the same name from its course in Center-county. Along these streams, and particularly in the small valley of Bald Eagle creek, settlements were made several years before the Revolution by a number of persons of small means, who were attracted thither most likely by the abundance of game found on. the foothills of the mountains. Among these was the Rickett family, composed of seven stalwart sons, noted for their reckless daring and bravery as Indian scouts. These, in common with nearly all the original: set- tlers, removed before the beginning of the cen- tury, and nothing but vague traditions of their residence are preserved. Most of the land comprising the township having become the property of iron-masters, it was thence occu- 275 pied by tenants, and the pioneer history is bar- ren of interest. Snyder township was formed of parts of Warrior’s, Mark and Antis townships, in con- formity with a report made to Governor Si- mon Snyder, by two commissioners appointed for the purpose, William P. Dysart and John McMullen, Jan. 14, 1841, and it was named in honor of the governor. The fine water power afforded by the streams of Snyder early attracted the atten- tion of the iron masters owning the adjacent ore-fields, and about 1805 the Little Juniata was made to operate a forge for John Glonin- ger & Co. This was called Tyrone forge, and soon achieved an excellent reputation for its products. Eight years later the company built another forge half a mile up the Juniata, which, from its location with reference to the first, was called Upper Tyrone forge, and both were placed under one management. Prior to this, possibly about 1807, a rolling- mill, slitting-mill and nail factory were built on the bend of the river, below the old forge, which was successfully operated until about 1830. The first nail maker was John A. Dav- idson, and from 1820 to 1826, Walter. Clarke, father of Dr. Rowan Clarke, was the mana- ger of the mills. Both the lower and upper forges were rebuilt by William M. Lyon & Co. before 1840, the capacity of the former being increased to eight fires and one large hammer, while the lower forge had five fires. In 1865 the present Tyrone steam forge was built near the site of the lower forge. This forge was successfully operated until 1874, when work was suspended. About 1883 a rolling-mill was added to the plant and operations were then renewed. The manufacture was con- fined mainly to boiler tube skelp and special high grade pipe iron. It employed over 150 men and the annual product was over 12,000 gross tons from the rolling-mill and 6,000 tons’ product from the forges. It was. thus operated until 1904, when it closed down. Early in 1910 the Tyler Tube works became interested in the idle plant and made arrange- ments with the owners to operate it and ship - 276 the products direct to them, and it is once again in operation after an idleness of six years. ian a A. G. Morris has extensive’ quarrying in- terests in Snyder township. As early as 1868 he began quarrying and shipping limestone, and later on he engaged in the manufacture of lime. At Tyrone forges Mr. Morris began work in Noverhber, 1879, engaging on a large ‘scale in the development of a quarry which had been partially opened prior to his own- ership. This industry has assumed large pro- portions and Mr. Morris has long been one of the most extensive operators in his line in the interior of the state. TAYLOR TOWNSHIP. The township of Taylor is situated on the. southern border of the county, and was formed from Huston and North Woodbury in 1855, and until the erection of Blair county in 1846, comprised portions of both Bedford and Huntingdon counties. Its present boundaries are Blair and Frankstown townships on the north, Huston, Frankstown and North Wood- bury townships on the east, Bedford county on the south and Greenfield, Freedom and Blair townships on the west. It includes a portion of the famous and beautiful region known as Morrison’s cove, and is drained by Plum and Halter creeks and the stream, which, having Roaring spring for its source, finally unites with Plum creek and flows northward through McKee’s gap. The mountains forming its western boundary are especially rich in iron ore, while the undulat- ing surface of the township generally affords prosperous communities and fine farming lands. The Morrison’s cove branch of the Penn- sylvania railroad affords ample railway facili- ties for those residing and doing business in the towns and villages, while excellent wagon roads lead in various directions. The village of Sharpsburg lies about two miles to the east- ward of Roaring spring, on a broad highway leading from the latter place to the borough of Martinsburg. HISTORY OF BLAIR COUNTY 3 When the Bedford county pioneers, chiefly Germans, pushed out their settlements to the northward and westward during the years im- mediately succeeding the close of the French and Indian war in 1756-63, some of- them lo- cated within the present limits of Taylor town- ship. Thus we find that prior to 1775, Jacob Neff, the Dunkard miller, who is .mentioned in the history of Roaring Spring, Martin and Jacob Houser, Christian Hoover, and proba- bly a few others were already here. After peace and quietness had been restored other families located in this part of the cove and before the organization of Huntingdon county in 1787, John Brumbach, Daniel Ell- rich, Christopher Markle, Abraham Plummer,. Jacob Plummer, Peter Hoover, L. Philip and Peter Stoner, Jacob Shoenfelt, Edward Cowen, John Lower, Tobias Shiffler and John Morgan were counted as residents, Until 1842 the territory now embraced by the township of Taylor was partly in Wood- bury, Huntingdon county, and partly.in-North Woodbury, Bedford. county. In that year, however, Woodbury township was divided, and to the southern part was given the name of Huston. By the formation of Blair county in 1846 all portions of the present township became part of the new county, but the town- ships of North Woodbury and Huston te- mained intact until April session of the Blair county court of quarter sessions, 1854, when John Bennet, Alexander Knox and. Samuel Dean were appointed commissioners to in- . quire into the propriety of erecting a new township from parts of North Woodbury and Huston, to be called Morris, and to make re- port of their proceedings, together with their opinions of the same. This report was ap- proved by the court July 30, 1855, and at the request of the citizens of the new township the name was changed, by order of the court, to that of Taylor, in honor of the judge of the county. _ With vast quantities of iron ore of a supe- rior quality lying near by, an abundance of superior material for charcoal, and a never- failing stream from which to derive motive- AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS power, it is no wonder that Dr. Peter Shoen- berger, the experienced and most successful iron master the state ever produced, turned his attention hitherward at an early day and be- gan the erection of forges, grist-mills, etc. Dr. Shoenberger built the Upper Maria forge about the year 1828, the Middle Maria forge in 1830, and the Lower Maria forge in 1832. These forges were for many years op- erated successfully in conjunction with the mines at Ore Hill and Sarah furnace in Greensfield township. Full details of Dr. Shoenberger’s operations together with par- ticulars of the Rodman furnace, located in Taylor township, appear in another chapter. _For more than seventy-five years the lo- cality known as Ore Hill has been famed for the superior quality of its iron ore and the vastness of its mineral deposits. It is not, however, adapted to the manufacture of steel, and in recent years has not been mined. . Sharpsburg is a quiet little hamlet, contain- ing a German Reformed church, schoolhouse, several mechanical shops, and a score of dwell- ings. Upon its site located the first settlers of the township. Sharpsburg is surrounded by a beautiful, very fertile farming region. TYRONE TOWNSHIP. The name of Tyrone was borne by one of the townships of Huntingdon county at the time of the organization, embracing at that time the territory which now consti- tutes half a dozen townships in Huntingdon and Blair counties. At present the term is limited to that tract of country in. Blair county which is better known as Sinking valley, a pleasant vale of limestone land ly- ing between the Canoe ridge on the south- east and Brush mountain on the northwest, and having for its northeast boundary the Little Juniata river. It is about six miles wide at the widest part, and terminates in a narrow point of land in the southwest, the general shape of the township being trian- gular. East of the highlands trending through the middle of the valley is Sinking run and its affluent. brooks. This stream, 277 owing to the peculiar limestone formation in the township, sinks into the earth in the upper part of the valley, and after flowing some distance underground, emerges in the form of a large spring, the overhanging rocks forming an arch, from which circum- stance the place has become widely known as the Arch spring. This spring and the caves or pits connected with the run in its passage through this region, are among the most attractive natural features in the county, and have been objects of wonder and admiration for more than a century of years. In addition to this peculiar stream, which has given the valley.its name, the presence of lead and other minerals early attracted attention to this locality. It is claimed by some that lead was procured from the val- ley as early as 1763, and that the belief that it abounded in large quantities induced the proprietors to locate a manor in the valley and open up the other lands for settlement by having them surveyed. Prior to the Rev- olution lead was mined on a small scale to supply individual wants, and was smelted in a rude sort of way near the mines. After the contest with Great Britain was well un- der way, lead became so scarce and. the means of supply were so uncertain that the government determined to develop the lead fields of Sinking valley, with a view of mak- ing them yield the desired article. To fur- ther this scheme’ a company was induced to settle in the valley, to establish a regular set of works ; and to guarantee them protection against attacks by the Indians, who were known to roam through the valley with hos- tile intent, a large fort of logs was erected in the summer and fall of 1778, which was mounted with two small cannon, had a good armament, and a regular garrison of from ten to forty men. Gen. Daniel Roberdeau was appointed commander of the troops and superintendent of the mining operations in April, 1778. The fort was named for him Fort Roberdeau, and the general was in command until the following year, when he 278 was relieved by Major Clugage. The fort was. occupied by the state authorities about two years, but served as a place of refuge for the settlers of Sinking and Bald Eagle valleys. until the cessation of the Indian troubles. This fort was located several miles above the Arch spring, west of the site of the old, Beyer mills, near a stream of pure, unfailing water: This feature, perhaps, determined the location, as the ground does not appear to be particularly adapted for defense, al- though another advantage in its favor may have ‘been its proximity in its favor may Here shafts were sunk and ore raised under the management of a Scotch miner named Laurie, some of whose descendents are yet citizens of the county, and in the latter part of April, 1778, a Mr. Glenn supervised the building of a smelting furnace near the same place, in which some of the ore was reduced preparatory to its shipment to the eastern part. of the state. It was carried by pack horses to Water street, where it was loaded on canoes and thence conveyed to Middle- town, in Lancaster county. Besides other lead so delivered, there is a record of one thousand pounds sent there by General Rob- erdeau,, for which he received six dollars per pound Continental money. The men at the fort and miners were victualed with sup- plies brought in by way of Water street, which were carried to the fort with some difficulty. The country was at that time a comparative wilderness, and the mines were isolated from the neighboring settlements. The miners were nearly all foreigners, little used to the hardships of pioneer life, and lived in constant fear of attacks by the In- dians.- The utmost persuasion could not induce them to remain long in this region, many leaving at the first opportunity. Be- fore the capacity of the mines could be fairly tested the undertaking had to be aban- doned. It is probable that the government was willing to listen to such a suggestion, since the alliance with France had made it possible to secure supplies of lead from for- HISTORY OF BLAIR COUNTY eign points with greater certainty and less expense than to hazard further experiments in search of lead in the valley. Small quan- tities of iron, silver and gold have also been found in this valley, and even in recent years sensational stories of discoveries of the precious metals have been heralded abroad. But it is improbable that they ex- ist to any appreciable extent. Consequent upon the mining operations during the Revolution, a large number of whites settled in Sinking valley, so that in 1779 it contained about seventy families liv- ing in log houses. After the mines were given up by the government, many of these removed, while those who remained formed good plantations. Several parties of hostile Indians ventured into the valley and committed depredations, including the murder of at least two of the settlers named Roller and Bebault. The former was a son of Jacob Roller, who lived at the head of the valley, where in 1777, he and his sons, with the assistance of some neighbors, erected a substantial fort for de- fense in case of attack by the Indians. This fort served to check Indian incursions, so that for two or three years the settlers ex- perienced no alarm from the presence of the wily foe in the valley. A sense of security prevailed which doubtless contributed to the death of the men mentioned. Jacob Roller, Jr., was an energetic frontiersman, an unerring marksman, and bold and fear- less of the savage foe. The Indians knew of his skill, and tried on several occasions to massacre him, but did not succeed until the fall of 1781, when danger from Indian at- tacks was not apprehended. A party of In- dians then came down the mountains and passing the house of Bebault, tomahawked and scalped him, then went to the housé of Jacob Roller, Jr., whose family was at his father’s: fort. He was on his farm working” in the fields. Not returning to the fort’ in the evening, a party went to see ‘if anything had befallen him. The body of Roller was found in the field. He had been shot and eee EEO Sai es WASHINGTON AVENUE, LOOKING NORTH, TYRONE PENNSYLVANIA RAILROAD AND TRAIN SHED, TYRONE PENNSYLVANIA AVENUE, FROM 101TH STREET, FIRST NATIONAL BANK BUILDING, TYRONE TYRONE ADAMS AVENUE PUBLIC SCHOOL, TYRONE BLAIR COUNTY NATIONAL BANK, TYRONE AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS scalped. When Bebault was found he was not quite dead, though so horribly mangled that he soon after died. A scouting party followed the Indians many miles, but could not overtake them. They succeeded in elud- ing their pursuers, and escaped beyond the mountains. The death of Roller alarmed the settlers of the valley, and many allowed their crops to remain in the fields unhar- vested rather than take the risk of being massacred. The Indians did not venture into the valley again but it was several years before confidence was_ restored. Thenceforth immigration was rapid, and when the county of Huntingdon was formed in 1787, the original township of Tyrone had upwards of 200 freeholders. The first improvement of the water power of the township for manufacturing purposes was made by Jacob Isett. About 1788 he put up a small saw-mill below the Arch spring, and soon after a grist mill of limited capacity near the same site, each having an undershot wheel. In 1800 a stone mill took its place, which was regarded as one of the best in this section. On account of..defective walls this building was taken down in 1824, and the mill which stands to this day was erected. It was remodeled and made as good as new in 1869. It has been the property of the Crawfords since 1868 when it was purchased from the original build- ers son, Samuel. The Snyder grist-mill was built by Thomas Crissman about 1845. At the hamlet of Laurelville John Wilson be- gan tanning about 1815 in a small yard, con- tinuing until 1842, when he sold out to Henry McMullen. The latter carried on the old establishment until 1857, when he erected a large tannery, supplying steam- power. In 1865 he disposed. of his inter- ests: to John Diffenbaugh, who abandoned the business in 1873. CHURCHES. The first settlers of the valley adhered to the tenets of the Presbyterian church, and a congregation for worship in accordance 281 with its usages was formed soon after the close of the Revolution. More than fifty years elapsed before Sinking valley became able to maintain an existence separate and independent of other congregations. The records prior to 1853 are not in existence, and since that time are but fragmentary. The stone church in which the congregation worshipped for so many years, was built in 1818, prior to which the congregation wor- shipped in a house built of logs. In connec- tion is a burial plot of about one acre in ex- tent, in which are buried many pioneer set- tlers. In the locality of Arch spring is a fine parsonage, erected in 1867, at a cost of $4,500. Among those who have served the congregation since 1853 are Rev. Daniel L. _ Hughes, Rev. John Elliott, Rev. Orr Law- son and Rev. J. J. Coale. St. John’s Evangelical Lutheran church in the Fleck neighborhood is a neat brick edifice, which was built in 1840. It has been repaired twice since that time, the interior being remodeled and a new pulpit supplied. This building took the place of a small log house. This building had a box-pulpit and galleries. Among those who have served the congregation were Revs. John Kissler, A. H. Auge, Jacob B. Christ, John T. Wil- liams, William Laitsell, William S. Emory, Michael Eyster, Jacob- Martin and J. H. Walterick. CATHOLIC CHURCHES. Missionaries of the Catholic church visited the valley as early as 1799, and said mass at the houses of the McLaines and McMulleins. One of the most active of these visiting priests was Rev. Father James Bradley, who came from Bedford. Father Demetrius A. Gallitzin, the famous prince- priest of the Alleghenies, was one of the contemporary priests and visited the valley until 1827, when he was relieved by Father Heyden, who formed a parish of the families living along the eastern base of the moun- tain. In 1840, Father Bradley came on the field of labor, and dedicated a small frame 282 house of worship near Laurelville, erected that year, as St. Luke’s church. He visited the church once aj month until 1853 when the families residing in the valley were at- tached to the parish of Altoona. After eight years a resident priest was placed over St. Matthew’s church in Tyrone, and ‘St. Luke’s has since belonged to that parish. At present service is only held occasionally in the valley, there being but few members there. The Sinking Valley Reformed church was organized in 1846, and among those who have served the parish as pastor were Revs. Samuel A. Reid, F. A. Rupley, Joshua Riale, Joseph May, John G. Wolf, John W. Love, J. A. Peters and Milton H. Sangree. Each of the churches in the valley has main- tained a burial ground. SCHOOLS. Tyrone township has always maintained good schools. The buildings are unusually attractive with spacious grounds. A seven- months’ term was maintained years before the law required it and the teachers were well compensated. WOODBURY TOWNSHIP. Woodbury township is of very early ori- gin, it having been organized as a township in Bedford county prior to the formation of Huntingdon county in 1787. From the lat- ter year until the erection of Blair county, in 1846, it formed a part of the county of Huntingdon. It was shorn of a large por- tion of its former domains by the organiza- tion of Huston township in 1842, and as now constituted is bounded on the north by Catharine, east by Huntingdon county, south by Huston, and west by Frankstown. With Tussey’s mountain on the east, and Lock mountain on the west, it embraces a portion of the territory known in Colonial days as “the great cove,” but since 1770 as Morrison’s cove. For many years the town- ship was noted for its iron interests, having the Springfield furnace, Cove forge, Frank- . HISTORY OF BLAIR COUNTY lin forge, and the Williamsburg foundry. None of these have been in operation for the past twenty-five years, and in recent years the chief industries have been the quar- rying of limestone and ganister rock, the par- ticulars of which are given in another chap- ter. There is much excellent farming land in the township. IRON INDUSTRY. Cove forge was built in 1811 by John Royer. The forge when completed had two hammers and four fires. Bar iron was then manufactured at the forge, no mills having. yet been built in Pennsylvania for the roll- ing of iron bars, and to transport the prod- -ucts of the forge to Pittsburg, then the principal iron market, involved an expense of from $20 to $40 per ton. Cove forge was in operation continuously,-employing about thirty men until the early eighties. Springfield furnace, the third in the county, was built in 1815 by two brothers, Daniel and John Royer, the latter being the builder and owner of Cove.forge. Daniel, however, was the principal owner of the furnace. During early years a considerable business was done at Springfield furnace in the manufacture of wood stoves, as there were but few foundaries in this part of the country, and mineral coal was not used for fuel in central Pennsylvania. About fifty men were steadily employed and about thirty-four tons of pig iron were produced until the furnace was put out of blast for- ever in 1884. The Franklin forge was built about 1830 by Samuel Royer. It furnished employment for twenty-five men, and was continued in operation until 1861. It is very probable that the small scope of territory now known as the township of Woodbury, possessed no bona fide settlers earlier than the year 1765. The peace and quietness existing from the close of the French and Indian war in 1763, to the be- ginning of the Revolutionary war in 1775, doubtless encouraged people to settle here as well as in adjoining neighborhoods; but AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS just who these hardy men were, whence they came, and exactly where they settled, it is now impossible, except in a few instances, to determine. It is well authenticated, however, that in the territory now em- braced by the township of Woodbury a con- siderable number of families had settled prior to the Revolution, and during the ter- rible years which follows they endured all the sufferings and terrors incident to life on the borders during a war with savages. Among the early settlers was Capt. Will- iam Phillips, whose residence was some two or three miles above Williamsburg, on the premises since known as the Christian Snively place; and here the inhabitants of the lower end of the cove and along Clover creek forted during’ the alarms caused by Indian forays from 1777 to the close of the Revolutionary war, Captain Phillips’ home ‘being turned into a temporary fortress. The captain was a man of influence in this 283 part of what was then Bedford county, a skillful and brave woodsman, and in the year 1780 was commissioned a captain of Pennsylvania volunteers, with authority to recruit a company of men to assist in pro- tecting the frontier from Indian depreda- tions. He was unfortunate, however, for in July of that year, in attempting to afford protection to the farmers in Woodcock val- ley and the cove, to the end that they might harvest their grain, his entire command, ex- cept himself and his son Elijah was massa- cred. There were twelve men in the com- mand, including the captain, and they were surprised while asleep. Phillips and his son were taken prisoners and carried to Mon- treal, from where they did not return until peace was declared. The further history of Woodbury town- ship.is linked closely with that of Williams- burg, to which the reader is referred. CHAPTER XIX. ALTOONA—A HISTORICAL SKETCH. Location and Description—Altoona. the Creation of the Pennsylvania C ompany—The Buildings . —Car Tae 8 treets—Water Supply—Industries ‘and Labor Supply—Character of the Population—An Eventful Epoch—A Bit of Altoona History. LOCATION AND DESCRIPTION. Altoona is situated about thirty miles southwest of the geographical center of the state of Pennsylvania, at the eastern base of the Allegheny mountains, near the head- waters of the Juniata river. It lies in the upper or western end of Logan valley, or Tuckahoe, as this vicinity was called in early days, in the central part of Logan township, in Blair county. By rail it is 117 miles east of Pittsburg and 235, miles west of Philadelphia, although an air line would be one-fourth to one-third less. Bal- timore and Washington are 150 miles south- east and Buffalo 200 miles directly north, but by rail the distance to these points is nearly twice as great. The name of the city is‘ derived from the Cherokee word “Alla- toona,”. meaning “high lands of great worth.” Its locations and surroundings are rich in scenic beauty and atmospheric pur- ity, so much so that it has become a favor- ite place of resort for tourists during the summer months. Originally laid out in a narrow valley, it has filled this and climbed the hills on either side and grown in all directions, so that a large part of it is built on hills of moderate eleva- tion. The city lines as now established em- brace a territory about three miles long and two miles wide. Less than sixty years old, it has grown with such surprising rapidity that it is now the eighth city in the state, in population, and second to none in material prosperity. The lowest ground in the city is 1,120 feet above the level of the ocean and the hills rise 100 to 150 feet higher, making the site and surroundings picturesque in the ex- treme and furnishing innumerable points of observation, from which nearly the entire city maye be taken in at one view; yet, in few places are the ascents so abrupt as to interfere with the laying out and grading of streets and avenues, The main line of the Pennsylvania railroad passes through the heart of the city from northeast to-south- west, and the avenues are laid out parallel with the tracks. Crossing these at right angles are thoroughfares of equal width, de- nominated streets; and both streets and avenues are given numerical names, begin- ning at a base line and numbering in regular order from that. First avenue is near the southeastern boundary of the city, and First street near the northeastern limit. To this general rule there are some exceptions, but on the whole the city may be said to be reg- ularly laid out. The city of Altoona is in large measure a creation of the Pennsylvania railroad com- pany, and it has remained essentialy a rail- road town. It is a striking and successful example of corporate interest and care as applied to municipal affairs. The yard, 284 AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS shop sites and residence lots were laid out in 1849. The erection of the shops was be- gunin 1850. They were composed of a two- thirds.round house, containing eight tracks, to be used for storage of locomotives. One portion of this roundhouse was partitioned off for a paint shop, and another for the making of freight car repairs. There were also a machine shop, a car shop, and a loco- motive repair shop in a long one-story build- ing, with a wing at its west end devoted to foundry purposes. These were all the shops at Altoona when the road was opened through to Pittsburg, Feb. 15, 1854. Altoona is unique in having its site away from any considerable stream of water, but to the northeast a short distance is the Lit- tle Juniata and to the southwest Mill run, both of which furnish a considerable quan- tity of pure mountain spring water, while still further to the west and south are Kit- tanning and Sugar run streams, the former being the source of supply for the city water system. The character of the buildings is very creditable, considering the youth of the city. There are 10,000 dwellings within the city limits, inhabited by 60,000 industrious, fru- gal, well-informed, cheerful and happy peo- ple, while 2,000 more houses and 10,000 more people are just without the corporate limits. All taken together make one thriv- ing city of 70,000 inhabitants; and the time is not far distant when its boundary lines will be extended to include them all. : Aside from the business blocks, which are nearly all brick, about three-fourths of the _ buildings are frame, a few are stone, and the remainder brick or brick-cased; nearly all are neat and comfortable; many are more than. this; while not a few are palatial in architectural design and finish, the home of wealth and refinement. Eleventh ave- nue, on the northwest side of the railroad, from Eleventh street to Seventeenth street, is the great commercial and mercantile cen- ter, where real estate and rents are highest. Here are the banks, newspapers, the great 285 dry goods stores and hotels, with the pas- senger station and postoffice but one square distant. The wholesale establishments are principally on Eleventh street between Tenth and Eleventh avenues, and Green and Eleventh avenues between Seventh and Eleventh streets. The manufacturing dis- trict, aside from the railroad shops, is on Ninth and Margaret avenues, west of Seven- teenth street; and this is also the location of the retail coal trade and that of dealers in builders’ supplies, lime, sand, brick, pipe, etc. Other business centers of considerable importance are Twelfth street and Eighth avenue. Eighth avenue and Ninth street and Fourth street and Sixth avenue. The most desirable residence locations are on Broad, Beale and West Chestnut avenues, between Nineteenth and Twenty-seventh streets, and various places on Lexington, Twelfth, Thirteenth and Fourteenth ave- nues. The street car lines, city passenger and Logan valley, motive power, electricity: since 1891, traverse every section of the city, and extend to Hollidaysburg, the county seat, six miles, to Tyrone, ten miles, and to Eldorado, three miles. Separate lines connecting with Johnstown, forty-five miles west over the Allegheny mountain, and with Bedford, forty miles south, are pro- jected and are likely to be built within the next year. There are now over twenty-five miles of finely paved streets in the city, including the three kinds most popular, asphaltum, concrete block and vitrified brick, extending over a large part of the best business and residence portions of the town, and this will be augmented during the ensuing year. Al- toona is well sewered; having a sewer sys- tem capable of meeting the requirements of a city of 100,000 inhabitants. Altoona is supplied with water from sev- eral mountains which empty into the gath- ering and starting reservoirs at Kittanning point, a picturesque spot six miles west of the city, within the circle of the famous 286 horse-shoe bend of the Pennsylvania rail- road and under the very shadow of the Alle- ghenies’ crest. The drainage area is wood- covered mountain sides, owned largely by the city, and the water consequently free from impurities. It is brought to Altoona by gravity. While from its elevation, it might be inferred that the climate would be severe, the facts are otherwise; the moun- tains break the force of the north and west winds and the winters are not more rigor- ous than on lower levels in the same lati- tude elsewhere, and the usually prevailing weather of spring and fall is marvelously de- lightful. The greater portion of the male labor of the city is employed in the shops or as trainmen by the Pennsylvania railroad company, the to- tal number thus employed in shops, offices and the road approximating 15,000. It is esti- mated that there. are about 800 female wage earners in Altoona. Aside from the interests of the railroad company there are a limited number of industries which are yearly becom- ing more diversified, and employing a greater number of people. But Altoona has been, and for many years will continue to be a manufac- turing center mainly for the benefit of the Fennsylvania railroad company. : INDUSTRIES. Aside from the Pennsylvania railroad com- pany’s interests the only considerable manu- facturing plant is that of a large silk mill em- ploying about 800 persons, mostly females. However, there are some varied industries, largely covered by the following list: Bak- eries, brick manufacturies, book-binderies, breweries, cigar manufacturies, cleaning and dye works, gas works, electrical works, laun- drys, lumber manufacturies and mattress and women’s garment factories. CHARACTER OF THE POPULATION. All nationalities are represented in this great body of working men. Of the foreign ele- ments the Italians lead in numbers, the Italian population of the city numbering about 5,000. HISTORY OF BLAIR COUNTY There are large numbers of Germans and Irish; however, both of the latter named ele- ments assimilate so rapidly that they soon lose their identity as foreigners. The so-called “foreigners” of the city are usually intelligent, largely due to the nature of their employment. Great numbers of them are skilled artisans in iron, steel, and wood working. This is es- pecially true of the Germans. Iron, steel and wood working have become a second nature to them, and they have educated themselves in their respective lines until no better, no more skilled mechanics are to be found in the world than those in the Pennsylvania railroad, com- pany’s shops in Altoona and vicinity. Many who have been educated in the great industrial schools found abroad are here employed. No mechanical intricacies are too deep for their intellligent and trained minds and_ hands. Mental-worth and skill here find. a market at excellent and advancing wages provided by an appreciative employer. These influences have all combined to, mold a special characteristic out of the foreign and American population in the form of an unusually intelligent working class. : Fully fifty per cent of the working classes of the city own homes. The employers of la- bor encourage the purchasing of homes and urge the workingman to locate permanently in the city. There are thirty-three building and loan associations, having a total of $4,500,000 due shareholders account, installment stock and interest, operating in Altoona, thus rep- resenting millions of dollars of the savings of the people of the city. The practice of buying real estate has become a permanent factor among those earning a wage, and its merits are proven by the large number of satisfied home earners, citizens whose property in the city interests them in all its permanent insti- tutions, and causes them to reflect upon the real purposes of law and government. Their homes are mostly frame structures, built singly and in pairs, arranged so that light and air are abundant, and small garden plots are not infrequent. Home life is both healthful and happy under these conditions. Those AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS renting pay from $10 to $20 per month rental. The working classes pay an average rental of $13 per month, The sanitary conditions sur- rounding these dwellings are good. There are no congested tenement districts and no “tenderloin.” AN EVENTFUL EPOCH. The decade between 1850 and 1860 was a most eventful one in the history of the United States. It witnessed the opening era of suc- cessful and general railroad building and the culmination of the causes which led up to the great Civil war. At the commencement of this ten-year period Altoona had her birth, at its close she was a flourishing borough of 3,500 inhabitants, standing where before was only forest, sterile fields and one poor farm- house. The 224 acres of farm and -woodland, on which the original Altoona was built, and which is now principally included between Eleventh and Sixteenth streets and Fourth and Fourteenth avenues, constituted the farm of David Robeson and was not worth more than $2,500 for farming purposes at that time, but the Pennsylvania railroad company, then _pushing to completion their all-rail route from Philadelphia to Pittsburg, and looking for a site for their shops wanted it and therefore Mr. Robeson by a fortunate early discovery of the fact, was able to obtain his price for it. Archibald Wrights, of Philadelphia, acting presumably for the Pennsylvania railroad company, though just what relation he sus- tained to it is not clear, purchased the Robeson farm of 223 acres and 123 perches for $11,- 000. The deed was dated April 24, 1849, and is recorded at Hollidaysburg in Deed Book, Vol. B, page 441. The boundaries of the farm were about on the present lines of Eleventh street from Fourth to Fourteenth avenues on the northeast and Sixteenth street between same avenues on the southwest, Fourth ave- nue from Eleventh to Sixteenth streets on the southeast and Fourteenth avenue between the same streets on the northwest. On this tract of land original Altoona was laid out during the latter part of 1849, and the plot, as laid 287 out, was acknowledged by Archibald Wright, in Philadelphia, Feb. 6. 1850, but was not re- corded until Feb. 10, 1854, at the time the young town was organized into a borough. This original plot is on record now in Holli- daysburg in Deed Book, Vol. E, page 167. It is on parchment and the original is pasted into the book. At the same time another plot, al- most an exact counterpart, was recorded as the official plot of the borough. On these early plots the streets and avenues have names instead of numbers. Altoona is this plot is described as lying in “Tuckahoe. Valley,” that name being applied to this upper end of Logan Valley, which ex- tends to Tyrone. Adjoining the Altoona plot at that time was the John McCartney farm on the northwest, the McCormick and An-- drew Green farms on the northeast, the Will- iam Bell farm on the southeast and the Will- iam Loudon farm on the southwest. The Loudon and Green farms were soon after plot- ted and offered for sale in building lots, and later all the McCartney and’ most of the Bell farms have gone the same way. At the time of the founding of Altoona the Pennsylvania railroad company was a young corporation, their charter having only been granted in 1846, and they had not yet completed their road from Philadelphia to Pittsburg, although it was surveyed and in process of construction. It was completed to Altoona from the east, single track, on the same line as now in 1850 and extended from here to the Y switches near Duncansville and one mile from Holli- daysburg, and from there trains ran over the Allegheny mountains on the Old Portage, a state institution completed in 1833. The Al- toona passenger station stood near the corner of Ninth avenue and Twelfth street until 1854, when the Pittsburg division of the Pennsylvania railroad was completed past Kit- tanning Point on its present line and a new depot was built at the present location. The first depot on the corner of Thirteenth street and Tenth avenue was a two-story brick build- ing and was replaced by the present structure in 1887. The Logan House was built in 288 1854-5 by the railroad company but did not extend back to Eleventh avenue as now al- though it was an immense affair and, at that time, greatly out of proportion to the little village in which it stood. The two lines of the railroad west from the city, the one completed and the other being graded, diverging as they did then is ac- countable for the peculiar wedge shape of the site of the company’s first shops, and the fact that the avenues on the northwest and south- east sides of the railroad are not parallel but diverge at an angle of about thirty degrees from Eleventh street westward. No lots were sold in the new town until 1851, and the first deed made, as the records at Hollidaysburg show, was Feb. II, 1851, for two lots on the corner of Twelfth avenue and Thirteenth street to the First Presby- terian church, price $100 for the two. If any earlier were made they were not recorded. The first residence in Altoona was of course the old Robeson farm house which was of logs and stood within the square bounded by Tenth and Eleventh avenues and Thirteenth and Fourteenth streets. The first building erected after Altoona was laid out was a rough board one to be used as an office for the railroad contractor and a boarding house for the men; it also stood in the square last mentioned near the old farm house. Beginning in 1851 lots sold rapidly and buildings went up on every side; the new town grew so fast that early in 1854 when but little over three years old it was incorporated as a borough with a population of about 2,000 people. Churches and schools were built, ho- tels, stores and a bank were opened, a news- paper was started in 1855, and everything prospered from the very start. A plot laid out by Andrew Green, northeast of Eleventh street and called Greensburg, was taken into the borough in 1855. In 1859 a gas and water company was formed by private parties and they constructed a storage reservoir on the hill at the corner of Twelfth street and Fifteenth avenue and piped water to it from Pottsgrove; laid mains HISTORY OF BLAIR COUNTY in the principal streets to carry water to the consumers. ‘They also erected gas works on Eleventh avenue below Ninth street. Water and gas were supplied by this company first on December 15 of that year. Simultaneously with the water works came the organization of fire companies and a fire engine was pur- chased, the first being a hand engine. The census of 1860 showed the borough’s population to be 3,591. Then came the great Rebellion and Altoona was a place of con- siderable importance, furnishing cars and en- gines to transport soldiers and munitions of war, as well as her full quota of men to de- fend the Union. All through that four years’ period Altoona grew and throve. After the war closed the citizens erected a handsome monument in Fairview cemetery to commem- orate her fallen heroes. The city charter was procured in Febru- ary, 1868, the bounds being extended so as to take in the territory northeast of First street, southeast to First avenue, southwest to Twenty-seventh street and northwest to Eighteenth avenue, with a population ex- ceeding 8,000. In 1870 the census takers found 10,610 people here. In 1870, a daily paper, the Sun, made its appearance. In 1868 a market house was built at the cor- ner of Eleventh avenue and Eleventh street, later converted into an opera house. By this time there were three newspapers here, two banks, thirteen churches, a num- ber of goad hotels, a large machine shop and car works, additional to the Pennsyl- vania railroad company’s works, and soon after, in 1872, a rolling mill was erected. The Pennsylvania railroad company was also obliged to enlarge their works at this time, and, the original grounds reserved be- ing completely occupied with shops, tracks, etc., a larger tract of land was purchased along Chestnut avenue below Seventh street and the car shops were erected at First to Fourth streets. In 1872 the city pur- chased from the gas and water company their reservoir, water pipes and water fran- chise and proceeded to build a reservoir at AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS Kittanning point and lay a twelve-inch pipe from there to the storage reservoir con- structed on First avenue between Twelfth and Thirteenth streets. About the same time Eleventh and Eighth avenues were ma- cadamized, some sewers constructed, and the city issued its first bonds, $200,000, in 1871, and $150,000 in 1873, to meet the larger expenditure thus incurred. The years 1870, 1871 and 1872 were fruit- ful on many new enterprises in Altoona; new businesses were established, new churches built, several building and loan associations organized, two banks opened, the rolling mill built, etc.; but the panic of- 1873, together with the failure of the largest banking firm in the city in that year, put a damper on many business enterprises and retarded the city’s growth somewhat, as did also the great strike and railroad riots of _ 1877. Yet in. 1880 the official government census showed that the place had nearly doubled in the preceding decade, 19,710 peo- ple being found resident there. In 1878 a park and fair ground was enclosed at Broad and Twenty-seventh streets and the Blair county agricultural society held a fair there which was a great success. It was held there but once afterwards and proved a fail- ure on account of the unfavorable weather. In 1882 the first street railway was com- pleted and opened for traffic, July 4th. In 1880 a telephone exchange was_ located here, in 1886 an electric light company and July 4, 1891, electricity was made the pro- pelling power for-street cars, so at this date Altoona was fully abreast of the times in the use of electricity for all purposes. In 1888 the need of a complete and com- prehensive sewer system was fully realized. and the work of providing for it begun. Since that time the four natural drainage aréas of the city have been supplied with large main sewers, and now it is believed no better sewered city can be found in the state, although the work of laying smaller branches and feeders has not yet been com- - pleted. 289 In 1888-9 a large silk mill was erected on Ninth avenue at Twenty-fifth street along’ the Hollidaysburg branch railroad, and dur- ing the same years several large business blocks were built in the heart of the city, the Masonic temple, Phoenix block, etc. In 1889, it having become apparent that the macadamized streets were not suitable for a city of Altoona’s size and importance, Eleventh avenue was finely paved with as- phalt blocks between Eleventh and Seven- teenth streets, and during the same period many other avenues were paved, asphalt and vitrified brick being used on some of them. The paving work has been continued in recent years, so that almost all the im- . portant thoroughfares of the city are now paved. In 1889-90 the Pennsylvania railroad com- pany was again obliged to enlarge its plant, and purchased a large tract of land at Jun- iata, below the car shops, on which it erected extensive locomotive works. About ° the same time a new railroad was projected and completed to Wopononock, a beautiful pleasure resort, six miles north of Altoona, and later extended to the coal fields of Cam- bria county. In 1893 a new electric passenger railway company was organized, the Altoona and Logan Valley, and lines were constructed to Hollidaysburg and Bellwood, and later to Tyrone. At the same time the same com- pany constructed a beautiful park, lake and Picnic grounds at Lakemont, midway be- tween Altoona and Hollidaysburg, furnish- ing a place of recreation and amusement of incalculable benefit to the residents of the city and providing an additional source of | profit to the road. May 1, 1895, a paid fire department superceded the volunteers in the work of protecting the city from the rav- ages of fire. The development of the city has thus been briefly outlined from the beginning and details will follow in subsequent chap- ters. From the time of its birth it has been like the bud of a flower—growing, expand- 290 ing and unfolding new beauties, and its de- velopment has been continuous and phe- nomenal. It is but sixty years since its birth. Then it became a village, then a town, then a city, and now, behold! A city of sixty thousand inhabitants, bustling with indus- try, beaming with intelligence, alive to twentieth century methods, modern in its every makeup, one of the grandest of all the hives of industry on earth—this we call Altoona. When we stop to think that all that we see about us, excepting the hills and the mountains, have sprung into existence within the last sixty years, the thought fairly staggers us. The first owners of the farms on which the city is built never dreamed ot the possibilities of the future. No one will dispute that the location of the town was a mistake. But the Pennsylvania railroad company wanted a central site for its loco- motive and car works. Tle people of Hol- lidaysburg became wild with greed when they heard that the railroad was coming through and the prices they asked for land were most unreasonable. This compelled the'company to select the sit2 of the present plant, the largest in the world, and from the time of that selection, Altoona grew. The mistake in location has been well amended. Where once were marshy swamps, impos- ing churches and school houses, handsome residences and business blocks are seen in- stead, and the blocks of buildings are em- broidered with paved streets. The city now looks forward to more rapid growth, greater development and beneficial improvement than ever before. The idea of a greater Altoona has per- meated the atmosphere. The people are no longer satisfied in having the greatest rail- road plant in the world. They are reaching out for a greater diversity of industries, and by the time another decade rolls around it _ will be a city of 100,000 inhabitants. A BIT OF ALTOONA HISTORY. George D. Ogden, of Philadelphia, assist- HISTORY OF BLAIR COUNTY ant general freight agent of the Pennsyl- vania railroad company, in an address at the annual banquet of the Altoona Merchants’ asociation and chamber of commerce, on June 16, 1910, delivered an address, in which he told of the birth of the city of Altoona and the relations which exist between the greatest railroad corporation and the city which it created. Mr. Ogden said: That Altoona has been successful cannot be gainsaid, when we stop to consider that the Pennsylvania railroad company pur- chased on April 24, 1849, fifteen acres from Archibald Wright for the sum of $11,000, the tract of land lying at the head-of the Tuckahoe valley. Ground was broken early in the summer of 1850 and the construction of the first rail- road building was commenced. This was the beginning of the settlement. which has grown to be a hustling city of about 50,000 inhabitants. The author of “Locomotive Sketches” thus described Altoona in 1853: “Altoona (238 miles from Philadelphia 125 from Pittsburg, a level of 1,168 feet above tide-water) will ultimately become sae of the most important places of this route. “And it is a source of satisfaction to. per- ceive that there is plenty of room, and ad- mirably situated, for a large and flourishing town. The surrounding country, being the rich slope of the Allegheny, is highly culti- vable, and one needs the industrious farm- ing population to clothe it, in the lively colors of growing crops. Altoona contains the machine shops and engine-houses for the western section of the road, and the hands employed in them, together with the agents of the road stationed here, will be quite sufficient to people a village of more than ordinary pretentions. The railroad company has already erected several hand- some buildings, besides the machine shops referred to (which will soon be enlarged to twice their capacity) and after the piece of road overcoming the mountain is finished, a AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS large and splendid hotel will be added, with numerous other buildings for private resi- dences. If lots can be purchased, we know of no place along the line where the money could be invested with safer prospects of fu- ture profit.” It was therefore the advent of the Penn- sylvania railroad that gave birth and in suc- ceeding years impetus to the growth of your prosperous city, which is today the largest railway equipment manufacturing and re- pair center in the world. It is unnecessary to indulge in figures to prove this statement, as it is generally conceded and undisputed. If you will permit me, however, I should like to briefly refer to a few of the vicissi- tudes experienced by the builders of the railroad before Altoona was reached. It seems almost incredible that railroads at the beginning were as unpopular or even more so than at the present time, although there is the distinction that in the early days it was an honest difference of opinion as to the practical utility of the enterprise; while today the experimental stage has been passed and the greatest emancipator of civilization has become the subject of at- -tack for nothing more or less, in most in- stances than political aggrandizement. | It is true there may have been mistakes in the past, but is it not also a fact that other enterprises have been afflicted with the same or even put forth an honest effort to discard old and establish and strictly adhere to new and proper methods? But I am now getting beyond my subject and will return, except I should like to make a prediction that within the not distant fu- . ture the public will realize the true state of ‘affairs, namely, that they are being hum- bugged by this clamor for regulation and then the pendulum of public sentiment will begin to swing to the railroad side, as I be- lieve most honestly and sincerely it ought to do. Now to my theme, if such it is. The early means of transportation consisted of pack trains winding single file over the mountains between Philadelphia and Pitts- / 291 burg in charge of men who carried a bag of parched corn and venison for food and slept under trees. When turnpikes were proposed a vigor- ous protest was raised upon the theory that the packers and horse breeders would be ruined. Finally the advocates of the turnpike had their way, and Conestoga wagons sup- planted the pack horse. In 1786 a fortnightly stage coach service was established between Philadelphia and Pittsburg. In 1804 this was increased to a daily service. Just stop and think, this was only 106 years ago, and then reflect upon the overwhelming, marvelous change that has occurred. Upon the advent of the daily service and the consequent growth of traffic there were taverns erected every few miles, thus giving employment to a large number of men and establishing what was firmly believed to be a permanent industry and indeed superior if not luxurious transportation service. Then came along the agitation upon the part of a few radicals, the scheme of con- structing canals as superior to turnpikes, which was just as strongly opposed upon the part of the turnpike advocates as had been the opposition of the pack horse own- ers to turnpikes. Town meetings were held and the evolution of the canal continued un- til the improved system of transportation throughout the United States in 1811 cov- ered 37,000 miles of what was commonly known as post roads, including the great national turnpike from Cumberland, Md., to Stubenville, Ohio. The magnitude of the turnpike enter- prise enables us to readily conceive some of the difficulties encountered by the canal projectors in moulding public opinion in fa- vor of canals vs. existing modes of transpor- tation, but it was_ultimately accomplished, and in 1835 there were forty-eight canals aggregating 2,617 miles, in use. Please ob- serve we are now within seventy-five years of the present, and again reflect upon the 292 overwhelming marvelous change that has occurred. Next came the railroad, and because of the large expenditure for canals, aggregat- ing about $150,000,000, the opposition was more pronounced, if that were possible, than in the changes previously described. A story is told of an old farmer who was listening to General Simon Cameron mak- ing a speech at Elizabethtown in favor of a proposed railroad. When the general said the hoped to see the day when he could eat breakfast at Harrisburg, go to Philadelphia, transact business and return to. Harrisburg for supper, the old farmer turned away in disgust, muttering to himself, “Simon, I al- ways knew you were a d fool, but I never suspected you were such an ass as to talk that way.” The board of canal commissidners in sub- mitting a report, gave expression to their views as follows: “While the board avow themselves favor- able to railroads where it is impracticable to construct canals, or under some peculiar cir- cumstances, yet they cannot forbear to ex- plain their opinion that the advocate of rail- roads generally have greatly overrated their commercial value. To counteract the wild speculations of visionary men and to allay the honest fears and prejudices of many of our best citizens, who have been induced to believe that railroads are better than canals, and consequently that for the last six years the efforts of our state to achieve a mighty improvement have been misdirected, the canal commission deem it to be their duty to state a few facts which will exhibit the comparative value of the two modes of improvement for the purpose of carrying heavy articles cheaply to market in a distinct point of view. - After giving estimates of both methods of transportation, in which the canal ap- peared to much greater advantage than the railroad, the report proceeds: “The introduction of locomotives and Winans cars upon railroads where they can. be used to advantage will diminish the dif- HISTORY OF BLAIR COUNTY ference between canals and railroads in the expense of transportation. But the board believes that notwithstanding all improve- ments which have been made in railroads and locomotives it will be found that canals are from two to two and a half times better: than railroads for the purpose required of them by Pennsylvania. “The board have been thus explicit with a view to vindicating the sound policy of the commonwealth in the construction of canals; yet they again repeat that their re- marks flow from no hostility to railroads, for next to canals they are the best means that have been devised to cheapen transpor- tation.” : It can be thus seen there existed a marked lack of comity between the several interests, all of which rendered it difficult to raise money to proceed with the building of the railroad. Besides, it required courage and indomit- able energy to succeed under such circum- stances. Do we fully appreciate our in- debtedness to those men that burnt mid- night oil unremittingly in solving’ these problems in interest to civilization and for the benefits that accrue to succeeding gen- erations? The organization of the Pennsylvania railroad only antedates by two years the commencement of operations at Altoona and by Dec. 10, 1852, service was established from Philadelphia to Pittsburg via the Phil- adelphia and Columbia railroad and the Allegheny and Portage railroad. It was not until February 2, 1854, that the line over the mountain to displace the Portage rail- road was completed. The construction of the Logan house was commenced in 1853 and rushed to comple- tion for the openirig of the through service early the following year. Needless to state, dining cars had not yet appeared on the scene, and it was imperative to provide so- called eating stations where passengers could secure meals en route. ; AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS For a time the ticket office and station were also located in the Logan house. Previous to this time the freight and pas- senger office was at the wood and water sta- tion on Branch street. A minute description of the improve- ments each year, describing the growth of the shops, would doubtless prove interest- ing and could be readily furnished from the records of the company, but lack of time will not permit giving the detail here. Suffice it _ to say that in 1850 the small beginning con- sisted of a semi-circular roundhouse, a ‘blacksmith shop, a foundry, a machine shop and acar shop. Without desiring to weary you, permit me to again ask you to compare ie Se 293 the present Altoona with the history of sixty years ago and believe you will agree the rapid growth fully confirms the predic- tion appearing in “Locomotive Sketches,” 1853, which I read a few moments ago. After this very brief and disconnected re- view a natural query seems to present itself as to the probable changes in the future, and while it could only be conjecture, it seems safe to forecast a continuance of the same progressive attitude at Altoona and by its people. — It is possible that electricity will claim no small share of attention in future develop- | ment. CHAPTER XX. ALTOONA—ITS CIVIL AND POLITICAL HISTORY. Incorporation of Altoona as a Borough—Burgesses—Early Lockup—Early Borough Officials— Incorporation as a City—Sketches of Altoona’s Mayors with Their Political Records—Cen- tennial Celebration—Other Noted Events—Municipal Improvements—City Hall Remodeled and Streets Improved—Altoona’s Finances—Some Important Dates—City Officials. Altoona was incorporated as a borough Feb. 6. 1854, and at the first borough election, held March 10, 1854, Herman J. Lombaert, John L. Piper, George R. Everson, Jacob Hesser and Thomas McCauley were elected ‘town councilmen. They were sworn into of- fice on April 22, by P. M. McNally, justice of the peace. Mr. Everson was elected presi- dent and Mrs. Lombaert secretary at the first meeting of the body. Thomas McCauley was elected treasurer at the same meeting. The first ordinance was passed by the bor- ough April 29, 1854. At the same session Thomas Burchinell was elected supervisor, and George R. Mowery, borough surveyor. July 13 an assessment one-half per cent on borough valuation was ordered. On July 20 P. M. McNally was appointed tax collector of the borough. On July 28 James Night- wine was directed to grade four squares of streets and report cost to council. August 3 H. J. Lombaert was requested to procure a seal for the use of the borough. On Septem- ber 7 Mr. Nightwine’s bill of $559.90 was passed and “the chief burgess was requested to call a town meeting to take into considera- tion the propriety of organizing a fire com- pany, and securing a necessary supply of water.” The foregoing were the principal items of business transacted during the first year of the borough’s existence. During the years which represent in Al- toona its borough organization the following officers administered its government as chief burgess: George W. Patton, 1854-55; Thomas McMinn, 1856; James Lowther, 1857; Enos M. Jones, 1858-59; W. C. McCormick, 1860; John Allison, 1861-63; William K. Leonard, 1864-65; John A. Baer, three months of 1866; Henry C. Dern, acting, 1866; Henry Fettinger, ‘Sr., 1867. In the summer of 1855, under authority of an act of the assembly, the borough -limits were extended so as to include the village of Greensburg. Up to this date there was no continuity of streets between Altoona and Greensburg, but when the latter place became a part of the borough, the authorities turned their attention to this subject. It became a -part of the article of agreement between the town council of the borough of Altoona, and Alexander McCormick, Robert Green, Ezra Ale, Joseph Moist and Michael Calvert, com- mittee of Greensburg citizens. The borough paid one-third of the cost. A pound was erected as early as 1854 for the incarceration of prisoners. The lockup was commenced in 1857 and finished in 1858. It was erected upon a lot procured of William Marriot, on what is now Twelfth street and Thirteenth avenue, and the second story of the building was the council chamber. In 1855 the matters of establishing a market and a cemetery .were agitated; the latter did not 294 AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS attain fruition until 1857, when Fairview was opened. May 6, 1856, the name of Railroad street was changed to Main, and the name of Main street in Greensburg was at the same time changed to Virginia street, now Eleventh avenue. The high constable in 1856 was John Lias; J. Reifsnider and Joseph K. Eaby subsequently served in the same capacity. Under the borough government there were two constables, one for each side of town; there were no policemen prior to 1868, In 1859, L. W. Hall acted as borough counsel, and J. K. Eaby as the borough collector. In 1858 the assessors were directed to take a census of the borough, and were allowed $25 compensation therefor. Among the justices who officiated prior to the organization of the city government were Jacob Good, Jacob Cherry, John W. Humes and Mr. Spielman. The last record of the borough is the proceedings of a special meet- ing held Saturday, Feb. 29, 1868, which closes with the words, “On motion, adjourned sine die.” During the last year of the borough organi- zation eight street lamps were maintained at an aggregate cost for gas consumed of about - $17 per month. The population of Altoona upon its incorporation as a borough was 2,000; in 1860 the population was 3,591 and the official census of 1870 gave the newly formed city a population of 10,610. The for- mation of the water and fire departments and other matters that date back to the days of the borough, are treated under separate heads. Altoona was incorporated as a city by act of assembly approved by Governor John W. Geary, April 3, 1867. The charter authorized the’ appointment of a special commission to secure the services of a competent engineer to execute a plan and survey of the land em- _ braced within the limits of the city and desig- nating the avenues, lands and alleys. The commission as first appointed was composed of William H. Wilson, R. A. O. Kerr, George W. Kessler, Thomas McCauley, Louis . Plack, John Miller, C. C. Mason, E. P. Mc- Crum, B. F. Custer, John H. Roberts and 295 George Potts. A supplementary act approved by Governor Geary on Feb. 8, 1868, made some changes in the personnel of the com- mission and the names of James Kearney, John Reilly, Charles J. Mann and Matthew Black were substituted for those of Messrs. McCauley, Custer, Roberts and Wilson. These gentlemen carried out the work as- signed them and the engineer appointed by them completed the preparation of a map in January, 1871. Since then, at various times, contiguous territory has been annexed to the city limits, making its area larger by twenty- five per cent than it was originally. MAYORS OF ALTOONA. The first mayor of Altoona was General George Potts. He was a Democrat in politics and served two terms of two years each. His onent in 1868 was John Swartz and 1870 he defeated William Fox. Prior to becoming a citizen of Altoona, General Potts had lived in Hollidaysburg, where he was identified with the old Pennsylvania canal in a minor official position. When the canal was ac- quired by the Pennsylvania Railroad company and abandoned, he moved to Altoona and for a number of years held the position of weigh- master in the freight yard. He acquired his military title by reason of his identification with the militia prior to the Civil war. His salary was fixed at $400 per year, but the city’s original charter conferred the same jurisdic- tion in criminal cases on the mayor as was ex- ercised by a justice of the peace, and thus our early mayors were enabled to add something to their incomes, Although well advanced in years when he assumed office, Mayor Potts administered the affairs of the city with en- ergy and carried out whatever measures he could in the line of civic improvements with the very limited resources at his command. He was a dignified old gentleman of the old school and established precedents in the ad- ministration of the office that survived him for _many years. He lived but a few months after his retirement and lies buried in the Presby- terian cemetery at Hollidaysburg. _.. Kinch 296 The second mayor of Altoona was David Kinch. His opponent at the election was William Murray, Sr., for many years one of the leading dry goods merchants in the city, whom he defeated by a majority of Io! votes. Mr. Kinch was a republican, and as the city was strongly democratic in those days, his election was a flattering personal tribute. He was a blacksmith by trade and the shopmen rallied to his support. When Mr. Kinch came to the executive chair, the city was in a rhost deplorable con- dition. It was without a sewer system, most of the streets were impassable for many. months of the year and every householder maintained a pig stye, constant sources of filth and breeders of nauseous odors. Mr. immediately upon assuming office, set himself to the task of improving condi- tions, and one of his first acts was the elimin- ation of the pig styes. He next turned his attention to the work of sewer building, there being but one short sewer in Eleventh avenue when he assumed office. Under the law then in force the-property owners were obliged to pay for their construction and the work was necessarily slow, but a credit- able beginning was made before the close of his term and the work was continued by his successor. Mayor Kinch’s administration was also distinguished as the time when local option was in force. Early in his term the people of the city voted against license by a major- ity of over 1,100, and Mayor Kinch inter- preted this large majority as meaning that the people wanted the law enforced and he set himself to work vigorously at the task of enforcing it. Scores of persons were prosecuted, one man alone being enmeshed in the clutches of the law seven times. Be- fore the end of his term the law was re- pealed by the legislature. His activity in enforcing this law, although he was not per- sonally in sympathy with it, cost him his popularity to some extent, and at the elec- tion in 1874 he was defeated by his demo- cratic opponent, David A. Gillarnd, by a HISTORY OF BLAIR COUNTY majority of 147. Mr. Kinch is still living and in vigorous health at the age of eighty. Upon his retirement from the services of the Pennsylvania railroad company at the age of seventy, he was chosen alderman of the Second ward and served a term very ac- ceptably in that capacity. David A. Galland, Altoona’s third mayor, came to the office at the age of thirty-three, he having been born Dec. 16, 1841, and elected and inaugurated as the successor of ‘Mayor Kinch in the spring of 1874. Mayor Gilland was a native of Huntingdon county, and was of Scotch-Irish stock. He served as a soldier in Company I, One Hun- dred and Thirty-seventh Pennsylvania vol- unteers during the Civil war, participating in some of the fiercest struggles of the war, including Antietam, Chancellorsville and Gettysburg. He served two terms of two years each in the mayor’s chair, advocating and bringing to a fruition many measures tending to raise the civil standard and im- prove conditions in the city. During his term the sewer system was greatly extended and the streets were much _ improved. Mayor Gilland was a staunch democrat and until his death, March 21, 1906, he always took an active part in the public affairs of the city. He was elected to represent Blair county in the state legislature in 1879, the year following his retirement from the mayoralty. Mayor Gilland never married. CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION. Among the notable events of his term was the centennial celebration and the strike of 1877, elsewhere referred to in this history. The centennial year was inaugu- rated in Altoona by a grand celebration on Dec. 31, 1875, held in the opera house. The exercises opened before an immense audi- ence by the city band playing “Yankee Doodle,” the curtain then going up and re- vealing thirteen little girls representing the thirteen original states. They were dressed in white with blue sashes, bearing the names of the states represented by them. * AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS In the center of the stage stood a beautiful evergreen pine tree, representing the tree of liberty, decorated with thirty-seven small flags, representing the states then embrac- ing the union. After a musical selection, his honor, Mayor Gilland, appeared and said: “We have assembled here tonight to celebrate the inauguration of the centennial year of our independence as a nation, to honor the memories of those who laid down their lives for the blessings of freedon which we, as a people, now enjoy. They freely poured out their blood to cement the Union, and we are here tonight to do them and their memories the honor which their deeds so justly merit. There are those here who will address you. With these remarks I wish you one and all a Happy New Year.” Rev. C. T. Steck then read “John Adams on the Declaration; Robert A. Clarke read the Declaration of Independence and P. S. Ake recited an original apostrophe to the American eagle. Addresses were made by “ William ‘L. Woodcock, Esq., Rev. Henry Baker, and D. B. Williams. A grand street parade, in which the Latta Guards, the vol- unteer firemen, bands and various civic so- cieties participated, followed the exercises. On the following Fourth of July every house in the city was decorated with flags. The procession, composed of military and civic organizations, the fire department, the employes of the great work shops, the tradesmen and artisans at work, each at his particular vocation, mounted on wagons drawn by richly caprisoned horses, and citi- zens in carriages and on foot, was one that was surpassed in few cities in the country. The procession, after moving through the principal thoroughfares, halted at a stand erected in a field belonging to the Pennsyl- vania railroad company, in the eastern part of the city, where the immense concourse of people were suitably and patriotically ad- dressed by Judge John P. Blair, of Indiana county. A violent storm at 3 o’clock p. m. put an end to the gorgeous spectacle. 297 NOTED EVENTS. Thomas W. Hurd was the fourth mayor of Altoona. He was elected in February, 1878, as a democrat, defeating William T. Howard, republican, who in turn defeated him two years later. Among the noted events of his administration was the meet- ing in Altoona of the annual conclave of of the grand commandery of Knights Templar of Pennsylvania, May 29 and 30, 1878, and the visit of Charles Stewart Par- nell, the noted Irish leader and member of the British parliament. A public meeting was held in the opera house, presided over by Mayor Hurd, Feb. 12, 1880, at which Mr. Parnell made an address. At the time this work is written Mayor Hurd is still. living, at the advanced age of eighty-five. The fifth mayor of Altoona was William T. Howard, who served two terms, from 1880 to 1884. Mr. Howard had been the nominee of his party in 1878, but was de- feated by Thomas Hurd, the democratic candidate. At the close of the latter’s term he was again put forward as the choice of his party and was defated by Mr. Howard by a majority of nine votes. In 1882 Mr. Howard defeated William C. Galbraith, who had previously served a term as city treasurer. Mr. Howard was born in 1841, was a soldier in the Civil war, and came to the office of mayor at the age of thirty-nine. WAR AGAINST CRIME. Mayor Howard was a man of more than ordinary energy and determination, and his administration was noted for the inaugura- tion of a number of needed reforms. It was he who started the policy of punishing petty offenders in police court by the imposition of a fine of $2 or $5 with eighty cents addi- tional for costs, and this earned for him the sobriquet, “Two-eighty Bill Howard.” When he assumed the mayoralty, .Ninth and Tenth avenues, the thoroughfares which adjoin the Pennsylvania railroad yard, were lined with saloons and low dives 298 and at night were frequented by low and vicious characters, a body of the most con- spicuous rounders being known as the “gut- gang.” It was decidedly unsafe for repu- table people to walk along either of these thoroughfares during the night. Mayor Howard assumed the task of breaking up the “gut-gang,” and closing up the worst resorts, and long before the close of his ad- ministration he succeeded in accomplishing his purpose. Seven of the worst characters were sent to the penitentiary for long terms, others were sent to jail, while many others left the city or mended their ways. Another practice he broke up was that of a rough element of young men who congre- gated about church entrances on Sunday evenings and insulting unattended ladies as they came out and passed along the streets. The railroad shops and iron works in ad- joining towns had attracted many rather rough characters to the community and the mayor found it difficult to cope with them, having but three patrolmen on his police force. He therefore resolved to appoint a number of special officers for this work, as- suming the risk of collecting enough in fines to pay the officers for their services. Eight special officers were accordingly sworn in, a proclamation of warning was issued, and on the first Sunday night thereafter twenty- seven arrests were made. The following week twenty-two arrests were made, the next sixteen, the next twelve, and so on, the number decreasing until the eighth Sunday when no arrests were made. All the offend- ers were heavily fined, and the practice was effectually broken up. CLEANING THE CITY. In those days there was no board of health and Mayor Howard found when he assumed office that the streets and alleys were in a decidedly filthy and unsanitary condition. People threw their refuse over the streets and alleys with impunity and paid no attention to the ordinance prohibit- ing the practice. Mayor Howard decided HISTORY OF BLAIR COUNTY that instead of arresting the people for vio- lating the ordinance he would press the teams of the volunteer fire department into the service of hauling the refuse, requiring each resident to place the accumulations of his premises in a vessel or on a pile in the alley. This was done, and soon the city assumed quite a different aspect and from that time on was much cleaner. Many other administrative reforms were inaugurated during this administration. Mayor Howard had served as a policeman during the administrations of Mayors Kinch and Gilland, and the experience-thus gained proved of great value to him. Mr. Howard was again the nominee of his party for mayor in 1886, but was defeated by Mayor S. J. Breth. In 1902 he ran as an independ- ent candidate for the office, but again failed to be elected. The same year he was appointed lieutenant of police by Mayor Hoyer, serving until 1905. Since then he has lived in retirement, taking at all times a keen interest in the affairs of the city. Charles J. Mann was elected mayor to succeed Mr. Howard at the February elec- tion, 1884, and served one term. Mr. Mann had lived in the city from its earliest days, and was a refined and cultured gentleman of the old school. He was succeeded by Samuel J. Breth, a prosperous merchant of the city, who also held the office for one term, the latter being succeeded in 1888 by Edmund H. Turner. During these years the city was growing rapidly and steadily - gaining a position of importance in the state and country. The railroad company was steadily increasing the scope of its opera- tions in the city by building new shops and enlarging those already here and the admin- istration of the city’s affairs became a mat- ter of greater concern. With the passage of an act by the as- sembly of 1889 regulating the government of cities of the third class, the term of the mayor was extended to three years, and he was made ineligible to succeed himself. Theodore Burchfield was the first mayor to AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS serve for a term of three years, and he was the most vigorous executive the city had had up to that time. Colonel Burchfeld was a veteran of the Civil war, and had all his life been identified with military affairs. His acts in the mayor’s chair were charac- teristic of one used to military methods. He reorganized the police, force and vigor- ously enforced the ordinances as he found them, without fear or favor, showing none of the leniency towards offenders that had characterized some of his predecessors. At the outbreak of the Spanish-American war, Colonel Burchfeld, then in command of the Fifth regiment, National Guard of Pennsyl- vania, led his command to the scenes of mil- itary operations, and upon his return was nominated for mayor by the republican party, 1899, but was defeated by Ellsworth F, Giles. He at present holds a position in the office of the state librarian at Harris- burg. At the February election, 1893, Samuel M. Hoyer was elected as the successor to Colonel Burchfeld, and became the tenth mayor of the city. Subsequently he has been twice re-elected, being the only mayor to hold the office for three terms. All three of his administrations have been eras of progress. During his first term the paid fire department was created; a sewage fil- tration plant, including an intercepting sewer, was constructed at a cost of $105,000; the impounding dam with a storage capac- ity of 360,000,000 gallons of water was built; the present police system, including Gamewell telegraph service and patrol wagon, was instituted, and an ordinance was passed and enforced forbidding the run- ning at large of cattle on the streets of the city. The reform instituted in the police and fire departments, as well as the prog- ress made in providing better water service ‘are referred to under those headings. As Mayor Hoyer’s three terms do not come consecutively, we will anticipate the services of Mayors Barr, Giles and Walker to briefly review his second and third administrations. 299 He was elected for a second term at the Feb- ruary election, 1902. His opponents were John W. Plummer, republican, and William T. Howard, independent republican. Mayor Hoyer had a majority of ninty-three votes over his combined opposition. His second term was one of ceaseless activity in the line of municipal improvements, being especially noted for activity in sewer construction. Con- siderable street paving was also done during this period, and he started the work of im- proving sidewalks which was subsequently taken up and pushed with relentless vigor by his successor, Mayor Walker. One of the last of his official acts was the signing of an ordinance creating the board of public works. He also signed an ordinance increasing the salary of the mayor from $1,200 to $1,800 per year. MUNICIPAL IMPROVEMENT. Mayor Hoyer was nominated for the third time by his party for the office of mayor at the primary election in January, 1908, and at the municipal election held on February 18, was elected over George W. Kuebler, repub- lican, by a vote of 3,842 to 3,638. He was chosen for the usual term of three years, but the adoption of a constitutional amendment abolishing spring elections and making the term of the mayor four years will add eight months to his term and he will not go out of office until Dec. 1, 1911. Upon assuming the office for the third time, Mayor Hoyer took up the work of municipal improvements where his predecessor laid it down and during 1908 and 1909 about fifteen additional miles of streets were paved and the work of sidewalk laying was pushed forward with unabated vigor. During his present term legislation has been enacted creating a bureau of elec- tricity and providing for inspection of all elec- tric wiring; regulating the running at large of dogs and taxing these animals; creating the office of sealer of weights and measures; es- tablishing a telephone exchange at city hall, and providing for a semi-monthly pay day for all municipal employes. During his present 300 term he has in a measure ceased presiding at police court, this work being done by the al- dermen sitting as police magistrates, this en- abling him to devote all of his time to the larger interests of the municipality. Harry C. Barr was the eleventh mayor of Altoona. He was a republican, having won the nomination over Colonel Theodore Burchfield, while his opponent at the gen- eral election in February, 1896, was William W. Murray, son of William Murray, who was defeated for the same office by David Kinch in 1872. Mr. Barr and Mr. Kinch were blacksmiths and worked in the same de- partment of the Pennsylvania railroad shops, and the fact that they defeated father and son for the office of mayor was regarded as a remarkable coincidence. Mr. Barr was chosen after a fierce political contest, and like Andrew Jackson of old, when he assumed the office he filled all the subordinate places, including the entire po- lice force, with those who had been his sup- porters in the campaign, His chief of police was James Foust, who has since achieved great prominence as a political leader in the state and at present holds the office of state dairy and food commissioner. His adminis- tration of the police department was vigor- ous and efficient. CITY HALL REMODELED. During Mayor Barr’s administration the city hall was remodeled and greatly en- larged. The old structure, built in 1870-71, was used jointly for a city hall and for the Vigilant fire company. Later on its use as a fire station was abandoned and it was used in its entirety for a municipal hall. It was now entirely too small and upon the recom- mendation of Mayor Barr it was greatly en- larged and built as it stands today at a cost of about $15,000. Another notable achievement of Mayor Barr was the establishment of the city mar- ket. At his recommendation legislation cre- ating a market was passed by councils and George W. Burket became the first market HISTORY OF BLAIR COUNTY master. It was established as a curb stone market and for a while it was very popular. Eventually private companies erected build- ings and the magnificent markets the city now has are the outgrowth of the efforts put forth by Mayor Barr. During his term Washing- ton avenue and other thoroughfares were paved and the affairs of the city were econom- ically and judiciously administered. While he was mayor the tax rate was reduced and when he retired from office there was a sur- plus of $45,000 in the treasury and the city’s finances were in excellent condition. Ellsworth F. Giles was Altoona’s twelfth mayor. He was born in Orbisonia, Hunting- don county, and was educated in the public schools and Dickinson seminary, Williams- port, Pa., came to Altoona twelve years prior to his election and was engaged in the sta- tionary and grocery business when nominated by the democratic party as its standard bearer in the campaign of 1899. He was elected by a plurality of 1,713 votes over Theodore Burchfield, his personal popularity among all classes of people being chiefly responsible for this flattering tribute. : Mayor Giles gave the city a clean, judicious administration, instituting many reforms which had a tendency to improve conditions, as for example, the introduction of cleaning the streets by the “white wings.” During his term numerous large conventions were held in the city, the most notable of which was the annual conclave of the Knights Templars in the summer of 1899. Mayor Giles, who is a most pleasing orator, cordially welcomed the various organizations to the city. It was Mayor Giles who took the initiative in the organization of the Pennsylvania League of Cities of the Third Class, the first convention of which was held at York, Pa., during his term. This body has since become a powerful factor in the affairs of the state and much important legislation in the interest of the cities of the third class has been en- acted. Upon his retirement from the mayor’s chair, Mayor Giles established the Altoona AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS Manufacturing company, which manufactures women’s garments and has built up a large and growing industry in the city. He has al- ways manifested a deep interest in the affairs of the municipality and usually attends the sessions of the League of Cities of the Third Class, which he was very largely instrumental in forming. STREET AND OTHER IMPROVEMENTS. Simon H. Walker, the fourteenth mayor of Altoona, began his term on the first Monday of' April, 1905, he having been chosen at the preceding election in Febru- ary over William C. Myton, democrat, by a large majority. During his three years in office he gave the city the most progressive administration of its affairs it has ever had. During the years of its development the city had grown rapidly, but little attention had ever been paid to beautifying it. Many of the leading thoroughfares were unpaved, and no attention had been paid to sidewalk laying, with the result that for miles and miles the streets were lined with dilapidated walks or none worthy of the name. No sooner had he been inducted into office un- til he took measures for beginning an ex- tensive campaign of street improvements. He exerted his influence to have councils pass legislation authorizing the floating of large loans for the purpose of street paving, _and he inaugurated his famous sidewalk crusade. His enthusiasm soon became con- tagious and throughout his entire term in _office the work of improvements went for- ward, with the result that when he reached the end he had secured the paving of more than twenty miles of streets and the people had laid thirty miles of new sidewalk, either brick or concrete. Simultaneous with the improvements to the streets the people be- gan to make improvements to their proper- ties. Porches, fences and retaining walls were built or improved, yards were made more attractive, and the spirit of civic bet- terment ran high. It was conservatively es- timated that $1,000,000 were expended by 301 the municipality and the people in making these improvements along the thoroughfares during the three years which ended with his term in April, 1908. In addition, councils, on the recommenda- tron of the mayor, passed an ordinance reg- ulating building operations and creating the office of building inspector. This measure , imposed many restrictions on building and great improvemenf has resulted in the ar- chitecture of the city. Martin V. Orner was the first building inspector, serving from April, 1907, until April, 1910, when he was succeeded by Matthew W. Craine. At the beginning of Mayor Walker’s term the board of public works was created, this body having control with the city engineer as director of all matters pertaining to’ the streets. Those who have served. on this board since its creation are Andrew Kipple, James C. Hughes, George W. Kuebler, George A. Klesius, J. Blair Andrews and W. M. Craine. Under its operations obso- lete methods of street cleaning, repairs and improvements have been abandoned and it has contributed largely towards making the city cleaner and more inviting in appear- ance. _ Mayor Walker also inaugurated the pol- icy of requiring all public service corpora- tions using wires to put such wires in con- duits underground. They are given ten years to complete this work, a certain per- centage of their total mileage each year, with the result that the unsightly wires and - poles are gradually disappearing from the limits of the city. ‘ Mayor Walker established a precedent at the beginning of his term by retaining in office most of the minor employes of the municipality appointed by his predecessor, including the chief of police, John N. Til- lard, and the fire chief, Theodore W. Alle- man, and in doing so incurred the displeas- ure of some of the political leaders of his own party. But his action was generally upheld by the public and he retired from of- fice universally esteemed and with a record 302 of achievement equaled by none of his pred- ecessors. During his term in office he signed an ordinance increasing the salary of the mayor from $1,800 per annum to $2,500. ALTOONA’S FINANCES. The financial affairs of the municipality of Altoona have always been judiciously admin- istered, and at no time during its history has its fair name been marred by scandals or im- putations of graft. During the past few years much money has been borrowed for making various public improvements, and as a result the city is pretty heavily in debt, a statement of which appears further on, but on the whole, the finances are in good condi- tion and the people are not as heavily taxed as are most municipalities throughout the country. All appropriations are made by councils and the city treasurer is the custodian of all funds belonging to the city. He also collects the taxes.‘ All municipal taxes are from April to April. The tax duplicate is placed in the hands of the treasurer in June, and 1 per cent rebate is allowed on all taxes paid before July 1. After the 31st of August in each year a penalty of 3 per centum is added to all taxes then remaining unpaid, and on the first day of each month thereafter 1 per centum is added to all outstanding taxes until the same are fully paid. The amounts of such taxes and penalties remaining unpaid November 1 are placed in the hands of collectors by the treasurer, who are vested with authority to collect such taxes and penalties, with costs, by distress arfd sale of the goods and chattels on the premises assessed, belonging to tenants or others, without regard to the date of the assessment of the tax, and to levy upon any personal property of the delinquents that may be found within the county for collection of the tax. The city controller is the municipal book- keeper and no money can be paid out by the treasurer except upon warrants coun- tersigned by the controller. Prior to the appropriations to the several departments HISTORY OF BLAIR COUNTY by councils, the controller is required to submit an estimate of the revenues for the ensuing year and the appropriations are based on this estimate. This official’s es- timate of revenues for the year I910-II was as follows: Cash on hand, $15,000; general licenses, $18,000; liquor licenses, $20,000; building inspector, $1,000; board of health, $1,000; electrical inspections, $1,200; de- linquent taxes, $10,000; mayor’s office re- reipts, $6,000; from county, feeding prison- ers, $250; liens of records, $5,000; sewer assessments for which judgments are con- fessed, $2,000; miscellaneous, $1,000; col- lections on 1910 tax duplicate, $225,018; water rents, taps, permits and frontages, $115,850; total, $421,418. The -city tax rate is 10 mills, of which 7% is devoted to general purposes and 2% to the sinking fund. The tax duplicate for 1910 shows a total amount of taxes to-be col- lected of $248,909.38, exclusive of the water department, whose accounts are kept sep- arately, an increase of $15,593.50 as com- pared with the previous year. The total number of taxables in the city is 7,987, an increase of 223 as compared with 1909, when there were 7,764: The total valuation of the property within the city subject to city taxation is $24,890,938, an increase of $1,569,350, as compared with 1909, when the valuation was $23,331,588. Following are the figures for the several wards of the city: Ward Taxables Valuation Amt. of Tax Fanst -csiduonionseavtary 570 $3,772,555 $37,725.55 Second ............. 824 2,313,507 23,135.07 TIE! eccseascaus ened 6€8 4,405,054 44,050.54 Fourth saseesaevaees 658 2,715,478 27,154.78 Fifth - sisisecine coos 841 1,879,118 18,781.18 SICH? 26 Acsiantuarce wos pas I,1QI 2,671,543 26,715.43 weventh suicdionieys opis 540 1,520,530 15,205.30 Fiebth bag iba So we 794 1,612,520 16,125.20 MIEN 4 seeisinsie dp aihsaus 545 1,809,553 18,095.53 cae seeenes 636 1,164,940 11,649.40 | a eo 427 494,435 8 Twelfth juswencan se 293 531,105 Pane As compared with other years: Year be Taxables Valuation Tax ces sess utah OS cadet 4,950 $15,051,935 $105,363.58 ISOS: ccs Sweawaceecny a 5,020 15,152,370 113,643.35 T8068 gas 4 Weeden snes 5,201 15,570,600 155,700.00 Cc Pr. JOHN'S CHURCH, HIMNEY ROCKS, NEAR L IDAYSBURG TOONA HOL- SECOND METHODIST CHURCH, ALTOONA FIRST LUTHERAN CHURCH, ALTOONA 2TH AVE. AND MISHLER THE- ATRE, ALTOONA = CITY HALL, ALTOONA AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS IO?’ 4/22 dy 44 au sieves 55334 16,004,825 160,048.25 W898 cacce bi aiccnenns 5,231 15,741,525 118,061.41 T80G" 2 c.oacae Hocemountons 5,280 ~~ 15,922,195 119,416.09 1900 segcsweaeatacares 5,312 16,075,175 120,563.81 IQOL > serseas agacwawes F 17,832,244 133,744.81 TOO2 24 ss diay eure ates 5,018 18,298,292 137,241.94 1OO9 --xcol iran ahaa 5,770 18,582,246 185,822.46 1904> Svewdiatar scones 5,074 18,701,968 187,019.68 TGO5 sssinnsetigeateae 6,417 19,270,625 192,706.25 19000 waswoswew eeeeaee 7,168 20,413,172 204,131.72 WQ07 siaitisedver eas 7,467 22,565,235 «225,652.35 TQO8) Sivrccsceas ess 1...+7;549 22,991,640 229,916.40 1900) sacsadvac sca awn 7,704 23,331,588 233,315.88 The estimated value of real estate and personal property owned by the city of Al- toona, and not included in available assets, is as follows: Kittanning Point reservoirs, pipe line, etc..... $1,700,000 Prospect Hill reservoirs............... 000000 100,000 High Service reservoirs.............eeee eee 100,000 Newly acquired farm lands.................. 100,000 Gity: halls as sata ckaevdawiciies cesar eis sages 45,000 Engine house No. 1..........ccc cece ee eneeees 12,000 Engine house No. 2........... 0c cceeeeeeeeees 12,000 Engine house No. 3..........ccceaeceeeeeeeee 18,000 Engine house No. 4.........00ccece cece eeeees 7,000 Engine house No.'5..........00cec ce eeeneneee 5,000 Engine house No. 6............ccceeeceeeeeee 4,500 Engine house No. 9.........00ceesceeeeeeeees 5,000 Eight and one-half lots, Gospel Hill.......... 8,500 Burns farm and Cresswell farm, filtration plant 100,000 One road roller .......... bi A pavaransncrauniaccia os teeeded 3,000 Electric fire alarm system................0005 10,000 Police patrol and telegraph system............ 7,000 Department of Public Works — wagons, sprinklers, sweepers, horse carts, etc........ 5,000 Four steam fire engines..............0e00eeee 15,000 Hose wagons and carriages................. 5,000 FT OSE! 2 pecs w hitieneewrsboijutiene Mein 2 ose sR elds ee 10,000 Fire department horses.............0.0eeeees 5,500 Hook and ladder truck............. 0.000 eu eee 6,000 Fire department, general............0...-000- 4,500 Department of Public Works, Survey Division 3,000 Department of Public Works, Highways and Sewers, Yards... sssnmagiwid seias oa snares 12,000 "E@taleteesereg dx artertenic Sa 4 oe.66 pe ee $2,303,000 Altoona bonded indebtedness, according to the last annual report of the controller, is $1,229,920.32. Since that time, however, some bonds have been redeemed, so it is probably $50,000 less than that amount. By act of assembly, approved March 9, 1871, the .city of Altoona was authorized to borrow $200,000 at a rate of interest not to exceed 8 per cent to provide a supply of water.. The money was borrowed at 7 3/10 per cent. An ordinance approved October 12, 1879, authorized the city to borrow $60,000 305 for water supply. Under this ordinance $59,000 was borrowed at 6 per cent. An act of assembly approved April 10, 1873, author- ized the borrowing of $150,000 for improve- ments and liquidating of outstanding indebt- edness, the rate of interest not to exceed 7 per cent. In July, 1886, the whole sum of $409,000, borrowed as above, was refunded at 4 per cent, the premium obtained beinz 7/16 of I per cent. This refunded debt of $409,000 was known as “funded loan of 1886” and was due July 1, 1901, and payable July 1, 1906, at which time $100,000 was canceled with sinking fund and the balance of $309,000 refunded by issue of “refunding 4’s of 1906” due July 1, 1916, and payable July 1, 1936. These bonds were sold to Hay- den, Miller and Company, of Cleveland, Ohio, June 21, 1906, at a premium of $2,875. By an ordinance approved July 6, 1904, the further sum of $220,000 to be known as “water loan of 1894,” and 4. per cent was authorized and a premium received at 114 per cent. : “Improvement bonds of 1895” to the amount of $280,000 were issued by author- ity of an ordinance approved June 27, 1895, and provided for payment of district sewer judgments, floating indebtedness, etc. This issue was sold September 10, 1895, to E. H. Rollins & Sons, of Boston at their bid of $3,250 premium and accrued interest. Ordinance No. 1410, approved August 10, 1903, authorized the issuing of $229,000 re- funding bonds at 4 per cent, the purpose of which was to take up a like amount of outstanding improvements bonds at 6 per cent, the payment of which was formerly based on assessments to be collected for street paving but for which the city was made liable by decision of supreme court which decided that the ordinances had been passed illegally. These refunding bonds of 1903 were sold to Hayde, Miller & Co., of Cleveland, Ohio, December 23, 1903, their bid being $231,762.50, being a premium of $2,762.50, or 1.25 per cent. Under the authority of ordinance No. 306 1783, an election was held February 20, 1906, and assent of the electors obtained to borrow $400,000, of which $300,000 was to be used for construction of impounding reservoir, laying pipe lines, etc., which bonds are designated “water bonds of 1906.” The balance of $100,000 was au- thorized to be used in street paving, and the issue of bonds therefor to be designated “improvement bonds of 1906” These bonds were purchased to N. W. Halsey & Co. Under authority of ordinance No. 2169, the consent of the electors was obtained on February 19, 1907, for the borrowing of an additional $100,000 for street paving. These bonds were sold to A. B. Leach & Co., New York. These bonds are known as “improve- ment bonds of 1907.” In February, 1908, the consent of the electors was obtained for the borrowing of $400,000, of which $300,000 was to be used for continuing the work on the impounding reservoir, known as Lake Altoona, and $100,000 for street paving. ORIGINAL NAMES OF STREETS AND AVENUES. Present Name. Former Name. Third Aven: so. .00508 seats nceeem cast Sarah Street Fourth Avenue .............. Sha. ties eee Elizabeth Street Fifth Ave. from 5th to 16th Sts.......... High Street Fifth Ave. west of 16th St......... ..--Rebecca Street Sixth Ave. from 4th to 16th Sts....... Mulberry Street Sixth Ave. west of 16th St,............. Helen Street Seventh Ave. from 4th to 16th Sts..Washington Street Seventh Ave. west of 16th St........... Adeline Street Eighth Ave. from 4th to 16th Sts.......... Pine Street Fighth Ave. west of 16th St............ Harriet Street Ninth Avenue: scescaess cee secedcaieacsee Branch Street a terete saa do Railroad and Main Street sag ete teh en Salada pene Virginia Street Sica netuiadsdistepes Saas ost Steg Emma Street Tenth Avenue Eleventh, Avenue Twelfth Avenue Thirteenth Avenue ...............000005 Claudia Street Fourteenth Avenue ............0.00eeeeee Maria Street Chestnut Ave. N. E. of 7th St...... Lombaerdt Street Washington Avenue .................008 Dry Gap Road Lexington Ave. N. E. of sth St...... Chestnut Street Howard Ave. N. E. of 5th St......... Hickory Street First St. (7th ward)........ North, also Louise Street Second Street (7th ward)................. Mary Street Third Street (7th ward).............. Margaret Street Fourth Street (7th ward)................ Hester Street Hitth: Street sacaccesinsanies ia dscns caees Spruce Street Sixth Street. CHAPTER XXXIII. THE LOST BROTHERS OF THE ALLEGHENIES. The sad and pathetic event to which this final chapter is devoted occurred many years ago in Bedford county, near the Blair county line, but, with the incidents attending it, it ex- cited as much interest in Blair as in Bedford county—an interest that has not yet wholly died out. The pathos of the story, derived in main part from the characters of the chief actors in it—two little children of tender age— is intensified by many contributing elements— the mental agony of the parents, the prolonged and fruitless search participated in by the en- tire community for miles around, and, finally, by the strange and, to many, inexplicable man- ner in which the lifeless bodies of the little victims were discovered. The story, as it here appears, is reprinted, with the author’s kind permission, from a pamphlet published by Mr. Jas. A, Sell, of Hollidaysburg, in connection with the memorial services held May 8, 1906, that date being the fiftieth anniversary of the finding. Western Pennsylvania is a very mountainous country. The Appalachian system crosses it from south to north. The Alleghany range is a part of this system, and is from fifty to eighty miles wide. It is very irregular in its construction, consisting of knobs and ravines of various heights and depths in almost endless variety. Between the peaks there are fine slopes and fertile valleys of larger or smaller proportions. In its primitive state the mountain was densely covered with timber. In places, even on the elevations, there were swamps which were overgrown with briars and laurel, forming a deep tangle of underbrush. This was the favorite retreat for the wild animals when chased by the hunter. It was not safe for persons unacquainted to venture alone far into this wilderness. They would lose their bear- ing, become bewildered and have difficulty to find their way out. The pioneer settlers were mostly hunters and lumbermen who blazed their way into the un- explored forests, erected small cabins by piling up logs, notched together at the corners and covered with clapboards,—boards split from trees. People who were brought up in such homes usually staid by them, or pushed farther on and opened up a new place with some im- provement; and thus one generation succeeded ,another until some places became fairly well settled, and small towns sprang up. But much of the mountain proper yet remains in its virgin state. Samuel Cox and wife were natives of Bed- ford county, Pa. They were mountaineers by birthright. ‘Hearing of the broad plains free from rocks that awaited settlers in the west, they concluded to quit the hills of their native state and go to a more inviting field. With their four children they located, in 1855, some- where in the state of Indiana. Here sickness overtook them, and, in the interests of their children’s health, they were advised to return to their old home. In the autumn of the same year they returned and pushed into the wilder- ness and took up their temporary abode in an old vacated cabin, in view of making a pur- chase of a tract of land surrounding it. Here they lived lonely but happily through the winter. On the morning of April 24, while they were at breakfast, the dog treed some 474 AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS game in the surrounding woods, and Mr. Cox started in pursuit with his trusty rifle. His two little boys, Joseph and George, aged re- spectively five and seven years, unknown to him followed. The mother, thinking they were with their father, gave herself no concern, until he re- turned. And here begins a tragedy that moved more hearts to sympathy and moistened more eyes with tears and stamped itself more in- delibly on the minds of the people of this com- munity than any other thing that ever occurred in central Pennsylvania. The terrible Johns- town flood, that was not many miles away, where millions of dollars’ worth of property and thousands of lives were lost in thirty minutes’ time, was not even a parallel. The parents meeting with no success, gave the alarm and neighbors turned to assist, and the search was continued day and night with constantly increasing numbers for fourteen days.. By this time the crowd had swelled to about five thousand people. They were divided into - companies of fifty each, and given under charge of some man well acquainted with the moun- tains. They spread out and worked in the most systematic manner possible. They searched by day and kept campfires burning at night. No clue was found, and where the chil- dren could be was a mystery so dark and deep that it baffled the wisdom of all. The interest was becoming intense. Three counties were thoroughly aroused and from more distant points volunteers were pouring in. The altitude of the mountain causes it to be much cooler than it is in the valleys just east. . More snow falls in the winter and con- tinues longer in the spring. It was cool and damp all the time the little boys were gone, and several nights were freezing cold. Bobs creek rises north of this and flows in a southerly direction. It is the headwaters of the Raystown branch .of the Juniata river. The spring rains and melting snows increased the volume of water, making it a wild dashing stream about thirty. feet wide. There were no bridges in the vicinity. The Cox family lived 475 several miles on the west side of the stream. It was the united opinion of all who saw it that the children could not have crossed it, and they confined their search to the west side. In fear that they might have fallen into the stream, it was thoroughly searched. Impossible as it seemed to be for the children to cross the stream, the decision was to begin on the morning of the fourteenth day to search on the eastern side. Before this was begun another episode broke in that adds another chapter to the already strange and mysterious occurrence. Mr. Dibert, who lived some miles east of the mountain, was kept from assisting in the search through sickness. One night he had a remarkable dream about the lost ones. He told no one about it. It was repeated the third time. Feeling that it was a revelation to him, he told his brother-in-law, Mr. Wysong, who was familiar with the place. The two started out in what was to Mr. Dibert a strange country, to follow the trail of his dream. It ran in this way: By passing a certain contour of the mountain they would find a dead deer, then a little shoe, then a small beech tree that had fallen across Bobs creek, over which the children had passed. So they went from one object to another, which were all found as they appeared in the dream. Farther:on an old birch tree, close by a hemlock in a deep ravine by a little stream of water, is standing, and there the dream ended with the lost ones found, And, true enough, when the spot was reached, here the little brothers lay. The small beech tree that spanned the. stream had been seen in the search, but being so small where it touched the opposite shore, and lying eight. or ten feet above the water, where the stream was about thirty-five feet wide, it was deemed to be an impossible crossing place. A little patch torn from one of their gar- ments was:found on a snag of the tree, and was a circumstance that confirmed beyond a doubt, that this was their crossing place. It will be observed that the searching was all done on the wrong side of the stream. For. fourteen days all work was stopped. The plows: stood still in the furrows; the 476 builders laid down their tools; the miner came out of the mines; the woodsman laid aside his saw and axe; the merchant closed his store, and all entered the forest as volunteer searchers. Mothers and sisters out of sympathy for the heartbroken mother, and pity for the suffering boys, baked and sent out bread and delicacies for the men who braved the elements to search for the lost. Thus men and women, young men and maidens, mingled in the work, in sympathy, in prayers and in tears over the cruel fate that cast a shadow deeper and more mysterious than ever came over this fair land and finds its equal hardly once in a century. It will never be known how long the chil- dren wandered around before they died. They were about five miles from home. From ap- pearances, the younger died first. His head was pillowed on a stone and his brother lay a little more indifferent with one hand in the water. Few mothers indeed have the experience of this one. Kind friends did what they could to comfort her, but soon found that there could be no comfort. She persistently cried for her little boys and never closed an eye in sleep while they were gone. It is a sad, yet a sweet service, for a mother to minister to the wants of her dying child. But here are two little boys alone in a wilder- ness, suffering—who knows what ?—loneliness, fear, cold and hunger, with a loving, heart- broken, grief-stricken mother only a few miles away. Their piteous. cries unheard, with no loving touch to soothe the pangs of death. Let us hope some kind angel ministered to them and that their little lives went out in sweet- ness. “It must be sweet in childhood, to give back The spirit to its Maker; ere the heart Has grown familiar with the paths of sin, And sown to garner up its bitter fruits,” An old king once sat with a company of in- vited guests in his hall, dimly lighted and open at both ends. A bird flew in and out again. An old man present compared the bird’s flight HISTORY OF BLAIR COUNTY to our passage through the world. We come out of darkness into the dim light of this life, and when the brief journey is completed, and we go into the darkness of the unknown future. . So with these little boys; they came into this great hall of life and staid long enough to know the sweetness of a mother’s love. And this was all they did know. They knew not whence they came, or whither they were going, or why the journey must be made, or why it must end so soon and so sadly, attended with so much sufféring. Their only prayers were their piteous cries as they lifted up their inno- cent, helpless hands, and marked their foot- steps with their bleeding feet. This is the history of every life: The only difference is in the point of time. It takes: some a little longer to make the journey. But every life, no matter how rich in love, or spark- ling with joy, will at last come to its close and become a tragedy attended with a deep and sad mystery that weeping friends on the earthly side can never solve. Here is our only comfort: “In hope of heaven I find relief, Although my heart is bound with grief, A balm for every wound is sent With Christ my Shepherd I’m content. “T’ll hold the hand that leadeth me O’er life’s eventful, troubled sea; And pray for strength to live aright, Tho’ curtains dark obscure the light.” When the boys were found signals were given by tolling bells and tooting horns, and responded to by thousands of human voices. The untiring searchers turned in hot haste to the place. The news was joyful, but every heart was sad that life had gone. The little bodies were wrapped in blankets, placed on a sled, and the homeward journey was begun. While they were passing over the rocky roads through the dense wilderness to the earthly home, the uncaged and dovelike spirits were away on the cloudy fields of ether, joining in the songs which angels know. They are happy AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS and free from the snares of earth. But, oh, think of the mother, who, after spending so many sleepless nights sitting in the loneliness of her forest home, waiting in this awful sus- pense, receiving to her arms the lifeless forms of her darling boys, who through innocence, dependence and affection, had brought so much sunshine into her life. Time moved slowly and heavily. At length the train bearing the precious trust drew up to the cabin door. Here, gentle reader, we will let the curtain drop. What is behind is too sad and sacred to be expressed in words. “Take them, O death, and bear away Whate’er thou can’st call thine own, Thine image stamped upon this clay Doth give thee that, but that alone. “Take them, O grave and let them lie, Folded upon thy. narrow shelves, As garments by the soul laid by, And ‘precious only to themselves. “Take them, O great eternity, Our little life is but a gust, That bends the branche: of thy tree, And trails its blossoms in the dust.” The forest where the children wandered and were found, remained in this primeval state until recently. The heavy timber is being con- verted into lumber, and a railroad has pene- trated the very ravine where the children were found. It was suggested by someone that there should be a reserve of the land and trees where this remarkable occurrence took place. The owner very generously donated the ground and very soon the project of erecting a monument with appropriate inscriptions was started and soon consummated. The cost was one hundred and twenty dollars. Contributions flowed in, and it would have been an easy matter, es- pecially since the dedication, to raise money for one more costly. May 8, 1906, was the fiftieth anniversary of the finding, and. of the fulfillment of a re-' 5 477 markable dream. The monument was erected, and the day was set apart for the memorial services. There was a great gathering of people. Men, women and children by the thousands, some from quite a distance, came to this sacred spot. All were anxious to see the monument and the tree under which the children lay, and to touch the stone the younger had for his dying pillow. Sadness filled every heart, and many were moved to tears. All seemed to catch the inspiration, and here the angel of death took two little innocent suf- ferers to the sweet home of the blessed Jesus, who said, “Of such is the kingdom of heaven.” The erecting of monuments is a common thing but they are mostly dedicated to great events, or to men of renown, or where battles are fought, or leaders of armies have fallen. This, however, is an exception. The world can hardly show a parallel. They were little innocent children. They were unknown to the world. They came from a humble home,— very much so indeed. A more secluded and out-of-the-way place would be hard to find. Their death moved the hearts of thousands of people in their day, and the memory of them lives and moves the hearts of people fifty years after, to go to the expense of this monument to tell to generations following what occurred at this sacred spot. Ours is a sinful world,—a wicked, unfeeling world; but there are times when we rise above the dust and smoke of the world’s passion and strife and see humanity in its better light. There is, let us trust, a better day for our fallen race. If two little boys going to wander for a few days in the mountains, and then to lie down by a little brook to die, have the power to move and hold a people for fifty years and touch a generation not then born that they will come many miles with evidences of tender hearts, surely this points to the coming of a brighter day. “Hope is singing, ever singing; Singing in an undertone, Singing as if God had taught it, ‘It is better farther on.’ ” 478 Fifty years have come and gone, and some of ,us. who were children then are beginning to feel the weight of time. Those who helped to séarch for the lost ones have mostly passed over the mystic river and through the dark valley that separates this world from the next. Those who are left are stooped with age and are leaning heavily on their canes and wearing silver locks about their heads.. The lady who conveyed. the news of the finding to the mother is still living, but has exchanged the blushing charms of. -maidenhood for the furrows that fifty years scored on her countenance, She has about covered the span allotted-to mankind, and is .waiting, in faith and hope for the call to join the dear ones who have gone before, and to enjoy. the happy recognition that awaits them beyond the vale and mist that hangs about the earthly side. . ‘For fifty years the winds have swept. ‘up the forest aisles and played among the branches of -the trees sweet music as a requiem over the place. The snows of fifty winters have robed.them in purity,—beautiful emblem of the pure souls that have left the earth for the home of the pure above. The little brook on the bank of which the children lay still gurgles its liquid:song and makes music sweet and sad. It reminds one of the stream that issues from the eternal throne along which, for.fifty years as we tmeasure time, the lost children have been basking under fairer skies and. roaming ‘over lovelier landscapes in the enduring home from which they shall never wander to suffer fear, cold and starvation. These lofty heights have witnessed the’ sun- sets of fifty years as the sun has flashed down his light and painted a halo of glory around these cliffs and hung great pictures on ‘the walls of the sky. ie makes one feel after all that our kind Father who knows what is best, brought the children out here to meet the angel reaper, to impress the thousands who visit the place that there is a land over which his glory sheds a light that is more glorious and beautiful than the fiery dawns and golden sun- sets among the mountains of a sin-cursed ‘musicians. ‘ HISTORY OF BLAIR COUNTY world. It may be found after all that the ter- rible ordeal will be worth more than it cost. “His purposes will ripen fast, Unfolding every hour; The bud may have a bitter taste, But sweet will be the flower.” For fifty years the trees have put forth their leaves, which again turned to crimson and yellow and went back to dust, emblematical of us all. The tree under which the lives of the little sufferers went out is an evergreen. Beau- tiful emblem, too, of the soul that never dies, and of the home of ever-blooming flowers and unfading verdure. “And all whose hopes are centered there Shall rise o’er grief and pain, — For in that land no earthly care - Shall vex our souls again.” ° The day of dedication was fovely: Nature was at her best. The sun shone brightly from a clear sky. The air was pure, crisp and brac- ing. Systematic arrangements were made for the ceremonies. The crowd was large, but very orderly; there was no jar or discord in any movement. The solemnity of a funeral pervaded every breast. The signal for the opening service was given by the band of When the stillness of this vast wilderness was broken by the dolorous sound of the piping horns and the muffled drum, a solemn stillness fell upon the vast assembly, and tears fell like autumn rain.. The surround- ing heights that often took up the sound of the hunter’s gun and the woodman’s axe, and echoed it through their fastness, at once en- tered into the spirit of the occasion, and bore through all their corridors the sweet cadence of the music and rolled them back to the rapt as- sembly. We were made to think,—and -there was joy in the thought,—of the music of heaven when the redeemed shall break loose on the new song and the sweet strains like the voice of many waters shall roll upward in the volume of a great thunder, and attended with the AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS harpers, heaven's dome will be filled and the echo will fill the soul with an ecstacy that will last through eternity. During life the little brothers were notice- ably affectionate with each other. They always walked with joined hands. They clung to each other in their wanderings in the awful soli- tudes of a wilderness. Together they braved the crossing of a dashing mountain stream, where people of judgment would not have ven- tured. They staid by each other when the pangs of cold and hunger caused them to lie down to the sleep that had no waking. Truly “they were loving in their lives and in their deaths they were not divided.” They were placed in one coffin and in the presence of three thousand people were affectionately given to the grave. How they escaped the hungry ap- petites of the wild beasts of the forest must have been purely providential. The parents are now dead and are laid at rest beside the dear ones who were taken from them under circumstances of indescribable sadness. “The storm that wrecks the wintry sky, No more disturbs their sweet repose, Than summer’s evening’s latest sigh, That shuts the rose.” The writer of this imperfect sketch lives six- teen miles from the place where the boys were found and where the monument is erected. He. well remembers the exciting time from April 24, 1856, to May 8, of the same year, but he was then too young to join the searchers. And, now, after the lapse of fifty years, to visit the place with congenial friends and especially those who have assisted in the search and were present when the little ones were found, forms an association around which clings our.sweetest joys, our tenderest emotions and our purest faith. The experiences of the day produced mingled feelings of joy and sadness. We mingled our 479 sympathies, our prayers and our tears. Our faith in humanity is made stronger. We parted. Many of us will never meet again in this world. There were present people of wealth and cul- ture and many from the humbler walks of life. There were the aged, whose bent forms and wrinkled faces were quite in contrast with the young, whose cheeks were blushing with the vermillion of blooming life. But the grim reaper with his scythe is after us all, and his stroke is irrevocable. “The boast of heraldry, the pomp of power, And all that beauty, all that wealth e’er gave, Await alike the inevitable hour, The paths of glory lead but to the grave.” One man amidst the interest and solemnity of the dedicatory services yielded to his appe- tite for drink and lay by the wayside in a drunken sleep. A lady remarked that he was lost in a worse sense than were the little chil- dren. True, and true of us all. “All we like sheep have gone astray.” And if we are not found by the blessed Christ we are lost to the pleasure of his service here and his presence in the home beyond. He came to seek and save that which was lost. “But none of the ransomed ever knew How deep were the waters crossed, Or how dark was the night which the Lord passed through, Ere he found his sheep that was lost. Out in the desert he heard its cry, Sick and helpless and ready to die. “And all through the mountains thunder-riven And up from the rocky steep, There arose a cry to the gate of heaven, ‘Rejoice I have found my sheep.’ And the angels echoed around the throne, ‘Rejoice, for the Lord brings back his own.’” HON. SAMUEL M. HOYER t Representative Citizens HON. SAMUEL M. HOYER, mayor of the city of Altoona, Pa., whose services in this honorable office have covered three terms, and whose administration, on a business basis, has contributed largely to the city’s material ad- vancement, has been a resident of Altoona for more than a quarter of a century and has been prominent in business as well as public affairs. He was born in Croyle Township, Cambria County, Pa., March 13, 1856, and is a son of Jacob and Mary (Dimond) Hoyer. Mayor Hoyer comes of German ancestry on the pater- nal side and of Irish on the maternal line. Jacob Hoyer, father of Mayor Hoyer, was born in Pennsylvania near Bedford, one of a family of six children and the only son. In 1840 he accompanied his father to Cambria County, Pa., where the latter died in 1872. Jacob Hoyer followed agricultural pursuits through life, and as a man of reliability and prominence in his township, was frequently elected to public office. He married Mary Di- mond, who was born in Croyle Township, Cambria County, and they had eleven children born to them. She was a member of the Ro- man Catholic church. Samuel M. Hoyer remained on the home farm giving assistance to his, father, until he was twenty-two years of age. His education was obtained in the country schools. After leaving the farm he engaged for a time in min- ing coal and subsequently in dealing in that product, and continued to be more or less in the coal business until 1899. After locating at Altoona he became a member of the firm of C. A. Dimond & Co., coal dealers, which operated a mine near South Fork, in Cambria County, and also carried on a retail: trade at Altoona. In 1882,-S. S. Reighard purchased the Dimond interest and the style became Hoyer & Reig- hard, which continued for ten months, when Mr. Hoyer bought his partner’s share, carried on the business and was also secretary of the Bockel Mining Company, for three years was also manager of the Logan Ice Company, and in 1905 he took charge of the Blair Stone & Sand Co., which he conducted for three years more. From early manhood, Mr. Hoyer has been identified with Democratic politics and for years has been in close touch with party leaders. He attended the Democratic National Conven- tion at St. Louis, Mo., as a delegate, that nom- inated Judge Parker for the presidency, filled the same relation at the Denver Convention, in 1908, served two terms as chairman of the Democratic County Committee, as well as two terms as city chairman, and for three terms was a member of the select council from the Sixth Ward, in which he served one year as chairman. He is at present serving as district chairman of the Second district of the State Central Committee. Having acceptably filled many other import- ant positions, in 1893 he was first elected mayor and served until 1896; in 1902 was reelected and served until 1905, and in 1908 was again chosen as city head to serve until 1911. He 483 484 has exerted every effort to give the city a clean, effective and economical administration, having the better element with him and enjoying the support and confidence of both political parties. He has taken at all times a very active part in all that has been contributory to the material progress of Altoona, ever displaying public spirit and civic pride. On October 24, 1881, Mayor Hoyer was married to Miss Clara D. McClelland, and they have had eleven children, namely: Mary Gen- eva, James Graham, Charles Jacob, Walter Aloysius, Roy McClelland, Claud Joseph, James F., Harry Mc., Ruth, Martha and Eliza- beth A. Ruth and Martha are deceased. The home is at No. 1900 Third Avenue, Altoona. J. KING McLANAHAN, one of Cen- tral Pennsylvania’s captains of industry, has been identified with iron interests since the age of sixteen years, when he assumed the duties of a clerk in a comparatively obscure little furnace in Blair County, until the present when his name represents remark- able achievements in the business affairs of this section, and he is further prominent as president of the McLanahan-Stone Ma- chine Company, of Hollidaysburg, Pa. J. King McLanahan was born in Bedford County, Pa., March 25, 1828, and is a son of James Craig McLanahan and a grand- son, on the maternal side, of John King,. once a great iron master in Bedford County. Until he was sixteen years of age, Mr. Mc- Lanahan spent a large portion of his time -at school and was well prepared to make a satisfactory clerk when he was engaged for that office by Dr. Schoenberger, the owner of Sarah Furnace. His father and his grandfather were both iron men and the youth had a natural aptitude for the busi- ness and in order to thoroughly qualify him- self in all of its details, he entered the Bald- win Locomotive Works at Philadelphia, as an apprentice. This was in 1845 and he re- mained an employe there until 1848. In that year he did his first independent work, this being the superintending of the con- HISTORY OF BLAIR COUNTY struction of the engine for use on the in- clined plane of the Portage Railroad section of the Pennsylvania Canal. This led to other undertakings. In the same year he entered into partnership with Michael Kelly - and they established a foundry at Hollidays- burg, and he still retained his interest in it, when, in 1851, he went to Cincinnati to be- come superintendent of the celebrated Shock Steam Fire Engine Works, where the first steam fire engine in Ohio was built. It was Mr. McLanahan who made the-first design for this engine and he still owns the square, one of the tools that he used in his measurements. In fact it was his brains that made this piece of machinery a suc- cess. The works were then located on the corner of Seventh and Sycamore Streets, Cincinnati. In 1855 Mr. McLanahan returned to Hol- lidaysburg and became a member of the firm of Watson, White & Co., and in the construction of Furnace No. 1, for this con- cern, made all the plans and estimates and also superintended the building and in the fall of 1856 put in the blast. He continued ° his membership with the above firm until its absorption by the Cambria Iron Com- pany. For a short time, Mr. McLanahan was interested also in the manufacture of fine pottery at Hollidaysburg, but this in- vestment did not prove as uniformly suc- cessful as did others and he subsequently discontinued that business. In the spring of 1857, Mr. McLanahan ad- mitted William Stone to partnership in his foundry business, as a successor of Michael Kelly, and this association has continued uninterruptedly and in the year of 1910 stands before the world as the McLanahan- Stone Machine Company, with its founder still at its head. The officers of this con- cern are: J. King McLanahan, president; S. C. McLanahan (a brother), secretary ; A. F. Stone, vice president; H. M. Hen- shey, treasurer; and William B. Kirk, ‘man- ager. The business office of this company AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS is situated at Jackson and Wade Streets, Gaysport, Pa. © a In 1877 Mr. McLanahan became inter- ested in the Rodman Furnace and Bloom- field ore banks, and for years was one of the largest employers of labor in that sec- tion. From 1879 until 1882 he was man- ager of the Blair Iron Company rolling mill, and from the latter year for a pro- tracted period was a member of the firm of McLanahan, Smith & Co., in a rolling mill business. He was one of the founders and a director of the Juniata Iron Company and promoted the interests of that concern in the building of mills and factories. Tn February, 1857, Mr. McLanahan was married to Miss Mary Martin, whose father, John Martin, was one of the leading men of his day at Hollidaysburg. One of their sons, J. King McLanahan, Jr., is vice presi- * dent of the Citizens National Bank at Hol- lidaysburg. Another son, M. Hawley Mc- Lanahan, is a member of the firm of Price & McLanahan, of Philadelphia. This firm built the’ Pennsylvania Railroad station at Pittsburg and constructed of concrete, the noted Blenham Hotel, at Atlantic City, N. J. The family residence stands at No. 703 Allegheny and Clark Streets, this city, Close application to business has so ab- sorbed Mr. McLanahan that he has found little time to give to public affairs, but he has never been remiss in the performance of the duties of good citizenship nor forget- ful of the claims of charity. Still active, alert and mentally superior to the majority of men of a younger generation, Mr. Mc- Lanahan remains an important factor in the life and affairs of Hollidaysburg. JOHN A. ISENBERG, who resides on a farm of 117 acres in Frankstown township, Blair County, Pa., was born November 23, 1860, in Huntingdon County, Pa., and is a son of Michael W. and Susan (Walheater) Isenberg, and a grandson of George and Nancy Isenberg, natives of Germany, who first settled in Maryland. The maternal 485 grandfather was Henry Walheater. Mi- chael W. and Susan Isenberg were well known residents of Frankstown Township, where they lived until death, and were bur- led at Geesey. They were members of the Lutheran church. They were the parents of the following children: .George; Sarah, who lives with our subject; Susan; Charles; Myria, who is the wife of David: Carles; Blair, and John A. John A. Isenberg received a common school education and since leaving school has always engaged in agricultural pursuits, being recognized as one of the leading and substantial farmers of the township, and he belongs to the Grange. He is identified with the Republican party in politics, as was his father, and served three years as a school director. Mr. Isenberg is a member of the Lutheran church. In 1889 Mr. Isenberg was joined in mar- riage with Miss Anna Stultz, who is a daughter of Daniel and Susan (Morgan) Stultz, retired farmers of Woodbury Town- ship. Mrs, Isenberg is the eldest of the following children born to her parents: Anna; Charles; Martha, who is deceased, was the wife of J. C. Royer; Elizabeth, who is the widow of A. G. Waggoner; Sloan; Norman; Rhoda, who is the wife of Roland Clabaukh; Catherine, who is the wife of Warren Lingenfelter, and George. Four children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Isenberg: Susan, Rhoda, Daniel, and Blair. HENRY M. STIFFLER, formerly bur- gess of Duncansville, Pa., and a veteran of the Civil War, has been a resident of this pleasant borough since 1896. He was born near Enterprise, Bedford County, Pa., May 20, 1838, and is a son of Peter and Elizabeth (Smith) Stiffler. Peter Stiffler was born in York County, Pa., a son of Peter Stiffler, who was one of the old settlers. In 1847, the parents of Henry M. Stiffler moved to Blair County and settled in Freedom Township. The grandfather, who had probably come to 486 York County about 1802, accompanied them and died there. Peter Stiffler mar- ried Elizabeth Smith, a native of Bedford County, and of their children three survive: Esther, who is the widow of S. W. Furney, formerly of Carroll County, Mo., resides at Eldorado, in that state; Henry M.; and Elizabeth A., who is the wife of Samuel A. Stultz, of Fortesque, Mo. Henry M. Stiffler was reared on a farm and received a district school education. In 1879 he moved to Altoona, where he re- sided until 1891, when he removed to Al- legheny Township, Blair County, where he was engaged in agricultural pursuits until 1896, when he came to Duncansville. He still retains his farm of 104 acres in Alle- gheny Township. In February, 1864, Mr. Stiffler enlisted for service in the Civil War, entering Co. A, 55th Pa. Vol. Inf., which was attached to the Army of the James, and he was stationed in South Carolina and in Virginia and was honorably discharged on May 26, 1865. On May. 6, 1864, while on the advance skirmish line in Virginia, be- tween City Point and Petersburg, he re- ceived a wound in his right foot which was serious enough to confine him to a hospital for three months. After his discharge he returned to Blair County and resumed farming in Freedom Township and resided there until he removed to Altoona in 1879. Mr. Stiffler was married September 8, 1859, to Miss Jane E. McConnell, a native of Greenfield Township, now in Blair County, where she was born October 20, 1842. Her parents were James and Eliza- beth (Helsel) McConnell, both natives of Pennsylvania. The father lived in Juniata Township, Blair County, for a number of years and later moved with his family to Greenfield and afterwards to Freedom Township, where both he and wife died. Mrs. Stiffler has two surviving sisters: Margaret, wife of J. A. Thompson, resid- ing at Newry, Pa.; and Agnes, wife of Adam Hazenstab, of Freedom Township. Mr. and Mrs. Stiffler celebrated ‘their HISTORY OF BLAIR COUNTY Golden Wedding anniversary on Septem- ber 8, 1909. They are members of’ the Lutheran, church at Duncansville and in this connection as in others, are valued and es- teemed. Mr. Stiffler has always been iden- tified with the Republican party and has always taken an active citizen’s interest in the welfare of the place in which he has lived. He has served three years as burgess of Duncansville as well as on many public committees. He is a member of Stephen C. Potts Post No. 62, G. A. R., at Altoona. LOUIS E. McKEE, M. D., who has been engaged in the practice of medicine at Al- toona, Pa., for about two years, is a native of that city and a son of William E. and Mary (Graf) McKee. The McKee family is one of the old estab- lished and highly respected families of Clearfield County, Pa. John McKee, grand- father of our subject, was a native of that county, and a farmer by occupation. His marriage with Elizabeth Kern resulted in the birth of the following children: Mar- garet, Dora, Sarah, Martha, Elizabeth, Jo- seph A., John R., Dora, Thomas, Clara and William E., father of our subject, who was born in Clearfield, Pa., in 1861. William E. McKee came to Blair County, Pa., when quite young, and resided at Collinsville un- til twenty-one years of age, since which time he has been a resident of Altoona, where he is employed as foreman in the Pennsylvania car shops. He married Mary Graf, a native of Philadelphia, who came to Blair County, Pa., when a child of two years, with her parents, Louis and Elizabeth (Schwab) Graf, the former an expert ma- chinist and a native of Baden-Baden, Ger- many. Dr. Louis E. McKee was reared in Al- toona, Pa., where he attended the local schools and graduated from the High School with the class of 1904. He then entered the Jefferson Medical College, from which he graduated in 1908, and after serving a short time as an interne at the Altoona Hos- AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS pital, embarked in the practice of. medicine in this city. He is official examining surgeon for the United States Marine Corps, and the Woodmen of the World and is on the staff of the Mercy Hospital as surgeon and gynecologist. He belgngs to the Hepta- sophs and Woodmen of the World, and his religious connection is with the Fourth Evangelical Lutheran Church. RT. REVEREND EUGENE A. GAR- VEY, bishop of the Altoona diocese of the Roman Catholic Church, the celebration of whose fortieth year in the priesthood, in September, 1909, was one of the most im- posing spectacles ever enjoyéd by clergy and people in this part of Pennsylvania, is ‘not only a distinguished prelate but is a man of learning, experience, tact, culture and executive ability far beyond the aver- age. PBtshon Garvey was born at Carbondale, Pa., October 6, 1845. His parents were Michael and Catherine (Boylan) Garvey, natives of Ireland, who came to America and located at Carbondale in 1840. They were people of humble circumstance, indus- trious and frugal, and they reared their children in the church and were faithful in their own duties to it. The father secured profitable employment, under the Dela- ware and Hudson Railroad Company. His widow survived to be eighty-five years of age. oT eng ‘A. Garvey was yet a boy when his parents moved to Scranton, Pa., and as he had previously mastered the common school studies at Carbondale, he entered the Scranton High School, where he spent two years. During 1863-4 he taught school and in 1865 became a student at St. Charles College, Md., and later a Catholic institu- tion at St. Charles, where he was prepared for the Catholic Seminary at Philadelphia, and there his theological studies were com- pleted.. On September 23, 1869, he was or- dained to. the priesthood by Rev. Bishop O’Hara, of Scranton, Pa. He was ap- ' 487 pointed assistant priest at Honesdale, Pa., to attend a parish at Hawley, and from there, in October, 1870, he was transferred to the Holy Ghost Catholic Church at Athens, Pa. On December 7, 1871, he was assigned to the Annunciation Catho‘ic Church at Williamsport and remained in charge of that parish until February, 1899. In February, 1899, he was appointed by~ Bishop Hoban to succeed the late Rev. John Finnen, who had been rector of St. John’s parish and vicar general of the Scranton diocese. For twenty-eight con- secutive years Bishop Garvey had been in the Williamsport charge and was deeply beloved by his large congregations. On September 8, 1901, on the feast of the Na- tivity of the Virgin, he was consecrated bishop of the Altoona diocese by Mmg. Martinelli, singing his first Pontifical mass at Pittston, Pa., and his second at Will- iamsport. From the latter place he came to Altoona and assumed charge of the dio- cese. Soon after coming to Altoona, he erected an episcopal residence at a cost of ‘$20,000. Other efforts followed and the beautiful Orphans’ Home at Summit, Pa., which was erected at a cost of $81,000, is one of the results of his labors. Since 1901, the faithful clergy under the guidance of the Bishop have increased the church prop- erty by $1,200,000. While the whole diocese claims Bishop Garvey, Altoona particularly cherishes him. All must recognize in the life of such a man the wide influence for good it exerts and in some measure the worldly recompense that brightens the evening of earthly exist- ence when it has been rightly passed. GEORGE W. GARNER, a leading busi- ness man of North Woodbury Township, Blair County, Pa., owner of a farm of 120 acres in Huston Township and a prosper- ous general merchant at Clover Creek Post Office, likewise known as Fredericksburg, is a native of Huntingdon County, Pa., born November 20, 1875. His parents were 488 Zachariah T. and Rosanna (Treese) Gar- ner, both of whom were born in Hunting- don County and now reside in Huston Township, Blair County. The Garner family was among the first settlers in Huntingdon County, and of Ger- man descent. George W. Garner was brought to Blair County by his parents in 1876 and was reared in Huston Township, attending the public schools there and later spending some time at Juniata Col- lege in Huntingdon County. Although reared on a farm, Mr. Garner’s inclinations did not lead to his becoming an agricultur- ist, merchandising appealing to him from youth and as soon as circumstances per- mitted, he engaged in a mercantile busi- ness at Marklesburg as the junior member of the firm of Weaver Brothers and Gar- ner. Later he established his own business at Drab, in Blair County, which he carried on for two years and then came to Clover Creek, succeeding C. M. Black and becom- ing postmaster at this point. Mr. Garner is thus an experienced merchant and through careful consideration of the de- mands of his customers, supplies the wants of residents over an extended territory. Mr. Garner married Miss Margaret Greaser, a daughter of Daniel F. and Sarah A. Greaser, formerly of Huston Township but now residents of Townsend, Tenn. Mr. and Mrs. Garner have four children: Wal- ter G., Daniel Z., Rosanna and John M. They are members and liberal supporters of the Lutheran church. In politics, Mr. Garner is a Republican and at present is serving as a member of the school board of North Woodbury Township and has filled other township offices. As a public official, as a business man and as a neigh- bor, Mr. Garner enjoys the confidence, re- spect and good will of his fellow citizens. ANTHONY REISER, who is proprietor of a meat market at Hollidaysburg, Pa., deals exclusively in home dressed meats, and has one of the leading markets in the HISTORY OF BLAIR COUNTY borough. He was born January 10, 1871, in Wurtemberg, Germany, and is a son. of Matthias and Kunigadie (Naute) Reiser. His father and mother, who are seventy- five and seventy-one years of age respect- ively, are both natiyes and have been ‘life- long residents of Germany, and are now residing at Wurtemberg. They are the parents of seven children, as follows: Jo- seph, who is deceased; Sabina, who is the wife of Earnest Doan of Switzerland; Pe- ter, who was overcome by heat in 1903 when thirty-two years of age, was a baker by trade and a resident of New Jersey at the time of his death; Anthony; and three who died in infancy. Anthony Reiser spent his boyhood on the farm in Germany, and when fourteen years began working for John Spanagel, a butcher, with whom he spent two years. He then worked four years at the business in Switzerland, and in 1891 came to Amer- ica, locating first in Patterson, N. J. Three months later he came to Altoona, Blair County, Pa., and entered the employ of Herman Smith, who owned a market on Fifth Avenue, and then worked one year and ten months for Henry L. Bunker, of Hollidaysburg. In 1893 he embarked in the business for himself at his present loca- tion, and for some time operated the busi- ness in partnership with John Binder. Mr. Reiser has established an extensive and profitable business and in 1907 erected a fine slaughter house, where he dresses all of his own meat. He also owns his resi- dence on Canal Street, a fine brick building, which was erected in 1897, and is the owner of six residence properties in Gaysport. Mr. Reiser is politically a Democrat and has served as a member of the borough council. He is fraternally a Knight of Col- umbus, and his religious connection is with St. Michaels Catholic Church. Mr. Reiser was married in 1892 to Josephine Noll, a native of Altoona, Pa., and their union has resulted in the following issue: Frank, who attends college; and Joseph, Edward, JACOB 8. LEISENRING AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS Marie, Carl, Herman, Anthony, Paul and James. JACOB SHINDEL LEISENRING, whose death occurred at Detroit, Mich., January 23, 1910, was for many years one of the most prom- inent members of the bar in central Pennsyl- vania, being in continuous practice at Altoona from 1873 up almost to the time of his death. He was a recognized authority on commercial law and was the author of a valuable work on law entitled ‘“Leisenring’s Book of Forms.” In addition to all this he was a business man of ability, serving for years as vice president of the Second National Bank of Altoona, in which he was also a director. Mr. Leisenring was born at Selinsgrove, Snyder County, Pa., April 2, 1847. His pa- rents were Gideon and Louisa Henrietta (Shin- del) Leisenring, and he was a grandson of Peter and a great grandson of John Conrad Leisenring, whose father came to Pennsylvania from Germany in 1742. Peter Leisenring, the paternal grandfather of our subject, was for many years a prominent citizen of Northumberland County, Pa., where he died about 1820. He had four children and in the division of his large estate his son Gideon came into possession of the old homestead situated near Sunbury, Pa. Gideon Leisenring, father of Jacob S., was born at White Hall, Lehigh County, Pa., in 1802, and died at Charlestown, Jefferson County, W. Va., in March, 1880. He is re- membered as a man of determined character, which was forcibly shown during the early days and preceding the outbreak of the Re- bellion. From Sunbury he removed to Selins- grove in 1845, but the development of his many business enterprises required his presence in Baltimore, to which city he accordingly re- moved in 1858. To him, with other loyalists, credit has been given by historians for the re- fusal of Maryland to secede from the Union in the turbulent days preceding the spring of 1861, and it is a fact that over his residence in Balti- more was unfurled to the breeze the first United States flag after the historic April 19th of that 491 year. He continued his residence at Baltimore until the close of the war and then removed to West Virginia. In 1828 he was married to Louisa Henrietta Shindel, who died at Selins- grove, March 27, 1853. She was a daughter of Rev. John Peter and Susan (McCullough) ~ Shindel, a granddaughter of Hon. John Peter Shindel, who served in the Pennsylvania legis- lature, and a great-granddaughter of John Peter Shindel, who came from Germany and settled in Lebanon County, Pa., about 1740, and who served in the Continental army. Jacob Shindel Leisenring, the direct subject of this memoir, was educated at the Missionary Institute, now the Susquehanna University, and in the public schools-of Baltimore. Although then very young, he served for a time in the Federal army, enlisting in Company G, First Pennsylvania Independent Battalion. After the close of the war he accompanied his father to West Virginia, and, possessing many of his late father’s characteristics, and entertaining the same views on public questions; he there came into considerable prominence as a Re- publican. He prepared for the bar in the office of Hon. William H. Travers, of Charlestown, and was admitted to practice in Jefferson County in 1870. He then returned to Pennsylvania and for several years was associated in practice with C. F. Shindel, at Tamaqua, Schuylkill County, Pa. In 1872 he was admitted to the Luzerne ‘County bar at which he practiced from April to September in that year. He was then appointed district attorney in a newly organized district in western Kansas and during the following year he attended to the duties of this position, residing at Hays City. In 1873 he again re- turned to Pennsylvania and then established himself at Altoona and this city was his chosen home from that time until hig death. He was at oné time a member of the firm of Stevens and Leisenring, at Tyrone, this county, com- posed of A. A. Stevens, esq., and himself. In 1877 he left: Tyrone and removed to Altoona, where in 1880 he became associated in the prac- tice of law with A. V. Dively, esq., under the firm name of Dively & Leisenring. After the 492 dissolution of this firm he continued in the practice of law by himself until 1904, when he formed a co-partnership with Harry F. Wal- ters, under the firm name of Leisenring & Walters, which continued until the time of his death. In 1887 Mr. Leisenring ran on the Repub- lican ticket for the office of city recorder of Al- -toona, but the city being heavily Democratic, he was defeated by the late John A. Doyle, his opponent on that ticket. Mr. Leisenring was for many years up to the time of his death chairman of the board of examiners of the Blair County bar and was also chairman of the censors of the Bar Association. He was a charter member of the Commercial Law League of America and a member of the Pennsylvania Bar Association and of the American Bar As- sociation. As a lawyer he established a large and profitable practice. He took part in many important cases and enjoyed the confidence of the members of the bar and of the people. He was one of the leading commercial lawyers of the country, was a writer of ability and fre- quently contributed articles to newspapers and magazines and to the commercial publications in which he was interested, besides being the author of the valuable book already referred to. He was a wise and conservative counsellor; a safe, careful and successful practitioner; always impatient of sham, true to the court, true to his clients, courteous to his fellow members of the bar and careful of his professional conduct and deportment. Those who did not know him well sometimes considered him brusque and cold, but those who knew him better recog- nized him as a man of kindly and charitable dis- position—one to whom no deserving person ever appealed for aid in vain. Though he did not form friendships lightly, he never lost a friend once formed. In the society of his in- timates he often showed an inimitable wit and humor, and this agreeable faculty was so well known to them that he was often called upon to act as toastmaster at social gatherings, in which capacity he acquitted himself to perfection. During his residence in West Virginia Mr. Leisenring was a prominent Mason and deputy HISTORY OF BLAIR COUNTY grand master of the state. He was also a member of the Grand Army of the Republic, in which he held many important positions and was past commander of S. C. Potts Post, No. 62, Department of Pennsylvania. He was also a member of the order of Elks of this city and was chairman of the memorial committee of the order at the time of his death, and was a charter member of the order of Heptasophs. Mr. Leisenring’s membership in the Repub- lican party has been already mentioned. Dur- ing the later years of his life he acted with the independent wing of that party in Pennsylvania and he is credited with having been one of the prime movers in the political revolution which resulted in the election of W. H. Berry for state treasurer and forced the nomination by the Republican party of Edwin S. Stuart, ex-governor of this commonwealth. Mr. Leisenring’s name was frequently men- tioned as one of the prominent candidates for additional law judge of this county: Just previous to the funeral services of Jacob S. Leisenring, a meeting was held at the home of the Elks on Twelfth Street, which was pre- sided over by Judge Thomas J. Baldrige, who paid an eloquent tribute to his deceased friend, the substance of which is contained in the present article. Appreciative ad- dresses were also made by Attorneys A. A. Stevens, Oliver H. Hewit, J. D. Hicks, Harry F. Walters, T. H. Greevy and W. L. Woodcock, while W. S. Pascoe presented the resolutions prepared by the association committee, of which he was chairman. The latter were as follows: Resolved, That in the death of Jacob S. Lei- senring, esq., this bar has lost one of its most active and prominent members, a good lawyer, a safe counsellor and practicioner, a faithful friend and courteous gentleman; the commu- nity in which he lived a public-spirited citizen, distinguished for wisdom, courage, independ- ence and charity; and his family a kind, affec- tionate and indulgent husband and father. Resolved Further, That this minute and res- olutions be spread upon the records of the AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS ~ ‘court, published in the newspapers and a copy thereof presented to the family of the deceased. WILLIAM L. PASCOE, THOMAS H. GREEVY, O. H. HEWIT, MATTHEW CALVIN, A. J. RILEY, Committee on resolutions, Blair County Bar _ Association. Mr. Leisenring was married on September 1, 1875, to Miss Annie M. Cherry, who with one daughter—Henrietta Shindel, wife of A. E. James—survives him. JESSE C. SELL, is a native of Blair county, Pennsylvania. He is the second son of James A. and Esther B. Sell, and was born at Leamersville, July 21, 1872. His great-grandfather, Abraham Sell; was one of the pioneer settlers of the Juniata valley in Blair township, having moved there about the close of the Eighteenth century. His grandfather, Daniel Sell, was also a life-long resident of Blair county and died at the advanced age of 90 years. His mother’s maiden name was Stiffler. His great grandfather on the maternal side was Henry Stiffler, who settled in the _ Loop, in Frankstown township, also about the close of the Eighteenth century. His grandfather, Joseph Stiffler, spent his en- tire life in Frankstown township and died at the ripe age of g1 years. Thus the sub- ject of this sketch is a thoroughbred Blair countian and a descendent of a hardy stock. At a very early age he evinced a fond- ness for books,and such was his desire for learning, and it came to him so easily, that when he commenced going to school when only four years old he started in the second reader grade. Within two years he had made such progress that he was regarded as the best speller in the school and was studying all the braches taught in the school, displaying an especial fondness for history. Hle commenced teaching when 17 _years old, but held a good certificate two 493 years before. Teachers were not admitted to the profession under 18 years of age, but an exception was made in his case. He taught school for eight years, in Freedom, Blair and Logan townships and in Newry borough and attended school at the Roar- ing Spring Academy, conducted by Prof. W. R. Vaughn and at Juniata College, Huntingdon. After leaving college he commenced the study of law under the instruction of Will- iam S. Hammond and J. Banks Kurtz, in Altoona, and was admitted to the bar on September 7, 1896. He opened an office in Altoona, but the strenuous work of prep- aration had undermined his health and he was compelled to give up his practice and retire from active business to recuperate. His strong: constitution was in his favor and within a year he was again able to en- ter upon the world’s activities. He now turned his attention to journalism and ac- cepted a position on the editorial staff of the Altoona, Times. In 1903 he was ten- dered the position of city editor of the Al- toona Evening Gazette, which he has re- tained to this time. During the greater part of this time he has acted as editor of the paper, doing most of the editorial writ- ing. In politics Mr. Sell is a staunch Repub- ‘lican and has taken an active part in the po- litical affairs of the city and county. He was elected a member of the city common council from the Fourth ward in February, 1908. He introduced and the councils passed’ ordinances providing for a semi- monthly payday for municipal employes, providing for an inspection of all electric wiring and creating the department of city electrician, abolishing paving and sewer viewers and other important legislation. On June 27, 1901, he was married to An- nie R. Maher, a daughter of Michael and Mary Maher of Altoona. CHARLES T. WITHEROW, deceased, formerly motive power clerk for the Grand 494 Division Eastern Pennsylvania Railroad Company, at Altoona, and a valuable cit- izen of much native force and ability, as well as usefulness, was born in Bloomfield, Perry County, Pa., July 23, 1856. His par- ents were John and Maria (Roth) With- erow. The father, in his later years a well- to-do retired farmer, conducted the With- erow Mills, near Bloomfield, Perry County. The subject of this sketch, who was the only child of his parents, was educated in the public and high schools of. his native county, and at the Academy at. Bloomfield, Pa.. His first self-supporting occupation was that of school teacher, in which he con- tinued for two years. He then entered the office of the New Bloomfield Freeman, later. merged with the Advocate, where he learned the trade of printer. In 1875 he came to Altoona, securing employment as a job printer in the office of the Daily. Trib- une, with which. paper he remained until January, 1876. He then obtained a posi- tion in the Altoona offices of the Pennsyl- vania Railroad Company, as clerk under the late B. F. Custer, who was then chief motive power clerk. On September 11, 1880,- Mr. Witherow was transferred as clerk to the Altoona shops, and on July 1, 1883, he was promoted to the position of assistant motive power clerk. This he held until October 1, 1892, when he became chief motive power clerk, which position he retained up to the time of his death, which took place October 2, 1907. Though Mr. Witherow gave his full at- tention to the duties connected with the railroad company, he found time to take part in various other activities, and was one of Altoona’s prominent citizens, both in business and social life. He was partic- ularly well informed in matters of invest- ment, was one of the pioneers in the build- ing association field, and was secretary for many years of the Blair County and Vigi- land Building and Loan Association. In 1885 he was elected by a big majority, on the Democratic ticket, to the office of city HISTORY OF BLAIR COUNTY controller, being the first Democrat ever elected to that office, in which he served the full term, and which was the only public office he ever sought. He took an active interest, however, in matters connected with the success of his party, to which on various occasions he rendered effi- cient service. He was still more deeply interested in matters concerning the gen- eral welfare of the city and often lent a helping hand in plans for advancing its prosperity, his. assistance contributing largely to the results obtained. Among his other business activities he served as a di- rector of the Fairview Cemetery Associa- tion. ie Mr. Witherow was a Mason in high standing, being a member of Mountain Lodge, No. 281, F. & A. M., of which he was Past Commander and was treasurer at the time of his death; Mountain Chap- ter, No. 189, R. A. M.; Mountain Council, No. 9, R. & S. M.; Mountain Commandery, No. 10, K. T.; also the Consistory at Pitts- burg and Jaffa Temple. He was also a charter member of Altoona Lodge of Hep- tasophs, No. 132. With his family he was a member of the Presbyterian church and at one time served as superintendent of the Sunday school, besides being a trustee of the church. Notwithstanding his varied activities and his influential position in the city of his adoption, Mr. Witherow, like most truly strong natures, was a man of modest and unassuming manners, ‘always approachable, and intensely human in his sympathies, and these qualities gained for him a legion of friends, who will long hold him in affectionate remembrance. His surviving brothers and sisters are: Sam- uel S., a resident of New Bloomfield, Pa.; John N., of McVeytown; Mrs. Rebecca Dern, of Altoona; Mrs. Clara Klinepeter, of New Bloomfield, and Mrs. Alice V. Strouse, of Mexico, Pa. Mr. Witherow’s funeral services, held on October 4, 1907, were in charge of the Mountain Lodge of Masons, and his remains were interred in AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS the private cemetery known as Fairview, to which reference has already been made. Mr. Witherow was united in marriage to Miss Anna J. Clark, a daughter of the late John Clark, the well known banker of Al- toona, and a granddaughter of John and Eliza (Thompson) Clark. Her paternal great-grandfather, James Clark, fought for American independence in the Revolution- ary War, and was wounded at the battle of -the Brandywine, September 11, 1777. Mrs. . Witherow’s grandfather, John Clark, was born in Huntingdon County, Pa., in 1789. At one time he operated a tan- nery at Birmingham, Pa., but later retired and died on his farm in Morris Township, at the age of seventy-four years. He was twice married; first to Catherine Whitzel, who. died early. His second union was with Eliza Thompson, a native of Spruce Creek Township, where her father had been an early settler. Her death occurred in 1866, and she. had attained the age of sixty-six years. - John Clark, second of the name and Mrs. Witherow’ s father, was born in Canoe Val- ley, Catharine ‘Township, Blair County, Pa., December 13, 1833. He was educated at Williamsburg Academy, and until 1873 was engaged in stock raising and agriculture on the home farm. He then became cashier of the Williamsburg bank, which was or- ganized at that time, and his subsequent career was one of importance to the com- munity. He made a very popular official and for many years was a prominent factor in the development of the financial inter- ests of the county. He was a large land owner, having much valuable property at Williamsburg, besides ore and coal prop- erties and limestone quarries elsewhere in the county, and a fine farm of 250 acres. Mr. Clark was married, May 27, 1858, to Miss Mary J. Sisler, who died May 6, 1873. Of this union there were six children born, namely: Edgar Thompson, who married Lucretia Moore, of Scotch Valley; Anna Tes who is the widow of the subject of this 495 sketch; John Grier; Charles H., Dean, and Ida. The last mentioned is the widow of Clarence C. Clemson, who was a prominent business man of Pittsburg, where she now resides. 1 Mr. Clark was a Republican primarily, and at various times was called upon to serve in offices of public trust, in which he invariably acquitted himself with credit, justifying the confidence of his fellow cit- izens in his integrity and ability. Subse- quent to 1880 he espoused the cause of Prohibition, to which he devoted his best efforts, and although he was not privileged to witness the general success of his party, for which he hoped, he was able to note much progress to that end, to which he him- self contributed not a little. Few citizens of Blair County were more conscientious in.the performance of public and private. duties and few, if any, were more highly es- teemed. The death of Mr. Clark took place on January 21, 1904, in Altoona,. and struck a chord of sorrow in the hearts of all those in the community who knew him ‘for what he was. The children born of the marriage of Charles T. Witherow and Anna J. Clark were: Mary, who married George B. New- bold of a prominent Pittsburg family, and resides in Louisville, Ky., and Kenneth C., who is a student in the Altoona high school and lives with his mother. Mrs. Witherow resides in an elegant mansion at No. 1014 Lexington Avenue. She is a prominent figure in the best Altoona society, and it would be hard to find a worthy local cause that has not benefited by her aid and in- fluence. JOHN S. BONEBREAK, M. D., physi- cian and surgeon at Martinsburg, Pa., where he has been established since 1896 and is in the enjoyment of a satisfactory practice, is a native of this borough, born April 19, 1872. His parents were Dr. D. W. and Mary (Shubert) Bonebreak. The late Dr. D. W. Bonebreak was a member of one 496 of the early families of Martinsburg and for years a prominent physician here, entering into practice in 1864 and continu- ing up to the time of his death, in 1895. He was held in high esteem by his fellow cit- izens and was known professionally all over Blair County. John S. Bonebreak was reared at Mar- tinsburg and attended the public schools and also Juniata Institute, after which he prepared for a medical career under his father, following his studies there by a sea- son in the medical department of the West- ern University of Pennsylvania, at Pitts- burg, where he was graduated in 18096. Shortly afterward he entered into practice at Martinsburg and has continued in his native place, one where the name he-bears has long been held in esteem, and to which he has added professional luster. He is a member of the Blair County Medical So- ciety, the Pennsylvania State Medical So- ciety and the American Medical Associa- tion. ’ Dr. Bonebreak was married to Miss Cath- erine Keim, a daughter of Nelson Keim, of Martinsburg, and they have three children: Tohn K., Glenn and Kenneth, while one, Paul, is deceased. Dr. and Mrs. Bonebreak are members of the Reformed church. He is identified fraternally with Roaring Spring Lodge of Odd Fellows, at Martinsburg and with the Masonic lodge at Roaring Spring. MICHAEL LEBERFINGER, residing on a farm 160 acres in Frankstown Town- ship, was born in Germany in 1873, and is a son of Andrew and Frances Leberfinger. Andrew and Frances Leberfinger have al- ways resided in their native country, and are the parents of the following children: Frances, who is married, is a resident of Germany; Mary, who is the wife of Mi- chael Stinglhammer of Altoona, Pa.; Mag- dalena, who is married, lives in the native country; Caroline, who also lives in Ger- many; and Joseph, who was a resident of America for three years, returning home HISTORY OF BLAIR COUNTY on a visit and was captured by the German authorities and according to German law, was forced to enter the German army for a certain time. Michael Leberfinger was reared in his native country and there obtained his edu- cation. When he first came to the United States he located at Altoona, Pa., where he worked in various factories until 1907, when he purchased his farm of 160 acres in Frankstown Township from Blair J. Bougs- lough, and has since carried on farming in a general way. : In November, 1889, Mr. Leberfinger was joined in marriage with Miss Grace Cellner, who is a daughter of Godfrey and Mary Cellner. Her parents were natives of Ger- many, and the father, who was a laborer, died at Altoona, in 1906. They were the parents of the following children: Frances, wife of Louis Augustine; Theresa; and Minnie, wife of Richard Bender. Mr. and’ Mrs. Leberfinger have had the following chil- dren: Frank, Michael, Mary, Godfried, Jo- seph and Andrew. Mr. Leberfinger is politically a Republican. With his family he belongs to the German Catholic Church of Hollidaysburg. He is a member of the Knights of St. George, and of the Bavarian Benefit Society of Altoona. MARTIN L. EMFIELD, who is owner, with his brother Emanuel, of the Logan Mills, in Logan Township, Blair County, Pa., was born December 26, 1861, near his present place, and is a son of John and Mary (Cree) Emfield. John Emfield came to Blair County with his brother, Peter Emfield, who was a car- penter by trade, and built many of the barns and some of the houses through this sec- tion of the county. John was a miller by trade and after locating here engaged in farming and milling, and subsequently pur- chased a place near Hillside, and there op- erated the Pottsgrove Mill for some time. He died here in 1886 and was buried at the Antis Cemetery, as was his wife, who died ELLIOTT H. BRUA MILL, FRANKSTOWN TOWNSHIP fa | Pl ee” RESIDENCE OF JOHN KAZMAIER, ALTOONA AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS in 1888. Six children were born to John and Mary Emfield: David, who is a resi- dent of Roanoke, Va.; Jennie, who is the wife of D. P. Funk, of Juniata; Julia, who is the widow of J. T. Wilt, of Juniata; Emanuel; Elizabeth, who is the widow of L. C. Hagerty of Juniata; and Martin L. Martin L. Emfield was reared and edu- cated in Blair County, and has been em- ployed at various trades in different parts of the country. He was engaged in the bar- ber business at Juniata for seventeen years, and in 1905 he and his brother Emanuel purchased the Coleman Mill, and changed its name to the Logan Mills. The mill is run by water and gasoline power, and feed, buckwheat and cornmeal are ground. It was established in the early fifties by James Coleman, being previously known for many years as the Coleman Mills. It was later conducted successively by G. A. Gardner, a man named Turner, a Mr. Chambers, and a Mr. Forney, the last named operating it previous to its purchase by our subject. Martin L. Emfield was married May 31, 1898, to Miss Lillian Johnston, who was a native of Clinton County, and a daughter of Robert Johnston, and she comes of one of the old established families of Clinton County. In politics Mr. Emfield is a Re- publican, and he is affiliated with the I. O. O. F. at Juniata. JOHN A. SHULTZ, manager of one of Roaring Spring’s important industries, The Planing Mill Company, contractors and builders, manufacturers of lumber and mill work, coal, builders’ supplies, hardware and plumbing, has filled this responsible position since 1906 and is an experienced man in this line. He was born in Huntingdon County, Pa., February 20, 1859, and is a son of Benjamin F, Shultz. His parents were natives also of Huntingdon County and both are deceased. John A. Shultz grew to manhood in his native place and there attended school and remained on the home farm until he reached 497 his majority. In the following year. he started to learn the carpenter trade at. Mar- tinsburg, having some mechanical ability, and served through an aprenticeship of three years. Later, after a full measure of experience, he began building and contract- ing for himself at Martinsburg and con- tinued in business there for twenty years. His high standing as a business man, in large measure, was the reason of his being called to Roaring Spring to become man- ager of this planing mill plant and he has justified all expectations. The Planing Mill Company is comprised of the following men of capital: D. M. Bare, Dr. A. L. Garver and Lewis F. Garber, it being a Roaring Spring enterprise entirely. It is numbered with the most prosperous industries of its kind in Blair County. Mr. Shultz has charge of thirty employes. He has always been an interested citizen wherever he has lived and has been recognized as such. For three years he was a member of the Mar- tinsburg city council and for six years a member of the school board there. His’ political affiliation is with the Republican party. s Mr. Shultz was married to Miss Annie Wolf- kill, who was born in Huntingdon County, Pa., a daughter of the late Henry Wolfkill. They have two daughters: Ellen E. and Laura M., the latter of whom is the wife of M. R. Keagy, of Roaring Spring. Mr. Shultz and family are members of the Church of God, in which he is a deacon. He is an enterpris- ing and successful man and is one who has made his own way in the world, setting an example of industry and perseverance that might be profitably followed by those find- ing themselves in the same circumstances in their youth. JOHN HENRY SHOEMAKER, pro- prietor of Hotel Franklin, is one of the en- terprising business men of Gaysport, Pa., and was born October 7, 1874, at Hollidays- burg, Pa., and is a son of Simon and Bar- bara (Webb) Shoemaker. 498 Andrew Shoemaker, grandfather of our subject, was a native of Germany and one of the pioneer settlers of Blair County, having worked here on the canal previous to the advent of the railroad in this section of the country. Andrew Shoemaker died on his farm in Allegheny Township, Blair County, Pa., at the advanced age of eighty-six years, and was the father of four children: Simon, John, Joseph and Andrew.. Simon Shoemaker was born and reared in Hollidaysburg, Pa., and for thirty years ran a dairy wagon to that borough, but is now living in retirement on his farm near De- light Park. Mr. Shoemaker is now sixty- one years of age, is politically a Republican, and is now serving his second term as direc- tor of the Poor. He is fraternally a mem- ber of the B. P.O. E. Mr. Shoemaker mar- ried Barbara Webb, who was born in Ches- ter County, Pa., and to them were born the following children:: William, who is de- ceased; John Henry; Mamie, who married Benjamin C. Wilt; Stella, who is the wife of William Mallagan; and Joseph, Jesse, and Charles. John Henry Shoemaker was reared to man’s estate at Hollidaysburg and was edu- cated in the Catholic schools of that bor- ough. He subsequently ran a dairy wagon to Altoona, Pa., for about eight years, then sold his route to Charles Kepple, and pur- chased his present hotel in Gaysport from George Strout. The Hotel Franklin is a brick building, containing fourteen bed- rooms, and is one of the leading $1.00 and $1.50 per day houses of this borough. Mr. Shoemaker was married April 28, 1895, to Fannie McGuire, a daughter of Patrick and Frances (Fagan) McGuire, and of their union two children have been born: Alma, and Margaret. The family holds member- ship with St. Michael’s Catholic Church. Mr. Shoemaker is politically identified with the Republican party. HON. D. M. BARE, president of the Roar- ing Spring Bank, at Roaring Spring, Pa., and HISTORY OF BLAIR COUNTY practically the founder of the many industries which make this a busy, prosperous modern town, is well known in a business way all over Pennsylvania and in his own community is justly considered in the light of a benefactor. He was born in Sinking Spring Valley, Blair County, Pa., October 24, 1834, and is a son of Daniel and Elizabeth (Mathias) Bare. Daniel Bare was born in York County, Pa., after the family had moved there from Lan- caster County, where his father, John Bare, had been born. Daniel Bare was the ninth child born in a family of eleven children. He fol- lowed agricultural pursuits through life. D. M. Bare grew up on his father’s farm in Morrison’s Cove, Pa., remained at home until he was twenty-four years old and then went to Loysburg, in Bedford County, where he en- gaged in a mercantile and flour mill business for several years and then came to Roaring Spring. Here he continued the same activities for a time and still is a member of the D. M. Bare & Co., mercantile firm of this place. As early as 1866 he became one of the partners in a paper manufacturing enterprise at Roaring Spring, the original style being Eby, Morrison & Co. Later it was merged into Morrison, Bare & Cass and under this name paper man- ufacturing was carried on until 1886. In 1880 the firm built a paper mill at Tyrone, Pa., of which John S. Morrison became manager, while Mr. Bare assumed the management of the mill at Roaring Spring. In 1886 a division was made and Mr. Morrison and Mr. Cass be- came owners of the Tyrone mill and Mr. Bare the owner of the Roaring Spring mill, the orig- inal property, and continued the manager of this plant until 1899, when E. G. Bobb became active manager and has continued in this posi- tion. The business was incorporated in 1907 as the D. M. Bare Paper Company, its present style, as mentioned. The D. M. Bare Paper Company have a daily capacity of between twenty-five and thirty tons at their mill. They manufacture super-calendered and machine fin- ish book papers, lithograph, mimeograph and white flats, and employment is afforded over 200 people. Mr. Bare has many additional HON. D. M. BARE AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS interests, included in these is the Roaring Spring Planing Mill Company. He was one of the founders of the Roaring Spring Bank, established in 1902, of which he is president, and about 1888 was one of the four founders of the Roaring Spring Blank Book Company, his partners being: D. R. Wike, A. L. Garver and E.G. Bobb. This is a very large business, 200 people being employed, and trade connec- tions being maintained all over the United States. Unusually active in business affairs, Mr. Bare had no particular training in this line, his only educational advantages being those se- cured in the district schools of Bedford County, after which he taught school for several terms. He has been sincerely interested in the progress and development of Roaring Spring, where his investments are so heavy and where his most cherished friends live. His many public spir- ited efforts have been appreciated and he is held in the highest esteem by his fellow citizens. His business interests have been so absorbing that little time has been left for performing public duties, but for several years he consented to serve as burgess of the borough. Mr. Bare married Miss Sarah Eby, who was born in ‘Huntingdon County, Pa., and they have four children, namely: Clara S., who is the wife of E. G. Bobb, of Roaring Spring; Ella, who is the wife of Dr. A. L. Garver, of Roaring Spring; Anna, who is the wife of Dr. W. M. Eldon, of Roaring Spring; and Ina, who died in infancy. Mr. Bare is a member of the Church of God and is one of the board of elders. AUGUSTUS V. DIVELY, a leading member of the Altoona bar and the senior in the prominent law firm of Dively & Dively, was born in Greenfield Township, Blair County, Pa., June 17, 1848, and is a son of Michael and Elizabeth (Fickes) Dively. The Dively family is one of the very old ones of Central Pennsylvania and the grand- father gained distinction in the Revolution-. ary War. After its close he settled in York County, Pa., and in 1783 moved to Green. 501 field Township, Blair County, and the land he there acquired has remained a possession of his descendants ever since. On that land, Michael Dively, father of Augustus V., was born in 1800, and lived there until his death in 1870. He married Elizabeth Fickes, a daughter of Valentine Fickes, who belonged to an old family of Bedford County. Augustus V. Dively enjoyed many advan- tages in his pursuit of an education, attend- ing both the Juniata Collegiate Institute and the Michigan State University. He pre- pared for the law under Attorney Essington Hammond of Blair County, and then took a law course at Ann Arbor, Mich., gaining his admission to the bar in April, 1873. He be- came a partner in law practice with S. M. Woodcock at Altoona, later was with James Flannigan and still later was asociated with J. S. Leisenring. Subsequently he asso- ciated his son, Edwin L. Dively, with him, and since then the style has been Dively & Dively, while the combination of years of experience with youthful energy brought to the bar of Blair County a firm that has been strong and succesful before the courts, prac- ticing in all the. courts of the state and en- joying high standing with both bench and bar. On May 16, 1870, Augustus V. Dively was married to Miss Mary E. Shoenfelt, whose father was Henry Shoenfelt, a resi- dent of Sharpsburg. Of their four children, two survive. The family residence is situ- ated at No. 1324 Twelfth Avenue, Altoona. Occasionally Mr. Dively has been identi- fied with successful business enterprises at Altoona and for years he has been more or less active in public affairs. In his political affiliation he is a Democrat. With his fam- ily he belongs to the Reformed church, in which he has served as a deacon. Edwin L. Dively, the junior member of the law firm of Dively & Dively, at Altoona, is a graduate of the Dickinson Law School, and he has been admitted to the bars of 502 both Cumberland and Blair Counties. He married Miss Ray Chanes. JOHN D. HAGEY, one of the enterpris- ing and public spirited young business men of Martinsburg, Pa., is a member of the milling firm of Hagey Bros., manufacturers of Ivory White flour, also feed, and dealers in all kinds of grain, with mill situated at Martinsburg. John D. Hagey was born here, August 29, 1880, and is a son of George W. and Maggie (Clapper) Hagey. George W. Hagey was born in Blair County, Pa., his father, David Hagey, hav- ing been an early settler at Martinsburg. For many years prior to his death, in 1899, George W. Hagey was proprietor of the well known old Hagey House, now the Royal Hotel, at Martinsburg, and in 1890 he purchased the mill which is now operated by his sons. In politics he held independent views. He was a consistent member of the ‘Lutheran church, and throughout life was a man worthy of the confidence and esteem in which he was held by all who knew him. In early manhood he married Maggie Clapper, who survives. She also was born in Blair County, a daughter of John H. Clapper, a resident of Clappertown, in Huston Town- ship, which village was named in honor of her father. John D. Hagey obtained a public sshool education at Martinsburg and for a short time was a student of dentistry in the Uni- versity of Pennsylvania, but the death of his father recalled him home. For three years afterward he conducted the Hagey House and in 1905, in partnership with a brother, entered into the milling business under the firm style of Hagey Bros. This mill is one of the pioneer mills of the county, little of its original structure standing, however, for it has been continuously remodeled and re- built and at present is equipped with mod- ern machinery and the roller process that gives it its name of the Martinsburg Roller Mill. The capacity of the mill is fifty bar- rels of flour every twenty-four hours. Busi- HISTORY OF BLAIR COUNTY ness is excellent and future prospects all that could be desired. On February 5, 1905, Mr. Hagey was married to Miss Clare Keyler, a daughter of the late Thomas Keyler, formerly a resi- dent of Fredericksburg, in North Woodbury Township. In politics Mr. Hagey is a Re- publican. He is identified with Clover Lodge, Odd Fellows, at Cambridge, Pa., and with Woodbury Lodge F. & A. M., at Roaring Spring, Pa. WILLIAM W. BOUSLOUGH, one of the substantial farmers and a life-long resi- dent of Frankstown Township, Blair County, Pa., was born on his present farm December 25, 1866, and is a son of William and Anna (Fleck) Bouslough. His parents were both natives of Blair County, the father being of German descent, and a farmer by occupation. He spent his entire life in this county, was a Republican in poli- tics, and a member of the Lutheran church. He was twice married, his first wife being a Miss Young, by whom he had two children, one of whom died in infancy, and Blair Y., who is a resident of Altoona. His marriage with Anna Fleck resulted in the following issue: Mary, who is deceased, was the wife of Lorenzo D. Stewart; Harry F.; Sadie, who is the wife of Robert Hileman; Anna Margaret, who is the wife of Fletcher Hand; William W.; and Lydia, who died young. William W. Bouslough spent four months each year in the common schools of the township until eighteen years of age, and assisted his father on the farm during the summer months. He has made farming his life occupation, and has always lived on his present place, which he inherited from his father in 1904, although he has operated it for himself for the past twenty years. On November 26, 1891, Mr. Bouslough married Miss Ora H. Caldwell, who is a daughter of Sylvester and Carrie (Smith) Caldwell. The father is a native of Clarion County and the mother of Bedford County, but have resided in Blair County since the AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS close of the Civil war. They are the par- ents. of the following children: Ora H., wife of our subject; T. N. and Rhoda and Grace, both of whom died in infancy. Three children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Bouslough, namely: Anna C., Ralph W. S., and Nicholas Fleck, all residing at home. In politics Mr. Bouslough is identi- fied with the Republican party, and has served two terms as inspector of elections, and as road master one term. The family belongs to the Lutheran church. JOHN MILLER, an old soldier and a re- tired citizen residing on the Dry Gap Road, about a mile out of Altoona, was born Oc- tober 14, 1833, in Logan Township, where Fairview Cemetery is now located, and is a son of Peter and Margaret (Rice) Miller. He is a grandson of Jacob Miller, who came to America from Germany and bought land on which was built what became known as Millerstown, which is now included in the city of Altoona. Peter Miller, father of our subject, was born at Millerstown, Pa., and engaged in agricultural pursuits and ‘also worked as a forgeman and blacksmith. He lived at va- rious places in Blair County, but finally set- tled on a farm of 100 acres which he owned at Millerstown. He married Margaret Rice, who was born at Petersburg, and of their children, but four are living; Rachel, who is the widow of Jonathan Glunt; John, who is the subject of this sketch; Frank, who lives at Red Hill, Logan Township; and Gwin, who lives in Logantown. John Miller was a small child when his parents located at Tyrone. They moved then to Petersburg, later returned to Ty- rone, and afterwards lived in other parts of Blair County. From early life Mr. Miller engaged in farming and teaming, and hauled rock for the Pennsylvania Railroad. He went to [owa and worked on farms for some six years, when he yielded to his patriotic instincts by enlisting as a member of Co. K., 2oth. I, Vol. Inf. He was enrolled August 503 22, 1862, for three years, and saw much hard service throughout the West, and was dis- charged at Mobile, Ala., July 8, 1865. He served under Capt. H. B. Doolittle, for whom he entertained high regard, and among his treasured possessions is a photo- graph of the captain sent to him by the latter shortly after the war. Mr. Miller was fortu- nate enough to escape injury in battle, and after he was mustered out returned to Altoona, where for some years he engaged in teaming. He later located on the farm owned by John H. Hagerty, and still later farmed the Loudon place, after which he built his present house in Logan Township, where he bought one acre of land. Mr. Miller is a member of the G. A. R., Post No. 468, and in politics is identified with the Republican party. Mr. Miller was first married to Emma Morgan, who was a native of England, and of their union were born two sons and one daughter, namely: Wilford B., who works in Johnstown, Pa., and lives in Logan Township, married Ola Ickes, and has the | following children: Raymond, Barnes, Marian, Naomi, Russell, and Louis; Emory, who is deceased, married Ida Anderson, and they had four children, but two of whom are living—Downs and Margaret; and Minda May, who is the wife of James Brown, of Wilkesbarre, Pa., and they have six chil- dren, all living. Mr. Miller formed a second union with Ann Elizabeth (Irvin) Smith, who was the widow of William C. Smith. She is a daughter of John and Margaret (Metz) Irwin, the former a teamster and farmer by occupation, and was born in the vicinity of Wililamsburg, but later lived at Hollidaysburg and still later on the Wertz- berger farm, on Dry Gap Road, where her father carried on general farming. PROF. WILSON W. OSBORNE, who, for twenty-one years has been principal of the justly noted Jefferson School at Altoona, Pa., has practically devoted his whole life to educational work, and to him Altoona is much indebted, for he has set the highest 504 standards to which any of the schools of this city have attained and aroused a spirit of emulation which has been most beneficial. For fifty-six years he has been a teacher, and forty-six of these have been spent at Altoona. He was born in Fulton County, Pa., July 3, 1830, and is a son of David and Lillie (Stevens) Osborne. The Osborne family is of Scotch extrac- tion and many of Prof. Osborne’s fore- fathers followed agricultural pursuits, both father and grandfather having been success- ful tillers of the soil. Both of his parents are now deceased, having lived into honored old age. They set a Christian example, liv- ing consistently as members of the Method- ist Episcopal church, and they reared their children frugally and carefully, and when the time of necessity came sent two of their sons to do battle for the preservation of the Union. Wilson W. Osborne was reared in his na- tive county and his father’s calling was’ open to him, but one of his earliest ambitions was to cultivate a natural bright and receptive mind rather than his father’s broad acres. He was given educational advantages and in 1853 was graduated from Cassville Acad- emy, in Huntingdon County. Not only had the youth ambition to learn but also the de- sire and evident faculty to impart knowl- edge, and, in following the natural bent of his mind and inclination, Prof. Osborne has reached a point where he can look back with contentment and satisfaction, over a period of fifty-six years of purely educational ef- fort. He came to Altoona in 1863 and this city has remained his home, a place where he can feel assured that the friendliness he sees on every face is sincere, and that the hearty hand-clasp that greets him, in all probability, is from one of the army of stu- dents who, at one time or another, have profited either by his teaching or advice. Prof. Osborne was married in 1857, to Miss Catherine Bowles, who died April 22, 1891. She was a sister of Prof. James B. Bowles of Altoona. To this marriage the HISTORY OF BLAIR COUNTY following children were born: Woods, who died at the age of twenty-seven years; Craw- ford B.; Jennie, who became the wife of C. D. Jordan; and Bertha E., who married Theodore H. Griffin, As a man of scholarly attainments and a close student of human nature, Professor Osborne has naturally been interested in public affairs both in his city and in the great outside world, but no persuasion has ever succeeded in leading him to entertain any offer of political office. He is identified with various educational organizations and has kept thoroughly abreast of the times along this line. He was reared to believe in the principles of the Democratic party and has never seen any reason to change his sentiments from those cherished by his honored father. A. L. GARVER, M. D., one of Roaring Spring’s best known business men and sec- retary and treasurer of the Roaring Spring Blank Book Company, which was incorpor- ated in 1907, has been a resident of this borough since 1879. He was born in Hunt- ingdon County, Pa., in June, 1859, and is a son of Benjamin Garver, who was once a well known and highly respected resident of Huntingdon County. Dr. Garver is the youngest of a family of eleven children and he was given educa- tional advantages which included attend- ance at the Juniata College and was one of the early students there. He then engaged in teaching school, spending five consecu- tive winters in the school room, two of these in his native county and three in Blair County, and for one year was principal of the Roaring Spring High School. He had turned his attention in the meanwhile to the study of the science of medicine and in 1883 was graduated from Jefferson Medical Col- lege. He located at Roaring Spring and en- gaged in the practice of his profession at this place for four years, retiring then in order to give his whole time to promising business interests. He was one of the four AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS original founders of the Roaring Spring Blank Book Company, which was started in 1887, with fifty employes. Since 1891 he has been manager of the plant and now em- ployment is given to 230 people and the business is in a very prosperous condition. Dr. Garver is an able and shrewd business man, arid his undertakings usually prove successful. In addition to the concern men- tioned, he is identified with others. He is vice president of the First National Bank of Hollidaysburg, and some years since as- sisted in the reorganization which placed this financial institution on its present firm basis. He is a member of the D. M. Bare Paper Company and one of the board of di- rectors; is a member of the Planing Mill Company of Roaring Spring; and in the summer of 1909 assisted in the reorganiza- tion of the Nason Hospital at Roaring Spring. Dr. Garver is recognized as one of Blair County’s solid citizens. Dr. Garver married Miss Ella Bare, a daughter of D. M. Bare, a very prominent resident of Roaring Spring, and they have three children: Ivan E, Russell B. and Vera EF. Dr. and Mrs. Garver are members of the Methodist Episcopal church. For twenty-four consecutive years he has been a member of the school board, and has served as president, secretary and treasurer. Fra- ternally he is an Odd Fellow and a very active member of the order. He is identified with Model Lodge No. 856, of Roaring Spring, and for twenty-one years has been its treasurer and has filled other official po- sitions. WILLIAM McKILLIP, a representative business man of Hollidaysburg, Pa., con- ducting a large general store at No. 324 Al- legheny Street, came here and embarked in his present successful enterprise in May, 1891. He was born February 27, 1850, in the same log house on the old homestead farm situated in Frankstown Township, - Blair County, Pa., in which his father came 505 into the world and which was built by his grandfather, William McKillip. David McKillip, father of the present bearer of the name of William McKillip, was born in February, 1812, and died in Sep- tember, 1884. His father was William Mc- Killip, who came to Pennsylvania from Ire- land and entered the first of his land in Frankstown Township, Blair County, in 1792. To the original tract he kept adding until he had acquired considerable property, divided into two farms. He built first a cabin on the lower place and later, after the building of the first turnpike in the town- ship, a substantial log house took the place of the cabin, and still later a better house after the completion of the Philadelphia and Pittsburg turnpike road, and this, in turn, was supplanted by a commodious brick resi- dence put up by his grandson and namesake. Through inheritance and purchase, David McKillip came into possession of the home farm and passed his life there. He married Jane Elliott, who died in 1872, at the age of fifty-seven years. She was a daughter of George Elliott, one of the old residents of Frankstown Township. Seven children were born to this marriage, three of whom survived into mature years, and of these William is the only survivor. Ruth and Samuel Davis were the others and the for- mer was the wife of J. L. Moore of Altoona. William McKillip spent a busy and use- ful boyhood on the home farm and attended the district schools. He remained with his father until he was twenty-two years of age and then entered the employ of Wood, Mor- rell & Co., at Frankstown, Pa., as a clerk, and remained with that firm for six years, later being transferred to Henrietta, where they had a store. In the spring of 1891 he same to Hollidaysburg and embarked in a general mercantile business, putting in a fine stock of first class goods and establish- ing a high standard of excellence in the same, to which he has adhered ever since. Mr. McKillip still owns the old homestead of 144 acres, situated in Frankstown Town- 506 ship, and another farm of 145 acres. Heisa Republican and has been more or less active in politics ever since locating at Hollidays- burg, and at one time was elected burgess but subsequently resigned the office. On April 2, 1878, Mr. McKillip was mar- ried to Miss Mary E. Cunningham, a daugh- ter of the late George W. and Rebecca (Jones) Cunningham, and they have three children: Homer C., Rebecca M. and Blair L. Homer C. McKillip was educated at Juniata College and in a business school at Altoona, after which he learned the machin- ist trade with the McLanahan-Stone Ma- chine Company and is now employed in the air-brake department of the machine shops of the Pennsylvania Railroad Company at Altoona. He is now serving in his second year as tax collector, having been elected on the Republican. ticket. Rebecca M. is a highly cultured and thoroughly educated and accomplished lady. She graduated from the High School and later from the Williamsport Seminary, where she won a scholarship in the Woman’s College at Bal- timore, where she was subsequently gradu- ated. Miss McKillip is now serving as sec- retary of the Y. W. C. A. at Pittsburg. * Blair L. McKillip graduated from the Holly © High School and spent one year at the Will- iamsburg Seminary and four years at Syra- cuse University, at Syracuse, N. Y., where he was graduated in mechanical engineer- ing, and is now with the Westinghouse Company at Pittsburg. Mr. McKillip has been identified with the Odd Fellows, Lodge No. 119, since 1873; belongs to the K. G. E., at Martinsburg; to Juniata Lodge No. 282, F. & A. M., at Hol- lidaysburg; the Artisans and the Hepta- sophs, both at Hollidaysburg. With his family he belongs to the Presbyterian church. SAMUEL C. TUSSEY, a prominent and substantial citizen of Gaysport, Pa., where he has resided since 1884, has been resident of this county since 1867. He has been identified f HISTORY OF BLAIR COUNTY since coming here with the best interests of the borough, and still retains the ownership of his two valuable farms, aggregating 370 acres. He comes of an old Huntingdon County family, and was born in that county January 31, 1844, a son of Robert and Dorothy (Harnish) Tus- sey. Robert Tussey was born in Huntingdon County, Pa., a son of David Tussey, who, with brother, John Tussey, anda sister, came from Scotland and settled in Pennsylvania, dying at Sinking Valley. The family has been an agri- cultural one. Robert Tussey married Dorothy Harnish, of German extraction and born in Huntingdon County. Of their children two sons and four daughters survive, namely: Rob- ert J., residing at Alexander, Pa.; Lillian, a public school teacher at Altoona; Caroline, wife of George W. Moore, of Altoona; Susan, wife of William Irwin, of Philipsburg, Pa.; Laura, wife-of William Isett, of Philadelphia, and Samuel C. Samuel C. Tussey attended the district schools in Huntingdon county and grew to manhood there. He was twenty years of age when he enlisted for service in the Civil War, at Hollidaysburg, entering the 9th Pa. Cav., which became a part of the gallant Gen. Kil- patrick’s command, which was incorporated with Gen. Sherman’s army. Mr. Tussey par- ticipated in the march from Atlanta to the sea and took part in much of the military activity that marked the closing months of that great civil struggle. He was one of four troopers in Kilpatrick’s cavalry, who were designated to act as an escort to the officers who took part in the surrender of General Joseph E. Johnston, at Durham, N. C., on April 26. He was thus a witness at this historic event. He was hon- orably discharged at Lexington, North Caro- lina, and from there returned to Huntingdon County, where he resided until 1867, when he moved to the Loop, in Frankstown Township, Blair County. For seventeen years the family resided there and during that period, at various times Mr. Tussey served as a member of the school board and as assessor. Since coming to Gaysport, in 1884, he has been an equally use- SAMUEL C. TUSSEY AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS ful citizen and has served several terms as a member of the borough council. Politically he is a Republican. In Huntingdon County, January 18, 1866, Mr. Tussey was married to Miss Annie Hile- man, a native of that county, and a daughter of William and Barbara (Good) Hileman, the former of whom was born in Huntingdon County and the latter in what is now Blair County. The maternal grandfather, Peter Good, came here from Hagerstown, Md., and was of German descent. Mrs. Tussey has one surviving brother and one surviving sister: Harry Hileman, who resides at Roaring Springs, Pa., and Amanda, who is the wife of James Riddle of the same place. Mr. and Mrs. Tussey have had eleven chil- dren, eight of whom survive: Harry H., re- siding at Wayne, Pa.; Susan, living at Holli- daysburg; Robert Irvin, residing in Franks- town Township; Dorothea G., wife of Joseph J. Moore, of Blair Township; Bertha, wife of William Rob of Altoona; Jay C., a resident of Hollidaysburg; Samuel S. and Clara A., living at home at Gaysport. Mr. and Mrs. Tussey attend the Lutheran church at Hollidaysburg. They usually spend the winter seasons at Alva, Fla., where they have a southern home which has many pleasant features. AMOS O. TAYLOR, M. D., who has been actively engaged in the practice of medicine at Altoona, Pa., since 1895, is one of the leading physicians and prominent citizens of this borough. He was born in Westmoreland County, Pa., in 1852, and was there reared and obtained his early edu- cational training. His knowledge of the medical profession was obtained at the Hahnemann Medical College of Philadel- ° phia, from which institution he graduated with the class of 1883. He immediately thereafter embarked in the practice of medi- cine at Bedford, Pa., where he carried on an extensive practice until 1895, at which time he removed to Altoona, Pa., where he commands a large and lucrative patronage and enjoys the esteem and confidence of his 509 fellow citizens. He is a member of the County, State and American Medical Socie- ties, is a liberal contributor to the Medical Journal, and is a member of the medical staff of the Mercy Hospital. Dr. Taylor is a Knight Templar Mason and Shriner, and also holds membership with the Logan Lodge, Knights of Pythias, for which he is examining physician. In 1882 Dr. Taylor was united in marriage with Margaret Paul of Westmoreland County, Pa., and of their union have been born the following children: Susan O.; Agnes; James S., of Princeton University, who is now attending medical lectures at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia; and S. Paul, who attends the Altoona High School. The family holds membership with the First Presbyterian Church. LEVI H. BRUMBAUGH, whose well improved farm of 110 acres lies in North Woodbury Township, Blair County, Pa., is a prominent resident of this section and is a member of one of the old township families. He was born in this township, in November, 1858, and is a son of Samuel and Elizabeth (Hoover) Brumbaugh, and a grandson of Rev. George Brumbaugh, at one time a prominent minister in the Dunkard Church, Both parents of Mr. Brumbaugh are de- ceased, his father passing away when he was a boy. Levi H. Brumbaugh has practically spent all his life in his native township. Farming and its kindred industries have interested’ - him, and his own property.he has improved with attractive buildings and has placed it under so high a state of cultivation that it 1s probably valued as high as any land in the township. — Mr. Brumbaugh was married in August, 1881, to Miss Fannie Rhodes, a daughter of the late Daniel G. Rhodes, and a sister of S. S. Rhodes, a prominent resident of Curry- ville. Mr. and Mrs. Brumbaugh have two daughters, A. Grace and Ada C., both of whom are highly educated young ladies and 510 successful teachers. Mr. Brumbaugh and family are members of the Church of the Brethren, Clover Creek congregation, of which he is treasurer. The Hoover family, to which the mother of Mr. Brumbaugh belonged, is a numerous one in Pennsylvania, and it is also a repre- sentative one in regard to thrift and general worth. The maternal grandfather of Mr. Brumbaugh was Jacob P. Hoover, who was once a prominent man in North Woodbury Township, a deacon in the Dunkard church and one whose judgment was frequently consulted as he was considered a very able business man. The grandfathers on both sides have long since passed from earth, but their influence is still felt in the results that followed their worthy and virtuous lives. JOHN J. CANAN, deceased, for many years was a leading business man at Altoona and had additional interests at other points. He was born in Huntingdon County, Pa., in 1813, where his grandfather had first settled in 1760, and was a son of Major Moses and Mary (Henderson) Canan, and a grandson of Col. John Canan, the founder of the family in America. Col. John Canan was born in North Ireland and in his vigorous young manhood came to America, where, a few years later he joined the colonists in their struggle for independence. His valor won him the rank of colonel and his memory is preserved in the annals of the State of Pennsylvania because he also became a man of distinction aside from his military prowess. He was early interested in iron and coal lands and is credited with building the first furnace ever erected in Blair County. From 1787 until 1788, he served as a member of the Supreme Executive Council of Penn- sylvania, from Huntingdon County; in 1791 served as associate judge; in 1791 and 1792 represented his county in the General Assembly, and in 1794 was elected state senator as a representative of Huntingdon and Bedford Counties. Despite his many public responsi- HISTORY OF BLAIR COUNTY bilities and business cares, he survived into his ninetieth year. Major Moses Canan, father of the late John J. Canan, was also a distinguished man in his native state. He served as an officer in the War of 1812 and later became one of the leading lawyers of Cambria County and served one term as associate judge. He married Mary Henderson and they both died about 1863. She was a daughter of Major William Hen- derson, who was an officer in the Revolutionary War and was taken prisoner by the British in the Battle of Long Island. John J. Canan accompanied his parents to Ebensburg, Cambria County, in 1831. He had literary tastes and talents and started a news- paper which he conducted at Ebensburg and later at Johnstown. In 1846 he removed to Hollidaysburg, Blair County, where he was in- terested in the business of freight handling until 1858, when he started the lime business, one that proved very profitable and through his energy and enterprise was extensively de- veloped. In this business he was associated for a number of years with his son, John A. Canan, who is now manager of the Canan- Knox Supply Company of Altoona, successors to John A. Canan & Co. This company are dealers in terra cotta drain pipe, flue pipe, chim- ney tops, American and foreign cements, lime, sand, brick, paving brick, plaster, mortar colors, hair, lath, fire brick, and fire clay, etc., doing a business at Altoona that reaches yearly into thousands of dollars. John J. Canan mar- ried Margaret Davis, who was born in Wales, and they reared what is one of the representa- tive families of Blair County. They were members of the First Presbyterian Church at Altoona. HENRY D. KENSINGER, president of the Farmers’ Reunion Association, a strong and influential agricultural body made up of the leading men of Blair County, Pa., is one of the prominent and substantial men of North Woodbury Township and resides there on his well improved farm of 100 acres. Mr. Ken- singer was born in North Woodbury Town- AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS ship, November 17, 1846, and is a son of John B. and Hannah (Dougherty) Kensinger. John B. Kensinger and wife were both born in North Woodbury Township where their fathers, John Kensinger and James Dougherty, had settled in early times. John B. Kensinger was a successful farmer and a representative citizen and served many years as a member of the township school board. His death oc- curred in May, 1896. Two of his children survive: Henry D.-and Elizabeth, both of whom are residents of their native township. Henry D. Kensinger attended the public schools in the neighborhood of his father’s farm as he was growing to manhood and has always been a warm friend of these. He has served many years as a school director and has favored many improvements in- North Woodbury Township. His business has been farming and stock raising and both of these industries have been carried on with good re- sults. In addition to serving fourteen years on the school board, Mr. Kensinger has served as district superintendent of schools, as judge of elections and as clerk of the board. Some years ago his Democratic friends brought him forward for the office of county commissioner, his natural qualifications for offices of respon- sibility being unquestioned. Mr. Kensinger married Miss Caroline B. Hoover, who was born in Blair County, a daughter of David Hoover, who then resided near Henrietta, Pa. Four children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Kensinger, namely: Mahlon H., of North Woodbury Township; John H., of Martinsburg; and Mary E. and Hannah J., both residing at home. JOHN G. SELLERS, proprietor of one of the leading meat markets in Hollidaysburg, Pa., is also the owner of two other markets, one at Gaysport, Pa., and the other at Altoona, Pa., and he is also the owner of seven resi- dences in this borough. He was born January 10, 1865, at Hollidaysburg, Pa., and is a son of David M. and Rebecca R. (Martin) Sellers, both deceased. : 511 John G. Sellers was reared and educated in Hollidaysburg, and during his early manhood worked on the railroad about four years, and subsequently spent four years in the employ of H. L. Bunker, who operated a meat market at Hollidaysburg. In 1889 he opened his market which is located on the diamond, in Hollidaysburg, of which his son, Edgar Sellers, has practically entire charge, and in 1898 he established a market in the Shoemaker building at Gaysport, Pa. The latter market is man- aged by his brother, William Sellers. His shop on Sixteenth Street, Altoona, was pur- chased in September, 1910, from J. A. Jones, and is under the management of his son, Harry B. Sellers. Mr. Sellers devotes the greater part of his time to buying and dresses all of his own meat, and the slaughter house, which is located on Juniata Street, is said by the state inspector, to be the finest in Pennsylvania, the interior being of concrete, with cement blocks, slate roof, and is fire proof. Mr. Sellers is politically a Republican, and is now serving his second term as a member of the borough council. He is fraternally a member of the Masonic order, the I. O. O. F., the Artisans, and the Woodmen, all of Holli- daysburg. He is a member and trustee of the M. E. Church, and has been superintendent of the Sunday School for fourteen years. He is a stockholder in both banks of this borough, and is auditor of the County Capital Building Association. He resides with his family at No. 804 Juniata Street. On February 18, 1885, Mr. Sellers was united in marriage with Miss Virginia Hughes, a daughter of Stephen Hughes, deceased, and of their union were born the following children: Harvey B., Edgar,’ Earl, and Helen. W. B. MANLEY, a well known and able practitioner of law, has been a resident of Altoona, Pa., since 1892, and was born in Antis Township, Blair County, Pa., in 1872, a son of David and Mary A. Manley, both liv- ing, and a grandson of George Manley, who was among the pioneers of this county. 512 David Manley is one of the prominent farmers and leading citizens of Antis Town- ship, Blair County, Pa., where he was born in 1828, and he has resided on his present farm for the past eighty years. He served with credit in the Civil War, first in the heavy artillery and later in Co. D. 188th Pa. Vol. Inf., and is one of the party of three or four men who organized the Republican party in Antis Township. He has always taken an active interest in affairs which pertain to the welfare of the township, and served for twenty- one years as a member of the school board. W. B. Manley was reared in Antis Town- ship, where he attended the local schools, and after teaching for some years took up the study of law in the office of William S. Ham- mond, Esq., of Altoona. He was admitted to the bar May 8, 1895, since which time he has carried on a general practice in the various courts of the state, and in the Federal courts. Mr. Manley is a member of the Blair County Bar Association, and holds membership with several fraternal orders. He takes an active interest in local politics, and has served as a member of the city council; having been presi- dent of common council for a term. His re- ligious connection is with the Walnut Avenue Methodist Episcopal Church. In 1895 Mr. Manley was united in marriage with Miss Velma Gwin, a daughter of J. A. Gwin, of Antis Township, and of their union have been born two children: Vivian B. and John Harold, both now in the Central Grammar School of Altoona. M. ARISTIDE RODRIGUE M. D., de- ceased. When one of the old landmark home- steads of Hollidaysburg, Pa., shall have been transformed in the near future, and converted into a center of scientific medical research, with every modern equipment, including a complete medical reference library for physicians, a dis- pensary, a lecture room for charitable purposes and first aid to the wounded with a ladies’ auxiliary to the Red Cross in America, there will have been founded an enduring monument to one of Blair County’s most notable men, HISTORY OF BLAIR COUNTY which will be also a testimonial of his children’s love and devotion. In the Town where a dec- ade of his professional life was passed there still remain those who recall the rare qualities of Dr. Rodrigue both as man and physician, and those also who are familiar with many de- tails of his career as physician and friend of Prince and Priest Demetrius Gallitzen, he sus- taining these relations until the death of the latter in 1841. These also remember his career still later as peacemaker and co-worker with the chief executives of Kansas, in its stormy ante-bellum days, when as the Government ap- pointed president of the town of Lecompton, he ably fulfilled the arduous task, being prevented from the carrying out of admirable policies only by the cruel exigences of a great political upheaval. In Kansas he was a family friend and visitor of Mr. Alfred Boone, of Westport, Mo., direct descendant (grandson, or, I think, grandnephew) of Daniel Boone, the famous Kentucky pioneer, often driving from Lecomp- ton to Westport—a distance of fifty-three miles. Dr. Rodrigue was born August 24, 1810, at Philadelphia, Pa., and died in. Kansas, in the midst of his usefulness, 1857. His parents were Jaques Andre and Jeanne Francoise (D’Orlie) Rodrigue, who fled from France during the great French revolution, taking refuge in San Domingo. From this place an- other flight was necessary, owing to an insur- rection of the slaves, they escaping with their lives only through the faithfulness and devo- tion of five family servants. They finally reached Philadelphia, Pa., and there in peaceful days, their two sons and two daughters were born,—William, Aristide, Aline and Eveline. The subject of this sketch was educated in his native city of Philadelphia, and at an un- usually early age was graduated from the Phil- adelphia University, entering into the practice of medicine with an enthusiasm that never fal- tered and with the approbation of his instruct- ors, who were proud of his brilliant talents. In his search for a congenial field for profes- sional labor he found and selected Sunbury, Pa. and there on February 14th, 1835, he was mar- ried to Miss Anne Caroline Bellas, who was the M. ARISTIDE RODRIGUE, M. D. AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS cherished daughter of Hugh Bellas, of Sunbury and his wife, Esther Van Buskirk Anthony, her father at that time being a prominent at- torney-at-law at that place. This lady survived many sad experiences, including the death of husband, two sons and two daughters. She herself passed away at Woodbridge, N. J., in April, 1888. Her remains with those of her loved ones, rest in the family vault in Hazle- wood Cemetery, near Rahway, N. J. Dr. Rodrigue and wife were the parents of nine children,—namely : Andrew, Esther Aline, Hugh Bellas, Ann Caroline, Aristide, Adala Henrietta, Clara Virginia, Charles William, and Florence Victoire. The record of this family is, in brief, as follows: Andrew born December 22d, 1835, was graduated at Ford- ham College, N. Y. and was later admitted to the bar and appointed postmaster at Lecomp- ton, Kansas. While acting in that capacity he was assassinated, at the age of twenty-three years, within a few months after his father’s death. Esther Aline, born August 8th, 1837, was educated at Philadelphia and died in 1891, married Charles Mygatt—aifter his death of many years later married John K. Gilbert, Esq. who survives. Hugh Bellas was born September 17th, 1839. He served in the Civil War as a member of Company C (Flag or Color Co.) 47th Regi- ment, P. V. I. He is now a member of Post 3, G. A. R. of Pittsburg, Pa. married Eliza- beth Dougherty of that city, whose father was also a Veteran of the Civil War. Caroline, born July roth, 1841, with rare genius and energy assisted her father from early girlhood in Hollidaysburg and Lecomp- ton; also her mother and sisters at the outbreak of the Civil War, dying as a Sister of Mercy in Pittsburg, Pa., in 1882. Aristide, born January 18th, 1843, was a physician, a graduate of Georgetown Medical College. He died leaving (by wife Jennie) a daughter, Clara Florence, and a son, Aristide (third), who made his home with his paternal grandmother at her residence, “Bellasylva,” in Woodbridge, N. J. Familiarly known as “Harry” he was educated at Burlington, Ches- 515 ter Military Academy, and Stevens Institute. After the death of his father he married and resided in Washington, D.C. He was a Vol- unteer for the Spanish-American War and served in the Phillipines. Entering as a priv- ate Company C, 45th U. S. Vol. Inf., he later became Sergeant, in Company C, rst Regt., U. S. Engineers. Receiving an honorable dis- charge, he accepted service the following day as 2nd lieutenant of Company C, ist Regt. U. S. Engineers. He was mustered out and re- turned to the Pacific Coast disabled from the effects of a wound, and a victim of malarial and typhoid fevers, followed by tuberculosis, and subsequently died in New York, September 19th, 1910 at the age of forty-one years and eleven months, leaving a son, Aristide (fourth of the name in direct descent), who resides in Georgetown, D. C. Adala Henrietta, born August 24th, 1845, died in infancy at Ebensburg, Pa. Clara Vir- ginia, was born at Ebensburg, Pa., October 4th, 1847. Charles William, born in Hollidaysburg, Pa., December 2nd, 1849, died there in infancy, and was interred in the family vault at Ebens- burg, Pa. Florence Victoire, born in Hollidaysburg, Pa., January 25th, 1854, married Prof. Fitz- Gerald Tisdale of New York, December 23rd, 1885, and resides there. After his marriage Dr. Rodrigue lived suc- cessively at Sunbury, Pittsburg and Ebensburg prior to 1846, in which year he came to Hol- lidaysburg, Pa. Here from 1851 until 1856 he and his wife occupied what was known as the Williams homestead on Mulberry near Front Street. The ground was acquired in 1831 and later was built upon and owned by William Williams and three ladies of the name of Williams, who deeded it in turn to William Williams and his wife. This is: the property which Mrs. Ruthven one of the two surviving daughters of Dr. Rodrigue has purchased with the intention of converting it into a fit- ting memorial of her father. This lady who has traveled far and wide and enjoyed social distinction in many lands, has chosen in 516 preference to any other place, for this pur- pose, the old homestead which to her is hal- lowed gyound because of her revered father’s presence here during her infancy. Coming from her winter home in Florida after a journey round the world for her health in 1896, she took up her residence in this old homestead July 5th, igIo. Her subsequent purpose with respect to it is expressed in the following communication in answer to queries from friends and kindly pub- lished by the editors of the leading newspapers of Hollidaysburg and Altoona. Of the former town is a gentleman whose life I am told had been saved in infancy by Dr. Rodrigue and who on that account had been named for him by grateful parents. Mr. A. R. Traugh and is gratefully appreciated in his turn as a highly esteemed editor (of the Standard) and friend. “Here in Hollidaysburg nv father and mother came in their youth and devotion, living and suffering the usual vicissitudes of all who live and strive to build up this rare and generously endowed country; yet, in a great measure, struggling with the hardships of undevelopment. Unbroken roads, heavy snow drifts, mountains to circle or surmount, with or with- out food day and night, was the task in those days, 1840-46, for the physician, which, even tO a young man, was a menace to health and success. My father, then scarcely forty years of age, loved his profession and held it sacred, even above his life and family, if necessity called. That he held a deep and sincere place in the hearts and memories of his patients, we, who are left, rejoice to see testified how many have kept him in remembrance, for it was his joy and pleasure to give relief to poor and wealthy alike. Far and near, in remote places difficult to reach, no matter what the hour day or night, he was always willing and prompt to respond to the call of suffering. I am glad to find the old home still within the bounds of renovation, and purpose residing here, hoping my married sister and brother, the only remaining members of the family, may unite their homes with mine. HISTORY OF BLAIR COUNTY My intention is eventually to complete a medical library of reference for physicians, with a board of trustees, and who, together with others throughout the State, may meet here for consultation—a dispensary and also a ladies’ auxiliary to the Red Cross of America, a lecture room for charitable purposes, and first aid to the wounded.” This interesting pamph- let is dated August 31, 1910. The writer of the above, formerly Clara Vir- ginia Rodrigue, was married May 15, 1883, to James Alexander Ruthven, a resident of New York, where he died November 22, 1889. He was a son of James Ruthven and wife who resided forty-four (44) years in West 23d Street. He was a graduate of Col- umbia College and the Yale Law School, and occupied a prominent professional and social position in New York. A daughter by a pre- vious marriage survives Mr. Ruthven, making her home in England with her two sons. Be- fore leaving Hollidaysburg for Kansas, Dr. Rodrigue had been one of the founders of the Blair County Medical Society and its first vice- president. Peculiar conditions existed in Kansas in 1856, but it was as a man of civilization and of peace that Dr. Rodrigue went there for his recovery of health. How desirable it would have been could he have lived to a serene old age, but for many years afterward neither safety nor serenity was assured there to any public man. Mrs. Ruthven in recalling her family’s his- tory, remarks that three members of her father’s family died between the ages of forty and forty-seven years, each one having known the horrors of war, either through active partic- ipation or in its effects. Her eldest brother, Andrew, while serving the government as post- master fell a victim to the factional disturb- ances at Lecompton, Kansas, two younger brothers served later in the Civil War and a nephew in the Spanish-American and Philip- pine Wars, as stated. THADDEUS C. LINGENFELTER, de- ceased, was formerly one of the best known AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS and most highly esteemed residents of Green- field Township, a member of a large and in- fluential family and a man of sterling character and excellent business qualifications. He was born in Greenfield Township, Blair County, Pa., August 15, 1848, and was a son of George and Barbara (Claar) Lingenfelter, and a grandson of Jacob Lingenfelter and Frederick Claar, early settlers. Of the family of eleven children born to his parents, Thaddeus C. is the only one deceased, his death taking place July 19, 1909. Thaddeus C. Lingenfelter grew to manhood in Greenfield Township and obtained his educa- tion in the district schools. He early engaged in farming and lumbering and when the Civil War broke out he enlisted and remained in the service for almost a year. His subsequent life was passed in Greenfield Township. He was a man of industry and business prudence and was able to leave a valuable farm of 116 acres to his widow and surviving children. On February 9, 1873, Mr. Lingenfelter was married to Miss Margaret Stine, who was born in Greenfield Township, Blair County, Pa., October 5, 1854, and is a daughter of David and Catherine (Dively) Stine. The Stines are of German extraction. David Stine was born in Blair County and enlisted as a soldier in the Union Army during the Civil War. He was captured by the Confederates and incar- cerated in Libby Prison, where he died from inhuman treatment. His widow still resides in Greenfield Township. To Mr. and Mrs. Lin- genfelter eleven children were born, and of these the following survive: Rachel E., who is the wife of George Carpenter, of Fulton County, Ill.; Effie, who is the wife of William Knisley, of Altoona, Pa.; Mollie E., who is the wife of Harry Black, of Greenfield Town- ship; Blaine L., who resides in Greenfield Township; Mazie M., who is the wife of Ed- ward Dibert, of Altoona; and Lucy B., Jennie F., John G. and Earlston W., all reside in Greenfield Township. Elsie and Lydia D. are deceased. In politics Mr. Lingenfelter was a Repub- lican. He was deeply interested in the public 517 schools and served for some time as school director. He was one of the most active mem- bers of the Odd Fellows Lodge at Claysburg. His friends were many in every walk of life and in his death his community lost a worthy citizen. His widow continues to carry on the farm industries with the assistance of her sons. She is a valued member of the Reformed Church at Claysburg. WALTER B. GLENN, owner and pro- prietor of the Leroy Hotel, a leading hostelry of Altoona, Pa., which is favorably located on Chestnut Avenue, opposite the post-office, is a well known business man of this city. Mr. Glenn was born at Altoona, September 27, 1874, and is a son of William H. and Naomi (Rickel) Glenn. William H. Glenn was a prominent citizen of Blair County for many years and was very active in the public affairs of Altoona. He served for nine years as county coroner, being elected on the Republican ticket. His death occurred November 28, 1904. He married Naomi Rickel, who survives, and they had two children: Walter B. and Harriet B., the latter of whom resides with her mother and conducts a millinery business. Walter B. Glenn attended the public schools until he was fourteen years of age, since then he has been entirely self supporting. Through enterprise and industry he established himself in the ice business at Altoona, in which he con- tinued until August 6, 1908, when he took charge of his hotel. He has an excellent loca- tion and as his house is comfortably equipped and the cuisine is of more than usual excellence, he is enjoying a large amount of patronage. On January 10, 1906, Mr. Glenn was mar- ried to Miss Elizabeth Jane Lee, a daughter of John Lee, of Pittsburg, who for twenty-three years had control of the restaurant in the Union Station at Pittsburg, Pa. Mrs. Glenn is a member of the Catholic Church. Politically Mr. Glenn is active in local affairs, giving sup- port to the Republican party. He is a mem- ber of Lodge No. 102, Elks, at Altoona. 518 PROF. DAVID S. KEITH, formerly super- intendent of the public schools of Altoona, Pa., was identified with the educational interests of Central Pennsylvania more or less throughout his entire active career, only retiring in 1905, having spent some forty-one years as a teacher. He was born at Woodbury, Bedford County, Pa., March 26, 1847, and is a son of John and Mary (Shiffler) Keith. Adam Keith, the great-grandfather, was a native of England. He was ai early settler in Huntingdon County, Pa., where he carried on farm pursuits and reared his family in Hope- well Township. John Keith, son of Adam, was born and reared in Hopewell Township and lived there until late in life when he moved to Wisconsin, where he died in 1858. He also was survived by descendants and one of his sons, John Keith the second, became the father of David S. Keith, of Altoona. This John Keith was born on the old homestead in Hunt- ingdon County and remained there until 1840, when he moved to Bedford County, this being seven years before the birth of his son, David S. During his earlier years he engaged in teach- ing but later became interested in agricultural pursuits and in 1871 located on a farm in Taylor Township, on which he died in 1874. He was a man of education and good judg- ment and at times held public offices. He mar- ried Mary Shiffler, a native of Blair County, who survived until 1889. They reared a family of six children. For many years they were active members of the Methodist Epis- copal church. David S. Keith enjoyed many educational advantages and in preparing for the career of an educator had the approval and support of his father, whose reputation in that line ex- tended over a wide territory. When sixteen years of age, Mr. Keith took charge of his first school, in the year previous having been a student in Juniata Academy, at Martinsburg. Men of Professor Keith’s quality of mind and ambition never “complete” their education— their outlook is too wide and their conception of human knowledge is too comprehensive. They recognize, however, and none better, the HISTORY OF BLAIR COUNTY value of training, and for many years Mr. Keith devoted a portion of his time to study in Normal schools, particularly the Normal School at Millersville, Pa. From the country schools of Huntingdon and Blair Counties, he was called to Indiana, Pa., to teach in the grammar school and he remained there until 1873, when he was appointed principal of the Altoona High School. Fourteen months later he was elected to succeed Prof. John Miller as superintendent of the whole school system -of Altoona, and in accepting that important office, Professor Keith became a leading factor in the advancement of education in this section. For thirty-one years he remained superin- tendent and no student of educational affairs in this city can be ignorant of the great advance made during those years. He came to this position not only thoroughly equipped as to education, but he was also a good organizer and was able to systematize the work and thereby gain the highest efficiency. In his views on public questions, Professor Keith has always been liberal and broad: minded, and, while never seeking political favors for himself, has given hearty support to measures and men promising good government and better civic conditions. He has never entertained many business propositions aside from his profession, but he is a member of the board of directors of the Union Bank of Altoona. On June 13, 1883, Professor Keith was married to Miss Margaret Crawford, a daughter of Armstrong Crawford, a resident of Tyrone, Blair County. They have two sons: Charles Russell and Ralph Crawford. He has long been an elder in the First Presbyterian Church of Altoona. To both the Masons and Odd Fellows he has given his fealty for years and has been active in these organizations in this city. He resides at No. 1004 Seventeenth Avenue, Altoona. THOMAS ALLEN COLEMAN, an ex- tensive fruit grower and highly esteemed citi- zen of Logan Township, Blair County, Pa., resides on a farm of 110 acres and is the owner of a large vineyard. He was born on his pres- AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS ent place May 28, 1858, a son of John and Isabel (Nelson) Coleman, and comes of one of the prominent and old families of the county. Thomas Coleman, great-grandfather of our subject, resided just beyond what is now the city limits of Altoona, Pa. He was probably a soldier in the war of the Revolution, and died here in 1837, having located here some years previous to his death. John Coleman, grandfather of Thomas A. Coleman, was born in Logan Township and was the owner of the farm now owned by the subject of this sketch. He married Betsy Shaw, and they reared the following children: Jane (Mrs. Smith), who lived in Logan Township; James, who was a resident of Logan Township; John F.; Eliza- beth (Mrs. Hagerty), who resided in Antis Township; Thomas, who lived on the old home place, which is now the Jaggard farm; and Francis, who died in early manhood. John Coleman was born on what is now the Jaggard farm in Logan Township, and always lived in this vicinity. He began housekeeping in the old log house and in about 1848 built a plank house, which was wonderfully con- structed and is still water tight. He resided in that house until about 1880, when he built a large brick house and continued his residence there until the time of his death, in 1903. He married Isabel Nelson, who was a native of Antis Township, and a daughter of James Nelson, and came of one of the old established families of this county. She died a few years before her husband, and of their union were born the following children: Martha J., who lives on the old place; James N., who resides in Colorado; Stephen, who died in 1872, in Kansas; William Z., who lives in Frankstown Township; Margaret E., who is the wife of J. B. Cox of Allegheny; David D., who lives in Juniata; Thomas Allen; Anna L., who is the wife of Harry Manley of Antis Town- ship; and Caroline, who died in infancy. The family were members of the old Lutheran church of Antis Township. Thomas Allen Coleman has always lived on his present farm except for a short time. 519 He has always followed farming and has made a specialty of fruit growing, raising peaches, apples, raspberries and grapes. He has the largest vineyard in this vicinity, having up- wards of 5,000 vines, mainly Concords and Wordens, and has about 1,000 peach trees. Mr. Coleman was married December 14, 1882, to Miss Henrietta Kopp, who is a native of Logan Township, and a daughter of Andrew Kopp, who is a resident of Fairview. Mr. and Mrs. Coleman began housekeeping in the old plank house and after his father’s death moved into the brick house. They are the parents of the following children: Charles T., who married Verda Bowman, and they have two children—Miles and James; Grace C., who is the wife of Frank Antes of Logan Town- ship; Martha K., deceased, who was the wife of Robert Shaw; Ernest, who died aged eleven months; John, who died in infancy; Edna; James; Isabel; Alfarata; Hetty, and Paul, who died aged eleven months. Mrs. Cole- man is a member of the Asbury Methodist Episcopal Church. Mr. Coleman is a Repub- lican in politics, and while not seeking political preferment, has served as auditor and is now supervisor of the township. He is identified with the I. O. R. M. and the Grange. GEORGE W. MOCK and J. E. HOOVER, proprietors of a large business enterprise at Roaring Spring, which has been carried on at this place for many years under the business style of the Bare Milling Company, are ex- perienced grain and flour men and representa- tive ciitzens and members of old families of this section. George W. Mock was born in Woodbury Township, Blair County, Pa., June 23, 1868, and is a son of the late Andrew Mock, who lived near Williamsburg, Pa. George W. Mock was educated in the public schools. Since 1899 he has been engaged in the milling business and for seven years he owned and operated a mill at Rodman, near Roaring Spring, coming to the latter place in April, 1906. He admitted J. E. Hoover to a partner- ship and the old name of the plant was re- 520 tained. The Bare Milling Company manu- factures Bare’s Best and Snow Flake flour, high grade chop, corn meal, pure rye, Graham and Buckwheat flours and are dealers in all kinds of grain. Mr. Mock married Miss Lillian E. Hoover, a daughter of Daniel Hoover, of Huston Town- ship, Blair County, and they have two chil- dren: Daniel R. and Mary J. In politics Mr. Mock is a Republican but is only active to the extent of good citizenship. JOHN E. HOOVER, part proprietor of the Bare Milling Company at Roaring Spring, was born in Huston Township, Blair County, .Pa., June 6, 1872, and is a son of Daniel and Jane (Rhodes) Hoover, who still reside in Huston Township. Mr. Hoover obtained a_ public school education and grew up on his father’s farm. In April, 1899, he became connected with a mill at Rodman, Pa., and in April, 1906, became a partner in the present mill business at Roaring Spring. The capacity of the pres- ent mill is seventy-five barrels of flour every twenty-four hours. Both Mr. Mock and Mr. Hoover are practical millers and they have three employes. They do both a wholesale and retail business and make a specialty of merchants’ trade. Mr. Hoover is a Republican in politics and has frequently been elected to public office. He served as auditor in Huston Township and later in Taylor Township and has been clerk of the election board in the latter. He is identified with the Roaring Spring lodge of Odd Fellows and is also a member of the Sons of Veterans. JOHN M. SNYDER, who is engaged in the practice of law at Hollidaysburg, Pa., has been a resident of this city for thirty years. He was born at Junction City, Kans., and was brought here by his parents in early youth. The late Harrison H. Snyder, father of John M., was a very prominent citizen of Blair County for many years. He was born here in 1837; in early manhood was admitted to the bar. During the time of his residence in Kan- sas, he was county attorney of Geary County and the noted “Wild Bill” was his chief mar- HISTORY OF BLAIR COUNTY shal. Mr. Snyder served as a soldier in the Civil War for three years, being a member of the 62nd Pa. Vol.-Inf. His death occurred in 1891. John M. Snyder was practically reared in Blair County and after attending through the public school course he entered Lafayette Col- lege, at Easton, Pa., where he was graduated with the class of 1894. He then studied law with W. I. Woodcock and was admitted to the bar in 1896, and at present is a practitioner in both the courts of the state and in the Federal courts. As business opportunities have pre- sented themselves, Mr. Snyder has frequently taken advantage of them and is concerned with a number of enterprises, officially and as a stockholder. He is vice president of the Olanta Coal Mining Company; is president of the Thermic Coal and Supply Company, of Holli- daysburg; and is a director of the First National Bank of Williamsburg. In 1906, Mr. Snyder was married to Miss Loretta R. Brown, of Pittsburg, and they have one child, Harrison Coleman. Mr. and Mrs. Snyder are members of St. Luke’s Episcopal Church of Altoona. He is prominent in Ma- sonry and is past master of Juniata Lodge, F. & A. M.; past high priest of the Chapter and a member of Mountain Commandery, at Altoona, and of Jaffa Temple, Mystic Shrine, also at Altoona. Mr. Snyder can claim the ancestry which entitles him to membership in the Sons of the Revolution and he is identified with this order at Philadelphia. CHARLES AUGUSTUS MARKS, pro- prietor of the Logan House, at Hollidaysburg, Pa., has been a lifelong resident of Blair County and comes of one of its old established families. He was born July 1, 1873, in Holli- daysburg, Pa., and is a son of William and Alena (Dross) Marks, both well known early residents of the county. The maternal great- grandfather of our subject, came by way of canal to Blair County, Pa., about seventy years ago, and settled on the site of the Logan House at Hollidaysburg, now owned by the subject of this record, and the family has lived con- J. BANKS KURTZ AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS tinuously in this borough since that time. William Marks and his wife were both born in Pennsylvania, the former being still a resi- dent of Hollidaysburg, and the latter’s death eccurred July 30, 1909. They were parents of the following children: Charles A., sub- ject of this record; Amelia, who is deceased; Adelia, who married Clyde Manning; May, who is the wife of James W. Gromiller; and Leo, Francis, Gertrude, and Marguerite. Charles A. Marks was reared to man’s es- tate in Hollidaysburg, and attended the public schools until thirteen years of age, when he began learning the carpenter trade, and for a time attended the night school. He was subse- quently employed at the Iron Nail Company, where his father was foreman, and was then fireman on the Pittsburg Division of the Penna. Railroad. About 1883 he became collector for the Hoster Brewing Company, and has con- tinued in the employ of that company to the present time, and in 1904 entered the hotel business. He first operated the Pennsylvania House, which he sold to his brother, Leo Marks, and since February 27, 1909, has been proprietor of the Logan House, which he bought from William Hughes. Mr. Marks is politically a Republican and served twelve years as county committeeman from the Fourth Ward. He is fraternally a member of the F. O. E. No. 286, of Altoona, and the Artisans of Hollidaysburg. In con- nection with his hotel business, Mr. Marks is also engaged in the retail business with Mr. Dross, their office being located in the Loop Station. Besides his hotel property he is also the owner of two residences in this borough. On November 9, 1889, Mr. Marks was joined in marriage with Miss Margaret Caldwell, who is a daughter of William and Alice Caldwell, and to them have been born three children: Claire, who is a student at -Dickinson Semi- nary, graduated from the High School of Hollidaysburg with the class of 1907, when aged sixteen years; Hale; and Cloyd. J. BANKS KURTZ, district attorney of Blair County, Pennsylvania, and a leading 523 member of the Altoona Bar, has been engaged in the practice of law, in this city, since 1893, in which year he was admitted to the bars of Cumberland, Juniata, and Blair Counties in quick succession. Mr. Kurtz was born in Del- aware Township, Juniata County, Pennsyl- vania, October 31, 1867, and is the oldest of a family of six children born to his parents, Abraham H. and Mollie E. (Bergey) Kurtz. His father was a prosperous farmer in Juniata County. J. Banks Kurtz was educated in the public schools of his native county and at Dickinson College, Carlisle, Pa. Before entering college he taught in the public schools for two years. Immediately after completing his college edu- cation he entered the Dickinson Law School, from which institution he graduated and re- ceived his degree in 1893. In the month of June he was admitted to the Cumberland County Bar, later to the Juniata County Bar, and in October to the Blair County Bar, following which he opened his law office at Altoona. He is also admitted to practice in the Superior Court of Pennsylvania, the Su- preme Court of Pennsylvania, and the United States District and Circuit Courts. In 1908 Dickinson College conferred upon him the hon- orary degree of A. M. Mr. Kurtz’s professional ability was very quickly recognized and when he was elected district attorney in November, 1904, on the Republican ticket, he had practically no oppo- sition and his administration of this important office was so satisfactory that he was reelected in 1907. He is recognized as one of the coun- ty’s most earnest and efficient officials. Mr. Kurtz is a director in the Mountain City Trust Company, of Altoona, the First National Bank, of Juniata, an incorporator of the Dickinson School of Law, and a trustee of the Altoona Hospital. On September 4, 1895, Mr. Kurtz was married to Miss Jennie Stockton, daughter of Dr. Thomas C. M. Stockton, and Annie (Kerr) Stockton of Cross Creek, Washington County, Pa. They have one daughter, Dorothy Stockton Kurtz. The family residence is at 524 No. 2528 Broad Avenue, Altoona, Pa. Mr. and Mrs. Kurtz are members of the First Presbyterian church. He is a 32nd degree Mason, a Shriner, and a Knight of Pythias. He also belongs to Phi Delta Theta Greek let- ter fraternity, and Delta Chi legal fraternity. DAVID L. WINELAND, proprietor of McKee’s Gap Feed Mills, and manufacturer of feed, meal and buckwheat flour, is one of the progressive and enterprising citizens of Freedom Township, Blair County, Pa., and has been a resident of this township since 1902. He was born August 30, 1850, in North Woodbury Township, Blair County, Pa., a son of David B. and Sophia (Loose) Wineland, and comes of one of the early pioneer families of Morrison’s Cove. His paternal grandfather, John Wineland, came to Blair County from Virginia, when seven- teen years of age, and settled at Morrison’s Cove, and his wife was a native of Mary- land. David B. Wineland, who resides with our subject, is now in his ninety-fourth year, and was born in North Woodbury Town- ship, Blair County, Pa. He served for many years as a school director of North Wood- bury Township. He married Sophia Loose, who was a native of North Woodbury Township, and they had the following chil- dren: Jacob L., who resides in Dallas Cen- tre, Ia.; John L., who lives in Martinsburg, Pa.; William L., who also resides in Mar- tinsburg; David L., who is the subject of this record; Hannah L., who is the widow of Levi Smouse and resides in North Woodbury Township; and Catherine, who is the widow cf Peter Burkett, resides at Roaring Spring, Pa. The mother of our subject died in 1900. David L. Wineland passed his boyhood days in North Woodbury Township. and there obtained his education in the local schools. He has always followed milling in Bedford and Blair Counties, Pa., and in 1902 came to Freedom Township, where he has been continuously and successfully engaged in operating the feed mills at Mc- HISTORY OF BLAIR COUNTY Kee’s Gap. He manufactures feed, corn meal, and buckwheat flour and also deals extensively in flour and grain. Mr. Wine- land takes an active interest in the affairs of the Democratic party, and during the nineties was a candidate on that ticket for county auditor, but was defeated by a Mr. Patterson of Williamsburg, Pa, He served six years as a school director of North Woodbury Township, during part” of which time he was secretary of the board. He is now serving his second term as a di- rector of the school board of Freedom Township, and is also secretary of the same. Mr. Wineland was joined in the bonds of wedlock with Miss Elizabeth Seedenberg, who is a native of North Woodbury Town- ship, and a daughter of the late Henry Seed- enberg of North Woodbury Township. Nine children were born of their union: Harry S., who resides in Allegheny Town- ship, Blair County, Pa.; William, manager Brook Mill; David, who is a resident of Cambria County; Allen, who lives in Holli- daysburg, Pa.; Annie J., who is the wife of Frank Curfman of Roaring Spring; Ida, who is the wife of H. Delozier of Blair Township; Mary, who married Edward Wertman of McKee, Pa.; Sophia, who lives at home, and Elizabeth, who is deceased. JOHN BROTHERLINE, deceased. In recalling the men who have been prominent factors in the building up of Hollidaysburg and have left an impress upon the history of Blair County, the name of the late John Brotherline commands attention. As law- yer, journalist and private citizen, he was one of the prominent and useful men of his day. He was born in 1812, at Frankstown, Pa., then in Huntingdon but now in Blair County, and died in 1879, at Hollidaysburg where the greater part of his life was passed, in the sixty-sixth year of his age. John Brotherline came of German and Welsh ancestry, but his parents, Thomas and Sarah (Davis) Brotherline, were born in Huntingdon County, Pa. He was one of AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS their nine children and had just reached manhood when his father died. This placed unaccustomed responsibilities on his shoul- ders and he faced many discouragements before he accomplished his ambition and was admitted a practitioner of law. He had no educational advantages beyond those af- forded by the district schools, but a native intelligence and an unquenchable love of learning produced in him one of the leading lawyers of the county. In addition to at- tending to a large law practice for many years, he entered into the journalistic field and for a long period was the able editor and proprietor of the Blair County Whig, which was not only a strong political organ but was so widely circulated that it had much to do with presenting the claims of this section as a favorable place for business in- vestments, to the outside world. Mr. Brotherline was notably public spirited and to his encouragement a number of enter- prises now flourishing at Hollidaysburg, owe much. During the Civil war he was a loyal supporter of the Union cause and for some time served officially as a paymaster in the army, with the rank of major. Many local offices were tendered him and honors offered him. He was a consistent member of the Presbyterian church and was fore- most in assisting in its various charitable and benevolent enterprises. In early manhood, John Brotherline was married to Miss Martha Gregg Kinne, who is a daughter of Henry Hale and Sarah (Gregg) Kinne, and a granddaughter of Andrew Gregg, who once was a United States senator. Mrs. Brotherline survives and resides in her handsome home at No. 415 Allegheny Street, Hollidaysburg. Six sons were born to Mr. and Mrs. Brother- line: James Irvin, John, Henry Hale, Davis Willard, Eric Gregg and Ner, two of whom survive: Henry Hale and Eric Gregg. Henry Hale Brotherline is a prominent physician and surgeon at Hollidaysburg, residing at No. 719 Allegheny Street, and 525 maintaining his office at No. 417 on the same street. Eric Gregg Buiotherline is a prominent attorney of Altoona. JACOB BRUBAKER, who is engaged in general farming and stock raising, on-a farm of 208 acres in Frankstown Township, was born June 2, 1860, in Allegheny Town- ship, Blair County, Pa., and is a son of Ephraim and Lydia (Hart) Brubaker. They were both born in Blair County, Pa., and spent their lives here, their fathers be- ing Jacob Brubaker and Israel Hart. Dur- ing his early life Ephraim Brubaker fol- lowed carpentering for a time, but later be- came a farmer. He wasa Democrat. Both parents are deceased and were buried at Carson Valley, Allegheny Township. They belonged to the Lutheran church. The fol- lowing children were born to Ephraim and Lydia Brubaker: Emanuel; Samuel; Ber- tha, who is the wife of A. W. Wilt; Mar- jory, who is the wife of Patrick Risbane; Ellis; John; Catherine, who is the wife of Harry Stafford; Jane, who is the wife of Silas Closson; Lucinda, who is the wife of John Plowman; Jacob, David and Emma, who is the wife of Chris Selwitz. Jacob Brubaker attended the common schools of the township until fifteen years of age, and since that time has been engaged in agricultural pursuits. In April, 1906, he purchased his present farm from the widows of Peter and Calvin Smith, but the land was originally the property of the Stiffler family: Mr. Brubaker is one of the enterprising and public spirited farmers of the township, and carries on farming-in a general way, and raises just sufficient stock for his own use. On December, 1878, Mr. Brubaker mar- ried Miss Catherine Plowman, who is a daughter of William and Francana (Wilt) Plowman, who were prominent farmers of Blair County, and the parents of the follow- ing children: Mary, who married David Clawson; David; Jane, who married John Clawson; Anna, who is the wife of Ellis Brubaker; Marshall; John; Amanda, who 526 married John Brubaker; Susan, who mar- ried Jacob Stoner; and Clara, who married William Wombaugher. The following children were born to our subject and his wife: Charles, who is a farmer of Allegheny Township, married Martha Sell; Laura, who is deceased, was the wife of James Hover, also deceased, and they-had one daughter, Effe, whom our sub- ject is rearing; Ellis, deceased; Frank, who is an employe of the P. R. R. Co., married Pearl Benner; George, who is also an em- ploye of the P. R. R. Co., married Hattie Hoover, and they have one son, Earnest; Mary, deceased; Rosa, who is the wife of Christ Haller, and they have one son, Ir- win; Gertrude; Myrtle, who is the wife of Warren Wertz, and they have one daugh- ter, Lilly; and Harry, Blair, Brook, Ord, Ida, and Ella. Mr. Brubaker is politically a Republican, and has served as a school di- rector for seven years. The religious con- nection of the family is with the Brethren church. DAVID G. SNYDER, a highly respected citizen of Taylor Township, Blair County, Pa., who has resided on his valuable farm of seventy-two acres since the spring of 1909, was born in South Woodbury Town- ship, Bedford County, Pa., April 29, 1860, and is a son of Jacob U., and a grandson of John Snyder, the latter of whom settled in Snake Spring Township, Bedford County, at an early date. The parents of Mr. Sny- der died in Bedford County. David G. Snyder grew to the age of four- teen years in South Woodbury Township and had school privileges there, and then made his way to Yakima Valley, in the State of Washington. Finding no favor- able opening there for a youth without capi- tal, he returned to the East and after reach- ing Altoona, Pa., learned the baking trade and followed the business for two years and then came to Taylor Township and em- barked in farming and stock raising. He is a broad-minded, intelligent, thinking man HISTORY OF BLAIR COUNTY and has always taken-an interest in educa- tional matters and served for eight years as a school director in South Woodbury Township and during a portion of the time was treasurer of the school fund. Other local offices that he held there were inspector and judge of elections. In all public po- sitions he has given satisfaction because he has performed his duties carefully and hon- estly. He casts his vote with the Demo- cratic party. Mr. Snyder was married to Miss Ella Kajarise, who was born in Bedford County, and is a daughter of Samuel Kajarise, who now resides at Alteona. Mr. and Mrs. Sny- der have had six children: Claude, Charles R., Corinne F., Ruth H., Hervey and Char- ity, the two last named being deceased. Mr. Snyder and wife are members of the Breth- ren church at Altoona. Mr. Snyder made his own way in the world, in youth having no influential friends to give him assistance and inheriting neither money nor land, nevertheless the record of his life shows that industry and honesty, fidelity and per- severance are pretty sure to bring their re- ward. B. F. WARFEL, attorney at law, practic- ing in all the courts of the State of Pennsyl- vania, has been a resident of Hollidaysburg for fourteen years. He was born in Tyrone Township, Blair County, Pa., in 1871, and is a son of the late John Warfel. John Warfel was born in Huntingdon County, Pa., and came to Blair County early in the sixties. He served for three years and nine months as a soldier in the great Civil war, a member of the 110th Pa. Vol. Inf., and was twice wounded, one injury re- sulting in the loss of his left eye. B. F. Warfel attended the Blair County schools and the Indiana State Normal School and afterward taught school for five years. He studied law in the office of At- torney W. I. Woodcock, and was admitted to the bar in September, 1900. Mr. War- fel is a stockholder in two of the National AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS banks of Blair County and has other inter- ests additional to his professional ones. Mr. Warfel was married November 6, 1gor, to Miss Maud E. Hunter, of Harrisburg. They are members of the Lutheran church. His fraternal affiliations are with the Masons and the Sons of Veterans. He is numbered with the substantial and representative citizens of Hollidaysburg. LYNN A. BRUA, president of the Citi- zens’ National Bank of Hollidaysburg, Pa., is a citizen of prominence and affluence, and is the owner of a fine fruit farm of 150 acres in Frankstown Township, Blair County, Pa:, besides being one of the largest real estate holders in this borough. He was born in Frankstown Township, Blair County, Pa., and is a son of Jacob and Eliza- beth (Elliott) Brua, and comes of one of the pioneer families of the county. Daniel and Mary Jane Brua, grandparents of our sub- ject, were married in 1818, in Lancaster County, Pa., and immediately afterwards came on horseback over the mountains to Blair County and settled .at what was then known as Lowery’s Mill. The land on which they settled is now owned by a grandson, John Brua, of Frankstown Township. Jacob Brua, father of Lynn A. Brua, was born June 26, 1819, on the farm in Franks- town Township, and in 1853, bought a farm of 150 acres adjoining his father’s place. This he cultivated until 1873 when he re- moved to Hollidaysburg, where he lived until the time of his death in 1901. He mar- sied Elizabeth Elliott, who died in 1862. Lynn A. Brua grew to maturity on the farm in Frankstown Township, and in 1873 came with the family to Hollidaysburg, Pa., where he entered the employ of John H. Law, a merchant, with whom he continued for four years. In 1881, he opened a gen- eral store, which he operated with much success until 1908, when he disposed of the business, and during that period built some twenty houses, erecting his own residence in 1884 on Wayne Street. He was one of 527 the organizers of the Citizens’ National Bank, and has served continuously as presi- dent of same since its organization in 1903. Mr. Brua is the owner of the old home farm in Frankstown Township, and takes great pride and interest in the cultivation of same. The farm is well stocked and equipped with modern machinery, and is one of the largest fruit farms in the county, having about 3,000 fruit trees. _Mr. Brua was married in Sep- tember, 1883, to Lizzie I. Hite of Hite Sta- tion, Allegheny County, Pa. In politics Mr. Brua is identified with the Republican party, and been a member of the Masonic fraternity since 1880. BENJAMIN F. MATHES, who has been a resident of Blair County, Pa., for some forty years, is a freight locomotive engineer and resides.on a tract of fifty-two acres in Logan Township. He was born June 22, 1864, at Stonington, Conn., and is a son of John V. and Catherine (Miller) Mathes, the former of whom spent his life engaged in agricultural pursuits at Bell’s Gap. John V. and Catherine Miller were the parents of sixteen children, all living but three, and at death they were both buried at Asbury Cemetery. Benjamin F. Mathes came to Blair County, Pa., when a child, and with the ex- ception of three years spent in the West, has resided here since. For seven years he was engaged in farming a tract of ten acres, to which he later added forty-two acres, and about 1907 built a fine two and one-half- story brick residence. He formerly resided in Altoona, Pa. Mr. Mathes is a man of great energy and enterprise, and in addition to his work as a freight engineer, which he has followed for twenty-six years, manages and assists with the work on the farm. Mr. Mathes was married May 20, 1886, to Miss Annie Kane, a daughter of Thomas Kane of Antis Township and they have three children: Harry, Russell and Nellie. Mr. Mathes is nominally a Republican, but votes independently, and is fraternally a 528 Free Mason, and a member of the Brother- hood of Locomotive Engineers. EDWARD H. FLICK, a leading member of the Blair County Bar and formerly city solicitor of the city of Altoona, has been a valued resident of this place since the spring of 1884. He was born in Cambria County, Pa., August 16, 1860, and is a son of John and Elizabeth (Sharbaugh) Flick. John Flick and wife were both born in Al- sace-Lorraine, now of Germany but then of France. In 1830 John Flick came to America, an ambitious and adventurous youth of nine- teen years, and located in Cambria County, Pa., where he engaged in agricultural pursuits dur- ing the whole of his active life. He married Elizabeth Sharbaugh, who died at Carroll- town, in Cambria County, in 1869, whom he survived, reaching the age of eighty-four years. Both he and wife were consistent Catholics. Edward H. Flick was given excellent educa- tional opportunities and took advantage of them. He completed his classical course at St. Vincent College, in Westmoreland County, an institute of age and reputation, and then turned his attention to the study of law. He was prepared for the bar under the supervision of Judge A. V. Barker, of Ebensburg, Pa., and was admitted to practice in the spring of 1883. His first year of professional work was spent at Carrolltown and from there, in the spring of 1884, he came to Altoona where he has gained a substantial following and has made a name for himself in the courts of Blair County. He has always been more or less ac- tive in public matters and is identified with the Democratic party. In 1892 he was elected city solicitor and served in that office with the ut- most efficiency until 1894. On June 30, 1891, Mr. Flick married Miss Annie O’Connor, a daughter of John O’Con- nor, a resident of Pittsburg. Mr. and Mrs. Flick have a beautiful home at Lakemont, Pa., and he maintains his office at No. 10, Nichol- son Building, Altoona. Mr. and Mrs. Flick are members of the Roman Catholic church. HISTORY OF BLAIR COUNTY JOHN CLARK, deceased, was one of Blair County’s substantial citizens and a leading financier for many years, but he was also much more. Primarily a business man with large interests making heavy demands on his attention, he found time to give of his best efforts to the advancement of civic welfare, and to lend himself heart and soul to the great fight for prohibition. He did not live to see the time when “a schoolhouse shall be on every hill top, with no saloon in the valley,’ but long enough to be cheered by the evident approach to this happy state. He was born in Canoe Valley, Catharine Township, Blair County, Pa., December 13, 1833, and was a son of John and Eliza (Thompson) Clark, and a grandson of James Clark, who was wounded at the Bat- tle of the Brandywine, during the Revolu- tionary War. The father of Mr. Clark was born in Franklin Township, Huntingdon County, Pa., December 15, 1789. For some years he owned and operated a tannery at Birming- ham, Pa., but later retired to his farm in Morris Township, where he died in his seventy-fifth year. He married Catherine Whitzel, who died early. His second union was with Eliza Thompson, who died in 1866, at the age of sixty-six years. She was born and reared in Spruce Creek Township, where her father had been an early settler. The late John Clark of Williamsburg, completed his school attendance in the Will- iamsburg Academy, and then took up the duties of farming and stock raising on the home farm. He continued thus occupied until 1873, when he accepted the position of cashier of the Williamsburg bank, which was organized at that time. He proved an acceptable and efficient officer and gained wide popularity in that business connection. He had large business interests of his own, which he successfully managed, and in the financial relations he had with others in this public capacity he used the same judicious and conservative methods. From time to time he invested in desirable property and EDWARD H. FLICK AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS owned realty of considerable value at Will- iamsburg, together with ore and coal prop- erties in the county, large limestone quar- ries, and a valuable farm of 250 acres. Mr. Clark was married May 27, 1858, to Miss Mary J. Sisler, who died May 6, 1873. Of this union four sons and two daughters were born, as follows: Edgar Thompson, who married Lucretia Moore of Scotch Val- ley; Anna J., who is the widow of C. T. Witherow and resides in Altoona; John Grier; Charles H.; Dean, and Ida. The last mentioned is the widow of Clarence C. Clemson and resides in Pittsburg, where her husband was.a prominent business man. Mr. Clark was an active member and an elder of the Presbyterian church at Will- iamsburg. Prior to 1880 he was a Repub- lican and at different times was called upon to serve in offices of public trust and respon- sibility. For a quarter of a century he de- voted his best efforts to the cause of prohibi- tion, setting an example that was a stimu- lant to many others. True to every trust, he inspired confidence:in all who made his acquaintance, and his name was almost a synonym for honor and rectitude. His death on January 21, 1904, deprived the community of one of its most valued citi- zens. JOHN W. JOHNSTON, M. D., physician and surgeon, who has been in continuous practice at Claysburg, Pa., for forty-three years and is known all over Blair County both personally and professionally, was born January 17, 1841, at Woodbury, Bed- ford County, Pa., and is a son of Thomas and Margaret (Cantner) Johnston. Thomas Johnston was born in Hopewell Township, Bedford County, a son of James Johnston, who had come to that section at a very early day. The family is of Scotch- Irish extraction. The mother of Dr. Johns- ton belonged to one of the old pioneer families that settled Morrison’s Cove. John -W. Johnston was gives earzy cduca- tional advantages which included attend- 581 ance at Rainsburg Seminary, in Bedford County. He taught school for one winter but then decided to enter the army for serv- ice in the war then in progress, and in Au- gust, 1862, he enlisted in Co. C, 133rd Pa. Vol. Inf., which became a part of the Army of the Potomac. His commanding officer was the late Alexander Bobb, a prominent soldier-citizen of Blair County and once sheriff. Dr. Johnston took part in the bat- tle of Antietam, which was followed by that of Fredericksburg, and in the latter he was wounded, December 13, 1862. His injury caused him to pass several weeks in a hos- pital but he was released in time to partici- pate in the battle of Chancellorsville. At the end of his nine months’ term of enlist- ment he was honorably discharged and after he returned to Bedford County set about completing his education. In the fall of 1863 he entered Dickinson Seminary, at Williamsport, Pa., where he remained two years, in the meanwhile having made up his mind as to his future career. He returned to Woodbury and entered upon the study of medicine with Dr. Samuel H. Smith, and during the winters of 1865 and 1866, at- tended lectures at Jefferson Medical Col- lege, Philadelphia, and in December of the latter year was graduated from the Albany Medical College. In February, 1867, Dr. Johnston established himself at Claysburg and has been identified with the growth and development of this place ever since. To his professional interest the Blair County Medical Society is much indebted for its advancement in early years. He is still a member of this organization, of which he has been president, and belongs also to the Pennsylvania State Medical Association. On November 3, 1870, Dr. Johnston was married to Miss Ella Mauk, a daughter of the late Paul Mauk, who, at one time was proprietor of the Eagle Hotel, a popular hostelry at Claysburg. Dr. and Mrs. John- ston have had five children, namely: Charles O., who is a physician at Clays- burg; Jennie D., who is the wife of Kirk 532 Walter, a leading merchant at Claysburg; and William C., Annie B. and Maggie E., all three of whom are now deceased. Dr. Johnston and family are members of the Methodist Episcopal church. In politics he is a Republican and fraternally is identified with Juniata Lodge, No, 282, F. & A. M., at Hollidaysburg. HARRY S. BROWN, one of Martin- burg’s best known citizens, who, for a quar- ter of a century was engaged in the furni- ture and undertaking business in this bor- ough, was born August 16, 1844, in South Woodbury Township, Bedford County, Pa., and is a son of Jacob S. and Barbara (Shriner) Brown. Jacob S. Brown was born in Bedford County and his wife in Lancaster County, Pa. Grandfather Brown secured land in Bedford County early in its settlement and there established the Brown homestead. Jacob S. Brown followed agricultural pur- suits in South Woodbury Township where he lived out a long and worthy life, his death occurring in 1886. Of his family of nine children, the following survive: Eliza- beth, who resides at Duncansville, Pa., is the widow of Jacob Dell; and Harry S. of Martinsburg. The venerable widow of Jacob S. Brown survived him eighteen years, living to the unusual age of ninety years and retaining her faculties to a large degree until the end. Harry S. Brown grew to manhood on the home farm and during the winter months attended the district schools. He then learned the plastering trade and after work- ing for a time became a contractor in the same. Later he embarked in the furniture and undertaking business at Martinsburg, where, for many years afterwards he was a prosperous and reputable business man. For some years Mr. Brown has lived re- tired from business but is still actively inter- ested in matters pertaining to good citizen- ship, fraternal organizations and the bor- ough’s pleasant social life. ‘ HISTORY OF BLAIR COUNTY On January 20, 1871, Mr. Brown was married.to Miss Lucy Mentzer, who was born in Middle Woodbury Township, Bed- ford County, Pa., a daughter of Ephraim and Susan (Imler) Mentzer, and a grand- daughter of David Mentzer, who, for years, was a well known resident of Franklin County. Of the children born to Ephraim Mentzer and wife, the following are living: David I., of Altoona; Missouri, wife of James Croft, of Bedford County; Lucy, wife of Harry S. Brown; Margaret, wife of L. A. Hay, of Blair County; Naomi, wife of B. D. Martin, of Baden, Blair County; Mary C., wife of George Brown, of Martinsburg; John T., of Altoona; and Abraham L. and Joseph W. To Harry S. Brown and wife five chil- dren were born, two of whom survive, Viola and Ella M. Viola is the wife of George W. Davis, who is employed in the Pennsyl- vania railroad shops at Altoona. Mr. and Mrs. Davis have one daughter, Dorothy L. Ella M. is the wife of Frank J. Mock, who is also employed in the Pennsylvania Rail- road shops at Altoona. Mr. and Mrs. Mock have two sons, Harry J. and Cletus G. Mr. and Mrs. Brown are members of the Lu- theran church, in which he has been an offi- cial, and Mrs. Brown is an active and useful member of the Ladies’ Aid Society. In pol- itics Mr. Brown is a Democrat. He is a member of the Odd Fellows and_ the Knights of the Golden Eagle, both lodges being at Martinsburg. _D. E. ALLEN, M. D., a prominent physi- cian and surgeon at Altoona, Pa., who has been engaged in the practice of his profes- sion here for the past thirteen years, was born in 1867, in Canada, where he spent the early part of his life and obtained his ele- mentary schooling. He was prepared for the medical profession at Jefferson Medical College, Philadelphia, where he was gradu- ated with the class of 1895, and was first lo- cated at Winchester, Mass., where he en- gaged in the practice of his profession and was eminently successful. About 1897 he AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS came to Altoona, Pa., where he has been equally successful and has established an enviable reputation as a physician and sur- geon. Dr. Allen is a member of the Blair County, the Pennsylvania State and the American Medical Associations, and is a member of the medical staff of the Mercy Hospital of Altoona. He is fraternally a member of the Maccabees and the Mystic Circle, and his religious connection is with the Baptist church. Dr. Allen was married in 1897 to Clara Elder of Altoona, Pa. JOSEPH BLAIR SLIPPEY, a well known farmer of Frankstown Township, Blair County, Pa., who resides on and operates a farm of fifty-two acres, was born in this township, October 24, 1859, and is a son of Joseph and Nancy (Shade) Slippey, members of old town- ship families. They had five children: Wil- liam, Clarence, Isaac, Catherine and Joseph Blair. Catherine married William Ritz. Joseph Blair Slippey attended the township schools in boyhood. His whole subsequent life has been devoted to farm pursuits. He rents his present farm from Samuel Rhodus and through his careful methods makes it a very productive property. Mr. Slippey was married in September, 1886, to Miss Ella McKindry, a daughter of Joseph and Susan (Scott) McKindry. They are among the old settlers of the township. Mrs. Slippey is the youngest of their children, the others being: Thomas, Mary, Alexander, Catherine, William, Jennie and Warren. To Mr. and Mrs. Slippey seven children have been born, namely: Chester, Irvin, Roy, Mabel, Clair, Ernest and Lola. Mr. Slippey and family belong to the Lutheran church. He is a Republican in politics and has served as township supervisor. S. CLAYTON MARTZ, an enterprising and progressive business man of Altoona, Pa., has for the past nineteen years conducted a blacksmith shop in this city, and was born in Centre County, Pa., September 27, 1868, and is a son of John Adam and Catherine (Boal) 533 Martz. The parents of our subject were both natives of Centre County, Pa., and reside on Willow Avenue, Altoona. S. Clayton Martz came to Blair County, Pa., in 1880, with his parents, and attended school at Altoona, where he grew to manhood. He learned the blacksmith trade, which he has always followed since, renting a shop previous te coming to his present location, since when he has maintained one of his own. He is politically a Republican and has always taken an active interest in the affairs of that party. His religious connection is with the Methodist Episcopal church of Fairview. He is affiliated with the J. O. U. A. M. and the Patriotic Sons of America. On July 15, 1890, Mr. Martz was united in marriage with Miss Ida Carothers, who is a native of Blair County and a daughter of Wil- liam Carothers, and of their union were born four sons: Claude, Chester, William, and Edgar, who married Mary Bush and they have a son and daughter—Merle and Catherine. ADAM HARE, sheriff of Blair County, Pa., was born on Mill Creek, in Huntingdon County, Pa., March 9, 1847, and is a son of William and Matilda (Goodman) Hare. William Hare, who was formerly an ex- tensive farmer and reputable citizen of Cath- arine Township, Blair County, was born in Mifflin County, Pa., where he struggled through a parentless boyhood and developed himself into a man who won the honor and esteem of those with whom his lot in life was cast. Dependent entirely upon his own efforts, he had but a meager book education but he learned many lessons through experience. He first learned the tailor’s trade and later opened a shop in the village of Mill Creek and con- tinued in business there until 1850, when he bought a farm in Catharine Township, Blair County, where his subsequent life was spent. From the age of twenty years he had been connected with the Evangelical Lutheran church and when his death occurred on October 16, 1881, this body felt his loss. He was a man noted for his great kindness of heart and 534 there were many outside his own family who sincerely mourned the passing of one so worthy. He married Matilda Goodman, who was of an old Lancaster County family, and she sur- vived her husband for but two years. Their descendants are prominent people in Blair County. Adam Hare attended the public schools in boyhood and then turned his attention to farm- ing and later to dealing in cattle in which he was concerned extensively. From early man- hood he has been interested in public affairs and is an influential Republican in Blair County. He was first elected sheriff of this county in 1897, for a term of three years, and has been subsequently reelected, his majority increasing on every occasion. In the admin- istration of the office of sheriff he has been fearless and ‘persevering and is one of the most popular public officials in the county ex- cept to the breakers of the law. Sheriff Hare is a veteran of the Civil War. He enlisted first on April 12, 1862, in Co. D, First Pa. Vol. Inf.; and second in Co. A, First Regular Cav., and later served in Co. C, and in Co. E, 3rd U. S. Artillery, participating in many hard fought battles before he received his final dis- charge on April 12, 1865. He was then but eighteen years of age, having enlisted when but fifteen years old. In January, 1869, Mr. Hare was married to Miss Martha Mateer, a daughter of Prof. Cyrus Mateer, Blair County. Sheriff and Mrs. Hare have had six children, three of whom survive, namely: Octavia G., Eugene C. and Roberta. The family holds membership: in the Lutheran church. Sheriff Hare is identi- fied with the Masonic fraternity and with the Grand Army of the Republic. MICHAEL ALVIN YOUNG, a prominent member of the legal profession of Hollidays- burg, Pa., has been a resident of this borough since 1879, and was born November 18, 1854, at East Sharpsburg, Pa., a son of George B. and Mary Young. Balser Young, grandfather of our subject, was born on the Atlantic Ocean, while his HISTORY OF BLAIR COUNTY parents were crossing from Holland. He was reared in what is now known as North Wood- bury Township, Blair County, Pa., and there followed farming during his later life. His son, George B. Young, was one of the younger children born to Balser Young, and was a na- tive of Blair County, where he spent his entire life, and died in 1905, at East Freedom, at the age of seventy-seven years. Early in life he learned the carpenter trade, and with the ex- ception of the time spent in the army, followed the same throughout his entire active career. He was a member of Co. I, 137th Pa. Vol. Inf. His wife, Mary Young, also came of one of the pioneer families of Blair County, her parents having come here from Holland. She died in 1900, aged seventy years. To George B. Young and his wife three children were born; Michael A.; Lillian, who married Will- iam Dickey; and Lincoln. Michael A. Young was fifteen years of age when his parents removed from Sharpsburg, Pa., to Freedom, Blair County, Pa. He at- tended the Juniata Collegiate Institute at Mar- tinsburg, and the Cumberland Valley State Normal, afterwards teaching for five winters. During his early manhood he learned the car- penter’s trade with his father, but later spent two years reading law in the office of W. I. Woodcock of Hollidaysburg, and was admitted to the Blair County Bar in 1880. He has since been continuously and successfully engaged in the practice of his profession at Hollidaysburg, and is one of the leading business men of that borough. Mr. Young was married to Miss Anna M. Good, a daughter of Peter Good, deceased, and of their union have been born the following children: Chester W., who is a student at the Hahnneman Medical College at Philadelphia, Pa.; and Marilla, Mary, Norman G., and Ralph A. In politics Mr. Young is a Republican. GEORGE W. THOMAS, a representative business man of Gaysport, Pa., a dealer in groceries, flour, feed, shoes and notions, with well arranged store on Broad Street, right in the shopping district, has been established in MICHAEL A. YOUNG AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS this town since the spring of 1881. He was born December 17, 1844, at Evansburg, Pa., and is a son of Thomas R. and Margaret (Evans) Thomas. Thomas R. Thomas was born in Cambria County, Pa., a son of Robert R. Thomas, who was born in Wales. Robert Thomas was a farmer in his native land and when he emi- grated to America he was accompanied by his wife and two children, settling in Cambria County, Pa., where land was then secured at a low figure. He acquired enough land to later give each son a farm. He was a man of enter- prise and carried on farming and stock raising and for fifteen years carried the mail between Evansburg and Clearfield. His eight children bore the following names: Edward, Richard, Thomas, Eliza, Jane, Ann, Harriet and Robert. Thomas R. Thomas, father of George W., was the first child of the family born in America and he grew to manhood in Cambria County and there married Margaret Evans. In 1877 he and all of his family with the ex- ception of George W., moved to Iowa, where the survivors still live. Thomas R. Thomas died in 1882, aged sixty-three years. His widow survived until 1910, dying at the age of eighty-eight years. They had ten children born to them, namely: George Washington; Ed- win; John; Howard, who died when two years old; Howard (2), who was accidentally killed on the railroad in 1888; Alexander; Elizabeth, who is the wife of Spencer Pate; Theophilus; Lincoln and William. George W. Thomas was seven years old when his parents moved from Evansburg to the farm and he lived there until he was seven- teen, in the meanwhile attending the country schools during the winter seasons. He then was in the lumber business for seven years, but when civil war convulsed the land he showed that loyalty to his country was more to him than his personal interests, on Septem- ber 3, 1864, enlisting as one of her defenders. He was a member of the 5th Pa. Heavy Arrtil- lery and served until the close of the war, receiving his honorable discharge in Virginia. He is a member of the G. A. R. Post at 537 Johnstown, Pa. After his marriage, Mr. Thomas spent five years at work in the Butler oil fields, after which he moved to Johnstown and there was employed in the steel mills until 1881, when he moved to Gaysport, buying out Mrs. Alexander Dobbins, at his present loca- tion. He immediately started improvements and rented the enlarged building for twelve years and then purchased it and still further enlarged and improved it. He now has fine accommodations and is doing a prosperous business. Mr. Thomas was married March 20, 1877, to Miss Catherine Shaw, a daughter of Samuel Kk. Shaw, and they have six children, namely: Edna; Ora, who married Frank Rohrback, who is employed in the government shops at Wash- ington, D. C., and they have one son, Boyde; Clifton, who has been an engineer with the Pennsylvania Railroad Company since he was twenty-one years of age, is a resident of Gays- port, married Inez Riling and they have one son, Donald; Eva, who married Edmond Brua; Mary Goldie, who is the wife of James Win- naugle; and George Alton. Mr. Thomas and family are members of the First Lutheran Church and he is treasurer of the Sunday- school. He and sons are Republicans and he has been an active citizen ever since choosing Gaysport as his place of residence. He has served acceptably in the town council and as school director and for fifteen years has been secretary of the school board. For over forty years he has been identified with the Masonic fraternity and belongs also to the Odd Fel- lows, the Artisans and the Heptasophs. EUGENE A. SIPES, justice of the peace at Martinsburg, Pa., is also a representative business man of the borough, being a member of the firm of Sipes Bros., proprietor of the Sipes’ Monumental Works, a large business enterprise here. He was born at Martinsburg, September 24, 1872, a son of Uriah and Re- becca A. (Williams) Sipes. Uriah Sipes was born in Fulton County, Pa., a son of Emanuel Sipes, who resided at Sipes’ Mills, Fulton County. When Uriah 538 Sipes reached manhood he went to Williams- burg and there learned the marble cutting trade and while there married Rebecca Williams of that place. Several years later he moved to Hollidaysburg and some years afterward, to Martinsburg, and early in the fifties engaged in the monument business in which he con- tinued until he retired, when he was succeeded by his two sons, Robert H. and Eugene A. Uriah Sipes was a man of excellent business faculty and was also a valued citizen, a Demo- crat in politics and for a number of years a justice of the peace. His death occurred April I, 1907, his widow surviving until April 25, IQIO. Eugene A. Sipes was reared and educated at Martinsburg and after leaving school en- tered his father’s shop and learned the monu- ment making business. When the father re- tired, with his brother he succeeded to a busi- ness which has been continuously carried on for over sixty years. All through Blair County may be found beautiful and appro- priate specimens of the work done by this firm, both its age and reliability bringing custom. Mr. Sipes married Miss Justina Zook, a daughter of Frederick A. Zook, residing on Yellow Creek, in Bedford County, and they have one son, Clifford E. Mr. and Mrs. Sipes are members of the Methodist Episcopal church. In his political views he is a Demo- crat. In February, 1907, he was elected a justice of the peace, for a term of five years, - assuming his duties in May, following, and has proved an admirable and satisfying public official. KIRK WALTER, a well known merchant and popular citizen of Claysburg, Pa., junior partner in the mercantile and manufacturing firm of Walter and Walter, was born in Green- field Township, Blair County, Pa., September 17, 1876, and is a son of Calvin and Eliza- beth Walter. Calvin Walter was also born in Greenfield Township and for a quarter of a century has been a prominent resident of Claysburg. In HISTORY OF BLAIR COUNTY politics he is a Democrat and is serying as a member of the board of county commissioners of Blair County. Formerly he conducted a furniture and undertaking business and later was a member of the mercantile firm of Walter and Walter, in 1900 being succeeded in the same by his son, Kirk Walter. His wife is deceased. Kirk Walter received his early educational training in the public schools of Claysburg, after which he entered the State Normal School at Lock Haven, where he was graduated in 1898. He then became an educator and taught school very acceptably for five continuous years, mainly in Logan and Greenfield Townships, Blair County. In 1900, upon the retirement of his father from the firm of Walter and Walter, he succeeded to his father’s interest, the firm - name continuing as before. A general mer- cantile business is carried on and the firm is interested also in the lumber industry and in the manufacture of several special lines, in- cluding treenails, which are used in the manu- facture of wooden vessels, and police sticks, which are supplied particularly to the police force in the city of New York. Both these articles are necessarily of locust lumber and their manufacture is limited to a few plants. On September 5, 1896, Mr. Walter was mar- ried to Miss Jennie D. Johnston, who is a daughter of Dr. J. W. Johnston, of Claysburg, and they have four children: Oliver J., Cor- nelia E., Carlotta E. and Jean M. Politically, Mr. Walter is a Democrat. JAMES A. SELL. The subject of this sketch was born in Freedom Township, Blair County, November 23, 1845, and has resided in the county all his life. His ancestors came from Germany in 1729 and settled in Adams County. His grandfather, Abraham Sell, lo- cated at what is now Blair Township, near Brookes Mills. At this place his father, Daniel, was born and he spent his entire life in the community. He was joined in marriage with Rachel Detwiler in 1832. To them were born eight sons and a daughter, the latter dying in infancy, while the sons are still living, six in AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS Blair County and two in Missouri. Daniel Sell died in 1901 at the age of g1 and his wife a few years later at the age of go. She was a woman of remarkable force of will and strength of character. James A. was the sixth of the family and continued at home on the farm until he became of age. He united with the Church of the Brethren, March 6, 1863, and was elected to the ministry, October 24, 1865, when less than 20 years old. At this time he engaged in teach- ing school and when he attained his majority he accepted a position as associate editor of the “Companion,” a church paper published at Tyrone, Pa., by H. R. Holsinger. His services in this capacity were highly acceptable, but this relation by force of circumstances was brief, lasting but a year. Confinement in an office was impairing his health and he was obliged to take up out-door work. He turned his atten- tion to the carpenter trade and soon became an efficient workman. He was called to the ministry at a time when it was not common to advance very young men to this office. He gave immediate promise of efficiency and his services were in great de- mand. He was called the ‘“‘boy preacher,” and traveled extensively in the central part of his own state and in Maryland, speaking with power and attracting by his vigor and youth, as well as by his clear thought and eloquence, the young both in and out of the church. Or- dained to the office of bishop at the age of 24, it was said that he was the youngest elder in his church. He had a scholarly cast of mind. He was denied the advantage of a college education, but he was a close student and an inveterate reader, and many of his discourses and much of his writing bear proof of high imaginative and poetic quality. He had and still possesses a keen appreciation of the beautiful, as many of his deseriptive sketches indicate. The poetic element was very strong in his nature and some of his productions are worthy of -recog- nition for their literary merit. He composed the song to which music was specially written to celebrate the bi-centennial services of his 539 church. He is also the author of quite a num- ber of other hymns. The most remarkable thing is the inexhaustible store of fitting senti- ment he possessed, suited to all occasions. He possessed a wonderful power of fittingly weav- ing into his discourses the choicest gems of standard literature, and his addresses have al- ways been the delight of the cultured. It has been a matter of much regret to him- self and no less to those who appreciate native ability, that he did not enjoy in his youth the opportunity for a liberal literary training. His educational advantages were limited to the common schools, which in those days were in- ferior in methods and deficient in books. His father’s library consisted of the Bible, Nead’s Theology, a Lancaster Almanac and a few school books. He had a natural love of study and while other young people were amusing themselves in games and social pleasures, he devoted his time to study. The dearth of books led him to read the Bible closely. The simple theology of Nead interested him in the study of the doctrines of the church in which he became deeply grounded. Asa preacher his more studied discourses were of the doctrinal type and he was always in great demand where such presentation was needed. After serving his congregation continuously for forty years, he was relieved of the charge at his own personal request. His words in making this request were: “I feel that the church has bestowed upon me honors and opened up opportunities for culture and de- velopment, and now I desire to afford the same privilege to others.” His zeal was not abated and this mental and physical powers are well preserved and he does considerable preaching. _ On the 19th day of October, 1867, he was joined in marriage with Esther B. Stiffler, of Canoe Creek. To them were born four sons, Matthew W., now deputy prothonotary of Blair County; Jesse C., associate editor of the Al- toona Gazette; D. Elmer, a teacher and justice of the peace, at McKee’s, and Howard M., en- gaged in newspaper work at Hollidaysburg. In 1870, he located at Leamersville, where he has lived continuously to the present time. 540 In 1882 he purchased a tract of land and en- gaged in fruit culture, in 1890 having the largest peach orchard in Central Pennsylvania. He was in great demand as a speaker to dis- cuss fruit culture at farmers’ institutes. His success as a fruit grower gave force to what he said and there followed a wonderful revival of this important branch of husbandry in the county. Thousands of trees were planted as the result, and to him rightfully belongs the credit of reviving an industry that has made for many others a profitable industry. Had he given more attention to his me- chanical work he would doubtless have made a master builder. He could design large build- ings and construct the finest cabinet work. He was indeed self-made and many sided. Al- though he was always engaged and often thronged with pressing demands, he still found time to read and write. He contributed to the church paper on religious, and to the secular papers on moral and industrial subjects. He was at once minister, carpenter, fruit grower, and author, but he will perhaps be remembered best as the author of the booklet, “The Lost Brothers of the Alleghenies,” which will be found reprinted in the present volume. He is now feeling the weight of the years of his simple yet strenuous life, and with a par- donable pride in his pioneer work, he lays no claim to leadership, leading a quiet life sur- rounded by his books, of which he has accu- mulated a great number, extending far and wide into the field of literature. He is modest and conservative, wise in his judgment and untiring in his devotion to peace. SAMUEL L. HAFFLY, a well known agriculturist and dairyman of North Wood- bury Township, Blair County, Pa., residing on his farm of seventy acres, came to this place in the spring of 1905, since when many improvements have given indication of his careful and well directed energies. He was born October 29, 1855, in Middle Woodbury Township, Bedford County, Pa., and is a son of Joseph and Rebecca (Simonton) Haffly. HISTORY OF BLAIR COUNTY Joseph Haffly was born in Bedford County, a son of Samuel Haffly, who was a native of Mifflin County, Pa., and one of the first set- tlers at Morrison’s Cove, in Bedford County. Joseph Haffly spent his entire life in Bedford County, where he died in 1881. He married Rebecca Simonton, who was born in Hunting- don County. They were excellent people who were respected and esteemed in their neighbor- hood. Samuel L. Haffly was educated in the public schools of Bedford County and the Normal School at Bedford, at the time Prof. Harry Fisher was superintendent. Later, Mr. Haffly entered the Eastman National Business Col- lege, at Poughkeepsie, N. Y., where he was graduated in July, 1883. For thirteen terms Mr. Haffly then taught school in Bedford and Blair Counties, never, however, entirely sepa- rating himself from agricultural pursuits for which he has always had a taste and in which he has been eminently successful. Since 1893 he has lived in North Woodbury Township, Blair County, for the past five years being located on his own farm near Martinsburg. Mr. Haffly is one of the progressive and wide- awake agriculturists of this section and he was one of the organizers of that admirable society in Blair County known as the Farmers’ Re- union Association, in 1898, of which he was the first president. Its annual meetings are held at Henrietta, Pa. Mr. Haffly was married to Miss Margaret E. Burget, of North Woodbury Township, Blair County, a daughter of Levi B. and Mary A. (Smith) Burget. Mr. and Mrs. Haffly are members of the Presbyterian church. He is identified fraternally with Cove Lodge, Odd Fellows, at Woodbury, Pa. and of Grange, No. 1387, P. of H., at Martinsburg, of which he is secretary. He has served at times in township offices, being a school director and On one occasion was auditor of Middle Wood- bury Township. Almost all of the old pioneer families have interesting annals of those who dared the hard- ships and dangers of the wilderness in early times. Mr. Haffly relates a story of the family ERSON EM. PATT HON. GEORG AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS of his great-grandfather, Captain Simonton. He was a near neighbor to the Dean family which was so cruelly massacred by the Indians in Blair County and it happened that the night before this event a young son of the Simon- tons was visiting the Deans over night. For some reason he was taken a captive by the savages the next day and when they left the murdered Dean family and their burning cabin, they carried off this lad. All knowledge of his fate was lost to his people until many years later when his identity became known to two of his brothers while they were serving as soldiers in the War of 1812. By that time all his interests were Indian, he having married in the tribe and reared a family and he never returned to civilization. HON. GEORGE M. PATTERSON, who is engaged in the mercantile business at Wil- liamsburg, Pa., with his two sons, J. C. and G. G. Patterson, was born February 14, 1840, on the corner of Second and Spring Streets, Williamsburg, Pa., and is a son of Thomas S. and Margaret (Dean) Patterson. Thomas S. Patterson was born in 1800, in Huntingdon County, Pa., and was there reared to maturity. His marriage with Margaret Dean, wko was also born in Canoe Valley, Huntingdon County, Pa., resulted in the fol- lowing issue: Mary Amanda; Jane Elizabeth, who died in 1863; George M., our subject; John Dean, who died in 1905; and Robert G., who died in 1906. Both parents were members of the Presbyterian church, and they were buried at Williamsburg, Pa. The father was politically a Whig during his early life, and later a Republican. George M. Patterson was reared in Wil- liamsburg and was educated in the common schools and the Williamsburg Academy. He has followed various lines of business but has chiefly devoted his time to farming and the mercantile business. in 1863 Mr. Patterson enlisted for service in the Civil War, in Co. D, 1st Battalion of the 22nd Pa. Vol. Cav., and rose from the ranks to be sergeant of the company. Mr. Pattersc ‘s identified with the 541 Republican party in politics. He was elected a member of the House of Representatives in 1896, -his fourth term expiring December 1, 1g10. Mr. Patterson is a member of the G. A. R. Post No. 474, at Williamsburg, and affiliates with the Masonic lodges of Juniata and Hollidaysburg. He holds membership with the Presbyterian church. In January, 1869, Mr. Patterson was joined in marriage with Miss Mary R. Roller, who is a daughter of James and Margaret Roller, well known. residents of Blair County, Pa. Mrs. Patterson had one sister, Catherine, now deceased, who was the wife of O. J. Mc- Calister; and one brother, Edwin. The follow- ing children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Pat- terson: Mabel, James T., Marion D., J. Carl, George, and Mildred, who is the wife of T. Dean Ross. Mr. Patterson has been a member of-the Pennsylvania Soldiers’ Orphans’ School Commission since 1907. ROBERT D. ELDER, proprietor of the R. D. Elder Lumber Company, and one of the leading contractors and builders of Juniata, Blair County, Pa., was born July 2, 1866, in Cambria County, Pa., and is a son of John C. and Julia (Dillon) Elder. His father is a resi- dent of Colorado, and although now in his eighty-first year, is still hale and active, with the appearance of a much younger man. The mother of our subject was born near Gettys- burg, Adams County, Pa., and was a sister of A. J. Dillon, who was one of the pioneers of Altoona. Robert D. Elder was about one year old when his parents removed from Cambria County, Pa., to Indiana County, and was there reared and educated. He went west with his parents when about eighteen years of age, and spent the greater part of the next eleven years in Colorado. ‘He then returned to the east and located in Altoona, Pa., where he resided six years and during four years of that time was an employe of the Pennsylvania Railroad Company. For the past seven years Mr. Elder has been identified with the business interests of Juniata, where he first followed general 542 contracting for a time. Two or three years after coming here he drifted into the lumber . business, and first established a small lumber yard where he now lives. This he operated until March 16, 1908, when he purchased the Anchor Lumber Company, who were successors to the old Parker Brothers Lumber Company. Mr. Elder has an extensive lumber yard, and also carries paper, hardware, etc., and is one of the principal contractors and builders in Juniata and East Altoona. He has built a large percentage of the residences in Juniata and East Altoona, besides many barns and other buildings, and has furnished the material for many more of which he was not the con- tractor. Mr. Elder was united in marriage with Agnes J. Ling of Indiana County, Pa., and of their union have been born six children: Philip L., who is a carpenter; Benjamin L.; Roberta J.; William Bryan; Charles A. and Robert, who died aged four years. In politics Mr. Elder is a Democrat, although inclined to be independent, and in 1896 was a delegate to the Colorado State Convention. He is a member of the Juniata Borough Council, and was the first Democrat ever elected to that office in this borough. He is a member of the I. O. O. F., and the M. W. A., of Altoona, having been a member of the latter for sixteen years. E. G. BOBB, manager of the D. M. Bare Paper Company at Roaring Spring, Pa., in which he is also financially interested, is an ex- perienced man in this business, having been identified with it for twenty-two years. He was born at Tyrone, Pa., June 21, 1856, and is a son of Major Alexander and Matilda (Mattern) Bobb. Major Alexander Bobb was long a distin- guished citizen of Blair County. He was born in Hanover Township, York County, Pa., in 1823, and died at Martinsburg, May 25, roro. His parents were natives of Germany and his father, Frederick Bobb, came to America in 1818. Alexander Bobb learned the trade of moulder and prior to the Civil War worked in HISTORY OF BLAIR COUNTY a number of foundries through the country and at Martinsburg became very popular with his fellow workmen and citizens generally. This was definitely shown at the time that the first company was raised at Martinsburg for the Civil: War. After reaching Harrisburg the men became dissatisfied with their captain and refused to be mustered in. In this emergency, Mr. Bobb was invited by telegraph to become captain of the company, an office he accepted only after he was convinced that he was the only man that was equally acceptable to all the volunteers. This company served out an en- listment of three months and all returned home but Captain Bobb at once recruited a second company, for a service of nine months, and again as captain led them to the front. The records of those dark days tell of the gallantry of this company at Antietam and at Fredericks- burg and particularly of Capt. Bobb, who there had command of the right wing of the 133d Pa. Vol. Inf. He commanded also at Chan- cellorsville. At the termination of the nine months he returned home once more but only to recruit a third company, of which he was commissioned major by Governor Curtin. He saw hard service up to the close of the war and on April 2, 1865, while taking the breast- works at Petersburg, he especially distinguished himself for bravery and was at once breveted lieutenant-colonel, being one of the limited number of veterans in this section to have won that high official position. From the founding of the Grand Army Post at Martinsburg, he took a deep interest in its affairs and there are many who recall when his home was the ac- cepted meeting place for the public gatherings on Decoration Day, appropriate exercises, in which he took an active part, being held on his front porch. Until the close of his life he was a true and patriotic citizen. After his military service was over, Major Bobb resumed his business interests, purchasing a part of the Martinsburg Foundry, but later moved to Roaring Spring, where he conducted a foundry for three vears, when his plant was destroyed by fire. In his political sentiments he was a Republican and on that ticket, in 1873, E. G. BOBB AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS was elected sheriff of Blair County. He was a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, having united with this body in early manhood. Major Bobb married Matilda Mattern, in 1847, and three sons were born to them: William M., Edward G. and James S. . E. G. Bobb was small when his parents lo- cated at Martinsburg. He attended the public schools there and later, Jefferson College, at Canonsburg, Pa. He left school to enter the shipping department of what is now the D. M. Bare Paper Company, at Roaring Spring, and has advanced step by step until he became man- ager, in 1898, in the meanwhile having acquired partial proprietorship. He has a number of additional business interests, being president of the Roaring Spring Blank Book Company and vice president of the Roaring Spring Bank, in which he is also a director. Mr. Bobb married Miss Clara S. Bare, who is a daughter of Hon. D. M. Bare, of Roaring Spring, and they have had two sons, Ralph D. and Chester, the former of whom is deceased. Mr. Bobb is a Republican in his political views but has no desire for public office. Neither is he identified with organizations outside of the business world, but possesses the characteristic American devotion to home life and to quiet recreations. H. A. DAVIS, a prominent attorney and one of the leading citizens of Altoona, Pa., has been identified with the legal profession of Blair County, Pa., since 1895, and was born July 4, 1867, in West Township, Huntingdon County, Pa. Mr. Davis was reared in Hunt- ingdon County, and obtained his education at the Stone Valley Academy, at Juniata College, and the West Chester State Normal School, of which he is a graduate and post-graduate. He taught in the public schools of this state and South Dakota, and also taught mathematics in the State Normal School at West Chester, Pa. While a-student of law in the University of Michigan, at Ann Arbor, he devoted some time to literary work, and graduated in law from the University of Michigan with the class of 1895, and on December 2, of that year was 545 admitted to the bar. Since then he has been located at Altoona, where he has been actively engaged in professional work, and also has a large practice in all the courts of the state, the District and Circuit Courts of the United States and the United States Supreme Court. Mr. Davis is attorney for four corporations, and for the Anti-Saloon League of Altoona and Blair County, as well as for the State Anti-Saloon League. Mr. Davis is a prominent and an active member of the Presbyterian church as well as an elder, to which office he was elected in January, 1899. He had the honor of sitting as a commissioner in the General Assembly of the Presbyterian church in 1906 and 1907, where he did some valuable work in the in- terests of the temperance cause. He has been chairman of the Forward Movement committee of the First Presbyterian church since the or- ganization of that body, and is a very active worker in the Presbyterian Brotherhood, which he served two successive terms as president. Mr. Davis is a member of the Blair County Bar Association, and is one of its board of managers. Fraternally he is a member of the Heptasophs, the Modern Woodmen of America, the Royal Arcanum, the Knights of the Golden Eagle, and the Patriotic Order of Sons of America. On November 4, 1896, Mr. Davis was-united in marriage with Miss Roberta S. Clark, of Chambersburg, Pa., and they have two chil- dren: Margaret Elizabeth and Janet Wilson Davis. REV. FREDERICK R. ZOOK, of the Church of the Brethren, is a highly regarded minister in this body, and a respected citi- zen of North Woodbury Township, living near Martinsburg, Pa. He was born in North Woodbury Township, Blair County, Pa., November ‘Io, 1870, and is a son of John H. and Hannah (Fishel) Zook. John H. Zook and wife were both born in Pennsylvania, he in Blair County and she in Bedford County. They now reside at Curryville, Pa. The Zooks came originally 546 from Switzerland, the earliest one to settle in what is now Blair County being John Zook, a pioneer blacksmith. His son, Frederick Zook, was the grandfather of Rev. Frederick R. Zook. The brothers and sisters of the latter are: Irvin F., residing at Curryville, Pa.; Annie, wife of Reuben Quarry, of Martinsburg; Sadie, living at Curryville, and Simon F,. and Mary, also residents of Curryville. The parents of the above family are members of the Church of the Brethren. In politics John H. Zook is a Republican. Frederick R. Zook obtained a public school education in North Woodbury Township, and afterward assisted his father on the home farm until he entered the Pa. Railroad ‘shops at Altoona, where he was employed for five years. Mr. Zook owns a finely cultivated farm of twenty-four acres, and is a member of the well known firm of Zook & Seedenburg, threshers, who do a large amount of business in this section every season. Since 1905 Mr. Zook has been an accepted minister in the Church of the Brethren and in this relation is esteemed and beloved. Mr. Zook married Miss Annie Seeden- burg, a daughter of George Seedenburg, of North Woodbury Township, and they have five children: Martha G., Elizabeth, Paul, Esther and Larue. Although a good citi- zen and ever lending his influence in the support of good government, Rev. Zook, on account of his religious beliefs, takes no act- ive part in politics. FRANK GLESSNER, one of the old and representative business men of Hollidays- burg, Pa., whose department store is situ- ated on the Diamond, on the corner of Alle- gheny and Montgomery Streets, has been a resident of Blair County since 1867. He was born on a farm in Somerset County, Pa., May 10, 1848, and is a son of Josiah and Judith (Landis) Glessner, both being prominent old Somerset County families, HISTORY OF BLAIR COUNTY When fifteen years of age, Mr. Glessner left the farm and became a clerk for Ed- mund Kiernan, who kept a cross-roads’ store, and after a year’s experience went in- to a store at Johnstown, where he worked for eighteen months and later was employed for two years in Westmoreland County. After that he was with the house of Wood, Morrell & Co., now the Pennsylvania Traf- fic Company, for sixteen years, attaining the responsible and lucrative position of dry goods buyer for that firm, which was then located at Hollidaysburg. In 1882 he em- barked in a general mercantile business for himself and for sixteen years occupied the west corner of the Diamond. In 1898 he bought the Opera House Block, his present location, and now operates the largest store in Hollidaysburg. He has floor space 40 by 100 feet, and carries a general line of mer- chandise, specializing on dry goods and shoes. He requires the services of four clerks. On January 1, 1873, Mr. Glessner was married to Miss Alice C. Buoy, and they have one daughter, Mary, named for Mrs. Glessner’s mother. The family residence is at No. 907 Allegheny Street. Mr. and Mrs. Glessner are members of the Presbyterian church. He isa Republican in politics. For a number of years he has been a Free Mason and belongs to Blue Lodge and Chapter at Hollidaysburg, and also to the Heptasophs. Mr. Glessner is one of the broad-minded, liberal men of this city and takes an interest in everything promotive of its welfare. THOMAS FRANCIS MARTIN, de- ceased, at the time of his death, on. October 20, 1909, was living retired after many years of active effort, thirty of which he spent at Altoona, Pa. He was one of the city’s old- est contractors and one of the most capable and reliable, and had been prominently iJen- tified with some of the most important en- gineering enterprises in Pennsylvania for a quarter of a century. Mr. Martin was born AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS in County Cavan, Ireland, in 1843, and when two years old was brought to Amer- ica by his parents. Mr, Martin’s boyhood was spent in the city of New York. When he first came to Altoona he entered the employ of Campbell Brothers, who soon recognized the real abil- _ity of the young man. In a surprisingly short time, considering circumstances, he embarked in business for himself and al- though almost alone among strangers, won favorable attention at once which later re- sulted in wide-spread celebrity in his line of endeavor. Space here would not be suffi- cient to name all the important work done by Mr. Martin in the comparatively few years of his great activity,’ but probably those which will serve to perpetuate his name for ages was the building of Lake- mont Park, and the construction of the big impounding dam at Kittanning Point. _Many other exceedingly important con- tracts were completed under his direct supervision, some of these being of a public character and located at Washington, D. C. Another was the magnificent reservoir’ at Pottsgrove, Pa. During the closing year of the Civil War, he served as a soldier in the 1oIst Pa. Vol. Inf. ; Mr. Martin was twice married, his first wife dying in 1900. His second marriage was to Miss Roberta Roddy, who, with two sons, Francis and James, survives, residing in the family home at No. 409 Third Ave- nue, Altoona. Mr. Martin was a faithful member of St. Mark’s Catholic church. He was a man of kind heart and generous im- pulses and was ever ready to respond to the calls of charity. . ELI D. SMITH, one of Huston Town- ship’s prominent and reliable men, who is niow filling the office of township assessor, to which he was elected on the Democratic ticket, was born May 2, 1857, on the farm of 200 acres which he owns and resides on, this being one of the old and valuable properties of Huston Township, Blair County, Pa. 547 His parents were Jacob B and Susan (Dill- ing) Smith. Jacob B. Smith was a lifelong resident of Huston Township. His father, John Smith, came very early to this section, set- tling on the farm which has descended from father to son for several generations. Jacob B. Smith followed agricultural pursuits. He was a Democrat in politics and at times served in township offices but he was a ‘quiet, home-loving man and found his great- est happiness in attending to his daily duties and providing for the comfort of his family. He married Susan Dilling, who was. also a native of Huston Township, and of their children the following survive: David D., Jacob D. and Eli D., all residing in Huston Township; Henry, residing at Martinsburg; John D., living in. Huston Township; and Elizabeth D., wife of Aaron B. Mock, of Martinsburg. Jacob B. Smith and wife were members of the Church of the Breth- ren. Eli D. Smith was reared on his present farm and since boyhood has taken part in its cultivation. This large estate is known as Smithfield Farm and he devotes it to general farming and stockraising. Mr. Smith was educated in the public schools of Huston Township, and like his late father has always taken a deep interest in them. He has served in many public offices and for six years was tax collector of the town- ship, is serving in his second term as asses- sor, has also been auditor and judge of elec- tions and for seven years was a justice of the peace. This prominence speaks for itself as a proof of the confidence in which he is held by his fellow citizens. Mr. Smith was married to Miss Sallie Likens, who was born at Mine, Huston Township, a daughter of Isaac Likens, a well known citizen in former days. Mr. and Mrs. Smith have thirteen children, namely: Clarence L. and Eldie L., who live in Hus- ton Township; Mary L., who is the wife of Samuel Brumbaugh, of Huston Township; Lucy, who is the wife of Sanford Rhodes, 548 of Huston Township; and Allen, Heaster, Minnie, Olney, Aman, Denver, Beulah, Ger- trude and Robert. DAVID H. C. BRUMBAUGH, a repre- sentative citizen and substantial agricultur- ist of North Woodbury Township, Blair County, Pa., who resides on his finely culti- vated and well improved farm of ninety-two acres, was born in this township, August 15, 1860, and is a son of Samuel and Elizabeth (Hoover) Brumbaugh. Samuel Brumbaugh was a son of George Brumbaugh, an early settler in North Woodbury Township, and both followed farming as an occupation. Samuel Brum- baugh was twice married and of his numer- ous children, the following are yet living: Hannah H., who is the wife of John S. Stodnour, of Martinsburg; William H. C.; who lives at Clover Creek; John H., who is a farmer in Huston Township; Susan H., who lives in North Woodbury Township, is the widow of Isaac Kensinger ; Catherine H., who is the widow of Adam Baker; Levi H. and David H. C., both of whom reside in North Woodbury Township; Mary H., who is the wife of Luther Steele, of Martins- burg; Jeremiah H., who lives in Huston Township; Aaron H., who follows farming in North Woodbury Township; Andrew H., who lives in Huston Township; and Edward H., whose home is in Taylor Township. When David H. C. Brumbaugh was about fifteen years old his father died, but the youth continued to live in North Wood- bury Township and there attended school. He has devoted himself almost exclusively to farming and stock raising, and owns property that is very valuable. He married Miss Jennie Glass, a daughter of the late William Glass, a former prominent resident of this township, and they have three chil- dren: Bessie G., who is the wife of Irvin H. Benner, of Roaring Spring; Elvin G., who is in business at Roaring Spring; and John M., who lives with his parents. In politics Mr. Brumbaugh is a Democrat. HISTORY OF BLAIR COUNTY HON. J. LEE’ PLUMMER, an ex-mem- ber of the Pennsylvania House of Repre- sentatives, a foremost member of the Blair County bar amd a prominent citizen of Hol- lidaysburg, Pa., was born in Snyder Town- ship, Blair County, Pa., September 20, 1859, and is a son of James S. and Charlotte (Wharton) Plummer. The early members of the Plummer family came from England and the first to be recorded in Pennsylvania was Richard Plummer, who was the great- great-grandfather of J. Lee Plummer. This ancestor settled in Huntingdon County in 1780, and his son, John Plummer, located in Cambria County in 1804. William R. Plummer, son of John and grandfather of J. Lee Plummer, was born in Cambria County in 1812. He was in the employ of the Pennsylvania Railroad Com- pany during the larger part of his life, and met an accidental death on the road, in 1879, while in the performance of his duty. Of his eleven children, James S. Plummer, father of J. Lee, was born in what is now Blair County, in 1835. James S. Plummer was a leading citizen of Blair County for a number of years. He served as postmaster at Tyrone and resided there until 1880, when he was elected regis- ter and recorder of Blair County and then moved to Hollidaysburg. He was subse- quently re-elected and served until 1887. At the present writing (1910) he is serving in the office of court crier. He married Charlotte Wharton, a daughter of Alexan- der Wharton, the latter of whom was born in Ireland. A family of eleven children has been born to Mr. and Mrs. Plummer. J. Lee Plummer was educated in the pub- lic schools of Tyrone, and his first exper- ience in business was as a clerk in the Ty- rone yards of the Pennsylvania Railroad Company. He found his duties congenial, and one year later became a brakeman on a passenger train over the Tyrone Division and remained with the company until 1881, when he moved to Hollidaysburg and be- came his father’s deputy in the office of reg- H. W. GOOD, M. D., D. 0. AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS ister and recorder, and in November, 1880, he was elected register and recorder and served continuously until 1896. In that year he was admitted to the bar of Blair County and has a large practice. Mr. Plummer has been a very important factor in county politics for many years and is a Republican leader. From 1884 until 1886, he served as secretary of the Repub- lican County Committee, and as chairman of this important body during 1887 and 1888. In 1902 he was elected to the Pennsylvania House of Representatives and was re- elected to the same body in 1904. In the session of 1905 he was chairman of the Ap- propriation Committee, the leading com- mittee of the House. In 1905 he was nomi- nated on the Republican ticket for state treasurer, but that was a disastrous year for the Republicans all over the country, and Mr. Plummer was defeated. Mr, Plummer was married in April, 1882, to Miss Mary A. Silknitter, daughter of John Wesley Silknitter, of Huntingdon County, Pa., and they have one son and one daughter: J. Lee, Jr., and Ethel. J. Lee Plummer, Jr., was born December 27, 1889, and is a student in the University of Penn- sylvania. Ethel Plummer was born July 27, 1888, and resides with her parents. The pleasant family home is situated at No. 605 Allegheny Street. Mr. Plummer has many fraternal associations. He is a member of Juniata Lodge, No. 282, F. & A. M.; of Mt. Moriah Chapter, No. 166, Royal Arch Masons, and of Mountain Commandery, No. 10, Knights Templar, and to other organi- zations of a beneficiary nature. With his wife he attends the Methodist Episcopal church. His busy office is situated at No. 509 Allegheny Street, Hollidaysburg. H. W. GOOD, M. D., D. O., the leading ex- ponent of the science of Osteopathy at Altoona and a very successful practitioner, was born in the city of Philadelphia, where he was reared and mainly educated. 551 Dr. Good attended the schools of his native city and prepared under a local practitioner for entrance into Jefferson Medical College and was graduated from there in the class of 1887. He still further increased his. scientific knowl- edge by taking a post-graduate course in the Maryland Medical College and later was gradu- ated from the Union College of Osteopathy. For a number of years he was in active practice in Philadelphia but since coming to Altoona, in 1906, he has devoted himself entirely to non- pharmaceutical therapeutics, which is the heal- ing art without drugs, and numbers among his patients many who have tried other systems for the cure of their ailments without success. He is one of the valued members of the Blair County Osteopathic Society. Dr. Good was married at Philadelphia, to Miss Ida Flexer, of that city. They are mem- bers of the Reformed church. He is affiliated with the Masons and belongs to other organi- zations. ABRAHAM L. STIFFLER, postmaster at Canoe Creek, Pa., and proprietor of a general store in the village, is the owner of a comfortable residence and two acres of land surrounding it. He was born in Frankstown Township, Blair County, Pa., in September, 1860, and is a son of Joseph and Mary (Leighty) Stiffler. Joseph Stiffler was a son of Henry Stiffler, a very early settler in Frankstown Town- ship. The former was a farmer all through his active lifé and was one of the leading members of the Dunkard church here. He married Mary Leighty and both are now de- ceased. To them were born the following children. Nancy, who is the widow of Rob- ert Curry; Mary Jane, who is the wife of J. J. Noffsker; Harrison; William, who is de- ceased; Sylvanus; Esther, who is the wife of James Sell; Sarah, who is the wife of Isaac Metzgar; Jacob H.; George; Abra- ham L., and Susan, who died when aged nine years. Abraham L. Stiffler attended the public schools and then spent three terms in the 552 Huntingdon Normal School, after which he returned to the home farm and there en- gaged in agricultural pursuits until 1900, when he became manager of a store at Point View for three years. From there he came to Canoe Creek and entered into the mer- cantile business here and in 1905 he was appointed postmaster. He does a large and safe business and also attends to his off- cial duties in a manner entirely satisfactory to the public. In March, 1888, Mr. Stiffler was married to Miss Emma Berger, a daughter of Davis and Catherine (Winkler) Berger, who were farmers in Frankstown Township and the parents of the following children; Eliz- abeth, who is the wife of J. N. Koofer; Eph- raim; Frank; Della, who is the wife of J. H. Robison; Emma, who is the wife of Mr. Stiffler; Margaret, who is the wife of W. H. Harpster, one of the county commissioners of Blair County; Linda; Lewis and May. Mr. and Mrs. Stiffler have had three chil- dren born to them, namely: Ira, Mary, who married Grant Smith and they have one son, Alfred; and Lewis. Mr. Stiffler and family are members of the Brethren church. In politics he is a Republican. He has always been interested in the educational advance- ment of the community and has served on the school board. WILLIAM H. GOOD, an enterprising farmer and highly respected citizen of Blair County, Pa., resides on a farm of 140 acres in Logan Township, and was born on his present place, August 18, 1856, a son of Peter and Rebecca (Hileman) Good. The Good family was established in Blair County, Pa., by Peter Good, grandfather of our subject, who came here at an early period from Maryland and located in Frankstown Township. He always fol- lowed farming and spent the remainder of his life in this locality. Peter Good, father of our subject, was born in 1817, in Franks- town Township, and in 1856 located in Lo- gan Township, where he purchased a tract HISTORY OF BLAIR COUNTY of 140 acres, which is now owned by Will- iam H. Good. For a short time he operated a grist mill in Eldorado, and in 1880 moved to Hollidaysburg, where the lived retired until 1895, when his death occurred. He married Rebecca Hileman, who was born in 1824 in Frankstown Township, and was a daughter of Frederick Hileman, and of their union were born seven children, two of-whom are still living: Anna M., who is the wife of M. A. Young of Hollidaysburg, and William H., our subject. Mr. Good was poor director for a time and frequently served in the various township offices. Mrs. Good survived her husband until 1902, and both are buried at Hollidaysburg. They attended the Lutheran church of Hollidays- burg. : William H. Good has always lived on his present farm and obtained his education in the local schools and the Southwestern Nor- mal School at California, Pa., but left the latter institution before graduating on ac- count of ill health. Mr. Goad carries on farming in a general way, and has 140 acres of improved farm land, all improvements having been made by Squire Cowen pre- vious to 1856, when the property was-pur- chased by the father of William H. Good. In 1880 Mr. Good married Lavinia. W. Stiffler, who was born in Freedom Town-- ship, and is a daughter of James M. and Elizabeth (Weaver) Stiffler. Eleven chil- dren were born to them, namely: William Oliver, who is deceased; Samuel Peter, who lives on a farm adjoining that of his father, married Verda Irvin; James M.;. Frank Hyer; Mary Olive, who is the wife of C. E. Gaines, of Altoona, and they have one daughter, Mary Lavinia; and Florence Grace, Frederick Alvin, Rebecca, Pearl Elizabeth, Adelaide, and George Russell. Mr. Good is politically a Republican, al- though inclined to be independent, and has served nine years as a school director, and is now serving his third year as supervisor of the township. The family are members of the Lutheran church, DANIEL J. NEFF AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS DANIEL J. NEFF, one of the founders of the Blair County Bar Association, and a man of great professional prominence in Central Pennsylvania, is the Nestor of the Altoona bar, having come to this city in 1860 and been in continuous practice here ever since. During this long period he has witnessed great local changes—all for the better—and can take reasonable pride in the fact that his own profession has had a not unimportant part in bringing about the improved conditions of life which obtain to- day. Mr. Neff has entered into his seventy- eighth year, having been born January 3, 1831, in Porter Township, Huntingdon County, Pa. His parents were Daniel and Mary (Huyette) Neff. Daniel Neff, father of Daniel J., was a son of John and Fannie (Kauffman) Neff, and was born in Huntingdon County, January 19, 1793, and was there reared. His wife Mary was a daughter of John and Elizabeth (Grove) Huyette, and a granddaughter of Louis Huyette, who was a native of France. The Neffs came from Switzerland and it is recorded in the annals of the family that two brothers—John Henry and Francis Neff—settled in Lancaster County, Pa., prior to 1715, and for many years thereafter the names of members of the family ap- peared in the public records as owners of lands, incumbents of public offices, or in other. ways exercising the duties of an ac- tive and useful citizenship, John Henry Neff, above mentioned, was the first edu- cated physician in Lancaster County, Pa. Daniel J. Neff, the subject of this present record, prepared for college in the schools of Alexandria and at Huntingdon Academy, and was graduated from Marshall College, at Mercersburg, in the class of 1851. He then entered upon the study of law, doing his preparatory reading in the office of Hon. S. S. Blair, at Hollidaysburg, and later at- tending the law college at Poughkeepsie, N. Y. In 1856 he was admitted to the Blair County bar and practiced for a while both at Hollidaysburg and Tyrone. In 1860 he 553 took up his residence in Altoona, finding here at that time but two competitors, both of whom are but indifferently remembered by him. At different times Mr. Neff was associated with partners, and for a number of years was at the head of the law firm of Neff, Hicks & Ambrose. This partnership was subsequently dissolved and Mr. Neff has since continued in practice with Mr. J. D. Hicks as a junior partner. He practices in all the courts and has won victories in many noted cases of litigation. He main-. tains offices at Nos. 22-24 Hutchinson Block, Altoona. Though the extent of his profes- sional interests have not allowed him to devote much time to politics, he has always taken a warm interest in the public affairs of his city and county. In business affairs aside from those of his profession he is iden- tified with the Second National Bank of Altoona and other important concerns. Mr. Neff was married September 24, 1873, to Miss Susanna B. Gray, of Altoona, and they have one daughter, Pauline Louise. The family residence—a handsome and taste- ful structure—is at No. 1512 Twelfth Ave- nue, Altoona. MAJOR JOSEPH A. COLVIN, foreman of the plant of McLanahan-Stone Machine Company, at Hollidaysburg, Pa. and a thoroughly experienced man in everything pertaining to machinery, is prominently identified with the Grand Army of the Re- public and holds three commissions from aide-de-camp to commander-in-chief in that organization. He was born September 6, 1843, at West Salem, Beaver County, Pa., and is a son of Robert and Julia Colvin, | both of whom are deceased. Joseph A. Colvin was rendered fatherless by death-when he was an infant and thus his advantages in early life were more or less limited in many ways. He was sixteen years old when he went to Allegheny City and entered machine shops there but before he completed his apprenticeship he enlisted | for service in the Civil War. On August 22, 554 1862, he became a member of Co. E. 136th. Pa. Vol. Inf., and took part in many battles before he was seriously wounded in the knee, at Fredericksburg, December 13, 1862. This brought about his honorable discharge on May 29, 1863. He then re- turned to Allegheny City and completed his interrupted apprenticeship, after which he was employed by the Fort Pitt Foundry Company at Pittsburg and while there as- sisted in completing many large contracts, including heavy ordnance for the use of the Government, and also for the material for the construction of the St. Louis and Chi- cago Water Works. He left there in 1872 and came to the Bloomfield mines where he erected the machinery for the washing of ore; later built the machinery for the Rod- man furnaces neaf Roaring Spring, and in February, 1878, became foreman for the McLanahan-Stone Machine Company, which position he has retained ever since. Over fifty young men have served their term of apprenticeship as machinists under his direction, and many of them hold not- able positions. Major Colvin was married October 4, 1864, to Miss Elizabeth Gregg, of Alle- gheny, and they have had five children, namely: Charles, who married Sarah Reiley; Adda, who married Edward Plum- ber; Walter, whe is foreman of the Stand- ard Steel Works at Lewistown, Pa.; Bessie, _ who is the wife of James B. McClure, and Beresford, who is general foreman of the Westinghouse Electric Works. He married Isabella Bunker. All the children are hap- pily settled in life and Major Colvin is proud of the fact that they are all doing well. In politics he and his sons are Republicans. He is a member of the Odd Fellows and the G. A. R., and has taken a very active part in Grand Army affairs in this section, and in 1893 served as Junior Vice Department Commander of the Department of Pennsyl- vania. The comfortable family residence is at No. 120 Newry Street, Gaysport, Pa. HISTORY OF BLAIR COUNTY M. M. MORROW, one of the prominent attorneys and leading citizens of Altoona, Pa., has been a lifelong resident of Blair County, where he was born in 1868, and comes of one of the oldest established families of the county. He is a son of Samuel Morrow, who was born in Blair County, Pa., in 1819, a farmer by occupation, and is a grandson of Robert Mor- row, whose father settled in this county pre- vious to the Revolutionary War. M. M. Morrow grew to maturity in Sinking Valley, and after attending the public schools, the State Normal School and Grove City Col- lege, graduated from the last mentioned in 1892, having taken a scientific course. After- ward Mr. Morrow taugh school for four terms in Blair County. His knowledge of the legal profession was obtained in the offices of the late Judge Martin Bell, and he was admitted to the Blair County Bar, March 11, 1895. He has since been continuously and _ successfully engaged in practice at Altoona, and in the various courts of the state. He is a member of the Blair County Bar Association, served one term in the state legislature, and was solicitor of the school board several years. He is fraternally a member of the Masons, and the Junior order of Mechanics, and his re- ligious connection is with the Broad Avenue Presbyterian Church of Altoona. On Septem- ber 21, 1898, Mr. Morrow was joined in mar- riage with Mary M. Tussey of Blair County, and of their union have been born two chil- dren: Elizabeth J. and Anna Margaret. REV. JOSEPH FOGEL, deceased. The sudden death on September 26, 1909, at Johns- town, Pa., of Rev. Father Joseph Fogel, brought heavy bereavement to his surviving parents, brothers and sisters, and occasioned deep grief also to other members of the Cath- olic clergy, who knew and loved him well, and to the congregation of St. John’s Catholic Church at Johnstown, to which he had ad- ministered as assistant priest for more than one year. Father Fogel, or to give his full name, Joseph Roy Fogel, was born at Hollidaysburg, JOHN J. IRWIN Pa., November 15, 1879. He was one of five children and was the oldest son of Augustus and Margaret (McCue) Fogel, of Young’s Crossing, on the Logan Valley Railway. Augustus Fogel was born in Pleasant Valley, Pa., March 26, 1855. His father was born in Prussia. Augustus Fogel remained with his father until he was twenty-two years of age, helping him in his contracting business, and then started for himself. He is now counted one of the leading contractors of Blair County. He mar- ried Margaret McCue, a daughter of Thomas and Mary (Sullivan) McCue, who came to America from Ireland in 1854. Thomas Mc- Cue was a miner by trade and. lived at Holli- daysburg where he died April 9, 1901. His widow and five children survived him. Mr. and Mrs. Fogel reside in a fine residence near Hollidaysburg, which is constructed of con- crete. The boyhood, youth and early manhood of the late Father Fogel were all passed at Holli- daysburg and there still live many of his old friends who tenderly cherish his memory. He was of natural brilliancy of intellect. He at- tended St. Mary’s parochial schools and later the Hollidaysburg public schools, graduating there in the class of 1897. It was his own choice to become a priest and he pursued his studies at St. Vincent’s at Latrobe; St. Mary’s at Baltimore, and finished his course at St. Bernard’s, at Rochester, N. Y. He was or- dained at St. John’s pro-cathedral, Altoona, on June 9, 1906. He was given charge in turn of the Parishes at Frugality and Blandsburg, Cambria County, and subsequently officiated as the chaplain at St. Aloysius Academy, at Cres- son Springs. From there he went to St. John’s, at Johnstown. Father Fogel celebrated his first mass at St. Mary’s, Hollidaysburg. He seemed so well equipped for the self sacrificing and useful call- ing he had chosen, and was so enthusiastic in its work, that kindred, neighbors and friends could not fail to deeply lament the crushing of their hopes. He possessed talents which gave great promise of a useful life in the church AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS 557 and he was fitted with those personal attributes which give influence to a spiritual leader. At- tending his obsequies and mingling their tears with those of his nearest relatives, were some of the highest dignitaries of the Catholic church in Pennsylvania and as they surrounded his bier and celebrated high mass, they extolled his virtues. His remains rest in St. Mary’s Cemetery, but the lesson of his beneficent life will be as an ever widening stream. MOSES LINGENFELTER, a prosperous agriculturist and lumberman of Blair County, Pa., and a well known citizen of Greenfield Township, was born in this township, January 4, 1864, and is a son of George and Barbara (Claar) Lingenfelter, long people of promi- nence in this section, parents of a large family and worthy examples of right living in every relation of life. Moses Lingenfelter is the youngest born in a family of eleven children, all of whom sur- vive with one exception. He obtained his edu- cation in the schools of Greenfield Township and ever since has been interested in lumbering and farming. He owns a one-half interest in the old homestead farm of 400 acres and is also a member of the well known lumber firm of Walter & Lingenfelter, with which his older brother, Z. T. Lingenfelter, is also con- nected. ' Mr. Lingenfelter married Miss Lucinda Musselman, a daughter of David Musselman, of Greenfield Township, and they have had three children, the two survivors being: Fan- nie, who is the wife of C. Hileman, of Green- field Township; and Katie, who lives at home. ‘Mr. Lingenfelter is a Republican in his political preference and has served his township very acceptably in the office of road supervisor. He is interested in everything looking to the im- provement of agricultural conditions and is identified with the Claysville Grange, Patrons of Husbandry, and is serving his lodge in the office of door-keeper. JOHN J. IRWIN, who has been a resident of Altoona, Pa., since 1884, has served in his 558 present position as city alderman since 1902, and was born in Center County, Pa., in 1848. He was reared in Center County, Pa., and be- came a member of the legal profession in that county in 1871, and after practicing law there for some years, came to Altoona where he en- tered the employ of the Pa. R. R. Company. In 1892 he suffered a stroke of paralysis and was never able to resume his work with the Railroad Company. In 1902 he was appointed alderman by Governor Stone, to succeed Joseph McCleary. In the spring of 1903 he was elec- ited to that office and at each following election has been reelected, his present term expiring in April, 1813. Mr. Irwin was united in marriage with Sarah D. Harkness of Cumberland, Pa., and they have two children: Samuel M., who is a clerk in the general superintendent’s office of the Pa. R. R. Company; and Harry H., a ma- chinist, who is also employed by the Pa. R. R. Company. © Mr. Irwin is a member of the Sec- ond Presbyterian Church of Altoona. DANIEL B. TEETER, a highly respected citizen of North Woodbury Township, Blair County, Pa., who came to his present place of residence in the spring of 1902, is known through both Blair and Bedford Counties as a skillful carpenter and painter. He was born June 26, 1858, in South Woodbury Township, Bedford County, and is a son of John N. and Annie (Bulger) Teeter. John N. Teeter was born in Blair County, a son of Daniel Teeter, who was an early settler near what is now Roaring Spring. For many years John N. Teeter engaged in farming in Bedford County and there his death occurred April 25, 1905. He was a very worthy man and was a member of the Church of the Brethren. Of his children the following sur- vive: Samuel B., who lives in Bedford County; Joseph B., who lives at Loysburg, Pa.; Mary B., who is the wife of John Z. Kochendarfer, of Bedford County; Lucy B., who is the widow of David R. Snyder, lives in South Woodbury Township, Bedford County; Carrie B., who is the wife of Jacob HISTORY OF BLAIR COUNTY W. Snyder, of Bedford County; Sarah B., who lives also in Bedford County, is the widow of Joseph S. Guyer; Daniel B.; Hannah B., who is the wife of Rev. Herman S. Guyer, of Bedford County; and Andrew B., who also lives in Bedford County. Daniel B. Teeter went to school in boyhood and grew into sturdy youth on his father’s farm and then learned the carpenter trade, one that he has followed with more or less regular- ity ever since as many substantial structures all through Blair County stand to prove his skill and dexterity. In addition he has done a large amount of painting and also understands put- ting up spouting and attaching iron and steel roofing. All of his work demands great skill and accuracy and he has built up a very sub- stantial reputation. Mr. Teeter was married first to Barbara D. Hoover, a daughter of the late Frederick P. Hoover, once a man of large means in South Woodbury Township. Five children were born to this marriage, the two survivors. being: Frank and Annie M., the former of whom is a popular teacher. Mr. Teeter’s second mar- riage was to Miss Sadie G. Myers, a daughter of the late John Myers, of North Woodbury Township, and two daughters have been born to them: Cora Z, and’ Catherine P. Mr. Teeter and family are members of the Chirch of the Brethren. In politics he votes with the Republican party but has never consented to hold office. CHRISTIAN HILEMAN, who is presi- dent of the school board of Frankstown Township, Blair County, Pa., is a represent- ative citizen of this section and owns a one- half interest in a farm of 128 acres. He was born in Turkey Valley, or Canoe Creek, Blair County, January 19, 1861, and-is a son of Christian and Catherine (Todd) Hileman, both of whom are deceased. They were members of the Presbyterian church and their remains rest in the Presbyterian Cem- etery at Hollidaysburg. The father of Mr. Hileman was born on the farm on which his son resides but the AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS mother was a native of Juniata County. The father was both a farmer and surveyor and he laid out some of the townships in this section when the surveys were made. He was an active member of the Democratic party in Frankstown Township. His chil- dren all survive except the eldest. They were: Clarissa, deceased, who was the wife of Blair A. Brua; T. T.; Gertrude H., who is the wife of Reynolds Allen; Winfield S., and Christian. Christian Hileman attended the township schools until he was eighteen years of age, since which time he has given his attention exclusively to farming along general lines and to attending to the public duties which good citizenship imposes. He has proved his value as a member of the township school board and is serving in his second term as president of this important body. He is an earnest Democrat but has accepted no office other than the one indicated. In August, 1893, Mr. Hileman was mar- ried to Miss Fannie S. Shubert, a daughter of John and Margaret (Turk) Shubert, who were prominent farming people of Franks- town Township during life. Mrs. Hileman has the following brothers and _ sisters: V. F.; Mary, wife of Gus Coofer; Margaret, wife of James Lee; John; Andrew, and Catherine, who is the wife of Aden Kerns. Mr. and Mrs. Hileman have six children: Ruth, Dean, Frederick, Shubert, Allen and James. The family belongs to the Presby- terian church of Hollidaysburg. H. W. CULP, one of the leading mem- bers of the Blair County bar, and a mem- ber of the well known law firm of Craig & Culp, of Altoona, Pa., is a native of Sinking Valley, Blair County, Pa., and a son of Samuel Culp, deceased. The father of our subject was a native of Huntington County, Pa., and at an early age came to Blair County, where he was a resident for fifty years. H. W. Culp obtained his educational training at the Indiana State Normal School 559 and Grove City College, then taught school three terms, after which he read law with H. M. Baldridge of Hollidaysburg, and was admitted to the Blair County bar in 1895. He immediately thereafter embarked in the practice of law at Altoona, and one year later formed a partnership with M. M. Mor- row of this city, and in 1897 joined the law firm of Craig & Bowers under the name of Craig & Bowers Law Co. Since the death of Mr. Bowers in 1904, the firm has been Craig & Culp, which is recognized as one of the leading law firms of Altoona. They are attorneys for the Merchants Association, and Chamber of Commerce, and are also en- gaged in practice in all of the courts of the state. Mr. Culp is fraternally a member of the I. O. O. F. and J. O. M. His religious connection is with the Broad Avenue Pres- byterian Church. Mr. Culp was married in 1902 to Margaret Crawford, and they have three children: Foster, Samuel, and Margaret. . ROBERT C. IRVINE, who is engaged in the lumber manufacturing business at Hol- lidaysburg, Pa., with office and residence at No. 414 Wayne Street, a handsome build- ing erected by him in 1902, is a representa- ‘tive business man of this city to which he came in 1896. He was born December 27, 1857, at Duncanvile, Pa., and is a son of William H. and a grandson of Andrew Irvine. Andrew Irvine, grandfather of Robert C., came to America from the north of Ireland, in 1790, and located in Lancaster County, Pa., where he and wife spent their remain- ing days. William H. Irvine, father of Rob- ert C., was born in Lancaster County and came from there to Huntingdon County, and from 1828 until 1835, was assistant man- ager of the Pennsylvania Furnace. He then went to Warrior’s Mark where he married Anna E. Coffee, a native of that place, and from there they moved to Duncansvile. Having decided to settle permanently ‘at this place, Mr. Irvine bought a large farm ~ 560 and also the Duncansville Inn, an old-style public house. In 1859 he purchased the Tyrone City Hotel, which he conducted for a number of years, when he returned to his farm near Duncansville, following farming until 1870, when he retired to the village, where he had erected a comfortable resi- dence, and there he died in 1884, aged sev- enty-eight years, his wife having passed away but a few weeks previously, at the age of sixty-nine years. They had eleven chil- dren, namely: Oliver Mayberry, Lloyd, Al- fred C., William P., John F., Robert Christy, Adaline, Hannah, Emma, Westanna and Margaret. The eldest son, Oliver Mayberry Irvine, familiarly known as Mayberry, was a gal- lant soldier and for years a man of promise and prominence. He was much older than his brother, Robert C., and had already suf- fered the loss of his wife and daughter when the latter was born, and to this young brother he acted as a father and the tender- est memories of him are preserved. He was born in 1833, married in 1856 and died in 1899. He was one of the first captains or conductors on the State or old Portage Rail- road and remained with the company until the line was sold out to the Pennsylvania Railroad and continued until 1861. The opening of the Civil War found him ready to face its issues and he went to the front as captain of a company in the 3rd Pa. Vol. Inf. After the close of this nine-month en- listment he came back home and helped to organize the 84th Pa. Vol. Inf. and went out with that regiment with the rank of major. He was subsequently incapacitated by typhoid fever and was honorably dis- charged for disability. During the re- mainder of his life he followed civil engi- neering. It is said of him that few men pos- sessed so remarkable a memory as he. That he was also careful and painstaking is shown by a diary he kept for over thirty years, covering all the. important local events during that time, and it was written with such accuracy that it could be safely HISTORY OF BLAIR COUNTY consulted to prove many transactions of those days. This diary is carefully pre- served by Robert C. Irvine, who gratefully acknowledges the debt he owes to Major Irvine, not only for his fatherly as well as brotherly interest but also for the manly and inspiring example he set. Major Irvine was county surveyor for many years and laid out numerous highways through this section. : Lloyd Irvine, the second older brother of Robert C., served also in the Civil War and at its close was in the.commissary depart- ment of the 125th Pa. Vol. Inf. He then went to Cumberland County, Pa., and died in 1904, aged sixty-five years. Alfred C. Irvine, the third son, served also in the Civil War and was a private in the 125th Pa. Vol. Inf. After he returned home he entered the employ of the Pennsylvania Railroad Company and for many years was a con- ductor and for twenty-two years was sta- tion master at Washington, D. C., resigning that position to accept that of postmaster of Station D, in that city, which office he was holding at the time of his death, in 1907. William Irvine, who is now living retired, was station master at Altoona for thirty-two years. John, who was also in the railroad service, was a passenger con- ductor for many years and died in 1882. Adaline, who is now deceased, was the wife of Alexander Irvine. Hannah is the widow of D. G. Owens, of Tyrone, Pa. Emma is the wife of T. L. Armstrong, of Altoona. Westanna died in 1882. Margaret, the youngest of the family, is the wife of Daniel Higgins, of Williamsburg, Pa. Robert C. Irvine was reared at Duncans- ville and attended school there, after which he entered the employ of his brother-in-law, T. J. Armstrong, who was a general mer- chant at Altoona. This was his first work, with the exception of the duties he had been able to perform at different times for his brother, Major Irvine, who frequently per- mitted him to accompany him on his sur- veying trips. Mr. Irvine remained with Mr. AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS Armstrong from 1874 until 1878 and then spent three years as a clerk for the Empire Oil Company, after which he went into the machine shops of the Pennsylvania Rail- road, where he continued until 1884. He then returned to Mr. Armstrong’s store for three years more and in 1887 he embarked in the retail coal business at Duncansville and continued in that line until 1894, when he started into his present business and two years later came to Hollidaysburg. He is a stockholder in the Citizens’ National Bank of this city, of which he was one of the organizers. On October 4, 1892, Mr. Irvine was mar- ried to Miss Anna A. Ditting, a daughter of the late William Ditting, of Hollidaysburg. They are members of the Lutheran church. In politics he is identified with the Republi- can party but is not unduly active in public affairs, taking a larger amount of interest in business life. JAMES H’. DYSART, deceased, in former years one of Altoona’s foremost citizens, a successful merchant and a man of high moral and philanthropic aims, was born in Hunting- don County, Pa., January 7, 1832, son of Joseph and Mary Ann Dysart. He was edu- cated at Millwood Academy and at Jefferson College, Canonsburg. Physically frail, as the result of a fall in childhood, he was intended for a profession, but on arriving at manhood his own personal inclinations led him to seek other channels of occupation. However, he followed the profession of teacher to some ex- tent. Mr. Dysart was married March 25, 1856, to Miss Martha A. Beyer, a daughter of Aaron and Lydia Beyer, of Blair County, and having been appointed ticket and freight agent for the Pennsylvania Railroad Company, at Altoona, he immediately took up his residence in this city. After holding the above men- tioned position, the duties of which he per- formed with energy and ability, for eight years, he resigned it in 1864 to enter into bus- iness for himself as coal miner and shipper, in \ 561 association with William C. Keller purchasing the business of Cooper & Co. at Lilly’s Station, Cambria County, Pa. Five years later Mr. Daniel Laughman succeeded Mr. Keller as a member of the firm and with him Mr. Dysart continued the business for twelve years. Mr. Dysart was blessed with a cheerful, op- timistic nature, backed by courage and deter- mination, and although he suffered many bus- iness reverses, he never allowed himself to be discouraged, but after every loss, renewed the fight with increased vigor and in the end con- quered, a gratifying success which doubtless would have been still more complete had he been spared to reach more advanced years. In the fall of 1879, however, he was seized with the illness that terminated his life, and after some months of suffering he passed peacefully away on March 21, 1881. His chief regret at being called away so soon— next to that at parting with his beloved wife— was that he was thus prevented from carrying out in full measure the plans he had formed for the promotion of the public good ‘and in the interests of philanthropy. Much, however, had been accomplished by him in this direction —to such an extent that he was universally regarded in the community as an unselfish public benefactor, and it was a common saying among the citizens that ‘there was only one Dysart.” ?cidentally killed by a blast in a stone quazcy, in Bedford County, Pa. Three sons and three daughters were born to the parents of our subject: Margaret (Mrs. Frank), who resides on Twenty-ninth Street, Altoona, Pa.; John and Andrew, both of whom reside in Altoona; Joseph P.; Rosanne (Mrs. Foster), who lives near Rosehill Ceme- tery; and Mary (Mrs. McFarland), who lives in Philadelphia. The mother is now a resi- dent of Altoona, being in her eighty-seventh year. Joseph P. Wertzberger was about seventeen years old when he came from Bedford County to Altoona, Pa., with his widowed mother and -the family, and after working about at various places, learned the carpenter’s trade, which he followed seven or eight years in the West. After his return to Altoona, he continued working at his trade for about eighteen months, then leased the McCabe House on Ninth Avenue, and successfully managed that for one year and nine months. In 1886 he purchased a hotel on Tenth Avenue and suc- cessfully operated same until 1907, since which time he has been residing on his farm in Logan Township, which he had purchased some twenty years before. Mr. Wertzberger was united in marriage with Mrs. Barbara Burgoon, who is a native of Blair County, Pa. and a daughter of Charles and Caroline (Sweigert) Baier. Her father was a native of Germany, and for some years lived in Altoona, but spent his later years on a farm in Logan Township, where he died. Mrs. Wertzberger was the youngest of five children born to her parents. She is the mother of two children by her marriage with Albert Burgoon: N. H. Burgoon, who is pro- prietor of a drug store located.on the corner of Seventh and Twelfth Streets; and John T., who is a traveling salesman. Her marriage with Mr. Wertzberger resulted in the follow- 59! ing issue: Harry Stephen, who is a machinist, at Altoona, married Alma Cunsman; Joseph L., who is employed as a stenographer, and Charles S., who was born on the farm in Logan Township. The three brothers, operat- ing under the name of Wertzberger Brothers, are raising chickens along scientific lines. Al- though they have been in the business but little more than two years, they are meeting with much success and have captured numer- ous prizes at the various shows, where they have exhibited. Mr. Wertzberger is a mem- ber of St. Mary’s German Catholic Church. He belongs to the B. P. O. E. SIMON NEUWAHL, deceased. It was with profound sorrow that the citizens of Altoona, Pa., learned of the death of a man of more than usual worth, Simon Neuwahl, who had been identified with the growth and development of this city for over forty years. Born in a foreign land, he, like sev- eral of his illustrious countrymen, became well qualified to lead men and masses of another land and language. His ideal was the uplifting of those with whom he be- came in any way associated and whether with tongue, pen or purse, he left an im- press that will not be forgotten. Simon Neuwahl was born November 26, 1835, in the town of Neschede, province of Westphalia, Prussia, and died in his home at No. 2506 Bond Avenue, Altoona, Octo- ber 16, 1909. He was the second son of nine children born ta Solomon and Miriam Neuwahl. He was well educated in the schools of Prussia and then learned the printing business at Brilon. In 1851 the father died and in September of that year, being thrown on his own resources, he took passage on the steamer Hansa, out from Bremen, and arived in the port of New “York, October 6, 1851. He was ignorant of the English language and therefore found difficulty in securing work in a printing office at first, and while learning it worked as a clerk in a mercantile establishment. He later became the editor of the Volks~- HISTORY OF BLAIR COUNTY freund, at New Berlin, Union County, Pa., and almost immediately through his talent and native ability became a leader in pub- lic affairs in that section and soon advanced into still greater prominence. He estab- lished several newspapers, first the Snyder County Journal and later the Selinsgrove Times; for one period was editor of the Sunbury Democrat and was the founder of the Ashland Advocate, of Schuylkill County, both still flourishing journals. He ‘also edited and published the Altoona Sun. His activity in journalism’ continued until after the close of the Civil War, about 1868, when he retired from newspaper work. In September, 1868, he embarked in the mercantile business at Altoona and the re- mainder of his long and useful life was spent continuously here. He was one of the city’s most respected citizens. It is said of him that his judgment on any questron was es- pecially valuable on account of it being ever careful and deliberate. He was broad: minded and charitable to a fault and prob- ably his most noted characteristic was his rugged honesty. As a public official, how- ever, he was ever affable and courteous. When his death occurred he was serving in his second term as license tax officer. He was one of the leading members of the Hebrew Reformed congregation and was one of the organizers of the Beacon Light Club. In his political views he never swerved from the principles of Democracy but had accepted no other political office than the one mentioned above. Mr. Neuwahl had not been in normal health since 1904 but immediate dissolution was not expected at the time of his peaceful passing away. His burial was in the beautiful Jewish Cemetery and a vast concourse of sorrowing friends were in attendance. Both branches of the Altoona City Council adopted resolutions testifying to the high regard in which Mr, Neuwahl had been held and closed with this telling tribute: “Resolved—That in the death of Simon Neuwahl, the city has lost a good and faithful servant and a worthy citizen, one AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS who was painstaking and conscientious in all his dealings as a man and an official, and in expressing our sorrow at the death of a brother official and an exemplary citizen we are not un- mindful of the deep grief of a sorrowing family and to whom this body extends sincere and heartfelt sympathy in this time of trial.” He was identified with Altoona Conclave No. 102, Improved Order of Heptasophs. Mr. Neuwahl was married January 6, 1869, to Miss Hettie Levy, of New York, who pre- ceded him to the grave on December 18, 1904. One daughter, Blanche, died in 1887, at the age of four years. The following children sur- vive: Mrs. Minnie Simon, Gus Neuwahl, Mal- colm H. and Rosalie Neuwahl of Altoona, and Julius W. Neuwahl, of New York. Mrs. Simon is the widow of August Simon, who for- merly was a prominent citizen of Altoona, and was at the head of the large shoe store at No. 1402 Eleventh Avenue, which is still conducted as a partnership by Mrs. Simon and her brother, Malcolm H. Neuwahl, under the firm name of A. Simon & Co. August Simon was born in Germany, No- vember 4, 1863, a son of Solomon and Miriam (Fredlander) Simon, and died at Altoona, June 8, 1904.. On June 27, 1889, he was mar- ried to Miss Minnie Neuwahl and one daugh- ter was born to them, Mabel, who is the wife of Harry Bing of Pittsburg. Mr. Simon was a very successful business man. The name of Simon in the shoe business means quality of a high order. . SAMUEL M. SHRIVER, a prominent and respected citizen of North Woodbury Town- ' ship, Blair County, Pa., residing on his finely cultivated farm of ninety-one acres, is a native of this township born here December 29, 1844, and is a son of Samuel and Nancy (Metzker) Shriver. The father of Mr. Shriver was born in Adams County, Pa., where he remained until he was fourteen years of age. The death of his father at that time made it necessary for him to provide for his own support and he came to what is now Morrison’s Cove, in Blair 595 County, and started to learn the carpenter trade. After completing his apprenticeship he worked at his trade for many years at Martins- burg and became one of the borough’s best known men:and here his death occurred in the spring of 1880, when he was in his eighty- third year. He was a man with strong con- victions of right and was not afraid to make them known even when they were generally unpopular. He was identified with the Repub- lican party. In 1836 he united with the Luth- eran church. Although he never sought public office he was frequently made a school director and also served as a director of the Blair County Infirmary. He married Nancy Metz- ker, who was born in Blair County and died in 1885. Of their children four survive, namely: Elizabeth, who is the widow of Jon- athan Hoover, and lives in North Woodbury Township; Isaac M., who resides at Curry- ville; Christiana, who is the wife of Abraham Kauffman, of North Woodbury Township; and Samuel M. Samuel M. Shriver grew to man’s estate in North Woodbury Township and attended the country schools through boyhood, making such good use of his opportunities that he taught three winter terms of school to the sat- isfaction of the school directors. He carries on general farming, not entirely in the old way, for he is a very intelligent and well informed agriculturist and formerly was one of the act- ive members of the Grange, Patrons of Hus- bandry, at Curryville. In these days the chil- dren have the best of school advantages and it is because wise, broad-minded and intelligent men like Mr. Shriver consent to serve on the school board. He has served three years in North Woodbury Township, being president of the board for one year and also serving as its secretary. On October 22, 1876, Mr. Shriver was mar- ried to Miss Mary A. Diehl, who was born in North Woodbury Township, August 27, 1853, a daughter of Daniel M. and Elizabeth (Zook) Diehl. Her father was born in York County, a son of John Diehl, an early settler in Bed- ford County, and her mother was born in 596 Blair County, a daughter of Jacob Zook, who built one of the first houses: at Morrison’s Cove. Mr. and Mrs. Shriver have had two children, Daniel T. and Mary B., the latter of whom is now deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Shri- ver are members of the Church of the Breth- ren. HENRY C. LORENZ, J. P., one of Roar- ing Springs’ best known. citizens, who has served in the office of justice of the peace for - the past fifteen years, is also the leading insur- ance man in the borough and controls a large business in fire risks. He was born in Free- dom Township, Blair County, Pa., November 15, 1841, and is a son of Bernard Lorenz. The latter was a pioneer furnace man in this sec- tion and built the first furnace at McKee’s Gap, for Edward Shoenberger. He was in business for some time with Levi G. Leamer and the firm of Lorenz & Leamer operated the Rebecca Furnace, in Huston Township, for six years. His death occurred in 1866. Henry C. Lorenz was ten years old when his parents moved to Petersburg, Huntingdon County, Pa., and he lived there untll he was “nineteen years of age, and then returned to Blair County. He attended school in both counties and later was a student for one year in the Pennsylvania State College, located in Center County. After that he took charge of a store at Rebecca Furnace, for Lorenz & Lea- mer, and in the course of time became the as- sistant manager of that plant with his father. Later he became bookkeeper for Sarah Fur- nace and subsequently filled the same position for Essington Hammond, at Franklin Forge and at Maria Forge and still later was book- keeper for Charles Knapp & Co., at Rodman, Pa. Mr. Lorenz has been a resident of Roar- ing Spring for a quarter of a century and soon after locating here he became bookkeeper for Morrison, Bare & Cass, and afterward for D. M. Bare & Company. For several years he was also manager of the Roaring Spring Blank Book Company and_ the original plant was built under his supervision. Mr. Lorenz filled other positions of responsibility. For four HISTORY OF BLAIR COUNTY years he was secretary and treasurer of the Blair & Cambria Lumber Company, with headquarters at Altoona, and since then he has been engaged in the fire insurance business and is serving in his fourth term as justice of the peace, and for twelve consecutive years was au- ditor of Blair County. In local affairs he has been a very active citizen and his usefulness has been recognized by his fellow citizens. He was elected one of the first councilmen of the borough, and for nine years was a member of the school board and ‘for a number of years its treasurer. In politics he is a Republican. Mr. Lorenz married Miss Laura Leamer, a daughter of the late Samuel Leamer, of Lea- merville, Pa. They have four surviving chil- dren: Frank K., who resides at Roaring Spring; Walter M., who is a resident of Pitts- burg; Harold C., who is in business as a chem- ist at Bradford, Pa., graduated from the Penn- sylvania State College, in 1910; and Robert D., a student at Dickinson College, Class 1911, and Dickinson Law School, Carlisle, Pa., who resides at home. Mr. Lorenz and family are members of the Methodist Episcopal church and he has filled numerous church offices. He is a representative citizen of Blair County, and his different interests and public services have made him widely known. ~ LOUIS PLACK, deceased, was formerly the president of the Altoona Urban Mutual Fire In- surance Company and was also extensively in- terested in the real estate business and addition- ally concerned in other larger enterprises at Altoona, Pa. Mr. Plack was born in Germany April 22, 1829. His father was George Plack, who died when he was small, and his mother was left with two young sons tc whose rear- ing and education she devoted herself. When fourteen years old, Louis Plack be- came apprenticed to a baker, and after serving with him for two years worked four years as a journeyman baker. Equipped with this excel- lent trade, he was not afraid to face the world, and in 1849 he came to America, and imme- diately found employment in the city of New York. In 1850 he went to Connecticut and AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS continued work at the bakery trade until 1852, when chance led him to Hollidaysburg, Pa. He engaged there for a short time in the bakery and confectionery business and then came to Altoona, where he established himself as a baker and grocer. In 1862 he also opened up a tannery at Altoona. In 1863 his grocery store was destroyed by fire and he did not re- sume merchandising until 1871, and then con- tinued but one year, his other interests having accumulated and being of more importance. In 1863 he built a planing and steam saw mill and still later embarked in the real estate busi- ness, and this, in the course of years, became one of large volume. In 1904 he became prest- dent of the Altoona Urban Mutual Fire In- surance Company, with which he was identified continuously until his death, which occurred September 19, 1908. In 1853 Mr. Plack was married to Miss Elizabeth Wehn, and ten children were born to them, all of whom were afforded educational and other advantages. One son, Bertram V. Plack, is a large coal dealer at Altoona, miner ‘and shipper of the celebrated P black coal and a dealer in all grades of anthracite. His offices and yards are located at No. 1000 Twenty- fourth Avenue, and No. 816 Eighth Street, while his main office is at No. 1030 Green Ave- nue. Bertram V. Plack served as councilman for his ward in 1907 and 1908. After the death of David Koch, in 1909, he was elected . the treasurer of the Altoona Urban Mutual Fire Insurance Company. Bertram V. Plack was born at Altoona, Pa., in 1874, and was educated in the public schools and an institution at Lawrenceville, N. Y., of which he is a graduate. He married Miss Elizabeth Rigg, a daughter of George Rigg, and they have two children: Louise and Car- men. Another son of the late Louis Plack is Louis Plack, Jr., who is connected with the Altoona Motor Car Company, and resides at No. 1302 Tenth Avenue. Other sons are equally prominent, one being an architect of note, and another a minister in the Congrega- tional church. The sterling qualities which en- abled the father to honorably advance himself 597 from comparative obscurity to a place among the capitalists in the city in which he chose his home, have, in large measure, been reflected in his sons. HARRY T. STIFFLER, who resides on a ‘farm of thirty acres in Canoe Creek, Pa., is mail carrier for the Canoe Creek Post Office, and was born November 1, 1840, in Allegheny Township, Blair County, Pa., and is a son of Joseph and Mary (Leighty) Stiffler. Joseph Stiffler was born in Blair County, Pa., a son of Henry and Nancy Stiffler, and fol- lowed farming here all his life. His union with Mary Leighty, who was a daughter of Jacob and Barbara Leighty, resulted in the fol- lowing issue: Nancy, who is the widow of Robert Curry; Jane, who is the widow of J. J. Noffsker; Harry T., our subject; William, who died in the army during the Civil War; Esther, who is the wife of Rev. James Sell, a United Brethren minister; George R.; Sarah, who is the wife of Isaac Metzker; and A. L. Stiffler, whois the postmaster at Canoe Creek, Pa. The parents of our subject were both members of the United Brethren church. They were buried in the Carson Valley Cemetery. Harry T. Stiffer was reared in Blair County County, Pa., and after obtaining a common school education, learned the carpen- ter trade, which he followed for four years, since when he has always followed farming and in connection with same has served about twenty years as postmaster of Canoe Creek, having been appointed during President Lin- coln’s administration. In 1864 he enlisted for service in the Civil War, in Co. M., 9th. Vol. Cav., and served until the close of the war, be- ing honorably discharged in June 1865. In October, 1867, Mr. Stiffler was united in marriage with Mrs. Clara (Brown) Harpter, whose first husband was killed in the war. She is a daughter:of David and Anna (Neid- rich) Brown, and has one sister, Catherine, who is the widow of Alvin McKenzie. Mr. Stiffler is politically a Republican, but has never cared to hold office. He belongs to the - United Brethren church. He is a member of 598 HISTORY OF BLAIR COUNTY the G. A. R. and has not missed one National Encampment for twenty-nine years. SAMUEL COLCLESSER is a member of the well known firm of Colclesser Brothers of Eldorado, Pa., who are manufacturers of axes, picks, and other edge tools, and comes of one of the prominent early families of Blair County. He was.born April 15, 1850, in Logan Township, at what is now Eldorado, and is a son of Daniel and Susanna (Kissell) Colclesser. Among those found to have located in Logan Township late in the eighteenth or early in the nineteenth century was Henry Colclesser, grandfather of our subject. Henry Colclesser was born in Washington County, Md., and about the beginning of the nineteenth century settled in the vicinity of McKee’s Gap. A few years later he removed to Sugar Run, where he worked at his trade as a blacksmith, and also manufactured various kinds of edged tools. In 1824 he moved to Ohio and ten or twelve years later moved to Indiana, where he died. He was twice married and was father of ten children, of whom David, father of our sub- ject, was the fourth youngest by his first wife. Daniel Colclesser was born in 1808 and re- mained with his father in Ohio until 1828, then came to that part of Huntingdon County which is now known as Blair County, and re- mained for a brief period at Duncansville. In 1832 he established the axe and pick factory on Burgoons Run, and carried on the business until 1878, when he was succeeded by his sons, John and Samuel. Daniel served as justice of the peace and also in other official capacities. He was married while a resident of Duncans- ville, to Susanna Kissell, who was a native of Dauphin County, and of the six sons and one daughter born of their union, the following survive: Mary; John, a resident of Eldorado; Samuel; Adie, a resident of Eldorado; and William, a resident of Cincinnati. Samuel Colclesser was reared and educated in Eldorado, and since early manhood has been engaged in the manufacture of edge tools, as had his father and grandfather before him. He formerly carried on the business in partner- ship with his brother, John Colclesser, who sold his interest in the business to their brother, Adie Colclesser, and the firm is known as Col- clesser Brothers. They for many years manu- factured picks for the Pennsylvania Railroad, and made marking tools for the United States Government Forestry department. They also manufacture hunters’ tools and knives and solid steel chisels for car builders. Mr. Colclesser was joined in marriage with Ellen Oves, a native of Altoona, Pa., and a daughter of John H. and Sarah J. Oves. She was for some years a teacher in the schools at Altoona. Mr. Colclesser is politically an inde- pendent Republican, and religiously, is a mem- ber of the First Regular Baptist church of Al- toona. : JOHN. KAZMAIER, sole proprietor of the Germania Brewery, one of the old business plants of Altoona, Pa., is one of the city’s most substantial citizens and the owner of one of the handsomest residences and private grounds in Blair County. He was born in Erie County, Pa., April 25, 1861, and is a son of Andrew and Barbara (Renz) Kazmaier. Andrew Kazmaier was born in Germany and there learned the brewing business. In 1848 he came to America, landing at Castle Garden, New York City, and from there made his way to Erie, Pa. There he engaged in the brewery business and built up a large enter- prise and became a well known and respected business man. In 1860 he sold his brewery interests and then retired to a farm which he had previously acquired and there passed the remaining years of his life. He married Bar- bara Renz, also a native of Germany, who died in 1894. They had eleven children born to them. John Kazmaier secured a good common school education in Erie County and when he decided to follow his father’s vocation, the latter sent him to Europe that he might be thoroughly instructed according to the way in the old country. In 1879 he returned to Amer- ica, having served his apprenticeship under. JOHN KAZMAIER AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS some old masters of the trade, and located at Baltimore, Md., where he served for three years as a brewery master and from there went to Philadelphia, and later to. Johnstown, Pa., serving in different breweries as master, and then settled at Columbia, in Lancaster County, and established his own brewery. He re- mained in business there until 1896, when he came to Altoona and bought the Germania Brewery, which has been in existence since 1852. Under his management, however, the plant has been entirely reorganized. The improvements he made cost $209,000, and these included every modern equipment made use of in this industry. A very large force is kept constantly employed and the amount of business done annually is enormous. Mr. Kazmaier was married first to Miss Barbara Buck, who died in November, 1904. She was survived by one daughter, Amelia L., who is the wife of Emil Hoerl, superintend- ent of the Kazmaier Brewery. Mr. Kazmaier was married a second time, to Miss Nellie Kemp, a daughter of John Kemp, of Clearfield County, Pa. Mr. Kazmaier and family are members of the German Lutheran church to which he gives liberal support. He is a man of large charity and contributes generously to all benevolent movements and public spirited enterprises that have for their object the bene- fiting of Altoona. He has established his home at Sylvan Hill, a beautiful suburb of Al- toona, where he has almost a palatial residence, surrounded by fifty-five acres of grounds im- proved by every device of the landscape art- ist’s art. It is beautiful beyond description and visualizes to the beholder what pictures of beauty and dignity, combined with solid com- fort, can be produced by the exercise of the combined taste and skill of artist, architect and builder—supplemented by unlimited cap- ital. JAMES H. DAVIS, county treasurer of Blair County, Pa., is not only one of the most efficient and satisfactory but also one of the most popular men now serving in the county’s official family. He was born in Clearfield 601 County, Pa., May 23, 1854, and is one of the four surviving children born to his parents, James E. and Rachel (McCammett) Davis, the former of whom died in 1883. James H. Davis is in large degree a self- made man. He attended the district schools in his youth and-then began the life of a railroad man, entering this service at the bottom and gaining promotion and for some years before he accepted his present office was a passenger conductor. In this capacity he became widely known. He was first elected county treasurer in 1907, and took charge of the office in 1908 and has continued. | / Mr. Davis married Miss C. Dasher, a daugh- ter of John Dasher, and they have three daughters: Janetta P., who is the wife of Samuel Watts, of Altoona; and Eleanor L. and Geraldine, both of whom reside at home. Mr. Davis and family are members of the Presbyterian church. They reside at No. 808 Fifth Avenue, Altoona. He belongs to several fraternal organizations, and among these are the Knights of Pythias, the Knights of Malta and the Order of Railroad Conductors. FRANS ENGSTROM, city engineer of Al- toona, Pa., and a native of Stockholm, Sweden, was born in 1851, and was reared and edu- cated in his native city. In 1881 Mr. Eng- strom came to the United States and located in Pittsburg, Pa., where he was for many years connected with the Pa. Railroad lines west of Pittsburg, and also engaged in engineering - work for Pittsburg, for which city he built the Highland Reservoir, capacity 125 million gal- lons. He then spent three years in the employ of the Carnegie Steel Company, for whom he built at West Homestead, the largest car axle plant in the world, and was afterward in the employ of the American Bridge Company three years. About three years ago, Mr. Engstrom came to Altoona to fill an unexpired term as city engineer, and at the end of that term was re-elected to that office. He is also engineer for the International Steel Tie Company. In 1884 Mr. Engstrom was joined in mar- riage with Bertha Lindstrom, also a native of 602 Stockholm, Sweden, and to them have been born nine children, of whom the following sur- - vive: Thor A., a student at Carnegie Tech- nical Schools of Pittsburg; Dora-M., who is the wife of Wayne E. Booher of Altoona; Birger W.; and Gertrude. Mr. Engstrom has been a member of the American Society of Civil En- gineers since 1892, and a past officer of Engin- eers’ Society of W. Pennsylvania and is a member of the University Club, and also is affiliated with the Knights Templar and the Shrine of Pittsburg, and the Elks and Moose, of Altoona. SIMON SHOEMAKER, a well known resident of Allegheny Township, Blair County, Pa., who resides in a comfortable home on the outskirts of Hollidaysburg, was born in Green- field Township, Blair County, September 14, 1849, and is a son of Andrew and Anna (Kel- ler) Shoemaker. Andrew Shoemaker and wife were both born in Germany, natives of Baden, and in 1848 they came to American and located at what was known as Allegheny Furnace, in Blair County, Pa. The father was a soldier in the Civil War but lived to return, and died in Blair County. Of the children of Andrew and Anna Shoemaker, four soris survive; Simon; John, residing at Tipton, Blair County ; Joseph, residing in Allegheny Township; and Andrew, residing in Allegheny County. Simon Shoemaker attended the district schools in his boyhood and the schools of Hol- lidaysburg. He engaged in farming for a num- ber of years and in 1889 located on his present place. For nearly thirty years he conducted a milk route through Hollidaysburg and had re- tained some families as customers during the entire period. He sold out his route in TQO5 and has lived retired since then. ,He is a mem- bor of the board of directors of the Blair County Home. . Mr. Shoemaker married Miss Rachel Webb, a native of Chester County, and a daughter of William Webb, formerly of Hollidaysburg, and six children were born to them: John H., who is proprietor of the Franklin House, at HISTORY OF BLAIR COUNTY Gaysport, Pa.; Mary, who is the wife of B. C. Wilt, of Hollidaysburg; Stella, who is the wife - of William Malligan, of Gaysport; Joseph Ir- vin, who lives at Hollidaysburg; Jesse R. and. Charles C., both of whom live in Blair Town- ship; and William, now deceased, who was for- merly proprietor of the Logan House at Hol- lidaysburg. In politics, Mr. Shoemaker is a Republican. He is a member of the order of Elks, at Altoona, and of the Duncansville Grange, at Duncansville, Pa. ANGUS B. STEWART, whose valuable farm of 185 acres is situated in Frankstown Township, Blair County, Pa., was born in this township, July 9, 1850, and is the only surviv- ing child of his parents, who were Harvey and Susan (Brua) Stewart. Harvey Stewart was born also in Franks- town Township and was a son of Henry and Elizabeth (Moore) Stewart, early settlers in this section, and of Scotch extraction. Harvey Stewart engaged in farm pursuits until his death, at the age of forty-four years. He mar- ried Susan Brua, who survived to be eighty- seven years of age. Her parents were Daniel and Mary ( Buckwalter) Brua. Angus’ B. Stewart attended the district schools in his boyhood and then turned his at- tention to farming and has continued in this line, the cultivating of his land and the raising of stock bringing him contentment, together with ample financial results. On November 28, 1871, Mr. Stewart was married to Miss Ruth E. Robinson, daughter- of Joseph and Dorcas (Elliott) Robinson, and a granddaughter of Abraham and Mary (Mc- Kewan) Robinson, and of Joseph and Ruth (Holliday) Elliott. The parents of Mrs. Stew- art are both deceased. Her father was a mem- ber of the Legislature for two years and a man of state prominence. She is the youngest of her parents’ family, the others being: Marga- ret, now deceased, who was the wife of Elias Moore; John, who is deceased; and Joseph. To Mr. and Mrs. Stewart seven children have been born, namely: Joseph H., who died at the age of eighteen years; Harry H., who HARVEY STEWART JOSEPH ROBINSON ; ANGUS B. STEWART AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS died, aged two years; Harry M., who is a prac- ticing physician in Cambria County, Pa. ; Olive, who is the wife of Guy Smith; and Frank, Mary and Ethel, who reside at home. Mr. Stewart and family are members of the Presby- terian church at Hollidaysburg, to which his parents also belonged, and in the shadow of which their ashes rest. Politically Mr. Stew- art is a staunch Republican as was his father before him, but he has seldom found time to serve in public capacities. He is interested in educational matters, however, and has been a school director and for one year served as supervisor of Frankstown. Township. FRANK J. OVER, postmaster at Holli- daysburg and editor of the Hollidaysburg Reg- ister, was born at Bedford Pa., February 1 5) 1857, and is a son of David and Elmira (Far- quhar) Over. He belongs to a family that can be traced as far back as 1718, when two broth- ers of the name of Over left their home near the Rhine, in Germany, and came to America. They settled in Lancaster County, Pa., and -ever since their descendants have been num- bered among the stable, reliable and represent- ative citizens of the state. David Over, father of Frank J., was long a , prominent and influential citizen of Blair County. He was born in Bedford County, April 5, 1825, and was a son of John and Catherine (Zollinger) Over. His father was a native of Franklin County, removing from there to Bedford -in 1820, where he continued to' reside until his death in 1857. The mother of David Over belonged also to an old Ger- man family that was founded in America about 1720. On both sides the family had distin- guished themselves in the Revolutionary War, and on the paternal side also in the War of 1812 and the War with Mexico, while it re- mained for the still later Overs to make the name notable in the Civil War. David was reared at Bedford and after his period of school attendance was over, served as appren- tice to the printing business, completing it about the'time when the call came for troops forthe Mexican War. He enlisted in Co. L., 603 and Pa. Inf., and served until the close of that struggle, and then returned to Bedford ready to resume peaceful pursuits. In 1850 he pur- chased and assumed editorial charge of the Bedford Inquirer, which he conducted) until 1864 when he disposed of it. In the mean- while he had satisfactorily served as treasurer of Bedford County, to which office he was elected in 1856. In 1865 he became the editor and publisher of the Lewistown Gazette and continued in this relation for one year. In 1868 he removed to Hollidaysburg where he became editor and senior proprietor of the Hol- lidaysburg Register, continuing the same until his death in December, 1900. He was an act- ive Republican, and in political circles from an early age took a leading part, and in the edi- torial management of his paper helped to strengthen his party in this section of the state. In 1880 he was a delegate to the National Re- publican Convention at Chicago, and was one of the immortal 306 who stood by General Grant in that convention. In 1886 Mr. Over was elected treasurer of Blair County and served out his term with characteristic effi- ciency. In 1853 David Over was united in marriage with Elmira Farquhar, a daughter of William N. Farquhar, of Bedford. Six children were born to them, namely: Virginia, who is the wife of S. C. McLanahan; Frank J., who is postmaster at Hollidaysburg; Julia, who mar- ried Harry H. Gardner, of Webb City, Mo.:- Nellie, who resides with her mother at No. 412 Penn Street, Hollidaysburg; and William Henry and Mary Elizabeth, both of whom are deceased. Frank J. Over was educated in the public and private schools of Hollidaysburg and in boyhood entered his father’s printing office to learn the business. He completed his appren- ticeship and on March 16, 1884, was admitted to a full partnership by his father, the firm style adopted being D. & F. J. Over. On the death of his father Mr. Over became sole proprietor. Reared as he was he could scarcely fail to give support to the doctrines of the Republican party, of which he is a very influential mem- 604 ber. In 1892 he was appointed postmaster at Hollidaysburg, and served one term when he was succeeded by the late S. Gibson Barr. In 1905 he was again appointed to this important office by ex-President Roosevelt, and was re- appointed in 1909. He is a member of the bor- ough school board and, like his late father, is interested in everything that tends to advance the interests of Hollidaysburg or Blair County. Mr. Over was married June 14, 1883, to Miss Anna C. Bailey, of Sinking Valley, and they have four children: Stuart B., Elizabeth, Frances Ruth and Frank J., Jr. Elizabeth married H. H. Garrigues and they live at Kit- tanning, Pa. The family home is at No. 801 Walnut Street, Hollidaysburg. LEVI B. BURGET, one of North Wood- bury Township’s best known citizens, his fam- ily being several generations old in this section of Blair County, Pa., was born in this town- ship, July 13, 1841, and is a son of Adam and Catherine (Bolger) Burget. Adam Burget was a lifelong resident of North Woodbury Township, engaging there in agricultural pursuits. His father, David Burget, had settled in this township in its. early days. Adam Burget was a man of local prominence and held many township offices, He was twice married and the children who survive are the following: Jacob B., of North Woodbury Township; Isaac B., of Fredericks- burg, Pa.; Levi B.; Andrew B., a minister, re- siding at Fredericksburg; and Adam K., of North Woodbury Township. Levi B. Burget grew to manhood on the home estate, attended the public schools in youth and since then has been continuously en- gaged in farming and stock raising. He is numbered with the representative men and suc- cessful farmers of North Woodbury. Mr. Burget was married to Miss Mary A. Smith, a daughter of the late George C. Smith. a former leading citizen of North Woodbury Township. Mr. and Mrs. Burget have had six children, as follows: Margaret. who is the wife of L. S. Haffley, of North Woodbury Township: Cath- erine J., who is the wife of N. M. Briden- HISTORY OF BLAIR COUNTY baugh, of Altoona, Pa.; Nancy, Mary and Franklin S., all of whom reside in North Woodbury Township; and Elvin I., who is making a name for himself in a business house at Newark, N. J. Mr. and Mrs. Burget are members of the Mount Pleasant Reformed Church, in which he is a deacon. Mr. Burget takes part in public matters in his township, and has served three years as a school director and one year as road supervisor. = W. ALBERT NASON, M. D., superinten- - dent of the Nason Hospital, situated at Roar- ing Spring, Pa., an institution in which the people of this borough take just pride, was born in Crawford County, Pa., June 23, 1862, and is a son of Dr. William Nason, once a prominent physician and surgeon at Townville, in Crawford County. W. Albert Nason was educated in the public schools of Crawford County and Allegheny College, at Meadville, Pa. After proper prep- aration he graduated from the Eclectic Medical Institute at Cincinnati, in 1887, in 1892, from Rush Medical College, Chicago. Previous to coming to Roaring Spring in 1896, he prac- ticed at Pleasantville and at Titusville, Pa., spending nine years at these places, gaining valuable experience and securing the confidence of the people as to his thorough medical knowl- edge. He is identified with the Blair County Medical Society and for one year was presi- dent of the same. He fills many professicnal positions and at present is serving as a trustee and counsellor for the Fifth District of the Medical Society of the State of Pennsylvania. He belongs also to the American Medical Asso- ciation; is surgeon for the Pennsylvania Rail- road Company at Roaring Spring, and is chief surgeon of Mercy Hospital at Altoona. The Nason Hospital, of which Dr. Nason is superintendent, was established by him at Roaring Spring, as a private sanitarium, and was so conducted until 1900, when it was in- corporated and since then has been practically a charitable institution, one that reflects great credit upon its philanthropic founder and its supporters. Since its incorporation its offirers FRANK McCLAIN AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS are: J. L. Hartman, president; John H. Stephens, secretary; and J. P. Martin, treas- urer, while Dr. Nason has always retained the superintendency. The trustees of the Nason Hospital are the following leading citizens: D. M. Bare, Dr. A. L. Garver, E. G. Bobb, J. S. Bobb, J. H. Stephens and D. S. Brumbaugh, all of Roaring Spring; Hon. J. C. Steinman, of South Fork, Pa.; Hon. George M. Patterson, of Williamsburg; D. P. Reighard, of Pitts- burg; Claude Jones, of Tyrone; and James Foust and Hon. Jesse L. Hartman, of Altoona. The hospital is beautifully situated and has ac- commodations for forty patients, the average number being twenty-five. Dr. Nason is held in very high regard by his fellow citizens, not only for his professional skill, which is recognized all over the state, but for his manly personal qualities. He was married first to Miss Elizabeth Pennell, of Pleasantville, who left two daughters; Mar- jorie and Alice. His second marriage was to Miss Sara Baughman, of Blairsville, Indiana County, Pa. He is not an aggressive politi- cian, being too busy a man for that, but he casts his vote regularly and is identified with the Republican party. He is a 32nd degree Mason. FRANK McCLAIN, deceased, whose suc- cessful conduct of large enterprises for many years at Altoona and in other sections of Penn- sylvania, established his standing in the busi- ness and financial world, commanded also the respect which is accorded one whose personal life was exemplary and whose gifts to charity denoted a kind and sympathic heart. He was born at Sinking Valley, in Tyrone Township, Blair County, Pa., June 15, 1833, and died ‘ January 25, 1900. His parents were Stephen and Mary (Phlesman) McClain. Stephen McClain, father of the late Frank McClain, was a native of County Derry, Ire- land, and there he learned the trade of linen weaver, one for which he had little use after coming to the mountains of Pennsylvania. His occupations in Huntingdon, later Blair County, were teaming and farming. He gave 607 to his son a vigorous constitution and active mind, but: was able to help him very little on the road to fortune. The -excellent mother, Mary Phlesman, was born in Cambria County, Pa., and came also of an old Catholic family that had originated in Ireland. She died when her son, Frank McClain, was thirteen years of age. Prior to his eighteenth birthday, Frank Mc- Clain attended school as frequently as his father could spare him, and was one of the most apt pupils in the old log schoolhouse in Sinking Valley, and when he started out for himself, he was probably better prepared men- tally to grapple with the problems of life than many of his companions. The first opportun- ity that presented itself was work on a farm, but he had a taste for tools and sensibly learned the carpenter trade. This he followed until 1854, when he came first to the village of Altoona, but the little mountain hamlet did not impress him at that time as a favorable field for business and he pushed to the West, settling at Davenport, Ia. He re- mained in that town, which had gained a little notoriety already as a railroad center, for about eighteen months and _ then returned to Pennsylvania- and shortly afterward was made foreman of the workmen engaged in the erection of what is now the Pennsylvania Agricultural College, in Center County. While he remained there he engaged in a mercantile business and also served three years as postmaster. In 1866, he went to Bellefonte, where he had learned his trade, and there was taken into partnership by the firm of Valentine, Blanchard & Company, and they erected and operated the first planing mill in that place. Two years later Mr. McClain withdrew from the firm and soon afterward formed a partnership with D. G. Bush, and the new firm of Bush & McClain continued in business until 1871, during this time erecting a number of the most pretentious buildings in Bellefonte, some of the business structures still bearing their names. In 1871, Mr. McClain sold out his interests in the firm to his partner and came a second 608 time to Altoona, recognizing the growing im- portance of this place. For six years after- ward he was engaged in the mercantile busi- ness and also invested in property and erected handsome buildings, notably the McClain Block, a handsome brick structure which is lo- cated on the corner of Fourteenth Street and Eleventh Avenue. During the remaining years of his life his attention was mainly given to contracting and building, and the Altoona Hospital, together with many of the most beau- tiful residences and substantial business build- ings, were put up by him. He was also part owner of the beautiful summer resort, Wop- sononock, situated six miles north of Altoona, and was a director in several banks, and fte- quently was appointed on boards and commis- sions made up of leading citizens to give advice on public measures. He was one of Altoona’s best balanced business men and most useful citizens, and probably had more than the ordi- nary number of warm, personal friends. Mr. McClain was married June 15, 1870, to Miss Margaret Caldwell, who survives and re- sides in her beautiful residence at No. 1503 Twelfth Street, Altoona. She is a daughter of the late Thomas Caldwell, of Bellefonte, Pa. They had but two children, both of whom died young. While never an agressive politician, Mr. McClain was a stanch Democrat. He was noted for his many charities, giving liberally wherever he found help needed, and this beau- tiful trait is also possessed by his wife, whose benefactions are equally liberal. C. W. DELANEY, M. D., physician and surgeon at Altoona Pa., with library and office at No. 1320 Ninth Street, is one of the young- est members of an unusually well qualified body of medical men, of which the profession is made up in Blair County. Dr. Delaney was born at Eagle Pass, Texas, in 1883. From the public schools of his native place, C. W. Delaney entered the Southwestern Uni- versity of Texas and then spent two years in the medical department of the University of Texas, and in the meanwhile took a course in surgery at Jefferson Medical College, Phila- HISTORY OF BLAIR COUNTY delphia, and was graduated from the Texas in- stitution and then entered the medical depart- ment of the University of Pennsylvania, where he was graduated in 1905. In the same year he came to Altoona, and for eighteen months served as resident. physician in the Altoona Hospital, since which time he has been in gen- eral practice, but specializes in surgery and diseases of women. He is operating surgeon in obstetrics and gynechology at the Altoona Hospital. Dr. Delaney keeps continually con- nected by membership with the Blair County and the State Medical Societies and the Amer-. ican Medical Association, keeping thus in close touch with medical matters and both receiving and imparting scientific informaton. Dr. De- laney was married in 1908 to Miss Elda O> Teeter, of Waterside, Bedford County, . Pa., aud they have one son, Charles W:, Jr. - Dr. Delaney and wife are members of St. Luke’s Episcopal church. CHARLES J. McCULLAUGH, a promi- nent member of the Blair County bar, and a representative citizen of Altoona, Pa., was born in this city, October 18, 1873, and is one of a family of four children born to his parents, who were James and Margaret McCullaugh. James _McCullaugh for a number of years was a valued employe of the Pennsylvania Rail- road Company at this point. Charles J. McCullaugh was educated in St. John’s Parochial School, after which he entered upon the study of law, and was admitted to the bar of Blair County, September 22, 1898. He immediately entered into practice in his native city and on October 15, 1907, was ad- mitted to practice in the United States Su- preme Court. He is also a member of Appel- lant Courts of Pennsylvania. Since attaining manhood he has been interested and active in politics and as early as 1902 received the Dem- Ocratic nomination for the state legislature. In 1907 he was again shown party confidence and was the Democratic nominee for district attorney. Blair County, however, is a strong Republican section and Mr. McCullaugh, in spite of his excellent qualifications for office, ‘AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS was defeated at the polls by J. Banks Kurtz, the present district attorney. Mr. McCullaugh is a member of the Catholic church. He is identified with the Knights of Columbus. BENJAMIN F. CRISSMAN, whose im- proved farm contains 167 acres of valuable land, situated in Frankstown Township, Blair County, Pa., was born in Sinking Valley, December 16, 1842, and is a son of O. E. and Margaret (Fleck) Crissman. Both parents were born in the same township and both are now deceased, their burial being at Hollidays- burg. Their family consists of the following children: Harry, Benjamin F., Mary, Cather- ine, Mark, Annie and Adie. . Benjamin F. Crissman went to school in boyhood but as soon as old enough began to perform -duties on the home farm which in- creased according to his strength until he was recognized as capable and reliable both in till- ing the land and in raising stock. He has been settled on his own farm for the past thirty-five years. He bought the property from the Rob- inson & Smith Saw Mill Company. At that time it presented a very different appearance from what it does now. There was practically nothing on the place but an old log house and barn. Mr. Crissman very soon had improving under way and although he had some struggle before he had his land fertilized to meet his re- quirements, each year saw a far advance made. He has handsome and substantial buildings now, including an attractive brick residence and a commodious bank barn. Mr. Crissman was married the first time to Miss Lizzie Robison, who died three years later, leaving one son, Eugene. He was then married to Miss Ella Stewart, and they have five children: Pearl, who is the wife of Roy Harpster; and Homer, Roy, Ada and Mary. He votes the Republican ticket. CHARLES W. ZOOK, postmaster at Roar- ing Spring, ~Pa., and one of Blair County’s most respected citizens, is a survivor of the great Civil War, in which he bore an honorable part and. made sacrifices which should entitle 609 him to the respectful consideration of his fel- low citizens as long as he lives. Mr. Zook was born in Bedford County, Pa., June 3, 1844, and is a son of Elias and Mary A. (Pote) Zook, and a grandson of Samuel Zook, who moved from Franklin County to Bedford County at an early date. Charles W. Zook had few advantages in his youth and from an early age had his own way to make in the world. In boyhood he applied himself to his books whenever opportunity pre- sented and thus acquired enough knowledge to teach school. When the Civil War was pre- cipitated he immediately decided to enter the army as a soldier, and in August, 1861, was enrolled as a member of Co. E., 8th Pa. Res., which became a part of the Army of the Poto- mac, 5th Army Corps, which was commanded by General Meade and later, General Reynolds. He soon saw hard service, being on the field of battle in the seven days’ siege before Rich- mond, under General McClelland; in the sec- ond battle of Bull Run; and at South Moun- tain, Antietam and Fredericksburg, and it was at the latter place that he was seriously wounded, December 13, 1862. This resulted in the necessary amputation of his right foot. After his honorable discharge, and as soon as he was able to travel, he returned home. His first position afterward was that of a clerk in the Altoona post office, under Postmaster George W. Patton, and after retiring from that position he was in business for a number of years at Bakeér’s Summit, in Bedford County, where he was also postmaster until 1881. From there he moved to Woodbury, but shortly afterward, in the spring of 1882, came to Roaring Spring. For five years he was em- ployed as a bookkeeper in the Roaring Spring Blank Book Company. In 1899 he was ap- pointed postmaster at Roaring Spring and is a very popular official. He carries on a jewelry and watch repairing business as an occupation, and has always stood high in the regard of his fellow citizens as to business integrity. Mr. Zook married Miss Sarah J. Harker, of Bedford County, and they have five chil- dren: Warren E., Annie L., Mary M., John A 610 H. and Martha. Mary M. is the wife of Franklin K. Lorenz, of Roaring Spring. Mar- tha is the wife of Leo Garber, who is agent for the Pa. Railroad Company at Roaring Spring. Mr. Zook and wife are members of the Method- ist Episcopal church. Wherever he has lived he has been an active and useful citizen, and served as a justice of the peace in Middle Woodbury and Bloomfield Townships, Bed- ford County, and also was on the school board there, and for a number of years since coming to Roaring Spring has been a member of the borough school board, and has acted as board secretary. He is a valued member of Lieut. H. N. Lower Post, No. 82, G. A. R., at Roar- ing Spring, of which he has been commander a number of times. JOHN A. CANAN, manager of the Canan- Knox Supply Company, extensive dealers in builders’ supplies, with business location at Nos. 1712-1720 Margaret Avenue, Altoona, Pa., has long been a leading factor in the successful business life of this city. He was born Feb- ruary 11, 1850, at Hollidaysburg, Blair County, Pa., and is a son of John J. and Mar- garet (Davis) Canan. The great-grandfather, John Canan, who later served with rank of colonel in the Patriot army, came to the American colonies from the north of Ireland between 1760 and 1777, lived in Huntingdon County, Pa., and died in his ninetieth year. He was a man of evident supe- riority, and distinguished himself in military, business, judicial and public life. Of his family of sons the one who inherited most notably his remarkable talents was Moses Canan, the grandfather of John A. Canan, of Altoona. Major Moses Canan- acquired his title through gallant service in the War of 1812. He subsequently located at Ebensburg, in Cambria County, Pa., and later became a lead- ing member of the bar and served one term as associate judge. He died at Johnstown, Pa., in 1863. He married Mary Henderson, who was also of distinguished military ancestry; her father being Major William Henderson. HISTORY OF BLAIR COUNTY John J. Canan, son of Major Moses Canan and father of John A., was born in Hunting- don County, Pa., in 1813, and accompanied his parents to Ebensburg in 1831. He was also a man of brilliant parts in many ways. In early manhood he was concerned in newspaper work both at Ebensburg and at Johnstown, and after leaving the latter city and locating at Hollidaysburg, in 1846, became identified with large business enterprises. From that year until 1858 his main business was freight for- warding by way of the Pennsylvania Canal, and this led later to his embarking in the lime business at Canan’s Station. He took his sons into. partnership under the name of Canan Brothers, which. style continued until 1876, when it became John A. Canan & Co. Fora number of years this firm continued, the busi- ness being the handling of builders’ supplies and coal, and the manufacturing of lime. John A. Canan spent.a large part of his early school period at Hollidaysburg, and from 1869 until 1871 was a student at Lafayette Col- lege, at Easton, Pa. . After his return home he soon became associated with his father in the lime and building supply business, from which has developed the important enterprise of which he is the capable manager, the Canan- Knox Supply Company, the officers. of which are: John A. and L. M. Canan, both residing at No. 2701 Broad Avenue, and Samuel T. Knox, residing at No. 2626 Broad Avenue. In his political views Mr. Canan is a Repub- lican, and at times he has served in civic offices with the greatest efficiency. Mr. Canan was married May 29, 1888, to Miss Lizzie M. Morrow, a daughter of the late Rev. R. H. Morrow, once of McVeytown, but later pastor of the Presbyterian church at Cedar Rapids, Iowa. They have two daugh- ters, Margaret M. and Mary H. Mr. Canan and family belong to the Broad Avenue Pres- byterian church at Altoona, in which he js an elder. HARRY G. KING, a well known general merchant and postmaster at East Freedom, Pa., has been identified with the business in- AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS terests of this town since March, 1901, and was born June 25, 1871, in Greenfield Town- ship, Blair County, Pa., a son of Thomas and Susan (Claar) King, the latter of whom is a native of Bedford County, Pa. The father of our subject passed out of this life some years ago. For many years he was identified with the furnaces in Bedford and Blair Counties, and for some time was clerk for the Sarah Furnace Company, which was then operated by Essington Hammond. Harry G. King was reared in Greenfield Township, Blair County, Pa., and was edu- cated in the township schools and at Juniata College at Huntingdon, Pa. He also attended a select summer school at Schelisburg, and one at New Enterprise, Bedford County, Pa., and subsequently taught twelve consecutive years, beginning at the age of seventeen years. He then engaged in the mercantile business in Greenfield Township, and in March, 1go1, came to East Freedom, where he continued in the mercantile business, with Austin Walter, operating under the firm name of King and Walter until March, 1906. He has since that time been sole proprietor of the business and has served satisfactorily as postmaster at East Fréedom, Pa., since March, 1901. Mr. King takes an active interest in the affairs of the Re- publican party, and in 1907 served as a dele-. gate from the Second District of Blair County to the Republican State Convention, then held at Harrisburg, Pa. During his residence in Greenfield Township he served ‘five years as a justice of the peace, three years as auditor, and is now serving his second term as a member of the school board of Freedom Township, of which he has been president. He is fraternally a member of the East Freedom Lodge No. 1131, I. O. O. F., the Maccabees of East Freedom, and the Grange of Claysburg, Pa. He is also a member of the National League of Fourth Class Postmasters, and at present is State President of Pennsvlyania Branch of the League. ‘ In September, 1894, Mr. King was joined in marriage with Miss Vertie Sell, who is a daughter of Daniel Sell, of Salemville, Bed- 611 ford County, Pa., and they have had the fol- lowing children: Mary, Howard, Charles, Joseph, Harry, Florence, Byron W., and Grace, the last three being deceased. JOHN K.. SHOENFELT, justice of the peace and a leading citizen of Duncansville, Pa., is proprietor and manager of one of the largest industries of the place, the Shoenfelt Marble & Granite Company works, which manufactures and deals in monuments and headstones and does all kinds of cemetery work. Mr. Shoenfelt was born at Woodbury, Bedford County, Pa., January 13, 1852, and is a son of Joseph M. and Nancy (Keagy) Shoenfelt. Joseph M. Shoenfelt and wife were both born in Blair County. The paternal great- grandfather of John K. Shoenfelt was Jacch Shoenfelt, a native of Germany, who came to what is now Blair County, Pa., in 1730, and settled near what is now Roaring Springs. He reared a family, and of his sons, Jacob Shoen- felt, father of Joseph M., continued to' live in the same vicinity, where he owned farm land. When Joseph M. Shoenfelt went into business it was as a miller, and during the larger part of his life he operated the old style water mills with dam, in different parts of Blair and Bedford Counties. * John K. Shoenfelt attended school in South Woodbury Township, in Bedford County, and also the Bedford County Normal School, then situated at Bedford, and was graduated from that institution in 1872. For eight consecutive years afterward he taught school, being located in Bedford, Blair and Huntingdon Counties, Pa., and was an interested and successful teacher. In 1882 he came to Duncansville and has resided here continuously: ever since. He was one of the promoters of the Duncansville Building and Loan Association, of which he has been president for sixteen consecutive years, and for four years was treasurer of this very prosperous business enterprise. Since 1890 he has been identified with his granite and marble business, one that has been continu- 612 ously successful, one reason perhaps being found in the motto of the firm: Courteous treatment and careful attention to orders. In politics he is a Republican and for several years he was president of the borough schoo! board. For over a quarter of a century he has served in the office of justice of the peace. Mr. Shoenfelt was married to Miss Jennie Hicks, of Williamsburg, Pa., and they have had eight children, namely: Nannie G., who is the widow of H. T. Boland, of Portage, Pa.; Carrie, who resides at Youngstown, O.; Ray- mond A. and Lloyd J., both of whom reside at home; Edith, who is the wife of W. V. Webb, of Duncansville; and Emily, Nellie and Charles E., all of whom reside with their parents. Mr. Shoenfelt is one of the representative men of this section of Blair County. ISAIAH SCHEELINE, a prominent mem- ber of the Blair County Bar, and a native of Altoona, Pa., was born in 1878, and is one of the leading business men of the younger gener- ation of this city. His elementary education was obtained in the common schools of Al- toona, graduating from the High School with the class of 1894, and after spending one year at Lafayette College, he graduated in law from the Dickinson Law School with the class of 1899. Mr. Scheeline then spent some months in Pittsburg, Pa., since which time he has been located at Altoona, where he has at- tained considerable prominence in his profes- sion and practices in the various courts of the state as well as in the middle and western dis- tricts of the Federal Courts. In addition to his practice Mr. Scheeline is also interested in the Westfall Company of Altoona. He is politically an adherent of the Democratic party, _ but until 1910 never entered actively in politics. He is the present nominee of his party for congressman from this district. Mr. Schee- line is a member of the Hebrew Reformed con- gregation, is president of the United Hebrew Charities, is a member of the University Club, and the Beacon Light Club, and is fraternally a Mason, a Shriner and_an Elk, HISTORY OF BLAIR COUNTY THOMAS CARSON O’NEILL, of the | firm of Hickey & O’Neill, who are the leading embalmers and funeral directors of Altoona, Pa., was born March 11, 1859, in Altoona, and isa son of William O’Neill. The father of our subject was a native of Ireland, and in 1849 came to Altoona, where he engaged in the grocery business during the remainder of his active life. He was a prominent figure in the business and political circles of Altoona, and died here in 1899. Thomas C. O’Neill grew to maturity in Al- toona, and attended the common schools. Early in life he entered the Pa. Railroad shops as messenger boy, which position he held four months, then attended school another year, after which he worked one year in the black- smith shop of the Pa. R. R. Company. He was subsequently transferred to their machine shops, where he operated a drill one year, then served an apprenticeship in cabinet-making with John Hickey, and the next eighteen years were spent in the cabinet-making department of the Pa. R. R. Shops On January 9, 1895, Mr. O'Neill entered into partnership with J. B. Hickey in the embalming and undertaking bus- iness, operating under the firm name of Hickey & O'Neill. They have been highly successful and are now the leading funeral directors of this section having an increase of from sixty to 380 funerals annually. Mr. O’Neill is a mem- ber of the Central Pennsylvania Funeral Di- rectors’ Association, and is identified with various Building Associations. Mr. O'Neill was married in 1891, to Miss Amelia Brennecke, a daughter of Christian Brennecke of Altoona, and to them have been born two children: Esther, who is a student at Wellesley College, and Thomas C. O’Neill, Jr. Mr. O’Neill is a member of the St. Luke’s Episcopal church, of which he is a member of the Vestry and senior warden. He was bap- tized by the First Presbyterian minister of Al- tcona, Rev. Clark. He is affiliated with the Knights of Pythias, the I. O. O. F ., the Hepta- sophs, and is past master of Mountain Lodge No. 281, F.& A. M. ISAIAH SCHEELINE AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS ROBERT S. FLUKE, one of the leading hardware merchants of Williamsburg, Pa., and a stockholder and director of the Farmers’ and Merchants’ Bank, has been a lifelong resident of this borough, born here January 13, 1855, a son of W. A. and Mary (Dean) Fluke, both of whom were born and reared in Blair County, Pa. They were the parents of the following children: Anna, who is the wife of Frank Schumaker; Robert S., our subject; Calvin, who is cashier of the Farmer’s and Merchants’ Bank of Williamsburg; Patty, de- ceased, who was the wife of Homer Hewitt; William D., and Lilly, who is deceased. Robert S. Fluke grew to maturity in Will- iamsburg, and after a common school educa- tion engaged in the hardware business with his father, after whose death he continued as pro- prietor of the business in the same location. The business was established about 100 years ago, and has always been the property of the Fluke family. Mr. Fluke is identified with the Democratic party in politics, and his religious connection is with the Presbyterian church. Mr. Fluke was married in September, 1897, to Miss Rosabelle Ake, a daughter of William and Susan Ake, who were early settlers of Blair County. Mr. and Mrs. Ake had’ five children: Clara, who is the wife of Dr. T. H. White; Florence, who is Mrs. Fluke, and Sam- uel, Charles and William. Mr. and Mrs. Fluke are parents of two children: Edgar W. and Florence, who is the wife of Edward Spangler. Mr. and Mrs. Spangler have two children, Robert S. and Marie. PETER COCHRAN, a farmer and leading ‘citizen of Allegheny Township, Blair County, Pa., residing on his valuable farm of 160 acres, which he devotes to general agriculture, was born in this township, August 29, 1847, and is a son of Joseph and Elizabeth (Hetrick) Coch- ran. The parents of Mr. Cochran were both born in Blair County, their parents having been among the early Scotch-Irish settlers in this section. Joseph Cochran was a farmer. Five of his family of children survive, and all live in, Blair County. Jeremiah is a farmer in Alle- 615 gheny Township. Mary A. is the widow of Moses Crum and lives at Altoona. Martha M. is the widow of James McCoy and resides in Allegheny Township. Peter and Joseph ar also residents of Allegheny Township. s Peter Cochran was reared in his native township, attended the district schools and then began the cultivation of the home farm. In June, 1863, he enlisted for service in the Civil War, entering Co. H, rroth Pa. Vol. Inf., which became a part of the Army of the Poto-- mac. Mr. Cochran proved a brave and efficient soldier, never hesitating in the face of certain danger and took part in some of the hardest contested battles of the great war. He was in the long struggle of the Wilderness, and was in all the engagements from there to Hatcher’s. Run, in which battle he was wounded in the right leg, on October 27, 1864. This was a se- rious injury, and on account of it he was con- fined in a hospital at Washington, D. C., until May, 1865, when he returned to his regiment and served until he was honorably discharged in the following month. He returned to Blair County and-has remained here ever since, prov- ing himself a valuable citizen of his country in times of peace as well as in war. He is identi- fied with the G. A. R. Post at Duncansville, and is senior vice commander of the same. On September 18, 1873, Mr. Cochran was married to Miss Margaret Ott, who was born in Greenfield Township, Blair County, a daughter of Joseph and Elizabeth Ott, the for- mer of whom is deceased. Mrs. Ott has passed her seventy-fifth birthday and still resides in Blair County. Nine children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Cochran, six of whom are living, as follows: Clara E., who is the wife of John Reep, of Allegheny Township; Sadie, who is the wife of John Krouse, of Altoona; Elinas W., who is a resident of Frankstown Town- ship; Joseph T., who lives at South Altoona ; Peter A., who lives in Frankstown Township ; and Stella, who is the wife of Blaine Bru- baker, of Allegheny Township. Those de- ceased were: David, William and Mary. In politics Mr. Cochran is a Democrat. For twelve years he has been a member of the 616 township school board and for four years its treasurer. He is identified with the Grange, Patrons of Husbandry, at Duncansville. HON. GEORGE- W. PATTON, deceased, was born on his father’s farm in Woodcock Valley, near McConnellstown, Huntingdon County, Pa., in 1817, a son of John and Re- becca (Simpson) Patton. John Patton, father of Hon. George W. Pat- ton, emigrated from Cumberland County, Pa., after the close of the Revolutionary War, in which he served, and was elected sheriff of Huntingdon County no less than six terms, between 1788 and 1818. He married Rebecca Simpson, who was born in 1777 and died in 1845, and was a daughter of Lieutenant John Simpson and his wife, Margaret Murray, who was a daughter of Captain James Murray, of Lancaster County. George W. Patton was manager of the Blair County Furnace property, which was located about three miles east of Altoona, and subse- quently managed the Union Furnace, which was erected at the station now known by that name in Huntingdon County during the time when the Pennsylvania Railroad was being constructed through the Juniata Valley. In 1853 he removed to Altoona, where he became engaged in mercantile pursuits and became one of the leading citizens of that prosperous rail- road town, having been elected as the first chief burgess of the borough of Altoona in 1854, and re-elected in 1855. He was appointed postmaster at Altoona by President Lincoln in 1861, which position he held for eight years. He was one of the organizers of the First Lutheran church and prominently identified with many of the institutions of that church. In 1871 he was elected an associate judge of Blair County for a term of five years. Mr. Patton was married in 1845 to Mary Burket, who was born in 1825 and died in 1856, daughter of Peter Burket, a well known citizen of Sinking Valley, Blair County, to whom there were born three sons: T. Blair Patton, general superintendent of the Penn- sylvania Industrial Reformatory at Hunting- _place. HISTORY OF BLAIR COUNTY don, Pa.; William-A. Patton, assistant to the president of the Pennsylvania Railroad Com- pany; and J. Howard Patton, president of the Howard Gas Coal Company, of Greensburg, Pa. Mr. Patton married a second time, in 1861, Emma Jane Hawksworth, of Altoona, Pa., who was born in 1834 and died in 1898, to whom two children were born: Mary Vir- ginia, who married Harold A. Freeman, of Philadelphia, and Margaret Murray, who died in 1889 at the age of nineteen years, Mr. Patton moved to Philadelphia in 1876, where he died in 1882. He was buried in Fairview Cemetery, Altoona, Pa. LOUIS C. KELLER, proprietor of the Al- dine Hotel, a first class hostelry at Altoona, Pa., where comfort, cleanliness, restful quiet, a fine cuisine and all modern conveniences are offered its guests, is a substantial citizen of this He was born at Chambersburg, Pa., November 21, 1869, and is a son of. August and Catherine (Shallenberger) Keller, natives of Germany. Louis C. Keller is the sixth in order of birth of a family of seven children, the others being: Christopher, Elizabeth, Adam, Louise and Mollie. He obtained his education in the pub- lic schools and during the larger part of his business life has been connected with hotels, and for sixteen years has been in business for himself, for eight years conducting the Colum- bia and the Commercial Hotels, and for the past eight years being proprietor of the Aldine. Mr. Keller has a fine paying property here. He has twenty-eight guest rooms and the whole house is equipped with steam, gas and electricity. He is a stockholder in the Moun- tain City Bank at Altoona. In 1893 Mr. Keller was married to Miss Alice Geib, a daughter of Isaac Geib, and they have one daughter, Edna Regina. He is a member of the German Lutheran church. In politics he is a Republican and fraternally he is connected with the B. P. O..E. and the F. O. E., both at Altoona. DAVID M. KLEPSER, a representative business man ef Martinsburg, Pa., senior AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS member of the milling firm of Klepser Bros., proprietors of the White Lily Mills and manufacturers of Golden Dove flour and dealers in feed, grain, meal, hay and straw, was born at Martinsburg, April 28, 1850. His parents were Frederick and Christiana (Metzker) Klepser. Frederick Klepser was born in. Germany and was four years old when his parents brought him to America, settling in Hunt- ingdon County, Pa. In his ninth year the family came to Martinsburg where he had school advantages and later learned and followed the shoemaking trade. For about five years he operated a tannery at Putts- town, in Huntingdon County, and then moved on a farm in North Woodbury Town- ship, Blair County, where he engaged in farming for ten years and then went into the milling business. For five years he con- ducted what was known as Klepser’s mill. -He was a man of industry and enterprise. and spent a useful life which was extended to eighty years. He married Christiana Metzker, and of their children the follow- ing survive: Jeremiah, who lives at Mar- tinsburg; Frederick, who is a resident of Martinsburg; R. C., who is a practicing phy- sician at Altoona, Pa.; David M.; Harry M., who is in business at Altoona; Clara,_ who lives at Martinsburg; and Annie, who is the wife of Frank Stern, of Chicago, Ill. David M. Klepser spent the greater part of his first eighteen years on his father’s farm, attending school as occasion was offered, and then went to work for his father in Klepser’s mill, where he continued until 1888, for several years before this date hav- ing leased and operated the mill for himself. In 1888 he went into the milling business at Martinsburg and since 1898 the firm of Klepser Bros.—David M. and Harry Mi— have operated the White Lily Mills, doing a large business and_having a warehouse located at Ninth Avenue and Nineteenth Street, Altoona. Their mills at Martins- burg are equipped with modern machinery. they have excellent shipping facilities and 617 are known to the trade in general as honor- able and reliable business men. David M. Klepser married Miss Hannah Wineland, and they have three children: Lillie; Gertrude, who is the wife of Lee Hoover, residing at Connellsville; and Christie, who lives at home. Mr. Klepser and family are members of the Progressive Brethren church, of which he is a trustee. In politics he is a Republican and has been an active and useful citizen ever since com- ing to Martinsburg and investing here and is serving in his second term as a member of the borough council. HENRY CLAY DERN, deceased, for- merly one of the proprietors of the Altoona Tribune and an active newspaper man throughout his entire business life, was an influential factor in Republican politics’ in Blair County for many years. He was born in a little hamlet caled Double Pipe Creek, in Carroll County, Md., and was a son of Isaac and Susan (Koons) Dern. The founder of the Dern family in Mary- land came from Germany and his descend- ants have all been of a sturdy, thrifty, solid type, the class which America welcomes as citizens. The father of the late Henry Clay Dern was born in Maryland, in 1787, served in the War of 1812, and gave encourage- ment and financial support to the Federal Government early in the days of the Civil War, almost a half century later. For a number of years he was a justice of jthe peace in Carroll County and there his death occured in 1862, on his seventy-fifth birth- day. He married Susan Koons, who: died in 1839, leaving six children. ‘Henry Clay Dern made himself useful during boyhood in his father’s cooper shop and only occasionally had an opportunity to attend school. Later, however, he had the education of a printing-office, one by no means to be despised, and by the time he had completed his appreniticeship in the offices of the Carroll County Democrat, he had a fair knowledge of many more sub- © 618 jects than he would have found in the cur- riculum of the country school. It was in 1858 that he came to Altoona but before that he had been engaged in different posi- tions in many of the leading newspaper offices of the country. He frequently recalled that veteran journalist, Col. Murat Halsted, as a reporter on the Cincinnati Commercial, when he was working in the composing room on the same journal. After coming to Altoona Mr. Dern bought a half interest in the Altoona Trib- une and was associated in its publication for eighteen years with the late Ephraim B. McCrum, who retired in 1876. Mr. Dern then admitted his nephew, Dr. Hugh Pit- cairn, to partnership but this was more or less nominal for some years, as Dr. Pit- cairn removed to, Harrisburg, Mr. Dern, assuming both the editorial and business management. In the course of time a sub- stantial and appropriate building was erect- ed for the publishing business, the news- paper having in the interim added a daily issue to the weekly edition. The Daily Trib- une is now one of the foremost morning papers of the city, there being few homes in which it is not a visitor. Mr. Dern contin- ued the active head of this business until his death which occurred September 8, 1903. As a business man he showed enterprise and caution, while as a journalist he was num- bered with the most able men of the pro- fession in Central Pennsylvania. He was prominently identified with the Altoona Bank, now the Central Trust Com- pany, was a trustee of the Altoona Hospital, and formerly a director of the Altoona Gas Company. He was also one of the original stockholders and directors of the Altoona Street Car Company, later merged into the Altoona and Logan Valley Electric Railway Company. He was widely known and had he been more ambitious might have filled many high political positions. At times he consented to serve as a member of the city council and on the school board, but the greatest interest of his life, undoubtedly, HISTORY OF BLAIR COUNTY was the growth and development of the Tribune. Mr. Dern was married August 14, 1856, to Miss Rebecca Witherow, of Perry County, Pa., who died September 24, 1908. Nine children were born, to this marriage and one surviving son, Harry C. Dern, is one of the proprietors of the Tribune, is treasurer of the company, and is also inter- ested in the Central Trust Company of Altoona. Henry Clay Dern was da Knight Templar Mason, and was deacon and trus- tee of the First Presbyterian Church at Altoona. JOHN A. SPRANKLE, whose death oc- curred June 19, 1902, in Philadelphia, Pa., for many years was a leading merchant at Al- .toona where he built up a great business from small beginnings, founding it on the rock of business integrity. For years he was recog- nized as one of Altoona’s most enterprising merchants as well as representative citizens. He was unusually broad minded, was liberal in his charities and generous in his support of all movements that, in his judgment, would prove beneficial to his city. He was born in Morris Township, Huntingdon County, Pa., July 3, 1829, and was a son of Benjamin and Eliza- beth (Anderson) Sprankle. John Sprankle, grandfather of the late John A. Sprankle, was born in Germany and came. from there to Pennsylvania, being a very early settler in Huntingdon County. On his pioneer farm in Morris Township was born his son, Benjamin Sprankle, in 1806. The latter led an agricultural life, cleared the homestead and added to its dimensions and lived into extreme old age, at the time of his death being the most venerable resident of Morris Township. He and wife were among the very early supporters of the Reformed-church at Alexander, Pa. John A. Sprankle was one of a family of ten children and grew into youth on his father’s farm. Other sons of the family carried on the necessary agricultural operations while he went to the little settlement gathered around Rock- hill Furnace and became a clerk in the general JOHN A. SPRANKLE AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS store of Izett & Wigton, at that point. Find- ing this work congenial he decided upon a mer- cantile career and in 1853 came to Altoona, and for seven years afterward was a clerk in the employ of Alexander McCormick of this place. By 1861 he had accumulated and had at command sufficient capital to start a general mercantile business for himself, opening up a small stock at first and in its disposal making so many business friends and winning such substantial patronage, that by 1864 he found himself compelled to increase his accommoda- tions. He then erected a commodious build- ing on the corner of Ninth Street and Elev- enth Avenue, and there carried on a very large and prosperous business for many years. He acquired other valuable property at Altoona, and in 1872, a little less than twenty years af- ter coming to this city, practically without means, was able to erect what was considered the most palatial private residence on the line of the Pennsylvania Railroad between Pitts- burg and Philadelphia. His widow resides alone in this beautiful residencé, which is sit- uated at No. 1403 Ninth Street, her surround- ings being all that taste and wealth can supply. In 1857, Mr. Sprankle was married to Miss’ Eliza A. McKnight, whose father was the late Robert McKnight. For many years Mr. Sprankle was a member of the First Presbyte- rian Church in which connection he was highly valued. Mrs. Sprankle is also a member of this church and is likewise inter- ested in its various avenues of benevolence. In politics, Mr. Sprankle was a Republican and was a zealous worker for many candi- dates of his party although he invariably declined public office for himself, JOHN A. BEEGLE, a veteran of the Civil War and a participant in many of the most conclusive battles of that period of strife, for a number of years has been engaged in the peaceful pursuits of agriculture, residing on his farm of fifty-three acres, situated in Alle- gheny Township, Blair County, Pa. He was born in Bedford County, Pa. February 1, 1840, and is a-son of John and Rebecca 621 (McFern) Beegle, and a grandson of Fred- erick Beegle. His father was born in Bedford County and his mother in Franklin County, Pa. John A. Beegle obtained his education in the district schools. He was seventeen years of age when he accompanied his parents to Juniata Township, Blair County, and there engaged in farm work until he enlisted for service in the Civil War. His first enlistment, for nine months, was in Co. E, 125th Pa. Vol. Inf., and his second included the two closing years of the war, in Co. C, r1oth Pa. Vol. Inf. He took part in the battles of Antietam, .Chan- cellorsville, the Wilderness, the siege of Petersburg and the capture of that city. He was one of the privileged soldiers who wit- nessed the surrender of General Lee at Appo- mattox, to General Grant. After his honor- able discharge he returned to Blair County and lived for a time in Juniata Township and then went back to Bedford County and resided there for a number of years, coming then to Allegheny Township, where he has lived ever since. Mr. Beegle married Miss Mary Wertz, a native of Bedford County, and a daughter of William Wertz, a former resident there, and seven children were born to them, the only survivor being a daughter, Annie M., who is the wife of James Spidle, of Cambria County, Pa. Mr. and Mrs. Beegle are members of the Lutheran church at Newry. He is identified with the G. A. R. Post at Duncansville. In politics he is a Democrat and has served three ee as school director in Allegheny Town- ship. - FREDERICK RAMEY,* one of Altoona’s substantial retired citizens, for many years was connected with the lumber industry and the material upbuilding of the city. He was born in Huntingdon County, Pa., December 2, 1844, and is the eldest son of the late David K. and Anna R. (Knight) Ramey. The ancestors of Mr. Ramey came to Amer- ica from Alsace-Loraine as early as 1788 and settled in Pennsylvania. His grandfather, whose name he perpetuates, was a soldier in 622 the War of 1812. His father, whose death occurred in 1904, was, for many years, one of Blair County’s men of financial power. Frederick Ramey obtained his education in the public schools. He then learned the car- penter’s trade. as had his father before him and later he became identified with his father in the many enterprises which he so successfully founded and carried on. Subsequently he re- tired from active participation in business. During the Civil War, Mr. Ramey served one year in the Federal army. He has always been an interested and earnest citizen but has never sought political honors. Mr. Ramey and his family reside in a handsome home which is situated at No. 1109 Twelfth Avenue, Altoona. W. H. CLOUSE was elected a justice of the peace in Taylor Township, Blair County, Pa., in February, 1910, was born across the line in Bedford County, in what is now known as Bloomfield Township, August 7, 1849. He was a son of George Clouse, who was a native of Saxony, Germany. The latter was a gun- smith and locksmith by trade and resided in Bloomfield Township when his death occurred in 1879, at the age of seventy-five years. | W. H. Clouse was reared in Bloomfield Township and was educated in the schools af Bedford County and at Alliance, O., graduat- ing from Mount Union College, at the latter place, in 1874. For eight consecutive years thereafter he taught school at Woodbury, be- ing principal of the schools a large part of the time and during 1874-5 he was principal of the schools of Roaring Spring, and _ still later taught again in Bedford County. After resid- ing for thirty-six years at Woodbury, in the spring of 1909, Mr. Clouse came to Taylor Township. He was part owner and for a short time was a member of the editorial staff of the Bedford Enquirer, this being in 1887-8, at which time he was also a member of the school board and served also as a justice of the peace at Woodbury. After severing his con- nection with the Enquirer Mr. Clouse en- gaged in the woolen manufacturing business, HISTORY OF BLAIR COUNTY purchasing what were known as the Keagy Woolen Mills, in Woodbury Township, and conducted them for fourteen years, as sole proprietor, under the style of Morrison’s Cove Woolen Mills. His numerous activities and his honorable business relations made him a well known citizen and at one time he acceded to the wish of his friends and became a candi- date for the state legislature. He was post- master at Woodbury during President Harri- son’s administration. Otherwise he has never been very active in politics but has been a stanch Republican ever since he cast his vote in 1872, for General Grant for President of the United States. He is a charter member of Woodbury Lodge, No. 539, F. & A. M., at Roaring Spring, and he belongs to the Odd Fellows at Woodbury, and to the Knights of Pythias and the P. O. S. of A. at Bedford. A. W. BECKMAN, one of Altoona’s representative business men, who has charge of the entire Baker estate and its many interests, is one of the enterprising and progressive young men that education and travel are developing into a type of manhood that is sure to find rich oppor- tunity for effort, no matter what may be the change in their native environment. Mr. Beckman was born in the city of Stock- holm, Sweden, in 1880, and came to America in IQOT, Ernst Beckman, father of Mr. Beckman, is one of Sweden’s prominent public men and has made several visits of an official nature, to different parts of America.. In 1904 he was president of the Swedish dele- gation to the Inter-Parliamentary Union that met at St. Louis, Missouri. He married a daughter of D. Woods Baker, who was killed in a steamboat accident when the daughter was only two weeks old. _Mr. Beckman was reared and educated in his native land. After reaching America he spent two years in the city of Philadelphia acquiring a knowledge of American business methods and then came to Altoona, where he was associated with the late S. C. Baker, AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS his great-uncle, until the death of the latter in June, 1907, since which time Mr. Beck- man has had charge of the large family interests involved, He is interested in local enterprises being a director in the Suburban Home Company and secretary and treas- urer of the Home Water Supply Company. Mr. Beckman was married June 16, 1909, to Miss Margaret Leet, the only daughter of W. C. Leet, of Altoona. Mr. Beckman is a member of the University and Altoona Cricket Clubs. SAMUEL S. BOTTENFIELD, who passed out of this life in 1905, was one of the foremost and highly esteemed citizens of Williamsburg, Pa., and besides his residence property in this borough was the owner of a farm of.150 acres, located on the outskirts of the borough of Williamsburg. He was born in March, 1834, in Bedford County, Pa., and was a son of John and Barbara (Snowberger) Bottenfield, who previous to their marriage were residents of Chambers- burg, Pa. His father was a carpet weaver ’ by trade, but later in life engaged in agri- cultural pursuits.. John and Barbara Bot- tenfield had three children: Nancy, who was the wife of.Simon Ditch; Elizabeth, who was the wife of John Dell; and Samuel S., our subject. Samuel S. Bottenfield obtained a com- mon school education and then engaged in farming, which he followed successfully during the greater part of his life. He was the owner of fine fruit orchards and vine- yards, but spent his declining years in retire- ment at Williamsburg, where he owned a fine residence, which is still occupied by his widow and daughter. Besides his farm and residence property he also owned what is known as the “big spring” at Williamsburg, which is 140 feet in length with a breadth of thirty-eight feet and has a flow of 2,700 gallons per minute. This spring contains 83,000 gallons of water in length, and could be opened to twice its present size. The water never changes color, regardless of 623 hard rains, etc., and has been piped to the fine brick residence occupied by the widow of our subject. Mr. Bottenfield was identified with the Republican party in politics, and served as a member of the school board and of the borough council of Williamsburg. He was a director of the Paper Mills of this borough and was also a director of the First National Bank. In the fall of 1872 Mr. Bottenfield was joined in marriage with Miss Mary Cowen, a daughter of John and Barbara (Hoover) Cowen, who were residents of Blair County and the parents of the following children: George and David, who were killed in fhé Civil War; Jacob; Harry; Catherine, who is the wife of George Shiffler; Louisa, who is the wife of D. S. Brumbaugh; Sarah, deceased; Mary; Nancy, who married H. D. Smith; and Edward H. One child was born to Mr. and Mrs. Bottenfield, Nora B., who lives with her widowed mother in Williams- burg. Mr. Bottenfield was a member of the ‘Dunkard church, but his widow and daugh- ter are members of the Presbyterian church. CLYDE E. BROWN,* a prominent mem- ber of the Blair County Bar, and one of the leading citizens of Altoona, Pa., was born June 28, 1867, in Bellefonte, Center County, Pa., but has been a resident of Blair County for about thirty-five years. He came to Al- toona, when a lad, attended the public schools and the Williamsburg Normal, after which he studied law in the office of W. S. Hammond, and was admitted to the bar in December, 1894. He has since been located at Altoona, where he has established an extensive and profitable practice, and also practices largely in all of the courts of the state and the Federal courts. Mr. Brown also represents several of the old eorporations and is actively interested in other enterprises outside of his profession. He has always taken an active interest in pol- itics, and served on the Republican County Committee, of which he was secretary two years; he also served two terms as solicitor for the city school board. He is a member of 624 the Blair County Bar Association, the Eagles, Royal Arcanum, and the Knights of Pythias. On November 30, 1904, Mr. Brown was united in marriage with Rachel A. Schmittle, of Huntington, Pa. They attend the Eighth Avenue M. E. Church of Altoona. FREDERICK STIFFLER, a leading cit- izen of Allegheny Township, Blair County, Pa., is one of the veteran dairymen of this sec- tion, having been identified with this industry for over a quarter of a century. His dairy farm comprises thirty-five acres and the busi- ness is conducted according to modern meth- ods and sanitary regulations. He was born in Blair County, Pa., February 5, 1857, and is a son of James M. and Elizabeth W. (Weaver) Stiffler. : James M. Stiffler was born in Bedford County, Pa., a son of Frederick Stiffler, also of Bedford County, but probably of German parentage. James M. Stiffler became a man of public importance in Blair County and in 1876 was elected sheriff and served in that office for three years, and he was also a member of the board of directors of the Blair County Home. Agriculture was his business but he was fre- quently called upon to serve in office and was best known to township and county in some public capacity. His death occurred January 31, 1908. He married Elizabeth W. Weaver, who was born in Blair County and died in 1887. Of their family of children there are five survivors, as follows: Frederick; Lavina, who is the wife of W. H. Good, of Logan Township; Martha M., who is the wife of Frederick Maxfield, of Omaha, Neb.; and George W. and Mary F., both of whom live in Allegheny Township. When Frederick Stiffler was twelve years old, his parents moved from Newry to Alle- gheny Township, where he completed his edu- cation in the public schools and has continued to reside. He devotes his attention almost en- tirely to his dairy interests and operates a milk route through Altoona. In politics he is a stanch Republican and has frequently been chosen by his fellow citizens for public posi- HISTORY OF BLAIR COUNTY tions in which intelligence, tact and good judgment were required. For three years he served as road supervisor of his township and during one year of this period was president of the board, and he is now serving in his third term as a member of the school board, of which he is treasurer. Mr. Stiffler married Miss Mary C. Delozier a daughter of the late John Delozier, of Frankstown Township, and eight of their eleven children still survive, as follows: John D., William G., Joseph O., Lois L., Ross C., Lee C., Mary F. and Winnifred M. Mr. Stiffer is a member of the Royal Order of Moose, at Altoona. EMIL T. CHERRY, M. D., who stands foremost among the many able physicians and skillful surgeons in active practice at Altoona, was born in Logan: Township, Blair County, Pa., January 13, 1863, and is a son of John W. and Henrietta (Brotherton) Cherry. John W. Cherry, father of Dr. Cherry, was born in Logan Township, about 1840, where his parents, Anthony and Susanna (Kantner) Cherry, had been early settlers and- became. people of ample means. A number of their sons turned to agricultural pursuits but John W. learned the trade of cabinetmaking and conducted a shop and was one of the oldest undertakers at Altoona for many years. He married Henrietta Brotherton, a daughter of John and Mary Brotherton, and they had the following children born to them: Blair, An- nie, Laura M., Jennie, Emil T., Ella, Oscar and Roy. Annie married J. S. Leisenring, vice president of the Second National Bank of Altoona and a prominent attorney. Laura M., now deceased, was the wife of Dr. Charles B. Elliott. Emil T. Cherry attended school in Logan Township and later the Altoona High Sehool, after which he studied dentistry with the late Dr. John W. Isenberg. After two years of study of dental surgery, the young man de- cided to turn his attention to materia medica; and then placed himself as a student under the direction of his brother-in-law, Dr. C. B. EI- EMIL T. CHERRY, M. D. AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS liott. When fully prepared, he entered the Indiana Medical College at Indianapolis, and there was graduated in 1884. He practiced for two years in that city and also served in the. college dispensary for a time, after which he returned to his native state and for two years was established at Madera, in Clearfield County, following which he came to Altoona. This beautiful mountain city has been his field of effort ever since. with many movements looking to the improve- ment of general health conditions and has often contributed large portions of his valuable time to these public-spirited efforts. His profes- sional connection is with the medical organiza- tions of county, state and country, while he is fraternally affiliated with several bene- ficiary bodies. -Dr. Cherry was married April 30, 1889, to Miss Lucetta T. Isett, a daughter of John D. and Margaret S. Isett, of Huntingdon County, Pa., and they have one daughter, Lucetta M., who is the wife of Charles M. Rhoades. Dr. Cherry’s residence and office are situated at No. 1623 Eighth Avenue, Altoona. CAPT. JAMES S. SHOLLAR, who served with credit in the Civil War, is now living in retirement at Williamsburg, Pa., where for many years he followed carpen- tering and contracting, and has been a resi- dent of this borough since 1857. He was born April 11, 1842, in Blair County, Pa., and is a son of Jacob N. and Julia (White) Shollar. The father was a native of Lan- caster County, Pa., and the mother of Hunt- ingdon County. He was the youngest of six children born to his parents, namely; Christopher, Margaret, Martin, Nancy, Thomas and James S. James S. Shollar was educated in the common schools of the county and then learned the carpenter’s trade, which he has followed in connection with contracting ever since. At the beginning of the Civil War he enlisted for three months’ service with the 3rd Pa., Vol. Inf., then enlisted for nine months with the 125th Infantry, and -He has been identified . 627 his third enlistment was with the 208th Pa. Inf., being advanced from the ranks to the captaincy of his company and serving in that capacity one year. He is politically identified with the Republican party and has served three years in the town council. He is a member -of the G. A. R. Post No. 474 of Williamsburg. Religiously he is a member of the Presbyterian church. On December 27, 1863, Capt. Shollar married Miss Isabel Cooper, a daughter of Samuel Cooper, who was a carpenter by trade and a well known resident of Will- iamsburg. She is one of the following children born to her parents: James; Isabel; Louis; Thaddeus, who died during the Civil War; Samuel and Harry. Mr. and Mrs. Shollar have reared the following children: Guy, who is engaged in carpentering at Altoona; Juniata, who is the wife of Aaron Snyder; Archie and Charles, twins; Frederick, who is an architect at Altoona; and Bessie, who is the wife of Floyd Koble. THOMAS C. PARSONS,* one of the leading business men and representative. citizens of Altoona, Pa., who carries on an extensive real estate, loan and investment business, was born in Center County, Pa., in 1854. He was reared and educated in that county, and after coming to Blair County clerked in a general store at Altoona for five years. He then embarked in busi- ness for himself, conducting a general store with well merited success for 25 years. Later he engaged in his present line of busi- ness, in which he has been highly success- ful. He handles his own real estate, and deals largely in loans and investments. Mr. Parsons was joined in marriage with Frantes T. McGlathery (now deceased) and of their union was born one son, T. Chester Parsons, who is employed as time keeper for the Pennsylvania Railroad Company. Mr. Parsons holds membership with the First Presbyterian Church, and is now serving as a member of its board of trustees. 628 FRANK J. MOLLOY, owner and proprie- tor of the Hotel Franklin, which is located at No. 904 Seventeenth Street, Altoona, Pa., has been in the hotel business for himself for the past twelve years, and previous to that time was engaged in the business with his father. He was born October 11, 1872, at Altoona, Pa., a son of Francis P. and Margaret (Murphy) Molloy, the former a native of Ireland and the latter of Cambria County, Pa. The father was politically a Democrat ,and served in all the branches of the Altoona Coun- cil, and was the last fire chief of the volunteer fire department. Both parents are now de- ceased and buried at Altoona. They were parents of the following children: Ella R., who is the wife of John E. Purcell; Harry J., ‘who is deceased; John E.; Margaret; Edna; and William Donnick, who is deceased. Frank J. Molloy attended the parochial schools of Altoona, then graduated from St. Vincent’s College, which was conducted by the Benedictine Fathers, at Latrobe, Pa. After finishing his schooling he was employed as a clerk at the Logan House for two years, then bought out Jacob Lusch and engaged in the bottling business, operating under the firm name of Molloy and Dunphy. He later as- sisted his father in managing the Hotel Frank- lin, and since the death of his father, has been sole proprietor of same. In politics Mr. Mol- loy is independent, and is fraternally a mem- ber of the B. P. O. E. and the F.O. E. In June, 1902, Mr. Molloy married Mollie Dunphy, who is a daughter of Francis and Johanna (Carroll) Dunphy, who were resi- dents of this city. Both Mr. and Mrs. Molloy are members of the Sacred Heart Catholic Church. WILLIAM A. PATTON was born at Union Furnace, Huntingdon County, Pa., on October 21, 1849, a son of George W. and Mary (Burket) Patton, the former of whom was born in 1817 and died in 1882 and was a prominent citizen of Blair County. His mother was born in 1825 and died in 1856. Mr. Patton received his education in the HISTORY OF BLAIR COUNTY schools of Altoona, finishing with a course in the High School. He entered the service of the Pennsylvania Railroad Company in the General Superintendent’s office, Altoona, Jan- uary I1, 1865, was transferred to Philadel- phia in December, 1871, and was appointed chief clerk in the office of Mr. A. J. Cassatt, General Manager, on August 1, 1872, and re- mained with him in that capacity while Mr. Cassatt filled the positions of General Man- ager, Third vice-president and First vice- president. ; Upon Mr. Cassatt’s resignation as First vice-president of the Pennsylvania Railroad Company, Mr. Patton was transferred to the president’s department, and on April 1, 1884, appointed by the board of directors, general assistant. On February 10, 1897, he was ap- pointed assistant to the president of the Penn- sylvania Railroad Company, acting in the same capacity with the Philadelphia, Wil- mington & Baltimore Railroad, West Jersey & Seashore Railroad and Northern Central Railway Companies. On May 24, 1884, he was elected vice-president of the New York, Philadelphia & Norfolk Railroad Company, and upon the resignation of Mr. A. J. Cassatt tc accept the presidency of the Pennsylvania Railroad Company, Mr. Patton was, on June 14, 1899, elected president, which position he fills in addition to his official connection with the Pennsylvania Railroad Company. On August 30, 1899, he was elected general chair- man of the Pennsylvania Railroad Depart- ment, Young Men’s Christian Association of Philadelphia. He is also a director of The Real Estate Trust Company of Philadelphia, a trustee of the Presbyterian Hospital, a mem- ber of the board of trustees of the Bryn Mawr Presbyterian Church, president Board of Trustees St. John’s Orphanage, which was founded by the late John Edgar Thomson for the care and education of daughters of em- ployes of the Pennsylvania R. R. Co. killed in the service, director of the Young Men’s Christian Association of Philadelphia and a member of the International Committee of Young Men’s Christian Associations of North AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS America, as well as a member of the Valley Forge Park Commission of Pennsylvania, the Pennsylvania Society Sons of the Revolution and other organizations. Mr. Patton married in Philadelphia on De- cember 13, 1876, Katharine Jane Linn, a daughter of John Atcheson Linn, a native of Perry County, Pa. and afterwards a well known citizen of Philadelphia. They had one child, John Linn Patton, born October 13, 1883, died October 6, 1900, who at the time of his death was a member of the Sophomore Class (1903), Princeton University. Mr. Patton resides at Radnor, Delaware County, Pa. He has two brothers, T. Blair Patton, of Huntingdon, Pa., and J. Howard Patton, of Greensburg, Pa., and one sister, Mrs. Harold A. Freeman, of St. David’s, Pa. H. G. HAIR, manager of the mercantile business: of D. M. Bare & Company, at Roaring Spring, Pa., and a citizen of high personal standing and public importance, -was born at Woodbury, Bedford County, Pa., December 20, 1859, and is a son of Samuel R. and Margaret (Smith) Hair, both of old settled families of this section of Pennsylvania. H. G. Hair attended the schools of Wood- bury until he was about seventeen years of age and then came to Roaring Spring and here entered the mercantile house of Morri- son, Bare & Cass, as a clerk, and has prac- tically been identified with the same ever since, having continued when the old firm was merged into the present one of D. M. Bare & Company. Growing up, as it were, in this house, Mr. Hair has made its interests his own and has the satisfaction of know- ing that ‘his fidelity is appreciated. D. M. Bare & Company are interested in many of the leading enterprises of Roaring Spring and their department store, under Mr. Hair’s able management, is one of the most satisfactory. It is a large concern and carries an immense stock of first class goods, including carpets, linoleum, oil cloth, wall paper, hardware, queensware, wood and Wilfred and Helen. 629 willow ware, groceries, dry goods, notions, shoes, rubbers, gents’ furnishing goods and clothing for men and boys. Mr. Hair requires the assistance of about ten people. ‘He is interested in the Roaring Spring Bank as one of its directors. He is identified with the Republican party and has frequently served in civic offices with credit to the borough, having been a member of its first council and subsequently serving in the same body. His interest in schools and churches is that of an upright and honor- able citizen, broad minded and intelligent in his outlook on life. Mr. Hair was married to Miss Fannie C. . Lorenz, of Leamersville, Pa., and they have five children: Gerald B., Edward C., Mary, Mr. and Mrs. Hair are members of the Methodist Episcopal church and he is a member of the board of trustees. JACOB S. CARPER,' one of North Woodbury Township’s respected citizens, who has resided near Martinsburg since the spring of 1905, is a member of.an old Bed- ford County family. He was born in Middle Woodbury Township, Bedford County, Pa., December 4, 1837. His father, Jacob Carper, was born in the East, but his mother, Eliza- beth (Smith) Carper, belonged to an old settled Bedford family. Jacob Carper died in Bedford County in 1890 and his children were as follows: Mar- garet and Elizabeth, both residing in Bed- ford County; Philip and Jacob S., both residing in Blair County; Samuel, living in Bedford County; William and David, both residing in Blair County; Mary, widow of Isaac Kauffman, living in Bedford County; Elias, living in Blair County; John, making his home in Nebraska; and Daniel and Fannie, both of whom are deceased. When Jacob S. Carper was a boy it was not so easy to acquire a good education, there being no excellent school system as at present and country boys, as a rule, hav- ing to help on the farm at an early age. As opportunity was afforded him Mr. Carper 630 went to school and later in life did all he could as president of the Taylor Township School Board, to bring an education within the reach of every child. He continued to reside in Bedford County until in the seven- ties, when he moved into Blair County and settled in Taylor Township. There he became a leading citizen and successfully carried on farming and stock raising until 1905, when he retired and located on his place near Martinsburg. In December, 1868, Mr. Carper was mar- ried to Miss Elizabeth Falkner, (was born November 2, 1837) a daughter of John Falkner, who was once a prominent citizen of Henrietta. Mr, and Mrs. Carper had one daughter, Rosanna, who is now deceased. Mrs. Carper died in March, 1907. She was a good, Christian woman, an active worker in the Church of God to which she and husband had long belonged, he being one of the elders of the church, JOHN K. PATTERSON, deceased, for- merly a leading member of the Altoona bar and a citizen who was equally prominent in politics and business in this section, was born at Newry, Blair County, Pa., Septem- ber 15, 1857, and died in the midst of his usefulness, September 29, 1901, at his home at Altoona. Thomas Patterson, father of the late John K, Patterson, was born in the city of Dublin, Ireland. In 1854 he came to America and in the course of years acquired valuable farming land near Newry, in Blair County, Pa. He married Isabella McConaghy, who was born in Ireland in 1820. They were members of the Presbyterian church at Newry, Thomas Patterson being one of the elders for a number of years, John K. Patterson was reared on the homestead near Newry and attended the village schools and_ later Hollidaysburg Academy. His first venture into business was in the capacity of fireman on the Penn- sylvania Railroad. He faithfully performed the duties of this position for three years HISTORY OF BLAIR COUNTY although he knew it was but a temporary one, for he was ambitious for a professional career. Being well educated he made up his mind to turn his acquired knowledge to account and began to teach school, in which he was successful and continued thus engaged for six years. By that time he was prepared to begin the study-of law and became a student in the office of Attorney N. P. Mervine, at Altoona, being admitted to the bar of Blair County, June 20, 1887. From that time until the close of his active life, Mr. Patterson continued in practice, soon winning a leading position at the county bar. Aside from his profession, Mr. ‘Patterson had numerous business interests and at one time was the largest tax-payer in the city. He was ever an enterprising and public spirited citizen. In early man- hood he had identified himself with the Republican party and frequently served as a member of the common and select council of Altoona, but seldom accepted county or state offices, prefering to show loyalty to his party and friends merely as a private citizen. On October 22, 1890, Mr. Patterson was married to Miss Margaret Hegarty, a daughter of Oliver Hegarty, of Altoona. Mrs. Patterson resides in a very attractive home situated at No. 414 Sixth Avenue, Altoona. In the death of Mr. Patterson, the Third Presbyterian church of this city Jost ‘a valued member and liberal supporter. He was identified with Portage Lodge No. 220, B & A.M, JOSEPH S. AKE, who is one of Woodbury Township’s most highly respected citizens is also one of the most substantial, being the owner of 435 acres of valuable land. He was born October 20, 1820, in Catherine Township, ~ Blair County, Pa., and is a son of Joseph and Nancy (Vinache) Ake. The parents of Mr. Ake were natives of Blair County, but were of Prussian parentage, They were people of good standing, owned their homestead and supported the Methodist Episcopal church. They had efght children: JOSEPH 8. AKE FAMILY GROUP AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS William, Henry, Joseph S., Catherine, Ro- sanna, Elizabeth, Clara and Martin. When Joseph S. Ake was a boy, school op- portunities were not so general as at the pres- ent day but his advantages were as good as were those of any of his companions. When he was nineteen years of age he started out: to manage a farm for himself and in 1840 he settled on his present farm in Woodbury Township. During many years while he was in the prime of manhood, he carried on exten- sive farm operations and through thrift, pru- dence and industry, became a man of ample fortune. He has always been regarded with respect by his fellow-citizens and can look back over a long, peaceful and useful life. Mr. Ake married Miss Margaret Cahill, a daughter of Leonard and Rachel Cahill. Her father was a prominent farmer in this section and he and wife were of Irish ancestry. To Mr. and Mrs. Ake the following children were born: Sophia M., who is the wife of D. J. F. Arnold and they have one son, Harvey Ar- nold; and P. W., who manages his father’s large property. P. W. Ake married Mary Deffenbaugh, a daughter of James E. and Elizabeth Ann Deffenbaugh, and they have four children, as follows: James Howard, who is pastor of the Methodist church at Ber- wick, Pa.; Anna, who is the wife of David. Chalmer Stone, of Williamsburg; and Harry F., and Joseph Edgar. J. A. BENDER, proprietor of Hotel ‘Colma, which is located at No. 1700 Eighth Avenue, Altoona, Pa., has engaged in -this business since April, 1906, and was born in this borough, November 13, 1872, a son of Anthony and Catherine (Harmon) Bender. His father was a native of Germany, and the mother a native of Blair County, Pa. They were parents of the following chil- dren: William, John A., Charles P., Oscar, Catherine, Emma, Mary, Lewis, and Joseph. Mr. Bender was reared and has always lived in Altoona, and during his early man- hood clerked in a grocery store in this borough, but later worked seven years as a 633 sheet iron worker for the Pennsylvania Rail- road Company. He has been engaged in the hotel business in this city since April: 1906, now being proprietor of Hotel Colma. In 1905 Mr. Bender was united in marriage with Chloe Kephart, at Milwaukee, Wis., although she also is a native of Blair County, Pa. In politics Mr. Bender takes an active interest in the affairs of the Repub- ‘lican party, and is fraternally identified with the L. O. O. M. and the Owls. member of the Catholic church. He is a DAVID K. RAMEY,* deceased, for many years one of Altoona’s capitalists and one of the largest lumber manufacturers in the State of Pennsylvania, is survived by many of those who witnessed his development from the com- paratively humble position of a carpenter’s apprentice to a high station in the building trades and labor to that of one of the great cap- tains of industry of modern times. He was born at Tyrone Forge, Blair County, Pa., October 8, 1821, and died at Altoona, March 20, 1904. His parents were Frederick and Martha (Keller) Ramey. Frederick Ramey was born in Alsace- Loraine, then part of France, a son of Francis Ramey, who, it is said, was exiled from his native land on account of speaking the hated German tongue. In 1788 Francis Ramey and his family came to America. In his early years Frederick Ramey worked as a foundry- man and such was his occupation at the time his son, David K., was born. Later he bought land in Sinking Valley, Blair County, Pa., where he lived until his death in 1865. He was loyal to his adopted country and served under Commodore Perry, in the War of 1812. In 1807 he married Martha Keller and they had ten children. They were members of the German Lutheran church. David K. Ramey remained on the home farm until he was eighteen years of age when he became apprenticed to the allied trades of carpenter and house builder and worked at the same at Hollidaysburg from 1840 until 186s, in the latter year coming to Altoona. Here he 634 operated a planing mill for nine years, after that being extensively and successfully en- gaged in the lumber business, which included the purchase of immense timber tracts in dif- ferent parts of the country and this subse- quently led to investments in mines and other properties. For many years his interests were large in Pennsylvania, Kentucky, Nebraska and Kansas. Ere he reached middle life he was recognized as an able and astute business man. He was much more. With his excep- tional business qualifications he combined a large measure of public spirit together with a profound and active religious faith that im- pelled him to aid both in the upbuilding of civic enterprises and also in the founding and sup- porting of philanthropic and religious ones. Thus he was interested financially and otherwise in the Altoona electric street car line and other important concerns directly beneficial to the general public; was a stock- holder and one of the organizers of the Al- toona Iron Company, and also, on occasion, took time out of his busy life to serve on the city council, where his experience and judg- ment made his advice exceptionally useful. He was one of the first to encourage the establish- ing of the Altoona Hospital, gave liberally in the beginning and continued until his death to serve on its board of directors. His deep, genuine and conscientious attachment to the Evangelical Lutheran church and to its vari- ous branches of educational work, was evi- denced in innumerable ways. He was a strong ,advocate of temperance and throughout life set an example of exemplary living that left a lasting impress. David K. Ramey was married February 22, 1844, to Mrs. Catherine (Leamer) White, widow of Gaston White. She died April 28, 1863. The following children were born to this union: Frederick, who now lives retired at No. 1109 Twelfth Avenue, Altoona; Jennie R., who is the widow of Henry B. Huff, and resides at No. 1112 Eighth Avenue, Altoona; Susan, who is the wife of T. Blair Patton, formerly postmaster at Altoona; Samuel S. B., now deceased, who was formerly in the insur- HISTORY OF BLAIR COUNTY ance business at Altoona, and is survived by his widow, who resides at No. 2009 W. Chest- nut Street, Altoona; Catherine, who is the wife of William W. Wingard, of Altoona; and one that died in infancy. Mr. Ramey’s second marriage, in August, 1865, was to Mrs. Anna R. (Knight) Brewer and five children were born to them, namely: Bertha, Lorene, Alice, Annie Rebecca and David W. Bertha is the wife of W. L. Pennock, a well known contractor at Altoona. Lorene is the wife of Lieut. John S. Fair, an officer in the U. S. Army. Alice is the wife of W. L. Nicholson, who is in the insurance business at Altoona. Annie R. is the wife of R. M. Snyder and they reside with her mother. W. L. Nicholson has charge of the insurance affairs concerned with the Ramey estate, while T. B. Patton, now a resident of Huntingdon, Pa., where he is superintendent of the reformatory, is the executive of this large estate. Mrs. Ramey resides in one of the handsome homes for which Altoona is justly noted, it being situated at No. 1216 Twelfth’ Avenue. The family has been socially prominent for years. They are attendants of the Evangelical Lutheran church at Altoona. : BENJAMIN F. SHOEMAKER, whose valuable farm of 100 acres, lying in Taylor Township, Blair County, Pa., is devoted to farming and stock raising, is a representa- tive citizen of this section and an honored survivor of the great Civil War. He was born in Somerset County, Pa., September 6, 1843, and is a son of John and Hannah (Sevets) Shoemaker, both of whom were born also in Somerset County. Benjamin F. Shoemaker was six years old when his parents moved to Middle Wood- bury Township, Bedford County, Pa., and there he grew to manhood and obtained his education in the district schools. In August, 1861, he enlisted for service in the Civil War, entering Co. C, 110th Pa. Vol. Inf., which became a part of the Army of the Potomac, and remained a brave, willing, efficient soldier and brought credit on the AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS Federal blue on many a battlefield before he received his final and honorable dis- charge, on July 3, 1865. The battle of Win- chester, Va., in March, 1862, was the first of a long series of important engagements in which he took part which included: Fort Repiblic, Cedar Mountain, Second battle of Bull Run, Fredericksburg, Chancellors- ville, the Wilderness, Spottsylvania Court House, Cold Harbor and Petersburg. At ‘the time of the surrender of the Confeder- ate forces at Appomattox, his command was not far distant from the famous meeting place of Generals Grant and Lee. Mr. Shoe- maker was promoted to the rank of second sergeant of his company as a reward of faithful service. He is a valued member of Lieut. Lower Post, No. 82, G. A. R., at Roaring Spring, in which he has served as vice commander. After the close of his military service, Mr. Shoemaker returned to Bedford County and ‘ remained there until 1871, when he came to Blair County and settled in Taylor Town- ship, and in 1899 came to his present farm, near Ore Hill. Mr. Shoemaker devotes con- siderable attention to his stock interests, growing a fine grade of cattle and also horses. Mr. Shoemaker has been thrice married. His first wife was Miss Elizabeth Teeter and after her death he married Miss Sarah Bulger, who, at death, was survived by one daughter, Sarah. His third marriage was to Miss Leah Kauffman, who was born in Bedford County, a daughter of the late Michael Kauffman, of Taylor Township, and they have two sons: Warren and Jesse. Mr. and Mrs. Shoemaker are members of the Church of God, at Woodbury, Pa. He is a Republican in his political views but has never accepted any office except that of school director in which he served one term. Mr. Shoemaker is an example of a success- ful self made man, and he is respected and esteemed by his neighbors and fellow citi- zens. . 635 B. J. CLARK, chief of the police depart- ment of Altoona, Pa., and one of the lead- ing politicians of the Democratic party in this section, was born May 14, 1865, at Hollidaysburg, Blair County, Pa., and is a son of Bernard Clark, who was a native of West Ireland. The father came to America and located in Hollidaysburg in 1854, where he helped to build furnaces. In 1891 he came to Altoona, where his death occurred July 4, 1904. B. J. Clark was reared in Hollidaysburg and obtained his educational training in the Catholic Sisters’ schools and the common schools of that city and at Gaysport. Early in life he began working in the blast fur- naces, and also was employed in the rolling mills and the Gaysport Foundry and Machine Shops, and in 1887 came to Altoona, where he spent some time work- ing in the machine shops of the Penn- sylvania Railroad Company. In 1893 he was appointed special officer of the police force, but the following year returned to the rail- road shops where he worked continuously until 1908, at which time he was appointed chief of the police department. He is politic- ally a Democrat, and was chairman of the Blair County Democratic Committee at the time State Treasurer Berry was elected and carried Blair County by 600 majority. He has also served on the board of Health, and the board of Water Commissioners, resigning the latter position to accept his present office. Chief Clark is fraternally a member of the Heptasophs, the-Eagles and the Moose, and his religious connection is with the Sacred Heart Catholic Church. In 1887 Chief Clark was joined in the bonds of wedlock with Susie Hufford of Bedford County, Pa., and. they have sons, namely: Robert E., Charles S., John W., Bernard H. and Thomas Allen. SAMUEL MOYER, whose excellent farm of 161 acres lies in Woodbury Township, Blair County, Pa., was born in Huntingdon County, Pa., February 12, 1854, and is a son 636 of George and Elizabeth (Shontz) Moyer. The parents of Mr. Moyer were well known and highly respected people of Huntingdon County, where the father engaged in farming. ‘They were members of the Reformed church. They had the following children: Margaret, who married Jonathan Brindle; John; Daniel; Mary, who married Isaac Long; Christopher ; Jacob; Nancy, who married Anthony Cun- ningham; George; Samuel; Benjamin; Will- iam and Scott. Samuel Moyer obtained a district school ed- ucation. Farming has been his business since reaching man’s estate and he is well qualified to meet any condition pertaining to agricul- tural matters. He bought his farm in Wood- bury Township from George G. Patterson, paying a fair price as it had already been im- proved. He cultivates the usual grains of this section, raises some stock and has abundant orchards. In 1892, Mr. Moyer was married to Miss Laura Garner, a daughter of A. B. Garner, whose other children were: Harry, Daniel, Albert, Norah, Charles and Ada. All survive except Norah, who was the wife of David Kiler. Mr. and Mrs. Moyer have four chil- dren: Frederick, William, Nellie and Robert. They are memberes of the Reformed church. Mr. Moyer casts his vote with the Republican party. WILLIAM HENRY WYERMAN, a well known citizen of Allegheny Township, Blair County, Pa., has resided on his farm of sixty- eight acres, situated near Duncansville, for about twenty years, and was born in this township, July 18, 1857. His parents were John and Mary B. (Balheimer) Wyerman. Both parents of Mr. Wyerman were born in Germany and came to America as young people. After their marriage they settled per- manently in Allegheny Township, Blair County, where they followed an agricultural life and became well known and respected residents. The father was a Democrat in pol- itics and for several years prior to his death was amember of the Lutheran church. Of the HISTORY OF BLAIR COUNTY children born to John and Mary B. Wyerman, five survive, namely: Catherine, who is the widow of John Turnbaugh, of Allegheny Township; George W., who lives in Iowa; Caroline E., who is the wife of E. M. Clapper, of Allegheny Township; William Henry; and David A., who is a resident of Logan Town- ship. William Henry Wyerman grew to manhood itt Allegheny Township, where he has always lived. After he was eighteen years of age he worked for himself at public works about seventeen years and then worked as a farmer, and in the course of years became possessed of the excellent farm on which he carries on dairying in addition to general farming. Mr. Wyerman married Miss Mary E. Caltabaugh, a daughter of the late Charles Caltabaugh, of Allegheny Township, and they have had nine children born to them: Maud E., Albert R., ‘Luther E., Olive R., Harold R., Mildred G., Charles L., Paul K., and one who is deceased. Mr. Wyerman and wife are members of the Lutheran church of Duncansville, in which he was formerly a deacon. In politics he is a Democrat. : LOUIS SIGRIST, one of Altoona’s best known German-American citizens, and propri- etor of the Sixth Ward Hotel, situated at Nos. 714-16 Seventeenth Street, Altoona, was born in Germany, August 24, 1865, the second in a family of four children born to Morris and Elizabeth Sigrist, who never came to America. When fifteen years of age, Mr. Sigrist crossed the Atlantic Ocean to the United States and came immediately to Altoona, and _ this city has continued to be his home. During the larger part of his business life he bas been con- nected in some capacity with the hotel business and thoroughly understands it. For two years prior to coming to the Sixth Ward Hotel, he managed the Union Exchange Hotel and came from there to his present property in 1907. He has a commodious and well-kept-up build- ing, with twelve sleeping rooms and all mod- ern conveniences. The Germans have an es- tablished reputation for fine cooking and Mr. EDWARD HAIR AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS Sigrist gives his guests the best that is on the- market. Mr. Sigrist married Miss Elizabeth Crum, a daughter of Casper Crum, of Hollidaysburg, and they have the following children: Marie, Margaret, Anna, Louis, Jr., Joseph, Agnes and George. Marie is the wife of Rudolph Ernest.and they have one daughter, Marie. Mr. Sigrist and family attend the Roman Catholic church. In politics he is a Republican and fraternally he is identified with the order of Eagles. ' EDWARD HAIR, a highly respected and widely known retired citizen of Roaring Spring, Pa., of which place he has been a resi- dent for thirty-six years and during this period has been prominently connected with its busi- ness and public affairs, was born in Bedford County, Pa., April 28, 1850, and is a son of Samuel R. and Margaret (Smith) Hair. The Hairs and the Smiths were early settlers in Bedford County, and many representatives of these families still are numbered with that county’s best citizenship. Edward Hair attended school in his native place until he was seventeen years of age and then became a clerk in a general-store and af- ter several years of experience, became man- ager of a store at Baker’s Summit, for C. R. Stover, and remained four years. In 1874 he came to Roaring Spring and embarked in a general mercantile and drug business, in which he.continued until February, 1910, when he sold out to Dr. W. M. Eldon, of Roaring Spring. In politics, Mr. Hair is a Democrat and he was appointed postmaster at Roaring Spring during the first administration of Presi- dent Cleveland and served over four years in that office. of public confidence and to find out how long he has served Roaring Spring in the office of treasurer, it is necessary to go back to the date of its organization as a borough, in 1888. He has been a director in the Roaring Spring Bank since the founding of this sturdy finan- cial institution. Mr. Hair enjoys a large amount 639 Mr. Hair married Miss Elizabeth Pote, of . Baker’s Summit, and they have one daughter, Mabel, who is the wife of Frederick Garver, of Roaring Spring. He is identified frater- nally with the order of Odd Fellows at Roar- ing Spring, and with the Masons, belonging to the Chapter at Hollidaysburg and the Com- mandery and Shrine at Altoona. Mr. Hair is justly numbered with the representative men of this section. GERMAINE CASANAVE,* ~one of Altoona’s representative business men, a capitalist and leading citizen, conducts the largest harness, saddlery and horse furnish- ing goods establishment in all Central Penn- ‘sylvania and has additional business inter- ests in this section. He was born at Escott, France, April 23, 1848, and is a son of John F. and Julia (Casaurancq) Casanave. The parents of Mr. Casanave were natives and lifelong residents of France. The father was a man of intellect and education and for many years was a school teacher. Both he and wife were worthy members of the Catholic church. They were the parents of eight children, three sons and five daugh- ters, and two of these came to America and made their permanent homes here. Germaine Casanave was educated in the schools of his native province and then learned the saddlery and harnessmaking trade. His older brother, Francis D. Cas- anave, had emigrated to America in 1863. In‘1870 Germaine decided to follow his example and in that year landed at the port of New York and from there came to Altoona, Pa. In the spring of 1871 he estab- lished himself in the harness and saddlery business in a modest way, and from that beginning his present large business has > been built up. His store and manufactory at No, 1213 Eleventh Avenue, Altoona, has several times been enlarged and .its capacity increased in order to meet the demands of trade, and for a number of years his has been the leading house in its line in this sec- tion. Mr. Casanave has kept fully abreast 640 with the times and his stock is complete in every particular. While many pieces of improved machinery have been introduced since the business was éstablished, Mr. Cas- anave still superintends all the work and is as‘particular with every bit of finished prod- uct as he was when it was all his own handiwork. He has been an astute business man and has acquired a large amount of valuable realty at Altoona and has vastly improved some sections through attractive building. He erected the handsome brick block on Eleventh Street, which bears his name, and also his fine private residence at No. 1105 Thirteenth Avenue. He is identi- fied with the Republican party but has always declined public office. Mr. Casanave was married at Altoona in 1871, to Miss Mary M. Kurtz, who died October 24, 1886, and was survived by four children: Nicholas J., Anthony J., Joseph D.and Mary J. Mr. Casanave and children are members of St. John’s Catholic Church at Atloona. JAMES R. HUMES, M. D., the leading physician and surgeon at Hollidaysburg, who is a practitioner in the Homeopathic School of Medicine, has been a resident of this city for some thirty-five years and dur- ing this time has thoroughly identified him- self with her interests. He was born in Allegheny County, Pa., October 18, 1847, and is a son of John V. and Elizabeth (Ran- dolph) Humes. John V. Humes, father of Dr. Humes, was one in a family of ten sons and he was born in Westmoreland County, Pa. His father was James Humes, who was also born in Westmoreland County. The family is of Scotch-Irish ancestry but since the days of the great-grandfather, has been of Pennsylvania. James Humes moved from Westmoreland to Allegheny County with his family and the present village of Tar- entum stands on a part of his old farm, where he died in 1865, aged seventy-two years. For many years John V. Humes in Tarentum Academy, HISTORY OF BLAIR COUNTY engaged in farming in Allegheny County and then retired to Tarentum. He was a man of high standing in his community and frequently was elected to local offices. He- married Elizabeth, who was a daughter of © Obediah Randolph, of Welsh extraction. They were worthy members of the Metho- dist Episcopal church. James R. Humes was educated in the common schools near his father’s farm and later attending Curry Institute, Pittsburg. Four years of school teachirig foliowed and he then entered upon the study of medicine with a well known practitioner at Tarentum and from there matriculated at Hahnemann Medical College, Philadelphia, and was graduated with his degree in the class of 1874. With the exception of a few months of practice at Etna, in Allegheny County, Dr. Humes’ whole period of professional effort has been spent at Hollidaysburg. In the early days his school of medicine met with much opposition from the older system and the education of the people along more progressive lines required time, persever- ance and professional skill. Dr. Humes has long been recognized as an able practitioner and has gained not only the full confidence of the public, but for many years has main- tained very cordial relations with other medical men, the scientific studies of each making the division between the two great schools much less than formerly. Dr. Humes is located at No. 212 Allegheny Street, Hollidaysburg. He is a member of all the leading medical organizations of the country and at times contributes to their literature. Dr. Humes was first married on June 6, 1876, to Miss Martha M. Huey, of Taren- tum, who died August 4, 1901, survived by two children: Inez A. and John H. Dr. Humes was married a second time, on Feb- ruary 4, 1904, to Miss Margaret Stewart, a daughter of James Stewart, of Altoona, Pa. Dr. Humes is identified with the Republican party and has always taken an interest in AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS ‘its success as well as in the welfare of the city in which his chosen home has been made. He has served several times as a member of the city council and has advo- cated many improvements of a public char- acter, particularly along educational and sanitary lines. He is a Knight Templar “Mason, a member of Mountain Command- ery, and is also a prominent Odd Fellow. CALVIN GRANT SAUER, general man- ager, secretary, and treasurer of a large de- partment store at Williamsburg, Pa., was born August 31, 1869, in Bedford County, Pa., and is a son of George and Mandilla Sauer. George Sauer was a native of Germany and in 1855 came to the United States and located in Bedford County, Pa. In 1872 he came to Roaring Spring, Blair County, Pa., and for many years engaged in agricultural pursuits, but spent the last twenty years of his life in retirement. He was politically identified with the Republican party, and was religiously a member of the Reformed church. The parents of our subject reared the following children: Calvin Grant; Anna, who is the wife of John B. Miller; Raymond G.; and Norman F. Calvin Grant Sauer is one of the leading business men of Williamsburg, and was one of the organizers of the store of which he is now manager and is also secretary and treasurer of same. Charles M. Schwab, the steel magnate of South Bethlehem, is the largest stockholder of the company. For twenty years :before coming to Williamsburg, Mr. Sauer was en- gaged in a general mercantile business at Al- toona, under the firm name of Sauer Bros. and at present is senior member of that firm, doing business at No. 1314 Eighth Avenue. In 1908 the firm erected a building at the cost of $25,000, and they handle everything found in a modern mercantile establishment. ' The junior member of that firm is Raymond G. Sauer, who has charge of the Altoona busi- ness. The store is located in a building, which was built in 1895 and 1896, and occupies three rooms on the first and second floors each, the third floor of the building being devoted to the 641 opera house of the borough, and it has a seat- ing capacity of 1,100 people. Mr. Sauer was married in 1896 to Mary A. Nease, of Washington, who is a daughter of Jacob and Abigail Nease, who came here from Washington County, Pa. Mr. Sauer is polit- ically a Republican, and his religious connec- tion is with the Reformed Church. WALTER J. HAMOR, city clerk of Al- toona, Pa., and a very popular official, has his office in the City Hall and has been a resident of Altoona since 1882. He was born at Alle- gheny, Allegheny County, Pa., April 4, 1865, and is a son of John W. and Mary (Campbell) Hamor. The great-grandfather of Mr. Hamor emigrated from Germany to America and settled in Northumberland County, Pa. From there moved his son, George Hamor, to Blair County, where he married and comfort- ably reared his family. John W. Hamor, son of George and father - of Walter J., was born and educated in Blair County. He learned the trade of nailer in Duncansville and followed it there and at Pittsburg until 1868, when he returned to Dun- cansville, where he worked until 1876, remov- ing then to Northumberland County. Later, however, he came back to Duncansville, where he died in 1883. He was an intelligent and. progressive man, took a hearty interest in pol- itics, was identified with both the Masons and the Odd Fellows wherever he lived, and was a useful and representative citizen. He married Mary Campbell, who was born in 1844 and survived him. They had three children, Wal- ter J. being the one son of the family. John W. Hamor and wife were members: of the Evangelical Lutheran church. Walter J. Hamor learned the printing trade after graduating from the Northumberland High School, and worked in a Northumber- land newspaper office until 1882, when he ac- cepted the clerkship in the Altoona offices of the Pennsylvania Railroad. He continued his duties there until 1889, in the meanwhile fos- tering the hope of becoming the owner and proprietor of a journal of his own. In Sep- 642 tember, 1889, his opportunity came and he purchased the Sunday Graphic News, of which he was editor and proprietor. He enlarged other features and added a first class job office to his plant. As a journalist, Mr. Hamor be- came well and favorably known and he con- tinued in active newspaper work until 1893. “Always an active Republican, on that ticket Mr. Hamor was elected city clerk of Altoona in 1894 and has been reelected ever since, his efficiency being so generally recognized that no change is desired by his fellow citizens. In November, 1890, Mr. Hamor was married to Miss Addie Watson, of Tyrone, Pa., and they © have one son, Charles McOmber, born in 1891. They reside at No. 1114 Sixteenth Avenue, Altoona. Mr. Hamor is a charter member of the Altoona lodge of Elks. JOSEPH L. ISENBERG, M. D., who has been engaged in the practice of medi- cine at Williamsburg, Pa., for the past ten years, was born March 2, 1868, at Franks- town, Blair County, Pa., and is a son of S. H. and Adeline R. (Stewart) Isenberg, and a grandson of Abraham Isenberg. S. H. Isenberg was a miller by trade, a Republi- can in politics, and his religious connections was with the Presbyterian church. He was the father of the following children: Charles; Harry; Joseph; Jennie; Elsie; Mattie, who is the wife of Morris Tresse; and Gretta. Joseph L. Isenberg was reared at Franks- town, and after a common school education, spent three years at Airy View Academy, at Port Royal, Juniata County, Pa., and then entered Jefferson Medical College, Philadelphia, graduating with the class of 1893. Dr. Isenberg first located in Cambria County, Pa., where he practiced medicine for three years, then spent four years at the Mines, Blair County, Pa., for the past ten years has been continuousl y and success- fully engaged in folowing his profession at Williamsburg. Dr. Isenberg was married in March, 1894, to Miss Ella M. Honner, who is a daughter HISTORY OF BLAIR COUNTY of John and Sarah (Wilson) Honner, of Cambria County. Mrs. Isenberg is one of the following children born to her parents: Harry; J. C.; Anna, who is the wife of Thomas D. King; Mattie, deceased, who was the wife of Willard Irvin; and Ella M. Two sons have been born to Dr. and Mrs. Isenberg: Howard C. and Charles Meade. Dr. Isenberg is a member of Portage Lodge, F. & A. M., of Hollidaysburg, and of the I. O. O. F. of Williamsburg. In politics he is a Republican. His religious connection is with the Presbyterian church. JOSEPH STREHLE,* whose accidental death occurred on November 8, 1909, was one of Hollidaysburg’s respected and valued citizens and was widely known. He was born April 24, 1868, at Augsburg, Bayern, Germany, where his parents lived and died. Two sisters and three brothers still reside there: Theresa, Elizabeth, Timothy, August and John Strehle. Joseph Strehle attended school in his native place and then learned the trade of a baker at which he became an expert. In 1894 he came to America with confidence in himself as he knew that his skill would secure him a good living and he was not dis- appointed. He worked in several of the larger cities of the country and in 1904 reached Altoona, where he became fore- man for the National Biscuit Company and remained several years. He then entered the employ of John Haller, a well established business man. From there he came to Hollidaysburg and purchased a ‘bakery on Allegheny ‘Street, which was then conducted by William Berckheimer, and ‘when he took charge, he gave it the name of the Rising Sun Bakery. He possessed the practical knowledge and also the busi- ness faculty that made his venture a success and the demand for his goods increased until his trade extended all over the city. His finances increased and he reached the comfortable state so that a voyage back and forth betwen America and Germany did HARRY F. PECK AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS not unduly tax his resources. He made three trips to his native land, and it was on the third visit that he was married, in Ger- many, December 7, 1902, to Miss Balbina Scheringer, who survives him, together with a little son and daughter, Joseph and Matilda. Mr. Strehle was an excellent citizen, one who attended closely to his business and by his genial and frank manner made many friends. The distressing accident that resulted in his death was one of those sad but all too frequent misfortunes attendant upon rapid transportation. It occurred as _he stepped off the rear platform of a car. He was a very heavy man, weighing some 240 pounds, and the jar, coming unexpectedly, threw him off his balance and he fell with such force that fatal results followed. The accident shocked the whole community. Mr. Strehle was affiliated with the Altoona Turngemeinde and the Frohsinn Singing Society. For years he was a consistent member of St. Michael’s Catholic Church, in which a high requiem mass was cele- brated on the day of the funeral, interment being made in Greenlawn Cemetery. JEREMIAH W. BLACK, justice of the peace and a leading citizen of Canan Station, Blair County, Pa., was born here, June 20, 1846, and is a son of Jacob and Mary M. (Swoveland) Black. Jacob Black and wife were both born in what was then Bedford County, but is now Blair’County. He was a son of Adam Black, who was a pioneer in what is now Greenfield Township, Blair County, where he was a jus- tice of the peace for many years and was iden- tified also with the state militia. He died in 1851. His people were of German extraction. Jacob Black was born February 14, 1804, and died July 6, 1872. In 1831, with his wife, he removed to Allegheny Township and settled at the point now known as Canan Station, where he spent the remainder of his life. He engaged in farming and also conducted an inn, but gave up the hofel business in the year in 645 which the railroad was put through. He was one of the reliable and representative men of the place and had done much toward its up- building. Of his children there are four sur- vivors, namely: Adam S., who lives near Dav- enport, Ia.; John H., who resides at Duncans- ville; G. Samuel, who lives in Allegheny Township, and Jeremiah W., of Canan Station. Jeremiah W. Black has passed his life- among the old and familiar surroundings of childhood. After completing his period of school attendance, he engaged to some extent in farming and owns twelve acres of highly cultivated land. For a quarter of a century he has served in the office of justice of the peace and his public duties have served to make him acquainted with a large number of his fellow citizens. His decisions during this long period have very generally been -upheld, while in- numerable times he has succeeded in adjusting differences without further bitterness of feel- ing or recourse to a higher court. For six years he served as-a member of the school board of Allegheny Township and for a por- tion of this period was president of the board. In his political views he is a Republican. Mr. Black married Miss Catherine Shaffer, who was born in Somerset County, Pa. a daughter of Michael Shaffer, late of Pittsburg. Mrs. Black died June 20, 1904, leaving one son, Harry S. The latter married Esther ~ Clapper, a daughter of Daniel Clapper, of Al- legheny Township. Mrs. Catherine Black was a member of the First Lutheran Church at Altoona, to which Judge Black also belongs. He is a member of the Order of the Moose, at Altoona, and of Eldorado Grange, Patrons of Husbandry, at Eldorado, and formerly was connected with the Odd Fellows, at Altoona. HARRY F. PECK, deceased, for many years was one of the public spirited and suc- cessful business men of Duncansville, Pa., and was closely identified with the best interests of this section. He was born at Broad Top, Huntingdon County, Pa., June 19, 1866, and died February 10, 1908, at Nevada, Mo., four 646 weeks after he reached there in search of health. His parents were Joseph and Sarah (Carpenter) Peck, who still survive and re- side at Duncansville, the former in his sev- enty-sixth and the latter in her seventy-first year, Harry F. Peck was young when his parents moved to Hollidaysburg from Huntingdon County and there he attended school until he was sixteen years of age, when the family came to Duncansville, where he completed his educa- tion. He soon afterward embarked in business and in several different lines was equally suc- cessful, accumulating an ample fortune al- though he died a comparatively young man. He was interested to a considerable degree in the oil industry in Clarion County. At Dun- cansville he was engaged as a merchant for twenty years and for a short time served as postmaster. For a number of years and until his death, he was also interested in the marble and granite monument business, in partnership with the late John M. Keller, under the firm name of Peck & Keller. On the death of Mr. Keller he became sole proprietor and continued the business. His many interests led to.an in- timate acquaintance with a large number of his fellow citizens and the universal testimony of those who had known him either in business, official or social life was that his community, in his death, had lost a most worthy man. On September 10, 1889, Mr. Peck was mar- ried to Miss Martha M. Diehl, who was born in Juniata Township, Blair County, Pa., a daugh- ter of Isaac and Rosanna (Mock) Diehl. Her father, who is now deceased, was born in Blair County. Her mother, who resides at Duncans- ville, is a native of Indiana County, Pa. Two children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Peck, both of whom are enjoying excellent educational ad- vantages, the son, Frank J., being a student at Gettysburg College, and the daughter, Sarah R., attending Perkiomen Seminary at Penns- burg, Pa. Mr. Peck was an official in the Lutheran church at Duncansville. In politics he was a Republican and at times consented to serve on the borough school board, filling the HISTORY OF BLAIR COUNTY positions of both president and treasurer of that body. His.fraternal connections ‘were with the Odd Fellows at Hollidaysburg and the Golden Eagles at Duncansville. The fam-_ ily now live at No. 611 Mulberry Street, Hol- lidaysburg, Pa. H. C.:-MADDEN, one of the oldest and. most prominent members of the Blair County Bar, has been identified with the legal profes- sion of Altoona, Pa., since 1895. He was born in 1845, in the southern part of Hunting- don County, Pa., where he was reared and at- tended the common schools. After a prepar- atory course at the Academy of Tuscaroras, Mifflin County, Pa., he entered the University of Iowa, at Iowa City, and there received a diploma for the practice of law, in 1869. He then spent one year in the:practice of his pro- fession in Jackson-County, Ia., when, on ac- count of ill health, he returned to Huntingdon County, Pa. In the fall of 1870 he located at Huntingdon, where he engaged in the practice of law until 1895, since which time he has been continuously and successfully engaged in fol- lowing his profession at Altoona. He was a member of the well known law firm of Henis- ling, McNeal & Madden, for two years, when Mr. McNeal retired and the firm of Henisling & Madden continued for two years, since which time Mr. Madden has conducted an office of his own. He was for several years district attorney of Huntingdon County, Pa. In 1874 Mr. Madden was united in mar- riage with Martha Oswalt, to whom were born four children: Newton Byron Madden, en- gaged in the practice of law at Pittsburg, Pa.; Henry Eldon., employed with the Penn. R. R. : Company; Robert Emmett, engaged in the plumbing business at Altoona, Pa., and Zoe, deceased. WILLIAM M. PIPER, justice of the’ peace and one of the leading citizens of Duncansville, Pa., which has been his place of residence since 1892, was born in Hunt- ingdon County, Pa., November 17, 1840, and AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS ‘is a son of James and Sarah (Stains) Piper, both of whom were natives of the same county, in which the grandfathers had been among the early settlers. William M. Piper grew to manhood in the vicinity of Yellow Springs, Blair County, Pa., and he obtained his education in the public schools of Catherine Town- ship. He then learned the blacksmith trade at Morrison’s Cove, near Williamsburg, and later conducted his own shop at Yellow Springs, in Blair County, both before and after his service in the Civil War. In Feb- ruary, 1864, he enlisted in Co. E, 104th Pa. Vol. Inf., which became a part of the Army of the Potomac. He was assigned to guard duty at Butler’s Fort, between the Appo- mattox and James Rivers, for four months, and was later transferred to the outskirts of Petersburg, Va., and after the surrender of General Lee, was given police duty in the city of Norfolk. He was honorably dis- charged September 1, 1865. Mr. Piper re- turned then to Blair County and for some time continued his blacksmith business and then turned his attention to farming and for twenty-two years engaged in agricultural pursuits near Yellow Springs. On February 2, 1862, Mr. Piper was mar- ried to Miss Eva J. Sorick, born near Will- iamsburg, Pa., a daughter of Valentine Sorick, and they have four children: John C., who lives in Frankstown Township; Valentine, who lives at Blairsville, Pa.; William R., who lives in Preston County, West Va.; and Eva J., who is the wife of Robert Knee, of Duncansville. Mr. and Mrs. Piper are members of the English Lutheran church. In politics he is a Re- publican, although somewhat independent. As a justice of the peace he has been accept- able to his fellow citizens by whom he is regarded with sentiments of esteem. He is a member of James H. Gibney Post, G. A. R., No. 465, at Duncansville, of which he has been commander and is now serving as chaplain. 647 OSWALD A. AMIES,* deceased, whose name is enshrined as one of the heroes of the great Civil War, laid down his life on the field of Gettysburg, on that memorable July 3, 1863. Then only thirty years of age, pros- perous in business, with a loving wife and de- voted children to make life worth the living, nothing but pure patriotism could have influ- enced him and caused him to turn his back on the promises of a happy future and take up a burden by which his very life was almost hourly to be in jeopardy. He was born in the city of Philadelphia in 1833. His ancestors beyond his parents had been natives of France, but his father was born in Delaware. For many years the latter was engaged in the manufacture of paper at Brandywine, a sub- urb of Wilmington, but he later retired to Philadelphia and resided there until his death at the age of eighty-eight years. Oswald A. was the eldest son. After leav- ing school he became the owner of the paper manufacturing business in which his father had been interested at Brandywine and he continued in that industry until 1861, when he offered his services as a soldier in answer to President Lincoln’s first call for troops. He served for three months as a member of Co. D, 68th Pa. Reserves. By that time the sad fact was generally recognized that the war would be of long continuance and among those who reenlisted for the preservation of the Union, for three years, was Oswald A. Amies. His gallant career was cut short as noted above. Pilgrims will long visit the old battle field of Gettysburg. On Cemetery Ridge stand many monuments and the names inscribed on their shafts are truly honored ones, but the real cost of patriotism is known only to those in whose hearts are enshrined the memories of the loved ones who were its victims. Oswald A. Amies was married in early manhood to Miss Elizabeth C. Mather, who survived him many years, dying at Philadel- phia, her native city, in 1882. One son, Ed- win M. Amies, has long been a very prominent citizen of Altoona, Pa., where he is engaged in the practice of law. 648 FREDERICK GLEICHERT, proprietor of the Hotel Schilling, a comfortable, well ap- pointed hostelry located on the corner of Seventh Avenue and Tenth Street, Altoona, was born in Baden, Germany, January 6, 1860, and is a son of John J. and Mary (Stultz) Gleichert. The father of Mr. Gleichert is de- ceased, but the mother survives. He is the eldest of the family and has four brothers and two sisters: Christian; J. J., who is in the grocery business at Altoona; William ; Har- mon; Christianna, who is assistant superin- tendent of Tabitha Hospital, at Lincoln, Nebr; and Lena, who is at home. Frederick Gleichert was fourteen years of age when he accompanied his parents to Amer- ica and had no school advantages afterward. He worked for the Pennsylvania Railroad Company from 1878 until 1897, when he em- barked in the hotel business. For six years he ran the Germania Hotel and then rested for one year, in 1905 coming to the Hotel Schill- ing, of which he is a very popular host. Mr. Gleichert was married in 1883, to Miss Elizabeth Bernd, a daughter of Henry and Catherine (Sheets) Bernd, residents of Al- toona, and they have the following children: Henry J., William F., Mrs. Catherine Conrad, Carl H., Lina, Frederick J., and Martha M. Mr. and Mrs. Gleichert are members of the German Lutheran church: He is a Democrat in politics and gives hearty support to the can- didates of his party but desires no offices for himself. He is a member of the fraternal orders of Eagles and the Moose and belongs also to the Concordia Singing Society and the Altoona Turngemeinde Society. JACOB S. WAREHAM, whose ninety- acre well improved farm is situated in Taylor Township, Blair County, Pa., was born in Snake Spring Township, Bedford County, Pa., March 18, 1863, and is a son of Michael S. and Catherine (Snyder) Wareham. Michael S. Wareham was born in Bedford County and was a son of Joseph Wareham, who was of English extraction and was a resi- dent of Bedford County for a long time. HISTORY OF BLAIR COUNTY Michael S. Wareham was a well known and substantial citizen of Bedford County, a good financier and a practical farmer. He was a Republican in his political sentiments and was a worthy member of the Brethren church. He married Catherine Snyder, who was born in Bedford County and came of German ances- try, and six of their children survive, namely : Elizabeth S., of Monroe Township, Bedford County; Margaret S., of Everett, Pa.; Jacob S.; Joseph S., of Martinsburg; Andrew S., of Snake Spring Township; and Mary S., of Everett, Pa. The father of the above family died March 10, 1894, and the death of the mother followed on April 18, of the same year. Jacob S. Wareham attended the public schools in Bedford County in his youth and also very early began to learn the business of farming, to which he has devoted a large part of his attention ever since. He raises the usual grains of this section and also grows excellent stock. He came to his present farm in the spring of 1894 and all his surroundings indicate thrift and comfort. Mr. Wareham was married February 27, 1890, to Miss Annie K. Mock, a daughter of David B. Mock, of Taylor Township, and eight children have been born to them, seven of whom survive: Susie M., John A., Mary K., Irvin A., David M., J. Paul and Jesse M. Mr. Wareham does not call himself a poli- tician but he takes a good citizen’s interest in the election of capable men to office and in the making of good laws for every class. He has served as school director in Taylor Township, and is one of the representative men of this section. JAMES FRANKLIN MENTZER, a rep- resentative citizen of Frankstown, Pa., dis- trict health officer, resides in a comfortable home in the village and also owns four acres of valuable land. He was born at Loysburg, Bedford County, Pa., November 23, 1850, and is a son of Jeremiah and Mary (Working) Mentzer. Jeremiah Mentzer was a miller by trade and followed the same through all his ac- AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS tive life. He lived retired for fifteen years prior to his death. He married Mary Work- ing, who is also deceased. They were members of the Lutheran church. They had the following children: Charles; Mary, who is the widow of Oliver B. Fluke; James Franklin; Albert, of whom nothing has been heard since 1907; Irving; Will- iam Scott; George; Samuel and Emma. James F. Mentzer obtained his education dn the district schools and afterward taught school for one year and then went to Mich- igan, where he was clerk in a hotel at East Saginaw, for three years. He then re- turned to Pennsylvania and for three years engaged in farming and then became a mil- ler and was engaged in the flour mill busi- ness for twenty-six years. He is now re- tired from active business pursuits. On February 25, 1875, Mr. Mentzer was married to Miss Sarah A. Slippey, a daugh- ter of Jonathan and Rebecca Slippey, old residents of Frankstown who are now de- ceased. Mrs. Mentzer had four sisters, namely: Mary, deceased, who was the wife of Morrison Lindsey; Rebecca, who is the wife of Irvin Mentzer; Blanche, who is the wife of Joseph M. Delozier; and Clara, who is the wife of William S. Reese. Mr. and Mrs. Mentzer have two daugh- ters: Elsie B., who is the wife of Grant McClelland; and Myrtle, who is the wife of Frank Geesey. Mr. Mentzer and family are members of the Lutheran church. He is a Republican in politics and has taken an active interest in township matters, for a long time serving on the school board and being its secretary at the present time. He is also the health officer of the district which includes Blair and Frankstown Town- ships. -He is a member of Lodge No. 282, F. & A. M., at Hollidaysburg; of the Com- mandery at Altoona, and of Jaffa Temple, Mystic Shrine, at Altoona. WILLIAM B. HICKS, one of Altoona’s successful young business men, who has been engaged at his chosen pursuits here 649 for the past nine years. was born in Tyrone, Blair County, Pa., November 25, 1872. His father, Hon. J. D. Hicks, who is of Welsh descent, was a soldier in the Union ‘army during the Civil War. Since then he -was admitted to practice law, beconiing a leading attorney at the Blair County bar. He served his district for six years as a member of Congress and during his last term of service, was chairman of the com- mittee on patents. On his mother’s side of the house, Anna Mary Sparr, was the daughter of Isaac Sparr. She was born on Cedar Brook farm along Clover Creek, this county, which is the old Sparr homestead of four generations and now owned by her daughter, Mrs. Hattie W. Cadle, and son, the subject of this sketch. The Sparr fam- ily is of German ancestry and emigrated to this country about 1700. Mrs. Anna Sparr Hicks died suddenly of pneumonia at Ty- rone in the Summer of 1875. Mr. Hicks attended the Tyrone and Al- toona public schools, finishing his educa- tional training as a student for two years at the Pennsylvania State College. He then went into the newspaper work at Altoona at managing The News, a morning news- paper, and shortly after accepted a position in the employ of the New York World. Returning from New York City to Altoona, he commenced active business duties in conducting a fire insurance and steamship agency and acting as local press correspond- ent for several leading metropolitan daily newspapers, notably the New York World and Sun, Philadelphia Inquirer, Pittsburg Gazette-Times, Post and Dispatch and Chicago Tribune. As an insurance under- writer and steamship agent he has built up by energetic work, one of the largest agen- cies of the kind in central Pennsylvania. He represents many of the largest, old-line fire insurance companies in existence, and leading steamship lines of the world. In the capacity of a newspaper correspondent, Mr. Hicks has won distinction and is recog- nized as an able, forcible writer. He is a 650 director of the Phoenix Building & Loan association, of Altoona, Pa., a strong finan- cial institution. On Cedar Brook farm, of which he is part owner, are located exten- sive limestone quarries, operated by the Pittsburg Limestone Company, an auxil- - jary to the United States Corporation. In~ politics, Mr. Hicks is an active Republican, giving his party earnest and intelligent sup- port on all leading issues. He displays good business tact and his success attained against keen competition is deserved from being well earned. On January 25, 19060, Mr. Hicks was mar- ried to Miss Martha S. Maize, daughter of Joseph and Anna Maize, of Altoona, and they reside in their own home which Mr. Hicks had built at No. 2107 Seventh avenue, this city, shortly before their marriage. Mr. Hicks is an attendant at the Second Meth- odist church of Altoona. He isa member of the Altoona Lodges Nos. 102, B. P. O. Elks, and 286, Fraternal Order of Eagles. ' EDWARD N. ROOT, who has been act- ively engaged in the fire insurance business at Bellwood, Pa., since 1907, is a representative of several of the leading old line companies, and was previously for many years in the serv- ice of the Bell’s Gap Railroad. He was born October 7, 1852, in Antis Township, Blair county, Pa., and is a son of John M. and Mary Ann (Nelson) Root. Lemuel Root, great-grandfather of subject was a native and for many years a resident of the New England States and served in the Revolutionary war, after which he came to Blair County, Pa. He settled in Antis town- ship, where he owned a large farm, on which he built a log cabin, and here spent his declining years, dying at the advanced age of 93 years. The gun which he carried in the Revolutionary war has been passed to the eldest son from generation to generation, and is now possessed by Lemuel Root, a second cousin of our sub- ject and a son of Jacob Root, who was a son of Lemuel Root. John Root, grandfather of our subject, was born on the old homestead HISTORY OF BLAIR COUNTY place in Antis township, then Huntingdon County, and after his second marriage moved to Ohio, where he owned considerable land near Gallion. He met an accidental death at the age of 68 years, being run over’ by a corn wagon. John M. Root, father of Edward N., was born on the old home place and lived there practically all his life, returning here about one year after the family moved to Ohio. He was of English descent. After his marriage he left the home farm and during the greater part of his life followed the lumber business, and subsequently-became the owner of a farm near Elizabeth Furnace. He spent the latter years of his active career in the service of the railroad acting as first night watchman for several years previous to entering the lumber business. In the spring of 1865 he enlisted for service in the war, in Company E., Sixth Penna. Cavalry, and served until its close. He then returned to lumbering for a time, after which he again went into the railroad business and continued with the company until seventy years of age, when he was entered on the company’s retired list and so remained until his death seven years later. John M. Root first married Mary Ann Nel- son, who was born in Antis township, a daugh- ter of James Nelson, who was of Scotch par- entage. Of this union were born five children: Edward N.; Lemuel A., a resident of Bell- wood; Luther, who died at Port Huron, Mich. ; James, who died in infancy; and Mary Mar- garet (Mrs. Glasgow) who died in Bellwood. Mrs. Root died November 12, 1865, and was buried in Antis Cemetery. Mr. Root formed a second union December 31, 1867, with Mrs. Lydia H. West, and to them were born one son, John Preston Root, who resides in Ohio. Mr. Root died March 1, 1904, at Bellwood, and his second wife died July 20, 1902. Edward N. Root grew to man’s estate in Antis township, and after completing his edu- cation taught some eighteen terms in Clear- field, Center and Blair Counties, his last school being a subscription school. On March 29, 1879, he moved to what was then known as EDWARD N. ROOT JOHN M. ROOT JOSEPH EUGENE ROOT AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS Bell’s Mills, and on August 3, 1882 entered the railroad service. He was continuously in the service of the railroad until May 30, 1907, and was identified with the Bell’s Gap Railroad as ticket and freight agent and weigh master at Bellwood, and continued as such until trans-- ferred to the Middle Division. At that time (Dec. 1888) a joint agency was established with the P. & N. W. R. R., after which he served as coal clerk until the time of his re- tirement from the service in May, 1907. ‘He has since that time been actively engaged in the fire insurance business, representing several of the leading old line companies. Mr. ‘Root is a Democrat in politics, although inclined to be independent. For the past six- teen years he has been a member of the school board, and was a member of that body when the town was formed into a borough. He has been treasurer of the local fire company since its organization, August 18, 1891. Mr. Root is fraternally a member of the I. O. O. F., the Royal Arcanum, the K. O. T. M. and the Sons of Veterans. On December 26, 1876, Mr. Root married Mary Eleanor Iddings, who was born in the vicinity of Unionville, Center County, Pa., April 5, 1853, and died March 6, 1907. She was a daughter of Henry and Elizabeth (Allen) Iddings, who were people of affluence and the owners of several valuable farms. Four chil- dren have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Root, namely: Joseph Eugene, born September 21, 1879, who graduated from Bellwood High School’ in 1898, and from the Pennsylvania State College in 1907, in the course of Civil Engineering, and is now an instructor in the University of Cincinnati, at Ohio. He married ‘Elsie Selma Richter of Cumberland, Md.; Margaret Elizabeth, born November 16, 1881, who graduated from the Bellwood High School in 1898 and from the Millersville State Normal in 1902, taking a later course in 1905, and who is now teaching in the public schools at Camden, N. J.; Alice Lydia, born June 22, 1884, who is the wife of George E. Wentz (they residing with Mr. ‘Root); and Ruth Isabella, born October 23, Cincinnati, , 653 1893, who is now a senior in the Bellwood High School. The religious connection of the family is with the Lutheran church. ANDREW C. BIDDLE, who is engaged in general farming and stock raising on a farm of 152 acres in Woodbury Township, has been a resident of Blair County since 1891, and was born July 19, 1852, in Bed- ford County, Pa., a son of Jacob and Susan (Marsden) Biddle. Jacob Biddle followed farming in Bedford County, Pa. His union with Susan Marsden resulted in the birth of the following children: Malinda, de- ceased, wife of William Cochran; Caroline, deceased, wife of Alex Boor; Myra, wife of S. F. Hetrick; Gilbert; and Andrew C., the subject of this record. Jacob Biddle was politically a Republican. He held membership with the Lutheran church. Andrew C. Biddle spent his boyhood on his father’s farm in Bedford County, Pa., and after obtaining a common school edu- cation, engaged in agricultural pursuits, which he has followed all his life. In 1891 he purchased his present farm of 152 acres in Woodbury Township, from the heirs of the George Hewitt estate. The barn which was on the place at the time of his purchase, was struck by lightning and entirely de- stroyed, and was later replaced by the fine bank barn, which is now on the farm. Mr. Biddle carries on farming in a general way, and raises sufficient stock for his own use. In 1871 Mr. Biddle married Rebecca Lyons, who is a daughter of Henry and Elizabeth Lyons, and is one of the follow- ing children born to her parents: William, Anna, Rebecca, Elias, Joseph, Grant, and Benjamin. Her father was a native of Lan- caster County, Pa. Mr. and Mrs. Biddle are parents of the following children: Anna, who is the wife of William Swisher; Ida, who married George Zeigler; Charles; Sophia, who is the wife of Albert Fry; Min- nie, who married Thomas Steward; Grace, and Nell. Mr. Biddle is identified with the Republican party. 654 EDWIN M. AMIES,* who is recognized as one of the leading members of the Blair County bar and is a prominent citizen of Al- toona, was born in the city of Philadelphia, October 19, 1859, and is a son of Oswald A. and Elizabeth C. (Mather) Amies. The Amies family is of French extraction but for many generations has been purely “American. Oswald A. Amies was born at Philadelphia, Pa., a son of Thomas Amies, a native of Delaware. The latter was a large manufacturer of paper at Brandywine, Del., and later Oswald A. was concerned in the same line of business. Oswald A. Amies was one of the first to answer President Lincoln’s first call for troops, in 1861; he served through a first enlistment and after reenlisting, fell on the battle field of Gettysburg. He left a young wife with four children. He had married Elizabeth C. Mather, a native of Philadelphia also, who survived until 1882. She was a woman -of great fortitude and many Christian virtues and was an earnest member of the Methodist Episcopal church. Edwin M. Amies was three years old when he was left fatherless. His mother returned to Philadelphia with her little children and there he was educated and with the class of 1876, was graduated from Girard College. In making a choice of profession he decided upon the bar, for which his natural talents and inclination seemed to fit him, and after four years of study in the office of Alexander & Herr, at Altoona, he was admitted to the bar of Blair County, in December, 1880. He im- mediately opened his law office in Altoona and this city has continued to be his field of effort and the scene of his many legal triumphs. For almost thirty years he has been in the legal arena and at no time have his actions inspired anything but the highest esteem and respect, not only for his ability as a lawyer, but also because of his genial personality and his high standard of manhood. He has served in political offices, being an active and earnest Republican, but his aims have been directed to attaining professional eminence rather than political advancement. HISTORY OF BLAIR COUNTY Mr. Amies was married November 2, 1881, to Miss Laura Bower, a daughter of Jacob and Mary Bower, prominent old residents of Lan- caster County, Pa. Mr. and Mrs. Amies re- side in a pleasant home which is situated at No. 1308 Fourteenth Avenue, Altoona, and he maintains his ‘offices in the Central Trust Building, Rooms 28-30, an admirable location. He is identified with a number of fraternal or- ganizations, these including Logan Lodge, No. 490, F. & A. M.; Mountain Chapter, No. 180, Royal Arch Masons; Camp No. 12, Sons of Veterans; Blair Lodge, No. 281, Knights of Pythias; and Altoona Lodge, No. 102, Elks. He is president of the Altoona Republican Club. = ALBERT A. COWEN, a prominent agri- culturist and leading citizen of Taylor Town- ship, Blair County, Pa., is a representative of one of the sturdy Irish families that came to America shortly after the close of the Revolu- tionary War, these colonists having made a large part of what is the best citizenship of the United States. Albert A. Cowen was born in Taylor Township, September 27, 1849, and is a son of David N. and Elizabeth (Croft) Cowen, and a grandson of Edward Cowen, who settled near Roaring Spring, on what is now known as the Woodbury turnpike road. The Cowen ancestry has been traced by other investigators and reaches to the north of Ireland. From there two brothers, Edward and William Cowen, emigrated to America, and after a long and stormy passage, reached Philadelphia, Pa., in 1785. Before starting out to secure a pioneer farm, Edward Cowen was married in January, 1786, at Philadelphia, to Elizabeth Pote, a native of Germany, who had been a fellow passenger. She proved an admirable helpmate, cheerfully shared the hardships that attended them for many years, frugally preserved their scanty means and proudly became the- mother’ of his twelve sturdy children. In the succeeding years these married and intermarried and at the present time the leading families-of this section have - AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS a strain of the Cowen-Pote blood and fre- quently the family characteristics. David N. Cowen was born on the tract of government land that his father had secured through the Penn heirs, this patent calling for a body of land extending from the Dunning’s Mountain on the west across the valley just one mile south of Roaring Spring. At that time there were so many springs found on his land, that Mr. Cowen named his property Spring Garden, but the larger number of these have disappeared. The farm now owned by Albert A. Cowen was originally a part of what was called the Ullery Tract, on a portion of which the borough of Roaring Spring now stands. David N. Cowen followed an agricul- tural life. It was one of industry and quiet usefulness and when he passed away he left behind him the record of a good man. He married Elizabeth Croft and of their family of children the following survive: Albert A.; George L., who is a minister in the Baptist church, is located at Chesterfield, N. J.; and Eli C., Mary L., and Annie, who all reside in Taylor Township; and Edward D., who is a physician in practice at Cottonwood, S. Dak. Albert A. Cowen was reared in Taylor Township. He attended the district schools and Martinsburg Seminary and also received valuable instruction in a private Normal School at Bedford, Pa. Mr. Cowen then be- came a teacher for a short period, teaching three terms in Blair and Bedford Counties, since when he has devoted himself to farimng and moderate stock raising. In addition to his Taylor Township farm of Eighty-six acres, he owns a farm of like acreage in Woodbury Township, both of these being productive properties. Mr. Cowen married Miss Susan Long, a daughter of David Long, of Bedford County, and seven children were born to them, three of’ whom, Emory, Charles and David, are de- ceased. The survivors are: W. Howard, Warren G., Arthur O. and Vora M., all resi- dents of Taylor Township. In his political views, Mr. Cowen is a Republican. 655 WILLIAM M. HARE, one of Altoona’s prominent and substantial business men, who has been identified with livestock in- terests for many years, has been a resident of this city since 1868. He was born at Al- lensville, Mifflin County, Pa., October 12, 1842, and is a son of William and Matilda (Goodman) Hare. William Hare was left an orphan at an early age and was obliged from boyhood to provide for his own necessities. He devel- oped into a man of strong character, honor- able and upright, winning success where others would have failed. When he passed out of life he left not only a large estate to his family, but also a name they could hold in high regard. He was a native of Mifflin County, and died in Catherine town- ship, Blair County. He married Matilda Goodman, who was born in Lancaster County and died in 1883, surviving her hus- band for two years. William M. Hare came into life under more fortunate conditions than did his father and was reared in a home of kind- ness and comfort. He remained on the home farm in Catherine Township until he was twenty-two years of age, in the mean- while having secured a good common school education. He then left the farm and en- gaged in the meat and butchering business at Altoona. For a number of years he car- ried on a large business in this line, but about 1889 he became in terested in dealing in livestock and then disposed of his meat business and has given almost all of his attention in late years, to developing the stock industry. He is an extensive owner real estate, his city realty including a beau- tiful home at No. 909 Chestnut Avenue, while his farming properties include the old homestead in Catherine Township and val- uable land adjacent to Altoona. He is numbered with the enterprising and pro- gressive citizens, being at the same time one of the most solid and reliable. Mr. Hare was married in 1866 to Miss Harriet Lafferty, of Logan Township, Blair 656 County, and they have seven children. The five daughters are all more or less artistic and Mr. Hare has afforded them every edu- cational advantage and they are prominent in the social life of the city. The two sons, Samuel B. and Harry Hare, are both rep- resentative business men of the county. The former is a prominent attorney, with office at No. 2 Nicholson Building and pri- vate residence at No. 1208 Tenth Street. The latter is engaged in agricultural pur- suits and resides in Catherine Township, on the old family homestead. Mr. Hare and sons are all identified with the Republican party as was his father who served for forty-seven years as a justice of the peace in Mill Vale, Mifflin County. ISAAC C. HESS, postmaster at Dun- cansville, Pa., where he also conducts a drug store, is one of the representative business men of this place, where he has resided since 1882. He was born in Luzerne County, Pa., May 2, 1858, and is a son of Jacob and Sarah (Kline) Hess, natives also of Luzerne County. The mother survives and resides at Scranton, Pa., but the father went out as a volunteer in the Civil War and never returned. Isaac C. Hess was about four years old when he lost his father and his school op- portunities were lessened on account of having to start out for himself very early in life. He was reared in Luzerne and Col- umbia Counties and his first permanent business connection was with the Jackson and Wooden Manufacturing Company, of Berwick, Pa., where he was an employe for nine years. Subsequently that. firm was merged into the American Car and Foundry Company. Mr. Hess then learned the drug business and in 1882 established himself at Duncansville, where he has con- ducted a drug store for over a quarter of a century. He has additional business in- terests and is a leading man in the public affairs of the town. In partnership with H. S. Wertz, they conduct the Duncans- ‘HISTORY OF BLAIR COUNTY ville Granite and Marble Works, success- ors to H. F. Peck, and do an extensive business in cemetery and other monument work. In politics he is a Republican. For some years he has been a member of the town council and at present is president -of this body, his usefulness in this position being very generally recognized. He has served as postmaster since March 1, 1904, the office being one of considerable import- ance, a large amount of mail being handled here daily, two free rural routes being at- _ tached to this office: Mr. Hess was married first to Miss Jo- sephine Malay, of Berwick, Pa., and they had one son, John, who is a resident of Al- toona, Pa. His second marriage was to Miss Annie M. Myers, a daughter of the. late Daniel Myers of Duncansville, who was killed while serving as a soldier in the Civil War. Three children have been born: to the second union: Estelle, Mary M. and Esther. Mr. Hess is well known also in Masonic circles, being a member of the Blue Lodge at Berwick, of the Consistory at Williamsport, and of the Shrine at Altoona. ELMER B. WHITE, a prosperous farmer and much respected citizen of Wood- bury Township, Blair County, Pa., is the owner of a farm of fifty-eight acres, and was born May 1, 1870, on this farm, and is a son of Daniel M. and Elizabeth (Bowers) White. Both the paternal grandparents, Andrew and Martha White, and also the maternal grandparents, Michael and Mary Bowers, were of German descent. Daniel M. White was born in Hunting- don, Pa., and-his wife was a native of Wood- bury Township. He taught forty winter terms and ten summer terms of school in the county, which is believed to be a record. They attended the Dunkard church, and the father was a Republican in politics. Six children were born to Daniel and Eliza- beth White, namely: Lisander, Charles, Samuel, Mary, who is the wife of Frank Fields, Dillie, and Elmer B. AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS Elmer B. White grew to maturity on his ‘present farm, and was educated in the com- mon schools of the township. After leav- ing school he spent one year doing agricul- tural ‘work by the month, then returned to the home farm, which he and his sister Dil- lie inherited from his father, and has since been engaged in general farming here. He has repaired and remodeled the old home residence and has erected a fine bank barn. He and his sister attend the Dunkard church, and in politics he is identified with the Republican party. : CAPT. JOHN H. BLACK, an honored veteran of the Civil War and a prominent cit- izen of Duncansville, Pa., which thas been his home since 1865, was born in Allegheny Township, Blair County, Pa., July 28, 1834. His parents were Jacob and Mary (Swove- land) Black. Jacob Black was born in Greenfield Town- ship, Blair County, and was a son of Adam Black, who came to Blair County from Mary- land. -He settled in Greenfield Township, when the present green fields were yet covered with a native forest. He was a pioneer in the saw mill industry and built one of the first saw mills in the township and later erected a grist mill. He became the leading man of the settlement and later, when the township be- came the home of many law abiding people, he was appointed justice of the peace and served in that office for twenty years, and the records show that during that period he united 104 couples in marriage. He was ~ identified also with the State militia and was evidently one of the most useful and reliable men of his day. Jacob Black was reared in Greenfield Township but after his marriage, in the thirties, he moved to a farm in Allegheny Township and lived there until his death, in 1871. There his nine children were born and of these there are four survivors, as fol- lows: Adam S., who lives near Davenport, Ia. ; John H.; Samuel G., who lives near Eldo- 657 rado, Pa.; and Jeremiah W., who lives in Allegheny Township. John H. Black was reared on the home farm in Allegheny Township and attended the district schools, and Tuscarawas Acad- emy, in Juniata County, after which he taught school for some years before the out- break of the Rebellion. Seemingly this was but poor preparation for the hardships of a soldier’s life, but it is doubtful if the young teacher ever thought of personal discom- fort when his loyalty to the Union impelled him to enlist as a defender of the same. On April 22, 1861, he entered Co. H, 14th Pa. Vol. Inf., and served out his first enlist- ment of three months, and on December 10, 1861, re-enlisted, becoming a member of Co. G, 42th Pa. Cav., in which he served faithfully for two years. He then re-en- listed in the same company and regiment as a veteran, with the rank of first sergeant and later was advanced to the rank of first lieutenant. Capt. Black by no means es- caped all the dangers of warfare. He took part in the second battle of Bull Run, where he was taken prisoner and was paroled on the field of battle. Later he was wounded in Loudon County, Va., when his command and the guerilla band under Col. John S. Moseby, had a sharp engagement. Capt. Black was so seriously injured that he was permanently disabled and he was honor- ably discharged on July 20, 1865. It is in- spiring to listen to this old veteran’s stories of his life as a cavalryman under the late General Sheridan in the Shenandoah Val- ley and of their devotion to their leader even while most continuously under fire. After his return to Blair County he re- sumed teaching after a necessary period of recuperation, and continued in the school room more or less until 1877. Late in the sixties he served as treasurer of Blair County and from 1892 until 1906 he served as a member of the board of Education of the borough of Duncansville, having pre- viously been a director in the independent school district in Blair Township. His in- 653 terest in educational matters has been con- tinuous and at all times his services have been most valuable. Capt. Black married Miss Jennie Leighty, who was born in Duncansville, Pa., and died here in 1908. She was a daughter of George and Sophia (Walters) Leighty, both families. being old settlers and sub- stantial people of Blair Township. To this matriage one daughter was born, Carrie M., who resides with her father. In poli- tics Capt. Black is identified with the Re- publican party. Since early manhood he has been a member of the Methodist Epis- copal church and is serving as a steward and as trustee of the church at Duncansville. Since October 24, 1860, he has been a member of Lodge No. 119, Odd Fellows, at Hollidays- burg. He is a member of James H. Gib- boney Post, No. 465, G. A. R., at Duncans- ville, and has served in the office of quarter- master. He is known all over Blair County and at other points, having attended many reunions of the Grand Army. ELLIOTT H. BRUA, proprietor of the Cedar Grove Grist Mill, and owner of a farm of 144 acres in Frankstown Township, Blair County, Pa., was born on a farm adjoining his present place, December 26, 1849, and is a son of Jacob and Elizabeth (Elliott) Brua. His parents were both natives of Blair County, and for many years carried on farm- ing in Frankstown Township, but he spent his declining years in retirement at Hollidays- burg. They were members of the Presby- terian church and were buried at the Presby- terian Cemetery at Hollidaysburg. Jacob and Elizabeth Brua were the parents of the following ciildren: Elliott; Blair A.: Lynn A., president of the Citizens’ National Bank of Hollidaysburg; Mary J.,. wife of Dr. Rob- ert Irwin of Hollidaysburg ; and Elizabeth B., wife of T. Irwin Smith of Hollidaysburg. Mr. Brua was politically identified with the Republican party. The paternal grandparents of our subject were Daniel and Mary Brua, who came from HISTORY OF BLAIR COUNTY Lancaster County, Pa., in 1818, and the ma- ternal grandparents were George and, Ruth Elliott, the former of Franklin County, and the latter of Blair County. Elliott H. Brua was reared in his native township, where he attended the local schools, and after spending one term in the seminary at Hollidaysburg, engaged in farming fora short time. He later taught in the dis- trict schools of the county for six terms, was a clerk in a store one year, and con- ducted a grocery store for one year, and for the past eighteen years has farmed his pres- ent placé, which he inherited from his father. He has operated his mill for twelve years and his father operated it from 1884 until about 1889. The mill is supposed to be over 100 years old, as Mr. Brua has papers showing it was here in 1813. Mr. Brua is one of the public spirited and progressive citizens of the township. He is politically identified with the Republican party but has never cared to hold office. FERDINAND A. WINTER, senior mem- ber of the business firm of F. A. Winter & Son, extensive dealers in pianos, organs and other musical instruments, handling evéry- thing known in music, with quarters at No. 1317 Eleventh Avenue, Altoona, founded this business in this city in 1879, and for thirty years he has been closely identified with Al- toona and its varied interests. Mr. Winter was born at what was then known as Phillips- burg, but now is Monaca, Beaver County, Pa., May 23, 1844, and is a son of Rev. Ferdinand -and Joanna (Swartz) Winter. Rev. Ferdinand Winter was born in Ger- many and in 1839 he came to Beaver County, Pa., and for forty-seven years served as a pastor in the Reformed church. He was a man of scholarly attainments, a graduate of one of the great German universities, and had the lines of his life led him into either art or music, he would doubtless have become as emi- nent as he was useful in his spiritual work. > Many residents of Beaver County fecall his technical skill as a musician, a number having ELLIOTT H BRUA JACOB L. BRUA AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS ‘been his pupils in their youth, and they also remember his enthusiasm concerning his many beautiful flowers which he grew because he loved them. This kind, virtuous ‘and beloved teacher and pastor lived to be seventy-five years of age. He married Joanna Swartz, who was born in Switzerland and survived him five years. Ferdinand A. Winter inherited many of his father’s natural gifts and after completing his academic course he engaged in teaching music and for some time was instructor in both vocal and instrumental music in the United Presby- terian Seminary in Beaver County. In 1871 he resigned his professorship in that institu- tion and then passed eight years at Pittsburg, where he dealt in musical instruments. In 1879 he came to Altoona and the recognition of his talents and appreciation of his business methods here, caused him to decide on this city as a future home. Mr. Winter has done much to raise the standard of musical taste, and the patronage he has received has been a substantial proof of the public’s recognition of his art and his untiring labors to advance it. He offers only the best to his patrons in musical instruments and appliances of all kinds, his own natural as well as acquired knowledge in this line making him a competent judge and the best of advisors. He has seen his business de- velop from a comparatively small beginning into one that has trade connections all through Central Pennsylvania. The present firm style was adopted when he admitted his son, Arthur E. Winter, to partnership. He has always been a loyal and active citizen. In 1861 he entered the Federal Army. and his musical pro- ficiency secured him the position of bandmaster of the 63rd Pa. Vol. Inf., and later of the 5th Heavy Artillery, and he served until the close of the war. Mr. Winter was married in 1875 to Miss Anna Buhl, a daughter of Henry Buhl, of Butler County, and they have had seven chil- dren: Walter F., Arthur E., Harry E., Edith E., Carl Lewis, Paul T. and Marie H. The family home is situated at No. 1914 Twelfth Avenue, Altoona. Mr. Winter and family are 661 members of the Presbyterian church. He is identified with the Grand Army of the Re- public. LEVI HOOVER, a well known agriculturist of Allegheny Township, Blair County, Pa., where he owns seventy-six acres of land, sixty- one of which comprises his home farm, was born in this township, February 1, 1861, and is a son of Jacob W. and Susanna (Shadel) Hoover. _ Jacob W. Hoover was born in Blair County and was about eighteen months old when his father died. His mother later married a Mr. Brown and when he was eleven years old he accompanied his mother and step-father to Indiana County, Pa., where he remained until he was seventeen years of age. He then re- turned to Blair County and engaged in farm work and finally settled on the place now owned by his son, Levi Hoover. He was a very worthy man and in his death Allegheny Town- ship lost a good citizen. He was married twice, his first wife being a Miss Rice and they had one daughter, Maria, now deceased. His second union was with Susanna Shadel and they had a large family, of which the fol- lowing children survive: Levi; Jemima, who is the wife of William G. Diehl, of Juniata County, Pa.; John W., who lives in Indiana County, Pa.; George W., who resides at Dun- cansville; Ellen; Mary E., who is the wife of Samuel R. Clapper, of Allegheny Township; Sarah A., who is the wife of Alexander Bru- baker, of Allegheny Township; Blair S. and Jacob W., both of whom live in Allegheny Township; and Nancy, who is the wife of Ed- ward Wyant, living near Duncansville. Jacob W. Hoover was a member of the German Baptist church. Levi Hoover grew to man’s estate in Alle- gheny Township and has always resided in this very desirable part of Blair County. His busi- ness has been farming and he has carried it on with the thoroughness which has brought him prosperity. Mr. Hoover was married for the first time, May 5, 1897, to Mary J. Strayer, of near 662 Roaring Springs, Pa., who died December 17, 1907. They had four children: Brice D., Jacob W., Grace L. and Sarah C. Mr. Hoover married for his second wife, Mrs. Alice Bru- baker, on April 13, 1910. Her father was Thomas Burkhart, of Allegheny Township and she was first married to Wesley Brubaker, who left four children: Homer, Ross, Eva and Nelson. Mr. and Mrs. Hoover are members of the Carson Valley German Baptist Church, in which he is serving as a deacon. He takes no very active part in politics but casts his vote with the Republican, party. JOHN A. BIDDLE, one of the successful farmers and highly esteemed citizens of Wood- bury Township, Blair County, Pa., resides on a tract of 235 acres, and was born on this - farm, October 8, 1845, a son of John and Anna D. (Anderson) Biddle, who were early settlers of Blair County. The paternal grandparents of our subject, John and Elizabeth Biddle, were natives of Germany, and after coming to this country first located in Maryland. The ma- ternal grandparents, Julius and Harriet An- derson, came here from Holland. John Biddle, father of subject, followed farming in Wood- bury Township. In politics he was identified with the Republican party. Both parents were members of the Presbyterian church. They had two sons, Charles, who died in infancy ; and John A., the subject of this record. John A. Biddle grew to man’s estate on the home farm in Woodbury Township, and ob- tained his education in the common schools of the township and at Williamsburg Academy, where he spent six months. He then taught in the schools of Blair County twelve terms, and about 1870 came to his present farm, which was then known as the John Snively farm. He has resided-here continuously since that time, following farming in a general way, and is also owner of 348 acres of land in North Dakota. Mr. Biddle is a Prohibitionist, politically, and 1s at present a justice of the peace in Wood- bury Township, and has also served on the school board of this township. He is a member of the Presbyterian church. e HISTORY OF BLAIR COUNTY In 1875 Mr. Biddle was joined in marriage with Miss Anna C. Johnston, a daughter of James M. and Rachel B. Johnston, who were well known residents of Blair County. Her father, during his early life, was a merchant and the owner of boats on the canal, but later in life followed farming in this county. She was the youngest of six children, who lived to maturity, namely: Robert M., Calvin C., George Elliott, Joseph, Martha, and Anna C. Mr. and Mrs. Biddle reared three children: Ida F., widow of James Patterson; and Emma A. and Lloyd. JEREMIAH LONG, a well known and highly esteemed citizen of Butlerville, Pa., is the owner of a fine farm of 125 acres in Juniata Township, and is a representative of one of the pioneer families of Blair County, Pa. He was born January 19, 1839, in Greenfield Township, Blair County, Pa., a son of John H. and Elizabeth (Burke) Long, and a grand- son of George Long. The grandfather was a native and practically a life-long resident of Maryland, but died in Blair County, Pa., hav- ing come here but a short time previous to his demise. John H. Long, father of our subject, was a native of Maryland, and the mother was born in Bedford County, Pa. Early in life he learned the blacksmith trade at St. Clairsville, Bedford County, Pa., and followed the same there for a number of years previous to coming - to Blair County, afterward here in connection with farming, until the time of his death. He was prominent among the early settlers of Greenfield Township. Mr. Long was twice married, and of the children born of those unions the following survive: George, who is a resident of Bedford County, Pa.; Jeremiah; Daniel J., who resides in Missouri; Elizabeth, who now is a resident of Portage, Pa., is the widow of James Eicher, late of Greenfield Township; and Lucinda, who is the wife of Albert Wyant, of Bedford County, Pa. Jeremiah Long was reared in Greenfield Township, his father’s farm being the scene of his boyhood’s activities, and his education AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS was obtained in the local schools of the town- ship. He was for twelve years a member and manager of the firm of Colbroth, Hasty & Company, manufacturers of shooks for hogs- heads, which were shipped to the West Indies, principally for the Cuban trade. These shooks were there sent to plantations, where they were made into hogsheads and filled with sugar and molasses and made ready for the market. Mr. Long has also been identified with agricultural pursuits much of his life and is the owner of a fine farm of 125 acres in Juniata Township. He has been a resident of Butlerville, now known as Blue Knob, Pa., since shortly after the beginning of the Civil War, and was one of the early settlers of this section of Blair County. He was for some years postmaster at Blue Knob, and was for some twenty years en- gaged in the mercantile business at Butler- ville, and carried on general farming in con- nection with same. Mr. Long is a Republican in politics, and has served as a member of the school board and as road supervisor of Juniata Township, and during 1890 and 1900 was census enumerator of this township. Mr. Long was first united in marriage with Miss Maria Ritchey, a native of Greenfield Township, and a daughter of George Ritchey, of Greenfield Township, and of this union were born two children: C. Medora, who is the wife of Joseph Ritchey, a general merchant, residing near Ben’s Creek, Cambria County, Pa.; and Sarah, who is the wife of John Ritchey of Butlerville, Pa. Mr. Long’s second union was with Sarah Burger, a native of Juniata Township, and a daughter of David Burger, deceased, of Juniata Township. Of the children born of this union the following survive: Lewis N., who resides in Blair Township, Blair County, Pa.; Benjamin F., who is a resident of Juniata Township; Reuben B., who is engaged in the mercantile business at Butlerville; Minnie, who is the wife of Albert Ritchey, of Duncansville, Pa.; Ida, who married George Corl, a resident of East Al- toona, and a locomotive engineer on the Penna. R. R.; James B., who lives in Butlerville; Ira 663 T., who resides in Altoona, Pa.; and Edna, - who lives in Butlerville. W. RAY METZ, junior member of the J. G. Metz Hardware Company, and a stock- holder of the Farmers’ and Merchants’ Bank of Williamsburg, Pa., comes of one of the old established families of Blair County, and of one of the few old families, who have lived continuously in Williamsburg. He was born February 6, 1882, in Williamsburg, Pa., and is a son of J. Grove and Julia (Pat- terson) Metz. The paternal grandparents of our subject were John and Susan (Isen- berg) Metz, the former of whom was born in 1816, just on the outskirts of the borough of Williamsburg. The maternal grand- father of our subject, Thomas Patterson, was superintendent of the canal, and was one of the prominent men of this locality. J. Grove Metz, senior member of the J. G. Metz Hardware Company, of Williamsburg, was also born in this borough, and is one of the leading and highly esteemed citizens of the town. In politics he leans toward the Democratic party. Religiously he is a mem- ber of the Presbyterian church. His union with Julia. Patterson resulted in the follow- ing issue: John Alfred, who is an attorney at Pittsburg, Pa., was married November 14, 1907, to Anna R. Murray, a daughter of A. B. and Elizabeth Murray, of Bridgeville, Allegheny County, Pa., and they have one son, John A. Jr.; W. Ray, the subject of this record; and Harry C., who is a student at the University of Pennsylvania. W. Ray Metz was reared in Williams- burg and after a common school education, went to Pittsburg, where he was employed some time with the Westinghouse Electric Company. He then returned to Williams- burg, where he was a clerk in his father’s store, and on January I, 1909, became jun- ior member of the J. G. Metz Hardware Company. On June 22, 1910, Mr. Metz was joined in marriage with Miss Maud Roller, who is a daughter of B. W. and Ella (Hunter) Rol- 664 ler, well known residents of Williamsburg. She has one sister, Fannie, and one brother, George Roller. In politics Mr. Metz is in- dependent. His religious connection 1s with the Presbyterian church. He affiliates with the Heptasophs of Williamsburg. ~ N. AUGUSTINE STEVENS, funeral di- rector, with finely appointed quarters at No. 1619 Eighth Avenue, Altoona, was born in this city in 1872, and is a son of Joseph and Matilda (Flaugh) Stevens. Joseph Stevens was born in Blair County, in 1844, and died in March, 1910. He wasa son of Nicholas R. Stevens, who was also born in Blair County. The Stevens family is not only one of the very oldest in Blair County, but one of the few in the United States which can trace its founder to a member of that daring body of men who manned the flag-ship of no less a person than Christopher Columbus when the little caravel brought the great discoverer to American shores. For thirty years the late Joseph Stevens was engaged in the under- taking business at Altoona. He married . Matilda Flaugh, who survives, and they had ten children, and of this family the follow- ing are living: N, Augustine; Agnes, who is the wife of L. A. Luther, of Altoona, whose ancestry can be traced back to the great Lutheran reformer, Martin Luther; Gertrude; J. Edward, who is in the furni- ture and undertaking business at Carroll- town, Pa.; Theresa; Charles C., who lives at Altoona; Frank B., who is a druggist at Altoona; Clara E.; Vincent L., who is con- nected with his oldest brother in busi- ness; and Gerald -H., who is a student of pharmacy. N. Augustine Stevens was reared and educated at Altoona and as soon as he left school became associated with his father and was so connected for twenty-two years, under the firm style of Joseph Stevens & Son, and on the death of the older partner, succeeded to the business. The firm long since built up a business reputation for hon. HISTORY OF BLAIR COUNTY esty, integrity, promptness and courtesy. Mr. Stevens carries a large stock of the equipments necessary to his business, and can be relied on in every emergency. In 1900, Mr. Stevens was married to Miss Regina Allen, a daughter of James Allen of Altoona, and they have four children: Maria M., Joseph J., Frances A. and Thomas M. Mr. Stevens and family belong to the Sacred Heart Catholic church. He is identified with the Knights of Columbus, the Elks, the Young Men’s Institute, “the Ancient Order of Hibernians, and the Knights of St. George. He belongs also to the State Funeral Directors’ Association. NORMAN STULTZ, who is successfully operating his father’s farm of eighty acres, situated in Woodberry Township, Blair County, Pa., was born in ‘Frankstown Township, Blair County, February 5, 1874. His parents are Daniel and Susan (Mor- gan) Stultz. Daniel Stultz carried on farming in Woodberry Township for a number of years and the family is a well known and highly respected one in this section. The follow- ing-children were born to Daniel Stultz and wife: Anna, who is the wife of John A. Isenberg; Charles; Martha, who is de- ceased, was the wife of S. C. Royer; Eliza- beth, who is the widow of A. G. Wagner; Martin L.; Salome, who is the wife of Cal- vin Freese; Norman; Rhoda, who is the wife of R. C. Claybaugh; Catherine, who is the wife of Warren Lingenfelter; and G. E. The parents of the above family are mem- bers of the Lutheran church. In politics Daniel Stultz is a Republican. Norman Stultz obtained his education in the township schools. His chosen life work has been farming, which he understands very thoroughly. For the past nine years he has rented the farm he is cultivating and the care and attention he has given it show in the abundant crops and the healthy in- crease in his herds and general stock. He 1s a quiet, practical, well iaformed man, one REV. GEORGE J. BOCK AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS who does his duty as a citizen and as a neighbor. Like his father he is a Republi- can.in his political views. Mr. Stultz was married in March, 1899, to Miss Clara Lower. Her parents are Will- iam and Anna (Snively) Lower, farming people in Blair County, who have had chil- dren as follows: Frank, Clara, Ira, Hattie, Barbara, William and Edith, Barbara being the wife of Archie Gunnett. Mr. and Mrs. Stultz have four children: Wilmer, Ell- wood, Frances and Mabel. This family is a representative one in the Lutheran church in Woodbury Township. REV. GEORGE J. BOCK,- who has been pastor of St. Michael’s German Catholic Church of Hollidaysburg, Pa., since August 1901, was born June 13, 1872, at Pittsburg, Pa.,and isa son of George and Mary Magdalene (Fleck- enstein) Bock. He spent his boyhood in Pittsburg, where he attended the schools of St. Martin’s Church until thirteen years of age, and then entered St. Fidelis College, at Herman Station, Butler County, Pa., where he continuéd his studies for five years. He then became a student at St. Mary’s Semi- nary at Baltimore, and five years later re- ceived all of the offices but that of Priest- hood. In 1896 he was ordained at St. Vin- cents, served as assistant at St. George’s Church of Pittsburg until December, 1900, when he was appointed assistant of St. Mary’s Church of Altoona, Pa. He acted as assistant there until August, 1901, when he was, appointed pastor of St. Michael’s German Catholic Church of Hollidaysburg, Pa., and has had charge of this parish contin- uously since that time. This church was built in 1862 and has a membership of one hundred families. A. F. SHERMAN, a well known dairy- man of Allegheny Township, Blair County, Pa., has resided on his present place near Cross Keyes, since 1892, where he has 106 acres devoted to dairy purposes. He was born in Shendoah County, Va., August 23, 1843, and is a son of Levi and Elizabeth 667 (Hollar) Sherman, both natives of Virginia. © A. F. Sherman remained in his native county until he was eighteen years of age, after which he traveled in several states and shortly after the close of the Civil War, about 1866-7, he came to Blair County, Pa., where he has resided ever since. He en- gaged in farming and for twenty years was also connected with brick making, but since 1892 has devoted himself almost exclusively to his dairy interests. Mr. Sherman was married February 6, 1868, to Miss Melinda Piper, who was born in Allegheny Township, Blair County, Feb- ruary 21, 1849, a daughter of Daniel and Catherine (Stiffler) Piper. The father of Mrs, Sherman was born in Maryland and the mother in Bedford County, Pa. After marriage, Mr. and Mrs. Piper settled in Allegheny. Township some _ seventy-five years ago, and died here, and their burial was in. the Carson Valley Cemetery, of which Mr. Sherman had been a trustee for several years. Six children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Sherman, namely: William A., who is a merchant at Cross Keyes: Franklin E.; Carrie V., who is the wife of Harvey S. Shaw, of Allegheny Township; and Anna M., who is the wife of Dayton Bowen, of this township. Mr. and Mrs. Sherman are charter members of Allegheny Grange, Patrons of Husbandry, at Duncans- ville. In politics he is a Democrat. In the accumulation of his property, Mr. Sherman has been greatly assisted by his wife, to whom he gives much credit. They. are among the most highly esteemed people of this section. MARTIN H. MUMMERT, a successful general farmer of Woodbury Township, Blair County, Pa., who has been operating his father’s farm of 215 acres, for himself for the past fifteen years, was born in Blair County January 21, 1867. His parents are Martin and Esther (Holsinger) Mummert, and his grandfather was also Martin Mummert. 668 Martin Mummert is a farmer residing in Franklin County, Pa., of which he is a native. Formerly he engaged in agricultural pur- suits in Woodbury Township. His family consisted of five children: George, Amanda, Ester, Annie and Martin H. George is deceased. Martin Mummert and wife are members of the Dunkard church. Martin H. Mummert attended school through boyhood and then began to make himself useful on the farm. As he grew older, many of his school mates turned their attention to other purstits, some of them endeavoring to gain a foothold in the neigh- boring cities, but Mr. Mummert has always found the cultivating of the land and the growing of stock sufficiently interesting to him, and he has Lecome one of the town- ship’s excellent farmers and leading citizens. He was married in 1895 to Anna K. Mat- tern, who has the following brothers and sisters: Mary, who is the wife of James Hackett; Eva, who is the widow of Ephraim Burger; George; Pearl, who is the wife of John Stewart; William; and Alice, who is the wife of Charles Smith, Mr. and Mrs. Mummert have two children: Martin and Mary Elizabeth, both of whom live at home. The family attend the United Breth- ren church. Mr. Mummert is a member of Juniata Lodge, F. & A. M. at Hollidays- burg. ROBERT F. BANKERT, who is serving Blair County, Pa., as one of her board of commissioners, is a well known citizen of Altoona, and is an honored veteran of the Civil War. He was born in Westmoreland County, Pa., June 17, 1843, and is a son of Jacob and Susannah (Robinson) Bankert. Jacob Bankert and wife were both natives of Pennsylvania, and lived into old age. The fathers of both had served in the War of 1812. For many years Jacob Bankert was a shoe merchant. His death occurred in 1891, he having survived his wife by one year. They had four children. Robert F. Bankert obtained his education HISTORY OF BLAIR COUNTY in the public schools. When little more than a boy he began his apprenticeship to the painter’s trade and completed it in 1859 and followed the same for a year and then entered the Federal army as a soldier. He enlisted on April 18, 1861, for three months and then re-enlisted August 25, 1861, in Co. E, of the famous Roundhead Regiment, but after serving one month with that body was transferred to the no less distinguished regi- ment, the ro5th Pa. Vol. Inf., known as the Wildcat Regiment, in which he served un- til December 28, 1863. When the call came for veterans he immediately re-enlisted and served in the same regiment until July 11, 1865. He not only participated in many of the hardest fought battles of the great strug- gle, but he was twice wounded and suffered. many of the hardships of war, but with the patience and courage which won him the admiration and esteem of his comrades. He was present at the surrender of General Lee to General Grant, and can never forget that impressive ceremony, nor can he ever fail to enjoy in memory the pageant of the great final review at Washington City. On Octo- ber 21, 1910, occurred the twenty-fifth re- union of the 105th Pa. Vol. Inf., at Punx- sutawney, Jefferson County. It was a joy- ful occasion, the living over the old dangers and triumphs, and the renewing of old friendships, marking a happy milestone in the lives of men who once faced death on every breeze in order that the country should be preserved for their children. After his honorable discharge, Sergeant Bankert returned to Westmoreland County and shortly afterward became connected with the Pennsylvania Gas and Coal Com- pany, with which he remained until 1869, when he came to Altoona and resumed work ° at his trade. Mr. Bankert soon proved him- self a responsible and reliable citizen, in- vested in property and became interested in public affairs and in the fall of 1908 was elected a county commissioner of Blair County, with a majority of 1771. The duties of this office have claimed his time AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS since then and his reputation is that of an honest and efficient official. Mr. Bankert was married to Miss Ella Trotter, a daughter of Robert and Cather- ine Trotter, and they have a family of ten chidren. The family residence is at No. 1009 Eighth Avenue, Altoona. Mr. Bank- ert and family are members of the Presby- terian church. He is identified with the G. A. R. Post No. 62, and the Veteran Legion No. 17; is an Odd Fellow, a Knight of Pythias and is also a member of the Hep- tasophs, the Royal Order of Moose and of the Volunteer Firemen of Altoona. JOHN H. BRUMBAUGH, who carries on general farming on a tract of sixty acres in Woodbury Township, Blair County, Pa., was born at Henrietta, Pa., a son of John and Esther (Hoover) Brumbaugh, and a grandson of David Brumbaugh, who was a tative of Germany. Both parents were natives of Huntingdon County, Pa., but Jater on came to Blair County, where they carried on general farming. They were members of the Brethren church. In pol- itics the father was identified with the Re- publican party. The following children were born to John and Margaret Brum- baugh: David: Susan, who married Isaac Burket ;-Rachel; Elizabeth, who is deceased, was the wife of George Metzgar; Sarah, who is deceased, was the wife of Samuel Nicodemus; John H.; and Mary, who is the wife of Christian Beach. The mother of these children died, and the father subse- quently married Catherine Dilling, and of the second union were born. Henry, and Harriet. The latter is the wife of Michael Detwiler. John Brumbaugh was reared in Blair County and after obtaining a common school education engaged in agricultural pursuits, which he has made-his life occu- pation. He also followed threshing in con- nection with farming for about eight years, and is one of the substantial and public spirited citizens of the township. 669 Mr. Brumbaugh was first married in 1884 to Nancy J. Acker, who was a daughter of Henry Acker, an agriculturist of Huston Township, and to them were born six chil- dren: Vance, who died aged nine months; and Joyce, Viola, Howard, Ernest and Grace. Mrs. Brumbaugh died May 7, 1894, and our subject subsequently married Anna Snowberger, who is a daughter of John B. Snowberger. No children were born of the second union. Mr. Brumbaugh is politically an adherent of the Republican party. He attends the Lutheran church, of which his wife is a member. JOHN S. WERTMAN, who has been employed as station agent and operator for the Pennsylvania Railway Company at Mc- Kee Station, Pa., since February, 1893, was born at Millerstown, Blair County, Pa., September 1, 1859, and is a son of Samuel and Susan (Smith) Wertman. Samuel Wertman was a native of Bedford County, Pa., and was a son of Jacob Wertman, who was one of the pioneer settlers of Bedford County. The mother of our subject was born in what is now known as Blair County, Pa. John S. Wertman was reared in Blair County, Pa., and was educated in the schools of Blair and Bedford Counties, and during early manhood taught fourteen terms in the schools of these counties. In 1891 he entered the employ of the Pennsyl- vania Railroad Company at Henrietta, Pa., acting as telegraph operator and station agent for fourteen months, and since Feb- ruary, 1893, has served continuously in that capacity at McKee Station. Mr. Wertman is prominent in the ranks of the Republican party in this vicinity, and has served for the past nine years as a member of the school board at. Freedom, and during eight years of this period he was treasurer of the school fund. He also served two terms as auditor of this township, and for two years was a member of the Republican Central Commit- tee from Freedom Township, which met at 670 Hollidaysburg, Pa. Fraternally he is a member and is vice grand of the I. O. O. F., of which he was for nearly four years finan- cial secretary, and is also a member of the J. O. A. M., both of East Freedom, and also served as financial secretary of the lat- ter order a number of years. ; Mr. Wertman was united in marriage with Miss Caroline Snyder, a daughter of Christopher Snyder, late of Roaring Spring, Blair County, Pa., and of their union were born nine children: George L., who re- sides at Roaring Spring, Pa.; Mary, who is the wife ot B. D. Green of McKee; Harry G., who lives at McKee Station; Samuel E., who resides in McKee; William W., who 1s a resident of McKee; and Bessie, Charles, Arthur and Marie. Mrs. Wertman passed out of this life in January, 1906. ° SAMUEL M. ROSS, M. D., deceased, for years was an eminent man of medicine at Al- toona, Pa., attending to a large private prac- tice, serving as a member of the staff of the city hospital and being special surgeon for the Pennsylvania Railroad Company. In every way he was a worthy and useful citizen, but he accepted no public offices nor engaged in any business enterprises which would claim the time and attention he felt should be given en- tirely to his beloved profession. Dr. Ross was born in Indiana County,’ Pa., November 9, 1821, and was a son of John and Eleanor (McKnight) Ross. John Ross was born in Perry County, Pa. The family is of Scotch extraction. He moved from his native county to Indiana County in 1800, where he lived until 1846, dying when aged seventy years. He was twice married, his second wife being the mother of the late Dr. Samuel M. Ross and seven other children, all of whom have passed away. Samuel M. Ross was afforded excellent edu- cational advantages for his day, being sent to the Indiana Academy and later the Canons- burg Academy, which was a noted institution at that time and was patronized by students from all over the state. He prepared for coi- HISTORY OF BLAIR COUNTY lege with his half-brother, the late Dr. John D. Ross, and then entered Jefferson Medical College, Philadelphia, from which he was grad- uated March 9, 1850. He settled at Darling- ton, in Beaver County, in 1852, where he re- sided for sixteen years, after which he spent a few years at Greenville, in Mercer County, from which place he came to Altoona in the spring of 1875. His medical practice in this city covered a period of twenty-two ‘years. He was identified with the medical- organiza- tions of the Nation, State and county and became one of the most thoroughly trusted and valued physicians and surgeons of this section, his skill being sought and his advice treasured over a wide territory. His death oc- curred at Altoona on September 13, 1897. He was a member and an elder in the Second Presbyterian Church. In his political views he_ was a Republican. Dr. Samuel M. Ross was married December 23, 1852, to Miss Sarah C. Spear, a daughter of William Spear, a prominent citizen of Blair County, and four children were born to them, namely: William S., Margaret M., Fannie F. and John Louis. The last named died Sep- tember 20, 1874. Mrs. Ross died after a short illness on August 26, 1910, at her residence, No. 1218 Twelfth Avenue. William Spear Ross, the eldest of the above family, became a physician and has built up a very large practice as a specialist on the eye, ear, nose and throat, maintaining his well equipped office in the family home residence. He read medicine with his father and then entered the medical department of the Uni- versity of Wooster, having previously attended - Thiel College, and in-March, 1876, was grad- uated with his medical degree. In the follow- ing year he took a post-graduate course at Jefferson Medical College, Philadelphia, and a supplementary course at the Wills’ Eye and Ear Infirmary in that city. Like his late father, he is a member of the county and State Medi- cal Associations. He married Miss Emma Weir and they have two children. Dr. and Mrs. Ross reside at No. 1216 Twelfth Avenue, Altoona. BELLWOOD BOROUGH RESERVOIR, BELLWOOD NATURAL ARCH, ARCH SPRING PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH, SINKING VALLEY AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS MICHAEL Kk. DETWILER, who is a manufacturer of various kinds of handles, re- sides on a tract of ,one acre in Woodbury Township, Blair County, Pa., and was born in this township, February 25, 1861, a son of Joseph and Nancy (Keifer) Detwiler. His paternal grandfather was Peter Detwiler, who came here from Lancaster County, and his maternal grandfather was Henry Keifer, who was of German descent. Joseph Detwiler, father of our subject, was a farmer and mechanic, and both parents were members of the Dunkard church. The father was politically identified with the Democratic party. Joseph and Nancy Detwiler were parents of the following children: Elizabeth, who is the wife of William Hale; Andrew; William; John; Joseph; Michael K.; Samuel; Jacob; Sarah, who married Reuben Hetrick; Martha, who married Samuel Faust; and Rose, who married Samuel Hoover. Michael K. Detwiler was educated in the district schools of Woodbury Township, and at the age of thirteen years was engaged in making handles, and has followed that line of business in connection with farming or car- pentering all of his life. He makes a specialty of manufacturing quarry handles, and carries on the business on the one-acre tract in Wood- bury Township, where he lives. Mr. Detwiler is politically a Democrat, and attends the Dunkard church. On January 26, 1899, Mr. Detwiler was united in marriage with Harriet Brumbaugh, a daughter of John and Catherine (Dilling) Brumbaugh, and a sister of John H. Brum- baugh. Four children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Detwiler: May, Paul, Anna, and Ray- mond. LEWIS P. ROBERTS, who deals exten- sively in real estate and general insurance, is one of the representative and highly respected business men of Juniata, Pa., and was born January 25, 1857, in Minersville, Schuylkill County, Pa., his parents being Lewis Roberts, Esq., and Catherine Roberts. Both parents were born in Wales and were brought to 673 America when they were quite young. L. P. Roberts was reared and educated in the pub- lic schools and at the age of sixteen learned the machinist trade under the firm of Gartley & Fox, in Minersville, at which he served at various places as a journeyman. In 1887 he was engaged as foreman of the Pennsylvania Diamond Drill Works at Birdsboro, Pa., where he remained for five years when he moved to Juniata, where he had secured employment as a gang foreman in the Juniata shops of the Pennsylvania Railroad Shops. Here he was employed in different departments until the first day of July, 1904, when he resigned from the service of the company, and he then bought out the fire insurance and steam ship business of the oldest agency in Altoona, Messrs. Keer and Barcley. One year later he disposed of this agency to locate in the real estate and geh- eral insurance business in Juniata, where he was the first to establish a real estate and in- surance business, and has been eminently suc- cessful in conducting the same. He deals largely in fire insurance, and has erected a large number of dwelling houses-——a total of sixty-six to the end of 1910. Mr. Roberts was one of the first residents of Juniata and was elected as one of the first school directors, where he served for seven years; four years of this time he was president of the board. He also served on the borough, of which he was president for one term. He is fraternally a Mason and a member of Union Lodge, No. 479, Birdsboro, Berks County, Pa., and the I. O. O. F., Bellview Lodge, No. 497, of Juniata, Pa.; also Lodge No. 132, of Hepta- sophs, of Altoona, Pa. In 1880 Mr. Roberts married Amanda E. Crone, of Minersville, Pa., and to them have been born three children— Catherine, who is the wife of George Clayton Spurr, who is secretary of the Pennsylvania Railroad Y. M. C. A., of Sunbury, Pa.; Lewis D. Roberts, who is in partnership with his father (he married Elda Stuckey, of Roar- ing Springs, Pa.); and Bertha May, who is married to Charles Edward Smith, of Juniata, Pa., employed by the Pennsylvania Railroad Company, at Altoona as chief draughtsman of the Altoona Machine Shops. The religious 674 connection of the family is with the Methodist Episcopal church. ELINAS M. CLAPPER, president of the Allegheny Township School Board is one of the leading men of this section and is engaged in the blacksmith business in addition to farm- ing his forty-five acres of land and conducting a dairy. He was born in Allegheny Town- ship, Blair County, Pa., September 30, 1853, and is a son of Emanuel and Sarah (Rhodes) Clapper. Emanuel Clapper was born near Yellow Springs, Blair County, Pa., a son of Daniel Clapper, who was an early settler there, and moved to Allegheny Township when his son was seven years of age. The latter grew to manhood in Allegheny Township and became a man of public note in his neighborhood, serv- ing for a long period in the offices of school director and tax collector. He was one of the early members and liberal supporters of the Lutheran church. He married Sarah Rhodes, who was born in Indiana County, Pa.; and of their family of children there are six yet living, namely: Sylvester R., who lives in Logan Township; Elinas M.; Anna M., who is the wife of S. W. Piper, of Duncansville; Melinda, who is the wife of B. F. Leighty, of Altoona; Laura, who is the wife of B. M. Mitchell, of Altoona; and Margaret K. and Nettie, both of whom live at Altoona. Elinas M. Clapper has spent his life in Allegheny Township and in large measure has made his own way in the world. As soon as his school period was over he learned the black- smith trade and has continued work in that line while also interested in farming and dairying near Duncansville. Mr. Clapper married Miss Caroline E. Wyerman, a daughter of the late John Wyerman, of Allegheny Township, and they have had four children, namely: Elva G., Charles W., Della M. and Mary E. The eldest daughter is deceased. In politics, Mr. Clapper is a Democrat. He served twelve years as assessor in Allegheny Township, for thirty years has been a trustee of the Carson Valley Cemetery Association, and is serving in his HISTORY OF BLAIR COUNTY fourth term as president of the school board. He is a member of the Lutheran church at Duncansville and one of the elders. For a number of years he has been a member, and in fact is a charter member of the Duncansville Grange, Patrons of Husbandry. DANIEL BOHN, M. D., a representative member of the medical profession of Altoona, Pa., with the interests of which city he has been identified for the past nine years, was born in Lebanon County, Pa., in 1874, and in 1891 was graduated from the Lebanon High School. His medical education was secured in Hahemann Medical College, at Philadelphia, where he was graduated in the class of 1894. Dr. Bohn began the practice of medicine at Lickdale, Lebanon County, where he remained for six years and then came to Altoona where his field has been larger and here he has built up a very satisfactory general practice. He is the examination physician for the order of Modern Woodmen and is on the medical staff of Mercy Hospital. He is a member of the Blair County Homeopathic Medical Society and also the State organization. His activities in the line of his profession at Altoona’ have frequently been given without hope or expecta- tion of reward, the indigent have been treated, drugs have been donated and medical advice freely offered when emergencies have arisen. He is an honored and valued citizen. Dr. Bohn was married in 1895 to Miss Bertha Wentz, of Lebanon, Pa., and they have three children: Violet, Earl and Ralph. Dr. Bohn is a member of the First U. B. Church and is serving on its official board. His fraternal relations are with the P. O. S. of A., and with the Modern Woodmen. JOHN K. LOOSE, who has been post- master of Larke, Pa., for the past twelve years, is also proprietor of a general store, and the owner of two tracts of farm land, besides his residence property, consisting of nine acres. He was born October 27, 1851, at Henrietta, Pa., and is a son of John B. and Mary (Ken- AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS singer) Loose, and a grandson of William Loose, who came here from Germany. Both parents were born in Blair County, Pa., and the father followed shoemaking. He was politically a Democrat, and was religiously a member of the Church of God. John B. and Mary Loose reared the following children: Adam; Margaret, deceased; George; William; D. K.; Ludia, the wife of William Riley; and John K. John K. Loose was educated in the common schools and at an early age began working at the carpenter’s trade, which he followed for many years. He was for eighteen years pro- prietor of a general blacksmith shop here, and for the past nine years has carried on general farming in connection with his general store, and, as noted above, has also been postmaster. Mr. Loose owns two tracts of farm land, one of forty-seven acres and the other of fifty-two acres, and is also the owner of two dwellings at Martinsburg, Pa. In politics, Mr. Loose is identified with the Republican party, and has served three years as a school director of this township. He is a member of the Farmers’ Grange, and attends the Church of God. In 1875 Mr. Loose was joined in marriage with Hannah Jane Hoover, a daughter of Jonathan and Elizabeth Hoover, farmers and well known residents of Woodbury Township. Mrs. Loose is the eldest of the following chil- dren: Hannah Jane, David, George, Andrew, Samuel. Mr. and Mrs. Loose have reared the following children: Harvey, Elizabeth, Albert, Emory, Ross, Harry, Florence, and Margaret, who is the wife of William Lynn. Mr. and Mrs. Lynn have two children: Elizabeth and Margaret. PROF. HENRY S. WERTZ, a prominent business man of Duncansville, Pa., senior member of the Duncansville Granite and Marble Works, is one of the best known edu- cators in Blair County, having been more or less identified with educational work since he was nineteen years of age. He was born-in Greenfield Township, Blair County, Pa., March 675 4, 1849, and is a son of Henry and Catherine (Stephens) Wertz. Henry Wertz was born at Dayton, O., and his wife in Blair County, Pa., and both died in Greenfield Township. Nicholas Stephens, the maternal great-grandfather, was a pioneer in Blair County and his son, also Nicholas, resided for many years in Blair Township. In his later years he moved to Benton County, Ia., where he died, an octogenarian. When Henry S. Wertz was about four years old, his parents moved to Somerset County, Pa., but six years later returned to Blair County and the father resumed farming in Greenfield Township. Henry S. Wertz was ten years old at that time and he attended the local schools until prepared for higher courses and then entered Juniata College, at Martins- burg, and later became a student in Dickinson Seminary, at Williamsport. When nineteen years of age he became a teacher in Blair County and subsequently was principal of the Second Ward School at Altoona, for two years, and for four years was principal of the Third Ward School. He advanced rapidly in the confidence of the people and in May, 18691, he was elected county superintendent of Blair County and was thrice reelected, serving four consecutive terms in that important position. After becoming interested also in other busi- ness lines, Prof. Wertz continued to devote a part of his time to teaching, for some five years, during the summer seasons, giving in- struction in mathematics and languages at Juniata College. For twenty years he has been a resident of Duncansville and has ever been an active and interested citizen. He is serving as borough treasurer and has filled this office for a number of years and formerly was secretary of the council. Although nominally a Democrat he is inclined to entertain inde- pendent views on many questions, being progressive and broad-minded, as is indicated by his appearing as a candidate for county representative on the Prohibition ticket, for Blair County, to the state legislature. Since May 1, 1908, Prof. Wertz has been a member of the firm of Wertz and Hess, 676 proprietors of the Duncansville Granite and Marble Works, successors to H. F. Peck, manu- facturers and dealers in all kinds of artistic monumental and cemetery work. He has long been deeply interested in the Blair County Agricultural Association and in all organiza- tions looking to the advantage of farmers. He has been secretary of this associtaion since the spring of 1907, having been one of its promoters and is a director and stockholder. He is county deputy of the Blair County Grange, and secretary of Blair Pomona Grange, and for four years was master of Allegheny Grange, No. 1154, at Duncansville. He is serving also as secretary of the Duncansville Building and Loan Association. For many years he has been a Mason and is a member of the Blue Lodge at Hollidaysburg, of Moun- tain Commandery at Altoona and the Chapter at Hollidaysburg, and is also an Odd Fellow, with connections at Claysburg, Pa. He is a member and a trustee of the Methodist Epis- copal church at Duncansville and superintend- ent of the Sabbath-school. H. HALE BROTHERLINE, M. D., A. M., one of Hollidaysburg’s leading professional men, where he has been engaged in the prac- tice of medicine and surgery for a quarter of a century, was born at Hollidaysburg, Pa., May 30, 1859. His parents were John and Martha Gregg (Kinne) Brotherline. The Brotherline family is of German and Welsh extraction but has been of American birth for many generations. Thomas Brotherline, the grandfather of Dr. Brotherline was born in Huntingdon County, Pa., where he became a successful business man, married and reared a family of nine children and one of his sons, John Brotherline, became the father of Dr. Brotherline of this record. John Brotherline was born in 1812, at Frankstown, Pa., then in Huntingdon, now in Blair County. He became a lawyer and occu- pied a leading position on the Blair County bar and also entered journalism after becoming a resident of Hollidaysburg, ably editing and conducting the Blair County Whig, which he HISTORY OF BLAIR COUNTY made one of the leading newspapers of Western Pennsylvania. Hé was active in public and useful in private life. During the Civil War he was an upholder of the Government and served in an official position. Huis death oc- curred in 1879, when he was aged sixty-six years. He married Martha Gregg Kinne, who was born in Center County, Pa., and they became the parents of six sons, two of whom survive: Henry Hale and Eric Gregg, the latter of whom is a prominent attorney of Altoona. The venerable mother resides at No. 415 Allegheny Street, Hollidaysburg. H. Hale Brotherline was educated in the excellent public schools of his native place and the academies at Bellefonte and Hollidaysburg and later took a commercial course in the Bryant and Stratton Business College, follow- ing which he entered Princeton College, where he was graduated in 1880. He immediately became a student in Jefferson Medical College at Philadelphia, and from that noted old in- stitution was graduated with credit, in 1883. Dr. Brotherline then returned to Hollidays- burg, believing a field was open here for a thoroughly qualified professional man, and in this belief he was not mistaken. He has long enjoyed the confidence of the majority of his fellow citizens and his professional skill is recognized over a wide territory. He is identi- fied with county, state and national medical organizations and has served as president of the county body and has held other official positions. For some years he was physician to the Blair County Poor Farm. Dr. Brother- line keeps fully abreast with the times and in his practice utilizes the methods which modern science has brought to the attention of the world, if in his judgment they are of real value. He was reared in the Presbyterian faith and is a member of the First Presbyterian Church at Hollidaysburg. He is a 32nd degree Mason and is a member of Juniata Lodge No. 282, Fr. & A. M,, at Hollidaysburg, in which he is an official. Politically he is a Republican. JOHN B. ROYER, one of the substantial and enterprising farmers of Woodbury Town- AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS ship, and owner of the old Royer homestead of 200 acres, was born in 1856, on his present farm, and is a son of Samuel K. and Elizabeth (Bossler) Royer. Jacob and Mary (Keagy) Royer, paternal grandparents of our subject, came to Blair County in 1814, from Franklin County, Pa. The maternal grandparents were Jacob and Polly Daughenbaugh Bossler. Samuel K. Royer, father of our subject, was also born on the old Royer homestead in Woodbury Township, and the mother was born also in this township. They were the parents of the following children: Catherine, who is the widow of John Smith; Mary, who is de- ceased; Martin; Jane, who first married J. D. Aurandt, now deceased, and later Edward Feight; Franklin; Anna, who is the wife of James Miller; Delilah, who married D. S. Hoover; John B.; Jacob; Melissa, who is the wife of E. E. Snively; and Samuel Calvin. The father was a Republican. Both parents were members of the Church of God. John B. Royer was reared on the home farm and attended the district schools of the township. He early in life began working on the farm, then spent seven years engaged in threshing, after which he embarked in the mercantile business at Yellow Springs, where he continued for two years. For eight years he was proprietor of a hotel at Altoona, Pa., and since 1898 has been following farming on the Royer homestead, which he purchased after his father’s death. In politics Mr. Royer is a Republican, and has served as supervisor, and was committeeman for eight years. His re- ligious connection is with the Church of God. Mr. Royer first married Clara Daniels, who died in 1891, and his second union was with Dora Bateman. No children were born of either union. Mrs. Royer is also a member of the Church of God. GEORGE STOM, whose valuable farm of 128 acres is situated in Allegheny Township, Blair County, Pa., has been a lifelong resident of this township and was born here June 11, 1843. His parents were George and Catherine Stom. 677 Both the father and mother of Mr. Stom were born in Baden, Germany, and they were about twenty-five years of age when they emi- grated to America and came directly to Blair County. They secured land that was then heavily timbered. They were sturdy, indus- trious German people and soon accomplished the clearing of this land and here they lived until death. They were consistent members of the Lutheran church. Of their children the following still survive: Mary, widow of O. U. Selvitz, of Allegheny Township; George; Catherine, of Altoona; Margaret, wife of Joseph Wilt, of Duncansville; David, of Alle- gheny Township, while three are deceased; Sarah, John and Jacob. Jacob Stom was a soldier in the Civil War and was killed at the battle of the Wilderness. George Stom had but few educational ad- vantages when he was a boy but his farm training began early and was very thorough and he is numbered with the successful agricul- turists of this section. He has lived on his present farm for forty years and in addition to raising grain, potatoes and hay, he devotes considerable attention to growing fruit, having orchards and also patches of small fruits. He follows very practical methods and has greatly prospered. . Mr. Stom married Miss Almina Clapper, a daughter of George Clapper, a former resident of Allegheny Township, and a family of eight children were born to them, namely: Mary, who is the wife of Austin Helsel, of Alle- gheny Township; Annie, who is the wife of William Sherman, also of Allegheny Town- ship; William and Nobte H., both of whom reside at Altoona; Howard, who is a resident of Pitcairn, Pa.; Elsie, who is the wife of Charles Gearhart, of Duncansville, Pa.; Lloyd, who resides at Altoona; and Stella, who lives at home. Mr. Stom and family are members of the Lutheran church at Duncansville. He is not identified with either of the great political parties but casts his vote according to his own judgment. ? 678 HON. ANDREW S. STAYER, M. D., who is engaged in the practice of medicine and surgery at Altoona, Pa., has long been eminent in his profession in Blair County, and for years has also been prominently identified with other interests vital to the progress and development of this section. He was born on his father’s estate in South Woodbury Town- ship, Bedford County, Pa., May 21, 1848, and on the paternal side traces his ancestry to France and on the maternal to Switzerland. ‘His paternal great-grandfather accompanied General Lafayette to America and served with him in the patriot army during the Revolu- tionary War, afterward settling permanently in Bedford County, Pa. The parents of Dr. Stayer are both deceased. Andrew S. Stayer made such good use of his educational opportunities in his youth that by the time he was seventeen years of age, he had assimilated enough book knowledge to be an acceptable teacher; and from that time on until he began the serious study of medical sci- ence he alternated in teaching. school and at- tending the normal institute as a student. In 1870, when he began attending medical lec- tures at the Michigan State University, he pos- sessed a well trained mind and-one well stored with general knowledge. After another period spent in the office of his preceptor, Dr. Charles Long, of South Woodbury, he entered Jefferson Medical Col- lege at Philadelphia, from which justly famed institution he was graduated on March 12, 1873. He immediately located for practice at Roaring Springs, Blair County, where, in the face of many discouragements, he finally won the confidence of the public and there built up a large and substantial practice. For many years he served as physician also for the out- door paupers of Taylor Township, and for ten yeats was a member of the school board. Realizing at last, however, that his field of opportunity was too circumscribed where he was situated, he surrendered the associations he had there formed, and coming to Altoona, be- gan anew the task of making himself a place and building up a worthy name in a strange community. How thoroughly he has done HISTORY OF BLAIR COUNTY this, his fellow citizens well know. Not only has he won distinction in the ranks of his chosen profession, but he has also achieved it in a wider field of action—the arena of public politics. An active Republican, he was sent in 1880 as a senatorial delegate from Blair and Cam- bria Counties to the Pennsylvania State Con- vention of the Republican party that nominated James A. Garfield for the Presidency. In 1891 he was elected a member of the Pennsylvania State Legislature and served until 1893. From April 5, 1879, until 1904, he was off- cially connected with the Pennsylvania State Guards, being appointed by Governor Hoyt as- sistant surgeon of the 5th infantry, and serv- ing until February 12, 1880, when he was: made surgeon and served as such until April 29, 1883. On April 18, 1884, he was ap- pointed assistant surgeon and in the same’ month became surgeon, and through subsequent appointments and promotions became major and surgeon of this regiment. In 1904 Dr. Stayer was promoted to lieutenant colonel and chief surgeon of the division and still holds that rank. Dr. Stayer has been a force in furthering educational legislation and has long been a worker in church and Sunday school. His connection with Odd Fellowship has been of long duration and of much importance. ' He has filled the office of district deputy grand master in Blair County. In 1870 he joined Cove Lodge No. 368 in Bedford County, into. which he was iniated by J. I. Noble. He also became a charter member of Archie Maxwell Lodge No. 145. He was a charter member of Model Lodge No. 856, at Roaring Springs, and was its first noble grand; and is also a charter member of Amicitia Lodge. No. 775, of Pattonsville, with which he continued to be identified until he moved to Roaring Spring. In Masonry he is a Knight Templar and 32d degree Mason, belonging to Portage Lodge, No. 220, F. & A. M., at Hollidays- burg; Woodbury Lodge, F. & A. M.; Hiram Lodge, No. 616, of which he is first worship- ful master; of Mount Moriah Chapter, No. 166, R. A. M., Hollidaysburg; of Mountain HON. ANDREW S. STAYER, M. D. AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS Commandery, No. 10, K. T., Altoona; and Ancient Arabic Order, Nobles of the Mystic Shrine, of which he is a past officer. He has been a member of the school board at Altoona for ten years. On July 30, 1870, Dr. Stayer was married to Miss Rosa M. Brumbaugh, and they have two sons and one daughter, the sons being named respectively, Edgar Simon and Morri- son Clay. Both have received the degree of A. B. and are officers in the U. S. army. Dr. Stayer himself served in the Spanish-American War, with the rank of major-surgeon of the sth Pennsylvania Volunteers. Both his sons were in the same regiment—one as a commis- sioned officer and the other as a member of the hospital corps. Dr. Stayer’s daughter, Clara Mabel, is a graduate of Wellesley College, be- ing especially well qualified in the modern lan- guages, botany, and landscape gardening. WILLIAM HOWARD HARPSTER, president of the Board of County Commis- sioners of Blair County, Pa., is a leading citizen of Frankstown and for many years has successfully conducted agricultural operations on his farm of sixty-one acres, situated in Canoe Creek Township. He was born on this farm November 28, 1864, and is a son of William and Sarah C. (Brown) Harpster. William Harpster was a_ prosperous farmer, and when he enlisted for service in the Civil War, he left behind a wife and children. He was a member of Co. M., gth Pa. Vol. Cav., and in the sad fortunes of war he was captured by the enemy and was incarcerated in the terrible Confederate prison at Florence, N. C., in 1864, and died there. William Howard Harpster thus grew up without having known a father’s protecting care, but was fortunate in having a wise and sensible mother who sent him to school and in every possible way prepared him for the duties of life. That he has been a credit to her can not be denied, Mr. Harpster being one of the most highly respected citizens of 681 a section in which his entire life has been spent. He has been very active in politics for a number of years, and is one of the leading Republicans of this section of Blair County. In November, 1905, he was first elected county commissioner and assumed the duties of office in 1906, and in the fall of 1908 was re-elected and for two years has been president of the board. _ He is one of the most popular officials in the county. Mr. Harpster was married to Miss Mar- garet Burger, a daughter of David and Catherine Burger, and they have one son, Fred B. Mr. and Mrs. Harpster are mem- bers of the United Brethren church and are active in the work of the Sunday-school, Mr. Harpster serving as its secretary for many years. He is a member of the Franks- town Band and he is identified fraternally with the Odd Fellows and the Sons of Vet- erans, DANIEL AND SAMUEL SNIVELY, progressive farmers and enterprising citi- zens of Woodbury Township, Blair County, Pa., reside on a tract of rinety-one acres, ° and were born on this farm, which they own in partnership, and are sons of Christian and Barbara (Bayer) Snively. Christian Snively was a farmer by occu- pation and was a native of Blair County, Pa., having been born on the farm above mentioned. His wife was a native of Wash- ington County, Md. After the Civil War he became identified with the Republican party. The -religious convictions of the family was with the River Brethren church. Seven children were born to Christian and Barbara Snively: Benjamin; Daniel; Sam- uel; Mary A., who is the wife of Samuel Sparr; George A., who lives at Denver, Col.; Elizabeth; and Susan, who died, aged seventeen years. - Daniel Snively was born January 16, 1846, and Samuel Snively was born December 25, 1847. Both were educated in the district schools of Woodbury Township. In the fall ot 1864, when eighteen years of age, 682 Daniel enlisted in Co. B, 208th Pa. Inf., and served until the close of the war, and then returned to the farm and has followed farm- ing here ever since, he and Samuel having purchased the home farm from the other heirs. of the estate. Both Samuel and Daniel Snively are Republicans in politics, the latter having served as supervisor of this township. Daniel is a member of the. G. A. R., Post Robert M. Johnston No. 464, of Williamsburg, and is also a member of the Grange. In 1870 Daniel Snively married Mary A. Sorrick, a daughter of George and Nancy (Cromer) Sorrick, who were among the early settlers of Blair County, the family having been established here more than 100 years ago, and is one of the following chil- dren born to her parents: J. C.; A. C; Sarah J., who is the wife of William Rich- ardson; Alice, who married E. H. Rhule; and Mary (Mrs Snively). Mr. and Mrs. Snively reared the following children: Or- ville C., Austin C., Herman and Lula F., who married Elmer Treese, and has one son, Lester. Mrs. Snively died September 20, 1899. The family attends. the Lutheran church. WILLIAM YECKLEY, proprietor of the Duncansville Feed Mill, at Duncansville, Pa., was engaged, prior to 1909, in agricul- tural pursuits in Juniata Township, Blair County, where he owns a fine farm of 160 acres. He was born at Julia Ann Furnace, Pa., February 21, 1866, and is a son of Christian and Catherine (Caltabaugh) Yeckley, both of whom were natives of Germany, who came at maturity to Amer- ica. William Yeckley was about two years old when his parents moved to Osceola, Pa., and was in his seventh year when they moved to Juniata Township, in Blair County, where he grew to man’s estate, and occasionally attended the public schools. Until he retired from the farm and opened up his business at Duncansville, he was one HISTORY OF BLAIR COUNTY of the leading agriculturists of his section, and one of the most prominent in all move- ments concerned in the advancement of agri- cultural conditions. He continues his mem- bership with Poplar Run Grange, No. 1137, Patrons of Husbandry, in Freedom Town- ship, and was master of the same for two years, and a son and two daughters are also members. He was one of the organizers of this body, and consistently showed his sin- cere interest in its progress for a number of years. On September 29, 1887, Mr. Yeckley was married to Miss Sarah Leighty, a native of Juniata Township, and a daughter of David M. and Catherine (Stiffler) Leighty, and a granddaughter of Jacob Leighty, who was a native of Germany, and was one of the first settlers in Juniata Township. David M. Leighty and wife are among the best - known residents of Newry, Pa. Of their children the following survive: Harvey B., residing at Newry; David A. and Lloyd, both also of Newry; Elizabeth, wife of Will- iam Buckle, of Newry; Ida M., wife of Ir- vin Oldham, of Portage, Pa.; Ella M., wife of Washington Weaver, of Newry; and Sarah, wife of William Yeckley. Mr. and Mrs. Yeckley have the following children: Elmer R., Maud C., Edna G., Frank A., Roy I. David C., Mary. E., Ruth G. and Wilmer D. Mrs. Yeckley is a mem- ber of the Lutheran church at Newry, hav- ing been reared in the same, and Mr. Yeck- ley is also a member and one of the deacons. In politics he is a Democrat and while liv- ing in the country served four years as tax collector of Juniata Township. | Although his business at Duncansville is yet in its youth, he is so well and favorably known to his fellow citizens and particularly to those from whom his largest amount of pat- ronage would come, that there is no doubt of his prospering. _JOSEPH D. FINDLEY, M. D., physi- cian and surgeon in his native city of Al- toona, Pa., where he was born in 1877, bears AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS a name that has been honored in the profes- sion for two generations before him. He is a son of Dr. William M. Findley, and a grandson of Dr. William R. Findley, the last named having been a noted practitioner in Blair County in early days. Dr. William M. Findley was born in Huntingdon County, graduated from the medical depart- ment of the University of Pennsylvania, and for thirty-nine years was one of the leading physicians of Altoona. Dysart, a daughter of Joseph and Mary Ann (Wigton) Dysart, very old country . people. Joseph D. Findley, after leaving the pub- lic schools at Altoona, then entered Lafay- ette College, where he was graduated in the class of 1897. He entered the medical de- partment of the University of Pennsylvania and was there graduated in 1900, since which time he has been actively engaged in practice at Altoona. He isa member of the surgical staff of the Altoona Hospital and is surgeon for the Pennsylvania Railroad and for the Altoona and Logan Valley electric line. He is county medical inspector for the State Department of Health. Dr. Findley holds membership in the Biair County and the State Medical Societies, and also the American Medical Association. In 1907, Dr. Findley was married to Miss Eliza Dean, daughter of Hon. John Dean, of Hollidaysburg, Pa., and they have two children: Joseph Dysart, Jr., and Margaret Dean. Dr. and Mrs. Findley are members of the Second Presbyterian church. In ad- dition to his professional interests he is con- cerned in several important business enter- prises of this section and is a director in the Union Bank and is president of the Altoona Iron Company. T. DEAN ROSS, who has been post- master of Williamsburg, Pa., since August 4, 1909, is one of the enterprising business men of the borough and was born here May 11, 1877, a son of Charles and Mary (Pat- terson) Ross. The family was established He married Emma. 683 in Blair County by Dr. John D. Ross, grand- father of our subject, who came here in 1832. Charles and Mary Ross were both born and reared in Williamsburg, and were members of the Presbyterian church. The father was a Republican in politics. Our subject is the only surviving child born of their union, one daughter having died in infancy, and one died when twenty-four years of age. T. Dean Ross attended the common schools of Williamsburg and the Pa. State Normal School at Bock Haven, of which he is a graduate, then taught one year at Bel- ville, Mifflin County, O., and was principal of the public school of Williamsburg for one year. He then spent three years in the em- ploy of the Carnegie Steel Company, was engaged in the confectionery business three years, and since August 4, 1909, has had charge of the postoffice at Williamsburg. Mr. Ross is politically a Republican, and was for three years one of the committee- - men from this district. He is affiliated with the Orphans’ Home Lodge of the I. O. O. F., of Williamsburg, and the Masonic Lodge of Hollidaysburg. On June 30, 1907, Mr. Ross was united in marriage with Mildred M. Patterson, who is a daughter of George M. Patterson. Mr. and Mrs. Ross are members of the Presby- terian church. SAMUEL ROBESON, a well known dairyman residing on his farm of twenty- two acres, situated in Allegheny Township, near Robeson’s Corners, Blair County, Pa., was born at Altoona, Pa., December 28, 1840, and is a son of David and Susan (Moore) Robeson. David Robeson was born in Huntingdon County, Pa., a son of Andrew Robeson, who was of Scotch extraction and an early settler in Huntingdon County. David Rob- eson lived in Blair County for many years and was a justice of the peace in Allegheny Township. He married Susan Moore, who was born in Blair County, and two of their children survive: Samuel and Juniata, the 684 latter of whom is the wife of John Loudon, of Altoona. In his boyhood Samuel Robeson accom- panied his parents to Woodbury Township, and from there, in 1852, to Allegheny Town- ship. Here he grew to manhood, attending the township schools and then devoting himself mainly to dairying, his land being particularly well adapted to this industry. For twelve years he was foreman for his brother John C. Robeson, who operated a saw mill. Mr. Robeson married Miss Adeline Will- iams, who was born in Blair County and is a daughter of William Williams, a former well known resident of this section. They have had seven children: Jennie, who is the wife of John Vipond, and they have five children—Ada, Edgar, Paul, Edith and Elizabeth, of Blair Township; Catherine, who is the wife of A. Lingafelt, of Holli- daysburg; David, who has two children— Thomas and John; William W., who has* one child, Fannie Pearl; and Fannie, all of whom live in Allegheny Township; and Mary and Sarah, both of whom are de- ceased. In his political views, Mr. Robeson is a Republican. He is well known all over Blair County and is equally familiar with its people and localities. Any one who spent as many years as he did hauling logs over the, mountains in early days, is entitled to speak authoritatively of the wonderful changes which have taken place in Blair County in an ordinary life time. He was the first party to haul a monument into the cemetery at Altoona. LEVI LININGER, auditor of Huston Township, Blair County, Pa., and one of the prominent and public spirited citizens of this section, resides on his valuable farm of 138 acres, which is situated near the village of Drab. He was born January 30, 1856, in Huntingdon County, Pa., and is a son of Jacob and Mary (Speck) Lininger, both of whom were natives of Huntingdon County. The mother died October 23, 1889; the father December 21, 1880. HISTORY OF BLAIR COUNTY Levi Lininger was reared in Walker Township, Huntingdon County, where he attended the public schools. He remained with his parents until he was thirty-one years of age, being his father’s mainstay on the home farm. About this time he mar- ried and for a short period afterward, en- gaged in farming in Lincoln Township, Huntingdon County. In 1890 he settled in Huston Township, Blair County, where, with the exception of two years when busi- ness required his residence in Huntingdon County, he has continued to reside near the postoffice of Drab. He is interested in farm- ing and stock raising, growing the usual grains of this section and profitably raising market stock. In 1887 Mr. Lininger was married to Miss Mary A. Fouse, who was born in Hunting- don County, a daughter of Benjamin and Ann Fouse. Mrs. Lininger’s father is de- ceased—he died in Louisville, Kentucky, on his way home from the Civil War, August 22, 1865—but her venerable mother sur- vives and is a cherished member of Mr. Lin- inger’s household. There are three chil- dren in the family: Frederick F., Anna M. and Harriet C. Mr. Lininger is a member of the Reformed church, of which he was formerly a deacon and is now an elder. In politics he is a Democrat, and is now serv- ing in his fourth term as township auditor. GEORGE C. IRWIN, a well known and popular citizen of Hollidaysburg, Pa., and a prominent factor in Republican politics in Blair County, was born at Hollidaysburg, March 1, 1871, and is a son of Robert A. Ir- win. The latter was born in Blair County in 1848, and is a retired resident of Hollidays- burg. George C. Irwin was reared and educated. in his native place and after leaving school he learned the tinner’s trade. He worked at that trade for two years and then engaged in rail- roading and for seventeen years has filled dif- ferent railroad positions, and for ten of them has been in charge of an engine; he belongs GEO. C. IRWIN AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS to that influential body known as the Brother- hood of the Locomotive Engineers. He has taken a lively interest in politics since reaching manhood, and enjoys the confidence of the party leaders and at the present writing (1910) he is the party’s candidate for the General As- sembly at the ensuing Republican election. During the Spanish-American War he was a member of Company C, 5th Pa. Vol. Inf., and served from April 27, 1898, until his company was mustered out, November 7, 1898, his rank being that of corporal. He is identified with the Odd Fellows:and the Elks. .He is a man of reliability and resourcefulness in his busi- ness and his personal character is all that could be asked for in a nEprescnitalive of the people. \ MILTON ALEXANDER, vice presi- dent of the Central Trust Company of Al- toona, Pa., and long a prominent member of the Blair County bar, has been promi- nently identified with public matters as well as with those pertaining to his profession, in this section of Pennsylvania. He was born in Williamsburg borough, Blair County, Pa., January 2, 1846, and is a son of Robert and “Mary (Rodkey ) Alexander. The Alexander family is of Irish descent, the grandfather emigrating to America in early days, and at the time of his death, in 1813, lived in Hart’s Log Valley, Hunting- don County, Pa. Of his children, Robert Alexander, father of Milton, was born in Huntingdon County in 1805. In 1827 he be- came a merchant at Williamsburg, Blair County, and resided there until 1874, when he retired to Altoona, where he died in : 1879. His wife, Mary Rodkey, who had been born on the same day as himself, sur- vived him for three years. They lived to celebrate their Golden Wedding anniver- sary. _ Milton Alexander was educated in the old Jefferson College at Canonsburg, Washing- ton County, and was a graduate of the class of 1866, from Washington and Jefferson College, following its amalgamation. He i of Blair County. 687 prepared for the practice of law with Attor- ney David Lawson, at Clarion, Pa., after which he entered the Albany Law School, where he was graduated in 1869, and on June 26 of that year was admitted to the bar Mr. Alexander entered into practice at Altoona and by 1871 had advanced so far in the confidence of his fel- low citizens that they elected him district attorney, in which office he served with en- tire efficiency for three years. He then re- sumed his private practice, in 1875 entering into partnership with H. H. Herr, an asso- ciation terminated in 1889 by the death of Mr. Herr. Mr. Alexander continued in practice alone for a number of years and became one of the foremost members of his profession in this section. He has been prominent also in other than professional lines, having taken an active interest in pub- lic affairs. Although he never consented to fill other than civic offices, he has always given hearty and loyal support to the candi- dates of the Republican party in state and nation. His business qualifications have been shown in his wise investments in realty, and his public spirit in the encour- agement he has given many important movements tending to the material upbuild- ing of Altoona. In Lancaster he owns a magnificent resi- dence, probably the finest one in all Lan- caster County. Toa large degree Mr. Alex- ander has retired from active business, al- - though he still takes much interest in look- ing after his vast amount of real estate in Altoona. Mr. Alexander was married September 10, 1872, to Miss Kate F. Martin, whose father was a capitalist of Lancaster City. They have two children: Ralph V. and Lil- lian M. Mr. and Mrs. Alexander attend the Lutheran church. For a number of years he has been prominently connected with the order of the Sons of America and has served the organization in the offices of State president and treasurer. 688 JOHN I. BROWN, proprietor of the Roaring Spring Foundry and Machine Shop and manufacturer of and dealer in all kinds of machinery, castings, etc., has been in business at Roaring Spring, Pa., since 1904. Mr. Brown was born in South Woodbury Township, Bedford County, Pa., August 18, 1849, and is a son of David F. Brown, who was formerly a well known and respected resident of Bedford County, where he died in 1861. John I. Brown was ten years old when his father died and he was already motherless and the oldest of a family of five children. Orphanage is particularly sad when chil- dren are young and John I. Brown found the world a very different place than it would have been had conditions been other- wise. He was, however, a sensible, ambi- tious boy, with industrious habits and strong moral leanings, and when he left school at the age of fifteen years, it was to immediately enter upon an apprenticeship toa trade. Without interruption he served out his four years in Keagy’s foundry, near Woodbury, and after that worked as a journeyman through Indiana, Ohio and Missouri. In 1873 he went into business for himself at the foundry where he had learned his trade and continued until 1903, when he sold out and spent about a year looking around for a satisfactory location, visiting points in Ohio and Indiana as well as Penn- sylvania. In 1604 he came to Roaring Spring, investing here and becoming one of the settled residents. Mr. Brown is a very capable man in his line of business and is a practical moulder, woodworker and _ black- smith, and his enterprise at Roaring Spring is very prosperous. He is a Republican in politics and during his period of residence at Woodbury, Pa., he served two terms as burgess and was also a valued member of the council. Mr. Brown was married in 1878, to Miss Geneva Allen of Woodbury, who isa daugh- ter of the late Christian Allen, formerly one of the leading citizens of that borough. “HISTORY OF BLAIR COUNTY ELMER_L. BRUA, who is now living in retirement at Canoe Creek, Pa., is the owner of twenty acres of land in Franks- town Township, and was born in May, 1855, in Turkey Valley, Frankstown Township, Blair County, Pa., and is a son of John and Amanda (Young) Brua. Daniel Brua, the paternal grandfather of our subject. at an early period came from Lancaster County, Pa., to Blair County by stage, and here purchased land from the Lowreys. He then returned to Lancaster County for his wife, who was Mary Buck- walter, and brought his family here in a wagon, driving a team.. The maternal grandparents.of our subject were Curtis and Jennie (Milligan) Young, farmers of Scotch - Valley; Blair County. John Brua was born in Blair County, Pz., and always followed farming. He was a Republican, and held membership with the Lutheran church. His union with Amanda Young resulted in the following issue: Elmer L., our subject; Clara, who married Robert Elliott; Archibald; Mary; John; Robert; Nannie, who is the wife of John Clare; and Elizabeth, who is the wife of Russell Kendall. Elmer L. Brua was reared on the farm, and after a common school education en- gaged in farming with his father until the time of his marriage. He then engaged in’ farming for himself in the Scotch Valley, Frankstown Township, but since selling his farm, has been living in retirement on a tract of twenty acres in Canoe Creek, Pa. Mr. Brua is politically a Republican, and has served one year as supervisor of the town- ship. He is a member of the Farmers’ Grange, and his religious connection is with the Presbyterian church of. Hollidays- burg, Pa. In 1877 Mr. Brua was united in marriage with Viola Moore, who is a daughter of Elias and Amanda (Stewart) Moore. She is the eldest of three children born to her parents—Frank, deceased; and Lucretia, deceased wife of Thompson E. Clark. Elias AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS Moore formed a second union with a daugh- ter of Joseph Robeson, who was at one time a member of the Pennsylvania State Legis- lature, and of this union were born: Joseph, Edith, who married Thompson E. Clark; Claid, who is the wife of John Jacobs; and Ruth. The following children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Brua: Dean, who married Catherine Clapper; Ruth, who is the wife of William Ayers; Grace, who married Chester Robinson; Alice, who married Jay Tussey, and has one daughter, Ethelyn; and Lee. FRANK M. RUSSELL, a prominent farmer and dairyman, whose eighty-two acres of valuable land are situated in North Woodbury Township, Blair County, Pa., near Martinsburg, was born in Bedford County, Pa., December 10, 1869, and is a son of Jacob and Rebecca (Miller) Russell, and a grandson of Andrew Miller, who was an old settler in Bedford County. The father of Mr. Russell is deceased, but his mother survives and resides with a married daughter, Mrs. Henry J. Myers, in North Woodbury Township. The following children were born to Jacob and Rebecca Russell: Andrew, resid- ing near Hollidaysburg; Frank M.; Emma F., living in Blair County, wife of John K. Wisler; Anna J., wife of Henry J. Myers, of North Woodbury Township; Jacob D., re- siding at Martinsburg; Mary, wife of Charles H. Detwiler, of Bedford County; Sarah, wife of Howard Kagarise, of Bed- ford County; Clara, wife of John Nico- demus, of North Woodbury Township; and Jennie, wife of Jason Brumbaugh, of Taylor Township. Frank M. Russell was about thirteen years old when his parents moved from Bedford to Blair County, settling in North Woodbury Township. Here he has lived ever since, making farming and dairying his business.. Exercising good judgment and combining it with industry, Mr. Russell has made himself one of the township’s success- ful business men. 689 On January 11, 1894, Mr. Russell was married to Miss Amanda Brumbaugh, a native of Blair County and a daughter of George H. Brumbaugh, of Clover Creek, and they have three children: Elsie B., Mary B. and Elizabeth A. Mr. Russell and family are members of the Church of the Brethren at Clover Creek, and he is a deacon in the same. In politics he is a Democrat. C. BLAINE LOUDON of the firm of Markley & Loudon, dealing in real estate and fire insurance at Altoona, Pa., with bus- iness quarters at No. 1419 Eleventh Ave- nue, was born in 1880, in Logan Township, Blair County, Pa., and is a son of the late William Loudon, who was born in 1828, also in Blair County, being a representative of one of the old and leading families of this section. ~ C. Blaine Loudon was educated in the public schools and at Gettysburg College, and afterward spent two years traveling through the western part of the United’ States, during this time visiting Colorado, California and Washington. When pre- pared to enter into business he embarked in the real estate and insurance line at Al- toona, in partnership with Mr. Markley, and the firm has done well. They handle both city and farm property, and deal exten- sively in-Florida lands, having charge of large tracts in the vicinity of St. Petersburg. Mr. Loudon has additional interests, being one of the directors of the People’s Build- ing and Loan Association, and is also inter- ested in the development of coal property in Pennsylvania. Fraternally Mr. Loudon is identified with the Elks and the Woodmen, belongs to the University Club and also retains his interest in his college Greek letter society. He was reared in the Reformed church. He be- longs to that desirable class of citizens that is made up of men of education, financial stability and social standing. \ 690 JOSEPH VAN ALLMAN, ex-burgess and a retired carpenter and contractor of Hollidays- burg, Pa., has. been a lifelong resident of Blair County, Pa., and is a veteran of the Civil War. He was born July 1, 1836, in Franks- town township, Blair County, Pa., which was then part of Huntingdon County, Pa., and is a son of Adam and Catherine (Mogul) Van Allman, both of whom died in Frankstown Township, the former at the age of 50 years and the latter at the age of 80 years. The following children were born to the parents of our subject: Christina, married John Wertz, and both are now deceased; Samuel, deceased ; Elizabeth, widow of Samuel Beard; John, de- ceased; Sarah, deceased wife of Samuel Boyer; Joseph; Henry, deceased; and William. Joseph Van Allman was reared in Franks- town Township, his father’s farm being the scene of his boyhood activities, and his educa- tion was obtained in the old log schoolhouse © of the township. When about eighteen years of age he came to Hollidaysburg and learned the carpenter’s trade, afterwards working five years, from 1865 to 1870, in the Pennsylvania Railroad Passenger Coach Shops at Altoona, Pa., and with the exception of that period has been a resident of Hollidaysburg. Mr. Van Allman was united in marriage with Sarah Elizabeth Sissler of Altoona, Pa., now deceased, on May 4, 1862. She died March 21, 1906. To their union were born the following children: Minnie, the widow of Shedrick Stephens of Indiana County, Pa.; Catherine, who married Winfield Robinson of Culver, Kansas; Ida Blanche, who is the wife of Boyde Hamilton of Indiana County, Pa.: William A., who operates a grist mill on Piney Creek, Blair County, Pa., for his father ; Charles, A., who married Elsie Gorsuch:; Rose Anna; Lillian; Samuel Ross (intermarried with Mary Slick of Altoona); and three who died in infancy. In 1865 Mr. Van Allman enlisted in Com- pany B., 192nd Penna. Vol. Inf. and served until the close of the war, and is now a member of Col. William G. Murray Post No. 39 G. A. R, of Hollidaysburg. He is politically ‘HISTORY OF BLAIR COUNTY identified with the Republican party, and has served three years as burgess of Hollidaysburg, and was a member of the borough council for three years. His religious connection is with the Lutheran Church. Mr. Van Allman re- sides on the corner of Wayne and Spruce Streets, and is also the owner of real estate in Altoona, Pa. CLARENCE C. CLEMSON, deceased, who for many years was identified with the Altoona Title and Trust Company, was one of the city’s representative men. He was born in Center County, Pa., February 9, 1865, and died at Altoona, January 9, 1908. He was one of a family of five children born to his par- ents, who were Amos and Lydia (Rider) Clemson, both of whom are deceased. He is survived by a brother, D. M. Clemson, a mil- lionaire of Pittsburg. Clarence C. Clemson attended school in Cen- ter County, and was commercially trained at a business college in Williamsport, Pa. He then became connected in business with J. C. Ge- heen & Brothers, at Tyrone, Blair County, and remained with that firm for eight years, after which he accepted the position of manager for the McLanahan Supply Company, at Carlin, where he remained for four years. This posi- tion he resigned in order to accept a more lucrative one with the Altoona Title and Trust Company, with which financial institution he remained during the balance of his life. On December 15, 1892, Mr. Clemson was married to Miss Ida C. Clark, a daughter of the late John Clark, who was a prominent banker of Williamsburg, Pa. Five children were born to this marriage, the three survivors being: Anna J., John C. and DelRoy. Mr. Clemson was a member and a trustee of the Broad Avenue Presbyterian Church. He was very prominent in Masonry, having reached the 32d degree, and was identified with Tyrone Lodge, F. & A. M.; Mountain Commandery, No. 189, Knights Templars; Jaffa Temple. Ancient Order of the Mystic Shrine, Hollidays- burg Consistory. Mrs. Clemson resides in Altoona. She is a Mavio NHOL NOSWGTO ‘0 HONTUVIO AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS prominent figure in the best Altoona society, and it would be hard to find a worthy local cause that has not benefited by her aid and in- fluence. She comes of Revolutionary ancestry, her paternal great-grandfather, James Clark, having fought for American independence in the Revolutionary War. He was wounded at the battle of the Brandywine, September 11, 1777. John Clark, grandfather of Mrs. Clem- son, was born in Huntingdon County, Pa., in 1789. At one time he operated a tannery at Birmingham, Pa., but later retired and died on his farm in Morris Township, at the age of seventy-four years. He was twice married; first to Catherine Whitzel, who died early. His second union was with Eliza Thompson, a native of Spruce Creek Township, where her father had been an early settler. Her death occurred in 1866, when she had attained the age of sixty-six years. John Clark, second of the name and Mrs. Clemson’s father, was born in Canoe Valley, Catherine Township, Blair County, Pa., De- cember 13, 1833. He was educated at Will- iamsburg Academy, and until 1873 was en- gaged in stockraising and agriculture on the home farm. He then became cashier of the Williamsburg bank, which was organized at that time, and his subsequent career was one of importance to the community. He made a very popular official and for many years was a prominent factor in the de- velopment of the financial interests of the county. He was a large land owner, having much valuable property at Williamsburg, be- sides ore and coal properties and limestone quarries elsewhere in the county, and a fine farm of 250 acres. Mr. Clark was married, May 27, 1858, to Miss Mary J. Sisler, who died May 6, 1873. Of this union there were six children born: Edgar Thompson, who married Lucretia Moore, of Scotch Valley; and Anna J., Charles H., Dean, John Grier and Ada. Mr. Clark was a Republican primarily and at various times was called upon to serve in offices of public trust, in which he invariably acquitted himself with credit, justifying the ’ tributed not a little. 693 confidence of his fellow citizens in his integrity and ability. Subsequent to 1880 he espoused the cause of Prohibition, to which he devoted his best efforts, and although he was not privi- leged to witness the general success of his party for which he hoped, he was able to note much progress to that end, to which he himself con- Few citizens of Blair County were more conscientious in the perform- ance of public and private duties and few, if any, were more highly esteemed. The death of Mr. Clark took place on January 21, 1904, in Altoona, and struck a chord of sorrow in the hearts of all those in the community who knew him for what he was. JOHN S. FORSHT, one of the well known citizens of Duncansville, Pa., which pleasant borough has been his place of residence since the spring of 1894, has led a busy business life and at present is interested to a consider- able degree in livestock, particularly in the purchase and sale of horses. He was born at Henrietta, Blair County, Pa., November 16, 1848, and is a son of Jacob and Jane (Souls- bey) Forsht. ; Jacob Forsht was born on South Mountain, in Franklin County, Pa., and his wife was born in England. She was a daughter of James Soulsbey, who was a sailor whe later sought a home in Blair County and years afterward moved into Cambria County, where he died in old age. Jacob Forsht left his na- tive county when sixteen years of age and lo- cated for a time at Henrietta, in Blair County, and then moved to Martinsburg and subse- quently became a partner in the firm of Hand and Snowden, builders of agricultural imple- ments and machinery. The plant was known as Keagy’s foundry and was located near Woodbury, Pa., and the above firm:leased the works and continued the business for some years. Jacob Forsht later withdrew and set- tled on a farm on Halter Creek, in Bedford County, and lived there during the sixties and then removed to Eldorado, Pa., and prior to his death, to Juniata. Of the children of Jacob Forsht and wife there are six survivors: John 694 S., residing in Blair Township; Jennie, wife of Jacob Goodman, residing at Altoona; Albert, living at Juniata; Margaret E., wife of John Robison, of Williamsburg; Samuel L, living at Juniata; and Isabella, wife of Elmer E. McGill, living in Blair Township. John S. Forsht was reared in Blair County and attended the schools near the family home until old enough to begin his own individual career. He tried railroading for a short time and during this period lived at Sunbury, Pa., and then moved to Millville where he went into the butchering and stock buying business and remained there for five years. He then moved to the S. C. Baker farm in Logan Township, where he lived for several years and followed farming, and then went to Allegheny Furnace. There he found dealing in horses and mules a very profitable business and he became exten- sively engaged in the same and has more or less continued since moving on his farm in Blair Township, residing at Duncansville. He has been an active citizen ever since locating here, lending his influence to the promotion of important and public spirited enterprises. He was one of the founders of the local Grange and was largely instrumental in getting estab- lished the Blair County Grange Fair Associa- tion and has been one of its directors since its beginning. He is president of the Dun- cansville Building and Loan Association and one of its directors, this being a well estab- lished business enterprise of the place. Mr, Forsht married Miss Sarah J. Leighty, who was born in Blair County, a daughter of William Leighty, formerly of Allegheny Town- ship, and four children were born to them: Maggie, who is the wife of Charles A. Mason, of South Altoona; W. Edward, who lives in Blair Township, near Duncansville ; Flora, who is the wife of W. H. Stifler, of Duncansville ; and Emma, who is the wife of Thomas Parker, of Aspinwall, Pa. In politics Mr. Forsht js a Republican and he has served as auditor of Blair Township. He is a member of the Luth- eran church at Duncansville. HISTORY OF BLAIR COUNTY 3 JOHN JAMES IRVIN, who efficiently fills the important position of superintendent of the repair shops of H. S. Kerbaugh, incorporated, contractor, at Bellwood, Pa., is a skilled and experienced machinist, a, trade he started to learn immediately after leaving school. He was born at Marion, O., December 21, 1869, and is a son of James and Mary (Welf) Irvin. James Irvin was born in County Tyrone, Ireland, and became a deep sea sailor,. for three years sailing the Atlantic Ocean between Liverpool and New York. For a time he lived on Staten Island but later moved to Marion County, O., where he engaged in farm- ing and where his death occurred in 1886. He served three years .as a soldier in the Civil War as a member of Co. D, 64th O. Vol. Inf. After coming to America he married Mary Wolf, who survives and is now a resident of Marion, O. 2 John James Irvin was seventeen years old when his father died. He obtained his educa- tion in the public schools and as soon as parental permission was secured, he entered upon an apprenticeship in the shops of the Huber Manu- facturing Company, and continued there until 1891. From there Mr. Irvin went to the . Bucyrus Steam Shovel Company, at Bucyrus, O., continuing with the same concern at South Milwaukee, Wis. Mr. Irvin then had several years of experience in the Rocky Mountains as a constructing engineer. When he returned east he became a constructing engineer with the Vulcan Iron Works, at Toledo, O. Subse- quently he became identified more or less with the Kerbaugh people, doing many jobs of con- tracting and working as a master mechanic before becoming superintendent. The H. S. Kerbaugh Company is one of the largest contracting firms in the country. Its main office is at No. 922 Arcade Building, Market and Twelfth Streets, Philadelphia, and they have shops located at different points, those at Bellwood being one of the most im- portant. The business is general contracting for every kind of railroad construction, barge work, aqueduct and bridge building, in fact AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS every kind of similar work. The Bellwood shops are the company’s general repair shops but additional repair and construction work is accepted. The company maintained a tempo- rary shop just outside of Harrisburg before coming to Bellwood and for two years Mr. Irvin had charge there. The Bellwood plant started building in December, 1904, and started operating, May 1, 1905. An average of eighty- five men are given employment and at times 240 men are required. The successful manage- ment and satisfactory work of so large a plant, indicates that Mr. Irvin possesses unusual ex- ecutive ability together with thorough tech- nical knowledge. Mr. Irvin was married first, on December 16, 1890, to Miss Emma Gardner, a native of Marion County, O. Her death occurred at Toledo, O., October 31, 1902, and her burial was at Marion. She is survived by three sons: James. A., Earl H. and Raymond D. Mr. Irvin was married second, to Miss Nina F. Wottring, a native of Prospect, O., and they have one daughter, Mary Margaret. Mr. and Mrs. Irvin attend the Presbyterian church at Bellwood. A Republican in politics, he con- sistently supports the candidates of that party but in the performance of his duties as a member of the borough council, he only favors those measures which promise civic advance- ment, irrespective of politics. He is identified with the Masonic fraternity both at Tyrone and Harrisburg. PROF. J. K. RITCHEY, principal of the Roaring Spring High School, at Roaring Spring, Pa., has devoted his life to educational work and in his field of endeavor is one of the best known men in Blair County. He was born at Everett, Bedford County, Pa., January 3, 1866, and is a son of Isaac W. Ritchey, who is a resident of Yellow Creek, Bedford County, Pa. J. K. Ritchey was in his ninth year when his parents removed to New Enterprise, Bed- ford County, and there he was reared, secur- ing his early educational training in the public schools of that place. Subsequently he attended 695 the Pennsylvania State Normal School at Mil- ' lersville, where he was graduated in 1892, hav- ing practically paid his own way without as- sistance, having commenced to teach school when only eighteen years of age, with this end in view. Having decided to devote himself to educational work, Mr. Ritchey entered upon his career with an enthusiasm which has never departed. He has met with cordial recogni- tion and has filled many important positions. For a time he was principal of the public schools of Loysburg, Pa., for three years was principal of the Woodbury schools and then came to the Roaring Spring High School in 1896. He takes a very active interest in all educational institute work and for eighteen years has conducted summer Normal schools of his own and during this time has had over 400 successful teachers among his students. These instructive summer courses have been held at Roaring Spring, Woodbury and Loys- burg, Pa., and have been largely attended. He ~has ably filled public positions on numerous oc- casions. He served several terms as a member of the permanent certificate examining board, under appointment of Hon. Nathan C. Schaf- fer, superintendent of public instruction, in Blair County, and for a time was chairman of the board. Prof. Ritchey keeps in touch with his old college comrades by his membership and interest in the Millersville Alumni Association, and is chairman of the Blair County board. He has a host of personal friends and admirers and possesses every qualification for the office of county superintendent of schools, for which he is a candidate. : ' Prof. Ritchey was married to Miss Ida M. Wright, who was born at Pleasantville, Bed- ford County, Pa., a daughter of Penrose Wright, a resident of Roaring Spring. They reside in this borough, but Prof. Ritchey owns and manages a valuable farm of 146 acres, which lies in Taylor Township. He is a mem- ber of the Lutheran church and for a number ~ of years has been superintendent of the Sun- day-school. _ 696 EDGAR B. GREENE, superintendent of the Edison Electric Illuminating Company, at Altoona, Pa., with business office at No. 1108 Twelfth Street, has been identified with elec- tric lighting for a number of years, this ex- perience making him almost invaluable to con- cerns that have large capital invested and ex- pensive works and equipments for the carrying on of large business enterprises. Mr. Greene is not only well qualified but he possesses also the energy and executive ability demanded in a position like the one he so capably fills. He was born long before the days in which the use of electricity became a necessity of daily life, on September 11, 1859, on the old Greene homestead in Huntingdon County, Pa. The. Greene family traces its ancestry to Scotland from which country the grandfather came to America in boyhood. His death oc- curred in Huntingdon County at the age of seventy years. Of his family of children, one son, Frank P., who later became the father of Edgar B. Greene, was born in 1835. In 1861 Frank P. Greene entered the Federal army and subsequently became a veteran soldier, participating in many of the most serious battles of the war. He was honorably discharged after more than three years service, after suffering great hardships. Although able ta return to his family it was with impaired health and from this exposure he contracted disease which probably shortened his life. He married Lavina Burrows, whose father came from England and settled in Pennsylvania. Four children were born to them. Edgar B. Greene attended school in Hunt- ingdon and in Center Counties and graduated from the Bellefonte High School. He then learned the carpenter’s trade with his father and followed it for about seven years, in the meanwhile becoming much interested in elec- ‘tricity which was becoming more and more recognized as a useful agent as its nature be- came better understood. In 1883, Mr. Greene became the manager of the Edison Construc- tion Company at Bellefonte, and three years later came from theré to Altoona to become HISTORY OF BLAIR COUNTY 1 superintendent of the Edison Electric Light Company. While residing at Bellefonte, Mr. Greene was married to Miss Inez Minerva O’Bryan, of that city, and they have four children: James A., Frank L., Nannie and Bessie. Mr. Greene and family are members of the First Methodist Episcopal Church. The comfortable family home is situated at No. 2213 Second Avenue, Altoona. In politics, Mr. Greene is a Republican. Fraternally_ he is connected with the Masons, the Odd Fellows, the Elks and the Knights of Pythias. AARON G. GARBER, whose farm of-100 acres of well improved land is situated near Newry, in Blair Township, Blair County, Pa., is a well known, reliable and representative citizen of this section. He was born in the northern part of Bedford County, Pa., August 4, 1858, and is a son of John B. and Catherine (Guntz) Garber. John B. Garber was born in Taylor Town- ship, Blair County, Pa., a son of John Garber; who was one of the early settlers in that region. John B. Garber was a blacksmith by trade and followed the same in Taylor Township for some years and then engaged in farming. His death occurred in June, 1890. He married Catherine Guntz, who was born at Conemaugh, Pa., and survived her husband but six months. Of their children the following survive: Charles, who lives in Bedford County, Pa.; Alexander, who resides near Williamsburg ; George, who is a farmer in Taylor Township; Isaac, who moved to Wood County; James N,, who is a physician in practice at Detroit, Mich.; Harry, who lives in Wood County ; Edward, who resides near Tyrone, Pa.; Aaron G. Susan, who is the wife of Daniel Dick, of Taylor Township; Almira, who is the wife of George C. Albright, of Roaring Springs, Pa.; and Annie, who is the wife of Lafayette Sell, of Roaring Springs. The late John B. Garber was a soldier in the Civil War. . Aaron G. Garber grew to manhood in Taylor Township, where he attended school. Later he moved to Freedom Township, where he AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS lived for eight years and then moved into Frankstown Township and lived there until 1904, when he came to his present farm near Newry, in Blair Township. He devotes his land to agricultural purposes, raising grain and other products and growing excellent stock. Mr. Garber was married to Miss Almira Shaw, who was born in Freedom 'Township, Blair County, a daughter of William Shaw, a former well known citizen, and seven children have been born to them: Elmer P., John S., Frank S., Ralph R., Aaron, Mary E. and Martha. Mary E. is the wife of Clarence Long, of Blair Township. Mr. Garber and family belong to the Church of God at Roar- ing Springs. He is a Republican in politics. Like the majority of the successful and pro- gressive agriculturists of this section, Mr. Garber is a member of Allegheny Grange, Patrons of Husbandry, at Duncansville. JACOB L. CONFER, a representative citizen of Frankstown Township, Blair County, Pa., owns property in Frankstown village and also forty-two acres of valuable land near it. He was born in this township,-December 6, 1859, and is a son of Jacob and Eliza (Baker) Confer. oe Jacob Confer was born in Bedford County, Pa. He was a farmer and owned property in Frankstown Township, where he died and his burial was in the Geeseytown Cemetery. He married Eliza Baker, a native of Blair County, who is also deceased. They were members of the Methodist Episcopal church. They had nine children, as follows: James S., William, George W., Samuel C., Angus L., Sarah M., Jacob L., Catherine S. and Elmer E. Sarah M. married Joseph Robison. Catherine S. married E. W. Bingenheimer. Jacob L. Confer had but a small amount of schooling, attending a few months in the winter time when there was no work on the farm. After he was twenty years old he gave his entire time to helping his father. When twenty-five years of age he went to Minne- sota. His brothers, George W. and Angus L., were in the wholesale meat business and for 697 three years he acted as a salesman for them. For five years afterward he was interested in a sheep ranch and then sold his interest to his brother, George W. Two more years were spent on a neighboring ranch and then he became second foreman on a third ranch and _ in this position had 32,000 head of sheep to look after. He led a strenuous life, his day beginning at about five o’clock in the morning and extending to from nine to ten o’clock at night. After leaving the sheep country he oc- cupied himself in various ways, while seeing different parts of the country, for about eighteen months and then returned to Penn- sylvania. He is a leading citizen of Franks- town Township as noted above, having con- cerned himself with its important affairs and through travel and experience possessing quali- fications that others have not had the same chance to obtain. He has been particularly interested in school matters and is serving in his eighth year on the township school board, of which he is treasurer, for two years was secretary and for three years was president. He also served six months as secretary of the board of supervisors, having been appointed by Judge Bell. On May 25, 1893, Mr. Confer was married to Miss Cora May Merritts, a daughter of. Capt. Andrew J. and Catherine (Kephart) Merritts. Captain Merritts earned his title by serving four years in the Civil War. By trade he was a furnace blower. Mrs. Confer has four brothers and one sister, namely: Harry, Wilbur, Charles, Calvin, and Dessie, who is the wife of Howard Shope. Mr. and Mrs. Confer have the following family: Madeline Baker, who attends school in Minnesota; and Gladys Belle, Lafayette Chalmer, Muzeta M., Mylo Cushman, Cath- erine M., T. DeWitt Talmadge, Ronald, J. Layton, and Angus Lloyd. Mr. Confer is a member of the Lutheran church, while Mrs. Confer belongs to the Methodist Episcopal | church. In politics he is a Republican. He is a member of the Forresters and of the Grange. Mr. Confer is one of the enterprising men of this section who are making an effort to or- 698 ganize an independent telephone company through Scotch Valley, from Hollidaysburg to Beaver Dam. If energy and perseverance will accomplish it, this public spirited enterprise will succeed. s A. GAILEY, superintendent of the Water Works of Altoona, Pa., has been a resi- dent of this city since December, 1874, and is a native of Juniata Township, Blair County, Pa., where he was born in 1856, a son of Wil- liam and Martha Gailey. William Gailey, father of our subject, was born in County Donegal, Ireland, and came to America.in 1844, locating first in Philadelphia, where he resided ten years. In 1854 he came to Blair County, Pa., where he was employed for ten or twelve years by the Penna. R. R. Company, after which he followed farming for a number of years. S. A. Gailey came to Altoona in 1874 and early in life learned the plumber’s trade, and was employed by the Pennsylvania Railroad Company until 1886. In April of that year he became superintendent of the Water Works of Altoona and has served continuously in that capacity since. Mr. Gailey is also identified with various business enterprises of this city, being secretary of the board of directors of the. Altoona Times Company, director of the Union Building and Loan Association, and president of the Home Purchasing Company. On May 12, 1880, Mr. Gailey was united in marriage with Frances M. Campbell of Clearfield, Pa., and of their union was born two sons, William Hugh, deceased, and Samuel A., who is in the employ of Charles McAleer, plumber, as an apprentice. The religious con- nection of the family is with the First Pres- byterian Church, of which Mr. Gailey is a member of the official board. Mr. Gailey is fraternally affiliated with the Masons, being a Knight Templar, and with the Modern Wood- men. JAMES W. CHARLES, proprietor of the Hotel Carlton, one of the most modern and best equipped hostelries of Altoona, Pa., was born at Hollidaysburg, Pa., July 16, 1873, HISTORY OF BLAIR COUNTY and is a son of Thomas J. and Margaret. (Esty) Charles. Thomas J. Charles is a well known retired resident of Altoona, who for forty-nine years and nine months was passenger car builder for the Pennsylvania Railroad. He is active in Democratic politics. He married Margaret Esty and they have the following children: Wiiliam H., Mamie, James W., Marshall, Pearl and Susan. With his family he belongs to the Methodist Episcopal church. James W. Charles obtained his education in the public schools. On June 21, 1909, he took charge of the Hotel Carlton, having had twelve years of previous experience in hotel keeping. The Hotel Carlton offers both comforts and luxuries to its guests and is able to accommodate a large number, having twen- ty-seven rooms and twenty-two fitted up for sleeping apartments. Mr. Charles is a genial, careful host and a large amount of patronage is given this excellent hotel by both transient and permanent custom. In 1906, Mr. Charles was married to Miss Ella Matthews, a daughter of James Matthews of Altoona. Mrs. Charles is a member of the Catholic church. Politically he is a Re- publican. He belongs to the fraternal order of Eagles and to the Altoona Gun Club, and is an all around popular citizen. _ ANDREW TYBOUT STONE, the sub- ject of this article, was born in Hollidays- burg, Pa., on February 22, 1848. He is the son of Colonel William and Martha (Thomas) Stone, both deceased. Mr. Stone attended the public schools of Hollidaysburg until the age of twelve years, when he entered the iron foundry of Mc- Lanahan and Stone Co., as an apprentice. On June 3, 1863, Mr. Stone enlisted in Co. F, Independent Battalion Pa. Militia, Capt. Dan J. Travis, and served for sixty days, being discharged August 8, 1863. After being discharged from the army Mr. Stone returned to the McLanahan-Stone Foundry in Hollidaysburg, and completed his trade as a moulder. JAMES W. CHARLES cont AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS In August, 1867, Mr. Stone left McLana- han-Stone for whom he had worked after completing his apprenticeship, and went to Providence, R. I., where he was employed by Fuller’s Iron Foundry. In April, 1868, during a depression in business and consequent scarcity of work, Mr. Stone shipped on the brig “Hays” as a common seaman, and sailed from Boston to Mobile and Pensacola, returning to Boston in two months’ time. He next went to Johnstown, where he was employed by the Cambria Iron Company of that place. In March, 1873, Mr. Stone entered the employment of Barney and Smith Manufac- turing Co. in Dayton, Ohio, as assistant ‘foreman of the foundry. After eighteen months with this firm he left them to be- come foreman of the foundry of Stillwell and Bierce. During the panic of 1876 Mr. Stone re- turned East and secured employment with the Pennsylvania Railroad Company in Al. toona, where he remained until 1881. In this year Mr. Stone moved to Holli- daysburg and became a partner in the Mc- Lanahan and Stone Machine Company, and after the death of his father in 1902, suc- ceeded him as vice president of the com- pany, which position he now holds. Mr. Stone was married December 25, 1873, to Mary Holliday Kean of Hollidays- burg, Pa., a daughter of Charles and Mary (Holliday) Kean, and of this union five chil- dren were born, of whom the two oldest, Walter and Charles, died in early childhood. The surviving children are Elizabeth, wife of Dr. Webster Calvin of Hollidaysburg; Ralph H., of Pittsburg; and Andrew T. Stone, Jr., of Hollidaysburg, Pa. Politically Mr. Stone is a Democrat, but an independent voter. Fraternally he is a Mason, being a member of the Blue Lodge and Chapter of Hollidaysburg, and of the Commandery and Shrine of Altoona. He is also a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and the Heptasophs of Hol- 701 lidaysburg, Pa., and of the Hollidaysburg Club. WILMER. E. TAYLOR, vice president of the Brooks Milling Company, Incorpor- ated, at Brooks Mills, Blair County, Pa., has been identified with this large and im- portant business concern since 1907. He was born in Huntingdon County, Pa., De- cember 16, 1872, and is a son of James W. and Sarah Taylor, the former of whom was a native of Huntingdon, and the latter of Bedford County, Pa. After his own period of school attendance was over, Wilmer E. Taylor taught school in his native county for three years and in the meanwhile learned the milling business, and was engaged in the same at Saxton, Bedford County, from 1897 until 1900, where he was also interested for a time as a merchant. In 1907 he came to Blair Town- ship and for two years operated the present plant, of which he has been manager since 1909, as well as vice president of the Brooks Milling. Company, Incorporated. The presi- dent of the company is R. E. Bell and the secretary and treasurer is J. W. Baisor, all three officials being practical mill men and of reliable financial standing. The mill in Blair Township is well equipped and does a general milling business and is prospering. This company in addition to manufacturing several first class brands of its own, of winter wheat flour, notably the Per- fection brand, and having a capacity of fifty barrels every twenty-four hours, manufac- ture also buckwheat flour, corn meal and poultry foods and deal in grain, feed, hay and straw. A large amount of business abii- . ity is required to regulate a business of this kind, with fluctuating markets, but Mr. Tay- lor has abundantly proved his capacity. He is a self-made man, never having had the ad- vantages which attend and smooth the way for many young business men, and what he has gained in material possessions and in public esteem as an honorable man, he has won for himself. 702 Mr. Taylor married Miss Blanche Stine, of Muncy, Pa., and they have one daughter, Ruth. In his views on public questions he is intelligent and liberal minded, but when he casts his vote for a candidate for office, he permits no party tie to control his judg- ment. C. H. MORGAN, who is prominently identified with the real estate and insurance interests at Altoona, Pa., has been a resi- dent of this city for the last six years, he having taken up his abode here November 1, 1904. His boyhood and youth were spent in Lehigh County, of which also he is a native. Mr. Morgan was given the advan- tage of a collegiate education, in 1891 enter- ing the preparatory school at Bethlehem, Pa., and in the following year becoming a student at Lehigh University, South Bethle- hem, from which he was graduated with the degree of electrical engineer in 1896. He then worked for the Southern Bell Tele- phone Company until 1898, when he re- signed his position to take that of assistant examiner in the United States Patent office. During his residence in Washington he improved the time by taking a three years’ course at the National University Law School, and was graduated with the degree of LL. M. in igor. After holding the posi- tion of assistant examiner in the Patent of- fice for six years and three months, he gave it up in order to come to Altoona, when he: entered his present line of work. In this he has achieved a pronounced success, his busi- ness including not only real estate and fire insurance, but also loans and investments, and he is connected directly or indirectly with various important local interests. In his own particuar line of work, indeed, he holds no second place. He has financial in- terests in three building and loan associa- tions of Altoona, and is also president of the Pennsylvania Pressed Brick Company of Grazierville, Pa. In 1898 Mr. Morgan was married to Miss Ruth E. Taylor, a daughter of an old Vir- HISTORY OF BLAIR COUNTY ginia family, and they are the parents of five children, namely: J. Williard, Harold W., Beatrice M., Helen T. and Cyril M. Mr. and Mrs. Morgan are members of the Sec— ond Presbyterian church. The former is identified with the Masons and Elks, and is also a member of the Spruce Creek Rod and Gun Club. WILLIAM J. BRADLEY, one of Blair Township’s well known and reliable citi- zens, owning a farm of 409 acres, is a vet- eran of the Civil War and a man whose life for many years was one of hard work with more or less of danger and adventure. He was born.in what is now Blair County, Pa., near Tyrone, November 11, 1840, a son of John and Elizabeth (McClelland) Bradley, and a grandson, on the maternal side, of a daughter of Captain John Boyles, a noted patriot in-the Revolutionary War. The father of Mr. Bradley died at Baltimore in 1841 of yellow fever, and his mother died when he was fourteen years of age. When five years old, William J. Bradley was taken to a farm in Allegheny Township and lived there with his mother until 1855, at which time he began work in the boiler shops of the Pa. Railroad Company, at Al- toona, and from there enlisted for service in the Civil War. He became a member of Co. H, 3rd Pa. Vol. Inf., and served out his first contract and then re-enlisted in Co. K, 125th Pa. Vol. Inf., for nine months. He participated in the battles of Antietam and Chancellorsville. His third enlistment was in the United States Navy and as third as- sistant engineer on the U. S. Steamer Sau- gus took part in the siege of Fort Fisher and in all the campaign down the James River, serving first under Admiral Lee and later under Admiral Porter. He was in the navy for two years and after this service returned. to Blair County. In July, 1865, he secured the position of locomotive engineer on the Mid- dle Division of the Pennsylvania Railroad and remained there continuously until De- cember, 1909, since when. he has been re- CHARLES H. MORGAN ’ AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS tired. For a number of years he resided at No, 1606 Eighth Avenue, Altoona, but now lives on his farm in Blair Township, sur- rounded with all the comforts of life. Mr. Bradley is a self made man. The death of his parents threw him on his own resources at an age when his judgment was still im- mature and that he should have so wisely and successfully worked himself to honor- able independence, marks him as a man of. inherited character, Mr. Bradley was married to Miss Mary A. DeRush, who was born at Bellwood, Blair County, and four children were born to them: John J., residing in the city of Altoona; William M., a farmer in Blair Township; Viola, wife of George H. How- ard, of Altoona; and Blanche, wife of Charles G. McCormick, of Altoona. Mr. Bradley and family are members of the Roman Catholic church. In politics he. is independent, but his temperance principles incline him toward the Prohibition party. He is a member of the Brotherhood of Lo- comotive Engineers, J. C. Burley Division No. 287, at Altoona, and he. was formerly treasurer of the same. IRVIN MENTZER, manager of what is known as the Frankstown mill, which is owned by the heirs of the late Jeremiah Mentzer, and which includes - twenty-six acres of land, was born in Bedford County, Pa., a son of Jeremiah and Mary (Work- ing) Mentzer. Irvin Mentzer attended the public schools and afterward entered his father’s mill and has made milling his main business, and very seldom been absent from this mill. For the past thirty-five years he has been the leading miller of Frankstown and is known to the majority of the farming people through this section. He has several special brands of flour which find a ready sale in the home markets. The Mentzers have been millers here for many years, his father following the business for a long time. ‘On February 8, 1877, Mr. Mentzer was 703 married to Miss Rebecca Slippey, a daugh- ter of Jonathan and Rebecca Slippey, who were old residents of Frankstown. Mrs. Mentzer had four sisters, namely: Mary, deceased; who was the wife of Morrison Lindsey ; Sarah A., who is the wife of James F. Mentzer; Blanche, who is the wife of Joseph W. Delozier; and Clara, who is the wife of William S. Reese. Mr. and Mrs. Mentzer have the follow- ing children: Blanche Pearl, who is the wife of Andrew Hileman; Cora Rebecca, who is the widow of John Long; Mary Edna, who is the wife of I. G. Robison; and Mabel Laura, who resides at home. The family belongs to the Lutheran church, as did the older generations. Mr. Mentzer is a Republican, but has never consented to hold office. He is identified with the Odd Fellows, belonging to Lodge No. 119, at Hollidaysburg, and is a member also of the organization known as the Artisan Order of Mutual Protection. MAX RIEBENACK, late comptroller of the Pennsylvania Railroad Company. Some- times it happens in political life, that a hith- erto unknown and apparently untrained man is suddenly brought to the front through a certain train of circumstances, and, in the exigencies of the times, is en- trusted with large interests. It is never thus in railroad affairs. Through knowl- edge of every detail each step forward is made and this knowledge must be acquired in a practical way. Thus, when a man rises from the comparatively humble position of office clerk to the vastly important one of comptroller of a great railroad system, there is no doubt but that his native ability has been unusual and that his knowledge of railroad affairs is unassailable. This is notably the case with Max Riebenack, who was comptroller of the Pennsylvania Rail- road Company from February 1, 1905, to May 14, I9g10. His life record contains much that is interesting and encouraging. Max Riebenack was born October 12, 704 1844,and wasasonof Romanand Josephine (Fleschutz) Riebenack. He was nineteen years of age when he entered the service of the Pennsylvania Railroad Company as clerk to the military agent stationed at Al- toona, Pa. In June, 1864, he was trans- ferred to Philadelphia, and he remained in the agent’s office until 1866, when he was made corresponding clerk and cashier to the general passenger and ticket agent, and in 1869 was promoted to the position of chief clerk of foreign tickets. In April, 1872, he was appointed assistant auditor of pas- senger receipts, and on April 1, 1880, was promoted to the position of auditor of pas- senger receipts. His promotion continued, and on October 12, 1881, he was given fur- ther responsibility by being appointed as- sistant comptroller. On November 1, 1889, he resigned the former position in order to devote himself entirely to the duties of as- sistant comptroller, and on February 1, 1905 he was advanced to the position of comptrol- ler. The various companies with which he was thus identified are: the Pennsylvania Railroad Company, Philadelphia, Baltimore & Washington Railroad Company, West Jersey & Seashore Railroad Company, Nor- thern Central Railway Company, Long Island Railroad Company, Baltimore, Ches- apeake & Atlantic Railway Company and the auxiliary companies. Mr. Riebenack was closely identified with the Pennsylvania Railroad voluntary relief department, also the Pennsylwania’s em- ployes: saving fund and the Pennsylvania Railroad pension department, having, through his interest and activity brought success to all of these enterprises. A large measure of their practical benefit to those interested is directly due to him. He was a member of the advisory committee of the relief department by appointment of the board of directors of the Pennsylvania Rail- toad Company, and was chairman of the supervisory committee of the same depart- ment. On January 1, 1900, when the pen- sion department was organized, he was. ap- HISTORY OF BLAIR COUNTY pointed by the board of directors of the va- rious affiliated companies as one of the members of the board of officers of that de- partment, and was selected as secretary asa tribute to his thorough knowledge of these matters which he had investigated, having studied pension systems of his own and foreign lands. Mr. Riebenack has been connected with the most important railroad organizations of the whole country, and his ability, thor- ough and practical knowledge and his ex- ecutive ability were fully recognized. He was president of the Association of Ameri- can Railway Accountants during 1889-1891, and to him the association is indebted in no small degree for its present high standing. One of the objects of this association is to secure uniformity in railroad accounts, and in this connection he was appointed in 1894, chairman of a’ special committee of three to confer with the statistician of the Interstate Commerce Commission on questions in re- gard to operating expenses, and in 1895 he was reappointed on account of his great and available fund of knowledge on this subject. Mr. Riebenack was an authority on railway accounting matters, and frequently con- tributed to railroad publications on this sub- ject. When the International Railway Congress was held at Washington, D. C., in 1905, he was a representative of the Penn- sylvania Railroad Company, and his ad- dress before this technical body on “Rail- way Provident Institutions in English- Speaking Countries,’ was a thorough and complete exposition of the various plans which these railroads are carrying on and seeking to perfect for the betterment of rail- road employes. Mr. Riebenack was a prominent Mason, being a representative from his lodge to the Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania and chair- man of the Committee on Finance of that body, and was also a director and treasurer of the Union League, Philadelphia, for many years, serving that organization with his usual zeal and interest, and only relin- HON. JOSIAH D. HICKS AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS quished the office on May 10, 1910, a few days before his death having decided to re- sign from a number of his activities, in or- der to relieve himself of the’ numerous re- sponsibilities which demanded his attention. Mr. Riebenack was married December 9, 1869, to Miss Eleanor Gertrude Simpson, a daughter of Thomas M, Simpson, of Phila- delphia, and died, after a comparatively short illness, at his summer residence at At- lantic City, N. J. His illness began in De- cember, 1909, with pneumonia, which caused an attack of heart trouble in Febru- ary, 1910, from which he partially recovered, and until April 23, 1910, visited his office at Broad Street Station every day. He subse- quently decided to go to Atlantic City for the benefit of the sea air and finally passed away in the presence of his family on May 14, IQIO. There are three surviving children: Eleanor, Josephine, William Beard and Ed- win Earl. JAMES W. SMITH, a member of the borough council of Roaring Spring, Pa., and a leading citizen of the place, being inter- ested in a number of its foremost industries, is superintendent of the Roaring Spring Blank Book Company plant. He was born in Huston Township, Blair County, Pa., De- cember 30, 1870, and is a son of George D. Smith, who was a substantial farmer of Hus- ton Township for many years, arid a promi- nent citizen in his community, serving on the school board and active in township af- fairs. When he died a few years ago his fellow citizens mourned the loss of a worthy man. James W. Smith remained on the home farm until he was sixteen years of age and attended the public schools of Huston Township. He came then to Roaring Spring and entered the employ of the Roar- ing Spring Blank Book Company, and has been identified with this concern ever since. He is interested in the same as a stock- holder and has a practical, working knowl- 707 edge of every department, having won pro- motion from the bottom until he has become superintendent of the whole plant. Mr. Smith is one of the borough’s most in- terested and public spirited citizens. For three years he served as auditor and in the spring of I910 was elected a member of the borough council, in which body his advice and business judgment prove very valuable. In politics he is a Republican, but has independent proclivities. Mr. Smith married Miss Eliza’ Garver, a daughter of Samuel Garver, of- Roaring . Spring, and they have had four children, two of whom, James R. and Mary E., are living, while twin sons are deceased. They were the eldest born and were named Ar- thur and Samuel. Mr. and Mrs. Smith are members of the Methodist Episcopal church at Roaring Spring, and he is serving as a trustee of the same. HON. JOSIAH D. HICKS, of Altoona, Pa., is one of the representative men of Blair County, one who has achieved success and gained distinction along many lines. He was born of Welsh parentage, August 1, 1844, and is a son of John and Barbara (Eynon) Hicks. John Hicks and wife were both born in Wales and from that country they came to America in 1842 or thereabouts and located in Chester County some time afterward, where John Hicks had secured work at Phoenix- ville at his trade, that of forgeman, and work- man in charcoal iron. He removed his fam- ily to Blair County in 1846. As opportunities for lucrative employment led him, he lived alternately in Blair and Huntingdon Counties until 1861, when he removed to Cleveland, O. Failing health induced him to visit a son, Rev. W. W. Hicks, at Milledgeville, Ga., and there his death occurred in 1874. Eight chil- dren were born to him, six of whom survived him, but his wife passed away in 1869. They were members of the Methodist Episcopal church. Josiah D. Hicks in large measure is a self 708 made man. His home surroundings were morally all that could be desired, but the fam- ily was large and in those days wages were low and thus chances’ for anything more than common school advantages were -impossible. The youth had ambition and mental qualifica- tions however that made him anxious to add to his store of knowledge and after coming to Altoona he completed a higher course at the night schools while employed during the day. Attending the school of Professor John Miller a novel German scholar and teacher then in Altoona. At first a clerk in a mercantile estab- lishment he later secured a position in the freight and ticket department of the Pennsyl- vania Railroad at Altoona, and in 1864 became a clerk in the office of Robert Pitcairn, who was then superintendent of transportation, and through his good offices, Mr. Hicks later was made chief clerk of the Tyrone Division, with office at Tyrone, where he remained for three years. For a short time afterward he was in partnership with his brother, W. W. Hicks, in a mercantile business at Altoona, and then dis- posed of his interest and removed to his farm near Williamsburg, in Blair County. During his four years of quiet life in the country, he began the study of law which he completed after returning to Tyrone, and was admitted to the bar on May 4, 1875, and engaged suc- cessfully in the practice of his profession at Tyrone until March, 1884, when he again ‘became a resident of Altoona. Here he formed a law partnership with Daniel J. Neff, becom- ing the junior member of the law firm of Neff & Hicks, which has proved a strong combina- tion, and has for many years been counsel for the Pennsylvania Railroad Company. From early manhood Mr. Hicks has been a wide awake and earnest citizen, a thoughtful student of public affairs and a man whose judgment no less than his public spirit has brought him the confidence of his fellow citizens, a confidence that he has retained through the many years during which he has ‘been more or less in public view. In the fall of 1880 he was elected district attorney on the Republican ticket and served a second term, HISTORY OF BLAIR COUNTY _and in 1890 he was put forward as a candidate for congressional honors and in 1892 was elected a Member of Congress and served three terms. He has served prominently in city, county and state political organizations and has always been noted for his loyalty to the principles of the Republican party. He was for many years a member of the State Board of Agriculture and took an active interest in agriculture. During the Civil War he proved his loyalty and participated at Antietam and Chancellorsville and later served out two subse- quent enlistments, being also officially commis- sioned by Governor Curtin, as first lieutenant in the United States service, following the de- struction of the city of Chambersburg by the Confederates. Ever since the organization of the Grand Army of the Republic in Pennsyl- vania, Mr. Hicks has been active in its affairs and has served as commander of the posts both at Tyrone and Altoona and has served on dif- ferent occasions as a state and national delegate to the Encampments. In local as well as pub- lic affairs his name is linked with the leading men of his day and Altoona takes a just pride in such a citizen. In addition to his profes- sional he has other interests and takes much delight in his agricultural experiments, carried on his fine farm near Williamsburg. For thirty years he has been connected with the Blair County Agricultural Association and for many years has been its vice president. Mr. Hicks was married in December, 1868, to Miss Anna M. Sparr, who died at Tyrone in 1875. She was a daughter of Isaac Sparr, one of the very early settlers of Blair County. Three children were born to this marriage: Hattie W., William B. and Herbert S. The second son died in infancy. William B. Hicks is in the insurance business at No. 1202 Eleventh Street, Altoona, is also steamship agent and a well known newspaper correspond- ent. The daughter, Hattie (Mrs. Cadle) re- sides on the old farm near Williamsburg. Mr. Hicks was married a second time, in 1876, wedding Miss Josephine Barrick, a daughter of Dr. Samuel Barrick, of Maryland, and two children were born to this union: Cora Eynon, AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS who resides with her parents in the family home at No. 1422 Sixth Avenue; and Charles B., who resides at No. 2105 Seventh Avenue, Altoona. During Mr. Hicks’ six years in Congress he served as chairman of a special committee appointed by Speaker Crisp to investigate the conduct of the architect of the capitol and the business management of that officer, and pre- pared and submitted the majority report of the committee exonerating the architect from any wrong doing. Under Speaker Reed he was appointed chairman of the important com- mitte of patents, trademarks and copyrights, and as such secured the enactment of several important measures, one of which was the re- organization and increase of the force of the patent office, so as to secure speedy action on claims. Was vice chairman of the committee on public buildings and grounds, and while on that committee secured for Altoona its hand- some postoffice building. As a Union veteran while in Congress he took an active part in behalf of his army comrades, their widows and orphans, and secured several special bills’ in their behalf and for their relief. JAMES W. LOWTHER, who is cashier of the Bellwood Bank, obtained his banking experience with the Second National Bank of Altoona, Pa., and with the exception of three years spent in the west for his health, has been identified with the Bellwood bank since its organization September 1, 1892. He was born June 24, 1872, in Altoona, Pa., on what is known as the McCoy Corners, and is a son of James and Susan M. (Wible) Lowther. James Lowther, great-grandfather of our subject, and a native of Ireland, came to this country when a boy and located in Con- cord, Pa., previous to the Revolutionary War. He served in the war and was cap- tured and imprisoned at what is now Ger- mantown, and died in Concord in 1825. John Lowther, grandfather of the sub- ject of this sketch, was born October 29, 1784, in Concord, Franklin County, Pa., 709 and was by trade a blacksmith. He fol- lowed his trade in Concord until 1828, when he moved to Franklin Township, Mifflin County, Pa., and there farmed until 1854. He again resumed work at his trade, then moved to Altoona, where he lived until his death February 12, 1858. He first married Margaret Patten, and his second wife was Sarah Hamilton, who was the mother of James Lowther, father of our subject. James Lowther was born July 4, 1824, in Concord, Franklin County, Pa., and during his early manhood came to Altoona, where he gained his start in the business world with two carts. He was a contractor, and in 1848 engaged in teaming for the Pennsyl- vania Railroad Company, and in 1854 in company with William McDowell, em- ‘barked in the mercantile business at Al- toona. In 1862, although a resident of Al- toona, he engaged in the lumbering business in Cambria County. In 1869 he sold his mercantile business and thenceforth de- voted his energies to lumbering, transfer- ing his lumber operations to Clearfield County, where he formed a partnership with Thomas McCauley,. of Altoona. Six years later the partnership was dissolved - and the firm of Lowther & Co. formed, the “company” being a son, J. Lloyd Lowther. January 1, 1882, Flynn Brothers of Clear- field County were admitted to the firm, and the firm of Lowther & Lynn became owners of extensive tracts of timberland in Blair, Cambria and Clearfield Counties. They operated a mill in Clearfield County and an- other four miles from Bellwood in Blair County. In 1877 Mr. Lowther purchased the old Bell mansion, farm, and flouring mills and in the following spring moved to Bellwood, where he resided and operated the grist mill until his death. He was a stockholder and one of the organizers of the Bellwood Bank. His religious connection was with the Meth- odist Episcopal church, and he was a mem- ber of the board of directors of the Juniata Camp Meeting Association. In politics he 4 710 was identified with the Democratic party. January 6, 1853, Mr. Lowther married Susan M. Wible, a daughter of William and Eliza (Haines) Wible. She came of one of the old families of Westmoreland County, the family having originally come from Schuylkill County, Pa. The following chil- dren were born to James and Susan Low- ther: Lizzie K., who died at the age of eighteen years; J. Lloyd, a resident of Pitts- burg; William F., who died in infancy; James W.; and Harry C., who lives in Bell- wood. James W. Lowther, subject of this record, was reared in Bellwood and obtained his education in the local schools of the bor- ough. His banking experience was gained with the Second National Bank of Altoona, he having been employed there three years. Since that time, with the exception of three years spent in the west, he has been cashier of the Bellwood Bank, which was estab- lished September 1, 1892. The organizers of the bank were as follows: James Low- ther, father of James W.; J. H. Mathers, of Mifflin; D. L. Wray, now deceased; Ira Wentzel, and H. C. Kinsloe, of Newton Hamilton; Samuel Henderson, now de- ceased; and H. G. Laird. The officers of the bank were as follows: J. H. Mathers, president, also the president incumbent; D. L. Wray, deceased, vice president, was suc- ceeded by Ira Wentzel; and James W. Lowther, cashier. The Bellwood Bank has a capital stock of $25,000, is a private bank and derives its strength from the individual liability, being backed by men of affluence, integrity and sound business judgment. Mr. Lowther is also a director of the bank and is treasurer and a director of the Bell- wood Lumber and Construction Company. On February 18, 1902, Mr. Lowther mar- ried Eleanor Reiley, who was born in Hope- well, a daughter of Rev. W. McK. Reiley, who is a Methodist Episcopal minister. of the Central Pennsylvania Conference. Two daughters have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Lowther, Mary Eleanor and Catherine HISTORY OF BLAIR COUNTY Reiley. Mr. Lowther is inclined to be inde- pendent in politics and was elected to the school board on the Democratic ticket by an overwhelming majority in a Republican ward. He is fraternally a Mason and an I.0. 0. F. His religious connection is with the M. E. church of Bellwood, of which he has been a member since he was eleven years of age. He has been president of the board of trustees for a number of years. E. O. M. HABERACKER, M. D., one of Altoona’s experienced medical men, who has been engaged in the practice of his pro- fession in this city for almost a quarter of a century, was born in Lehigh County, Pa., in 1846, a member of one of the old and sub- stantial families of that section. Dr. Haberacker was educated in the Al- lentown Seminary, Muhlenberg College and the State Normal School, and in 1869 was graduated from the medical department of the University of Pennsylvania. He began practice at Tyrone, in Blair County, and re- mained there until 1886, when he came to Altoona. He is identified with the leading medical organizations in the county, state and nation, and has always been a man of scientific investigation. He enjoys a very large general practice, avoiding specializ- ing, and for five years has served as sur- geon for the Pennsylvania National Guards. On August 20, 1870, Dr. Haberacker was married to Miss Jennie S. Keith of Sinking Valley, and one daughter was born to them, Irma L. She grew to attractive woman- hood and married Harry Rippman, of Mil- lerstown, Pa. Her death occurred when she was but twenty-two years of age. A son survived her, Charles Eugene Rippman, who is a student at Yeates School, at Lan- caster, Pa. ‘ Dr. Haberacker and wife are members of the Simpson Methodist Episcopal church. He is identified with Tyrone Lodge No. 494, F.& A.M. All his life he has been a con- scientious citizen, but has never had the time or taste for politics. AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS ABRAHAM L. McINTIRE, a prominent citizen of Blair Township, Blair County, Pa., a director of the Blair County Grange Associa- tion and treasurer of the school board of Blair Township, of which public body he has been a member for thirteen years, resides on his will improved farm of 140 acres, which he de- votes to general agriculture. He was born in Blair Township, Blair County, September 22, 1864, and is a son of James and Mary (Speal- man) McIntire. James McIntire was born in Virginia, where his mother died in his infancy and he was brought by his father to Blair County, Pa., and they lived for a time in Frankstown Town- ship. Later he was adopted by a family in Huntingdon County and for some years worked in woolen mills. For several years after his marriage he engaged in boating on the Pennsylvania Canal ‘but subsequently set- tled down to farming, one’ mile south of Holli- daysburg, in Blair Township, where he lived until his death, which occurred July 20, 1899. He was a self made man, earning all the op- portunities that life ever gave him. He was one of Blair Township’s reliable and respected men and filled township offices. He lived to be eighty-six years old. He married Mary Speal- man, who still survives, being in her eighty- ninth year and she is remarkably well pre- served and_ still enjoys attending church services, in the Lutheran church at Hollidays- burg, and meeting her friends in a social way. Five children of James and Mary McIntire are living, namely: Martin L., of Gaysport, Pa.; John, also of Gaysport; Lovinia, widow of John Phander, of Philadelphia; Priscilla, widow of Elias Lyons, late of Frankstown Township, residing in Blair Township; and Abraham L. Abraham L. McIntire was reared and at- tended school in Blair Township. Farming has-been his main business but he has also been called on to devote time and attention to public duties. He was one of the promoters of the Blair County Grange Fair Association and has taken a very active part in advancing its in- terests and from the beginning has been a director. During his long period of member- 711 ship on the school board he served two years’ as its president before becoming its treasurer. He is also president of the Blair Telephone Company and was one of the main agitators which resulted in the establishment of this great public convenience in this section. Mr. McIntire is notably progressive and enterpris- ing and is interested in everything that gives promise of being permanently beneficial to his section. He served two years as road super- visor. Mr. McIntire married Miss Jennie A. Helsel, who was born in Freedom Township, Blair County, a daughter of John and Margaret Helsel, the former of whom is deceased. The latter resides east of Hollidaysburg. Nine children were born to this marriage, as follows: Margaret L., Mary C., Jennie P., Dora E., James P., Homer, Russell, Kenneth, and one that died in infancy. The eldest daughter, Margaret L., is the wife of D. A. Finnegan, of Blair Township. In politics he is a Re- publican. He is identified fraternally with Hollidaysburg Lodge, No. 119, Odd Fellows and Appalachian Encampment, No. 69, and be- longs also to Scotch Valley Grange, No. 510, Patrons of Husbandry. HARRY H, HART, the popular proprietor of the Bingham Hotel, which is situated on Twelfth Street, Altoona, Pa., has been a resi- dent of this city for about ten years and ‘is well and favorably known in business circles. He was born in the city of New York, Septem- ber 18, 1870, and is a son of Richard K. and Amanda (Fero) Hart. Harry H. Hart is next to the youngest of a family of four children, the others being May, Francelia and Albert. During his school period his parents lived at Philadelphia, Pa., and there he attended both the common and High schools. After coming to Altoona he accepted employment in the Altamont Hotet in this city and remained with that house for about eight years. In February, 1909, he took charge of the Bingham Hotel, a twenty-room building, which is equipped with all modern 712 improvements and comforts. He has proved a very popular host and is doing a large business. Mr. Hart was married in 1903, at Williams- port, Pa., to Miss Anna C. Haag, a daughter of Christian Haag, a resident of Puxatawny, Pa. Mr. Hart is a member of the Fraternal Order of Eagles at Altoona. He is identified with the Republican party. JOSEPH B. CONDRON, contractor and builder, is a successful business man of Holli- daysburg, Pa., and the descendant of an old and honored central Pennsylvania family. He is a son of Tames Condron and was born at Frankstown, Blair County, Pa., on October gth, 1855. Hollidaysburg was the scene of his schooldays and early career. In 1878 he went to Arizona, where he for five years enjoyed the stirring life of the Western plains and foothills. In 1883 he returned to Hollidaysburg and embarked in the planing mill and lumber yard business. His plant is located on South Mont- gomery Street, on the site of the boat yard of the olden-time Pennsylvania Canal, and is well equipped and modern. Mr. Condron takes an active interest in public affairs. He is affiliated with the Re- publican faith, is serving his third term as a member of the Town Council, and is a former President of that municipal body. He is a stockholder and officer of The Hollidaysburg Improvement Company and is also a stock- holder in The First National Bank of Holli- daysburg. He is a musician and possesses a rich and clear tenor voice, which renders him a favorite in all the church and social functions of the town. His talents also shine to ad- vantage in the degree work of Wanita Lodge No. 1142, I. O. O. F. Mr. Condron was married to Miss Mary Isabella Kinports, now deceased. To their union were born four children: Miss Kath- erine Bella, Miss Isabella K., and Mr. J. Donald Condron, at home; and Mrs. Ella Jene Calvin, wife of Samuel Calvin, of California. An- nouncement was recently made of the engage- ment of Miss Katherine Bella Condron to Mr. - tious. HISTORY OF BLAIR COUNTY Joseph Reed, of Chicago, Ill, a former Holli- daysburg boy, and a son of Charles H. Reed. In 1908, Mr. Condron married Miss Lavinia Patterson Burchinell, and dwells with his wife and children in the beautiful East End of Hollidaysburg. CHARLES GEESEY, one of the foremost members of the Blair County bar, who has been actively engaged in the practice of his profes- sion at Altoona since 1891, has served with credit in public office and has been a sym- pathetic and helpful citizen in those movements which have contributed to the general welfare of this section. He was born in Frankstown Township, Blair County, Pa., April 10, 1850, and is a son of Henry and Elizabeth (Koofer) Geesey. The Geesey and Koofer families came. to Blair County, Pa., from Germany, at an early day. Henry Geesey, father of Charles and son of Conrad Geesey, was born after his parents had moved to this county, and he was occu- pied through life with farming and working as a mechanic, in Frankstown Township. He married Elizabeth Koofer and they -had nine children. Charles Geesey was the youngest member of the large family and probably the most ambi- Although he enjoyed no other educa- tional opportunities than those offered by the district schools he had so thoroughly mastered the ordinary branches that he was readily ac- cepted as a school teacher when but severiteen years of age and his complete success gave him encouragement to continue in this occupation. For some years thereafter he taught ~school only in the winter seasons, giving his summers to farming and also, at times, attended the Juniata Collegiate Institute. Later, as he be- came better known and better qualified he de- voted his summers also to the class room, spending fourteen years in the educational field, some eight of them being given to the public schools of Altoona. During this time he also gave some attention to studies in other professions before deciding to direct all his efforts to the.acquirement of a legal education. HON. EDMUND SHAW AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS Subsequently he became a law student under Hon. Martin Bell and in 1891 he was admitted to the bar. In addition to the professional reading above referred to, Mr. Geesey long had been a student of public questions and had identified himself with the Republican party. His clear views and convincing arguments expressed on many occasions attracted the notice of party leaders in the county and in 1876 he was put forward as a candidate for register and recorder. Al- though he was defeated for this office it was by so small a majority that in 1881 his party again presented him to the county convention, as opposed to six other candidates, for the office of prothonotary of Blair County. He was nominated and subsequently elected and served with the greatest efficiency and useful- ness for three succeeding terms. After retiring from this office he opened up his law business at Altoona, made rapid progress and has stood high in his profession for a long time. Mr. Geesey was married in October, 1871, to Miss Anna B. Smith, a daughter of the late William Smith, and they have seven children, three sons and four daughters, namely: Mary E., Roy S., Charles H., Edna A., Walter A., Grace K., and Hilda W. Of the sons: Roy S. Geesey is engaged in the insurance business with an office in the Central Trust Building; Charles H. is with the Pennsylvania Railroad Company; Walter A, is a teacher and resides at No. 914 Sixth Avenue, Altoona. The eldest daughter, Mary E., is the wife of Guy R. Lingafelt, who was elected on the Republican ticket in November, 1909, prothonotary. of ~ Blair County. Edna A. is now Mrs. Alfred M. Kell of York, Pa. Grace K. is now Mrs. Bernard Stevenson of Syracuse, N. Y. Mr. Geesey’s residence is at No. 914 Sixth Avenue and his law apartments are in the Central Trust Building. He is a Knight Templar Mason and belongs also to the Heptasophs. GEORGE ALLEN TIPTON, general farmer and well known citizen of Taylor Township, Blair County, Pa., was born in this ever since. 715 township, December 6, 1861, and is a son of George and Susan (Shoenfelt) Tipton. George Tipton was a son of one of the early families of Blair County, in which he spent his life, the later years being passed on the farm on which his son, George Allen, now lives. He was a Republican in politics but never aspired to office, his idea of a good citizen being one that conscientiously works for law and order with no thought of reward. He was a worthy man in every particular and was a member of the Lutheran church. He married Susan Shoenfelt, a daughter of Jacob Shoen- felt, who came early to Blair County and settled on Plum Creek, in Taylor Township. Four of the children of George and Susan Tip- ton still survive, namely: John, of Taylor Township; Jacob, of Huston Township; Wil- liam, of Huston Township; and George Allen, ot Taylor Township. George Allen Tipton was six years old when his parents moved from Taylor into Huston Township, where he obtained his common ‘school education and lived until he had grown to manhood, when he accompanied his parents back to Taylor Township and has lived here He carries on general farming and stock raising. Mr. Tipton was married June 22, 1909, to Miss Minerva Linn, a daughter of Alexander Linn, of Ore Hill, Blair County, and they have an infant son whom they have named George E. HON. EDMUND SHAW, formerly a member of the Pennsylvania State Legislature, in which he served two terms with distinction, is a leading member of the Altoona bar, and also a veteran of the great Civil War. He was born near Phillipsburg, Center County, Pa., December 4, 1836, and is a son of John and Mary (Waring) Shaw. The Shaw family comes from North Ireland. Family records tell that from County Derry, in 1795, two brothers of this name came to Penn- sylvania, one of them being Robert Shaw, the grandfather of Hon. Edmund Shaw, of Al toona, He was twice married and the third son of his first union was John Shaw. 716 John Shaw, father of Hon. Edmund Shaw, was born in 1809, in Mifflin County, Pa. He remained in his native place until he reached manhood and then moved to Phillipsburg, in Center County, where he followed the trade of a cabinetmaker until 1835. He then purchased a farm in Decatur Township, Clearfield County, Pa., where he carried on agricultural pursuits until within a few years of his death, when he retired to Phillipsburg and died there in 1869. He was an attendant of the Presbyterian church, although not a member, but was liberal in its support. In politics he was a Democrat and at different times was elected to township offices, serving with honesty and efficiency. He was married the first time to Jane Ann McKirk, who died without issue. His second marriage was to Mary Waring, who was born in England in 1809, and accompanied her par- ents to Phillipsburg in 1821. Her death oc- curred four years after that of her husband, and two of their eight children yet survive. Edmund Shaw was afforded excellent edu- cational advantages. ville Seminary and the Normal School at Millersville, preparatory to entering upon a career as a teacher, but by the time he had com- pleted his first term in the college, the Civil War had’ broken out and the attention of the young student was attracted to a far different sphere of activity. On September 16, 1861, he enlisted for three years, in Co. K, rioth Pa. Vol. Inf., thereby displaying a deep seated pa- triotism rather than the temporary enthusiasm which characterized many. His promotion was rapid, from a private in the ranks he was suc- cessively made corporal, sergeant and sergeant- major of his regiment, his further advance- ment being halted by the ball of an enemy on the field of Chancellorsville. He had partici- pated in all the previous battles and marches of his regiment and one one occasion had been made a prisoner by the enemy, but as he was then wounded, he was willingly paroled by the enemy to save themselves the trouble of giving him medical care, and thus probably es- caped a long season in one of the pestilential prison pens of the South, from the hardships He attended both Cass- HISTORY OF BLAIR COUNTY incident thereto if not death. The injuries to his leg were so serious that his final recovery was a marvel. For ten days after he was wounded he lay on the battlefield and after he was found he was sent to the Union Hospital at Falmouth, Va., and later the Chestnut Hill Hospital at Philadelphia. No further active service in the field was possible and he was then detailed as a clerk in the office of. the provost marshal at Washington, D. C., where he remained until he was honorably discharged September 16, 1864. For one year he was compelled to use crutches. Doubtless life looked different to many of the returning soldiers of that mighty struggle and many, like Mr. Shaw, had given the very flower of their youth to the service of their country. His education had fitted him for a professional life and his thoughts and ambi- tions now turned to the law, and wisely as was subsequently developed. In the course of months he became a law student at Ann Arbor, University of Michigan, where he was cred- itably graduated in 1867. He then took up his residence at Martinsburg, West Va., being ad- mitted to the bar there in 1868, and during his five years of practice at that point made sub- tantial advances and-in 1872 was elected prosecuting attorney of Berkley County. He continued in office until 1873. In looking about for a more remunerative if not more appreciative professional field, Mr. Shaw determined on Altoona and came to this city in 1873 and in the same year was ad- mitted to the Blair County bar. Altoona has been his settled home ever since, although, dur- ing an extensive practice that has taken him to many other sections to appear in the higher courts, and during many years in public life, in- ducements have been offered him to take up his residence in other cities. He has, however, al- ways been loyal to Altoona, believing in her future and reciprocating the cordiality and con- fidence of his fellow citizens. An enthusiastic Republican, Mr. Shaw has been one of the leaders in his party in state politics, In 1884 he was elected to the Pennsyl- vania Legislature. Approval was shown of his AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS acts as a statesman by his reelection in 1886, and he served through two terms to the en- tire satisfaction of his constituents. His professional prominence was recognized to some degree in this body by his appointment as a member of the two chief committees, the Judiciary and that of General and Municipal Corporations. To legislation of all kinds de- signed to benefit the public instead of combina- tions of capital, Mr. Shaw gave his hearty sup- port and when he returned to private life it was with the confidence of the people unimpaired. As a citizen of Altoona he has many times proved his interest and usefulness, serving in the city council and on advisory boards. In 1882 he was a member of the civic organiza- tion known as the Committee of Forty-eight. In charitable and benevolent movements he has always been interested and his influence may be counted on when public spirited enterprises are under consideration. Since returning to private life he has continued active in the prac- tice of law and ably represents a professional body that counts many brilliant men among its members. He maintains his offices in the Wilson Building, on one of the leading thor- oughfares of Altoona. Mr. Shaw was united in marriage on De- cember £4, 1869, to Miss Mary E. Smith, who is a daughter of the late Dr. David R: Smith, who was formerly a very prominent physician, widely known throughout the Cumberland Valley. Mr. and Mrs. Shaw enjoy a beautiful home which stands at No. 1130 Fourteenth Avenue, Altoona. EDGAR F. THOMPSON, owner and pro- .prietor of a hardware business and blacksmith shop at Frankstown, Pa., where he is one of the prosperous and enterprising business men, was born in-Huntingdon County, Pa., Decem- ber 30, 1873, and is a son of Wesley and Sarah (Rossman) Thompson. The parents of Mr. Thompson reside at Mc- Alevy’s Fort, Huntingdon County, where the father is engaged in the blacksmith business and is a well known and substantial citizen. He married Sarah Rossman and they have had 717 the following children: Penina, who is de- ceased, was the wife of Stewart Davidson; Ada, who is the wife of Rev. John Black, a minister in the Presbyterian church; Ella, who - is the wife of Wilbur Irvin; Jennie, who is the wife of William Marrow; Wilda, who is deceased, was the wife of Thomas: Stewart; Edgar F.; Eva, who is the wife of Edgar Irvin; and Walter. ° Edgar F. Thompson obtained his education in the public schools and then learned the black- smith trade with his father. When prepared to start into business for himself he chose Frankstown for his home and built his shop here in which he started business on January 24, 1902. Being a well trained workman he secured plenty of custom and in 1905 expanded his business by adding the sale of hardware. He requires the assistance of one man the year round. Mr. Thompson has invested in resi- dence property also and has a’ fine home in the village. On October 25, 1893, Mr. Thompson was married to Miss Sarah Hannah Ayers, a daughter of Samuel and Emma Ayers, farming people in Huntingdon County. Mrs. Thomp- son is the eldest of her parents’ family and she has the following brothers and sisters: Will- iam, Jacob, Fannie, James, Catherine, Harry, Ella and Mary. Fannie is the wife of George Henderson. To Mr. and Mrs. Thompson four children have been born: Helen, Harry, Ethel and Vernard. Helen is deceased. Mr. Thomp- son and family attend the Methodist Episcopal church. In his political views he is a Re- publican and he is serving in the office of school director. He is identified along fraternal lines with Lodge No. 282, F. & A. M., at ‘Hollidaysburg; Lodge No. 119, Odd Fellows and the Knights of Maccabee, both of Holli- daysburg. I. F. YEATER, D. O. S., who enjoys a large practice as an osteopathic physician and surgeon, maintains his office at No. 1213 Eighth Avenue, Altoona, Pa., of which city he has been a resident since the fall of 1892. 718 He was born in Huntingdon County, Pa., in 1864. — Dr. Yeater was reared on the home farm and assisted his father until he reached man’s estate, in the meanwhile securing a good educa- tion in the country schools and the High School at Orbison. His natural inclination was in the direction ‘of a professional life but circum- stances were not favorable in his early man- hood and he therefor applied himself to learn- ing the carpenter and house building trades, which he followed some four years. He then entered the employ of the Pennsylvania Rail- road Company as a car builder and continued in that line for ten years. When he severed this connection he decided to gratify the ambi- tion of his younger years and with this end in view he entered the Philadelphia College of Osteopathy, at Philadelphia, and was graduated president of his class in 1907, and in the same year was graduated from the Philadelphia School of Anatomy, under the celebrated Dr. Fritz. He came at once to Altoona and has found a ready field of work here, each year bringing more people to a realization of the practical benefits of his system of healing. He is a member of the Pennsylvania State Osteo- pathic Association and the American Osteo- pathic Association, the leading organizations of Osteopathy. In 1903, Dr. Yeater was married to Miss Clara B. Hammond, of Franklin County, Pa. They are members of the Third Presbyterian Church and Dr. Yeater is a member of the board of deacons. He has been identified with this religious body since he was twenty years of age. He is a member of Mountain Lodge, F. & A. M., of the P. ©. S. of A,, of the Heptasophs and of the Modern Woodmen of America. JOHN G. MOCK, a successful agricul- turist and representative citizen of Taylor Township, Blair County, Pa., was born on the farm on which he lives, September 15, 1868, a son of David B. and Susan (Goch- nour) Mock. David B. Mock, who is one of the highly HISTORY OF BLAIR COUNTY respected residents of Taylor Township, be- ing now in his seventy-fifth year, was born in North Woodbury: Township, Blair County, a son of John L. Mock, who was an early settler there. When thirteen years of age, David B. Mock accompanied his par- ents when they moved to Taylor Township, and ever since he has resided on the same farm. He married Susan Gochnour, who was born in Bedford County, and still sur- vives. Of their children, two are living: ‘Annie K., who is the wife of Jacob S. Ware- ham, of Taylor Township, and John G., of this record. The two children deceased were: David and Catherine. David B. Mock and wife are members of the Church of the Brethren. He casts his vote with the Republican party. John G. Mock was reared on the home farm in Taylor Township and attended the public schools and one term of the Normal School at Millersville, Pa. He has devoted the larger part of his business life to farm- ing, having more than 100 acres of valuable land which he has placed under a high state of cultivation. He is numbered with the substantial and reliable men of this section. His vote is cast with the Republican party, but his interest has never led him to seek office. In early days the family name was spelled with an a instead of an o, then reading Mack, in place of Mock. John G. Mock is in the eighth generation in descent from Rev. Alexander Mack, who was the founder of what is known as the Church of the Brethren, of which Mr. Mock is a member, deacon and trustee, at Martinsburg. This pious ancestor organized the first church of this faith at Swartzenau, Germany, and later carried the good tidings to Germantown, Pa., where he, with others, founded the first Church of the Brethren in America, and he was the first minister. The society has in- creased in numbers but the old articles of faith are still subscribed to and the old cus- toms preserved. It is a noticeable fact that in the community where many members of AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS this simple faith live, there will be found a peaceful, law-abiding, industrious and pros- perous people. GEORGE WASHINGTON MOYER, a veteran of the Civil War, and a prosperous farmer of Logan township, is the owner ot a fine farm of 150 acres and has been a resi- dent of Blair County, Pa., since 1859. He was born June 18, 1838, at Shippensburg, Cumberland County, Pa., and is a son of Jacob and Mary (Swanger) Moyer, the lat- ter of whom died in the spring of 1854 at Lewiston, Pa. The father was a native of Dauphin County, and the paternal grand- father of subject was born between Ger- mantown and Philadelphia in what is now the city proper. Of the twelve children born to the parents of our subject, five died in infancy, and those living are as follows: Mary Jane (Ferguson) now deceased, was a resident of Altoona; Barbara (McCart- ney) deceased, lived in Altoona; Catherine (Lewis), died in Altoona; George W., our subject; Margaret, died- unmarried: in Cum- _berland County, Pa.; James, who was killed on the Penna. R. R., was a resident of Altoona; and Peter S., who now is a resident of Pinecroft, Blair County, Pa. George Washington Moyer ‘was reared in Cumberland County, Pa., and when about 21 years of age came with his father to Blair County and settled just below Al- toona. He coaled some for Isett, also for Dr. Baker, and during the summer of 1860 coaled in Center County, Pa. He then re- turned to Blair County and in 1865 entered the employ of the Pennsylvania Railroad Company as laborer in the blacksmith shop at 12th street, Altoona, under foreman George Hawksworth, was promoted to the position of heater at the large finishing furnace in 1868 and was so occupied until the spring of 1884 when he retired and lo- cated on his present farm, which is known as the Homer farm, Homer Gap, Logan Township, which he had purchased in 1882. He has lived here continuously since that 719 time and has been successfully engaged in general farming. In 1894 he erected the commodious brick house in which he and his family now reside. In February, 1864, Mr. Moyer enlisted as a member of Com- pany G., 12th Pa. Vol. Cav., and served un- til the close of the war, his service being principally in the Shenandoah Valley. He was mustered out with the regiment at Philadelphia and discharged July 20, 1865, at Winchester. December 25, 1869, Mr. Moyer was joined ‘in marriage with Sue J. Nelson, who was born on the site of Fairview Cemetery, and is a daughter of Samuel and Jane (McPher- son) Nelson. Five children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Moyer: Samuel Jacob, who died in infancy; James Luther, who lives on the home farm, married Lizzie Horst, and they have four children—Esther May, Linnie P., Theodore Ray, and Francis L; and Alfred D., Carrie Hagerty, and Mary, who all three died in infancy. : Mr. Moyer is one of the most prosperous farmers of Logan township, and is a man of sterling qualities and has been highly successful for one whose opportunities and educational advantages were so limited. Mr. Moyer was called upon in 1900 to settle the Coleman estate, and at his instigation there was established in 1907 a corporation in which he is a stockholder and director, and the Grand View Cemetery Association, which will be—owing to its fine location— one of the finest and largest in this section of the country when completed. Mr. Moyer is politically an independent voter; he is a member of the Patrons of Husbandry, and his religious connection is with the Presbyterian church. H. T. HEINSLING, a leading member of the Altoona bar and belonging to one of Pennsylvania’s old and prominent families, has been a resident of this city for more. than thirty-four years and has been identi- fied with much that has contributed to the advancement of this section along the lines y 720 of education and culture. He was born at St. Clairsville, Bedford County, Pa., Janu- ary 30, 1851, and is a son of Tobias and Ann (Park-Hammond) Heinsling. Tobias Heinsling was born in Hesse Darmstadt, Germany, and remained in his native land until he was thirty-five years of age. In 1846 he came to America, settling in Pennsylvania, and immediately embark- ing in the shoe business at St. Clairsville, followed that occupation as long as he con- tinued in active life, his death occurring in 1854. He married Ann Park-Hammond who belonged to the old Park family of Philadelphia and who survived to the age of eighty-four years, dying at Altoona in 1889. Although reared a Presbyterian af- ter her marriage she adopted the religious faith of her husband and both were worthy members of the Evangelical Lutheran church for many years. Henry T. Heinsling was educated in the public schools of St. Clairsville and at the Susquehanna College at Selinsgrove, Sny- der County, Pa. In 1875 he entered upon the study of law in the office of Neff & Riley, at Altoona, and was admitted to the bar of Blair County in August, 1877. When he first entered into practice here the bar was not crowded and he has witnessed many additions to its personnel and many changes in legal procedure. In his long period of practice he has been connected with much important litigation and has gained many legal triumphs. His clients are scattered over several counties and his reputation as a sound advisor, a faithful at- torney and able pleader is well established. In his professional life he has been so con- tinuously busy that public office has not ap- pealed to him, although he performs every duty demanded by good citizenship and takes pride and interest in every advance made by his city. He votes with the Dem- ocratic party. Mr. Heinsling was married February 20, 1885, to Miss Sarah C. Loudon, a daughter of the late John Loudon. Mr. and Mrs. HISTORY OF BLAIR COUNTY Heinsling have four daughters: Juniata, Ruth, Elizabeth and Henrietta. The com- fortable family residence is at No. 2100 W. Chestnut Street, Altoona, and Mr. Heins- ling’s law office is at Rooms No. 11 & 12 in the Nicholson Block. PETER S. CLAPPER, a well known gen- eral farmer of Taylor Township, Blair County, Fa., who owns an excellent farm of ninety-six acres situated near Roaring Spring, is a prom- inent citizen and is serving in the office of township collector. He was born in N. Wood- bury Township, Blair County, Pa., April 6, 1855, and is a son of Joseph N. and Barbara (Strayer) Clapper. Joseph N. Clapper was born in Bedford County, ‘Pa., and he lived there until after his marriage when he moved to N. Woodbury Township, Blair County, where he resided un- tii his death in 1879. He married Barbara Strayer, who was born in Blair County, and three of their children survive: John S., of Taylor Township; Henry S., of N. Woodbury Township; and Peter S. Peter S. Clapper had but meager educa- tional opportunities when he was young but he went to school long enough to gain a solid foundation, and practical experience and the associations of life have made him a well in- formed man. Farming has been his life work and he has made it profitable. In 1893 he re- moved from N. Woodbury Township to Taylor Township and then settled on his present farm near Roaring Spring. As a cit- izen he has always enjoyed the confidence of his neighbors to a large degree. For three years he has been a member of the school board of Taylor Township, having previously served for the same length of time in N.- Woodbury Township. He has also served for four years as road supervisor in Taylor Town- ship and in 1909 was elected township col- lector. The duties of these offices have been taken seriously and have been faithfully per- formed. Mr. Clapper married Miss Barbara Miller, who was born in Bedford County, Pa., and THOMAS MOORE AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS they have had eight children, the survivors be- ing: Henry M., Lizzie, Iva, Ella and Bertha. He is identified with the P. O. S. of A., at Roaring Spring, and the Knights of the Golden Eagle, at Martinsburg, Pa. ROBERT W. DOWNING, an enterprising farmer of Blair County, Pa., resides on a fine farm of 168 acres in Frankstown Township, and was bor in June, 1850, in Clarion County, Pa., a son of John and Hannah P. (Wilson) Downing. His father was employed in various lines of business, having engaged in farming and in dealing extensively in stock, and also conducted a hotel and lumber yard. Both parents died and were buried in Half Moon Township, Center County, Pa. They were members of the Society of Friends. The father was politically a Republican. The fol- lowing children were born to the parents of our subject: Julia, Griffith, Rebecca, Robert W., Emanuel and Hulda. Robert W. Downing obtained his educa- tional training in the local schools of his home district and at the age of fifteen began his career in the business world. He has always followed farming and for some years also en- gaged in lumbering during the winter months. Mr. Downing is one of the progressive and public spirited citizens of the township, and has been residing on his present farm since 1907. In 1870 Mr. Downing was joined in mar-. riage with Lavina McMunigal, who is a daugh- ter of Henry and Rachel (Melcher) McMuni- gal, and the following children were born to them: Delbert O., who is engaged in farming in Center County, Pa., married Lena Hoover and has six children: Eva, who is the wife of Joshua Nearhoof, of Altoona, Pa.; Belinda; Sankey, who resides in Missouri, is a station- ary engineer, but was formerly a fireman on the railroad; and Henry Norton. Henry McMunigal, the father of Mrs. Downing, is now in his eighty-seventh year, and resides with our subject. He was twice married, his second wife; who was Margaret Cevenia, of Kansas, also being deceased. No children were born of the second union. Mr. Downing 723 is politically a Republican, and has served three terms as road supervisor of this town- ship. THOMAS MOORE,* a well known busi- ness man of Altoona, proprietor of a large and well kept hotel located at No. 1310 Tenth Avenue, was born in Ireland, June 29, 1859. His parents were Thomas and Marcella Moore and his father was a farmer. Thomas Moore, the subject of this sketch, attended school in his native land but from boyhood cherished the hope of becoming a resident of America. This ambition he realized when he was twenty years of age and in 1879, after reaching the United States, he came di- rectly to Altoona, where he obtained employ- ment in the railroad shops and continued to work there until 1895. In that year Mr. Moore first went into the hotel business, opening a hostelry on Tenth Avenue, near Fourteenth Street, and conducting it until 1902, when he came to his present location. Here he has a public house fitted with modern conveniences and conducts it mainly as a workingman’s hotel, supplying substantial meals at a moderate price and all the comforts that could be reasonably expected. His popularity as a host and the excellence of the accommodations offered, keep his hotel usually filled to its capacity. Mr. Moore married Miss Mary Christ and they have five children: Marcella, Thomas, Noretta, James and Paul. Mr. Moore and family are members of St. John’s Catholic Church. He is identified with the fraternal or- der of Eagles. — ISAAC M. IRWIN, one of the leading at- torneys of Hollidaysburg, Pa., has been a member of the Blair County bar since 1893, and was born in Hollidaysburg, Pa., in 1867, a son of Dr. Crawford Irwin, now deceased. The Irwin family has been established in Blair County since 1787, and the father of our subject was one of the prominent physicians. of the county, and was born in 1824 in Franks- town Township,. this county. Isaac M. Irwin attended the common 724 schools and the Washington-Jefferson College, from which he was graduated with the class of 1889. He was prepared for the legal profes- sion in the office of S. S. Blair, of Hollidays- burg, and was admitted to the bar in 1893. He has since been engaged in active practice at Hollidaysburg, where he has attained con- siderable prominence as a lawyer of ability, and has met with well merited success. In 1897 Mr. Irwin was united in marriage with Eliza Graham, of Washington, Pa., and they have two children: Martha, and Robert Crawford Irwin. Mr. Irwin is a member and deacon of the First Presbyterian Church of Hollidaysburg, and is fraternally affiliated with the I. O. O. F. and the Masons. REV. AARON H. STERN, who has been an acceptable minister in the Brethren of Christ church, since 1906, is well known through Taylor Township, Blair County, in that relation and also as a successful farmer, cultivating his 150 acres of valuable land. He is a native of Taylor Township, born August 14, 1873, and is a son of Jacob B. and Sarah (Hoffman) Stern. Jacob B. Stern and wife were both born in Bedford County. His father and also his grandfather, were named Peter Stern, and the latter was probably born in Germany and was one of the early settlers in Bedford County, Pa. From there Jacob B. Stern moved to Taylor Township, Blair County, about fifty years ago and died here in 1908, surviving his wife for about fifteen years. They were members of the Brethren of Christ church. Of their five children the following survive: Isaac H., a minister and farmer, who lives in Taylor Township; Ellen J., who is the wife of William H. Feather, of Taylor Town- ship; Rebecca M., who is the wife of S. B. Stoner, of Brown County, Kas.; Aaron H.; and Mary A., who is deceased. Aaron H. Stern has practically spent his life in Taylor Township, gaining his education here and since old enough, has been actively engaged in farming. He married Catherine Kensinger, who was born in Blair County and HISTORY OF BLAIR COUNTY they have six children: Earl K., S. Ruth, Ira K., Jacob K., Minnie E and Samuel K. The Sterns have long been numbered with the reli- able, representative and substantial citizens of Taylor Township. STEPHEN KIRSCH, who is engaged in agricultural pursuits on a farm of 53 acres in Logan Township, Blair County, Pa., is also the owner of a meat market in Altoona, Pa., which is being operated for him by C. Black, who was its former owner. He was born October 15, 1864, in Barr Township, Cambria County, Pa. and is a son of Simon and Annie (Bromensperger). Kirsch, who are still residents of Barr Township... - From the time he was two and a half years of age, Mr. Kirsch was reared by an uncle, John Duler, who was a resident of Blair County, and his education was ob- tained in the common schools of the county. He then engaged in farming for a short time, after which he located in Altoona, where for 15 years he operated a dairy with much success. In 1900 he purchased his present farm of 53 acres in Logan Township, and in the following year located on it. In March, 1910, he purchased a meat market in Altoona, succeeding C. Black, who runs the shop for him, but still continues with his farming interests, to which he devotes his entire time. Mr. Kirsch was married June 19, 1894, to Margaret McDermott, who is a native of Blair County and a daughter of Charles and Anna (O’Mara) McDermott, the former deceased, and the latter, a resident of Al- toona. The following children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Kirsch: * Eleanor Kathleen, Stephen John, Anna Elizabeth, Howard Edward, Mary Grace, and Simon Charles. Mr. Kirsch is politically a Repub- lican, although inclined to be independent, and his religious connection is with the St. John’s Catholic Church. MARY ELIZABETH NOWELL, M. D., physician and surgeon at Altoona, Pa., who, AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS among other just claims to distinction, has that of being the pioneer of her sex in the profession in this city, has been in active and successful practice here since 1884. She was born in Anne Arundel County, Md., and comes of scholarly parentage. Her father was Rev. William Nowell, a son of Gilbert Nowell, and for fifty years he was a minister in the Methodist Episcopal church. His long and useful life closed in 1884. The mother of Dr, Nowell was Ra- chel A. (Sheckell) Nowell, a daughter of Enoch and Sarah (Smith) Sheckell, all old Maryland names of high standing. Dr. Nowell has three sisters: Mrs. J. Wesley Lane, of Dunkirk, Md.; Mrs. J. C. Craw- ford, of Milwaukee, Wis.; and Mrs. (Rev.) George W. Stallings, of Virginia. Mary E. Nowell enjoyed superior educa- tional advantages. She was graduated in 1867 from Fort Edward Institute, New York, and later attended Claverack College, in the same state, an educational institution of note, on the Hudson River. She then turned _-her attention to educational work and for about eight years taught school in the city of Wilkesbarre, Pa. In the mean- while, a brother, J. Fletcher Nowell, be- came a graduated physician, located in Greencastle in the Cumberland Valley, and there built up a large and successful prac- tice. His faith in her certainty of success was to his sister an inspiration. Dr. Nowell became a student in the Women’s Medical College of Pennsylvania, where she was graduated in 1884, having, in the mean- while taken special courses and attended clinics at different hospitals, in spite of the opposition frequently met with on account of her sex. In her pursuit of professional excellence she had to overcome many ob- stacles but succeeded through persistency in gaining the specific knowledge she de- sired, especially concerning diseases of the eye, ear, nose, throat and lungs and made many scientific experiments in her own lab- oratory. She soon recognized the existing need of more thorough medical knowledge 725 concerning the peculiar troubles of women and made this branch a special study, also taking a course in the great Maternity Hos- pital on Staten Island. There, with other ordinary and extraordinary cases, 500 chil- dren came under her professional eye and she had an opportunity to study their ail- ments and store up knowledge for future use. Thus qualified for practice after this long and exhaustive course of study, Dr. Nowell came to Altoona and during the twenty-six years of her residence and practice here, she has, through ability, won a foremost place in the ranks of her profession, and through her personality, the esteem and affection of her patients. She keeps fully abreast with the times, belonging to the County, State and American Medical Associations, and her enthusiasm has never been quenched nor her interest waned. Surrounded by the comforts won through her own efforts, and in the enjoyment of the respect of all with whom either personal or professional rela- tions bring her into contact, she is able to look back along the path of a quarter of a century with justifiable contentment. Her home as well as her office, is located at No. 1315 Sixth Avenue, Altoona. EDWARD H. COWEN, a representa- tive agriculturist of Taylor Township, Blair County, Pa., and one of its most respected citizens, was born in this township, on the’ farm on which he resides, October 25, 1859. His parents were John and _ Barbara (Hoover) Cowen. John Cowen was born in Taylor Town- ship and was a son of Jacob Cowen and a grandson of Edward Cowen, one of the early settlers in this section. John Cowen was a farmer and was a leading member of the Dunkard church. He married Bar- bara Hoover, of German ancestry, and of their children, the following are still living and useful members of society: Cather- ine, who is the wife of George Shifler, of Huston Township; Mary, who is the 726 widow of Samuel Bottomfield, of Williams- burg, Pa.; Henry, who lives in Shelby County, Ia.; Nancy, who is the wife of Henry Smith, of Martinsburg, Pa., and Ed- ward H. Edward H. Cowen grew to manhood on the home farm and obtained his education in the country schools and took part in the pleasant family and social life of the neigh- borhood. He was trained by a careful and experienced father té be a farmer and the fields that he ploughed and from which he later gathered the rich harvests are now his own. His farm contains 105 acres of valuable land and they show that they have been carefully cultivated. The name of Sunnyside Farm very aptly describes its favorable location. On October 16, 1894, Mr. Cowen was married to Miss Dillie Stephens, a daughter of Prof. J. H. Stephens, a prominent citizen of Roaring Spring and a former superin- tendent of public instruction in Blair County. Mr, and Mrs. Cowen have four children: Oren S., Marie S., Grace S., and Nannie S. Mr. Cowen and family are mem- bers of the Lutheran church at Roaring Spring. For nine consecutive years he has been a member of the school board of Tay- lor Township and for three of these was secretary of this educational body. He also “served three years as supervisor of Taylor Township and was both president and sec- retary of that board. He is a Republican in his political sentiments. JOSEPH H. RODKEY, owner and pro- prietor of a general store at Frankstown, Pa., where he has been established since 1906, was born at Millerstown, Bedford County, Pa., May 27, 1861, and is a son of John H. and Ann (Mundorff) Rodkey. John H. Rodkey was a general merchant at Frankstown for twenty-eight years and for a long period was postmaster. He now lives retired. In politics he is a Republican. Both he and wife are members of the Meth- HISTORY OF BLAIR COUNTY odist Episcopal church. They had eleven children born to them and of these the fol- lowing survive: W. E.; John T.; Mary, who is the wife of J. F. Walls; Joseph H.; Juniata, who is the wife of George M. Smith; Anna, who is deceased; Blair S.; Rosamond, wife of William Clapper; Minnie, who is the wife of Ezra Martin; and George M. : Joseph H. Rodkey was educated.in the pub- lic schools. His first employer was Andrew Hileman, a merchant of Frankstown, and he worked seven months for him, and later four months for Christ Hileman and nine months for John Hileman. At the end of this time he was made manager of a store for Slippy & Harpster and after that was with Rodkey & Harper for one year. He then went to Holli- daysburg and was employed in a store there for eight months, after which he learned the miller’s trade in the flour mill of Wood, Mor- rell & Co., where he remained for eleven years, during the last five years of this time being head miller. On account of failing health he then changed his occupation, going out on the road and selling bed springs, of which he was the manufacturer. Then he turned his atten- tion to truck farming, purchasing eleven acres of land near Frankstown and continued in that business until he embarked in his present enterprise at Frankstown. In March, 1880, Mr. Rodkey was married to Miss Mary E. Carls, a daughter of- William and Susan (Bickle) Carls, old settlers of this section. The children of Mr. and Mrs. Carls were: Mary E.; Jennie, wife of David Cart- wright; and Ida, who is deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Rodkey have had three children: W. Homer; Ethel Belle, who died at the age of four years; and J. Herbert. Mr. Rodkey and family belong to the Methodist Episcopal church. Politically he is a Republican and he has served both as township clerk and town- ship auditor. For twenty-seven years he has been an Odd Fellow and belongs to Waneta Lodge, No. 1142, at Hollidaysburg, and Pro- gressive Encampment, No. 105. He is one of the representative men of this section. A. B. SMITH, D. 0. AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS x E. E. NEFF, M. D., a successful medical practitioner and a much respected citizen of Altoona, Pa., is a native of Huntingdon County, Pa., where he was born in 1861. He was reared and educated in that county, at- tending Ursinus College, and before taking up the study of medicine traveled several years throughout the west. He graduated from the medical department of the University of Penn- sylvania with the class of 1897 and that same year located in Altoona, where he has since been successfully engaged in general practice. He is a member of the staff of Mercy Hospital and is a valued member of the County, State and American Societies. In 1902 Dr. Neff was united in marriage with Dora Belle Mc- Carthy, of Altoona. He is a member of the First Presbyterian Church and of the Univer- sity Club of Altoona. A. B. SMITH, D. O., who has been success- fully engaged in the practice of osteopathy and neurology at Altoona, Pa., for the past three years, is a native of New York State, where he was reared to maturity. He obtained his ‘.. elementary schooling at Ithaca, N. Y., and in “1904 was graduated from the McCormack Neurological College at Chicago, being sub- sequently engaged in neurological practice in New York state for about a year. He then took a course in the Union College of Osteo- pathy at Wheeling, W. Va., and after his grad- uation therefrom practiced osteopathy for one year in Wheeling, subsequently or about 1906 coming to Altoona, Pa., where he has since been successfully engaged in the practice of osteopathy and neurology. : The science of osteopathy was founded on the philosophy that disease was caused by the incoordination of the system in some or all of its parts, wherein the muscles, tendons, liga- ments or bones were out of alignment, exert- ing undue pressure upon the nervous system and the fluid-carrying vessels, thus causing in- harmony in the body. The treatment by oste- opathy consists of a series of physical manipula- tions designed to restore harmony throughout the body without the use of drugs; and this 729 system of treatment has been found adequate in the cure of disease. Dr. Smith is also a member of the Asso- ciation of Independent Doctors of Chicago, and in addition to his practice is interested in sundry flourishing business enterprises. He is a member of the Masonic order, and his religious affiliations are with the Methodist Episcopal church. He has proved himself an active and useful member of the community with which he has cast his lot and has won the regard of his fellow citizens with whom he has come into contact. WILLIAM JOHNSTON MOORE, one of the large land owners of Frankstown Town- ship, Blair County, Pa., who has 160 acres of cultivated land and 150 acres of timbered mountain land, was born on his present farm, July 7, 1825, and is a son of Jesse and Eliza- beth Moore. Jesse Moore and wife both came from Scot- land. The grandfather, Daniel Moore, who was born in Scotland, August 30, 1750, was the pioneer of the family in this section of Blair County and secured land here while about the only inhabitants were Indians, and at one time he owned 1,300 acres of land in what is still called Scotch Valley. Jesse Moore was born May 10, 1790. His wife’s name was Elizabeth Moore, a cousin, who came from Washington County. They had the following children born to them: Perry, born September 13, 1816; Samuel T., September 1, 1818; Silas, November 20, 1820; Maria, No- vember -6, 1823; William Johnston, July 7, 1825; Pleasant Elizabeth, October 28, 1827; D. F., September 11, 1829; E. R., May 1, 1832; L.J., July 7, 1835; M. M., January 22, 1838, and Theodore and Thaddeus, twins, born March 20, 1840. Mr. Moore's business has been farming and lumbering. He owns the old deed that his father received from Edward Duffield and wife for this land, bearing the date of 1777, and also the patent secured by Duffield, dated October 20, 1766, with the signatures of Thomas and Richard Penn attached. 730 Mr. Moore was married January 1, 1856, to Miss Margaret J. McKenzie, a daughter of Hamilton and Angeline (Johnston) McKenzie. They came originally from Scotland but had lived in Beaver County prior to moving to Blair County. The children of Mr. and Mrs. McKenzie were: Cornelia Ann, widow of Thomas Jackson; Margaret Jane, wife of Mr. Moore; Anna Maria, wife of William Wilson; Alvin; Thomas; Emeline, wife of M. M. Moore; Angeline, wife of W. C. Smith; and James H. To Mr. and Mrs. Moore two children were born: Jessie H., who is the wife of William H. Ellis, and has two children—Edgar Y. and Margaret Moore; and Roy S., who married Ethlyn Barclay. Mr. Moore and family are members of the Presbyterian church. He casts his vote with the Republican party but the only public office he ever accepted was that of tax collector. He formerly was a member of the Grange. His father served in the War of 1812, being sergeant of his company. Mr. Moore is well known and he and family are among the most respected residents of this section and are prominent among the old set- tlers. HARRY E. BOWSER, postmaster of the borough of Blue Knob, Pa., is also engaged in the mercantile business at Butlerville, Pa., in partnership with J. C. Bowser, and for many years was engaged in agricultural pursuits in Greenfield Township. He was born September 22, 1871, in Juniata Township, Blair County, Pa., and is a son of Moses and Mary (Ritchey) Bowser, and a grandson of Jacob Bowser, who was one of the early settlers of Greenfield Township. The Bowser family is of German extraction. Moses Bowser and wife were both natives of Greenfield Township, Blair County, Pa., and spent the greater part of their lives in this township, where he died in June, 1897, and is survived by the following children: Annie, who is the widow of J. Q. Adams, of Roaring Spring, Pa.; Rebecca E., who is the wife of John Conrad, of Union Township, Bedford HISTORY OF BLAIR COUNTY County, Pa.; Mollie, who married William George, of Greenfield Township; Ida, who is the wife of George Barkhimer, of Greenfield Township; and Harry E. His business was farming. He was a member of the German Reformed church. Harry E. Bowser was reared and educated in Greenfield Township, and attended what is known as the Barkhimer school of this town- ship. He subsequently engaged in agricul- tural pursuits in Greenfield Township, until March 1, 1905, when he entered the mercan- tile business at Butlerville, and has also served continuously during that time as postmaster of Blue Knob, being appointed to that office in 1905. : oe Bowser was married March 31, 1898, to Miss Celestia Earnest, who was born in Freedom Township, Blair County, Pa. a daughter of Benjamin Earnest, who was a resident of Juniata Township, and the follow- ing children have been born of their union: Elsie Irene, Stanley E., Mabel C., Esther E., and Edwin E. In politics Mr. Bowser is in- dependent, and has served one term as judge of elections in Greenfield Township, and is now serving his second term as road super- visor, being president of the board of super- visors of this township. Mr. Bowser is a member of the German Reformed church, in which he is also a deacon, and is fraternally a member of the P. O. S. of A. and the National Protective Legion, both of Butlerville. P. M. SWANGER, who has been a resident of Altoona, Pa., since 1886, has been identified with the legal profession of Blair County since 1903, and is recognized as one of the leading attorneys of Altoona. He was born December 27, 1864, in Allegheny County, Pa., and at the age of eleven years moved to Westmore- land County, where he was reared and edu- cated, receiving a common school education. January 30, 1886, Mr. Swanger came to Al- toona, where he was employed as a locomotive fireman on the Pennsylvania railroad until October 22, 1893, when he was promoted to engineer, and ran an engine on the road until WILLIAM JOHNSTON MOORE GROUP AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS January 7, 1898. He then gave up engineer- ing and took up the study of law, which he read in the office of M. M. McNeal & E. H. Flick, of Altoona, being admitted to the bar May 12, 1903. He immediately embarked in the practice of law at Altoona, where he has established a lucrative practice and enjoys to the fullest extent the esteem and confidence of his fellow citizens. He is a member of the Altoona Bar Association. L. L. BOOK, who has been a.resident of Blair County, Pa., since 1875, is one of the foremost citizens of Eldorado, and is exten- sively engaged in gardening. He was born in Lancaster County, Pa., September 19, 1844, and is a son of George and Harriet (Geist) Book, who both spent their entire lives in Lancaster County. L. L. Book was reared and educated in his native county, and was graduated from Mil- lersville Normal school, receiving a diploma of the first class. He then engaged in teaching and followed that profession many years in Allegheny, Carbon and Lancaster Counties, and after coming to Altoona in 1875 he taught eight years in the high school of that city. He then located at Eldorado with the idea of fruit growing, but did not carry out the plan, en- gaging instead in gardening at which he has been so successful. He began this business in a small way in the eighties, and as his business grew he erected greenhouses, now having six, and raising vegetables ‘exclusively. Lettuce growing has been his specialty and in former years he shipped to Philadelphia and other Cities, but now deals exclusively with the wholesale houses of Altoona, and has two and sometimes three wagons make the haul to the market three times a week. Mr. Book was married in 1878 to Kate G. Witmer, of Lancaster County, and they have two sons, Harry W. and Ross A. Mr. and Mrs. Book are members of the Broad Avenue Presbyterian Church of Altoona. He is polit- ically a Republican. 731 R. R. FIDER, general merchant at East Sharpsburg, Pa., and a representative business man of this, his native place, was born Febru- ary 16, 1853, and is a son of Matthew and Dora (Albus) Fider. Matthew Fider and wife were born in Germany. He was a tailor by trade and during his many years of resi- dence at East Sharpsburg, engaged in this business which he built up into a .very satis- factory one. His death occurred November 21, 1880. He gave his political support to the Democratic party. R. R. Fider was educated in the schools of East Sharpsburg. For a number of years be- fore embarking in the mercantile line he was in a butchering business and dealt quite exten- sively also in live stock. He conducts the lead- ing general mercantile store of the borough and carries a large and well assorted stock. At different times he has been approached with tenders of responsible public offices and has served Taylor Township as assessor, tax col- lector, judge of elections and on the school board, in all of these positions exercising the good judgment which has served to make his private enterprises successful. Mr. Fider is a 32nd degree Mason and belongs to Woodbury Lodge, No. 856, F. & A. M., at Roaring Spring; to Jaffa Temple at Altoona; to Model Lodge, Odd Fellows, at Roaring Spring and also to the Encampment; and to the Knights of the Golden Eagle, at Martinsburg. Mr. Fider was married March 10, 1886, to Miss Julia Martin, a native of Blair County, Pa. In politics, he is a Democrat. He is an active citizen in all that pertains to the sub- stantial development of his community and is. a liberal contributor to all worthy charities. J. FOSTER MECK, one of the leading at- torneys of Altoona, Pa., who has been a mem- ber of the Blair County bar since 1898, was born in this city, a son of J. Frank Meck, now deceased. After completing a course of study in the local schools of Altoona, Mr. Meck studied law in the office of Craig & Bowers of this city, and was admitted to the bar in 1808. He then became associated with Craig & Bow- 732 ers in the practice of law in this city, continu- ing with that firm until 1905, since which time he has maintained a business of his own. He practices in all of the courts of the state, is official stenographer of the courts, and a member of the Blair County Bar Association. Aside from his general practice, Mr. Meck is also actively interested in various enterprises of this city. He takes an active interest in local politics, and is a member of the city coun- cil, representing the ninth ward. He affiliates with the B. P. O. E., and his religious connec- tion is with the Broad Avenue Presbyterian Church. In 1905 Mr. Meck was joined in marriage with Margaret Hazlett and they have one daughter, Regina Catharine. FRANCIS HEYER WEAVER. One of the old, prolific and substantial families of Blair County bears the name of Weaver. It is of German origin but generations have passed since it was first established in Penn- sylvania, where the industry, thrift and high character of its members have long contrib- uted to its best citizenship: Francis Heyer _ Weaver, of Freedom Township, is a well known representative of this family. He is the proprietor of 500 acres of fine farming land, known as Weaverlea, is a veteran of the Civil War and has been especially honored in a public way by appointment to responsible positions. He was born at Newry, Pa., May 20, 1844. His parents were George and Lavinia (Fetters) Weaver. George Weaver was born in Center County, Pa., a son of Jacob Weaver, who was a son of Jacob Weaver, a Revolutionary soldier. George Weaver was reared in what is now Blair County and became a man of family and importance. For thirty-three consecutive years he served as justice of the peace in Juniata and Freedom Townships, was a di- rector of the Blair County Poor Home, was active in all local improvements and was a sound, reliable, sensible man in everything pertaining to life and its duties as he saw them. He voted first for Andrew Jackson for Presi- dent of the United States. later became a HISTORY OF BLAIR COUNTY Whig and subsequently a Republican, led largely by his anti-slavery views. He was sympathetic and it is said helpful in relation to the underground railway, that quiet system that, prior to the Civil War, assisted slaves to escape to Canada. His death occurred Sep- tember 15, 1879, and his funeral drew the largest concourse of people ever seen on a like occasion, in this neighborhood. He married Lavinia Fetters, whose uncles, “The Fetters Boys,” were the famous Indian fighters and who slew the last Indians east. of the moun- tains. The remains of Fort Fetters may still be seen on the banks of Fetters Run, one mile northwest of Hollidaysburg. Of this mar- riage these still survive: Lavinia, who is the wife of John B. Holland, of Newry, Pa.; Francis Heyer; Margaretta D., who lives at Newry; S. Blair, who is a retired citizen of Newry; Juniata, who is the wife of Harry Wike, who is an officer of the Pennsylvania State Reform School at Huntingdon, Pa. Francis Heyer Weaver attended the district schools and remained on the home farm until _ he was seventeen years of age. Although only a boy in years he had attained the stature of a man and when he presented himself for enlistment as a private in Co. C., 53d Pa. Vol. Inf., on October 10, 1861, he was accepted and marched away with his command to become a part of the Army of the Potomac. He fought as a soldier at Fair Oaks and Malvern Hill and in the campaign of seven days’ fighting that followed, at Harrison Landing, Antietam, Fredericksburg and “Gettysburg. Before he was twenty years old he had been wounded twenty-two times and on account of his in- juries, was transferred to the Veteran Reserve Corps, in which he served out his full period of enlistment. His bravery was recognized by General Grant, who also showed confidence in his judgment, business capacity and diplomacy by sending him to execute the treaty, known as the Felix-Brunot treaty, long neglected, with the Southern Ute Indians, a commission Mr. Weaver successfully carried out, in 1877, under very hazardous conditions. In 1880 he was appointed chaplain of the roth U. S. Cav. D. M. ROUDABUSH, M. D. AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS and served until he was retired in 1897. By Act of Congress, without his knowledge, he was promoted to the rank of major on April 23, 1904. Mr. Weaver completed his education after his discharge from the volunteer army and sufficiently recovering from his injuries. In 1872 he graduated from Pennsylvania College, Gettysburg, and in the class of 1876 was grad- uated from the Gettysburg Theological Sem- inary, at Gettysburg, Pa. In late years his interests have been largely agricultural, farm- ing and stock raising on an extensive scale occupying the larger part of-his time. He has always been deeply interested in the Grange movement, thoroughly believing in. its prin- ciples and is identified with the organization at Poplar Run. On November 30, 1876, Mr. Weaver was married to Miss Catherine M. Schneider, a daughter of Louis H. Schneider, a former resident of Washington, D. C. They have three children: Louis S., who is a physician in practice at York, Pa.; George D., who is a res- ident of Youngstown, O.; and Marguerite, still at home. Mr. Weaver and family are members of the Lutheran church. He belongs to the G. A. R. Post at Duncansville, Pa., and to the Pennsylvania Commandery of the Loyal Legion of the United States. He has twice been a beneficiary by special Act of Congress for meritorious services in the Civil War. D. M. ROUDABUSH, M..D., who has spent almost the entire period of his profes-. sional life at Altoona, Pa., where he is in the enjoyment of a very satisfactory practice, was born at St. Clairsville, Bedford County, Pa., June 27, 1880. Dr. Roudabush was educated at St. Clairs- -ville and the Lockhaven Normal -School and afterward taught school for eight terms in Bed- ford and Blair Counties. In the meanwhile he was completing his preparatory reading and then entered Hahnemann Medical College, at Philadelphia, where he was graduated in 1906. He then took up his residence at Bedford Springs, a summer resort and remained there 735 in practice during the three months of the season, after which he came to Altoona. He is a member of the Blair County and the Penn- sylvania State Homeopathic Medical Societies, occasionally contributes to their literature and keeps closely in touch with all scientific work along medical and surgical lines. He is also owner and proprietor of the Altoona Sani- tarium, which treats by the Swaine remedies, the drug and liquor habits. This Sanitarium is located at 1516 Twelfth Avenue, Altoona. Dr, Roudabush was married in 1906, to Miss Pearl Warsing, of Hopewell, Bedford County, Pa., and they have one son, Luther. They are members of the First Reformed Church at Altoona. He is a Mason; and Odd Fellow, belongs also to the order of Forresters and to the patriotic organization, the Sons of Veterans. : WILLIAM STONE, who is now living in retirement at Williamsburg, Pa., was for many years interested in agricultural pursuits in Huntingdon County, Pa., and was engaged in various lines after locating in. Blair County. He was born October 7, 1839, in Huntingdon County, Pa., and is a son of William and Susan (Weaver) Stone, who always resided in Huntingdon County, where he followed farming. The father was politically a Repub- lican. Both parents were members of the Reformed church. The following children were born to the parents of our subject: Mary, ‘Catherine, Margaret, Abraham, Jacob, Har- riet, William, Annie, Elizabeth, David. William Stone grew to satiny and was educated in his native county and there sub- sequently followed farming until 1889. He then came to Blair County, Pa., where he has since continued to live, and has been employed in various lines of business. He has been liv- ing somewhat retired at Williamsburg for a time, but for the past four years has been serving as janitor of the Williamsburg school during the winter months. Mr. Stone resides in a very fine brick house which was erected by him in 1908. He is a Republican in his Nancy and 736 political views and in his religious connection is a Methodist. Mr. Stone was married September 10, 1874, to Elizabeth Myers, a daughter of Amos and Eliza Myers, who were residents of Hunting- don County, Pa., and the parents of the fol- lowing children: Isaac, George, David, Reuben, Hannah, Elizabeth, Harriet, Mar- garet, and William. To Mr. and Mrs. Stone six children were born, namely: Chalmer; Hiram; Ada, who is the wife of Virgil Woods; Amos; Thomas; and Elise. SAMUEL L. WISLER, secretary of the board of road supervisors in Taylor Township, Blair County, Pa., where he owns a well cul- tivated farm of fifty-four acres, was born in this township, November 1, 1864, and is a son of John and Catherine (Longenecker) Wisler. John Wisler was born in Adams County, Pa., and was a son of Samuel Wisler, who was one of the early settlers of Taylor Township. John Wisler was reared there and married Catherine Longenecker, who was born in Bed- ford County, Pa. Both John and Catherine Wisler are deceased. Samuel L. Wisler was only three years old when his father died. He was reared in Tay- lor Township and attended the Oak Grove public school. The guardian appointed to look after his interests as long as he was a minor, was Mr. D. M. Bare, the well known manufac- turer of Roaring Spring and practically its founder. Mr. Wisler has been engaged in farming since youth and he carries on a gen- eral agricultural line, including the growing of some stock. He has always been an active citizen, willingly contributing according to his means for public improvements, good roads, schools and churches. He is serving as road supervisor and is also clerk of Taylor Town- ship. In politics he is a Republican. Mr. Wisler was married in May, 1887, to Miss Elizabeth M. Frederick, a daughter of John B. Frederick, who resides near Henri- etta, Pa., and they have four children: Charles F., John F., Paul F. and Martha F. Mr. and HISTORY OF BLAIR COUNTY Mrs. Wisler are members of the Progressive Brethren church at Martinsburg, Pa. DAVID F. HAAGEN, M. D., who is one of the younger members of the medical pro- fession at Altoona, Pa., and bids fair to reflect credit upon it, was born at Tyrone, in Blair County, Pa., in 1885. He is a son of D. H. Haagen, who for thirty years has been en- gaged in the hotel business, and is proprietor of the Arlington, the leading hostelry of the city. David F, Haagen continued at school at Tyrone until he was graduated from the Ty- rone High School, after which he attended the Mercerburg Academy and then entered Jeffer- son Medical College, at Philadelphia, where he was graduated in 1908. During the year following he served as resident physician of the Altoona Hospital and since then has been kept busy attending to a rapidly increasing general practice. He is a member of the Blair County and State Medical Societies and of the American Medical Association. He keeps more or less in touch with the scientific soci- eties to which he belonged while taking his medical course, and during his senior year he was president of the Nu-Sigma-Mu Society. Dr. Haagen has a well equipped office at No. 914 Seventeenth Street. On April 28, 1910, he was married to Miss Edna Lloyd, a daugh- ter of Samuel Lloyd, an old citizen of Altoona. JACOB W. HOOVER, general farmer and well known citizen of Allegheny Township, Blair County, Pa., where he owns eighty acres of fine land, was born in this township, Sep- tember 13, 1875, and is a son of Jacob W. and Susanna (Shadel) Hoover. _Jacob W. Hoover spent the greater part of his life in Allegheny Township, where he died about 1891. He served as a soldier in the Civil War and was honorably discharged. He was a member of the German Baptist church. He was twice married and to his union with Susanna Shadel, a large family was born and of these the following survive: Levi, a well known farmer in Allegheny Township; AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS Jemima, wife of William G. Diehl, of Juniata County; John W., residing at Blairsville; George W., living at Duncansville; Mary E., wife of S. R. Clapper, of Allegheny Town- ship; Sarah, wife of J. A. Brubaker, of Alle- gheny Township. The Hoovers were early settlers in Blair County and the late Jacob W. Hoover was a worthy representative of that old family. Jacob W. Hoover grew to manhood in Allegheny Township, where, with his brothers and sisters, he attended the public schools. He has made farming his business and has in- formed himself concerning modern methods, making use of these according to his judgment and thus is able to realize large returns from his eighty acres. In June, 1901, Mr. Hoover was married to Miss Jeannette Holderbaum, who was born in Bedford County, Pa., and formerly was a very popular and successful teacher in Blair County. They have had three children: Lista C., Retta P. and David R. Retta P. is deceased.. Mr. Hoover and wife are merhbers of the Carson Valley German Baptist Church, in which he is serving as a deacon. He casts his vote with the Republican party. ALBERT C. ROBESON, who is operating his mother’s farm of I00 acres, situated in Frankstown Township, Blair County, Pa., was born at Canoe Creek, in Frankstown Town- ship, December 17, 1881, and is a son of John C. and Ida (Riddle) Robeson. The late John C. Robeson was a well known resident of Frankstown Township and was born in Blair County. His main business was lumbering and he operated a saw-mill. His death oc- curred February 22, 1888. His widow resides at Hollidaysburg. They had three children: Albert C. and Julia and Susan, both daughters residing with their mother. The grandfathers were Samuel Robeson and Joseph Riddle. Albert C. Robeson was educated at Holli- daysburg and after leaving school he spent one year on his mother’s farm and then worked for two years as a blacksmith for the Pennsylvania Railroad Company. In 1904 he took~charge 737 of the farm and has met with success in its cultivation. On May 19, .1903, Mr. Robeson was mar- ried to Miss Catherine Trindel, a daughter of John and Margaret (Semore) Trindel. The Trindel family came to Blair from Cambria County in 1868, and they reside on their farm. They had the following children: May, who ig the wife of John Mathews; Anna, who is the wife of Samuel Shaffer; Catherine, who is the wife of Albert C. Robeson; Millie, who is the wife of Chester Smith; Elizabeth, who is the wife of Frank McCauley; and Grace, Margaret, Harvey, Alice, Gertrude and Ruth. Mr. and Mrs. Robeson have one son, John Crawford, who was born April 30, 1906. Mrs. Robeson was reared in the Catholic faith. Mr. Robeson, like his late father and mother, is a member of the Presbyterian church. In politics he is a Republican. He is an industri- ous, capable and enterprising young man and is universally respected in his neighborhood. WILLIAM L. WOODCOCK, a prominent representative of the Altoona bar, has been en- gaged in practice in this city for forty-four years and during this long period has gained and maintained an emiment position. He is also largely interested in the coal industry and in financial and other institutions. Mr. Wood- cock was born on his father’s farm in Wells Valley, Fulton County, Pa., October 20, 1844, and is a son of John and Sarah (Alexander) Woodcock. The Woodcock family came from England to America as early as 1764. The grandfather settled in Delaware and there the father of William L. Woodcock was born in 1800, but from the age of five years was reared in Bed- ford County, Pa. From there in middle life he moved tp Fulton County and in advanced age retired to Altoona, where he died in 1874. He was a man of sterling character, served in local offices with efficiency, was a justice of the peace for a protracted period and was a liberal supporter of the Methodist Episcopal church. His wife was Sarah Alexander, a woman of beauty and amiability, who was called from 738 his side by death when aged but thirty-five years. a 4 William L. Woodcock was educated in in- stitutions which, in his youth, ranked with the best in his part of the state—Martinsburg - Academy and Allegheny Seminary. His older brother, the late Samuel M. Woodcock, was already a successful practitioner of law at Al- toona, and under his supervision William L. Woodcock prepared for the bar and was ad- mitted to practice in Blair County, October 27, 1865. W eer taught school for a time and during one term was principal of the Phillipsburg High School, in Center County. He had also testified to the genuineness of his courage and patriotism prior to this time, by twenty-three months of service in Co. F, 77th Pa. Vol! Inf., in the Civil War, the latter part of this service being in the Signal Corps, where he ranked as lieutenant. He was discharged on account of disability. Mr. Woodcock in a legitimate business way, has acquired a large amount of valuable realty both in Altoona and in Hollidaysburg and also has coal interests of more than average impor- tance. Aside from his prominence in his pro- fession, however, and his standing as a capital- ist, Mr. Woodcock is widely known, admired and esteemed on account of his philanthropic and uplift work. He is what may be best de- scribed as a practical Christian and while his efforts were commenced in connection with his interest in the work of the Methodist Episco- pal church, they have expanded into other avenues of good will, beneficence and benev- olence and his influence cannot be overesti- mated. Mr. Woodcock has proven himself a model Sunday school superintendent and_ to this work has given his enthusiasm, his time and his capital for forty years, having served as superintendent most of that time. He or- ganized a mission Sunday school in 1889 and built, of his own private means, Belnore Hall, in which to hold the school. The city knows the result of his concentrated effort in AI- toona, but of the individual benefits of this mission work, the public has never learned Prior to accepting law business. Mr. HISTORY OF BLAIR COUNTY one half. He remained with this school as superintendent for ten years, during which time it steadily grew until its average attend- ance was over 300, and the Walnut Avenue Methodist Episcopal Church is the result of his work in this mission school. At the ex- piration of his decade of work, Mr. Wood- cock declined to accept its superintendency any longer, the school having become a strong and vigorous organization. In 1899, Mr. Woodcock was elected super- intendent of the First Methodist Episcopal Sunday school of Altoona.and has remained in that position until the present time and has succeeded in bringing the school up until it now numbers over 1,400 pupils. He has been superintendent of Sunday schools for forty years, during which period he has spent much of his time and energy in this direction, believ- ing that it is the greatest work that presents itself to laymen in the field of Christian activ- ity. Besides his practical work in the Altoona schools, he contributes to a number of Sunday school papers and magazines, his efforts al- ways being sought after as they are the ex- pressions of an earnest man who, through | experience, is well qualified to write along these lines. His liberality has extended the cause of missions, educational institutions and church enterprises. It was stated at the dedica- tion of the First Methodist Church of Altoona, in 1907, that his liberal and timely giving made it possible to construct that magnificent church edifice, “the finest Methodist church in Central Pennsylvania.” At one time, Mr. Woodcock had a large and lucrative practice at the bar, but of recent years he has had so many other matters to en- gage his time and attention that he is grad- ually retiring from the active practice of the law. He resides in Hollidaysburg but retains his business offices in the Central Trust Build- ing, Altoona, devoting his time mainly to the management of his large real estate interests, his charities and his church and literary work. Although identified with the Republican party he has never taken an active part in politics, finding other matters more to his liking, and JOHN PIERCE BELL AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS moreover, he has been too busy a man to be a politician. He has, however, been honored by being twice elected to the General Conference, which is the law-making body of the Method- ist Episcopal church. Its meetings assemble every four years and the sessions continue one full month. Mr. Woodcock is a trustee of the American University at Washington, D. C., to which he has contributed largely of his means, and he is also a trustee of Dickinson Col- lege, Pa. Mr. Woodcock has also been an extensive traveler, having journeyed through every state in the Union, the Islands of the Caribbean Sea and many countries in Europe. He has been abroad twice and during this last visit wit- nessed the “Passion Play” at Oberammergau. Since his return he has given several lectures on this marvelous production. GEORGE WASHINGTON WILEY, a well known general merchant of Bellwood, Pa., who is also extensively engaged in the coal business, has been a resident of Blair County, Pa., since February, 1878. He was born May 16, 1851, in Chester County, Pa., a son of James and Angeline (Pluck) Wiley, who during their advanced years came to live with our subject and wife, with whom they remained until their respective deaths. George W. Wiley was about two years old when his parents moved to Mifflin County and located at Lewiston, where he resided until about eighteen years of age. He then went to Huntingdon County, Pa., where he lived some seven or eight years, and in February, 1878, came to Blair County, and located at the old Mary Ann Forge. Here he started the first bread wagon ever run in this town and after running it for four years came to Bellwood, and established a general store at his present location. Four years later he embarked in the coal business at his present location, and since that time Mrs. Wiley has had charge of the store, which is conducted under the name of M. J. Wiley, and they carry a complete stock of general merchandise. Mr. Wiley was married October 20, 1872, 741 in Huntingdon, to Mary Jane Snack, who was born about six miles from Huntingdon, Pa., a daughter of William and Elizabeth (Parker) Snack. Her father was a native of Maryland and the mother of Huntingdon County, and both spent their later days at the home of our subjest and wife. Mr. and Mrs. Wiley are the parents of seven children as follows: William J., who is an engineer on the B: & O. railroad, a resident of Newark, Ohio, married Mamie Hook and has one son and one daughter— George Worth and Ormandella; Mary Eliza- beth, who died aged sixteen months: Edwin Miles, who is a resident of Bellwood, married Leah Hay and has two children, Frances Elizabeth and Edwin Foin; George Guyer, a resident of Independence, Wis., who has two daughters—Mary Clair and Anna Steward; Charles Clyde, who died at nineteen years of age; Emma Pearl, who died aged four months; and Harry Ray, who is engaged in business with our subject, married Clara Peters and has two children, Ray and Pauline. Mr. Wiley is politically a Republican, and is fraternally a member of the I. O. O. F. and the Royal Arcanum. He holds membership with the M. E. Church, of which he has been a trustee for thirty years. JOHN PIERCE ‘BELL, one of the repre- sentative ‘citizens of Antis Township, Blair County, Pa., residing on his excellent farm of 187 acres, was born September 6, 1835, in a log house which stood on a farm in Antis Township, which is now owned by Edward Bell. His parents were David and Margaret Pierce (McKnight) Bell. The Bell family was one of the earliest to settle in Blair County. John Pierce Bell attended school at Eliz- abeth Furnace and later at Lewisburg, residing at the latter place from 1854 until 1857. From then until 1860 he was connected with a bank- ing house at Huntingdon, Pa., and subse- quently spent a year near Denver, Colo., at what was then called California Gulch. After his return to Blair County he was married and he and his wife lived in the brick house on the old home place until 1866, when they came 742 to his present farm, which is a part of the old McKnight place. The farmhouse and barn now standing were built by John Crissman. Mr. Bell has engaged in general farming and stock raising, threshing and sawing and has made many improvements, these adding to the value of his own property very materially. Mr. Bell was married May 16, 1861, to Miss Agnes Greenland, who was born in Hunting- don County, Pa., and died September 25, 1887. Her burial was in the Logan Valley Cemetery. She was a daughter of Joshua and Betsey (Wright) Greenland, old settlers in the lower part of Huntingdon County. To the above marriage the following children were born: David Vinton, who was born June 15, 1863, resides at Rock Springs, Colo., being superin- tendent there of the water department for the Union Pacific Railroad, is married and has seven children—Agnes, Dorothy, Elizabeth, Edna, Orrin, David, Vinton and Carl; James Martin, who was born October 11, 1865, re- sides on the home farm, married Blanche Burns and they have three daughters—Agnes, Beatrice and Ida; Walter Greenland, who was born February 17, 1868, lives at Jerome, Idaho, married Ella Kanan, of Indiana County, Pa., and has three children—Joseph P., Marion and Agnes; Edward Pierce, who was born May 11, 1870, died May 25, 1870; Lillian, who was born May 21, 1871, is the wife of Dr. E. J. Marfing, a dentist located at Jenkinstown, Montgomery County, and they have three chil- dren—Dorothy, Raymond and Austin; Annie, who was born March 13, 1874, is a school teacher in Rawlins, Wyoming; J. Wilson, who was born March 7, 1877, resides at Snake River, Idaho, and by his first marriage had a son, Milton, and by a second marriage, a daughter, Mabel; Allison Dean, who was born December 14, 1879, resides on the homestead, married Mary Shawley, of Spruce Creek and has three children—Arthur Floyd, born May 21, 1903; Murray Weldon, born February re, 1906, and Lewis Edwin, born December 5 1908; Simpson Africa, who was born May 15, 1882, resides in Idaho: and Edgar Pierce who was born August 5, 1884, lives at home. _ HISTORY OF BLAIR COUNTY Mr. Bell cast his first presidential vote for General John C. Fremont and ever since has been identified politically with the Republican party. He is a member of Mt. Moriah Lodge, F. & A. M., at Huntingdon, Pa. ALEXANDER W. WILT, a leading cit- izen of Allegheny Township, Blair County, Pa., and a successful business man, owns a farm of seventy-four acres in the Carson Val- ley, which he devotes largely to fruit growing. He was born in this township, August 17, 1861, and is a son of Alexander and Ellen (Yingling) Wilt. Alexander Wilt was born in Juniata Town- ship, Blair County, and was a son of Philip Wilt, who was an early settler there. Alex- ander Wilt died February 22, 1896. He was a useful man in his community and was held in respect by his fellow citizens and possessed their confidence to such a degree that they fre- quently elected him to office. He served as school director, as road supervisor and as constable. He was a member of the Lutheran church. He was twice married, first to Ellen Yingling, and second to Annie Brubaker. The surviving children of the first union are: Alexander W.; William P., who is in business in North Carolina; Joseph M., who lives at Duncansville, Pa.; and Isaac C., who resides at Gallitzin, Pa. Of the second marriage the survivors are: Emanuel G., residing in Juniata . Township; Silas D., in Allegheny Township; Peter H., in Juniata Township; Elsie, wife of George Lingenfelter, of Altoona; and Lottie, wife of Harvey Burkhart, living in Allegheny Township. _ Alexander W. Wilt obtained his education in the public schools of Allegheny Township and has always been a strong supporter of both schools and churches, rightly believing these are great agencies for good in any neigh- borhood. | His land is particularly adapted to the growing of fruit and he has devoted much study and attention to horticulture and with the result that this branch of industry has been a very profitable one. Mr. Wilt is a Repub- lican in politics but holds no office with the ex- AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS ception of being a director of the Carson Val- ley Cemetery Association. On November 3, ‘1881, Mr. Wilt was mar- ried to Miss Elizabeth C. Davis, a daughter of William R. Davis, now deceased, who was once a well known resident of Juniata Town- ship. Mr. and Mrs. Wilt have had nine chil- dren born to them, eight of whom survive, namely: ‘Annie E., who is the wife of Jacob Mock, of Hollidaysburg; Herbert L., who re- sides at Altoona;-Clarissa, who is the wife of Grover Selwitz, of Allegheny Township; and Herman J., Edith P., Sadie M., Gertrude M. and Dollie L. Roy F. is deceased. Mr. Wilt is a member of the Seventh Day Adventist church at Altoona, Pa. M. W. CRAINE, building inspector and one of the representative business men of Al- toona, Pa., has been identified with the bus- iness interests of this borough for the past thirteen years. He was born in 1863 in Center County, Pa., where he was reared and ob- tained his educational training, and at the age of twenty-two years, removed to Tyrone, Pa., where he was for seven years employed with the Pennsylvania Railroad Company. He then came to Altoona and worked at carpen- tering for some years, and for the past ten years has been associated with the Altoona Construction Company in architectural work for Blair County. About eight years ago, Mr. Craine graduated from the Scranton School of Architecture, and on April 5, 1910, was ap- pointed by the Mayor, and approved by the Select Council, as Building Inspector of Altoona. : Mr. Craine is affiliated with the I. O. O. F., the Fraternal Mystical Circle, and the Hepta- sophs, and the religious connection. of the family is with the Broad Avenue Presbyterian Church. In 1899 Mr. Craine was united in marriage with Catherine Cherry, and of their union has been born one son, Ralph B. Craine. FRED S. SNOBERGER, one of the best known citizens of Blair Township, Blair County, Pa., who has served in the office of 748 tax collector for twenty years, settled on his present farm of forty acres in 1890 and de- votes it to general farming. He was born in Taylor Township, Blair County, September 20, 1855, and is a son of John M. and Rebecca (Shiffler ) Snoberger. John M. Snoberger was born in Taylor Township and spent practically all his life in Blair County, where his father, Frederick Snoberger, was a very early settler. John M. Snoberger died March 1, 1905. He was a Republican in politics and was held in general esteem by his fellow citizens, who elected him road supervisor for a number of years. He married Rebecca Shiffler, who was also born in Blair County, and of their family of chil- dren, the following survive: Fred S.; Abra- ham L., who lives near Williamsburg,. Pa. ; William, who lives at Lakemont, Pa.; Andrew, who lives at Altoona; Davalt; Elizabeth, who is the wife of Thomas Whalen, of Blair Township; Susan, who is the wife of Joseph Green, of McKees, Pa.; Barbara, who is the wife of Charles Baker, of Taylor Township; Rachel, who is the wife of David Eversole, of Taylor Township. Fred S. Snoberger grew to manhood in Taylor Township and obtained his education there. He was married on February 19, 1880, to Miss Maria 'L. Weaver, who was born in Blair Township, a daughter of George and Grace (Ingram) Weaver, the former of whom is deceased. The mother of. Mrs. Snoberger was born in Chester County, Pa., but has spent the larger part of her life in-Blair County. Mr. and Mrs. Snoberger have had three chil- dren: Mary G., Olive R. and Angus, the last named being now deceased. They are mem- bers of the Presbyterian church at Hollidays- burg. In politics he is a Republican. He served three years as supervisor of Blair Township and frequently as school director beside his long period of continuous service as tax collector. BLAIR A. BRUA, supervisor of Franks- town Township, Blair County, Pa., is a lead- ing citizen of this section and owns a valuable 744 “farm of seventy acres. He was born in Frankstown Township, about one mile dis- tant from his present home, October 11, 1851, and is a son of Jacob and Elizabeth (Elliott) Brua. Jacob Brua was one of Frankstown Town- ship’s most respected retired residents for twenty-five years prior to his death. Both he and his wife were born in Blair County and_ both were buried at Hollidaysburg. The par- ents of Jacob Brua were Daniel and Mary Brua and they came from Pennsylvania Dutch stock which belonged to Lancaster County. The parents of Elizabeth (Elliott) Brua were of Scotch-Irish stock. Her father, George Elliott, came to Blair County about one hun- dred years ago. Jacob Brua and wife were Presbyterians. They had the following chil- dren: Elliott H., Blair A., Lynn A., Mary J., wife of Dr. Robert Irvin, of Hollidaysburg; and Blanche E., wife of Irvin Smith. Blair A. Brua attended the public schools in Frankstown Township and spent one term in the High School at Frankstown, since which time he has devoted himself to agricultural pursuits. At one time he owned three farms in Frankstown Township, aggregating 280 acres, but he has sold two of these to his sons and now operates but seventy acres. He has always been an active and earnest citizen of his township, ready to do his part in public move- ments. In politics he is a Republican and has served frequently in public office, being school director for three years, township assessor for three years, and now serving as township supervisor. : In 1873 Mr. Brua was married to Miss Clarissa Hileman, a daughter of Christian Hileman, and they have the following chil- dren: Catherine, Baron, Blanche, Hileman, Charles, Nelson, Pearl, Irvin and Ruth. Mr. Brua and family belong to the Lutheran church. CHARLES W. ECKENLAUB, who deals extensively in real estate, general in- surance, surety bonds, loans, mortgages, etc., is one of the rising young business men of HISTORY OF BLAIR COUNTY Altoona, Pa., and was born here in 1884, a son of M. A. Eckenlaub, a well known busi- ness man of this city. | Charles W. Eckenlaub has always lived in Altoona, and after attending the public schools until 14 years of age, entered the Second National Bank of this city as messenger boy. He continued in the services of this concern for 11 years and was acting as teller, when he decided to engage in business for himself and on March 1, Ig10, established his present business. Mr. Eckenlaub holds membership with the St. John’s Catholic Church of Al- toona. 5 JOSEPH J. MOORE, who is serving in his second term as auditor of Blair Township, Blair County, Pa., and is one of the substan- tial and representative citizens of this section, owns a valuable farm of 153 acres. He was born in Frankstown Township, Blair County, March 31, 1875, and is a son of Elias R. and Margaret J. (Robinson) Moore. Elias R. Moore was also born in -Franks- town Township as was his father, Jesse Moore, whose father, William Moore, the great- grandfather of Joseph J. Moore, was one of the earliest pioneers here. All the Moores have been men of high standing and useful in their day and generation. Elias R. Moore died in 1891. He was a Republican in politics and had served in numerous township offices. For many years he was a member of the First Presbyterian Church at Hollidaysburg. He married Margaret J. Robinson, who was also born in Frankstown Township and was a daughter of Joseph Robinson, who was promi- nent in Blair County, and both he and Jesse Moore served in the state legislature. To Elias R. and Margaret Moore a family of chil- dren was born and the following five survive: Edith E., who is the wife of E. T. Clark, of Williamsburg, Pa.; Ruth R., who resides at Hollidaysburg; Clyde C., who is the wife of John P. Jacobs, of Hollidaysburg; Viola Z., who is the wife of E. L. Brua, of Frankstown Township; and Joseph J. Joseph J. Moore attended the public schools Vv. HERBY HANCUFF AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS in Frankstown Township, and the Pennsyl- vania State Normal School at Indiana, Pa., af- ter which he taught school for two years and since then has been engaged in agricultural pur- suits. He came to his present farm in 1893 and devotes it to general farming and dairy- ing. : On October 1, 1891, Mr? Moore was mar- ried to Miss Dorothy G. Tussey, a daughter of Samuel C. Tussey, a well known resident of Gaysport, Pa., and they have had five children: Josephine T., Hugh R., John C., Frank R., and Dorothy A. John C. is deceased. Mr. Moore and wife are members of the First Pres- . . byterian Church at Hollidaysburg. In politics he is a Republican. During some years of his - residence in Frankstown Township, Mr. Moore served as inspector of elections and, as noted above, is an official of Blair Township. He is also interested in everything concerning the public schools. ISAAC SLIPPEY, the owner of 116 acres of valuable farm land situated in Frankstown. Township, Blair County, Pa., was born in this township, February 19, 1854, and is a son of Joseph and Nancy (Shade) Slippey. The father was a millwright. Both he and wife are now deceased. They were worthy people in every way, good neighbors and good examples and were members of the Lutheran church. Their burial was in the Geeseytown Cemetery. Their children were: William A., Clarence, Isaac, Catherine and Blair. Catherine, who is deceased, was the wife of William Ritz. Isaac Slippey attended the country schools with his sister and brothers and afterward worked for a time on a farm but subsequently learned the carpenter trade which he continued to follow for some thirty years. For twenty- six years of this time he was employed in the car shops in Altoona. In 1902 he purchased his farm from the other Slippey heirs and has carried on a general farming line ever since and has had no reason to regret his change of occupation and environment. In 1889, Mr. Slippey was married to. Miss Mary Blanche Crawford, a daughter of Henry 747 and Mary Crawford, both of whom are de- ceased. Mr. Crawford was a carpenter. The parents of Mrs. Slippey had the following chil- dren: Jane, who married Michael Geesey; Sarah, who married John Robinson; Mary Blanche, who is Mrs. Slippey; George; Ellen, who is deceased; Addie, who married Harry Harpster; and Lilly. Three children were born.to Mr. and Mrs. Slippey—Edward, Wal- ter and Mary, and all remained at home until April, 1910, when Edward joined the U. S. Navy and will probably see many parts of the world before he returns again to the home roof. Mr. Slippey is a Republican in his political views. With his wife he belongs to the Luth- eran church. V. HERBY HANCUFF, president and manager of the Juniata Manufacturing Com- pany, whose plant is located at Williamsburg, is also one of the stock holders and a director of the First National Bank of Williamsburg, and is recognized as one of the leading citizens of the borough. He was born April 14, 1861, ‘in Woodbury Township, Blair County, Pa., and is a son of Alfred and Mary (Sorrick) Hancuff, and a grandson of John and Eliz- abeth (Whittaker) Hancuff. His maternal grandparents were Valentine and Ava (Henry) Sorrick. , Alfred Hancuff was engaged in canal car- pentering during his early life, but later fol- lowed farming in Catherine Township, Blair County. He was politically a Democrat, and affiliated with the Portage Lodge of Masons at Hollidaysburg. He married Mary Sorrick and of their union were born the following chil- dren: Anna, Elizabeth, who married David Crane; and V. Herby, the eldest and subject of this record. Mr. and Mrs. Hancuff were both members of the Lutheran Church and were buried at Yellow Springs. V. Herby Hancuff obtained his education in .the schools of the county and at Woodberry. Normal, Bedford County, where he spent one term, and then taught seven terms in the schools of Blair County. He subsequently en- gaged as a traveling salesman for Curry Canan 748 of Altoona for 15 years; and in 1904, with other citizens of this community, organized the Juniata Manufacturing Company, whose plant is located at Williamsburg. One year after the organization of this company he was elected president and manager of same, and has since served most efficiently in that capac- ity. In politics Mr. Hancuff is independent, and is fraternally a member of the Masons, be- ing affiliated with the Portage Lodge No. 220, ° and the Chapter at Hollidaysburg, No. 166. He is also a member of the M. W. of A. of Williamsburg, and the Commercial Travelers. October 18, 1887, Mr. Hancuff was joined in marriage with Emma Deihl of E. Freedom, and of their union were born: Iris; Karl; and Guido, Mrs. Hancuff is a daughter of Jonas and Mary (Hintz) Deihl, and a grand daugh- ter of Daniel and Margaret (Whitstone) Deihl. Her maternal grandparents were Michael and Elizabeth (Mott) Hintz. Mr. and Mrs. Deihl were parents of the following children: Caro- line, who is the wife of William W. Trout, now deceased; Catherine, widow of Joseph Adams; Lucinda, married Benjamin Burnett; Elizabeth, married James Laughlin; Alice; Henrietta, is the wife of Frank Fenton; R. McClelland; William, deceased; and Emma, wife of our subject. Mr. and Mrs. Hancuff are members of the Lutheran church. ROBERT ALEXANDER, deceased, who is well remembered by many citizens of Al- toona, where his death occurred a few days after the happy celebration of his Golden Wed- ding, August 13, 1884, was born June 5, 1805, near Alexandria, in Hart’s Log Valley, Hunt- ingdon County, Pa. His father had emigrated from Ireland and served his adopted country in the Revolutionary War. His life was more or less a military one as later he took part in the troubles with the Indians before they were finally driven from the Pennsylvania moun- tains. He died in 1813. Robert Alexander (2), son of Robert, was probably one of a large family and perhaps it was through hardship and struggle in his early years, that he developed the sturdy traits which HISTORY OF BLAIR COUNTY later made him so strong in upholding his con- victions of right, and so intolerant of pretense: or hypocrisy. In 1827 he went into the mer- cantile business at Williamsburg, which he con- tinued until 1874, when he retired to Altoona. He is remembered by those who were early agitators in this section concerning temperance legislation, and was a member of that strong organization known as the Sons of Temperance, and was the founder of the temperance society known as the Silver Grays, one that accom- plished a large amount of good, being entirely made up of earnest, thoughtful men, like Rob- ert Alexander. In his political views he was a Republican and had he so desired, might fre- quently have held almost any office in the gift of his party. He was married on August 4, 1829, to Miss Mary Rodkey, and with her was permitted to celebrate the fiftieth anniversary of this union. They both were consistent members of the Presbyterian church. GEORGE W. STIFFLER, a well known citizen of Allegheny Township, and a repre- sentative of one of the solid old families of Blair County, Pa.; has been a resident of Canan Station since 1880. He was born in Allegheny Township, December 10, 1869, and is a son of James M. and Elizabeth (Weaver) Stiffler. James M. Stiffler was born in what was then Bedford but later Blair County, and was a son of Frederick Stiffler, a native of Bedford County and of German ancestry. James M. Stiffler was a leading citizen of Blair County and served in the office of sheriff for three years and held numerous township positions of responsibility. He settled at Canan Station in 1880 and resided here until his death which. occurred January 29, 1908, when hé was about seventy-five years of age. In politics he was a Republican and in religious faith was a Luth- eran. He married Elizabeth Weaver, who died in 1887. Of their children the following survive: Frederick, of Allegheny Township; Levinia, wife of Howard W. Good, of Logan Township; Martha, wife of Frederick Max- field, of Omaha, Neb.; and George W. and Mary F., both of Allegheny Township. AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS George W. Stiffler grew to manhood in Al- legheny Township and was educated in the public schools. In 1904 he was married to Miss Erna Reiswick, who was born in Bed- ford County and is a daughter of George W. Reiswick, and they have three children: Lewis E., Frances M., and James M. Mr. Stiffler is a Republican in his political views and at times has held public office, serving for several years as auditor of Allegheny Township. He is identified with the Grange, Patrons of Hus- bandry, at Eldorado, Pa., and is a member of the Royal Order of the Moose at Altoona. GEORGE A. ICKES, M. D., a physician of prominence, who has been engaged in the prac- tice of medicine at Altoona, Pa., since 1889, was born October 19, 1855, at Ickesburg, Perry County, Pa. His early education was obtained in the schools of Newport, and at the Juniata Normal School, and after teaching a short time, entered the Jefferson Medical College of Philadelphia, from which he graduated with the class of 1886. He first embarked in the practice of medicine at McAllistersville, Juniata County, Pa., then located at Millerstown, Perry County, and in 1889 came to Altoona where he. has been continuously and _ success- fully engaged in general practice. Dr. Ickes is a member of the County, State, and American Medical Associations, has served for a time as coroner of Perry County, and was a member of the city councils of Altoona from 1896 until 1907. He affiliates with I. O. O. F., the For- resters, the Heptasophs, and the Royal Order of Moose. 5 In 1882 Dr. Ickes married Sidna E. Mac Clung, who was born and reared in Philadel- phia. They have five children: George L., a resident of Newport, Perry County, Pa.; L. A.; R. Nicholas; Marion E.; and Gertrude, an adopted daughter. - JOHN MILLER, a ‘veteran of the Civil War, and a much esteemed citizen of Franks- town Township, Blair County, Pa., is now liv- ing in retirement and was for many years en- gaged in agricultural pursuits on a farm of 100 749 acres. He was born in Wertemberg, Ger- many, and was the only child of Uhlrick and Fredrica (Sheart) Miller, both of whom al- ways lived in their native country. His father was first married to Elizabeth Hild, and of that union were born the following children: Fred- erick; Gottlieb; David; Elizabeth, who mar- ried Christopher Grass; and Barbara, who married a Mr. Shook. John Miller was reared in Wertemberg, Germany, where he attended the common schools until fourteen years of age, and in 1856, when about nineteen years old, ran away from home in order to avoid serving in the German army. He came to the United States and first settled in Huntingdon County, Pa., where he resided for sixteen years. In 1864 he enlisted for service in the Civil War and became a member of Co. D, 205th Pa‘ Vol. Inf. He participated in many important skir- mishes and battles, among these being the bat- tles of Fort Stephenson and Petersburg, at the latter of which his regiment took a very active part. He was discharged: June 1, 1865, and then returned to Huntingdon County, where he worked for eight years for one man. After his marriage he rented land for a time and later followed general farming for many years on a farm of his own, 100 acres in Franks- town Township, but is now living in retire- ment, having sold the farm to his son, Charles John Miller. Mr. Miller was married in March, 1866, to Martha Garner, who was reared in Sinking Valley, and died in July, 1885. Of their union were born the following children: Mary, who is the wife of Harry Mattern; and Lillian, Harriet, Elizabeth W., Harry, Charles John, and Joseph C. In politics Mr. Miller is a Re- publican, and has served three years as a school director. He is a member of the Lutheran church. REV. ISAAC KRIDER, pastor of the Dun- cansville Lutheran Church, at Duncansville, Pa., to which charge he came on June 1, 1890, was born in Centre County, Pa., April 22, 750 1846, and is a son of John and Elizabeth (Rumbarger) Krider. John Krider was born at Lebanon, Pa., a member of one of the old Swiss families that came early to Pennsylvania and left an im- press that has never been effaced, bringing with them their strong religious faith and their frugal and virtuous habits. The original an- cestor of this family was one Michael Krider who came from Switzerland in answer to the earnest solicitation of William Penn who was anxious to secure Swiss colonists. Michael Krider probably reached Pennsylvania in 1709. He was evidently a man of superior judgment or he would not have been entrusted with so momentous a mission as that of securing a fu- ture home for his fellow countrymen, in a land so far away. That his report was favorable was shown when a body of colonists came from - Switzerland in 1710 and others followed in 1736. William Penn gave them 800 acres in Lancaster County, entrusting the deed for this land to Michael Krider, making him the dis- tributor of this bounty. Since those days the Kriders have scattered to all parts of the Union but many of the direct descendants of this an- cestor still remain near the place of original settlement in Pennsylvania. After their marriage, the parents of Rev. Krider remained in Centre County and both were buried there. The mother was born in Huntingdon County. The father was a car- ‘penter by trade. They reared a family that was creditable to them in every way. Isaac Krider grew to manhood in the family home at Gatesburg, and attended school there and at Pine Grove Academy and later spent two years as a student in what was then called the Centre County Normal School, located at Rebersburg. He then became a teacher and for seven years continued in educational work, af- ter which he took a complete course at the Sus- quehannah University, a well known Lutheran institution at Selinsgrove, Pa., and was gradu- ated in theology there, being ordained a min- ister of the Gospel in 1879. Since the latter part of 1881 he has been engaged continuously in ministerial work and has had the inward HISTORY OF BLAIR COUNTY satisfaction of knowing that his efforts have been productive of great good in whatever field he has labored. For over nine years he was pastor of Grace Lutheran Church at Bellwood, Pa., and came from there to Duncansville, where, under his care, the church has increased | spiritually and financially. To a less industri- ous man the charge of a large congregation would about fill up his measure of time, but Mr. Krider has found opportunity to do a large amount of surveying, for which he is well qualified. While a resident of Bellwood, he was one of the accredited borough sur- veyors. On March 31, 1881, Mr. Krider was married to Miss Anna Geist, a native of Huntingdon County, Pa., and they have six children, namely: Justine, who is the wife of James Gable, train dispatcher for freight, from the Middle Division of the Pennsylvania Railroad, residing at Juniata; Alleene; George E., who is foreman of the pattern department of the McLanahan-Stone Machine Company, at Hol- lidaysburg; and Adele, George _H., and Julia, who reside at home. In politics Mr. Krider is nominally a Repub- lican but his sympathies are largely with the Prohibition doctrine. He has accepted few public positions aside from his profession, but in 1906 was made treasurer of the Allegheny Township road fund and for twelve years has been a member of the Board of Education of the borough of Duncansville. For many years he has been an Odd Fellow and is a member of Wanita Lodge, No. 1142, at Hollidaysburg, and of the Progressive Encampment, No. 105, of the same city. THOMAS G. HERBERT, health officer, and one of the highly esteemed citizens of Al- toona, Pa., where he has been a resident since 1886, was born in 1859, in Scotland, where he lived until the age of thirteen years, when he- came to America. After reaching the United States, Mr. Her- bert located first at Woodland, Clearfield County, Pa., where he found employment in the fire brick plant. He also spent seven years JESSE L. HARTMAN AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS in a similar plant at Clearfield and Sandy Ridge, Pa., after which he removed to Pitts- burg, Pa., where he was employed two years in a brick plant. In 1886, upon locating in Al- toona, he accepted a position as foreman of the fire brick plant here, and two years later en- tered the post-office at Altoona as a carrier, which position he filled two years. He was then employed as a mailing clerk for eight years and was appointed secretary of the first Civil Service Board in the Altoona post-office, in 1893. In 1898 he resigned from the service of the government and went to Philadelphia, where he transacted especial business for the New York Life Insurance Company, but still continued his residence in Altoona. In Octo- ber, 1902, Mr. Herbert returned to Altoona and became assistant health officer, and two years later became health officer of the City of Altoona, and completed a course in Sanitary Science, in May, 1905. Mr. Herbert was for- merly actively interested in politics, but now devotes his entire time to his scientific studies, keeping fully abreast with the advance of sani-: tary science. His religious connection is with the St. John’s Catholic Church. Fraternally he is a member of the Knights of Columbus, the Young Men’s Institute, and the Ancient Order of Hibernians. In 1887, Mr. Herbert was joined in mar- riage with Anna E. Shaffner of Clearfield County, Pa., and they have five children: Leo, who is employed as a clerk with the Penna. R. R.; and Agnes, Nellie, Raymond, and Gerald. GEORGE HERSHBERGER, whose val- uable farm of 115 acres is situated near Mar- tinsburg, Pa., in a very desirable part of North Woodbury Township, came to this place in 1902 and devotes it to crop raising and dairy- ing. He was born January 3, 1851, in Snake Spring Valley, Bedford County, Pa., and is a son of Rev. Henry and Eliza (Steel) Hersh- berger. Rev. Henry Hershberger was a son of George Hershberger, who was of German ex- traction. Rev. Henry was a well known and 7538 approved minister in the Church of the Breth- ren and for a quarter of a century led his peo- ple in religious matters. He married Eliza Steel, who also was born and is living in Bed- ford County. Of their children the following survive: George, in North Woodbury Town- ship; Fannie, wife of Samuel C. Keim, of Kansas City, Mo.; John S., of Everett, Pa.; Mary, wife of Albert Stayer, of Bedford County; Lydia, wife of Gilbert L. Working, of New Enterprise, Pa.; James Q., of Everett, Pa.; Daniel F., of Everett; Sophia, wife of . Jacob Baker, of Snake Spring Township, Bed- a County; and Anson, residing at Saxton, a. iz George Hershberger has been engaged in agricultural pursuits.ever since his school days ended and owns what is probably one of the best farms in North Woodbury Township. He was married December 25, 1872, to Miss S. Alice Boor, who was also born in Bedford County, a daughter of Joseph W. Boor, and an interesting family of nine children was born to them, the greater number of them now hav- ing homes and families of their own. Fannie F. is the wife of Howard Over, of Bedford ‘County. Harvey B. lives in Miami County, O. Blair C., lives in South Dakota. Louisa is the wife of Charles A. Studebaker, of Miami County. Eliza is the wife of J. K. Archey, of Pittsburg, Pa. A. Maud is the wife of Clar- ence B. Rhodes, of North Woodbury Township and Josephine also lives there. J. Warren is with the Pennsylvania Railroad Company, be- ing assistant station agent at Martinsburg. Claudius A. remains at home assisting his father. Mr. Hershberger and family are mem- bers of the Church of the Brethren. He is identified with the Republican party. He is one of the representative and reliable men of this township and is held in very high esteem. JESSE L. HARTMAN, president of the First National Bank of Hollidaysburg, and ex- prothonotary of Blair County, is one of the leadirig men of this section. He was born in Huntingdon County, Pa., June 18, 1853. His paternal great-grandfather, Jacob Hartman, ¢ 754 came from Germany in 1775, and settled in Chester County, Pa., where he died. Benjamin Hartman, the father of Jesse L. Hartman, was born in Perry County, in 1804. In 1852 he removed to Cottage Postoffice, in Huntingdon County, where he acted for sev- eral years as postmaster, and was engaged in farming and a general mercantile business. In 1869 he came to Hollidaysburg, but in the fol- lowing year removed to Royer, where he was engaged in agricultural pursuits and there died in August, 1880, at the age of seventy-six years. He was energetic and active in what- ever he undertook, and by good judgment and careful management, always secured fair re- turns upon his investments. He married Penina M. Wilson, a native of Stone Valley, Huntingdon County, and of a family of nine children she was the first to die, when the youngest was fifty-five years of age. She passed away on New Year’s day, 1888, aged seventy-one years. Her father, Thomas Wil- son, was of Scotch-Irish descent, and a native of Huntingdon County, where he died in 1862, when in the eighty-fifth year of his age. He was a prosperous farmer, and a descendant of one of the early settled and most substan- tial families of that county. Jesse L. Hartman was reared on his father’s farm until he was fifteen years of age, and re- ceived his education in the common and in the graded schools of Martinsburg and Bell’s Mills. He then came to Blair County, and in the fall of 1872 became a clerk in the store of B. M. Johnston and Co., at their furnace at McKee’s Gap. He was successively promoted until he became manager of the store, and in 1878 was appointed general manager of the furnace, and remained with this firm until 1891. For many years Mr. Hartman has been active in Repub- lican politics and at present is serving as chair- man of the Blair County Republican Commit- tee. At the solicitation of many of his friends, he permitted the use of his name for the office of prothonotary, to which he was elected by the largest majority given any candidate on the ticket. He served out his term in this of- fice, conducting it according to correct business HISTORY OF BLAIR COUNTY principles, and rendered satisfaction to the pub- lic in this connection. On November 7, 1878, Mr. Hartman was married to Miss Ella Denniston, daughter of James Denniston, of Hollidaysburg. To them were born two children: a daughter, who died August 5, 1882, and James D., born May 15, 1880. Mr. Hartman resides on the corner of Juniata and Garber Street, Hollidaysburg. JAMES GAILEY, an enterprising citizen and progressive farmer, residing on a fine farm. of 129 acres in Woodbury Township, Blair County, Pa., was born in 1845, in Philadelphia, Pa., a son of William and Martha (Black) Gailey, both now deceased. The father was identified with the Democratic party in politics, and he and wife were both members of the Presbyterian church. They were parents of the following children: Eliza, William, John, James, Martha, and Samuel. James Gailey obtained a common school edu- cation and has always followed farming, hav- ing purchased his present farm of 129 acres from the Ake heirs, fifteen years ago. At the time of his purchase, the farm was well im- proved, having a good house and barn, but Mr. Gailey has just completed a fine new residence. . He was married in 1869 to Lydia Jackson, a daughter of John Jackson of Clearfield County. She is one of the following children born to her parents: Andrew, George, Louise, Melissa, Matilda, David, Lydia, Elizabeth, and Sophia. The following children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Gailey: Martha, who is the wife of Harry Reese; and Anna, William, Leonard, Melissa, Andrew, Samuel, and Essie, deceased. The religious connection of the fam- ily is with the Presbyterian church. Mr. Gailey is politically a Democrat and takes an active interest in all affairs which pertain to the wel- fare of the community in which he lives. GUY R. LINGAFELT, prothonotary and clerk of the courts of Blair County, Pa., is one of Hollidaysburg’s most respected citizens. He was born December 12, 1869, at Hollidays- AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS burg, and is a son of James M. and Lucretia J. (Rhodes) Lingafelt. James M. Lingafelt was long one of Blair County’s prominent men. The family is of German extraction. He engaged in merchan- dising at Hollidaysburg for many years and also was postmaster. His death occurred Jan- uary 14, 1896. He was the father of five chil- dren. Guy R. Lingafelt was educated in the schools of his native city and after leaving the High School accepted a clerkship in a mercantile house. He is an active and loyal Republican and on March 20, 1901, was appointed deputy prothonotary. Through obliging and courte- ous treatment of all who had business with the prothonotary’s office, -Mr. Lingafelt made many friends and that these were stanch ones was shown in the records of the recent election, on November 2, 1909, when he ran several thou- sand votes ahead of the other candidates, this vote standing: Guy R. Lingafelt, Republican, 5,701; W. C. Reem, Democrat, 2,842; Will- iam Dodson, Socialist, 787. Mr. Lingafelt was married in January, 1901, to Miss Bess Geesey, a daughter of Charles Geesey, a well known attorney at Altoona, and they have four children. Mrs. Lingafelt is a member of the Lutheran church. The pleasant and attractive family residence stands at No. 91g Penn Street, Hollidaysburg. EMANUEL WILT, owner of a farm of 125 acres in Juniata Township, Blair County, Pa., has been a life long resident of this county, and was born July 15, 1871, a son of Alfred and Mary (Stiffler) Wilt, and a grandson of David Wilt, who was one of the early settlers and prominent citizens of Juniata Township. Alfred Wilt was a native of Blair County, Pa., and died here in June, 1907. He was one of the progressive and well known citizens of Juniata Township, and served in various town- ship offices. He was politically a Republican, and served as auditor, tax collector and treas- urer of the township. He was a member of the Lutheran Church of Newry, Pa. Of his union with Mary Stiffler, who was also a native of 755 Blair County, were born the following chil- dren: Amanda E., who is the wife of David Hanley, of Duncansville, Pa.; Emanuel; and Clara B., who married O. J. Leighty, of Poplar Run. Mr. Wilt was a member of the Grange of Poplar Run, Pa., and also the Patrons of Husbandry. The mother of our subject is still living and is a resident of Freedom Township. Emanuel Wilt has always resided in Blair County, Pa., and was educated in the schools at Poplar Run, Pa. He has from youth up been engaged in agricultural pursuits and is the owner of a fine farm of 125 acres in Juniata Township. Mr. Wilt was married June 4, 1902, to Martha A. Feather, of Blair County, Pa., and their union has resulted in the following issue: Ethel M.; Alpherd L.; Carl E.; and Frieda E. Mr. Wilt is a Repub- lican, and is now serving his second term as a member of the board of auditors, of which he is also secretary. He holds membership with the Lutheran Church of Newry. DR. CLAIR E. ROBISON, one of the lead- ing medical practitioners of Altoona, Pa., has been a resident of this city for the past six years, and was born in Hollidaysburg, Pa., a son of Elmer H. Robison. His father, who died about 1894, was one of the prominent cit- izens Of Hollidaysburg, and although engaged in agricultural pursuits, was also extensively interested in various business enterprises of Blair County. Doctor Robison received his early education in the common schools of Blair County, and his academic course at Juniata College, after which he entered Jefferson Medical College, from which he graduated with the class of 1903, and has since been located at Altoona, in the general practice of medicine. He is a member of the Blair County, the Pennsylvania State, and American Medical Societies, and is a member of the medical staff of Mercy Hospital of Altoona. Doctor Robison is a valued member of the Altoona Board of Health, being president of that body during the year 1909, and is local medical examiner for the following insurance 756 companies: the Pennsylvania Mutual Life, of Philadelphia; The Canadian Mutual; Frater- nal Mystic Circle; the Workman’s Circle of New York; and the Union Central. He holds membership with the University Club of Al- toona, is a Knight Templar, Chapter and Mas- ter. Mason, a Shriner, and a member of the Fraternal Mystic Circle. Doctor Robison was married in 1905 to Miss Gladys B. McCauley of Salem, Virginia. Their children are Beverly and Jack Robison. In religious faith Doctor Robison is a Luth- eran, being an active member of Grace Church, Altoona. JACOB ACKERS, proprietor of the Hotel Waldorf, a first class and finely appointed house of public entertainment, ranking in comfort, convenience and standing with any in the city of Altoona, was born May 7, 1850, in Bedford County, Pa., and is a son of Conrad and Re- becca (Leonard) Ackers. Conrad Ackers was a well known and re- spected resident of Bedford County for many years, where he was engaged in the tanning and butchering business. He took an interest in public matters and voted with the Demo- cratic party. He married Rebecca Leonard and they had the following children: Samuel, Thomas, John, Elizabeth, Catherine, James, Jacob, Emanuel, Rebecca, Mary Jane, Mar- garet, and Anna. The eldest son, Samuel, is a veteran of the Civil War. Jacob Ackers obtained his education in the schools of Bedford County, after which he was in the employ of the Pennsylvania Railroad Company for twenty-five years. He then be- came connected with the wholesale department of the Pittsburg Brewing Company and con- tinued there for eight years and then took charge of the Hotel Waldorf, which he has made a very popular hostelry. He was mar- ried in 1871 to Miss Mary Carroll, a daughter of Edward Carroll, and they have three chil- dren: Edward, William and Paul. Mr. Ack- ers and family belong to St. John’s Catholic Church. He is not identified with either great HISTORY OF BLAIR COUNTY political party at the present time but casts his vote according to his own judgment. HARRY M. DETRICK, who occupies the responsible position of foreman of the stock de- partment of the D. M. Bare Paper Company, at Roaring Spring, Pa., is a leading citizen of this pleasant borough and is a prominent Re- publican politician... He was born at Loysburg, ‘Bedford County, Pa., March 17, 1861, and is a son of James and Rachael (Johnson) Detrick. E: James Detrick was a foremost citizen for a number of years in the different places where he made his home in order to attend to various business interests. He was born in Franklin County, Pa., and from there moved to Loys- burg, in Bedford County, and for a number of years while living there was manager of the mercantile business of Bare & Spanogle, who also operated a large flour mill at this place. Early in the seventies he accepted the position of ‘station agent at Roaring Spring for the Pennsylvania Railroad Company and served in that office for some years. He also was fore- man for a long time in the finishing department of the well known paper manufacturing firm of Morrison, Bare & Cass, since merged into the D. M. Bare Paper Company. He served as burgess of Roaring Spring and also as a justice of the peace and was well qualified for every office and position that he either sought or to which he was elected. His death occurred in March, 1908. He was a member of the Meth- odist Episcopal church and was so liberal in his contributions to church support that the erec- tion of the first building for this religious body at Roaring Spring was made possible. Harry M. Detrick was about six years old when his parents came to Roaring Spring and here he attended school until he was seventeen years of age and then entered the employ of the leading firm of the place, the D. M. Bare Paper Company, with which he has remained identi- fied ever since, gradually being adyanced in position and responsibility and since 1896 hav- ing been foreman of the stock department. With commendable good sense, Mr. Detrick JAMES R. DETWILER AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS began at the bottom of the ladder and his train- ing in this house has been thorough. Mr. Detrick married Miss Alice Imler, of Roaring Spring. From early manhood he has taken an interest in public affairs and soon identified himself with the Republican party, with the principles of whch he has remained in accord until the present. For seven consecu- tive years he served as a member of the Repub- lican County Committee from Roaring Spring borough and was a delegate to the state con- vention from Blair County that nominated Gov- ernor Pennypacker. For over a quarter of a century he has been an Odd Fellow and is.a member of Model Lodge, No. 856, at Roaring Spring. For fifteen years he has served as a member of the borough school board and has been both president and treasurer of this body. ARTHUR B. CLARK, city treasurer, and one of the leading business men of Altoona, Pa., has been identified with the business in- terests of the city since February 29, 1892, and was born June 16, 1872, at New Bloomfield, Perry County, Pa. Mr. Clark was reared in New Bloomfield, attended the public schools of that borough and the New Bloomfield Acad- emy, and at the age of 20 years became identi- fied with the Morning Tribune of Altoona, with which he was associated for six or seven years. *Then owing to ill health he spent three years traveling over various sections of the United States, after which he returned to Al- toona, and became advertising manager of the Evening Gazette of this city. In February, 1905, Mr. Clark was elected treasurer. His services in this position were so acceptable to the people of the city that at the expiration of his term, he was re-elected to that office, in February, 1908, and is still serving in that capacity. He is still associated with the Eve- ning Gazette, being treasurer of the company, and also a director. He is also treasurer of the Wray-Moore Company, wholesale grocers of Altoona, and is vice president of the Penn- sylvania Pressed Brick Company, of Grazier- ville, and is connected with other business en- terprises in the city. 759 Mr. Clark is fraternally a 32d degree Mason, a member of the Harrisburg Consistory, of Jaffa Temple, Ancient Arabic Order Nobles of the Mystic Shrine, Altoona Lodge No. 102, Benevolent Protective Order of Elks, is Past President of Altoona Aerie, No. 286, Frater- nal Order of Eagles, the Royal Order of Moose and Lodge No. 149, Order of Owls. In 1902, Mr. Clark was united in marriage with Helen M. Greevy, who is a daughter of Thomas H. Greevy. Mr. Clark is a charter member of the Grace Lutheran Church. JAMES RALPH DETWILER, dealer in hardware and farming implements, is a lead- ing business citizen of Williamsburg, Pa., and is also a stockholder, secretary and treasurer of the Juniata Manufacturing Company of this city. He was born January 12, 1876, in Huston Township, Blair County, Pa., and is a son of George and Mary A. (Eastep) Det- ,wiler, and a grandson of Anthony Detwiler. George Detwiler died in April, 1898. His widow survives and makes her home with her children. He was politically a Democrat. George and Mary Detwiler were parents of the following children: Mary J., who is the wife of B. F. Fonner; Franklin P.; Ellen, who is the wife of Henry Showalter; U. G.; Alonzo C.; William C.; Ida; Anna M., who married John Hill; James R.; Cora A., who is the wife of Walter Medaugh; Martha V., who is deceased, was the wife of Cletus Nico- demus; and Bertha, who is the wife of Blaine Palm. James R. Detwiler attended the common schools of the county and after obtaining his education, engaged in farming until igor, when he embarked in the implement. and ve- hicle business. He also carries a line of hard- ware and is known through the country as an authority on cream separators. In politics Mr. Detwiler is independent. He served as burgess of Williamsburg from 1906 to 1909. Fraternally he is a member of the Portage Lodge, No. 220, F.& A. M.: the Orphans’ Home Lodge of I. O. O. F., No. 315, of Williamsburg; the M. W. of A., No. 760 82098, and the P. O. S. of A., both of Will- iamsburg. His religious connection is with the Lutheran church. On August 9, 1900, Mr. Detwiler married Miss Mary Thompson, who is a daughter of David and Anna M. Thompson, well known residents of Williamsburg, and they have two sons, David Luther, and Ralph Elwood. FREDERICK M. KLEPSER, a_ well known resident of Martinsburg, Pa., and the owner and operator of Klepser’s mill, situated in North Woodbury Township, Blair County, Pa., was born in Bedford County, March 15, 1852, and is a son of Frederick and Christine (Metzker) Klepser. Frederick Klepser was born in Germany and was brought to the United States when he was quite young, his parents settling in what is now Blair County, Pa. Later Frederick Klep- ser settled at Puttstown, Pa., where he oper- ated a tannery and store for many years, at the time when the Broad Top Railway was built in that section. Some years before his death he purchased the property known as Klepser’s mill, in North Woodbury Township, Blair County, and this mill has been operated in the family continuously ever since. He was a man of sterling character and was widely known. He lived to be seventy-five years of age. In his religious connection he was a Luth- eran and politically he was a Republican after the organization of that party. Frederick M. Klepser was reared in North Woodbury Township and attended the public schools as opportunity was afforded him in his youth, and then learned the milling business in which he has continued ever since, engaging also in farming, and owning a well developed farm of £20 acres. Mr. Klepser married Miss Mary Stoner, who was born near Martinsburg, a daughter of David B. Stoner, and they have four children, namely: Eva, who is the wife of J. E. Dilling, of Martinsburg; Elvin, who is a resident of Altoona; and Sannie and Harvey, who reside at Martinsburg. Mr. Klepser is a member of the Brethren Church at Martinsburg, being a HISTORY OF BLAIR COUNTY deacon in the same. He is one of upright, hon- orable men of the borough and a most worthy and useful citizen. P. L. MORRISON, the originator and pro- prietor of the Colonial Hotel, the only hostelry in Altoona conducted exclusively on the Euro- pean plan, and the best equipped and most cen- trally located hotel in the city, was born in Fayette County, Pennsylvania, in 1871. His parents were George and Catharine (Cassiday) Morrison, both of whom, though born in Scot- land, were descendants of Irish stock. To this union were born seven children: P. L, George, William, John, Michael, Mary, and Margaret. P. L. Morrison received his educa- tion in the public schools. Five years previous to October 6, 1906, when he came to Altoona, he resided at Aldine. He was married Febru- ary 5, 1893, to Miss Catharine, a daughter of Michael Murphy, of Beaver Falls, Pa., and to this union are four children: William, Mada- line, Paul and Patrick. Mr. and Mrs. Morri- son are communicants of St. John’s Catholic Pro-Cathedral. Fraternally, Mr. Morrison is an active member of the Benevolent Protective Order Elks, and politically is an adherent of the Republican party. The Colonial Hotel is an imposing affair, attractive in construction and erected of steel, concrete, brick and marble. The home-like atmosphere of the hotel, with its owner’s genial hospitality, gives it extensive patronage. The Café Colonial, an adjunct of the hotel, is the recognized rendezvous of Al- toona’s smart set. JOHN E. HAGEY, postmaster at Henri- etta, Blair County, Pa., and general merchant of the place, has been a resident since 1898, and is identified with the leading interests of this section. He was born at Martinsburg, Pa., March 8, 1853, and is a son of David and Mar- garet (Kissinger) Hagey. David Hagey was born in Huntingdon County, Pa., and his wife at Martinsburg, in Blair County, and both are deceased. The ma- ternal grandfather of Mr. Hagey was David Kissinger, whose father had been so prominent A. 8. FISHER AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS a man at Reading, Pa., that he was honored by having Kissinger Street in that city named for him. David Kissinger is remembered by the older residents of Martinsburg as a busi- ness man of that place, where he conducted a tailoring establishment for many years. When John E. Hagey was five years old his parents moved from Martinsburg to Cove Sta- tion, Huntingdon County, and several years later to Fredericksburg, Blair County, where he grew to manhood, obtaining his education in the public schools and at Juniata College, Martinsburg. He began work as a clerk in a mercantile establishment at Fredericksburg and after a short experience became a clerk in a business house at Sarah Furnace, in Blair County. He was eighteen years of age when he came first to Henrietta as head clerk for the firm of Wood, Morrell & Co., of this place, and after eight months was transferred by the com- pany to what were then known as the Spring- field Mines, in Huston Township, where he re- mained for ten years as manager. From there he was transferred to Vulcan, Mich., as gen- eral manager of three large stores operated by the Penn Iron Mining Company, a branch of the Cambria Iron Company, and he remained there for nine years, for four years being gen- eral manager of the stores and for five years general manager of the works and mines. In 1891 he returned to Pennsylvania and for sev- eral years was general manager, at Johnstown, for the Penn Traffic Company, and in 1898 re- turned to Henrietta, in the same year being made postmaster and establishing his mercan- tile enterprise. He has additional interests. He is agent for the Pennsylvania Railroad sys- tem at Henrietta and agent at this point for the Adams Express Company, while looking after his agricultural interests alone would pro- vide employment for any ordinary man, as he owns 1,500 acres of fine land situated in Blair and Bedford Counties. His is a telling ex- ample of what may be accomplished by an American youth whose education incites him to industry and who builds upon the foundation stone of business integrity. Mr. Hagey married Miss Mary N. Brum- 761 baugh, a native of Blair County, and a daugh- ter of Rev. George W. Brumbaugh, formerly a resident of Clover Creek, now of Taylor Township. Of their three children but one survives, Carrie E., who is the wife of W. K. Endsly, a resident of New York City. Mr. and Mrs. Hagey are members of the Presbyte- rian church. In politics he is a Republican and in early manhood served as auditor of. Blair County. The name of Hagey is remembered among the pioneers of Huntingdon County. ANDREW S. FISHER, a well known and able attorney of Altoona, Blair County, Pa., has been a resident there since 1893. He was born April 28, 1865, in Bedford, Bedford County, Pa., which was the scene of his boy- hood activities, where he took a preparatory course in the common schools and a State Nor- mal School, and then read law in the office of Hon. John M. Reynolds, the present congress- man of this district and lieutenant governor elect. During his boyhood days he manifested considerable ingenuity and mechanical skill and obtained patents upon several useful inventions. After a very creditable examination he was admitted to the Bar of Bedford Cotinty in 1890, and there engaged in practice until 1893, when he removed to Altoona, where he was first associated in practice with J. Banks Kurtz, Esq. After six months this partnership was dis- solved and he established an office of his own and has since been actively engaged in practice in the courts of Blair and the adjoining coun- ties and of the state. He is a member of the Blair County Bar Association. In politics Mr. Fisher is a Democrat and has twice been hon- ored by his party with important nominations for office. In 1895 he was the democratic nominee for district attorney but was defeated by William S. Hammond, Esq. In 1898 he re- ceived the democratic nomination for assembly and withdrew to make way for the selection of Hon. Harry G. Stahl, a fusion candidate, who was elected. He has always been actively i in- terested in secret and fraternal society work. He helped to organize the high court of Penn-: sylvania of the Independent Order of Foresters, 762 of which he was the first state counsellor for two terms; he is a past dictator and trustee of Lodge No. 74, of the Loyal Order of Moose and rendered valuable services in the building of the new Moose Home; and has held posi- tions of trust in other fraternal societies. In _ 1895 he promoted the Mountain City Trust Company, a prosperous financial institution ot this city and served as a director and counsel for two years. In October, 1892, Mr. Fisher was joined in marriage with Lillie L. Tayman, of Somerset County, Pa., and they have two sons: Frank G., and John Victor Fisher. DR. JOHN LAMBERT BRUBAKER, who has been engaged in the practice of medi- cine at Juniata, Pa., since May, 1891, was born in Juniata County, Pa., in 1854, and is a son of William and Sarah (Kepner) Brubaker. His parents, who were natives of Juniata County, Pa., followed farming and stock raising and were living in Maryland at the time of their respective deaths. Dr. J. L. Brubaker was a babe when his par- ents removed to Taneytown, Maryland, and his educational training was obtained at the Eagle- ton Institute, and the Washington University, ‘from which he graduated with the class of 1874. He then practiced medicine in Perry County, Pa., for ten years with the excep- _ tion of two years spent in the west. He was subsequently located for a time at Bunkerhill, Kans., where he opened a drug store. In 1884 he went to Isabella County, Mich., where he was located for six years previous to coming to Juniata, Pa. Four months after locating in Juniata, Dr. Brubaker removed to his pres- ent location, Fourth Avenue and Fifth Street, and has since been actively engaged in follow- ing his profession. Dr. Brubaker built his residence immediately after locating in Juniata, has been treasurer of the borough ever since its incorporation. In politics he is independent, has served several years as school treasurer, and for eighteen years has been surgeon for the Pennsylvania Railroad Company. Dr. Brubaker has been a member of the Sheridan HISTORY OF BLAIR COUNTY Troop N. G. Pa., since 1892, and also’ saw service in Porto Rico, with the Pennsylvania Volunteer Cavalry during the Spanish-Amer- ican War. He affiliates with the I. O. R. M., the Knights of Pythias, and the B. P. O. E. Dr. Brubaker was first married to Ella J, Jones, of Lockhaven, Pa. Mrs. Brubaker died in July, 1903, and of their union was born one son, Dr. Augustus J. Brubaker, who was edu- cated in the schools of Juniata, the Pennsyl- vania State College, and the Philadelphia Den- tal College. He was first engaged in practice in Juniata, then located in Lancaster about three years, and returned to Juniata. He has since been engaged in practice in Juniata with the exception of the winter of 1908-1909, when he followed his profession in Porto Rico. In 1905, Dr. Brubaker formed a second union with Edith B. Coblan, of Gettysburg, Pa., and they have one son, Donald Lambert Brubaker. DANIEL HOOVER, whose fine farm of over 200 acres, lies in Huston Township, Blair . County, Pa., was not only a successful agricul- turist but was known far and wide in his pro- fessional capacity, that of surveyor. He was born July 28, 1836, in Huston Township, and died November 23, 1910. He was a son of Jacob C. and Margaret (Garner) Hoover. Jacob C. Hoover was born in Huston Town- ship, February 26, 1809, and was a son of Samuel Hoover, who was born in Franklin County, Pa. When the latter was a boy he accompanied his father, Adam Hoover, to what is now Blair County, settlement being made on Clover Creek. The Hoovers came originally from Germany and in this widely distributed family may be found some of Penn- sylvania’s best citizens. Jacob C. Hoover passed his entire life in Huston Township, where he died September 12, 1885. He was identified with the Republican party after its formation. He never accepted any office ex- cept that of school director. He married Mar- garet Garner, who was born in Huntingdon County, Pa., August 17, 1815, and died March 14, 1885. Daniel Hoover was reared in Huston Town- CALVIN R. FLUKE AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS ship. He attended the district schools and later the Oak Hill Collegiate Institute, then lo- cated at Williamsburg, after which he taught school for a number of winter sessions. It was in 1855, while a student at Oak Hill, that he studied. surveying and at the time of his death he was probably one of the oldest sur- veyors in all this section. This profession has led him all over Blair and Huntingdon Coun- ties and almost to his last days he still re- sponded when a difficult or doubtful piece of land was to be surveyed, and where the most perfect accuracy was demanded. During all these years he also attended to the management of his farm, on which he lived since 1843, and on which he carried on farming and stock- raising. On December 26, 1867, Mr. Hoover was married to Miss Eliza J. Rhodes, who was born April 18, 1851, in North Woodbury Township, Blair County, a daughter of the late Abraham D. Rhodes (born Sept. 28, 1800; died Jan. 7, 1881). There are eight surviving children of this union, namely: Essington R., who re- sides at Martinsburg; J. Newton, who lives in Huston Township; John E., who lives at Roar- ‘ing Spring; Homer G.,-whose-home it at Phil- adelphia; Daniel R., and Paul, both of whom live in Huston Township; Edith, who.is the wife of George Mock, of Roaring Spring: and Josephine, who lives at home. Mr. Hoover was a life long member of the Reformed Church at Drab. In politics he was a Repub- lican and in 1878 his party brought -him out as a candidate for county surveyor. He was one of Huston Township’s representative men and his death was widely regretted. THOMAS C. HARE, a prominent member of the Altoona bar and city solicitor, belongs to one of the old and leading families of Blair County. He was born at Yellow Springs, Pa., January 14, 1872, and is a son of Samuel and Mary (Donnely) Hare. Samuel Hare was active in business as a merchant for many years and was prominent in politics in Blair County and served for three years as deputy sheriff and held other offices. 765° He married Mary Donnely and six children were born to them. Mr. Hare now lives re- tired at Altoona. Thomas C. Hare was educated in the public schools and Susquehannah University, and was graduated from that institution in 1890. He entered upon the study of law with N. P. Mer- vine, Esq., a well, known local attorney, and entered the law department of the University of Michigan in 1890, from which he graduated in 1892. Mr. Hare immediately opened a law office at Altoona and: has been a resident of this city ever since, and has taken an active interest in public affairs in addition to building up a large and substantial practice. In April, 1905, he was first elected city solicitor, on the Republican ticket, and without question was re-elected to the same office in 1908. He oc- cupies four rooms in the Central Trust Build- ing. Mr. Hare was married to Miss Louise Kurtz, a daughter of Louis D. Kurtz, a well known citizen of Mifflinburg, Pa., and they. have two children: Eleanor and Robert. The pleasant family home is the residence standing at No. 2012 Broad Avenue, Altoona. CALVIN R. FLUKE, cashier of the Farm- ers’ and Merchants’ National Bank, and one of the representative business men of Williams- ‘burg, Pa.,.was born October 2, 1856, in this borough, and is a son of William and Mary Ann (Dean) Fluke. His parents were old set- tlers of Blair County, Pa. They had the fol- lowing children: Anna, who is the wife of Frank R. Schumacker; R. S., who is a hard- ware merchant ; Calvin R., our subject; and William D. Calvin R. Fluke obtained his education in the common schools and the academy at Wil- liamsburg, Pa., and with the exception of nine years spent with the Pennsylvania Railroad Company at Altoona, has always been a resi- dent of this borough. He was for four years secretary and treasurer of the Williamsburg Paper Manufacturing Company, of which he was one of the organizers, and which is now known as the West Virginia Pulp and Paper 766 Company, and on January I, 1910, assumed his present duties as cashier of the Farmers’ and Merchants’ National Bank of Williams- burg. Mr. Fluke is also a stock holder in the Williamsburg Department Store. In politics he is independent and has served in most all of the town offices, being now a member of the town council. His religious connection is with the Presbyterian church, in which he is secretary of the board of deacons. He is a member of the Improved Order of Heptasophs. In May, 1886, Mr. Fluke was united in marriage with Miss Genevieve Roller, a daugh- ter of John M. and Elizabeth Roller, who were old residents of Blair County, and both of whom are deceased and buried in the Presby- terian Cemetery. Mr. and Mrs. Fluke are the parents of three children: Charles S., Fred and John. DAVID KUHN, who devotes his valuable tract of 100 acres to farming and gardening, has one of the best cultivated farms in Alle- gheny Township, Blair County, Pa.. He was born in Allegheny Township October 28, 1845, and is a son of David and Margaret (Wise) Kuhn and a grandson of John Kuhn, who was an early settler in what was known as Dutch Bottom, Blair County. The parents of Mr. Kuhn died in 1887. David Kuhn grew to manhood in his na- tive township and obtained a district school education. His business has always been farming and he makes a specialty of garden- ing. On September 30, 1875, Mr. Kuhn was married to Miss Mary C. Baird, a daughter of the late Simon Baird who re- sided near Sinking Valley. Mr. and Mrs. Kuhn have four children, namely: Myrtle L., who is the wife of D. W. Feather, of Al- toona; and Alpha N., Milton S., and Velvie M., all of Allegheny Township. Mr. Kuhn and family are members of the Lutheran church at Duncansville. In politics he is a Republican but has never been active in political life. He is widely known and is held in high regard by his fellow citizens. HISTORY OF BLAIR COUNTY MILTON B. SHADE, a well known citizen and representative business man of Freedom Township, Blair County, Pa., a member of the firm of Shade Bros., general blacksmiths and repairers, at Leamersville, was born in this village, December 9, 1866, and is a son of John and Mary (Rhodes) Shade. John Shade and wife were born in Blair County, where the former died in May, 1907. His widow, who is now in her eightieth year, is one of the respected and beloved residents of Freedom Township. For fully a half cen- tury, the late John Shade was in the wagon- making business and had a shop at Leamers- ville, and at one time had a large trade. Milton B. Shade attended the public schools and when old enough to make a choice of trades, decided to be a blacksmith. He served an apprenticeship at Waterstreet, in Hunting- don County, and afterward carried on a black- smith business for himself on the corner of Eighth Avenue and Fifteenth Street, Altoona, for a number of years, under the present firm name of Shade Bros. In 1oor he transferred his business to Leamersville, where he has a host of friends and enjoys liberal patronage. He is serving in his second term as a member of the school board of Freedom Township, and takes an active part in public matters affecting his section. Mr. Shade was married to Miss Sarah Young, of Waterstreet, Pa., who died in 1900, leaving three children: Willmina M., Mabel M., and Irma. Mr. Shade is a member of the Lutheran church. He is very active in the fraternal order of Odd Fellows, belonging to the lodge at East Freedom, of which he was the first noble grand and which he is now serv- ing as chaplain. He is identified also with the Grange, Patrons of Husbandry, at Claysburg, and is a member of the National Horseshoers’ Association, Local No. 494, at Altoona. Mr. Shade has a good business and a comfortable home, all of which he has secured through his own efforts and he stands well in every way with his fellow citizens. ° AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS AUSTIN B. DELOZIER, president of the Board of Education at Duncansville, Pa., and a well known builder and contractor, is one of the borough’s. representative citizens. He was born at Claysburg, Blair County, Pa., Septem- ber 17, 1866, and is a son of Joseph S. and Catherine (Roudebush) Delozier. Joseph S. Delozier has been a lifelong resi- dent of Blair County. His father, Daniel De- lozier, came to Blair County from Hagerstown, Md., in boyhood. When he reached man’s es- tate and married, he located in Blair Town- ship, where he lived until his death. There Joseph S. Delozier was reared and engaged in farming until within a few years, when he em- barked in a mercantile business at Duncans- ville, which he continues. He married Cather- ine Roudebush, who was born in Armstrong County, Pa. Austin B. Delozier is, in the main, a self made man, having learned his trade as soon as released from school and for twenty years has been a large contractor and builder, doing work all over the country. He is a Republican in politics and has been an active citizen both in local and county affairs. Educational in- terests have particularly interested him and since 1900, he has been a member of the school board, serving either as secretary, treasurer or president. He is also concerned in the Dun- cansville Building and Loan Association, and for eighteen consecutive years has been one of its directors. Mr. Delozier was married September 19, 1889, to Miss Etta M. States, who was born in Blair County, a daughter of James and Elizabeth States, who reside at McKee’s Gap, Blair County. Ten children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Delozier, the eight survivors being: Arthur L., Harry R., Gertrude E., Mary C., Edith, James G., Elmer and Almeda G. Mr. Delozier and family are members of the Breth- ren church. He is identified with several fra- ternal organizations, belonging to the Golden Eagles, at Newry, Pa.; the Order of Junior Mechanics, at East Freedom; the Improved Order of Red Men, at Duncansville; and to 767 Allegheny Grange, Patrons of Husbandry, also at Duncansville. THOMAS WEIR, proprietor of the Hotel Altamount, one of the largest, best equipped and most modern hostelries in Blair County, which attracts the best class of travelers who visit Altoona and provides a comfortable home, with its eighty rooms, for many exclusive city people, was born in Scotland, May 9, 1865, and is a son of Robert and Jane Weir and a grandson of Thomas Weir. In the management of all his business af- fairs Mr. Weir has proven himself a careful, far-seeing business man. Prior to taking charge of the Hotel Altamount, in 1880, he served three years as chief of the police de- partment of Altoona and is well and favorably known to the public at large. Mr. Weir was married first in 1885, to Miss Dorothy Cow- ley, who died in 1899, and second to Miss Frances Stewart. They have three children: Jennie, Robert and James. In his political views he is a Republican and fraternally a Mason. ‘ ADAM H. HAZENSTAB, a well known and popular citizen of Freedom Township, ‘Blair County, Pa., of which township he was elected clerk in the spring of 1910, owns and operates a valuable farm of ninety-six acres. ‘He was born August 19, 1848, near Ore Hill, Blair County, Pa., and is a son of John and Mary (Stanger) Hazenstab. The parents of Mr. Hazenstab were born in Bavaria, Germany. The father died in Amer- ica, but the mother still survives and has passed’ her ninetieth year. She and four daughters reside together in Freedom Township. = Adam H. Hazenstab did not have as many excellent opportunities for securing an educa- tion as have the youths of today, but he made use of the advantages afforded him and is num- bered with the well informed and intelligent men of.his community. His business has al- ways been farming. He is an independent voter, nevertheless on numerous occasions his fellow citizens, irrespective of party, have 768 shown their confidence in him by electing him to township offices, and he has served as au- ditor and, as indicated above, is now township clerk. Mr. Hazenstab married Miss Agnes Ying- ling, a daughter of the late George Yingling, of Blair County, and they have had nine chil- dren, eight of whom still survive, namely: Regis, Lizzie, Bernard, Vincent, Raymond, Ar- thur, Marie and Irene. Ellen is deceased. Mr. Hazenstab and family are members of the Ro- man Catholic church at Newry, Pa. D. A. S. OBURN, M. D., a member of the medical staff of the Altoona Hospital, at Al- toona, Pa., and a successful general practi- tioner, with office and modern medical equip- ments at No. 7or1 Seventh Avenue, was born at’ Ennisville, Huntingdon County, Pa., in Au- gust, 1874 and came to Altoona in July, 1896. D. A. S. Oburn was educated in the com- mon schools and Stone Valley Academy, and spent a short time in the Grove City College and Dickinson Seminary and then entered Jefferson Medical College at Philadelphia, where he was graduated in 1896. He imme- diately located in Altoona and has made this city his permanent home, interesting himself in the varied interests of the place and accept- ing the responsibilities of good citizenship. He is a member of the Blair County and the State Medical Societies and of the American Med- ical Association. Dr. Oburn was married in 1897, to Miss Olive M. Oaks, of McAlevys Fort, Hunting- don County, Pa. They are members of the Eighth Avenue Methodist Episcopal Church. He is a Mason of high standing and belongs to the Blue Lodge, Chapter, Commandery and Shrine. He is identified also with the Elks, and socially, is a member of the Univer- sity Club. JOHN E. WALTER, a leading agricultur- ist of North Taylor Township, Blair County, Pa., where he owns a farm of eighty-seven acres, was born in Franklin County, Pa., March 20, 1861, and is a son of Jeremiah C. HISTORY OF BLAIR COUNTY and Margaret (Wister) Walter, the former of whom was born in Dauphin County and now lives at Harrisburg, aged seventy-eight years. He married Margaret Wister, who was born in Franklin County and is now de- ceased. Of their children two sons and two daughters survive, namely: John E.; Clara Elizabeth; Cornelia Bell, who is the wife of Charles Ketrow; and William M., who has been in the U. S. Navy for three years and is attached to the U. S. battleship, South Dakota. John E. Walter was two years old when his parents moved to Cumberland County, Pa., where they lived until he was seven years of age and then removed to Altoona where he attended school until his fifteenth year. Mr. Walter then went to Greencastle, Pa., where he learned the milling trade in some large flour mills and followed milling for five years afterward. Desiring to see something of the great country in which he was born, beyond the confines of his own state, he then went to the West, spending several-years in Colorado and a shorter period in California and Ariz- ona, during a part of the time was connected with a surveying corps. In 1889 he returned to Altoona and for several more years worked in the Pennsylvania Railroad shops there, fin- ally, in 1907, settling on his present farm in Taylor Township. Here he carries on a gen- eral agricultural line, growing the grains that yield and mature best in this section and also stock and dairy cows for his own use. In all his journeying, Mr. Walter found no land bet- ter suited for his purposes than the fertile soil of Taylor Township. On January 1, 1896, Mr. Walter was mar- ried to Miss Annie M. Long, who was born at East Sharpsburg, Pa., and is a daughter of John H. and Margaret (Eisenhut) Long, na- tives of Germany. The mother of Mrs. Wal- ter died July 10, 1910, but the father survives and resides at Altoona, being now in his sev- enty-sixth year. Mr. and Mrs. Long had six children born to them, four of whom survive and Mrs. Walter is the third of these in order of birth, the others being: Harry E., and Charles O., both of Altoona; and Laura M., LEWIS W.-IRWIN AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS wife of Prof. W. F. Kyle, a teacher in the Huntingdon, Pa., Reformatory. Mrs. Walter is a member of the Lutheran church at Roaring Spring. Two children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Walter: William C., and Margaret E. Mr. Walter is a member of Hiram Lodge, No. 616, F. & A. M., at Altoona; of the Con- sistory at Williamsport and the Mystic Shrine, at Altoona, and has also reached the 32d de- gree. He belongs also to Mountain City Lodge, No. 837, I. O. O. F., Altoona, and to Altoona Encampment, No. 129, and in these connections has a wide acquaintance. Mr. Walter is not specifically identified with either political party but this does not mean that he is unmindful of his privileges of cit- izenship. On the other hand, voting independ- ently, he feels that he is giving support to can- didates of whom his own judgment can ap- prove. He is a practical, well informed man and largely a self made one, never having had any special advantages except those he pro- vided for himself. LEWIS WILLARD IRWIN, owner and proprietor of the leading department store at Bellwood, Pa., is one of the representative business men of this borough and was born July 7, 1856, on-a farm in Antis Township, Blair County, Pa., a son of John E. and An- geline (Grazier) Irwin. father of our subject, was of Scotch-Irish de- ‘scent, although a native of Blair County, Pa., his father having come here from Chester County, Pa. One of his brothers located at Irwin, Pa., which was named after him. John E. Irwin, father of Lewis W., was born on the Wentzell farm near Hensheys- town in Antis Township and made farming his life occupation. He married Angeline Grazier, who was born at Warrior’s Mark, Pa., a daughter of Henry Grazier, who was one of the early settlers of the county, and their marriage resulted in the following issue: Lewis W., subject of this sketch; Frank H., who died aged 18 years of age from the effects of scarlet fever; Emma V., living at Bell- wood; Mrs. Alice Rheinhart, of Pittsburg, Daniel Irwin, grand-- 771 and Mrs. Edith Bauer, of Pittsburg. John E. Irwin died of typhoid fever in 1866 at the age of 42 years, and his wife died in January, 1899, at Bellwood, her death being due to pneumonia. Lewis W. Irwin has always lived in Blair County, and obtained his education in the schools of the county and at Logan’s Academy. He was then employed in various ways until 1876, and during that time learned the car- penter’s trade, but owing to the dullness of the: times, taught school for five years in Cambria, Clearfield and Blair Counties. In 1881 he entered the employ of Isett & Wray, whose store was located on the other side of the town, and continued with them and their suc- cessor, Mr. Wray, until 1889. At that time Mr. Wentzell bought the business from Mr. Wray and Mr. Irwin continued with him until 1892, when in partnership with W. P. Wray, our subject established a general store with about half the stock which he carries in his present store. Irwin & Wray erected a build- ing in which they successfully operated a gen- eral store until 1898, when the entire building was destroyed by fire, but they arose from the ashes greater than ever, and built a magnifi- cent brick and stone building. In 1904 Mr. Irwin purchased Mr. Wray’s interest in the business for the benefit of his eldest son, who subsequently died. He has since given a work- ‘ing interest in the business to J. C. McFar- land, and R. L. McCloskey, both of whom are employed in the store. The firm is known as L. W. Irwin Company, and they carry a gen- eral line of groceries, dry goods, flour, feed hardware, etc. Mr. Irwin resides in a beauti- ful home, which is built of natural stone from Brush Mountain, and was formerly the home of Mr. Wray, from whom our subject bought the property in 1904, at which time he also bought the former’s interest in the business, Mr. Irwin is a stockholder in the Bellwood Bank. : Mr. Irwin is a Democrat in politics, al- though inclined to independent action locally. He is a director of the Logan Valley Ceme- tery Association, and has for years been a 772 member of the school board, of which he has been president about six years. He is presi- dent of the business men’s association of Bell- wood, and is a member of the borough coun- cil, and has been clerk for six or seven years. He has been a member of the Presbyterian church since 16 years of age, and has been an elder in it for 23 years, and superintendent of the Sunday School for the past ten years. He is affiliated with the I. O. O. F. Mr. Irwin was first united in marriage with Mattie A. Hommer, of Glasgow, Cambria County, Pa., and ten children were born of their union, as follows: Maud, who is the wife of Clark Smith, and lives in Philadel- phia; Edna Catherine residing at home; Harry T., who was engaged in business with his father and died in 1907 at the age of 25 years; Herman P., who died aged six years; Evelyn, who is the wife of LeRoy ‘Keeley, of Washington, D. C.; Anna, who died aged fourteen months; Alice Marguerite, who at- tends the High School at Altoona, Pa,; Eliz- abeth, who died in infancy; Robert E., who lives in Texas; and John Howard, now six- teen years of age, who is in the store with his father. Mrs. Irwin died December 7, 1897, and our subject subsequently married Ida A. Henshey, a daughter of Samuel Henshey, a resident of Hensheystown, which was named after the grandfather of Mrs. Irwin. Four children have been. born of the second union: Dorothy, Lewis’ Willard, Jr., Mary, and Laura. LOUIS G. LAMADE, who is recognized as one of Altoona’s prominent and representa- tive citizens, active along many lines and exceedingly public spirited, is the manager of The Deutscher Volksfuehrer Publishing Company of this city. It issues a journal of wide circulation and of great interest and value to the German people all through the Juniata Valley, being the only newspaper devoted entirely to their interests in their own language. He has been a resident of the United States since 1867. His birth took place near Bretten, Germany, Au- HISTORY OF BLAIR COUNTY gust 22, 1854, and his parents were Diet- rich and Caroline (Zuepfle) Lamade. When they came to America they located at Williams- port, Pa., where the father died two years later. His widow was left with a large family, there being fourteen children. Prior to coming to America, Louis G. La- made had attended school in his native land and soon after reaching Williamsport became an apprentice in a printing office, learned the ~ business and has been identified with newspa- pers ever since. During several years he was foreman of two Williamsport publications, and afterward, according to the way of printers, journeyed from city to city, comparatively care free, always being sure that work in his line was awaiting a competent typesetter or capable foreman. In his travels he finally reached New York and worked there at his trade until 1880, when he accepted a position as foreman on the Altoona Call. Mr. Lamade came then to Altoona and con- tinued with the Call until 1881, when he pur- chased his present paper from Harry Slep, then of the Altoona Mirror, who had founded it, and put out the first issue on March 28, 1878. After coming into possession, Mr. Lamade by - his energy and enterprise, injected new life into the paper, adding many interesting features, and has ably edited it ever since. He is a Dem- ocrat in his personal political sentiments but the Volksfuehrer is conducted as an independent paper and thus appeals to all parties among its army of German readers. In 1899 a stock com- pany was formed and Mr. Lamade has been manager of the publishing business ever since and also of the job office. He has been an act- ive citizen of Altoona and has done much to add to the city’s material prosperity, serving for many years as treasurer of the Germania Build- ing Association, encouraging the investment of capital through his newspaper and giving sup- port to civic movements promising to be of sub- stantial benefit. He served one term as alder- man of the Fourth Ward, being appointed by Governor Patterson, also one term as jury com- missioner of Blair County. ° Mr. Lamade was married in 1881, to Miss AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS Frances Soller, a daughter of Leonard Soller, an old German resident of Altoona, and they have four children: Carl, who is General In- spector of the Westinghouse Electrical Works of East Pittsburg; Elizabeth (Mrs. John Mau- rer); Katharine (Mrs. Robert Hanna); and Louis. Their pleasant home is situated at No. 212 East Fifth Avenue. For many years Mr. Lamade has been identified with the Artisans’ order of M. P., the Fraternal Order of Eagles, the Moose, and the Owls, and is prominent also in a number of German benevolent and so- cial organizations. He is past president of the Altoona Branch of the German-American Al- liance, comprising all the German organizations of Blair County. OLIVER W. SHAW, a leading citizen and successful agriculturist of Blair Township, Blair County, Pa., resides on his well improved farm of seventy acres, to which he came in 1892. He is a native of Blair County, born in Freedom Township, March 31, 1862, and is a son of Samuel and Anna (Wilt) Shaw. Samuel Shaw was born also in Freedom Township and passed his whole life there, dying in 1891. His father, Thomas Shaw, was a native of the north of Ireland and was one of the very early settlers of Freedom Township, Biair County. In politics, the late Samuel Shaw was a Democrat, and in religious faith and observance, a Lutheran. He married Anna Wilt, whose father, Capt. Peter Wilt, was a pioneer in Freedom Township, and six of their family of children still survive, namely: Peter A., who is in business at Altoona; Samuel T., who lives in Blair Township; Oliver W.; Jen- nie M., who is the wife of Albert Growden, of Reed City, Mich.; Ellen E., who is the widow of Michael Stultz, formerly of Frankstown Township but now of Los Angeles, Calif.; and Martha M., who is the wife of Scott Wilson and resides near Los Angeles, Calif. Oliver W.-Shaw remained in Freedom Township through his school period and until 1892, when he came to Blair Township and started a dairy business on his present farm and for a number of years was engaged in the 773 wholesale milk business. Later, when he some-- what curtailed his business activities, he dis- posed of a part of his farm, and the village of Shawsville, named in his honor, was laid out according to his ideas and plans. Mr. Shaw married Miss Margaret J. Hanna, who was born in Cambria County, Pa., where her father, Thomas Hanna, still resides, being now in his eighty-first year. To Mr. and Mrs. Shaw five children have been born, namely: Byron E., Thomas T., Verus P., Martha I, and LaRue. Mr. and Mrs. Shaw are members of Zion Lutheran Church at Hollidaysburg. In politics he is a Republican and he has frequently been his party’s choice for township offices. He has served several terms on the school board of Blair Township, of which he is treasurer, and is serving in his first term as township auditor. He is identified fraternally with Wa- neta Lodge, No. 1142, Odd Fellows, at Hol- lidaysburg, and formerly was connected with the Junior Order of American’ Mechanics, at the same place. He belongs also to Scotch Valley Grange, No. 510, and served one year as secretary of this organization. Like other far seeing and sensible men, Mr. Shaw recog- nizes the practical benefits that accrue to the farmer through some of the latter-day scientific inventions, and thus he became one of the pro- moters and is now the president of the Loop Telephone Company, which has proved a profit- able investment. oF SAMUEL E. LONG, a leading farmer of Frankstown Township, Blair County, Pa., who owns 200 acres of fine land here, 100 of which is under cultivation, was born in Hare’s Valley, Huntingdon County, Pa., October 1, 1868, and is a son of Eli and Anna (Wagner) Long. The late Eli Long was born in Huntingdon County, a son of George Long. His entire life was spent there and his business was farm- ing. In his political sentiments he was a Re- publican but did not aspire to public office. He was a consistent member of the Methodist Prot- estant church. His widow, Anna (Wagner) Long, survives and still resides in Huntingdon County, where her father, Samuel Wagner, 774 was an early settler. To Eli Long and wife the following children were born: Burdine, Samuel E., John, Robert M., Madge, Clara, Elizabeth and Amanda. Burdine and John are both deceased. Madge is the wife of Neal Walker; Clara, of Frank Dath; and Amanda, of Robert F. Gurd. Samuel E. Long obtained his education in the public schools. He then spent nine years working in coal mines and lumbering and thus acquired the capital that he invested, in the spring of 1903, in the purchase of his present farm which formerly was the property of Wil- liam Mattern. Since locating here he has been very busy clearing and improving. The half of his-land which is under cultivation, in its productiveness, justifies him in believing that the other half will be equally valuable as farm land and to its rapid clearing he is closely de- voting himself. On September 15,.1898, Mr. Long was mar- ried to Miss Lena Cutshall. Her parents are John and Jane (Ramsey) Cutshall and her grandfathers were John Cutshall, who was killed in the Revolutionary War, and Alexander Ramsey, an early settler in Huntingdon Coun- ty, Pa. Her father is a farmer there and was a mail carrier for two years. To Mr. and Mrs. Cutshall the following children were born: Cinda, wife of William Grisinger; Rosella, wife of Christ Hobble; Eliza, wife of Samuel Taylor; Etta, wife of John Brown; Susan, wife of Alfred Jamison; Exey, widow of Bur- dine Long; John; Alexander; Nahem and Lena. Mr. and Mrs. Long have nine children: Lloyd, Sylvester, Ira, Nora, Jessie, Ruth, Mary, Olive and Ethel. Mr. Long and family belong to the United Brethren church. He is a member of the Grange. In politics he is a Republican. Mr. Long is one of Frankstown Township’s most reliable men. DR. H. LEWIS DAVENPORT, one of the leading and successful practitioners of Al- toona, Pa., has been located here in the prac- tice of his profession since February, 1gor, and was the first osteopathic physician to locate in this city. He was born in Plymouth, Lu- HISTORY OF BLAIR COUNTY cerne County, Pa., in 1875 and was reared there and obtained his early education in the public. schools. After graduating from the high school, he spent two years in his father’s store at Plymouth, then took up the study of osteopathy at the College of Osteopathy at Wilkesbarre, Pa., graduating in February, 1g01. That same month he came to Altoona, and has since been continuously and success- fully engaged in the practice of osteopathy, and has won the esteem and confidence of his fellow citizens. Besides his practice Dr. Dav- enport is also actively identified with the Build- ing & Loan Association of Altoona. Dr. Davenport was married in October 1903 to Inez Gardner of Altoona, and they have three children: William, John, and Mary. He is fraternally a Mason, and his religious connec- tion is with the rst. M. E. Church. JACOB D. SMITH, one of Huston Township’s well known citizens and substan- tial and practical farmers, owns 125 acres of valuable land which he devotes to general ag- riculture. He was born in Huston Township, Blair County, Pa., February 11, 1842, and is a son of Jacob B. and Susan (Dilling) Smith. Jacob B. Smith and wife were both born in Huston Township, the Smith and Dilling fam- ilies being old and honorable ones here for several generations. Jacob B. Smith was a son of John and Christena (Brumbaugh) Smith, also of Huston Township. His busi- ness was farming and stockraising and with industry and prudence he became the owner of six ordinary farms. He was much respected by his fellow citizens and they elected him to township offices on many occasions. Jacob D. Smith was reared in Huston Town- ship and attended the country schools. He has devoted himself to agricultural pursuits for many years but in early manhood he worked for a time in a rolling-mill at Pitts- burg. In politics, like his late father; he is a Democrat, but he is not a politician nor a seeker for office. During his life since boy- hood he has seen marked changes take place in Huston Township and some of the old fam- AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS ilies have entirely disappeared and their farms are owned by later settlers. Mr. Smith is hos- pitable and a visit to his well cultivated farm and a view of his fine stock are enjoyable ex- periences. HON. MARTIN BELL, deceased, formerly president judge of the Blair County Courts, was long one of Hollidaysburg’s representa- tive citizens. He was born in Antis Town- ship, Blair County, Pa., September 30, 1849, and was the only surviving son of Rev. Adie K. and Mary E. (Allen) Bell. The founder of the old pioneer Bell family of central Pennsylvania was John Bell, the great-grandfather of the late Judge Bell, who settled in Sinking valley prior to the Revolu- tionary War, during which he was often com- pelled to flee with his family to Lowery’s Fort to escape massacre by the Indians. Edward Bell, son of John Bell, was born in Sinking valley, March 17, 1769, and died April 14, 1852, aged eighty-three years. He was a millwright by trade, and in 1800 he came to the site of Bellwood, Pa., where he built a grist mill, distillery and saw mill, which im- provements gave the place the name of Bell’s Mills, and later, in honor of Mr. Bell, was named Bellwood. Edward Bell-was a re- markably energetic and successful man, and in 1830 had come into the ownership of 3,674 acres of land. Two years later he built Eliza- beth Furnace and Mary Ann Forge, and in 1836 his son, Martin Bell, at Elizabeth Fur- nace, was the first man in the world to use escaping gas from the tunnel head of a furnace for the production of steam, and also, it may be said, the first man to rest his furnace over Sunday. Rev. Adie K. Bell, father of Judge Bell, was born also in Blair County, in 1814, and’ died ‘in 1888. He was an able Baptist minister and for a number of years was pastor of one of the leading Baptist churches in Allegheny City. The mother of Judge Bell was a native of Dauphin County, a member of the old Allen family of that section. Rev. Adie Bell was one of the early financial secretaries of Lewis- 775 burg University, now Bucknell University, at Lewisburg, Pa. Martin Bell was educated at Lewisburg, and was graduated from the university there in the class of 1873, being later admitted to the bar. Subsequently he was elected district attorney of Blair County and filled that office for three consecutive terms. Judge Bell was elected in the fall of 1893 to succeed Judge Augustus S. Landis, the Democratic appointee of Gov. Rob- ert E. Pattison, who succeeded the late Justice John Dean on the Blair County Bench. Judge Bell was also elected for his second full term on the Republican ticket in the fall of 1903. Judge Bell was prominent in Masonic circles, being a 32d degree Mason, past master and a Knight Templar. He also took an active part in the military affairs of the State and was for many years the captain of Company C, N. G. P., stationed in this city. He was one of the most able, eminent and widely quoted judges of the Courts of Common Pleas of the State. When it became necessary to pass upon the re- cent act of Assembly increasing the salaries of the judiciary of the State, Judge Bell was se- lected to sit with Judge Robert Von Mosch- zisker, of Philadelphia, specially upon the Dauphin County Bench, to decide that ques- tion, and they sustained the constitutionality of that act. Judge Bell’s decisions were well written and carefully considered, and it was a rare oc- casion when he was reversed by an Appellate Court. He left to survive him a widow, three sons and three daughters. WILLIAM H. FEATHER, general farmer, residing in Taylor Township, Blair County, Pa., has spent thirty-four years of his life here and is well and favorably known all through this section. Mr. Feather was born in Bloom- field Township, Bedford County, Pa., January 21, 1849, and is a son of George and Elizabeth (Barley) Feather. His parents were both na- tives of Bedford County, where their parents had settled at a very early date. William H. Feather grew up on his father’s farm and attended school in the neighborhood, 776 not, however, enjoying the privileges that chil- dren of the present day have given them. He may be said to have been a lifelong farmer, his business always having been along agricultural lines. In 1876 he moved from Bedford to Blair County, settling in Taylor Township, where he has lived until the present. Mr. Feather has identified himself with neither po- litical party but casts his vote according to his judgment. On November 26, 1878, Mr. Feather was married to Miss Ellen Stern, who was born in Taylor Township, a daughter of Jacob Stern, now deceased. Six children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Feather, namely: Cora R., who is the wife of John Kanode, of Taylor Town- ship; Mary, Roy Irvin and Jacob H., all three of whom live in Taylor Township; and Daniel and Emma, both of whom are deceased. Mr. Feather has witnessed many changes in the country since he first came to Taylor Town- ship and many of them undoubtedly are im- provements. - Perhaps one of the greatest con- veniences is the speedy and regular delivery of mail, the letters and papers for himself and family being delivered from Roaring Spring. IRVIN DILLING METZGER, M. E., M. D., O. et A. Chirurg., a prominent physician and surgeon in active practice at Tyrone, Pa., and a member of the staff of Mercy Hospital, at Altoona, was born in Bedford County, Pa., near New Enterprise, April 12, 1873, and is a son of Jacob B. and Catherine (Dilling) Metzger. The parents of Dr. Metzger were born in Blair County but for many years have been residents of Bedford County. Dr. Metzger is the third in a family of eight children, the others being: Harry, who is principal of the Saxon public school; George, who is deceased; Mary, who is the wife of Ira Kagarise, of. Maria, Bedford County; John, who is a farmer in the same neighborhood; Anna, who is the wife of ‘Elry Furry, a farmer in Bedford County; Jacob L., who is a member of the class of 1911, in the. Pennsylvania State Col- HISTORY OF BLAIR COUNTY lege; and Carrie, who is the wife of Archie Furry, a machinist residing at Johnstown, Pa. Dr. Metzger received his early education in the public schools and graduated in the class of 1894 from Juniata College. Prior to en- tering college he taught school for two terms and since taught six more terms, at Hollidays- burg, where he was principal of the public schools. He then entered Hahnemann Med- ical College, Philadelphia, where he was grad- uated in the class of 1904. Later he took a special course at the Lying-in Charity Hospi- tal, Philadelphia. Late in 1904 he settled at Tyrone and for five years engaged in a gen- eral practice. In 1909 he entered the New York Ophthalmic Hospital, where he gradu- ated in May, 1910, receiving the degree of Oculis et auris chirurgus, and since that time he has confined his practice to diseases of the eye, ear and nose. He is a member of the Tyrone Medical Club, the Blair County Homeopathic Medical Society, the Pennsyl- vania Homeopathic Medical Society, the American Institute of Homeopathy, and the National Society of Ophthalmology, Otology and Laryngology. As stated above, he is also a member of the staff of Mercy Hospital at Altoona, and did not his large practice so ab- sorb his time, he would probably be identified with, numerous other professional organiza- tions. In religious belief he is a Baptist. He , is a Republican in politics and is president of the Tyrone School Board and a director in the Y. M. C. A. In 1905 Dr. Metzger was married to Miss Sara Rollins, a daughter of Jones and Susan Rollins, of Hollidaysburg. J. P. REILLY, proprietor of Hotel Walton, which is located at No.. 1608-10 Eleventh Avenue, Altoona, Pa., has been a resident here since 1904, but has always been identified with the hotel business since entering upon his busi- ness career. He was born February 21, 1875 at Hollidaysburg, Pa. a son of John and Bridget (Duffey) Reilly, who were both na- tives of Ireland. The following children were born to the parents of our subject: Anna, who is the wife of W. A. Feank; George; Philip; IRVIN D. METZGER, M.E., M.D. AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS Margaret, widow of George Zeigler; Cecelia, the wife of John Bailey; Bridget, who married Edward Knepper; Catherine, wife of C. A. Malone; Agnes, who married T. J. Lynch; and J. P., subject of this record. J. P. Reilly spent his boyhood in Hollidays- burg and was there identified with the hotel business previous coming to Altoona. He was married in 1898 to Stella McCabe, a daughter of Edward and Lucinda McCabe of Hollidaysburg, and to them have been born children, Gladys, Maida, and John P. Mr. Reilly is politically a Republican, and is fra- ternally a member of the F. O. E. and the L. O. O. M. The religious connection of the family is with the Catholic Church. JOHN C. DIEHL, who conducts a general blacksmith shop at Blue Knob, Blair County, Pa., was born August 28, 1864, in Greenfield Township, Blair County, Pa., and is a son of Aaron and Catherine (Imler) Diehl, and a grandson of Daniel Diehl, who was one of the early settlers of Greenfield Township. Aaron Diehl and his wife were both natives of Greenfield Township and he died here in February, 1910. In early life he learned car- pentering and cabinet making, and later fol- lowed same in connection with general repair- ing and farming. In politics he was a Demo- crat, and served as assessor and as a member of the school board of Juniata Township. Of the children born of his union. with Catherine Imler, the following are still living: Maria, who is the wife of William Mosel of-Green- field Township; John C., who is a resident of Juniata Township; G. Calvin, who resides in Greenfield Township; Della, who married J. C. Bowser of Greenfield Township; and Alfred N., and Howard, both of whom live in Green- field Township. Aaron Diehl and wife were members of the German Reformed church. John C. Diehl grew to manhood in Green- field Township and after attending the district schools, taught one term in this township. He was for twenty years engaged in the lumber in- dustry, and operated saw mills, but has for some time been conducting a general black- 779 smith shop near Blue Knob. Mr. Diehl is an expert mechanic, with a natural talent for me- chanical pursuits, and is well known in this locality for his skill in that line. Personally he enjoys the confidence and esteem of his fellow citizens. Mr. Diehl was married May 28, 1889, to Leona Walter, who was born in Greenfield Township, a daughter of Henry Walter, and they have the following children: Elmer, Har- vey, and Alice, all residents of Juniata Town- ship. Mr. Diehl is politically identified with the Democratic party and has served eight con- secutive years as Justice of the Peace, and also served six years as a member and secretary of the school board of this township. He is fraternally a member of the P. O. S. of A. of Blue Knob, and is a member and elder of the Reformed church. WEEST BROTHERS, proprietors of the Hotel Grand, one of the most comfortable, con- venient and well appointed hostelries of Al- toona, are numbered with the enterprising and popular business men of this city. The firm is made up of Harry W. and William Weest, both of whom were born at Altoona, sons of W. G. and Anna Mary (Heoffler) Weest. W. G. Weest was born in Germany but spent the larger portion of his life in America. For fifteen years he conducted a butcher business at Altoona, but in 1892 entered into the hotel business and continued to conduct it until his death, which occurred in January, 1900. His widow survives and also their five children: John, Harry W., Anna, William and Mary. The Hotel Grand, which is a commodious ‘ structure standing on the corner of Sixth Ave- nue and Third Street, has thirty-eight rooms and is fitted up in modern style with every comfort and convenience demanded by the traveling public. The patronage is generous. Both proprietors are men of family. Harry W. Weest married Miss Fannie Rutter and they have four children: Mary, Viola, Harry and Helen. William Weest married Miss Emma Lafferty, a daughter of Isaac Lafferty of Altoona, and they have two children: x \ 780 Thelma and Irene. The late W. G. Weest was a member of the Lutheran church. In politics he was a Republican and fraternally he was an Odd Fellow. DR. FRANK KEAGY, who has been en- gaged in the practice of medicine and surgery at Altoona, Pa., for the past 6 years, or there- abouts, was born in Woodbury, Bedford County, Pa., but reared at Altoona, where he attended the public schools. His knowledge of the medical profession was obtained at the , Jefferson Medical College, from which he was graduated with the class of 1904. Then after serving thirteen months as interne at the Al- toona Hospital, he embarked in the practice of his profession at Altoona. His skill has gained him the confidence of the public, and he has a large and absorbing practice. He is a mem- ber of the medical staff of the Mercy Hospital of Altoona, and belongs to the Blair County, Pennsylvania State, and American Medical So- cieties. Dr. Keagy was united in marriage with Martha Bennett, a daughter of George Ben- nett, and they have two children: Robert Marvel; and Helen Elizabeth. Dr. Keagy is a member of the M. E, Church of this city, and affiliates with the Masons and the Knights of Pythias. PROF. E. S. KAGARISE, principal of the Martinsburg High School which he organized in 1894, is a man of marked ability as an edu- cator, in which relation he has been connected with this borough for some seventeen consecu- tive years. He was born December 12, 1870, at Salemville, in Bedford County, Pa., and is a son of Rev. George B. Kagarise and a grand- son of Jacob Kagarise, who was an early set- tler at Everett, Pa. For many years the father of Professor Kagarise was pastor of the Eng- lish Seventh Day Baptist church at Salemville. E. S. Kagarise was educated in the public schools of Salemville and the Pennsylvania State Normal School, at Lock Haven, where he was graduated in 1892. He taught his first term.of school at Baden, in Bedford County, HISTORY OF BLAIR COUNTY and in September, 1893, came to Martinsburg and assumed charge of the borough schools. He entered into the work with the enthusiasm that has characterized his later efforts, the notable beginning being the organizing of the High School, in 1894, of which he has been principal ever since. In addition to his duties during the regular school term, for seventeen summers he has carried on Normal Institute work at Martinsburg and over 500 men and women teachers have taken advantage of these opportunities for higher study and thus have been better prepared for their work. So satis- factory have been these school sessions that the name and fame of Professor Kagarise have been carried to the uttermost ends of the county and he is probably the most popular candidate for the office of county superinten- dent of schools of Blair County, now before the public. In the meanwhile he has quietly pur- sued higher branches of study himself and in 1904 took a summer course at the University of Pennsylvania, perfecting himself in the classics. , On June 26, 1895, Professor Kagarise was united in marriage with a lady well qualified to be his companion, Miss Bertha M. Kerr, a graduate of the Pennsylvania State Normal School at Lock Haven, who, for eleven years was a successful teacher in the grammar schools at Martinsburg. They are members of the Methodist Episcopal church at Martins- burg, of which he is a trustee and superinten- dent of the Sunday-school. They maintain a hospitable home and take part in the pleasant social life of the borough. In politics Profes- sor Kagarise is a Democrat. He is identified fraternally with Woodbury Lodge, No. 539 F. & A. M., at Roaring Spring, Pa. H. C. MEANS, the genial proprietor of the Richelieu Hotel, a leading hostelry of Altoona, Pa., favorably situated for business and easy” transportation, has had over a dozen years of hotel experience and is favorably known to a large contingent of the traveling public. He was born November 3, 1870, in Jefferson County, Pa., and is a son of John and Eliza- ALLEN S. GARMAN AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS beth (Filler) Means, the former of whom was born in Center County and the latter in Blair County. H. C. Means was educated in the public schools and almost the entire period of his business life has been connected with hotels. For eleven years he was clerk of the Brant House, at Altoona, and then became proprietor of the Richelieu Hotel, in 1909. It is a com- modious building situated on Chestnut Avenue, has thirty-two rooms and is equipped with steam, gas and electricity. Its many comforts and fine cuisine attract many patrons and Mr. Means is doing a very satisfactory business. In October, 1899, Mr. Means was married to Mrs. Ollie Wilson, who was born in Frank- lin County, Pa. They attend the Presbyterian church. In politics Mr. Means is a Republican and fraternally he is identified with White Cross Lodge, Knights of Pythias and the Eagles, both’ at Altoona. WILLIAM VAN ALLMAN, a leading citizen of Taylor Township, Blair County, Pa., where he owns a valuable farm of eighty acres, has been a resident of this township since 1877. He was born in Frankstown Township, Blair County, September 13, 1846, and is a son of Adam and Catherine (Mogle) Van Allman. Adam Van Allman was born in Blair County, Pa., and died here in 1847. His father, Conrad Van Allman, was a native of Holland who came to Pennsylvania and was one of the earliest settlers in what is now Frankstown Township, Blair County. Adam Van Allman married Catherine Mogle, who was a daughter of Adam and Jane (Bisbeer) Mogle. She was an excellent woman and after the death of her husband took charge of affairs and reared. her children carefully and uprightly. William Van Allman was eleven months old when his father died. He remained with his mother until he reached manhood, in the mean- while attending the district schools as oppor- tunity was presented. He is one of the three survivors of his parents’ family, the others be- ing a sister and brother. Elizabeth is the 781 widow of Samuel Baird-who was a resident of Taylor Township. She lives in Frankstown Township. Joseph is in business at Hollidays- burg. William Van Allman has practically de- voted his entire life to agricultural pursuits al- though for a short time in his youth, he taught school. The recreations that he enjoyed in those days were hunting and fishing and he developed the skill of a real sportsman. For many years he has been one of his township’s most active public men and has been particu- larly interested in everything pertaining to educational matters. He served for ten years as a member’ of the Taylor Township School Board and during a portion of this time was secretary of the board. For two years he served also as township auditor and for nine consecutive years was assessor of Taylor Township. In all these offices he acquitted himself with credit and his fellow citizens ap- proved of his course. He is a Republican— works for his party because he believes in the principles it stands for. On November 10, 1876, Mr. Van Allman was married to Miss Susanna M. Walls, a daughter of Enoch and Dorothea (Isenberg) Walls, natives of Huntingdon County, and three children were borri to them: Lola D., who resides at home; Emma B., who is the wife of Dr. Fred Rice, of Sunbury, Pa.; and Irene C., who is the wife of Walter Neugard, also of Sunbury. Mrs. Van Allman is a member of the Reformed church at East Sharpsburg. When Mr. Van Allman was a young man he served almost three years as a member of Co. C, 5th Pa. Nat. Guards. He is a member of the order of Odd Fellows, attending lodge at Hollidaysburg and Encampment at Roaring Springs, and belongs also to the Knights of the Golden Eagle and to the Grange, at Mar- tinsburg, Pa. ALLEN S. GARMAN, proprietor of. the Garman House, a representative and substan- tial citizen of Tyrone, Pa., having also many financial interests at other points, has been a resident of this borough since 1898. He was born at Bellefonte, Center County, Pa., 782 March 3, 1860, and is a son of Daniel and Louisa (Shreyer) Garman. Daniel Garman was born in 1820, in Dauphin County, Pa., where his father had settled after moving from Lancaster County. In 1859 Daniel Garman moved to Bellefonte, Center County, where, for many years he was engaged in the hotel and livery business, for a time being proprietor of the Garman House, at Bellefonte. His death occurred in that city, in 1908, in his eighty-eighth year. He mar- ried Louisa Shreyer, who was of German de- scent and was born in Milton, Northumber- land County, Pa. Her death occurred in » Center County, in 1892. Seven sons and two daughters were born to them, namely: Ed- win F., who is a merchant at Bellefonte; Al- len S.; Ira D., who is in the jewelry business at Philadelphia; Corney M., who is proprietor of the St. Charles Hotel, at Williamsport, Pa.; Mrs. Isaac Maitland, who is a resident of Williamsport; William H., who is in the mer- cantile business at Bellefonte; Mrs. Charles Cruse, who is a resident of Bellefonte; C. Brose, who was in the hotel business, died at Bellefonte, in 1907; and Robert T., who is in the jewelry business, at Tyrone. Allen S. Garman was reared and educated at Bellefonte and subsequently became one of the leading business men of that city. He con- ducted the Garman House for a time and in 1888 built the Garman Opera House, at Belle- fonte, and managed this property until he moved to Tyrone in 1898. Here he conducted the Garman House, formerly known as the Empire, selling out in 1905. In 1911 he again took over the hotel, which he is at present suc- cessfully conducting. Mr. Garman has made many improvements in the building—remod- eling it throughout and has one of the best equipped hostelries in the city. He is an able, progressive and enterprising business man and is widely known throughout both Blair and Center Counties. He is a stockholder in the Blair County National Bank, the Bellefonte Trust Company, the Empire Title and Trust Company, of Philadelphia; and also of the National Deposit Bank of that city. He is HISTORY OF BLAIR COUNTY identified with the Democratic party. and has been a leading factor in the same both at Bel- lefonte and Tyrone, serving acceptably in pub- lic office and lending his influence at all times to bring about satisfactory party conditions. Mr. Garman was married at Bellefonte, to Miss Sarah Ellen Condrick, who died in Jan- ‘uary, 1909. She was a daughter of Morris and Mary Condrick. They had one son, who grew to the age of sixteen years and was a bright student and attractive youth, but his life closed at that time, his death being a heavy affliction. Mr. Garman was reared in the Episcopal church. Mr. Garman formed a second union January 14, I91I, with Miss Ruby Piper, a daughter of Emory and Sarah Piper, of Tyrone. WILLIAM SHARBAUGH, M. D., a prom- inent physician and representative citizen of Altoona, Pa., has been identified with the med- ical profession of this locality for the past 18 years, and has won the esteem and confidence of his patrons and fellow citizens. Dr. Sharbaugh was born in 1849 at Summitt, Cambria County, Pa., and was there reared and received his educational training. He was engaged in the drug business in Clearfield County, Pa., from 1872 until 1887, and then attended the Baltimore College of Physician and Surgeons, graduating from the Kentucky School of Medicine of Louisville with the class of 1891. He soon afterward embarked in the practice of medicine at Altoona, Pa., where he has established an extensive and lucrative practice. He is a member of the Homeopathic Medical Association of Central Pennsylvania and of the C. M. B. A. of Altoona. Dr. Shar- baugh was joined in the bonds of wedlock, in 1882, with Catherine Bottorf of Clearfield County, Pa., and of their union have been born seven children. The religious connection of the family is with the Sacred Heart Catholic Church . HENRY D. BRUMBAUGH. North Woodbury Township, Blair County, Pa., has its full quota of successful and intelligent busi- AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS ness men and among these none are more en- terprising than Henry D. Brumbaugh, who is established at Clover Creek. He deals in farm implements and manufactures pure cider vinegar, chop, corn meal and buckwheat flour. Mr. Brumbaugh was born September 2, 1868, in North Woodbury Township, Blair County, and is a son of John B. and Catherine (Dil- ling) Brumbaugh. John B. Brumbaugh was born in Hunting- don County, Pa., a son of David Brumbaugh, who was a resident of many years standing there. When Henry D. Brumbaugh was Six years old his father died and six years later the death of his mother left him an orphan and he was thus early thrown entirely upon his own resources. For two years he worked for farm- ers in Huntingdon County and later for sev- eral years was in the employ of Aaron Mock. In 1900 he established his business at his pres- ent location at Clover Creek. The mill that he operates was built by George and John Brumbaugh away back in pioneer days, and ever since has been in the possession of some member of this family. His cider press is of more modern construction and is operated with improved machinery, but the old flour mill is run by the water of Clover Creek, with an old over-shot wheel, and it is one of the old land- mark structures of this section. Mr. Brum- baugh had few educational advantages in early days but has long since supplied any deficiency by reading and contact with the world, but this makes him particularly interested in the public schools, and anxious that his children should have good opportunities. Mr. Brumbaugh was married to Miss Sallie Shoenfelt, a daughter of John Shoenfelt, who lives on Piney Creek, Huston Township. Mr. and Mrs. Brumbaugh have had seven children born to them, namely: Blanche, Leo, Florence, Irene, and three who are deceased. Mr. Brum- baugh and family are members of the Church of the Brethren. He casts his vote with the Republican party and’ for two terms he served acceptably as road supervisor in North Wood- bury Township. 733 MARTIN L. STULTZ, residing on the old homestead farm of 162 acres, belonging to his father and situated in Woodbury Township, Blair County, Pa., has been operating here since 1901. He was born in Frankstown Township, Blair County, in October, 1869, and is a son of Daniel and Susan (Morgan) Stultz, and a grandson of Jacob Stultz. Martin L. Stultz attended the country schools with his brothers and sisters and then worked for his father on the home farm until manhood, after which he rented land from Anna P. Gardner, a resident of Hollidaysburg. He remained on that farm for eight years and then lived one-year on the Clapper farm, after which he came to the old home farm which is one of the best pieces of property in this sec- tion. Mr. Stultz has the local reputation of being one of the best and most thorough going farmers of the township. He is also one of the leading citizens, having been president of the township school board for two years and a member of this body for three years. Mr. Stultz was married in 1891, to Miss Elizabeth Clabaugh, a daughter of Martin and Martha (Rodkey) Clabaugh, farming people of Woodbury Township. Mr. and Mrs. Cla- baugh had three children: Elizabeth; Carrie, wife of Harry Suter; and Roland. Mr. and Mrs. Stultz are parents of five children: Or- ville C., Ivan D., Ernest H., Marie and Ralph. Mr. and Mrs. Stultz are active church people and belong to the Lutheran faith. In politics, he is a Republican. CHARLES O. ACKER, whose valuable farm of 151 acres lies in Huston Township, Blair County, Pa., is a member of one of the old township families and was born February 4, 1875, in Huston Township, a son of John S. and Mary M. (Sorrick) Acker. John S. Acker was born also in Huston Township and was a son of Christian Acker and a graridson of John Acker. John S. Acker was a leading citizen of this township for many years. His death occurred in 1895. Of his nine children, the following survive: Elizabeth A., who is the wife of A. K. Bechtel, 784 lives in Woodbury Township; Loretta J., who is the wife of John B. McGraw, lives in North Woodbury Township; Martin L., who is a prominent farmer in Huston Township; Mary A., who is the wife of Elmer Lecrone, and lives at Gaysport, Pa.; Catherine F., who is the wife of Frank Ross, and resides in Huston Township; Reuben M., who is a resident of Martinsburg; Ida F., who is the wife of Albert Posten, of Huston Township; and Charles O. Amelia is deceased. Charles O. Acker has been a lifelong res- ident of Huston Township, growing up on his father’s farm, attending the Acker school, in Huston Township, marrying one of the town- ship’s most estimable young women and set- tling down to an agricultural life among those who have known him from boyhood. He is one of the practical and successful farmers and stock-raisers of the township and is also one of its most respected and valued citizens. Mr. Acker was married December 14, 1902, to Miss Dora J. Lecrone, a daughter of the late Jacob. Lecrone, formerly a prominent farmer of Huston Township. Mr. and Mrs. Acker have had three children: Annie M., Emma M. and Verna A. Annie M. is de- ceased. Mr. Acker belongs to a family that has long been identified politically with the Democratic party and religiously with the Lutheran faith and he is a member of the church at Martinsburg, Pa. , GEORGE F. TATE, M.D., who is en- gaged in the general practice of medicine and surgery at Altoona, Pa., was born in this city in 1867 and here received his early educa- tional training in the local schools. In 1889 he graduated from Mt. St. Mary’s College of Emmettsburg, Md., receiving from that insti- tution the degrees of A.B. and A.M. He then entered the University of Pennsylvania, from which he was graduated in medicine and surgery with the class of 1893, and has since been continuously and successfully engaged in general practice at Altoona. Aside from his practice Dr. Tate is interested in lumber, in which he deals extensively in the east. He HISTORY OF BLAIR COUNTY is at present police surgeon of the city of Al- toona, is a member of the County, State and American Medical Societies, and is also a member of the consulting staff of the Altoona Hospital. Dr. Tate served eight years on the select council of Altoona, being President for two years. He is fraternally a member of the B. P. O. E., and the Heptasophs, and his re- ligious connection is with the St. John’s Cath- olic Church. In 1897 Dr. Tate married Lo- retta C. Cole of Arndtsville, Pa., and they have one daughter, Kathleen. S. BLAIR HOOVER, a representative of one of the old and leading families of Al- legheny Township, Blair County, Pa., owns fifty-nine acres of land, thirty-nine acres of which is brush and timber and twenty of which he devotes to general farming and fruit growing. He was born in Allegheny Town- ship, May 20, 1871, and is a son-of Jacob W. and Susanna (Shadel) Hoover, both of whom were born in Blair County. Jacob W. Hoover was a soldier in the Civil War. The larger part of his life was spent in Allegheny Township where he was a well known and respected citizen. He was a mem- ber_of the German Baptist church. He never accepted any political office but assisted in sup- porting good government by casting his vote according to the dictates of conscience. He was twice married, his second union being with Susanna Shadel, a daughter of John Shadel, and of this marriage the following children survive: Levi, residing in Allegheny Town- ship; Jemima, wife of William G. Diehl, of Juniata County; John W., residing at Blairs- ville; George W., living at Duncansville; Mary E., wife of S. R. Clapper, of Allegheny Town- ship; Sarah A., wife of John A. Brubaker of Allegheny Township; S. Blair; Jacob W., liv- ing in Allegheny Township; and Nancy, wife of Edward Wyandt, of near Duncansville. S. Blair Hoover was reared and educated in Allegheny Township. Farming has been his main business interest and he has combined fruit growing with it, very profitably. He was married October 22, 1895, to Miss Ella FRANKLIN K. FICKES, M.D. AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS M. Hoover, who was born at Topeka, Kans., and is a daughter of John H. Hoover, now of ~ Allegheny Township, Blair County. Mr. and Mrs. Hoover have ‘six children: Della M., Mary E., Lizzie, Catherine, Orville and James. Like his late father and his brothers, Mr. Hoover is a Republican in his political views. With his family he belongs to the Carson Val- ley German Baptist Church, in which he is a deacon, and in August, 1910, he was or- dained a minister in the German Baptist church. JOHN M. SORRICK, who carries on gen- eral farming on a tract of 187 acres in Wood- bury Township, Blair County, Pa., has been a life-long resident of this county. He was born August 24, 1848, at Yellow Springs, Pa., and is a son of Valentine and Eva (Henry) Sorrick. “Valentine Sorrick was a native of Blair County, and his wife was born in York County, Pa. They were members of the Lutheran church, and he was politically “identified with the Democratic party. The following children were born to Valentine and Eva Sorrick: Catherine, now deceased; Samuel, deceased; Susan, deceased; Elizabeth, deceased wife of William Lower; Jacob H.; Mary, deceased wife of Alfred Hancuff; Eva, deceased wife of ‘William Piper; Rebecca, wife of George Aurandt; David, deceased; and John M. John M. Sorrick was reared and educated in Blair County and has always followed farm- ing, having purchased his present farm, which is part of the old Sorrick homestead, in 1883, from his father’s heirs. He has erected a fine modern home on the farm, and is recognized as one of the leading and enterprising citizens of the township. He is politically a Democrat, and has served as supervisor and school di- rector of this township. He affiliates with the Farmers’ Grange, and his religious connection is with the Lutheran church. On December 31, 1874, Mr. Sorrick was joined in marriage with Alice Shaffer, a datrgh- ter of Frederick and Angeline (Anderson) Shaffer, who were well known farmers of Blair County. Of their union have been born 786 the following children: Mary, who is the wife of William Aurandt; Clara, the wife of Isaiah Garner; Elmer; Ella, deceased wife of How- ard Wertz; Samuel, Harvey, John, Lloyd, and Frank. FRANKLIN K. FICKES, M. D., a lead- ing physician and surgeon at Tyrone, Pa., whose medical experience covers twenty-nine years, nineteen of these having been passed in this city, was born November 4, 1854, in Bed- ford County, Pa., a son of John and Rebecca (Weisel) Fickes. John Fickes was born in what was then Un- ion Township, Bedford County, Pa., in 1806. It was one of the larger townships and was later divided into three, the part in which he was born and lived now bearing the name of Queen Township. His father was of German extraction, but was born in America, but his mother was of Spanish blood. They lived and died in Bedford County. John Fickes lo- cated on a farm following his marriage and continued there until his death, which oc- curred in his eighty-sixth year. He was a supporter of the Republican party from its organization. He married Rebecca Weisel, who was born in 1812, in Bedford County, a daughter of John Weisel, a native of Ger- many. She lived to be eighty-eight years of age and was the mother of fifteen children, all of whom survive except three. The eldest, John, is-deceased. Richard is a retired car- penter, living at Sandusky, O. Daniel, who died in Montana in 1907, was a carpenter by trade. Rachel is the wife of Henry Beegle, and they live on a farm in Bedford County. William is a retired farmer and lives on the old homestead. Henry follows the carpenter trade at Altoona. Jacob was drowned when a child of three years. Emma is the wife of John Dibert of Claysburg, Blair County. Anna is the wife of Joseph Sill, a farmer of Bedford County. Sarah is the wife of Levi Hettzel, a carpenter, and they reside at Nelson, Nebr. Thomas is also in business in Ne- braska. Maria is the wife of Michael Stutt, a resident of Kalispen, Mont. Abram is a 786 carpenter, following his trade in the city of Chicago. Franklin K. was the fourteenth born in the above family. Lucinda, the youngest, is the wife of Franklin Mock, and they live at Kalispen, Mont. The parents of the above family were members of the Ger- man Reformed church. Franklin K. Fickes was educated in the pub- lic schools and at Martinsburg Academy, after which he taught school for five years, in the meanwhile having directed his studies along the lines of medicine and was thus well pre- pared for entrance at the College of Physi- cians and Surgeons, in Baltimore, Md. He was creditably graduated in the class of 1881, and in the following years located at War- rior’s Mark, in Bedford County, where he re- mained until 1891, coming then to Tyrone. He is a member of the Tyrone Medical Club, and enjoys a large and substantial practice which has been built up on professional ability. Dr. Fickes was married in 1884 to Miss Ella May Kieffer, a daughter of Joseph Kief- fer, of Warrior's Mark, and they have had five children, namely: Ralph and Forest, both of whom are deceased; Virginia Ray, who is engaged in the practice of medicine at Phila- delphia, and is a graduate of the Women’s Medical College of that city, after which she practiced one year at Tyrone; Victor, who resides at home; and Charles, who is in the employ of the Motor Transportation Company of Clearfield. Dr. Fickes is an Independent Republican in his views on public questions. EDWARD HEAGHLY LYTLE, JR., one of Blair County’s representative citizens, who, for a number of years has been interested in lumbering, farming and stock-raising, is owner and proprietor of Oak Lawn, the well known country seat or homestead of the Lytle family in Blair County, which is beautifully situated in the eastern-central part of the Morrison Cove Valley at the foot of Tussey Mountain. This place, with the farms attached to it, contains about 300 acres of well improved and finely cul- tivated land, which has been used as _ stock- HISTORY OF BLAIR COUNTY farms for the breeding of Kentucky horses and Jersey cattle. _ Mr. Lytle was born in Philadelphia, Pa., May 21, 1859, and is a son of the late Ed- ward H. and Elizabeth (Shoenberger) Lytle of that city. Edward H. Lytle, Sr., was born at Cincin- nati, Ohio, a son of William Lytle, (Jr.), who served eight years as surveyor-general of the Western Reserve, during President Jackson’s administration. General Lytle was a son of William Lytle, Sr., and he was a son of John Lytle, a son of Christopher Lytle of Carlisle, Pa., whose parents came from England. William Lytle, Sr., was commissioned a captain of an Independent Company of Foot in and near Fort Hamilton in Tuscarora Valley, Cumberland County, by Robert Hunter Mor- ris, lieutenant governor and commander-in- chief of the Province of Pennsylvania and counties of New Castle, Kent and Suffex on Delaware, April 9, 1750. The Lytles ‘settled at Carlisle, Pa., but the family was large and of dominant character and as they located in other sections, became leaders in many lines of activity. Robert Todd - Lytle, an uncle of Edward H. Lytle, Jr., served three terms in the U. S. Congress, from Cincin- nati, O.; another uncle, John Stahl Lytle, major in the U. S. A., participated in the Sem- inole Indian War, in Florida, under General Jackson. In the Military Cemetery at Chattanooga, Tenn, stands an appropriate monument com- memorating the services of General William Haines Lytle, a son of the Hon. Robert T. Lytle, who served as a colonel of volunteers in the Mexican War and later as brigadier-gen- eral in the Civil War and lost his life at the battle of Chickamauga, Tenn., September 20, 1863. His body was sent home with a guard- of-honor by General Lee, and was interred at Cincinnati, October 20, 1863. For many years the Lytles have enjoyed pub- lic honors and social prestige both in Ohio and Pennsylvania. Edward H. Lytle, Sr., was a civil engineer by profession and followed it dur- ing his earlier years, under his father in the AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS Western Reserve. After his marriage to Eliza- beth Shoenberger he resided for a short time at Pittsburg, Pa., and then came to Blair County, (then Huntingdon and Bedford), and thereafter was mainly identified with the iron industry. His father-in-law, Dr. Peter Shoenberger, at that time was probably the greatest iron manufacturer in the United States and was a promoter and held a large financial interest in the Cambria Iron Company, in the old Portage Railroad and the Pennsylvania Canal, both of which were marvelous enter- prisesin their day. Mr. Lytle was interested in a number of well known furnaces and forges of that time, among which were Allegheny Forge and Rebecca and Martha Furnaces, in Blair County. He was a man of business ca- pacity, well qualified in his profession, and his acquaintance among men of education and cul- ture was wide. He was universally respected for his kindly disposition and very polished, courteous manners towards all with whom he came in contact. His death occurred at Phil- adelphia, Pa., in April, 1865. His marriage with Elizabeth Shoenberger was one of great domestic happiness. Of their nine children, the following survive: Sarah L., who is the widow of Dr. Charles Wordsworth Whitcomb, of Barre, Mass., now residing at Pittsburg, Pa.; Eliza A., who is the wife of Hon. Joseph Hemphill, president judge of Chester County, Pa.; Frances L., who is the widow of John H. Page of Pittsburg, Pa., now residing at Mar- tinsburg, Pa.; Florence L., who is the widow of O. H. Ormsby, formerly of Pittsburg, Pa., and now residing in Huston Township, Blair County, Pa.; Caroline L., who is the wife of Joseph G. Ormsby, resides at Martinsburg, Pa. ; and Edward H., Jr., the only son residing at the old Lytle homestead at Oak Lawn, near Martinsburg, Pa. Elizabeth S. Lytle, the mother of the above family died in 1903, at Oak Lawn, aged eighty-six years. Edward H. Lytle, Jr., was born, and during boyhood and _ early youth was mainly reared in the city of Philadelphia. For several years he attended the Fares Latin College in that city, his earlier training having been in the public schools and 787 by private instruction by tutors. Mr. Lytle was only twenty years of age when he assumed the responsibilities of manager of the then ex- tensive Lytle estates, situated in Blair, Hunt- . ingdon, Bedford and Cambria Counties, con- sisting of mining, lumber, and agricultural interests, which position he continued to fill satisfactorily until the death of his mother in ° 1903,,a period of twenty-three years. He still has numerous interests in this estate. He has . served also in offices of a public character in Blair County and is personally known to very many of his fellow citizens: He was one of © the organizers of the First National Bank of Martinsburg, of which he is a director. HOMER C. MILLER, M. D., one of Al- toona’s leading physicians and surgeons, who maintains his office at No. 1202 Sixteenth Street and takes care of a practice that absorbs his entire time, was born in Indiana County, Pa., in 1874. His father was the late Dr. C. C. Miller. Homer C. Miller went from the Altoona High School to the Ohio Northern University at Ada, O., where he was graduated in the class of 1895, after which he entered Starling Medical College at Columbus and was a mem- ber of the graduating class, of 1898, completing his course with credit. After three years of initial practice at Ashville, in Cambria County, he settled permanently at Altoona. He is a member of the Blair County and the Pennsyl- vania State Medical Societies. Dr. Miller was married in 1902 to Miss Nancy Florence Eckhardt, of Claysburg, Pa., and they have two children, Sarah Elizabeth and John C. Dr. and Mrs. Miller are members of the Reformed church. He is a 32d degree Mason and belongs to the Blue Lodge, Chapter and Shrine at Altoona, and to the Consistory at Harrisburg. - WILLIAM B. COLTABAUGH, one of Al- legheny Township’s well known citizens and successful general farmers, owns a fine tract of eighty acres. He was born on this farm in Al- legheny Township, Blair County, Pa., April 24,’ 788 1864, and is a son of Charles and Maria (Sel- witz) Coltabaugh. Charles Coltabaugh was born in Germany and was a son of Jacob Coltabaugh, and ac- companied the latter to America and to Blair County. Charles Coltabaugh was only a boy at that time but he grew to manhood and died on the farm now owned by his son, William B. Coltabaugh, in the rich Carson Valley. Charles Coltabaugh was one of the founders of the Lutheran church in his neighborhood. He married Maria Selwitz, who was also a na- tive of Germany. William B. Coltabaugh grew to manhood in the Carson Valley and, with the exception of eight years, during which period he worked in the machine shops of the Pennsylvania Rail- road Company at Altoona, he has given his at- tention to farming. In the management of his land he makes use of improved machinery and follows many modern methods and is numbered with the agriculturists of this section who are men of ample fortune, the same having been acquired through personal effort. In November, 1888, Mr. Coltabaugh was married to Miss Emma Yingling, a daughter of the venerable Jonathan Yingling, who is now in his eighty-ninth year and is the oldest resi- dent of this part of Blair County. Mr. and Mrs. Coltabaugh have six children: Harry M., Dora, Stella, Myrtle, Ruth and Charles. Mr. Coltabaugh is a member of the Lutheran Church at Duncansville. He is a Republican in politics and does his full duty as a citizen but is not a seeker for public office. PROF. HENRY HOUSTON BAISH, su- perintendent of the public schools of Altoona, Pa., and an educator of experience, was born near Bendersville, Adams County, Pa., Febru- ary It, 1874, and is a son of Garrett J. and Julia (Pensyl) Baish. The father of Prof. Baish was born at Franklintown, York County, Pa. He was for many years engaged in the painting and wall paper business in Adams County. His. death occurred September 6, 1906. The mother survives and resides with her son, Henry H. Baish. HISTORY OF BLAIR COUNTY Henry H. Baish completed the common school course and in 1895 was graduated from the Cumberland Valley State Normal School at Shippensburg, Pa. Prior to and after his attendance at normal school he taught school in Altoona for four years and in 1901 he was graduated in the classical. course at Lebanon Valley College, in Lebanon County, Pa. He then returned to Altoona and taught in the city schools for seven years and on August 17, 1908, was appointed superintendent of the whole school system for the city. This re- sponsible office, with its numerous other du- ties, includes the supervision of 17 school buildings and 218 teachers. In every way he is well equipped for this work, his whole life having been devoted to educational work. Professor Baish is a Republican in his polit- ical views. With his mother he attends the United Brethren church. Two years after graduation from college, his Alma Mater, Leb- anon Valley College, honored him by electing him a trustee of the college to represent the Alumni Association, which position he has held continuously ever since. FRANKLIN D. RITCHEY, a well known resident of Tyrone Township, Blair County, Pa., who owns valuable real estate at Holli- daysburg, has been engaged in farming al- most all his mature life. He was born May 25, 1872, and is a son of John C. and Melissa A. Ritchey. The father of Mr. Ritchey was a carpenter by trade and was well known all through Bed- ford County, Pa. His death occurred in De- cember, 1909. His surviving children are: Amanda, who married William Stoudnour, of Fulton County, Pa.; Stella, who married Will- iam Pepple, of Bedford County; James, who lives in Bedford County; Carrie, who married Jacob Wallace, of Altoona; Rhyne, who mar- ried George Zimmers, of Hollidaysburg; and Franklin D. John C. Ritchey was identified” with the Republican party and was a member of the order of Odd Fellows at Lloydsburg, Pa. Both he and wife were members of the Reformed church from youth. DR. AND MRS. JAMES W. IRWIN AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS Franklin D. Ritchey married Miss Rebecca Zimmers, a daughter of George W. and Anna Zimmers, of Bedford County, and they have two children: Jacob Clyde and Edith Mel- issa. Mr. and Mrs. Ritchey are members of -the Reformed Church at Hollidaysburg. He casts his vote with the Republican party and he is fraternally identified with the Odd Fel- lows at Hollidaysburg. JOHN F. CORNELIUS,* residing on his valuable farm of about 125 acres, situated in Taylor Township, Blair County, Pa., is en- gaged in general farming and dairying, the latter industry being a leading feature. He was born at Saltillo, Huntingdon. County, Ra., - January 11, 1866, and is a son of Walte: and Amanda (Kough) Cornelius, and a grandson of Peter Cormelius, an early settler in that neighborhood. Both father and mother are living, the former being in his seventy-second year and the latter in her sixty-ninth year. They are highly respected people of their com- munity. John F. Cornelius has had few advantages in life except those he has secured for himself through his energy and industry. After he completed his school attendance at Saltillo, he worked as a farmer and dairyman and since the spring of 1908, when he purchased his present farm, he has done a large amount of business. He has very practical ideas and when he started into the dairy business in- vested in the best dairy stock and the results have shown that he has excellent business judg- ment. Usually he keeps from fifteen to twenty head of Jersey and Holstein cows, each of these breeds having particular dairy qualities of their own. He operates a milk route through Roaring Spring and is known favor- ably to almost every resident. Mr. Cornelius was married to Miss Bertha Park, a daughter of Samuel Park, of Saltillo, Huntingdon County, and they have three chil- dren, Owen W.,' Nettie L., and Lillian. Mr. and Mrs. Cornelius are members of the Meth- odist Episcopal Church at Roaring Spring. In politics he is a Republican. 789 PATRICK JOSEPH KELLY, the popular. proprietor of the City Hotel, at Tyrone, Pa., has been a resident of this borough since 1905 and has had eight years of hotel experience. He was born in County Leitrim, Ireland, No- vember 7, 1875, and is a son of James and Bridget Kelly, who still live in Ireland. They had four children: Catherine, residing in Philadelphia; Patrick Joseph ; Hugh, still liv- ing in Ireland; and James, a resident of At- lantic City, N. J. Patrick Joseph Kelly was educated in his native land and came to America in 1895, and lived in Philadelphia until 1897, when he moved to Cresson, in Cambria County, and in 1902 went into the hotel business at Ehrenfeld, where he continued until 1905, when he took charge of the Capitol Hotel at Hollidaysburg and later in the same year came to Tyrone and purchased the City Hotel. This hostelry is centrally located on the corner of Tenth Street and, Pennsylvania Avenue, and to equip it in first class style, Mr. Kelly expended fully seven thousand dollars. Mr. Kelly enjoys a large amount of most desirable patronage and is doing a prosperous business. In 1903 Mr. Kelly was married to Miss Ida Leep, a daughter of John Leep, of Cambria County, and they have three children: Ma- rion, John and Ida. Mr. Kelly and family are members of the Catholic church. In politics he is independent but fraternally is a member of the Tyrone lodge of Elks. JAMES WALTER IRWIN, M. D., a lead- ing physician and surgeon of Tyrone, Pa, who has been actively and successfully engaged in the practice of his profession for the past eighteen years, was born in Ontario, Domin- ion of Canada, December 29, 1868. His par- ents are Jared and Eliza (Armitage) Irwin, who still reside in Ontario, near the city of Toronto. Dr. Irwin is of Scotch-Irish ancestry on the paternal side and of English, with a strain of Pennsylvania Dutch, on the maternal. Dr. Ir- win can trace an ancestral line over many hun- dred years to a time when a coat of arms 790 decorated the Irwin possessions, bearing the following inscription: Laud Ullis Labentia Ventis. Robert Irwin, the great-grandfather of Dr. Irwin, was born in the north of Ire- land and in 1796, with a brother and four cousins, came to America and carried on busi- ness in the city of Philadelphia as linen drapers until 1810, when they moved to Can- ada. Thomas Irwin, the grandfather, was born-in Canada and his wife was a member of the old Pierson family of Philadelphia. Jared Irwin, father of Dr. Irwin, was born in Canada in 1840. He married Eliza Armi- tage, who was also born in Ontario, in 1842. They had four children, namely: Herbert Edward, King’s counsel and clerk of the peace, who is a barrister in York County, Ontario; Franklin, who is a physician and surgeon, with the degrees of M. B., M. D. C. M., F. R. C. P., and S. O., resides in Westen, Ontario; Lenore, who is the widow of William M. Dox- see, is a directress of one of the Kindergarten schools of Toronto, Ontario; and James Wal- ter, of Tyrone. The maternal grandparents of Dr. Irwin were James and Elmira (White) Armitage. The great-great-grandfather of the mother of Dr. Irwin, was Amos Armitage, a grandson of Samuel Armitage, who settled in Bucks County, Pa., in 1739, a son of Sam- uel and Sarah Ann Armitage, natives of York- shire, England. Amos Armitage moved from Bucks County to County York, Canada, in 1808, and there Seth Armitage and’ James Armitage were born, the great-grandfather and grandfather of Dr. Irwin. The maternal grandmother, Elmira White, was a direct de- scendant of Peregrine White, who was born in 1620, on the Mayflower, just before the landing of the Pilgrims. James Walter Irwin was educated at New Market, Ontario, after which he entered the medical department of the University of Mich- igan and was graduated in the class of 1892. He entered into practice in Michigan and re- mained in that state until 1897, then spent a year in Canada and then practiced at War- rior’s Mark, Huntingdon County, Pa., for three years and at Spruce Creek eight years, HISTORY OF BLAIR COUNTY coming to Tyrone July, 1910. He is a member of the Tyrone Medical Club and is identified also with the Modern Woodmen, I. O. O. F., and the Order of the Moose. He takes no very active part in politics but may always be found casting his influence in support. of law, order and good citizenship. Dr. Irwin was married in 1891 to Miss Ethel Pegg, who died in 1895. She was a daughter of Samuel Pegg, of New Market. Two children were born, both of whom are de- ceased. Dr. Irwin was married second to Miss Edith Wertz, in 1897, a daughter of the late John Wertz, of Clearfield County, Pa. She died in 1904, survived by three children: John W., Gwendolyn and Ila Lenore. In 1905, Dr. Irwin was married to Mrs. Ella Keatley, a daughter of Castleton Mcllvaine, of Huntingdon County, Pa. The family resi- dence is situated at No. 1208 Pennsylvania Avenue, and Dr. Irwin maintains his office at 1210 Penn Avenue. He attends the Presby- terian church. CHIARLES F. KENOTE SR., proprietor of one of the leading grocery houses of Bell- wood, Pa., has been identified with the busi- ness interests of this borough since September, 1891, when he broke ground for his present building and established himself in the grocery business. He was born May 3, 1849, in Ger- many, a son of Peter and Catherine (Hicks) Kenote, and was past six years of age when his parents came to this country and located first at Lackawack, Ulster County, N. Y. From there they removed to Mountaindale, Sullivan County, N. Y., and in 1871 our sub- ject left home and went to Ridgway, Elk County, Pa., where he was for two years iden- tified with the lumber industry. From there he went to Cameron, Cameron County, Pa., where he also was engaged in the lumber business, and two years later returned to Elk County, Pa., where, in 1875, he embarked in the gro- cery business, in which he continued with much success four years. He subsequently operated the Koch Hotel at Centerville, Elk County, Pa., for one year, after which he re- AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS turned to St. Mary’s and resumed the grocery business. Seven years later Mr. Kenote dis- posed of his residence and business and re- moved to Punxsutawney, Jefferson County, Pa., and was there engaged in the grocery business until 1891, at which time he sold his business interests, which consisted of a three- room store building on Findlay Street, in which his store was located. He has since lived continuously at Bellwood, where he es- tablished himself in the grocery business, in which he has been eminently successful. Mr. Kenote was married October 11, 1877, at Richmond, Va., to Nancy Bacher, who was formerly a resident of that city, and of their children seven were born at St. Mary’s, and one in Punxsutawney. Only two still survive, namely: Charles F., Jr., engaged in the insur- ance business at Altoona, who married Irene Croak, of Lockhaven; and Ora Evaline, who is the wife of J. Van Taylor, of Tyrone, Pa. . Mr. Kenote is politically identified with the Republican party but has always refused to ac- cept office. He is fraternally a member of the Royal Arcanum, and his religious connection is with the Presbyterian church, of which he is also an elder. Mr. Kenote formed a second union,on October 7, 1890, with Amanda Hart- meir, of Clayville, Jefferson County. GEORGE W. SMITH, M. D.,* deceased, for many years occupied a prominent position in the medical fraternity at Hollidaysburg, and stood high in the affections of the people who had benefited through his care and skill and whose hours of pain and sickness had been cheered and alleviated by his helpful and genial presence. Dr. Smith was graduated in 1862 from the medical department of the University of Penn- sylvania and in the same year located at Hol- lidaysburg, which place continued to be his home through the succeeding years of his busy and useful life. He identified himself with the leading medical organizations, including the Blair County Medical Society, the American Medical Association, and the Academy of Medicine and Surgery at Altoona. His ability, -by four children: 791 learning, and professional enthusiasm brought him frequent and public recognition, and his name was closely associated with the progress of medical science, particularly in western Pennsylvania. He was a prominent Free Mason, having been identified with the frater- nity from early manhood. During the Civil War he served as assistant surgeon of the 54th Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry for one year, being then appointed a member of the U. S. Board of Examining Surgeons at Altoona, Pa. He attended to the duties of this office without changing his place of residence. Dr. Smith was married first to Miss Eliza- beth T. McCune, who died in 1871, survived Ida, Mac, George, and Lil- lian. In 1874, Dr. Smith was married to Miss Eliza B. Calvin, who survives him. She is a daughter of the late Hon. Samuel Calvin. To this marriage three children were born, namely: Rebecca, whose death occurred May I9, 1909, and who was the wife of Albert C. Steck, a prominent ‘attorney of Ottumwa, Iowa; Mary, the wife of Frank McFarland, who is in the employ of the Pennsylvania Rail- road Company at Hollidaysburg; and Samuel Calvin, who is a very prominent physician of Hollidaysburg, with a residence and office on Allegheny Street. Dr. Samuel C. Smith is a graduate of Buck- nell University and of Jefferson Medical Col- lege, taking honors at the latter institution. He married Miss Louise Warriner, the daugh- ter of Rev. E. A. Warriner, for forty years rector of the Episcopal church at Montrose, Pa. Mrs. George W. Smith resides in a beautiful home at No. 208 Allegheny Street, Hollidaysburg. She is a lady who has many friends among the best society of the place. CHARLES A. BAKER,* well known as farmer and gardener, all over Blair Township, Blair County, Pa., owns thirty-five acres of richly cultivated land. He was born at Newry, Blair County, Pa., August 16, 1843, and is a son of Andrew and Jane (Fraker) Baker. Andrew Baker was born in Bedford County, Pa., a son of Peter Baker, who was an early 792 settler in North Woodbury Township, Bed- ford County. Andrew Baker was a gunsmith by trade and during a number of years con- ducted a shop at Newry, where, with care, skill and patience he fashioned a certain kind of muzzle-loading gun, greatly favored by hunters, and other fire arms made use of at that time and the completeness of which es- tablished his reputation all over this section. ‘He was a man of pronounced temperance views and a consistent member of the Lutheran church. Charles A. Baker attended the public schools and also a private school at Newry. When the Civil War was precipitated there was not only an immediate necessity for the soldier with the ‘gun but also an equally pressing one for the men with the strength and skill to enter the construction corps and to the latter Mr. Baker turned when he felt it his duty to enter into military life. At first he was a member of the Army of the Potomac but later was transferred to the Army of the Cumberland and served under Generals Halleck and Thomas. He be- came a member of the construction corps in the fall of 1862 and was honorably discharged in October, 1865. Twice he fell into the not too tender hands of the enemy, first near Murphreesboro, Tenn., and later at Vaughn’s Gap, but secured a release on both occasions and lived to return safely to his home. A brother, the late Thomas J. Baker, of Blair Township, was also in the service. Mr. Baker has devoted his farm to truck gardening and for many years has sold his choice products to the residents of Altoona. He is also the busi- ness agent for the Judge Gardner estate in Blair Township. In 1875, Mr. Baker was married to Miss Lovina Wilt, a native of Blair Township, and a daughter of the late David Wilt, and they have had three children, Ida May, Mary Blanche and Jane Alice, of whom Blanche is deceased. Mr. and-Mrs. Baker attend the Lutheran church at Newry, Pa. Mr. Baker’s farm was entered from the Government by Abraham Sell, over 100 years ago, but the _his father. HISTORY OF BLAIR COUNTY larger part of the improving has been done by its present owner. HARRY F. BOUSLOUGH, residing on a farm of 135 acres in Frankstown Township, has been a life long resident of this township. . He was born on the home farm February 16, 1859, a son of William and Anna (Fleck) Bouslough. His parents were both natives of Blair County, as also were his grandparents on both sides. The father was of German de- scent and a life long resident here. He was a farmer by occupation, a Republican in politics, and religiously a member of the Lutheran church. He was first married to a. Miss Eliza Young, by whom he had five children, four of whom died in infancy, the other, Blair Y., a resident of Altoona. His marriage with Anna Fleck resulted in the following issue: Mary C., now deceased, who was the wife of Lorenzo D. Stewart; Harry F.; Sadie E., now Mrs. Robert Hileman; Anna Margaret, who is the wife of Fletcher Hand; William W.; and Eliza Jane, who died wnen young. Harry F. Bouslough attended the local schools of Frankstown Township until eight- een years of age, his father’s farm being the scene of his boyhood activities. After leaving school he engaged in agricultural pursuits and for the past twenty-seven years has farmed his present place, which he inherited in 1904 from All the improvements were on the farm, which is sufficiently equipped and stocked for general farming, but the house was remod- eled by Mr. Bouslough after he came into pos- session of the property. On March 12, 1885, Mr. Bouslough was married to Catherine Wertz, a daughter of John and Jane (Vanallman) Wertz, both now deceased. -Her parents were among the early settlers of the county, as also were her grand- parents on both sides. The children of John and Jane Wertz were as follows, born in the order named: David, Samuel V., Jane E., Malinda L., (all deceased), John C., Francis M., Meartin L., Sevell W., Andrew-C., and Catherine, wife of the subject of this sketch. Six children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Bous-: ADIE A. STEVENS AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS lough, namely: William M., who married Martha E. Culp; Olive M., Frank C., Harry C., Mabel C., and Jesse M. In politics Mr. Bouslough is an adherent of the Republican party, and has served one year as supervisor; he is township auditor, and was school director about fifteen years. Mr. and Mrs. Bouslough are both members of the Lu- theran church. JOHN DICKSON, farmer and fruit grower, resides on his forty-five acres of valu- able land which is situated near Sinking Val- ley, in Tyrone Township, Blair County, Pa. He was born May 27, 1846, and is a son of David and Maria (Erman) Dickson. He is one of a family of eight children, the others being: Sarah, who is deceased, was the wife of John Mutersbaugh; Samuel and George, both of whom are deceased; Margaret, who is the widow of James Templeton, of Tyrone ‘Township; David, who resides in Essex County, N. Y.; Mathew, who lives at Des Moines, Ia.; and Adam L. who is employed in the Tyrone Paper Mills. John Dickson married Miss Anna Parks,_of Hares Valley, Huntingdon County, Pa., and seven children have been born to them, namely: Ada, who is the wife of John Calder- wood, of Sinking Valley; Susie, who is the wife of Sidney Bridenbaugh, of Tyrone, Pa.; and David W., John, Samuel Foster and Vic- tor, all of whom are at home,-and William Guy, who died aged 15 months. Mr. Dickson and family are members of the Presbyterian church. In politics he is a Republican. GEORGE W. REPLOGLE,* who has been a resident of Roaring Springs, Pa., since the spring of 1907, was for many years engaged in agricultural pursuits in Middle Woodbury Township, Bedford County, Pa., and was born there August 10, 1848, a son of John B. and Elizabeth (Brumbaugh) Replogle. Daniel Replogle, grandfather of subject, was one of the early settlers of Middle Wood- bury Township, Bedford County, Pa., which was the birth pla¢e of John B. Replogle, father 793> of subject. John B. Replogle was a farmer by occupation, and a life long resident of Bedford County, Pa. His wife, who was Elizabeth Brumbaugh in maiden life, was a native of Huntingdon County, Pa. George W. Replogle was reared to maturity in Bedford County, and was educated in the district schools of his native township. He was for many years engaged in agricultural pursuits in Middle Woodbury Township, but in the spring of 1907 came to Roaring Springs, Blair County, where he is held in high esteem and enjoys the confidence of his fellow men. Mr. Replogle was first united in marriage with Mary Cramer, and of this union were born five children, but four of whom are still living: Lizzie, the wife of Ira Bechtel, of Taylor Township; James, a resident of Pitts- burg, Pa.; Hulda, who married Charles Guyer and resides in southern Idaho; and Hiram, a resident of Middle Woodbury Township, Bed- ford County, Pa. Mr. Replogle formed a sec- ond union with Sarah Brown, by whom he became thé father of four children, namely : Clara, a teacher in the schools of Roaring Springs; Howard, who resides in Bedford County, Pa.; Abraham, who lives in Roaring Springs; and George, who is a resident of Bedford County. Mr. Replogle is identified with the Democratic party in politics and :his religious connection is with the Brethren church of which he has been a deacon for many years. ADIE ALLEN STEVENS, vice president of the First National Bank of Tyrone and also vice president of the American Lime and Stone Company as well as its general manager, for years has been identified with Tyrone’s leading business interests and is one of the city’s larg- est property owners and tax payers. He was born August 20, 1845, in Blair County, Pa., and is a son of James and Catherine A. Stev- ens. James Stevens was born also in Blair County and during a comparatively short life, continued to reside in Antis Township, where his death occurred in 1846. He married Cath- 794 erine Agnew, also a native of Blair County and now a venerable resident of Tyrone, hav- ing reached her eighty-seventh year. Two children were born to this marriage, Finley and Adie Allen. The former was killed at the battle of Fort Wagner, during the Civil War, having been a member of Co. F, 76th Pa. Vol. Inf. Adie Allen Stevens was a babe.of one year when his father died. He was carefully reared by his capable and judicious mother and was educated at Tipton, Chartottesville and Al- toona, where he resided at the time Altoona was first laid out as a town. He was a volun- teer of the Civil War, enlisting in the First Pa. Vol. Inf., and reenlisting in the 15th Pa. Vol. Cav., and continued in the service until the end of the war, his record being that of a brave and efficient soldier. He then learned photography and from 1865 until 1870 de- voted himself more or less to perfecting his . Skill in the art, but in the latter year he settled down to the serious study of law, entering the office of the law firm of Neff & Riley, at Al- toona. In March, 1872, after being admitted to the bar of Blair County, he Iocated at Ty- rone and ever since then has been recognized as an able exponent of the law, practicing in the Supreme and Superior Courts of Pennsyl- vania and in the United States District and Circuit Courts. He has been successfully con- nected with a large part of the important liti- gation engaging the attention of the courts of Blair County, and for twenty years served as president of the Blair County Bar Association. His professional interests, however, al- though important from the first, by no means measure Mr. Stevens’ capacity or aggregate what he has accomplished. As early as 1873 his fellow citizens welcomed his spirit of en- terprise when he became one of the promoters of the Tyrone Gas and Water Company, util- ities of which the borough was in great need of having reorganized, and it was mainly through his efforts that the present complete and satisfactory systems were put in, and he is now and has been its president and general manager. He was also early interested in the HISTORY OF BLAIR COUNTY Home Electric Light Company and was one of the first agitators and suggestors of prac- tical methods for improving and paving the public streets of Tyrone. To appreciate the full value of such efforts, it requires the look- ing back of but a-few years to a time when the city’s well laid out avenues were still unpaved, when the highways into the city, with few ex- ceptions, were only drawbacks to trade and when Tyrone’s famous and beautiful driveway, the Parkway, had not been thought of perhaps, in any but the fertile brain of Mr. Stevens. He owns the beautiful park adjoining Tyrone and maintains it for the free use of the public. ’ In cooperation with other capitalists, but usu- ally as the prime mover, Mr. Stevens has been the promoter, founder and fosterer of very many of the important business enterprises of this section, and various industries, banks, business houses, schools and churches have profited by his liberality and broad-minded policies. He was one of the organizers and builders of the Tyrone Opera House; was one of the founders of the First National Bank; is a member of the present school board and chairman of its finance committee and also had charge of the erection of the beautiful building belonging to the First Methodist Episcopal Church. Seemingly a man with so many in- terests would have little time for family or social life, but this is not the case. He is the center of an admiring and devoted family, is an active member of the Tyrone Club and the Tyrone Country Club, having been one of the founders of both organizations, and is other- wise interested. Mr. Stevens was first married, May 31, 1868, to Miss Emma Howe, who died January 9, 1899. She was a daughter of Maxwell Howe, of Altoona. To this marriage four children were born, namely: George B., Emma May, Irene, and James Howe. The eldest son, the late George B. Stevens, was born December 15, 1876, and died September 29, 1907. He was one of the foremost busi- ness men of Tyrone and his loss was felt in every circle. For some years he was general sales agent for the American Lime and Stone - AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS Company,of Tyrone, which is the largest con- cern of its kind in the United States. Person- ally he had many friends. He married Edith B. Hoffman and two children survive him: Helen and George. Emma May Stevens mar- ried B. Frank Brantley, who is a traveling salesman for a Philadelphia house. Irene died at the age of three years. James Howe Stev- ens is associated with the Tyrone Gas and Water Company. He married Mabel Craw- ford, a daughter of Dr. L. F. Crawford, of Tyrone, and they have one son, Adie Allen Stevens, Jr. Mr. Stevens was married second to Miss Sarah C. Cochran, June 12, 1899, who died January 27, 1904. She was a daughter of William and Eliza Cochran, of Tyrone. Mr. Stevens was married to the estimable lady who now graces his home, Mrs. Mary Hazzard, on April 29, 1909. She is a daughter of Azro Goff, of Washington City, D. C., and was the widow of Chilton Hazzard, formerly a promi- nent journalist of Monongahela City, Pa. Mr. and Mrs. Stevens attend the First Methodist Episcopal Church and he for years has been a liberal contributor to its many benevolent en- terprises. In politics he is a Prohibitionist and is widely known in this connection, his attitude giving encouragement to all workers in the cause of temperance. He retains his interest in his old comrades in battle and is a member of D. M. Jones Post, G. A. R., at Tyrone. DR. CHARLES F. McBURNEY, one of the leading medical practitioners and highly esteemed citizens of Altoona, Pa., has been a ‘resident of this city since March, 1888, and was born August 29, 1874, in Huntingdon County, Pa. His early education was ob- tained in the local schools of his native local- ity and Mercersburg College, after which he took a course in medicine at the Jefferson Med- ical College, from which he graduated with the class of 1897. He has since been located at Altoona, where he has established a large and growing practice, and—enjoys the confi- dence and esteem of a large circle of friends and patrons. He is a member of the Blair County Medical Society, of which he is sec- 795 retary, and also of the Pennsylvania State and American Medical Associations. He is a member of the medical staff of the Altoona Hospital, and is examining physician for a number of Insurance Companies, namely, the Canadian Life, the Pacific Mutual, the Trav- elers Life Insurance Company, and the Grand Fraternity and Modern Woodmen of Amer- ica. Dr. McBurney is a Knight Templar Ma- son and Shriner, an Elk, and a member of the Grand Fraternity. He affiliates with the Sec- ond Lutheran Church. September 26, 1899, Dr. McBurney was married to Lizzie M. Rhine, a daughter of George Rhine, of Al- toona, Pa. Dr. McBurney has always taken an active interest in local politics. JOHN FUOSS, proprietor of the Bellwood Mills, at Bellwood, Pa., and a dealer in flour and feed of all kinds, has been in the milling and flour business here since January 15, 1901. He was born September 13, 1874, in Hunting- don County, Pa., and is a son of Jacob Fuoss. John Fuoss was about four months old when the family moved to Birmingham and three years later to the place called Fuoss Mills, in Antis Township, Blair County. He attended the township schools and had ten months of business training at the Altoona Commercial College. He learned the milling business in early manhood and has been engaged in mill- ing and farming for many years and has con- fined himself exclusively to milling since com- ing to Bellwood. He is a careful business man, possessing both good judgment and a thorough knowledge of the industry in which he is engaged and is numbered with the sub- stantial citizens of Antis Township. On June 3, 1903, Mr. Fuoss was married to Miss Blanche Bailey, who was born in Snyder Township, Blair County, but at the time of her marriage was residing at Harrisburg. She is a daughter of William T. and Mary (Mc- Farland) Bailey, the latter of whom survives, being now in her eightieth year, and residing in Antis Township. Mr. and Mrs. Fuoss have two children: Mildred Lois and Kenneth Al- ton. In politics, Mr. Fuoss is identified with 796 the Democratic party. He and wife are mem- bers of the Presbyterian Church at Bellwood. S, BLAIR TREESE,* who owns a farm of 166 acres in Woodbury Township, Blair County, Pa., and has other business interests in this section, is one of the representative citizens and a member of one of the old county families. He was born in Woodbury Town- ship, and is a son of Alfred and Mary (Fleagle) Treese. Alfred Treese was born also in Blair County, but his wife was a native of Somerset County. They were members of the Metho- dist Episcopal church. In business, Mr. Treese was a farmer. His family consisted of the following children: Eliza, who is deceased, was the wife of Thomas Gorsuch; Alfred; S. Blair; and Zelia, who is the wife of John Hoover. S. Blair Treese obtained his education in the schools of Woodbury Township. His occupa- tion has been farming ever since he became old enough to assume responsibilities. In 1898 he settled on his present place and also rents an adjoining farm. He is a man of enterprise and carries on large operations, giving employment to a number of men. He keeps about twenty- eight head of cattle and ten horses and makes the growing of good stock a feature of his work, In 1896, Mr. Treese was married to Miss Mollie C. Rhodes, a daughter of a neighbor- ing farmer, Jacob Rhodes. Mrs. Treese has one sister, Emma, who is the wife of Charles Stultz. Three children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Treese: Frank, Ethel and Robert. Mr. Treese was reared a Methodist and his wife a Lutheran. In politics he is a Repub- lican but he takes no special interest in public affairs, contenting himself with casting his vote and permitting others, with fewer business in- terests or those with greater political ambition, to perform the duties of office. He is a mem- ber of the board of directors of the Farmers’ and Merchants’ Bank at Williamsburg. The Treese family was established in Blair County HISTORY OF BLAIR COUNTY by his grandparents, John and Barbara (Nep- per) Treese. J. P. SEEDENBERG, M. D.,* who has been a resident of Altoona for over two dec- ades and who stands among the foremost men of the medical profession here, was born in Blair County, Pa., and is a son of the late E. B. Seedenberg, who died in February, 1908. For many years he was a prominent citizen of Altoona, was a member of the city council and served as chief of police under Mayor- Giles. J. P. Seedenberg was a student in the Al- toona schools until he entered upon the study of medicine. When prepared he entered Jef- ferson Medical College, Philadelphia, and was there graduated in the class of 1907. After serving as an interne, he came to Altoona to begin practice and for one year was resident physician at the Altoona Hospital, since which time his practice has been general and remark- ably successful. He is a member of the Blair County and the Pennsylvania State Medical Societies. In October, 1908, Dr. Seedenberg was mar- ried to Miss Marcella Dalton, of Altoona. They are members of the Second Lutheran church. He is identified with the Order of Heptasophs. ABRAM L. FLECK, who is living in retirement in Tyrone Township, is the owner of a fine farm of 120 acres, which is operated by his son, and has always made farming his life occupation. He was born February 21, 1836, in Sinking Valley, Tyrone Township, Blair County, Pa., and is a son of Jacob and Susana (Hostler) Fleck. Jacob Fleck was born in Sinking Valley, Blair County, Pa., and died at the advanced age of 87 years. The mother was born in Half Moon Valley, Center County, Pa., and died at the age of 56 years. They were both members of the Lutheran church and were bur- ied in the Lutheran Cemetery in Sinking Val- ley. Jacob Fleck always followed farming. He was politically a Republican, and served a number of years as supervisor, and also as AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS selection officer judge a number of times. He was a father of the following children: Abram L., subject of this record; John Francis, deceased; Mary Jane, widow of John A. Fleck of Sinking Valley; Eunice Catherine, the wife of Jabez Beyer, of Iowa. Abram L. Fleck was reared and educated in Tyrone Township, and has always engaged in agricultural pursuits, but is now living in re- tirement, in the enjoyment of a well earned. rest after years of unceasing activity. He is politically a Republican, and has served as su- pervisor of the township and as a school di- rector for a number of years. He is a member of the Grange of the Sinking Valley Lodge, and holds membership with the Lutheran church. Mr. Fleck was married January 3, 1861, to Martha Cryder, who is a daughter of Jacob and Margaretta Cryder, of Tyrone Township, and they have reared the following children: Margaretta, who was born October 24, 1861, is the wife of A. C. Sorrick, of Juniata, Pa.; Anna Belle, was born April 20, 1863, and mar- ried Hudson Irvin, of Bellwood, Pa.; Susana Frances, was born August 21, 1866, and mar- ried Rev. L. H.. Waring, of Washington, D. C.; Mary Ada, was born May 15, 1870; Wil- bur Henry, who is an instructor in the schools of Philadelphia, Pa., was born February 4, 1873; Forrest Roy, superintendent of the Eastern Pennsylvania Light, Heat and Power Company of Tamaqua, Pa.; and A. Ross, who operates his father’s farm of 120 acres in Ty- rone Township, was born February 21, 1883. DANIEL P. DICK,* a general farmer and: highly respected citizen of Taylor Township, Blair County, Pa., is also a survivor of the great Civil War, in which he bore an active part for many months. He was born in Tay- lor Township, May 24, 1837, and is a son of Daniel and Catherine (Pote) Dick. Daniel Dick, father of Daniel P., was a son of Harman Dick, who was born in Germany and when he emigrated to America, came di- rectly to Blair County, Pa., settling in Taylor . Township. Daniel Dick followed farming all 797 his life, his death occurring many years ago. He married Catherine Pote, whose father, Michael Pote, was born in Germany and came to the American colonies prior to the Revolu- tionary War, in which he took part, serving under General Washington. Of the children born to Daniel and Catherine Dick, three sur- vive, namely: Elizabeth, who is the widow of Levi Neterer, who resides in Elkhart County, Ind.; Catherine, who is the wife of Martin S. Wareham, of Taylor Township; -and Daniel P. Daniel P. Dick attended school and worked on the farm during boyhood, passing his time happily and usefully and then became his father’s main helper and continued to cultivate the home acres until 1864, when he decided to enter the army and do his part in suppressing the rebellion that threatened to disrupt the Union. He enlisted on August 27, 1864, in Co. C, 205th Pa. Vol. Inf., which became a part of the 9th Army Corps of the Army of the Potomac, and before he secured his hon- orable discharge in June, 1865, had partici- pated in many fiercely contested battles. He took part in the struggle at Fort Steadman and went all through the siege of Petersburg and was an individual part of General Grant’s victorious army that received the surrender of General Lee on that memorable day at Appo- mattox. It was a wonderful experience to safely pass through, although it is doubtful whether he or any of his brave comrades would care to repeat it. Mr. Dick returned then to Taylor Township | and on February 2, 1866, was married to Miss Susan Garber, a daughter of the late John B. Garber, of Taylor Township, and nine chil- dren were born to them, as follows: Ulysses Grant, who resides at McKee, Pa.; Melchia, who is now deceased; Irene, who resides in Taylor Township; Hattie, who is the wife of Rev. David Adams, a minister of the Dunkard faith now living at Johnstown, Pa.; Ezra, who lives at McKee, Pa.; Ella D., who is the wife of A. Ellis, of Taylor Township; Franklin, who lives in Bedford County; Edna, who is the wife of Clinton Croft, who lives at Roar- 798 ing Spring; and James, who is a resident of Taylor Township. Mr. Dick and family re- side on his farm of ten acres, situated in Tay- lor Township. He is a Republican in his polit- ical opinions. HON. SAMUEL CALVIN,* deceased, was once a distinguished citizen of Pennsyl- ‘ vania, his native state, in which, for many years he was a political leader, and he was an eminent lawyer of Blair County, where his name is inscribed with those who have re- flected honor on her bar. He was born in Columbia County, July 30, 1811, and was a son of Matthew and Mary Calvin, the former of whom was born in Chester County, Pa. Samuel Calvin profited by the educational advantages afforded him and when he com- pleted his course at the Milton Academy he was tendered and accepted the principalship of Huntingdon Academy, and. two years later he became a student of law under Attorney James M. Bell, of that place. He was admitted to the bar in April, 1836, and in the following July became a resident of Hollidaysburg, which remained his chosen home until the close of his long and useful life, his death tak- ing place in 1890. For forty years he was one of the ablest and most successful law practi- tioners of Blair County, possessing a keen, vig- orous, alert mind. He was deeply interested in the public school question and for forty- five years was a member of the school board of Hollidaysburg. He was equally at home in considering public questions, being a close and sound student and having a broad and master- ful mental grasp of every problem which he set himself to solve. These qualities were ap- parent in the attention he gave to local affairs and still more so when he became a member of Congress, elected in 1848, on the Whig ticket. This was a memorable congress—the slave question being then of great public importance —while then, as now, the tariff question was also a paramount one. In this, the Thirty- first Congress, Mr. Calvin represented Blair, Huntingdon, Mifflin, Juniata and Center Coun- HISTORY OF BLAIR COUNTY ties, and his speeches and writings during this remarkable session in favor of the protection of American industries, might, with profit, have been carefully considered by the august body which closed its labors on the tariff, at Washington, D. C., a half century later. He also foresaw the importance of carefully drawn currency laws—now also a burning question— and with remarkable clearness of view, pro- posed remedies not different from the advanced opinions of the leading present day financiers. When the Civil War was precipitated he took his place in the ranks and helped protect his country from the invasion by the enemy. - Mr. Calvin was married December 26, 1843, to Miss Rebecca S. Blodgett, who was born in Bedford County, Pa., and they had three chil- dren, one of whom is deceased. The survivors are Matthew and Eliza, the latter of whom is the widow of Dr. G. W. Smith. L Matthew Calvin, the surviving son of the late Samuel Calvin, was born at Hollidaysburg and was educated in the Hollidaysburg Acad- emy and the Lewisburg University. He pre- pared for the bar under his father’s supervi- sion, was subsequently admitted and has been in active practice at Hollidaysburg ever since, and maintains his office at No. 417 Montgom- ery Street. Mr. Calvin is additionally inter- ested in business enterprises. In politics he is an ardent Republican and has frequently been honored by his party by appointment to posi- tions of prominence and responsibility. His residence is at No. 612 Allegheny Street, Hol- lidaysburg. EDWARD BELL, a progressive farmer and enterprising citizen of Antis Township, Blair’ County, Pa., is the owner of a fine farm of 189 acres and was born December 12, 1830, in what is now Bellwood, a son of David and Margaret (McKnight) Bell. David Bell, father of our subject, was born June 23, 1805, at Bells Mills, and was a son of Edward Bell, who was known throughout Blair County as a financier, and iron manufac- turer, and who was the largest land owner of the county in its entire history. David Bell DR. D. KAUFMAN AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS was reared and spent his entire life in Antis Township, coming to the farm owned by our subject at an early period. Here he made a clearing, and in 1834, erected a large barn, which is still standing, cutting the pine with which it was built from_off the place. He also built a fine brick residence that same year, and both buildings are still in excellent condition. On February 4, 1830, David Bell married Mar- garet P. McKnight, who was born December -19, 1807, and died July 8, 1889. David died March 28, 1841, and both were buried in the Logan Valley Cemetery. The following chil- dren were born to David and Margaret Bell: Edward, subject of this record; Mary Jane, who died aged four years; John P., who lives in Antis Township on a farm adjoining the old home place; Henrietta, who died aged four years; and Richard M., who was killed May 4, 1864, at Drury’s Bluff during the Civil War. He enlisted in 1861 and was a member of Company F., 76th Reg. Pa. Inf. Edward Bell was reared in Antis Township, and was less than three years of age when his parents moved to his present farm. He has lived here continuously, except for a period of nine years, returning in 1850, and has always followed general farming. Mr. Bell was mar- ried September 26, 1865, to Anna Graham, the Rev. D. D. Clark officiating. Mrs. Bell was born in Waterloo, Juniata County, Pa., and is a daughter of James and Mary (Mont- gomery) Graham, the former of whom died when she was less than two years of age. Her mother, who came of one of the oldest families of Juniata County, subsequently moved with her family to Newton Hamilton, where Mrs Bell was reared. Eight children were born to Mr and Mrs. Bell, as follows: Margaret mar- ried W. H. Bently of Bellwood, and they have three children—-C. Kenneth, Annabel and Ed- ward Bell Bently. James Graham died Octo- ber 19, 1888, aged twenty years. Eliza, is the wife of Rev. J. R. Wood, pastor of the Bap- tist church of Hollidaysburg, Pa., and they have two children, Elizabeth R., and Richard Graham. .Mary lives at home; Edward, Jr., is a resident of Johnstown, Pa., arid married 799 Elizabeth Eckfeldt. Richard M., who lives on the home place, attended Bucknell University (as did also the others sons except Graham, who at his death was a junior at the Troy Polytechnic College of Troy, N. Y.), and was for some years a professional ball player, hav- ing played ball in all parts of the country. Adie K. met his death in the yards of the Green River, Wyoming & Union Pacific R. R. on December 15, 1907; he married Mary Freeburn of Bellwood. Allan C. died in No- vember, 1906, aged 19 years. Mrs. Wood is a member of the Pi Beta Phi order, and Rich- ard M., and Edward Bell are members of the Phi Kappa Psi fraternity. Mr. Bell is polit- ically a Republican and served as school di- rector, supervisor, and poor director, and was post master at Sabbath Rest 24 years. He is a member of the Logan Valley Baptist Church, and is the oldest member of that church, having been identified with the same since boyhood. DR. D. KAUFMAN, who has been en- gaged in the practice of medicine at Altoona, Pa., for-the past nine months, is one of the leading physicians of the younger generation. He was born in Athens, Bradford County, Pa., and after an elementary education in the local schools of that county, graduated from the Philadelphia High school, and then spent one year at a preparatory. school. He obtained his knowledge of the medical profession at the Jefferson Medical College, from which he graduated with the class of 1908, then spent 14 months in St. Joseph’s Hospital at Phila- delphia. He has since been located at Altoona, Pa., in the practice of medicine and has estab- lished a profitable and steadily growing practice. HON. RICHARD BEASTON, formerly burgess of Tyrone, Pa., and a leading business man of this borough, has been identified with the paper manufacturing industry for the past twenty-six years. He was born at Brooklyn, N. Y., and is a son of Richard and Mary (Somers) Beaston. 800 Richard Beaston was small when his parents moved to Camden, N. J., where he attended both the public schools and private institutions until he entered the office of the American Dredging Company,:of Philadelphia, one of the largest concerns of its kind in the country. He had one year of office training and then came to this section of Pennsylvania and en- gaged with a large lumber firm which operated in Center and Clearfield Counties. He was connected with this concern from 1872 until 1884, and had charge of the purchasing and sales department and acquired a thorough knowledge of every detail. In 1884, he ac- cepted a responsible position with the firm of Morrison, Bare & Cass, paper manufacturers and has been with this house continuously for twenty-six years, during which time the firm style has changed several times. It has been Morrison & Cass, later the Morrison & Cass Paper Company and more recently the title of the West Virginia Pulp and Paper Company, has been adopted. Its offices are at Tyrone and it operates mills in both Pennsylvania and West Virginia. Mr. Beaston is in charge of the timber and wood department for several of the various plants. He is a thorough-going business man and has been active in all matters tending to the development of Tyrone. He is a member of the Merchants’ Association and has served several terms as a member of the town council and has been president of that body. In 1886, he was elected assistant bur- gess and filled out an unexpired part of that term and later was elected burgess and served two terms in this highest municipal office. He has also been president of the Tyrone Board of Trade. In politics he is a Republican. Mr. Beaston married Miss Flora May Wal- son, who was born at St. Albans, Vt. They are members of Trinity Protestant Episcopal Church at Tyrone, of which he is treasurer and also a member of the vestry. He is one of Ty- rone’s high minded, representative and re- sponsible citizens. AMBROSE E. CORL, who resides on a farm of 103 acres in Juniata Township, Blair HISTORY OF BLAIR COUNTY County, Pa., is one of the enterprising citizens of the township and has been engaged. in agri- cultural pursuits here for more than a quarter of a century. He was born December 27, 1848, in Greenfield Township, Blair County, Pa., and is a son of Josiah and Elizabeth (Ritchey) Corl. Josiah Corl was born in Bedford County, Pa., and at an early age was left an orphan, being reared by an elder brother, Samuel Corl of Bedford County Pa. He learned wagon making with his brother, but only followed the trade for a short time, when he removed to Juniata Township, Blair County, Pa., and sev- eral years later to Greenfield Township, where he followed farming until the time of his death at the age of 38 years. His early death was due to consumption. The mother of our subject was born in the Shenandoah Valley, Va., and early in life came with- her parents to Blair County, Pa. Our subject has one sur- viving sister, Lavina, who is the wife of Dan- ‘ iel Diehl of Cambria County, Pa. _ Ambrose E. Corl was reared in Greenfield Township and his education, which was ob- tained in the district schools of his home lo- cality, was supplemented by practical experi- ence in later life. He was but 12 years of age at the time of his father’s death, and resided with his widowed mother until ‘her death, which occurred some few years ago. For a number of years he was identified with the saw-mill industry of Clearfield County, Pa., but for more than a quarter of a century has been engaged in agricultural pursuits on a farm of 103 acres in Juniata Township, Blair County, Pa. Mr. Corl married Rebecca Bowser, who is a daughter of Conrad Bowser, who was a resi- dent of Juniata Township, and of their union have been born the following children: Mar- tha, the wife of B. F. Long of Juniata Town- ship, George W., who resides in East Al- toona, Pa.; Reuben B., also a resident of East Altoona; Roy B., of Juniata Township; Ruth i and two who are deceased. Mr. Corl 1s politically a Republican and has served as committeeman from Juniata Township at the AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS county convention a number of years, and was also judge and inspector of election. He was also road supervisor and a member of the school board of this township for a number of “ years. -He is a member of the Mt. Moriah United Brethren Church, of which he has served as a trustee, and affiliates with the Pop- lar Run Grange and the Patrons of Hus- bandry. A. LEE FLECK, who is numbered with the substantial and representative farmers and cit- izens of Tyrone Township, Blair County, Pa., owns two very valuable adjoining farms, one of 125 acres and the other of 151 acres, both in Tyrone Township. He was born on the former farm, September 16, 1853, and is a son of O. P. and Katherine (Ramey) Fleck. O. P. Fleck was a farmer in Tyrone Town- ship for many years. He was a man of ster- ling character and a leading member of the _ Lutheran church. In politics he was a. Re- publican and he was identified with the Patrons of Husbandry, belonging to Sinking Valley Grange, No. 484. He married Katherine Ramey, who died May 20, 1902, and they had eight children born to them, namely: Ada- line; Caroline; G. C., who died in October, 1907; Josiah D., who died at the age of eleven years; Ada R., who died in May, 1906; A. Lee, who lives on the old homestead; Thomas R., of Laramie City, Wyo.; and Lottie A., who lives with her brother in the old home. The father died October 5, 1892. A. Lee Fleck was reared in Tyrone Town- ship and obtained his education here. He has made farming his main business in life and has taken much interest in everything pertain- ing to agricultural development. He is a member of the Patrons of Husbandry, belong- ing to Grange No. 494, at Tyrone. In poli- tics Mr. Fleck is a Republican and he has fre- quently been elected to responsible offices. For twelve years he served as a director of the poor and has also been auditor. Both he and sister are members of the Lutheran church. The family is an old and respected one in this section. 801 WILLIAM M. ELDON, M. D.,* a leading physician and surgeon of Roaring Spring, who has been engaged in the practice of his pro- fession here since 1894, was born in Adams County, Pa., November 23, 1859. His father, John W. Eldon, is now deceased, but the ven- erable mother still survives and resides at Car- lisle, Pa. William M. Eldon had only public school advantages. In early manhood he prepared for the Philadelphia College of Pharmacy, from which he later was graduated, and sub- sequently became a student at Jefferson Med- ical College, where he was graduated in 1888. He began practice at Philadelphia, but in a few years came to Blair County and selected Roar- ing Spring as his home and has continued here ever since. He gives the larger part of his attention to his practice, which is very large, but he has made some investments and is a di- rector in the Roaring Spring Bank. Dr, Eldon married Miss Anna Bare, the youngest daughter of Hon. D. M. Bare, of Roaring Spring, and they have one daughter, Sarah. Dr. and Mrs. Eldon attend the Meth- odist Episcopal church. He belongs to the Blair County Medical Society and the Amer- can Medical Association. In large measure, Dr. Eldon is a self made man but he never has regretted the discipline of earlier years when, through his unassisted efforts, he provided for his professional education. He is held in the highest esteem both as a physician and as a citizen. DR. FRANK A. FORD,* who makes a speciality of diseases of the eye, ear, nose and throat, has been located at Altoona, Pa., since the fall of 1900, and was born in Cresson, Cambria County, Pa., in 1873. He came to Blair County, Pa., when five years old, with his parents, who settled in Bellwood, and was there reared and received his early education. After graduating from the Altoona High School, he entered the University of Pennsyl- vania, graduating from the medical depart- ment in 1897, and then was resident physician of the Altoona Hospital and the St. Chris- ' man. 802 topher Hospital of Philadelphia for some time. He then took up special work at the Wills Eye Hospital of Philadelphia, and since the fall of 1900 has been located at Altoona, where he makes a specialty of eye, ear, nose and throat diseases. Dr. Ford is a member of the staff of the Mercy Hospital of this city, and is a member of the Blair County, and the State and American Medical Societies. Dr. Ford is fraternally a 32d degree Mason, a member of the Logan Lodge F. & A. M., and the Jappa Shrine of Altoona, the Harris- burg Consistory, the B. P. O. E., and the Uni- versity Club of Altoona. He is a member of the Second Presbyterian Church. Dr. Ford was married in June, 1906, to Rachael B. Dunn of Philadelphia, and has one son, Boyd Albert. GEORGE F. GILL, dealing in electric sup- plies, automobiles and sporting goods, and pro- prietor of the Gill Garage, at No. 208 E. Tenth Street, Tyrone, is one of the prosperous and enterprising business men of this borough. He was born July 14, 1869, in Center County, Pa., two miles from Pleasant Gap, and is a son of Isaac and Mary A. Gill. Isaac Gill and wife were born in Center County. He was a carpenter, contractor and stair builder and owned two threshing outfits. As a stair builder he constructed the stairs when the state college, at State College was built and was considered a very skillful work- He died when his son, George F. Gill was nine years old and was survived but two years by his widow. They were the parents of twelve children, George F. being the only one of the family residing at Tyrone. George F. Gill was educated in the public schools of Center County, in Bellefonte Aca- demy and the State Normal School at Lock Haven. Possessing natural mechanical skill he directed his studies in the line of electrical engineering, taking an interest in experiment- ing long before electricity became the acknowl- edged agent in every line of activity and in all the industries that it now is. He invented many pieces of machinery on which he sub- sequently obtained patents. His trolley wheel HISTORY OF BLAIR COUNTY invention patent he sold to the Westinghouse people as well as a patent brake for Pullman cars, and was employed by the Westinghouse Company at Pittsburg for a time, leaving them in the spring of 1906, with a fine record, and then came to Tyrone. Here he first opened up a general electrical business and later his garage. He carries goods of every kind for electrical purposes in the way of appliances and handles a number of first class motors. Mr. Gill was married in 1893, to Miss Lin- nie Lyle, a daughter of Robert Lyle, of Bell- wood. To the encouragement afforded him by this estimable lady, Mr. Gill generously at- tributes much of his prosperity. DAVID L. SHOWALTER,* who is one of Taylor Township's most substantial citizens, renting the farm of 175 acres which belongs to Mr. Snowberger, and owning a farm of 134 acres, which is located near the borough of Roaring Spring, has made a specialty of the dairy industry since 1892, when he came to the first named property. He was born in Huston Township, Blair County, Pa., in October, 1854, and is a son of Joseph and Mary (Lynn) Sho- walter. ‘Joseph Showalter was born in Huston Town- ship, Blair County where his father and mother had founded the family home after their marriage. His mother was a native of Germany. He passed his life in Huston Town- ship and was a farmer all his days. His death occurred many years ago. He married Mary Lynn, who was also born in Blair County, and of their children the following survive: Susan, who is the wife of Samuel Frederick, of Bed- - ford County; Jacob, who resides in North Woodbury Township; Felix, who lives in Hus- ton Township; David L., who is a resident of Taylor Township; Mary, who is the wife of John Smith, of Taylor Township; and Adam, who lives in Blair Township. David L. Showalter was reared in Huston Township and attended the neighborhood schools through boyhood and then turned his attention to practical farming. In 1892 he re- moved from Huston Township to Taylor THOMAS L. COLEMAN AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS Township and here has built up a large dairy business and has fitted out his farm with com- modious buildings especially adapted to this enterprise. He keeps about twenty-eight milk cows of the Durham, Jersey, Swiss and Hol- stein breeds and carries on his operations ac- cording to modern methods. He operates a milk route through Roaring Spring. Mr. Showalter married Miss Mary C. Sorick, who was born in Blair County, a daughter of the late Adam Sorick, of Huston Township, and they have had seven children, namely: Ida M., who is the wife of Walter Eastep; Elmer; Ezra; Harry; Adam; Roy, who is deceased; and Andrew. Mr. Showalter and family are members of the Reformed church at Roaring Spring. He isa politician just to the extent of good citizenship and casts his vote with the Re- publican party. THOMAS L. COLEMAN, one of Ty- rone’s valued and useful citizens, a public of- ficial of Blair County and a veteran of the Civil War, is a worthy representative of one of the old Scotch-Irish families of Central Pennsylvania. He was born at Coleman’s Mill, in Logan Township, Blair Courity, Pa., May 9g, 1843, and is a son of James and Mar- garet (Louden) Coleman. James Coleman was born in Pennsylvania, probably on the Juniata River. His parents were John and Elizabeth (Shaw) Coleman, and his grandfather was Thomas Coleman, who came to Penngylvania from Scotland and later took a prominent part in the troubles with the Indians. To John Coleman and his wife the following children were born: James; John, who died when aged about eighty years; Jane, who married Mathias Smith; Nancy, who married Mathias Kestler; Elizabeth, who was the wife of John Hagerty, died near Bell- wood, when eighty years of age; Sarah, who died many years ago, was the wife of David McCartney; Rachel and Martha, both of whom died unmarried. James Coleman was a carpenter by trade and his death was accidental, caused by a fall from’a barn he was building, in 1869, when 803 he was aged fifty-five years. He married Mar- garet Louden, who was born at Allegheny Furnace, near Altoona, 4 daughter of William and Sarah (Matthews) Louden. William Louden owned a farm near this furnace and near the location of the culvert on Broad Street, Altoona, and the Pennsylvania Rail- road constructed lines through his orchard. The Matthews family owned a farm up Dry Gap. The children of James and Margaret Coleman were: Sarah Jane, now deceased, was the wife of David Smith; Thomas L.; Ann Elizabeth, died at the age of nineteen years; Rachel, the wife of Samuel Black, who is a farmer and tanner and president of the Loveland Township School Board; Elmina, now deceased, was the wife of John Noble, also deceased, who were survived by six chil- dren, one of the sons later serving as.a soldier in the Philippine Islands, where he was killed; Mary, died at Altoona, unmarried; Blair, a resident of Juniata, employed in the railroad shops; and Luther and Martin, the former of whom. died’ at the age of forty years and the~ latter when twenty-five years old. Thomas L. Coleman attended the Logan Township schools in his boyhood and after he returned from the army completed his educa- tion in the academy at Bellwood. As a drum- mer boy in Co. B, 3d Pa. Vol. Inf., Mr. Cole- man served three months and then enlisted as a private ini Co. F, 2d Pa. Reserves, in which his service covered three years and seven months, the entire period being four years and one day. He was subjected to many hardships and faced innumerable dangers. While team- ing up the Weldon Railroad, he was captured at one time and was incarcerated in Libby Prison, the old tobacco warehouse at Rich- mond, Va., and then spent two months on Belle Island and five months in the terrible. prison pen at Salisbury, N. C., from which he was paroled in the spring of 1865. He was one of the 4,953 suffering prisoners that left ‘that prison alive, out of the 10,000 who had been herded there.: In 1910, Mr. Coleman re- visited the prison site and among the refuse still left there after forty-five years of peace, 804 discovered one of the old kettles in which the prisoners in 1865 cooked their scanty allow- ance of beans. Mr. Coleman not only suf- fered imprisonment but also had to endure the pain of a neglected wound in the leg, which he had received the day he was captured. He participated in the second battle of Bull Run, the seven days of fighting in front of Rich- mond, Gaines Mill, Mine Run, three different battles near Fredericksburg, Fair Oaks, Seven Pines, Gettysburg, Cold Harbor and practi- cally all of the important engagements of the Army of the Potomac up to the time of his capture, August 19, 1864. He had won pro- motion and at the time of capture was ser- geant of his company. His honorable dis- charge was given him in May, 1865. After he returned from the army he at- tended the Bellwood Academy, as mentioned above, and was variously employed until 1870, when he settled on his farm on which he con- tinued to reside until 1903, engaged there in general farming and stock raising. He still retains this property which consists of 142 acres of valuable land in Sinking Valley, which was known as the old Alexander Disart home- stead. For the past seven years Mr. Coleman has resided in the borough of Tyrone, which has placed him in the township of the same name. Wherever he has lived he has always recognized his responsibilities as a citizen and has done his full share in bringing about bet- ter conditions of all kinds and has lent his influence to make his community prosperous and law abiding. For a period of thirty years he served on the township school board and for three sessions was president of the School Directors’ Association of Blair County, a very useful and effective educational organization. In the fall of 1909, Mr. Coleman was elected a director of the poor’ for Blair County, and assumed the duties of office on January 1, 1910, in the performance of them proving his nals judgment and practical business ideas. At Harrisburg, Pa., in September, 1860, Mr. Coleman was married to Miss Elizabeth Ake, who died in 1903, passing away mourned HISTORY OF BLAIR COUNTY by a devoted family and a wide circle of friends. She was a daughter of Monroe Ake. Seven children were born to this marriage, namely: Roxie B., who is the wife of Charles Hossler, of Sinking Valley, and they have two. children—Charles Thomas and Ella Grace; James, unmarried, who is a resident of Al- toona and is a conductor in the employ of the Altoona Street Railway Company; Carrie M., who is the wife of Lloyd Fleck, who is in charge of the turn table at the Tyrone Round House of the railroad, and they have two children—Florine and Frank; Anna Viola, who is the wife of Harry Kephart, who is the farmer on Mr. Coleman’s homestead in Sink-' ing Valley, and they have two children— Henry and Myra; Elmina, who is the wife of Daniel Dickson, a resident of Sinking, Valley, where he follows the trade of stone mason, and they have three children—Earle, Eliza- beth and Anna; Roy Martin, who resides on ‘a farm, married Elizabeth Atlee; and William Decker, who died in 1895, aged one year. Mr. Coleman is a member of the Lutheran church. In politics Mr. Coleman is identified with the Republican party and has been a conscien- tious supporter of its cardinal principles. He has been a member of the Masonic fraternity since early manhood and in this connection is known in all parts of the state, his membership being with Tyrone Lodge, No. 484, F. & A. M.; Chapter and Consistory of Harrisburg, and the Mystic Shrine, at Reading. He be- longs also to the Patrons of Husbandry and is connected with the local, the state and the national Grange. Mr. Coleman is an active member of Col. D. M. Jones Post, G. A. R., No. 172, of Tyrone; and of the Veteran Le- gion, No. 37, of Altoona, Pa. ROLAND D. GINGERICH, an experienced farmer and representative citizen of Tyrone Township, who has followed agricultural pur- suits all his life, is the oldest son of John and Susan Gingerich, the former of whom was born in Center County and the latter in Snyder County. Both are deceased. AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS Roland D. Gingerich is one of a family of eleven children, seven of whom died at an early age. The survivors are: Dora, who is the wife of J. C. Whitmer, of Huntingdon County, Pa.; Edward, who is in the employ of the Pennsylvania Railroad Company in their Juniata shops; John, who resides at Sunbury, a.; and Roland D. Roland D. Gingerich obtained a public school education. Since 1905 he has resided on his present farm in Tyrone Township, Blair County, Pa., which he purchased at that time and which contains 115 acres. Having been acquainted with farm details since youth, he manages his property in a practical way and according to methods which bring him very satisfactory returns. Mr. Gingerich was married December 14, 1882, to Miss Anna C. Gieswhite, a daughter of Henry and. Margaret Gieswhite, of Center Hall, Center County, Pa., and they have five children: Robert Emery, William R., Emma May, Anna Mabel and Carl Lewis. They have been given educational advantages and are representative young Americans of the best type. They have been reared by their parents in the Presbyterian church. In politics, Mr. Gingerich is a Democrat. ALBERT THOMAS McFARLAND, pro- prietor of an undertaking establishment at Bell- wood, Pa., has also served continuously as jus- tice of the peace since February, 1905, and is one of the leading business men of the borough. He was born September 13, 1846 in Allegheny township, Blair county, Pa., a son of Alexander and Jennie K. (McFarland) McFarland, and a grandson of John McFarland, who was a na- tive of Ireland. Alexander McFarland, father of our subject, was a farmer by occupation. He was born in 1806 and died at the age of 79 years on a farm on which he located in 1848 in Huntingdon County, but now known as Antis township, Blair County, Pa. Mrs. McFarland, a native of York County, Pa., when young came to Blair County, Pa., with her father, Alexander K. McFarland, who was a native of Scotland 805 and died on the old homestead in her ninetieth year. Of the children born to the parents of our subject, the following survive: Agnes, widow of August Commesseer of Bellwood; Albert T.; Mary, residing on the old home- stead in Gospel Hollow; Anna, also living on the home place; and Maggie (Mrs. Cherry) whose husband operates the old home place. Albert T. McFarland was about two years old when his parents moved to Antis township ° and located in Logan Valley or Gospel Hol- low, in 1848, where he was reared and lived continuously until 1888. In November of that year he came to Bellwood and engaged in the coal business in connection with teaming and draying until 1890. In 1889 he established his present undertaking establishment, and since February, 1905, has served as justice of the peace, having been re-elected to that office in February, 1910, his present term expiring in December, 1915. He has been a life-long Re- publican in state and national politics, and served as chief burgess of Bellwood from 1890 until 1893. Mr. MrFarland has been a mem- ber and deacon of the Presbyterian Church for the past forty years. On February 3, 1870 Mr. McFarland mar- ried Adelaide Ebaugh of Antis township, a daughter of Jacob and Mary Caineline) Ebaugh, and to them have been born three sons and four daughters, namely: Lillie B., deceased, was the wife of J. W. Price, and the mother of two children, Elizabeth and John; Frank, died aged 21 years; Joseph A., a res- ident of Bellwood, married Edith Smith of Ju- niata County, and has three sons, Robert, Ar- thur and Albert; Mary Alice, married J. W. Laird and they have two children, Helen A. and Walter R.; Jacob Charles, is a partner in the L. W. Irwin Company of Bellwood, and married Clara Sprangle; Jennie, is the wife of J. E. Hershberger of Altoona, and the mother of two children, James E., and Charles How- ard; Mae is the wife of A. J. Darrah, man- ager of the Electric Railway and Light Com- pany of Mt. Vernon, Ohio, and they have two sons, Carlin and John Richard. 806 HOWARD WEBB POWNALL, M.D., physician and surgeon at Tyrone, Pa., medical examiner for the Pennsylvania Railroad Com- pany, at this point, has been a resident of this city for the past five years, during which time he has become thoroughly identified with its people and interests. He was born at Chris- tiana, Lancaster County, Pa., March 30, 1857, and is a son of Simeon B. and Esther M. (Webb) Pownall. Simeon B. Pownall, father of Dr. Pownall, was born in Lancaster County, Pa., where he died in March, 1904, at the age of seventy- seven years. The Pownall family originated in England and its first representative to cross the Atlantic Ocean to America was George Pownall, a disciple of George Fox, the religious reformer. George Pownall accompanied Wil- liam Penn, on the ship Friends’ Adventure, in 1682, and established himself in Pennsylvania. Other members of the family and of the Quaker faith, soon followed and at a later date one of them is found serving the great State of Mas- sachusetts, in the executive chair. The imme- diate ancestors of Dr. Pownall appear to have spent their lives in Pennsylvania, his great- grandfather, Levi Pownall, and his grand- father, Joseph Pownall, both having been born in Bucks County. Simeon B. Pownall followed an agricultural life. He married Esther M. Webb, who was born in Chester County, Pa., and died October 23, 1909, aged seventy-nine -years. Her parents were Henry and Eliza (Griffith) Webb, natives of Chester County, who moved to Lancaster County after the birth of Mrs. Pownall. They were members of the Friends’ church. Two sons and two daughters were born to Simeon B. Pownall and wife, namely: Howard Webb; Joseph Henry, who is connected with the Adams Express Company, at Harrisburg; Mary Elizabeth, who is the wife of M. Kelley Leard, of New Ken- sington, formerly a member of the Pa. House of Representatives; and Phebe Dickinson, who has been connected for some years with the firm of Dives, Pomeroy & Stewart, of Harris- burg. Howard W. Pownall received his early edu- HISTORY OF BLAIR COUNTY cational training in the public schools of Chris- tiana and the Friends’ School at Unionville, Chester County, graduating in the class of 1875. In 1879 he graduated in medicine from Jefferson Medical College, Philadelphia, and entered into practice at Atglen, Chester County, where he continued for seven years. In July, 1886, the great Pennsylvania system appointed him medical examiner for its road and has re- tained his efficient services until the present. On June 1, 1893, Dr. Pownall located at Al- toona, coming from there to Tyrone on May 1, 1905. He confines himself closely to his profession. A Republican in politics, he per- forms every duty of good citizenship without. any marked political activity. On November 4, 1880, Dr. Pownall was married to Miss Hannah-Louisa Walter, of Christiana, Pa., a daughter of George H. and Hannah B. Walter, and they have three chil- dren: Walter, Charles Alan and Catherine. Walter is a civil engineer with the West Vir- ginia Pulp and Paper Company. He was edu- cated in the Altoona High School, Mercersburg Academy and the Pennsylvania State College. Charles Alan is a passed midshipman in the U.S. Navy. He was educated at the Altoona High School at Mt. Herman, Mass.; and at the U. S. Naval Academy, at Annapolis, Md. Both sons are the finest types of young Amer- ican citizenship, reflecting credit on their an- cestry and their country CHARLES J. WHITE, owner and pro- prietor of a general store at Frankstown, Pa., where he is also postmaster, was born in Frankstown Township, Blair County, Pa., Au- gust 4, 1871, and is a son of Charles and Amanda (Markey) White. Charles White was formerly a well known farmer in Frankstown Township, he also oper- ated a saw mill at Snow Shoe, Centre County. During the last ten years of his life he lived retired and his death occurred March 28, 1909, at Hollidaysburg. He married Amanda Mar- key, who resides at Hollidaysburg. She is a member of the Baptist church there, as was also her husband. They had five children born to AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS them: Samuel D., Charles J., Christian O., William M. and H. K. Charles J. White obtained his education in the public schools and in 1892 became a clerk in a store at Hollidaysburg, where he remained for eleven years. He then went to clerk for the P. R. R. at Altoona and two years later purchased his store at Frankstown. On De- cember 19, 1905, he was appointed postmaster. He is a Republican in his political views al- though his father was a Democrat. Mr. White owns the homestead residence property at Hol- lidaysburg and also an interest in the homestead farm in Frankstown Township. On April 23, 1902, Mr. White was married to Miss Charlotte M. Green, who for seven years had been prominently engaged as an instructor in the Public Schools of Medina, N. Y., and later was commissioned instructor in the Indian Schools at St. Thomas Asylum on the Iroquois reservation. She died September 13, 1903. Her parents were Warren S. and Mary (O'Dell) Green, former residents | of Medina, New York. Mrs. White had two sis- ters and one brother: Sylvia May, Sadie L. and Edward C. Mr. White is a member of the Baptist church at Hollidaysburg. He is iden- tified with the order of Maccabees at Hollidays- burg and is the oldest member of this organi- zation. JOHN COLE, general farmer in Tyrone Township, Blair County, Pa., residing on a farm of 140 acres, was born:at Bowlesburg, Center County, Pa., July 22, 1855, and is a son of William and Elizabeth Cole. The mother died in 1889 and the father-in 1898 and their burial was in Centerline Cemetery, in Center County. They were quiet, respect- able, good people. The father was a wagon maker by trade. Of their seven children, John was the eldest and five survive. John Cole is the only surviving son of the above family, his sisters being: Barbara, who married William Templeton, who conducts a dairy at Altoona; Alice, who married Daniel Irwin, lives at Baileyville, Pa.; Lora, who lives at Sinking Valley; and Lizzie, who is 807 the wife of Harry McCormack, of Tyrone, Blair County. Since his school days, Mr. Cole has been engaged in farming, renting land for a number of years prior to coming to Blair County in 1906. .He leased his present farm for five years from Mrs. D. C. Puterbaugh and has shown good judgment in its management and operation. On February 14, 1894, Mr. Cole was mar- ried to Miss Maggie Taylor, a daughter of William and Eliza Taylor, of Centerline, Pa., and they have five children: Edith, William, Mary, Elva and Hannah, who have been reared carefully and sensibly and reflect credit on their parents. Mr. Cole and family attend the Pres- byterian church. He has always been identi- fied with the Republican party since he reached his majority. ISAAC S. MOCK, one of Roaring Spring’s leading business men, engaged in plumbing and heater work and dealing in all kinds of roofing, spouting and sheet metal, handling the Ideal steam and hot water heater and making a spe- cialty of lightning rods, has been established here since 1904. He was born in Woodbury Township, Bedford County, Pa., November 7, 1856, and is a son of Reuben and Elizabeth (Hoffman) Mock. Reuben Mock was born in Maryland and was young when he was brought to Bedford ‘County by his parents being reared at Pleasant- ville where they lived for many years. After his marriage he removed to Woodbury Town- ship, in Bedford County, where he engaged in farming until his death, which occurred in 1884. In his earlier years he was something of a horseman and it was told how he success- fully drove a six-horse team all the way from Morrison’s Grove to Baltimore, carrying grain and produce. This was before railroad days and, considering the difficulties, was considered something of a feat. He used the famous Conestoga wagon which was especially con- structed for long distances and heavy loads. It has been celebrated in_story and poem. Reu- ben Mock was well known and was a welcome visitor at many a fireside and public gathering. 808 He was of the pioneer type, brave, resourceful and efficient. He was a member of the Breth- ren church and was a stanch supporter of the Democratic party. He married Elizabeth Hoff- man, a daughter of Rev. Christian Hoffman who was a pioneer preacher of the River Brethren faith in Bedford County. Isaac S. Mock was reared in Woodbury Township and obtained his early instruction in the public schools and later attended Juniata College, under the government of the Brethren church at Huntingdon, Pa., having had_prev- ious instruction of excellent character at Wood- bury and at New Enterprise, under Profs. Clouse, Cotton, Saylor, Vaughn and others. After leaving school he taught for eight terms and then accepted a position as clerk in the freight office of the Pennsylvania Railroad Company at Altoona. ‘Still later he became station agent at Ore Hill for the same road but resigned after three years of service in order to perfect his business education and took a course in the Spencerian Commercial College at Cleveland, O. He was graduated there as a stenographer and then accepted a position in the auditing department of the C.C.C. & L. Railroad Company, at Cleveland and accept- ably performed the duties of that position until he felt like returning to Bedford County about one year later. On September 12, 1888, Mr. Mock was mar- ried to Miss Imelda Hair, who is a sister of Edward W., Scott, Horace G. and Clarence Hair, well known citizens of Roaring Spring. Mr. and Mrs. Mock have three children: Fran- ces W., Margaret E. and Palmer. From 1888 until 1904, Mr. Mock was gen- eral manager of the landed estate of Peter S. Duncan, of Hollidaysburg, owner of the Ore Hill mines. He has been a very active and useful citizen since he came to Roaring Spring in 1904, not only serving as a councilman but exercising his rights as a citizen and using his influence for public improvements and in- creased morality. He is a Prohibitionist in his views on public matters and is president of the Anti-Saloon League of Roaring Spring. He is identified with Lodge No. 530, F. & A. HISTORY OF BLAIR COUNTY M., Roaring Spring and for ten years has served as its secretary. He belongs to the Methodist Episcopal Church and is one of its trustees. In 1904 and 1906 he was the choice of ‘the Democratic and Prohibition parties for the state legislature, but in 1904 withdrew because of not having been a resident of the district the required time. In 1906, notwithstanding that the parties for which he was a candidate were far in the minority he ran far ahead of their party vote with the liquor men and saloon interests solidly against him. JOHN LEONARD TROUTWINE, pro- prietor of the Pennsylvania House, at Tyrone, Pa., one of the oldest hostelries in -this city, was born at Tyrone, October 28, 1861, and is a son of George and Catherine Troutwine. The parents of Mr. Troutwine, natives of Germany, came to America in 1853, an1 both are now deceased. By trade the father was a baker but was an iron worker for some years in America. Four sons and two daughters were born to George and Catherine Troutwine, as follows: Maggie, who is the wife of Charles M. Maple, proprietor of the Ward House; John E., who resides on Fifteenth Street, Ty- rone, engaged in the meat business; William F., who resides on Blair Avenue, Tyrone; George, who died in 1890; Elizabeth, who is the wife of Harry Gardner, of the firm of Cryder & Gardner, clothiers; and John Leonard. John Leonard Troutwine attended the public schools and then learned the baker’s trade and has worked at it since he was eighteen years of age. In 1895 he purchased the Pennsylvania House, from McGowan Brothers, which he conducted for fifteen years under the firm name of Troutwine Bros., but since coming into possession of the property and the retirement of his brother, William F. Troutwine, he has operated the hotel under his own name. The Pennsylvania House is situated at No. 1207 Pennsylvania Avenue, an excellent location for business. In the fifty-two years that it has been a public house, its license has never been withdrawn except during a very short period RESIDENCE OF JOHN BRUA AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS \ when a local option law was in force. Mr. Troutwine is numbered with the successful business men of Tyrone and this success has come entirely through his own efforts. In 1888 Mr. Troutwine was married to Miss Frances M. Grove, a daughter of William A. Grove, of Everett, Bedford County, where Mrs. Troutwine was ‘reared, They have one son, Franklin K., a promising young man nineteen years of age, who is a student in college, at Lancaster, Pa. In politics, Mr. Troutwine is a Republican and while he is an active party worker, he has no political ambitions for him- self. He belongs to Logan Lodge, No. 79, Knights of Pythias, Altoona, and to Lodge No. 42, Junior Order American Mechanics. JOHN BRUA, who carries on general farming on a tract of 112 acres in Frankstown Township, Blair County, Pa., was born Sep- tember 2, 1870, on his present farm and is a son of John and Amanda (Young) Brua, both of whom were natives of Blair County. The paternal grandfather of our subject was Dan- iel Brua, who came from Lancaster County, Pa., and the maternal grandfather was Curtis Young. The father of our subject was a farmer by occupation, a Republican in politics, and was religiously a member of the Lutheran church. Nine children were born to John and Amanda Brua: Elmer, who is living in re- tirement at Canoe Creek; Clara, the wife of Robert Elliott; Mary; Archibald; Nannie, wife of John Clare; John; Robert; Lillian, wife of James Young; and Elizabeth, who is the wife of Russell Kendal. John Brua attended the local schools of Frankstown township and has always lived on the home farm, which he purchased from his father’s heirs in 1898. Here he carries on general farming, and keeps just enough stock for his own use. He is one of the progressive and public spirited citizens of the township and is identified with the Republican party in politics. He affiliates with the Farmers’ Grange, and is a member of the Lutheran church. In October, 1905, Mr. Brua was married 809 to Mary A. Lingenfelter, who is a daughter of David and Louisa (Clauss) Lingenfelter. Her parents are both natives of Blair County, and were formerly engaged in farming, but the father has been working in the car shops at Altoona for the last few years. They are the parents of the following children: Ella, the wife of Alonzo Detwiler; George; Min- nie, wife of Stewart Potter; Elise, wife of Irwin Eicher; Blair, Frank, Lloyd, Carrie, Myrtle, Chester, and Dorothy. Mr. and Mrs. Lingenfelter are members of the Lutheran church. Two daughters have been born to our subject and wife: Naomi Isabel, and Blanch Marie. PROF. JAMES B. BOWLES, principal of the Madison School in the Eighth Ward, Al- toona, Pa., is one of the veteran educators of Blair County and has been largely instrumental in bringing the schools of this section to their present state of efficiency. He has been a teacher for fifty-two years and has taught in- Altoona for forty-seven of these. He was born at Concord, Franklin County, Pa., Oc- tober 13, 1837, and is a son of Robert and Jane (Ross) Bowles. Robert Bowles was born in Franklin County in 1796 and died in 1856. He came of Scotch ancestry and his father was one of the early settlers of Franklin County. For the greater part of his life, Robert Bowles followed the saddler’s trade and then became a farmer. In 1817 he married Jane Ross, who was born in Maryland and accompanied her father, who was a native of Ireland, to Franklin County. She survived until 1871, being then aged sev- enty-one years; for a half century she had been a consistent member of the Methodist Episcopal , church. James B. Bowles has been engaged in edu- cational work since he was sixteen years of age, devoting himself almost continuously to teaching, and during the larger part of his use- ful life, has been a valued resident of Altoona. Although not in accord with the administration in his political views, during the Civil War, he was a loyal and law-abiding citizen, and in the 810 fall.of 1862 he testified to true patriotism by enlisting for service as a private in Co. A, 125th Pa. Inf., from which he was honorably discharged at the expiration of his term of en- listment, nine months later. He was twice drafted, obtaining exemption on the first call, as he was his mother’s only dependence, and in answer to the second, he paid a substitute the sum of $300 in money, although he was still his mother’s support. Professor Bowles has been a continuous resident of Altoona since 1858 and a teacher here since 1863, beginning when the city had only sixteen public schools. Many educators have outside interests but Professor Bowles’ fidelity to his chosen profession has been the labor of his life. Perhaps his whole ambition has not been satisfied in the way of educational progress, but he must feel partially compensated when he remembers what wonderful strides forward have been taken in his times and when, on every hand, he sees his old pupils filling im- portant and respected stations in life, which they have unmistakably gained in large part through the instruction he so faithfully im- parted to them. Recognition of his efforts on their behalf has often come to sweeten his life. Professor Bowles was married December 28, 1875, to Miss Mary L. Beeler, a daughter of Peter Beeler, of Sharpsburg, Md., and they have had four sons and one daughter born to them. Mr. Bowles and family are active mem- bers of the Methodist Episcopal church. He has been identified with the Odd Fellows for many years and he is a valued comrade of Fred C. Ward Post No. 468, G. A. R. He has also been interested in building and loan associations in Altoona for 30 years, and is at present president of the Eighth ward B. & L. Association, of Altoona, Pa. ALFRED J. HENDERSON, who resides on his well cultivated farm of fifty-two acres, situated in Antis township, Blair county, Pa., was born in Woodward Township, Clearfield County, Pa., February 7, 1857, and is a son of Samuel and Sarah (Goss) Henderson. Samuel Henderson was born in Ireland and HISTORY OF BLAIR COUNTY was six months old when his parents brought him to America. His father, Hugh Hender- son, was one of the early settlers in Clearfield County and for many years thereafter pioneer conditions prevailed in the section in which the family lived. Samuel Henderson grew up there, engaged in farming and lumbering and worked very hard, as was necessary at that time. The Bald Eagle and other present trans- portation lines had not been built and Mr. Hen- derson frequently told his children of the days when he was obliged to drive to Lyons for provisions, making a haul of thirty-eight miles. On many occasions he also walked the whole distance to Lock Haven and even to Marietta and back. Samuel Henderson passed his act- ive years in Clearfield County and then retired and moved to Center County but his death oc- curred at Bellwood, Blair County, in Septem- ber, 1903, his age being seventy-seven years and six months. He married Sarah Goss, who survives and is a resident of Bellwood, being now in her seventy-sixth year. She was born in Clearfield County, a daughter of Isaac Goss, one of the well known early settlers of that county. There were nine children born to Samuel and Sarah Henderson, namely: Wil- liam J. and Albert J., both of whom are farm- ers and reside in Antis Township, on adjoining tracts; Oliver, who died in infancy; Mary A., who married Clyde Laird, and resides on the old homestead at Bellwood; Harriet, who died in infancy; Delilah, who is the widow of An- drew Van Zandt, and formerly of Alexander Gregory, and lives at Bellwood; Ai, who died in infancy; Effie, who is the wife of Andrew Barrett, of Altoona; and Alice, who is the wife of Edward Doughman. Alfred J. Henderson was reared in Clearfield County and mainly followed lumbering as an occupation until his father moved to Center County, since which time he has been engaged in farming. He was about twenty-one years of age at that time and lived with his parents in Center County for four years and then moved to Bellwood, Blair County and in the following year, 1882, settled on his present farm. He follows general agriculture and his AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS industry and good judgment have brought him a large measure of success. Mr. Henderson was married December 22, 1881, to Miss Nora Bathurst, who was born in Boggs Township, Center County. Her parents were Lawrence and Eliza (Hinds) Bathurst, the latter of whom has been deceased for many years. The father of Mrs. Hender- son, although almost eighty-one years of age, is hale and hearty, owns a comfortable home within 400 yards of which he was born and occupies it during the summers but spends his winters with Mrs. Henderson. He was twice married and the children born to the first union were: Martha Jane, who died in infancy ; Jacob who lives at Braddock; Nora, who is the wife of Alfred J. Henderson; Mrs. Elizabeth A. Tierney, who lives in Marion Township, Cen- ter County; Mrs. Amanda Wheatley, who lives in Chicago; John H., who lives at Pinecroit; Margaret, who died at the age of twelve years; Mrs. Corinne Vaughn, who resides at Phil- lipsburg; Jasper L., who died at Braddock, Pa. The second marriage of Lawrence Bathurst was to Ella Rothrock, who died in 1900. They had nine children: Mrs. May Packer, who re- sides at Lock Haven; Harry, who resides at South Altoona; William and Mrs. Lida Var- ner, both of whom live at Altoona; James, who lives on the homestead in Center County; Earl who resides at South Altoona; Mrs. Armona Garrett, who lives at Williamsport; and Queen and Lawrence, both of whom live at Altoona. _ Mr. and Mrs. Henderson have three children all sons. The eldest, Charles Bush Hender- son lives in Bellwood. He married Lottie Galbraith of Altoona. Oscar Clair and Walter Andrew live at home and give their father assistance. Mr. Henderson takes only a good citizen’s interest in public matters. He casts his vote with the Democratic party. LUTHER F. CRAWFORD, M.D., a prominent and successful physician at Tyrone, Pa., and one of the foremost medical men of ‘Blair County, is a member of old and honorable families of this section, which, for generations, have been noted for the honest virtues and sub- 811 stantial qualities which make good citizenship. Dr. Crawford was born in Sinking Valley, Blair County, Pa., January 1, 1859, and is a son of Robert and Mary (Fleck) Crawford. Robert Crawford, who spent his entire life in Blair County, Pa., was born at Newry and for many years was successfully engaged in agricultural pursuits in Sinking Valley. His death occurred in his sixty-fourth year. The maiden name of his mother was Fannie Moore, who was of Scotch-Irish extraction. Her parents settled in the vicinity of Duncansville,. Blair County, when she was three weeks old. When he reached man’s estate, Robert Craw- ford was united in marriage with Mary Fleck, who was born December 24, 1826, and died January 16, 1902. George Fleck, the maternal great-grand- father of Dr. Luther F. Crawford, was born in Germany in 1748 and came to America a few years prior to the Revolutionary War. He was accompanied by three brothers, two of whom settled in Montgomery County, Pa., while George and Peter_came to what is now known as Sinking Valley, Blair County. They erected here a log cabin and for years their only neighbors were Indians, who still claimed this section as one of their hunting grounds. When the colonies called for aid in the war with Great Britain, these brothers shouldered their flint-lock muskets and fought through the entire period’ of the Revolutionary War. It is said that their loyalty to their adopted country was so genuine and their devotion to General Washington so sincere, that long years after the issues of this war were no longer matters of general comment, a mention of either the cause or the great commander in their presence would bring tears to the eyes of these aged patriots. After the termination of his military service, George Fleck gave at- tention to agricultural pursuits and it is evident that he took an active part in promoting the early civilizing movements and was a man of wealth and importance. From John Penn, the elder and from John Penn, the younger, he secured 350 acres of land, for which he paid the sum of 295 pounds, three shillings and two 812 pence. Nature had given him a powerful phy- sical frame and his strength endured into old age, it being recorded that after he was eighty- seven years old, he reaped in one season, sixty dozen wheat with his hand sickle. George Fleck was twice married, first to Mollie Weeks and second to Catherine Ramey, all of his children being of the first marriage. Mollie Weeks, the great-grandmother of Dr. Crawford, was born in September, 1748, mar- ried George Fleck in 1773 and became the mother of the following children: George, born in 1774, died in 1815; Conrad, born in 1780, married Mary Moore, died in 1845; Margaret, born in 1782, married John Fleck, died in 1866; Jacob, born in 1783, married Nellie Mat- tay, died in 1862; Catherine, born in 178s, married Daniel F. Crissman, died in 1874; Elizabeth, married Abram Crissman and died at the age of eighty-two years; Henry, born in 1791, was the father of Rev. H. F. Fleck, a well known Lutheran minister, married first Catherine Ramey and second Mary Keller, died in 1859; David, born in 1793, died in 1870; Mollie, born in 1797, married Peter Burket, and died in 1817. _ David Fleck, grandfather of Dr. Luther F. Crawford, grew to manhood amid pioneer sur- roundings and developed into a man of more or less prominence, serving in public offices and exerting a good influence in the community. His life was an agricultural one and that he made it profitable even under the great draw- backs of lack of machinery and of long dis- tances from suitable markets, but demonstrates that he possessed excellent and decisive qual- ities. He was married first to Mary Ramey, who was born in 1799 and died in 1863. He was married second to Keziah Shannon. His children were: Gabriel; Catherine, who mar- ried George Lotz; Francis, who died in child- hood; Mary, the mother of Dr. Crawford, who married Robert Crawford; Eliza, who married J. M. Carl; Jane, who married John Keasley ; Martin Luther, who married Maggie Fox; and two who died young. To Robert and Mary Crawford nine chil- dren were born, three of whom died in child- HISTORY OF BLAIR COUNTY hood. The following survived to maturity: David Wood, who was a farmer and died in Pleasant Valley, January 12, 1894; Eliza- beth, who was the wife of Samuel H. Smith, died January 10, 1884; Olivia A., who still resides in Sinking Valley; Luther Fleck, who is a resident of Tyrone, Pa.; John R., who is engaged in farming in Sinking Val- ley; and Elmer, who is engaged in the prac- tice of dentistry at Tyrone. This family was carefully reared by parents who recog- nized their responsibilities and afforded every advantage that, in their loving judg- ment, was deemed beneficial. Luther Fleck Crawford attended the public schools in Sinking Valley and later the State Normal School at Millersville, While pursu- ing his preliminary medical studies he also en- gaged in teaching school, nine terms of success- ful effort in this direction proving that the career of an educator might be an attractive no less than a beneficial one. In 1888 he entered the Eclectic Medical Institute at Cincinnati, where he was graduated in the class of 1890. Immediately afterward he settled permanently at Tyrone, where his professional ability soon won him recognition and his personal qualities and high ideals made him welcome as a citizen. He is a valued member of the State Eclectic Society, and is also a member of the examining board of this organization. In 1877 Dr. Crawford was married to Miss Harriet Bryan, who is a daughter of the late James Bryan, formerly of Birmingham, Hunt- ingdon County, Pa., and three of their four children are living, namely : James Calvin, who is engaged in the practice of medicine at Ty- rone, married Miss Laura Beyer, of this city and they have four children: Mary Mabel, who married J. Howe Stevens, of Tyrone, has one son; and Virgil L., who is yet a student. Dr. Crawford and family are members of the Eng- lish Lutheran church. Dr. Crawford has been prominently identi- fied with military affairs and for thirty-three years has been a member of the Sheridan Troop, N. G. P., and served five years as its captain, returning with this rank from the AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS Spanish-American War, having served under Gen. Miles in the Porto Rican campaign dur- ing this war. He is associated fraternally and socially with various organizations, his con- nections in the former relation being with the Odd Fellows, the Modern Woodmen, the Royal Arcanum and the Woodmen of the World. From principle, Dr. Crawford is a Republican and he has been moderately active at times in local politics. Dr. Crawford is a self-made man, his edu- cation having been acquired through his own efforts. Marrying young, he kept his family and educated himself at the same time—an achievement in which he can take a pardonable pride. THADDEUS W. SMITH,* a leading citi- zen and president of the board of auditors of Taylor Township, Blair County, Pa., was born in this township, October 5, 1860, and is a son of Andrew and Emma (Wilderson) Smith, who are aged and highly respected residents. Andrew Smith was born in Huston Town- ship, Blair County, and is now in his eighty- sixth year. When he was thirteen years of age his parents moved into Taylor Township and he has resided here ever since, engaging in farming during his active years. He mar- ried Emma Wilderson, who was born in 1834, in Franklin County, Pa., and still is active in mind and body. Thaddeus W. Smith was reared on a farm and has been more or less connected with farm life ever since. For twelve years he was em- ployed in the railroad shops of the Pennsyl- vania system, at Altoona. He has always taken much interest in public matters, believing that the general welfare depends to a large de- gree on people being well informed as to the duties of citizenship and willing to assume responsibilities when called on to do so. He is a Republican in political sentiment and has been elected to numerous township offices, serv- ing two terms as road supervisor and also as auditor. He is recognized as one of the township’s most progressive and well mean- ing men. 813 On February 16, 1888, Mr. Smith was married to Miss Susan R. Snowberger, a daughter of John B. Snowberger, of Taylor Township. Mr. and Mrs. Smith are mem- bers of the Lutheran church. THOMAS M. MORROW, M. D.,* who has been a resident of Altoona for almost a quarter of a century and is numbered with the representative members of the medical profession in this city, was born at Martins- burg, Blair County, Pa., in 1867, and is a son of James C. Morrow, now deceased. The latter was engaged in the foundry busi- ness at Martinsburg for many years. Thomas M. Morrow was educated in the common schools and Juniata Collegiate In- stitute, after which he prepared for and later entered the Baltimore Medical Col- lege, where he was graduated in 1898. He chose Altoona as his field of professional work and has here built up a substantial practice and has won a place among the leading medical men of this city. He is a member of the Blair County and the State Medical Societies and also of the American Medical Association. He is identified fra- ternally with the Masons and the For- resters. In 1902 he was married to Miss Laura Green of Altoona. R. J. HILLIS, M. D., who has been en- gaged in the practice of medicine and sur- gery at Altoona, Pa., for the last fifteen years, is a native of Philadelphia, this state. He received a good literary education, tak- ing a normal course with the idea of becom- ing a teacher. He subsequently applied himself to the study of medicine, however, and was later graduated from the College of Physicians and Surgeons, at Baltimore, Md. Since his graduation he has enlarged his knowledge of his profession by taking several post-graduate courses. Dr. Hillis first embarked in the practice of medicine at Ridgeway, Elk County, Pa., and from there came to Altoona, where he has since built up an extensive and lucrative practice. 814 He is a member of the National, State and County Medical Associations. When his future prospects were well assured, Dr. Hillis was united in marriage with Miss May Knox, a daughter of Alex- ander Knox, of Newry, this county. Their residence—a handsome brick house—is sur- rounded by tasteful, well-kept grounds, bordered by a magnificent hedge fence, and in the care of this ideal home the doctor finds agreeable recreation and pleasure. HON. AUGUSTUS S. LANDIS, de- ceased, formerly judge of the Court of Com- mon Pleas in Blair County, Pa., literally died in harness, occupying that high judicial position at the time of decease, April 25, 1897. To the practice of law he had de- voted many years of his life, yet so versatile were his talents and so well regulated his mind that he was also successfully identified with almost all the leading business enter- prises of Hollidaysburg, which was his place of residence from the age of three years. He was born at Pennington, N. J., June 4, 1834, and was a son of Dr. Joseph A. and Maria L. (Holcombe) Landis. The Landis family is of German extrac- tion and its founder in America came at an early day to the Atlantic seaboard and es- tablished himself in New Jersey. This was the great-grandfather of the late Judge Landis. Henry Landis, the grandfather, moved to Montgomery County, Pa., in early manhood, where he married a Scotch Quak- eress, who survived him twenty years, liv- ing to the unusual age of ninety-two years. Joseph A. Landis, father of Judge Landis, was one of the original founders of the Blair County Medical Society, which he served as president. During the entire course of a long and useful life, Dr. Joseph A. Landis was prominently identified with medical organizations and movements and was frequently elected to positions of honor in different bodies. He was graduated from the University of Maryland in 1828 and be- gan practice at Pennington, N. J. He after- HISTORY OF BLAIR COUNTY ward spent one year in Louisiana. In 1837 he came to Hollidaysburg, where he re- mained until 1868, in the meanwhile, in 1861, serving as a volunteer surgeon in the Mt. Pleasant Hospital, at Washington, D. C. Two years after the close of the Civil War, Dr. Landis removed to Philadelphia, where he practiced medicine for six years and then returned and took up his perma- nent residence at Hollidaysburg. He con- tinued to practice medicine into advanced age, in his later years giving much of his time to charity. He also devoted some at- tention to business enterprises and served for several years as president of the Holli- daysburg Gas Company. Dr. Landis was married in October, 1831, to Miss Maria J. Holcomb, of Hunterdon County, N. J., and to them were born five children. Both Dr. Landis and wife lived into honored old age, his death occurring on November 20, 1886, at the age of eighty-two years, his wife hay- ing died in 1884, on her eighty-fourth birth- day. They left more than a good name to their children and their memory for good and kindly deeds in life, are preserved in many households. The educational advantages afforded the late Judge Landis in his youth were those calculated to stimulate his intellect and to excite emulation. From the most advanced schools of Hollidaysburg, in 1851 he en- tered Jefferson College, at Canonsburg, and was there graduated a member of the class of 1853. Upon his return to Hollidaysburg he was appointed principal of the Hollidays- burg Academy, in which he had formerly been a pupil. In the meanwhile he had commenced the study of law, with Hon. Samuel Calvin, and in the spring of 1857, was admitted to the bar and immediately and enthusiastically entered upon the prac- tice of his profession. For a time he was also editorially associated with the Holli- daysburg Standard. Judging by the talent then displayed it may be asserted that he would doubtless have made a name in jour- nalism had he devoted himself entirely to GEORGE G. PATTERSON AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS this profession. He very soon became in- terested in politics and in the spring of 1860 permitted his friends to put forward his name as a candidate for the office of treas- urer and solicitor of Hollidaysburg, and his election and subsequent reelection followed for many succeeding years. He acceptably filled other local offices and was especially valued as a member of the school board. In October, 1872, high honor was paid Judge Landis in recognition of his ability and learning in the law, when he was elected a delegate to the Constitutional Convention which sat in Philadelphia in 1873, and framed the present Constitution of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. He was a prominent member of this august body. The Twenty-first Senatorial District, which he represented, was composed of the counties of Blair, Bedford, Somerset and Fulton. = In 1884 Judge Landis was sent as a dele- gate to the National Democratic Conven- tion at Cincinnati, O., that nominated Gen. W. S. Hancock for the office of President of the United States. Judge Landis was prominently mentioned for appointment to the Supreme Bench of Pennsylvania to fill the vacancy occasioned by the death of Judge Clark. During his period of service on the’ Bench of the Court of Common Pleas in Blair County, he upheld the dignity of the office and performed its duties with signal ability. To mention the various public measures and successful private business enterprises with which the late Judge Landis-was hon- orably concerned, would be to name those which have best served to develop the city and to bring prosperity to all this section. He was one of the projectors of the enter- prise which resulted in providing Hollidays- burg with some of its public utilities—not- ably its fine water system. Other important undertakings were: the Hollidaysburg Gas Company, the Hollidaysburg and Gap Iron Works Company, and the Hollidays- burg and Bedford Plank Road Company. 815 Judge Landis is survived by his widow. She resides in her handsome residence at No. 511 Allegheny Street, Hollidaysburg. He was married in November, 1865, to Miss Eleanor Porter, who is the youngest daugh- ter of the late John Porter, who was an hon- ored citizen of Huntingdon County, Pa., for many years. For thirty-two years they en- joyed congenial companionship. Judge Landis united with the First Pres- byterian Church of Hollidaysburg in 1864, and in 1868 he was chosen a ruling elder and his whole subsequent life was lived ac- carding to the religious precepts he then publicly accepted. His charities were many and his sympathies ready. In many ways his helpfulness was shown and he could al- ways be relied on to give support to benev- olent movements whether they were local or were of the kind that has.demonstrated many times that Americans are brethren to every nation when calamity falls. It is in recalling men of this type that a country, state or city may be justly proud. GEORGE G. PATTERSON, was born in Williamsburg, Pa., 1880. He is a son of Hon. George M. and Mary Roller Patterson, both of whom are of Scotch-Irish ancestry, the subject of this sketch being a direct lineal de- scendant of the Deans, Rollers and Caldwells, who were among the most prominent of the early pioneer settlers of the upper Juniata Val- ley. a During Mr. Patterson’s boyhood, his par- ents were engaged in farming in Woodbury Township where he attended the public schools for several terms. After teaching in the pub- lic schools of the township for a short time, he engaged in the lumber business and general insurance business, and. later in the mercantile business in Williamsburg. While thus occu- pied he prepared himself for the legal profes- sion, and in 1905 entered the law school of Yale University at New Haven, Conn., where he began the study of law. Upon completion of a three years’ course of study at the law school and in the office of Marion D. Patter- 816 son, Esq., at Hollidaysburg, he was admitted to practice in all of the courts of the state, Sep- tember 21, 1908. He has since been actively engaged in the practice of the law at Holli- daysburg, where he has met with very gratify- ing successes. In April, 1910, Mr. Patterson was unanimously elected treasurer of the Blair County Bar Association, to succeed President Judge Thomas J. Baldrige. At the age of twenty-eight years, Mr. Pat- terson was unanimously elected president of. the Farmers and Merchants National Bank of Williamsburg, upon its organization. He has served in that capacity continuously since, hav- ing been twice re-elected. The institution has enjoyed unusual prosperity and success and is recognized as one of the best banks in the * county. He is a member of the First Presby- terian Church of Williamsburg, Pa. SAMUEL CALVIN BLACK, one of the substantial and representative citizens of Logan Township, Blair County, Pa., is pro- prietor of a tannery, which he operates in connection with farming. He was born Au- gust 14, 1845, on his present place, a son of William and Mary (Pottsgrove) Black. William Black was born March 14, 1799, in Sinking Valley, Blair County, Pa.; and was a son of Christopher Black, who came to this county from Cumberland County, Pa., and here operated a tannery for some years. William Black was also a tanner and about 1844 came to Logan Township and located on the farm now owned by our sub- ject. This farm, consisting of 40 acres, of which ten acres were timber, is located on the Greenwood road, and was bought by our subject’s father from a Mr. Green. He erected a barn and stone house, and died here in the fall of 1867. Samuel C. Black was reared on his pres- ent farm and educated in the local schools. He learned the tanners’ trade under his father, and has always conducted a tannery in connection with general farming. His residence, which was built by his father in 1859, has been remodeled and equipped with HISTORY OF BLAIR COUNTY modern conveniences, including running hot and cold water. Mr. Black is actively identified with the Republican party in pol- itics, and has served for 23 years as a mem- ber of the school board, of which he is now president. He has been largely instru- mental in obtaining fine schools for the township, and has otherwise been promi- nent in affairs pertaining to the welfare of Logan Township. He is president of the road supervisors of this township. ELINAS M. BRUBAKER, who resides on a farm of 50 acres in Frankstown Town- ship, Blair County, Pa., was born Decem- ber 10, 1875, in Allegheny Township, Blair County, Pa., and is a son of Samuel and Christena (Berkey) Brubaker, and a grand- son of Ephriam Brubaker. Samuel Bru- baker, father of our subject, served in the Civil War, and resides on a farm adjoining that of his son Elinas. He is politically a Republican and is a member of the Church of the Brethren. His marriage with Chris- tena Berkey resulted in the following issue: Sarah, the wife of Isaac Wilt; James (de- ceased) and David, who were twins; Sam- uel; Alexander; Aaron; Silas; and Elinas M. Elinas M. Brubaker was reared on the home farm, and obtained his educational training in the local schools. He was then an employee of the Pennsylvania Railroad Company for eight years, but since 1906 has been engaged in agricultural pursuits on his present farm, and it is his intention to make that his future occupation. February 20, 1900, Mr. Brubaker married Cora Sell, who is a daughter of Simon and Mary (Benton) Sell, prominent farmers of Blair County, and is the second eldest of the following children born to her parents: Martha, the wife of Charles Brubaker; Cora, wife of our subject; Thomas; Rachel, wife of Archie Claar; Pearl; Susan; and Matthew. The following children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Brubaker: EI- mer, Myra, Lloyd, Simon, Hiram, and AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS Bertha. Mr. Brubaker is politically an ad- herent of the Republican party, but has never cared to hold office. He is a member of the Church of the Brethren. WILLIAM G. KUNSMAN,* a progres- sive farmer and much respected citizen of Juniata Township, Blair County, Pa., has resided on his present farm of 76 acres since 1878, and was born May I1, 1859, on Brush Mountain, Blair County, Pa., a son of William and Penna (Neff) Kunsman. William Kunsman, the father of our sub- ject, was born in the Half Moon Valley, Pa., and was a son of William Kunsman, who was a native of Germany. He was for many years a resident of Allegheny Town- ship, Blair County, Pa., and died here at the age of 66 years. He was politically a Republican and served nine years as con- stable of Allegheny Township. He was a member of the Lutheran church of Dun- cansville, Pa. Penna Neff Kunsman, mother of our subject, was also a native of Blair County, Pa., and the surviving chil- dren born of her union with William Kuns- man, are as follows: Winfield S. resides in Frankstown Township; David resides at Tunnel Hill; Frank resides in Gallitzin, Pa.; Jonathan is a resident of Allegheny Township; Jane is the widow of the late John Ehrenfeld of Altoona, Pa.; Ann mar- ried Patrick Healy of Tunnel Hill, Pa. William G. Kunsman spent his boyhood days in Allegheny Township, and after completing his education, which was ob- tained in the district schools, engaged in agricultural pursuits. He located on his present farm of 76 acres in 1878, and carries on general farming and gardening here. Mr. Kunsman was a member of the board of road supervisors of Juniata Township, and has served six years as a member of the school board. He is identified with the Re- publican party in politics, and served a num- ber of years on the board of election of Juniata Township. Mr. Kunsman was married February 22, 817 1878, to Jessie J. Hite, a daughter of the late George C. Hite of Juniata Township, and of their union have been born the following children: Albert J., a resident of Altoona, Pa.; Clara E., the wife of Samuel S. Wolfe of Tunnel Hill, Pa.; Charles L., who re- sides at Gallitzin, Pa.; Howard W., who lives at Tunnel Hill, Pa.; Myrtle M., who married M. Hines of Hollidaysburg, Pa.; and Elsie J. . HAMMOND KELLY HEGARTY, who is one of Antis Township’s substantial and representative citizens, has been a lifelong resident of Blair County and for over twen- ty-three years has lived in Antis Township. He was born in Logan Township, Blair County, Pa., December 20, 1856, and is a son of Oliver and Caroline (Hutchison) Hegarty. _ Oliver Hegarty was born in Half Moon Valley, Center County, Pa. His father was John Hegarty, who was born in Ireland and during his lifetime crossed the Atlantic Ocean three times. When he came to Blair County, Pa., he located in Logan Township and acquired large tracts of land which are now owned by the Pennsylvania Railroad Company. Oliver Hegarty, however, lived on that property until his death. He mar- ried Caroline Hutchison, who was a daugh- ter of John Hutchison, and the following children were born to them: John H., who lives in Logan Township, on the Dry Gap road; Joseph K., who resides with his brother, Hammond K., in Antis Township; Hammond K.; Margaret J., who is the widow of J. K. Patterson, of Altoona; James Mortimer, who died in boyhood; Sarah Grace, who died in childhood; Oliver Wilson, who lives in’ Logan Township; Mary E., who is. the wife of Harry Gamble, of Altoona; and an‘infant, the third born in the family, that died unnamed. Hammond K. Hegarty was four years old when his parents moved. into the newly erected brick house on the Logan Township farm, on which he was reared. His educa- 818 tion was obtained in the Hamilton school in Logan Township and later he attended the White school night sessions for about a year, at Altoona. He learned the black- smith’s trade and worked at it for five and one-half years. When the Pennsylvania Railroad bought the home place in Logan Township, the father of Mr. Hegarty pur- chased 174 acres of farm land in Antis Township and 172 acres of timber land, on the mountain, for his two sons, Hammond Kelly and Joseph K. Hegarty. The brothers have always lived together and at first, Hammond K. rented his brother’s part of the property and finally purchased it. This well improved farm once belonged to Rev. A. E. Bell and later to Michael Gintner. Some years ago, Mr. Hegarty erected a commodious two-story house and has a very attractive place. His residence commands a fine view of Gospel Hollow, the name given to this valley because of the residence and religious activities of the late Rev. A. E. Bell, above referred to. On March 11, 1880, Mr. Hegarty was married to Miss Alice May Slep, who was born at Harrisburg, Pa., a daughter of Harry and Mary (Daugherty) Slep, the former of whom was born in Germany. He has been a resident of the United States since he was twelve years old and at present is connected with the Mirror newspaper of- fice at Altoona. Mr. and Mrs. Hegarty have children as follows: Caroline May, who married John Henshey, residing at Altoona, Pa., and they have two sons—Wil- bur Kelley and John Kenneth; Mary Wil- mena, who married John Geer and they live at Bellwood and have two children, Marian and Thomas; Oliver Wilson and Margaret Edna, twins, the former of whom married Elda Peterman and they live in Logan Township, and the latter of whom married John Crane and they live in Juniata Bor- ough, and have one daughter, Alice Mar- garet; and Harry S. and Sarah. Grace, twins, who reside with their parents. Mr. HISTORY, OF BLAIR COUNTY Hegarty and family are members of the Presbyterian church at Bellwood. He is identified with the Patrons of Husbandry and in his political views is an Independent Democrat. FRANK G. PATTERSON,* who has been engaged in the practice of law at Al- toona for the past twenty-three years, has been identified also with large business en- terprises here and is numbered with the city’s substantial and representative citizens. He was born at Newry, Blair County, Pa., July 26, 1863, and is a son of Thomas and Isabella (McConaghy) Patterson. Both parents of Mr. Patterson were born near Dublin, Ireland, the father in 1814 and the mother in 1820. In 1854 they came to America and shortly afterward Thomas Patterson acquired a farm in Blair County, Pa., which became a very valuable property. Frank G. Patterson was reared on the above farm and attended the ‘country schools, later the Newry village schools, and subsequently took a course in the State Normal School at Millersburg. For some years afterward he gave his attention to teaching school and in the meanwhile com- menced the reading of law, and in October, 1886, he was admitted to the Blair County bar. He entered into partnership with Thomas H. Greevy, in April, 1888, under the firm name of Greevy & Patterson, a leading one at Altoona. In 1889 Mr. Patterson displayed unusual business ability in his efforts in the organi- zation of the Altoona, Clearfield & North- ern Railroad Company and served as presi- dent and general manager of that road. In politics, like his brother, the late John K. Patterson, he is a Republican and is very loyal in his support of friends but is no aspirant for public honors for himself. His place of residence is the Brandt Hotel, while he maintains his offices on the corner of Twelfth Avenue and Thirteenth Street, Al- toona. AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS BLAIR CHERRY, a representative citi- zen of Antis Township, Blair County, Pa., and an experienced and successful general farmer, has resided on his present farm for over a quarter of a century. He was born in Antis Township, about two miles north of Bellwood, September 5, 1856, and is a son of Jacob and Anna Elizabeth (Black) Cherry. Jacob Cherry was born on what was known as the Emmett S. Cherry farm, on which his father, Nicholas Cherry located, this being the old Cherry homestead near Fostoria, O. Jacob Cherry was a black- smith by trade but spent the larger part of his life as a farmer and died at the age of seventy-four years. He married Anna Eliz- abeth Black, whose family lived for many years on what is now the D. W. Irwin place. | Her father was John Black, who engaged in teaming to Pittsburg in early days. Ten children were born to Jacob Cherry and wife as follows: Mary Jane (Meredith), who died in Antis Township; Matilda (Ying- ling), who died at Altoona; John E., who lives near Tipton; Alfred, who was killed during the Civil War; Joseph, who is a resident of Maryland; David, who resides near Fostoria; George, whose home is near Tipton; Elias, who has recently moved from North Dakota to Virginia; Blair, the subject of this sketch; and Annie, who is the wife of Samuel Burkett, of Huntingdon County, Pa. Blair Cherry was reared in Antis Town- ship and obtained his education in the dis- trict schools. Since reaching manhood he has been engaged in agricultural pursuits in Antis Township with the exception of one year spent in Iowa and another in Ken- tucky. His present farm, on which he has resided for twenty-six years, originally con- tained 130 acres and its first owner was Jo- seph Hopkins. The land passed from him to Alexander McFarland and was long known as the old McFarland place. Mr. Cherry was married October 17, 1883, to Miss Margaret Alice McFarland, who is a e 819 daughter of Alexander and Jane (Hetrick) McFarland. Mrs. Cherry was born on this farm, January 18, 1854, and has never lived in any other place and hence all the sur- roundings are familiar and dear to her. Four children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Cherry, namely: George Monroe, born December 30, 1884, who is in the U. S. mail service; Albert Mathers, who died when aged four weeks; Mary Jane, who died at the age of three years and four months; and Roy Wellington, born July 22, 1893, who is a well advanced student in the Antis Township High School. Mr. Cherry and family are members of the Presbyterian- church at Bellwood. Mr. Cherry takes a good citizen’s interest in public matters and township affairs but does not consider him- self a politician, his main interests being in his own business. He votes with the Demo- cratic party. CALVIN A. BOYER,* sole proprietor of the Forge Mill, situated near Roaring Spring, Pa., dealing in spring wheat and pastry flour, feed, and grain. of all kinds and making a specialty of custom grinding, con- ducts his business under the style of the Forge Milling Company. He was born in Bedford County, Pa., October 6, 1869, and is a son of David M., and Sarah (Croyle) Boyer. David M. Boyer is a well known and highly respected retired farmer of Bed- ford County. Calvin A. Boyer grew to manhood on the home farm and obtained his education in the Bedford County schools: When he was twenty-one years of age he started out for himself, his first occupations being saw-mill- ing and threshing and for eight years he was so engaged in Bedford and Blair Counties, after which he became a farmer near Roar- ing Spring. In March, 1908, he went into the milling business and has made the Forge Mill a very valuable property, equipping it with first class machinery and turning out only high grade products. He is numbered with the able business men of this section, 820 having additional interests to his mill indus- try. re Boyer married Miss Mary Bush, a daughter of the late John Bush, of Taylor Township, Blair County, Pa. They have an adopted son, Harry B. Boyer. Mr. and Mrs. Boyer are members of the Reformed church. He is a Democrat in politics and is serving in the office of constable of Taylor Town- ship. While still residing in Bedford County he filled many township offices, hav- ing always been an active citizen. He is a member of the P. O. S. of A., at Roaring Spring, of the Order of Moose at Altoona, and belongs to the Masonic Lodge at Roar- ing Spring. LEVI BOLGER, senior member of the firm of Bolger, Grafius & Co., proprietors and operators of the Martinsburg Planing Mill, doing an extensive manufacturing business here, has spent his entire life at Martinsburg, where he was born September 27, 1834. His parents were David and Nancy (Skyles) Bol- ger. David Bolger was born in Blair County, Pa., his father having been a pioneer in Bed- ford County. David Bolger died in 1857, but for many years he had been a well known contractor and builder and also was in the un- dertaking business at Martinsburg. | Levi Bolger attended the public schools at Martinsburg in early boyhood but he was not more than thirteen years of age when he be- gan to learn the carpenter’s trade and under his father’s instruction learned cabinetmaking, and carpenter work, and later went into con- tracting for himself. Still later he became in- terested with other practical business men in the Martinsburg Planing Mill, a well eqiupped plant with up-to-date machinery, the output of which includes sash, doors, mouldings, balus- ters, stair rail, blinds, etc., lath, pickets and shingles. The company also deals in all kinds of rough lumber and building material. Pros- pects for a heavy future trade are excellent and the business is in a flourishing condition. In November, 1855, Mr. Bolger was mar- HISTORY OF BLAIR COUNTY ried to Miss Mary E. May, who was born in Bedford County, Pa.; a daughter of John and Magdalena May, and six -children were born to them, namely: Anna M., who lives at Martinsburg; Nancy J., who is the wife of George W. Geist, of the firm of Bolger, Grafius & Co.; Ida C., who is the wife of William H. Oelig, of Williamsburg, Pa.; William M., who is a well established dentist at Martinsburg; Ella, who is the wife of W. Boyd Morrow, a coal merchant at Chippens- _burg; and J. Colvin, who is a Lutheran min- ister at Martinsburg. In politics Mr. Bolger is a Republican and. he has been an active citizen, serving’ on the borough council and also on the school board. He is a prominent Odd Fellow, -belonging to the minor branch and to the Encampment, be- ing a charter member of the latter at Martins- burg, and is also a charter member of the Knights of the Golden Eagle. He is a member of the Reformed church, in which he has served officially at times. He is numbered with Martinsburg’s most reliable men and _repre- sentative citizens. SILAS A. McGOUGH, proprietor of the Hotel Belmar, which is situated on the cor- ner of Fourth Avenue and _ Fifteenth Street, Altoona, is a well known and highly respected citizen and an experienced hotei man. He was born July 25, 1836, at Loretta, Cambria County, Pa., a son of James and Margaret McGough. His grandfather on the paternal side was Arthur McGough. The subject of this sketch was one of a large family, namely: Ellen, George, Susan, Charles, Anna, James, Silas A., Andrew, Demetrius, and Margaret. He was reared and educated in Cambria County and during a large portion of his life has been engaged in the hotel business. For the past 31 years he has been a resident of Altoona, and for one year conducted the City Hotel, and for three years the Windsor Hotel, while for the past five years he has been proprietor of the Hotel Belmar. While this is not the largest hotel in the city it is one of the most MR. AND MRS. LEVI BOLGER AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS comfortable and most favorably located, and the quality of the service furnished is such as to give satisfaction to the guests and build up the patronage of the hotel, which is very favorably known to the traveling public. Mr. McGough was married in 1865 to Miss Rufina Harbor, who died in 1866, leav- ing one child, Harriet. His second marriage took place in 1868, to Miss Mary R. Whar- ton, and of this union there have been the following children: Edwin, Georgia, Henry O., Arthur, Margaret, Frances, Zoe, Elmer, Ralph, Jessie, Cyril, Frederick and Donald, all of whom have been given good educa- tional advantages. In politics Mr. McGough is.a Republican and for four years and a half he served in the office of chief of police of Altoona, his ad- ministration resulting in some important re- forms, and during which law and order were thoroughly enforced. Mr. McGough and his family are members of the Catholic church. ADIE FRANKLIN IRVIN, deceased, for many years was one of the substantial and representative men of Antis Township, Blair County, Pa., of which he was a native, and he was also an honored veteran of the great Civil War. He was born on the homestead farm, October 3, 1839, and died on the same land, February 18, 1909. His parents were George and Margaret (Tip- pery) Irvin, and his uncle was Daniel Irwin (this branch of the family spelling the name differently), who was the father of Abram R. Irwin, who is a leading resident of Bell- wood, Pa. The father of Mr. Irvin was born in Blair County and his mother in Huntingdon County, Pa. Adie Franklin Irvin was reared on his father’s farm, attended the district schools and assisted in the tilling of the land until the opening of the Civil War. His interest and patriotism were aroused and on August 2, 1861, he became a member of Co. F, 76th Pa. Vol. Inf., in which he served faithfully 821 for three years, three months and one day, and was honorably discharged on October 28, 1864. In May of that year he had been promoted to the rank of corporal. During his long period in the army he was more or less constantly exposed to hardship and danger and he participated in the following battles: . Pocotaligo, Fort Wagner, Ches- terfield Heights, Drury’s Bluff, Cald Har- bor, Siege of Petersburg, Deep Bottom and Chapin’s Farm. On one occasion he did not escape from the bullets of the enemy, re- ceiving a shot through the foot, an injury that made it necessary for him to spend some time in a hospital and which caused a slight but permanent lameness. He re- turned then to the home farm, which, in the course of time came into his possession, and during the remainder of his life devoted himself to the peaceful pursuits of agricul- ture. He was a man of sterling character, for many years a deacon in the Logan Val- ley Baptist Church and a liberal supporter of its religious movements. In politics he was a Republican. For a number of years he was a valued member of Sanford F. Beyer Post, No. 426, G. A. R., at Bellwood. On July 4, 1865, Mr. Irvin was married to Miss Annie Boyles, who was born in An- tis Township, Blair County, on Sandy Run, December 2, 1842. She is a daughter of Andrew and Emily (Hanna) Boyles, the former of whom was a son of Henry Boyles, a very early settler in Blair County. The’ ‘children born to Mr. and Mrs. Boyles were as follows: Mrs. Irvin; Lucinda, who is the widow of David Bartlebaugh; J. Cam- eron, who is a resident of Bellwood; Alice, -who is the wife of John W. Slotehower, of Altoona; Minerva, who lives in the old Boyles homestead at Altoona; Blair, who resides at No. 602 Sixth Street, Altoona; Eliza, who is the wife of David A. Sunder- land, of Altoona; Margaret, who is the wife of John L. Gonder, of Altoona; Robert, de- ceased, who was formerly a resident of. Al- toona; and Martin Boyles, who resides at No. 604 Sixth Avenue, Altoona, Pa. 822 To Mr. and Mrs. Irvin ten children were born, as follows: Daniel Judson, who died at the age of twenty-five years; Ellen, who resides at Bellwood; Mary, who is deceased (was the wife of William Wertz, of Bell- wood and is survived by three children— Irvin, Herman and Elizabeth); Edward, a resident of Sante Fe, N. M., who married Elizabeth Closson, and they have one son, Thomas Franklin; Elizabeth, who is the wife of James V. Smelker, of Bellwood, and they have a daughter, Anna Elizabeth; Minnie, who died at the age of two months; William John, who is the home farmer for his mother, having 168 acres under his man- agement; Alice S., and Annie, both of whom reside with their mother; and Mar- garet, who died at birth. Mrs. Irvin and children are members of the Logan Valley Baptist Church. The family is one of the oldest in the county and it is possible that the grandfather was born here, although the old records that might prove it have been lost. The late Adie Franklin Irvin was a worthy member of this family, honorable, reliable and trustworthy both in times of war and those of peace, acquitting himself in every position in which the circumstances of his life placed him, with the utmost credit. COL. J. BLAIR SHOENFELT,* a prominent and successful business man of Muskogee, Oklahoma, where he is exten- sively interested in the production of oil, is a scion of an old and representative fam- ily of Blair County, Pa. Colonel Shoenfelt, as he is familiarly known to his many friends, is a summer resident of Blair County, occupying his estate, which is sit- uated near Roaring Spring. He was born at East Sharpsburg, Blair County, Pa., Feb- ruary 14, 1859, and is a son of George M. and Christiana (Burkett) Shoenfelt. George M. Shoenfelt was born in Taylor Township, Blair County, in 1822, and has always resided there. His father was Jacob Shoenfelt and his grandfather was William Shoenfelt, the latter of whom came as a HISTORY OF BLAIR COUNTY pioneer to Taylor Township, from Hagers- town, Md. Jacob Shoenfelt, grandfather of Col. Shoenfelt, is remembered as one of the finest specimens of physical manhood ever produced in Blair County. He was noted for his size, his strength and his power of endurance as well as for his ster- ling qualities of mind and character. His business was farming but in early days he did a large amount of teaming also and transported merchandise from Baltimore to this section and also pig iron from Maria Forge to Pittsburg. George M. Shoenfelt, father of Col. Shoenfelt is now in his eighty-eighth year and still remains hale and hearty. In early manhood he taught school and later made farming his main interest. He has served many years on the township school board and is now its president and in spite of his age takes much interest in its deliberations and his sound advice is followed by his fellow members. He married Christiana Burkett and the names of his surviving sons are as follows: Horace G., of East Sharps- burg; Ethan Allen, of Roaring Spring; J. Blair, of Oklahoma; George, also of Okla- homa; Adam, of Taylor Township, Blair County; Daniel, of Geneva, N. Y.; and Ed- ward, of Taylor Township. J. Blair Shoenfelt was reared on the home farm in Taylor Township and was afforded excellent educational advantages, these in- cluding attendance at the Brethren’s Normal ‘School at Huntingdon, Pa., and three years as a student at the University of Indiana, where he was graduated in 1880. He had studied law and was admitted to the bar of Indiana, in March of that year, and shortly afterward went to South Dakota, finding what promised to be a good opening in a professional way, at Estelline, in Hamlin County. In November, 1880, he was elected the first county judge of Hamlin County and served on the bench for several years.” After South Dakota became a state, he was elected the first circuit judge of the Third Judicial Circuit of South Dakota and served in that - AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS position for two years. He continued in the practice of law at Estelline until 1890, when .he removed to Douglass,- Wyoming, where he also became prominent in his profession and a leader in public affairs. He was elected prosecuting attorney and served through several terms, giving Converse County an honest and progressive adminis- tration. While a resident of Wyoming, he was honored by the late President McKinley who appointed him Indian agent, the ap- pointment coming to Col. Shoenfelt without any solicitation on his part. Col. Shoenfelt entered upon the duties of agent for the five civilized Indian tribes of Indian Territory, on June 30, 1899, and served with efficiency until June 30, 1905, when he resigned. When he took charge of the office, two clerks only were employed and as an indication of the activity and busi- ness enterprise of the new agent, it may be mentioned that when he retired the depart- ments he had organized required eighty stenographers and about 150 bookkeepers, clerks and other minor officials. The busi- ness transacted was vast in extent and volume and never had the Indian affairs of that section been in such complete order. For a number of years he has been promi- nently identified with the oil industry in Oklahoma and also in valuable mines in Mexico. His business interests are varied and important particularly along these lines. He is a director and a member of the ad- visory board of the Mid-Continent Life In- surance Company, which has its headquar- - ters at Muskogee, Okla., and he is a director of the Altar Placer Gold Mining Company, which has headquarters at Hermisillo, Mex., of which he is also president. For a number of years Col. Shoenfelt has been interested more or less in military mat- ters. He was colonel of the first regiment of the Wyoming National Guards which was recruited for the Spanish-American War and by order of the adjutant-general went to Cheyenne, Wyo., where it went into camp and was- drilled in preparation for active 823 service and was ordered to the front just before the termination of the war. He con- tinued to serve as colonel of this regiment as long as he remained a resident of Wyoming and is affectionately remembered by his old comrades. Colonel Shoenfelt was married in May, 1883, to Miss Anna E. Isenberg, who was born at Alexander, Pa., and is a daughter of J. Miller Isenberg, of Johnstown, Pa. Col. and Mrs. Shoenfelt have three children: Pearl, who is the wife of Dr. C. A. Thomp- son, of Muskogee; Cecil E., who is general superintendent of the Blair Oil Refining Company located at Muskogee, a very suc- cessful young business man; and Doris E., who resides with her parents. During the winter months the family resides at Musko- gee, taking a prominent part in the pleasant social life of the place, but when summer comes, the old farm in Taylor Township offers a welcome and attractions that only one’s native place can give. During Feb- ruary, March and April of 1910, Col. Shoen- felt and family enjoyed an extended West Indian cruise and visited the Isle of Pines and other points of interest. In political adherence, Col. Shoenfelt is a Republican but in late years has declined all political honors, his extensive business in- .terests absorbing his time and attention to a large degree. He is prominently identified with Masonry and belongs to the minor branches as well as the Commandery at Muskogee and also is connected with the Elks at this point. Col. Shoenfelt has had an interesting career and has ‘done-his full share in bring- ing about the development of sections of the Union which, in his youth, were considered entirely uncivilized. He went into the far West with the training of a collegian, the courage of a brave man and ‘the enterprise which overcomes difficulties. Called upon to assume judicial duties before he had en- joyed any measure of legal experience, he made no mistakes and when he retired from one official position it was but to assume the 824 duties of a still more important one. In South Dakota, Wyoming and Muskogee, Okla., he is looked upon as a foremost citizen but it is when he returns to Blair County that he realizes the pride and affec- tion with which his fellow citizens claim him as one of their own. DR. EMORY H. MORROW, one of Al- toona’s skilled physicians and highly es- teemed citizens, has been identified with the medical profession of this borough for the past 21 years. He was born in 1858 in Clearfield, Pa., and was there reared and obtained his education in the local and a private school. He subsequently entered what is now the Cleveland Medical College, ‘from which he graduated with the class of 1883, and on May Io, 1883, located at Ty- rone, Pa., where he began his career as a physician and surgeon. In December, 1888, he came to Altoona, Pa., where he has since been continuously and successfully engaged in following his profession. He is a member of the American Institute of Homeopathy, the Central Homeopathic and the State Homeopathic Societies, and is a member of the staff of surgery and gynecology of the new hospital of Altoona. Dr. Morrow is fraternally a member of the I. O. O. F., the Forresters and Heptasophs, the University Club, and some insurance organizations. In 1891 Dr. Morrow was married to Laura M. Smith of Tyrone, and they have one daughter, Ada Lee Morrow. Dr. Morrow is a member of the First M. E. Church, of which he has served as a meniber of the board of trustees. He holds two chairs on the Mercy Hospital Staff, Surgery and Gynecology. GEORGE WASHINGTON KYPER, who passed out of this life on November 22. IQOI, was for many years identified with the business interest of Bellwood, Pa., and built what is known as the Central Hotel, but was during his earlier life actively engaged in agricultural pursuits in Tyrone Township, HISTORY OF BLAIR COUNTY Blair County, Pa. He was born March 1, 1846, in McConnellstown, Huntingdon County, Pa., a son of John and Susanne (Nail) Kyper, both of whom were also na- ‘tives of Huntingdon County, Pa., and a grandson of Daniel Kyper, who was one of the pioneers of Huntingdon County. Dan- iel Kyper was a stone mason by trade and built the old jail and nearly all of the old stone buildings now seen in Huntingdon. George W. Kyper was reared in Hunt- ingdon County, but his education was ob- tained mainly at Petersburg. He was a farmer by occupation and in 1865 with his parents moved to Sinking Valley, Tyrone Township, Blair County, Pa. There he farmed on the place on which his father located until 1875, when he moved to An- tis Township, where he carried on farming on the B. F. Bell farm until 1883. He was eminently successful as a farmer, and in 1883 came to Bellwood, the site of which was at that time principally timberland, and was one of the first builders to locate on Main Street. He erected the Central Hotel, and with the paper wood taken from the lot on which it was built paid for the glass that went into the building. Here he successfully conducted a hotel until the spring of 1891 without a license. He then built a fine brick house in which he resided three years and during the time of the panic sold the hotel, which was afterwards re- bought by his oldest son, and is now owned by Mrs. Kyper. He subsequently built a house on the lot adjoining his brick resi- dence, and lived there until the hotel again came into the possession of the family, then lived in the hotel which he had built, until the time of his death from Brights disease, on November 22, rg01. While proprietor of the hotel, he was in the livery business continuously from 1883 until his death, and also sold farm implements and fertilizers. Mr. Kyper was married December 28, 1871, to Abigail Susan Ramey, who was born in Sinking Valley, Tyrone Township, AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS Blair County, Pa., June 25, 1845, a daugh- ter of Daniel and Rachel (Fleck) Ramey. Her father was born in Berks County, Pa., a son of Francis and Catherine (Ginter) Ramey, the former being a native of France, and the latter of Germany. Fran- cis Ramey and his wife came to America and located in Berks County, Pa., where he followed bridge building. He met an ac- cidental death by falling off a bridge and his widow moved with the family to Ty- rone Forge, Blair County, Pa., where she subsequently married George Fleck. Dan- iel Ramey was a small child when his mother removed to Tyrone Forge, and he there learned the shoemaking trade, which he subsequently followed in Sinking Valley until the time of his death at the age of 77 years. He married Rachel Fleck, who bore him three sons and one daughter, namely: John F., deceased, who was a resident of Colorado; Gabriel Henry, deceased, who resided in Virginia; Sanford D., wko is a resident of Trenton, N. J.; and Abigail S. (Mrs. Kyper). Mr. and Mrs. Kyper became the parents of the following children: Leslie Ramey, of Bellwood; Martha Mary, who died aged two years and eight months; Nora Cath- erine, who died aged eight years and four months; Abbie Maud, born February 15, 1879, who is the wife of W. T. Stevens, a resident of Bellwood and an employee of the Pennsylvania Railroad (they have three daughters, Susan Evaline, Naomi Genevieve, and Georgia Kyper Stevens) ; John Daniel, born December 5, 1884, in Bellwood, Pa., who is a rural route deliv- erer (he married Harriet Ellen Martz and they have one daughter, Marian Moyer Kyper); and Don Cameron, born January 19, 1888, who is a well known physician of Tyrone. Leslie R. Kyper was born December 17, 1872, in Sinking Valley, and being the eld- est of the family grew into his father’s busi- ness, having had charge of the livery busi- ness, which he continues to conduct. In 825 1900 he established a meat market in his father’s hotel building, but later removed to his present quarters on Main and Cam- bria Streets, and is one of the prosperous and enterprising business men of Bellwood. The family owns the building his store is. in, the drug store adjoining, the hotel build- ing, and the residence the daughter of our subject resides in. Mrs. Kyper, spends her winters in Florida. She is a member of the Lutheran oma, of which Mr. Kyper was also a member. JACOB CARN, justice of the peace in Greenfield Township, Blair County, Pa., and for many vears identified with public affairs in this section, has been a resident of Claysburg, Pa., since 1871. He was born December 26, 1853, in Imler Valley, Bedford County, Pa., and is a son of Will- iam and Susan (Pressel) Carn and a grand- son of George Carn and Isaac Pressel, early settlers in Bedford County, who left many descendants. Jacob Carn was reared in his father’s house with brothers and sisters and at- tended the local schools until he was about eighteen years of age. He then came to Claysburg to learn the furniture and un- dertaking business with S. E. Hoenstine, with whom he served an apprenticeship of three years. For some years afterward, Mr. Carn worked as a journeyman, but in 1896 he embarked in business for himself and still continues in the furniture and un- dertaking line. He commands the respect and enjoys the confidence of his fellow cit- -izens to an unusual degree and has prob- ably been more frequently elected to re- sponsible township offices than any other resident. For several years he served as constable of Greenfield Township, for ten years served as township clerk, for some years as road tax collector, for more years as treasurer and in 1890 was elected justice of the peace, in which office he has served ably and continuously ever since with the exception of one year. 826 Mr. Carn was married to Miss Matilda Shock, a daughter of Capt. Daniel Shock, one of Claysburg’s most respected and ven- erable citizens, he having reached his eighty-seventh year. To Mr. and Mrs. Carn eight children were born, namely: Mattie R., who is the popular postmistress at Claysburg; William F., who lives at Martinsburg; Charles O., who is in busi- ness at Roaring Spring; D, Ray, who is in the mail service and lives at Juniata, Pa.; John L., Margaret V. and Frederick L., all of whom live at Claysburg; and Stan- ton, who is deceased. Jacob Carn is a member of the Order of Odd Fellows and for a quarter of a century has been secre- tary of the Claysburg Lodge. DAVID W. IRWIN, a representative citizen and prosperous agriculturist of An- tis Township, Blair County, Pa., who re- sides on his valuable farm of sixty-eight -acres, was born on this place, December 16, 1862, and is a son of Walter Scott and Ann (Hamilton) Irwin. Walter Scott Irwin was born in County Armagh, Ireland, in 1820, and came to America in 1845, making the voyage in one of the old-time sailing vessels that required fourteen weeks to cover the distance that is now covered in one week or less. He lo- cated at MHollidaysburg, Pa., where he worked as a cooper, having learned the trade under his father. He invested his money in town property and at one time owned a whole square situated back of the court house there. In 1859 he purchased the old Russ farm, in Antis Township, on which he passed the remainder of his life, his death occurring in 1895. His burial was in the Asbury Cemetery. He was an ex- cellent business man and was well known all through this section. He married Ann Hamilton, then in her twenty-seventh year, who was living in the home of her cousin, Jonathan Hamilton, near Altoona. Mrs. Irwin was born in County Down, Ireland. She not only possessed many of the per- HISTORY OF BLAIR COUNTY sonal attractions which have made Irish women admired in every land, but was also unusually gifted in intellect. Although she never enjoyed any superior educational ad- vantages, she made such good use of those she had that when little more than a girl she was accepted as a teacher in her own country and after coming to America, with her sister, Mrs. Sarah Lowther, she con- tinued to teach for a time in Logan Town- ship. Her children value very highly a prize that she won in Ireland by being able to spell every word in the old Webster Dic- tionary, a feat that many a college graduate of the present day might not succeed in. She survived until August, 1890, and was buried by the side of her husband. Eight children were born to them, namely: Jen- nie, who resides on the homestead; Mag- gie, deceased, who was the wife of Alex- ander Cornmesser; William H., a very prominent citizen of Blair County, who served two terms in the state legislature and three terms as county register and re- corder and resides at Altoona; Joseph, who is also a resident of Altoona; James ~ and John C., both of whom are deceased; David W.; and Annie R., who is a popular teacher in the Altoona schools. David W. Irwin was reared in Antis Township and attended what was then called the Crider, but now is known as the McKnight school and his first teacher was Ira Fleck. He has followed farming ‘and stock raising on the old home farm ever since. He was married in 1892, to Miss Emma Cox, who was born on an adjoining farm and is a daughter of Asbury and Alice Cox, and they have four children: Alice M., Ruth H., Clara N. and William M. Mr. Irwin and family attend the Presbyte- rian church at Juniata. He votes the Re- publican ticket and takes a good citizen’s interest in public matters. He has never desired office, but when elected to the same has performed every duty with the greatest efficiency. He served six years as township AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS supervisor and three years as school di- . rector. A. M. JACOBS, a representative business man of Altoona, Pa., where he is engaged in the fire insurance, real estate, mortgage and loan line, has been a resident of this city for eight years and has become thoroughly iden- tified with its leading interests. He was born at East Berlin, Adams County, Pa., in 1880. Mr. Jacobs was educated in the schools of East Berlin and at the Millersville State Nor- mal School, where he was a student for three years. After completing his school course he became Principal of the Juniata schools, which position he held for five, years, and then be- came manager for the new business depart- ment of the Altoona Gas Company, a position he acceptably filled for eighteen months. In December, 1908, he bought out the old T. J. Trout Insurance Agency, a business formerly conducted by B. F. McCartney. Mr. Jacobs has proved his enterprise by his progressive methods and within the past two years has se- cured the agency of twelve of the leading in- surance companies of the country, dealing in fire and life risks. His dealings in real estate have been exceedingly important. During 1909 he erected fourteen new houses and dur- ing the first five months of the current year started the building of seventeen more dwell- ings. Mr. Jacobs was married in December, 1905, to Miss Mae Grogg, of East Berlin, Adams County. He is a member of the Lutheran church and an elder in the same and is serving as assistant superintendent of the Sunday- school. He is identified with the Lodge of Odd Fellows and the Elks and belongs also to the Modern Woodmen of America. JOHN B. ROBESON,* an enterprising citizen of Williamsburg, Pa., is engaged in operating a fine farm of 107 acres in Cath- erine Township, Blair County, and with the exception of two years spent in railroading, | has been a life-long resident of this county. He was born January 21, 1855, in Altoona, Pa., and is a son of D. M. and Mary Ann 827 (Colyer) Robeson, who were well known agriculturists of this county. The father was born on a farm, where the borough of Altoona is located, a son of William Robe- son. His union with Mary Ann Colyer, who was a daughter of John Colyer, re- sulted in the following issue: John B., sub- ject of this record; Sarah, who married George Fonner; Howard S.; and Amanda, who is the wife of David Morningstar. The family held membership with the Lu- theran church. John B. Robeson attended the common schools of Catherine Township and with the exception of two years, when he worked on the railroad, has always lived on his present farm, which he bought from his father in 1899. Here he carries on farming in a general way, and raises stock sufficient for his own use, but makes his home in Williamsburg. In 1876 Mr. Robeson married Maggie E. Forest, a daughter of Jacob and Jane (Soulsby) Forest, the former.a native of Lancaster County, Pa., and the latter of England. She was one of the following children born to her parents: John; Sam- uel; Albert; Jennie, who married Jacob Goodwin; and Ellen, who is the wife of Elmer McGill. Mr. and Mrs. Robeson are parents of the following children: Anna Bell, is the wife of Alfred Hicks; Gertrude, married Homer Patterson; Bessie, married Warren McDowell; Charles; Sylvester; Lawrence; Rhoda; Edna; Beulah; and Maxwell. The religious connection of the family is with the Lutheran church. In politics Mr. Robeson takes an active inter- est in the Republican party. WILLIAM RILEY BUSH, general farmer and a well known citizen of Antis Township, Blair County, Pa., where he owns sixty-two acres of well improved land, was born in Love’s Valley, Huntingdon County, Pa., September 13, 1862, and is a son of William Luther and Mary (Glas- gow) Bush. 828 ‘William Luther Bush was born in Berks County, Pa., and came from there to Blair County. With the exception of several years spent in Huntingdon County and two years in Clearfield County, the greater part of his subsequent life was spent in Blair County. When the Pennsylvania Railroad was being erected, he operated a steam saw-mill for the company, at Fostoria, but maintained his home in Antis Township, where later he became a prosperous farmer. His death occurred in 1900 and his burial was in the Logan Valley Cemetery. He married Mary Glasgow, who was a daugh- ter of Taylor Glasgow and was born and reared in Blair County. She met an acci- dental death, in 1897, being run down by a railroad train. Her burial also was in the Logan Valley Cemetery. They were highly respected residents of Antis Town- ship. They had three children, namely: William Riley; Charles Lawson, who lives at Bellwood, Pa.; and Alice May, who is the wife of Frank Wesley, of Bellwood. William Riley Bush was reared in Blair and Antis Townships, having accompanied his parents to Blair County in 1866. His education was secured in the public schools. Farming has been his business, one that he has carried on with care, industry and good judgment, the same having resulted in a large degree of prosperity. Mr. Bush was married May 24, 1898, to Miss Ida Cherry, who was born and reared in Antis Township. Her parents were Samuel and Jennie (Irwin) Cherry, -the former of whom now resides in Colorado. Mrs. Cherry died in April, 1885, and her burial was in the Logan Valley Cemetery. Mr. and Mrs. Bush’s children are as fol- lows: Robert Wilson, Charles Francis, William Leroy, Helen Dorothy (deceased), Mabel Loretta and Harold Wesley. Mr. Bush is one of his township’s most active and interested citizens. In his political views he is a Republican and is serving in the office of township supervisor, being sec- retary of the board. He is a member of the HISTORY OF BLAIR COUNTY fraternal organization designated as the K. O. “Ey M. HARRY A. SPARR,* superintendent of the quarry operated by the American Steel and Wire Company at Wert Station, and a director of the Farmers and Mer- chants National Bank of Williamsburg, Pa., has been a resident of this borough for many years. He was born October 16, 1868, in Blair County, Pa., and is the only child born to Albert D. and Sarah (Gib- boney) Sparr, who are now residents of Williamsburg. His father was for many years engaged in agricultural pursuits, and is politically a Republican. His religious connection is with the Lutheran church. Harry A. Sparr was reared in his native county and after a common school educa- tion began clerking in a general store at Coldforge, where he remained five years. He also spent nine years as a clerk in a gen- eral store at Williamsburg, and since 1900 has been superintendent of the American _ Steel and Wire Company’s quarry, which is located at Wert Station, and gives employ- ment to 150 men. Mr. Sparr is also one of the directors of the Farmers and Mer- chants National Bank of Williamsburg. He is fraternally a member of the Juniata Lodge of Masons at Hollidaysburg, the Knight Templars and the Shrine at Al- toona, and the Heptasophs of Williams- burg. In politics he is identified with the Republican party, and is religiously a mem- ber of the Lutheran church. In 1898 Mr. Sparr was joined in marriage with Grace A. Louden, who is a daughter of Thomas and Elizabeth Jane. Louden, who were well known agriculturists of Woodbury Township. Mr. and Mrs. Lou- den were parents of the following children: Marion; James; Lucinda, wife of J. H. Li- kens, who is moral instructor at the Hunt- ingdon Reformatory; Ella (Mrs. Ejich- oltz); Margaret, who is the wife of David Spealman; Sadie, who married George Spealman; Idela, an instructor in the AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS schools at Huntingdon, Pa. and Grace A., who is the wife of the subject of this sketch. DR. THOMAS L. WILSON, who has been actively engaged in the practice of his profession at Bellwood, Pa., since March, 1893, was born August 22, 1862, at War- rior’s Mark, Huntingdon County, Pa., and is a son of Christopher and Mary Martha (Wheeling) Wilson. Christopher Wilson was born in Hunt- ingdon County, Pa., a son of Thomas Wil- son, who was of Scotch descent, and who was one of the pioneers and for many years a resident of Huntingdon County. Chris- topher Wilson always engaged in agricul- tural pursuits, and died in December, 1907. He is still survived by his widow, who in maiden life was Mary Martha Wheeling, a native of Center County, and now a resi- dent of Warrior’s Mark, Pa. Three sons and two daughters were born to Chris- topher Wilson and wife: Dr. Thomas L.; Dr. John E., of Butler, Ky.; Elizabeth D., who is the wife of W. R. Wolf of Altoona, Pa.; Ella R., who married J. E. Rumbarger of Warrior’s Mark; and Dr. Harry C., also . a resident of Warrior’s Mark. Dr. Thomas L. Wilson was reared and obtained his early educational training at Warrior’s Mark, and after taking a course at the Millersville State Normal, taught school five terms in Huntingdon County. He then took a course in medicine at the College of Physicians and Surgeons, at Bal- timore, graduating with the’ class of 1891, and immediately afterward embarked in the practice of medicine at Warrior’s Mark, where he continued two years. In March, 1893, he came to Bellwood, and has been in active practice here since that time, and is held in high esteem as an able and skill- ful physician. Dr. Wilson is fraternally a Mason, holding membership with the Ty- rone Lodge No. 494, the Chapter No. 189, the Commandery No. io, and the Jaffa Temple and the Mystic Shrine of Altoona. He is also a member of the Modern Wood- 829 men, F. O. E.,.and Maccabees of Bellwood. He is politically a Democrat and was elected a member of the council on that ticket, and also served as county commit- teeman during his residence in Huntingdon County. He is a member of the Business Mens’ Association of Bellwood, and of the American, State and County Medical So- cieties. On April 6, 1893, Dr. Wilson was joined in marriage with Regina Henderson of Huntingdon County, the youngest daugh- ter of R. L. and Susanna (Beck) Hender- son. They have one daughter, Helen J. Wilson, now aged fourteen years. EMANUEL DIEHL, a _ prosperous farmer and respected citizen of Juniata Township, Blair County, Pa., has resided on his present farm of 60 acres since the spring of 1862, and was born January 13, 1838, in Bedford County, Pa., a son of Philip and Julia A. (Ritchey) Diehl. Philip Diehl was born June 18, 1802, in Bedford County, Pa., and died there July 22, 1873. He was a son of John Diehl and a grandson of Samuel Diehl, both of whom were also residents of Bedford County. The mother of our subject was also a na- tive of Pennsylvania. Emanuel Diehl grew to maturity in his native county and there attended the public schools. He has always followed general farming and in 1862 came to Blair County and located on his present farm of 60 acres in Juniata Township, where he has lived continuously since that time. Mr. Diehl is a man of enterprise and public spirit and is held in high esteem by his fellow citizens. He is politically a Republican and has served a number of years as a director of the school board, of which body he was also secretary three years, and also served a number of years as auditor of Juniata Township. He is fraternally a member of the Poplar Run Grange and the Patrons of Husbandry. In 1863 Mr. Diehl married Fannie Corl, ‘830 a native of Blair County and a sister of Am- brose Corl of this county, and of their un- ion were born the following children: Emma E., married Joseph M. Hazlett of Indiana County, Pa.; A. Ross, a resident of Allegan County, Michigan; Levi H., re- sides in Alabama; James C., who now owns the home farm in Juniata Township; Lena, married George E. Wilt of Duncans-. ville, Pa.; and one other now deceased. Mrs. Diehl passed out of this life April 1, 1905. She was a member of the Reformed church, as are all the other members of the family. W. B. DYSART, proprietor of an exten- sive hardware, tinning and plumbing es- tablishment at Bellwood, Pa., has resided here for the past 21 years and is one of the representative business men of the bor- ough. He was born October 2, 1854, at Newton Hamilton, Mifflin County, Pa., and is a son of John and Susan (McKinstry) Dysart, both now deceased. The father died when W. B. Dysart was 18 months old, and the mother later came to Bell- wood. W. B. Dysart was reared at Newton Hamilton, Mifflin County, Pa., and at- tended the local schools there. He clerked for some twelve years in a general store in his home town and after coming to Bell- wood, established himself in the hardware business in a small way. He has ‘added to his store from time to time and now car- ries a full line of hardware, besides doing a general tinning and plumbing business. Mr. Dysart is politically a Democrat and has served on the town council and on the school board a number of years. He is fraternally a Mason and an Odd Fellow. Mr. Dysart was married in 1876 to Clara Linn, who was born in Perry County, Pa., but reared in Mifflin County. They have had the following children: Charles, who died in youth; William A., a resident of Bellwood, who married Fay Carse and they have two children—Helen, and an unnamed HISTORY OF BLAIR COUNTY daughter; Russell B., who lives at Sun- bury, Pa.; John, who died aged fourteen years; Ralph, who lives in Bellwood; and Charles, who died young. The family holds membership in the M. E. church. CHARLES S. DOWNS,* who has been the efficient electrician of the borough of Altoona, Pa., since 1899, comes of ‘one of the: old established and prominent families of Blair County. He was born in 1878 in Greenfield Township, Blair County, Pa., and is a son of Wesley Downs and a grand- son of Daniel Downs, a farmer by occupa- tion, who settled in this county in about 1825. The father of our subject was a blacksmith by trade, and was born in 1850 in Blair County, and died there in 1904. Charles S. Downs was reared and edu- cated in Altoona and early in life began learning the electrical business with the Pennsylvania Railroad, in whose employ he spent two years. He then was employed by the city one year, after which he worked six months for the Gamewell Company, and since 1899 has been electrician of the borough of Altoona. He is a member of the Association of Municipal Electricians and the American Institute of Electrical Engineers, and is also affiliated with the Eagles. His religious connection is with the Trinity Reformed Church. September I, 1903, Mr. Downs was joined in marriage with Mary E. Housley, of Altoona, Pa., and of their union has been born one.son, Charles Housley Downs. W. FRANK BECK, M. D., who has at- tained wide prominence in the practice of med- icine, is located at Altoona, Pa., and makes a specialty of diseases of the eye, being also eminently successful as a general practitioner and surgeon. He was born in Center County, Pa., in 1866, attended the Grove City Col- lege, and after reading medicine two years with Dr. J. M. Smith of Tyrone, Pa., entered Jefferson Medical College, Philadelphia, and there received, in 1890, a diploma for the W. FRANK BECK, M.D. AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS practice of medicine and’ surgery. He then spent two years in the practice of his profes- sion in partnership with Dr. Smith, of Tyrone, Pa., then opened an office for himself at that place, and in 1901 moved to Altoona, locating at No. 1214 Eighth Avenue. His offices are at present located at 1107 Twelfth Avenue. Dr. Beck was formerly surgeon for the Penn- ‘sylvania Railroad, and served as first police surgeon of Altoona, under Mayor Walker. He is a member of the County, State and American Medical Societies, is one of the con- tributers to the Medical Journal, and is one of the founders of American Medicines, a med- ical journal which was established at Phila- delphia. Dr. Beck is also interested in agriculture, owning a fine country home at Lakemont, called Craigs. He has always taken an active interest in politics and in 1910 was a candi- date before the Republican primaries as a del- egate to the state convention. He is frater- nally a’member of the Eagles, Moose, the I. O. O. F., and J. O. M. His religious con- nection is with the Second Presbyterian church, at Altoona. In 1894 Dr. Beck was joined in marriage with Miss Sarah Campbell, a daughter of Colonel Campbell, who is a well known con- tractor and coal operator. They have two children—Elizabeth C., and C. Campbell. JOHN PIERCE McKNIGHT, who re- sides on a farm of 60 acres in Antis Town- ship, has been a life-long resident of Blair County, Pa. He was born March 24, 1843, in the vicinity of Elizabeth Furnace, and is a son of Robert and Mary (MclIlwain) Mc- Knight. John P. McKnight, the grandfather, af- ‘ter whom our subject was named, was born within what was then ten miles of Phila- delphia, and doubtless the Philadelphia proper of today, and was the son of a pub- lisher, who came from the north of Ireland. The family is of Scotch-Irish ancestry and located in this country at a very early pe- riod. John P. McKnight was a very prom- 831 inent man and located in Huntingdon County, where he was agent for the Rich- ard Neve Land Company of Philadelphia. His name appears on many of the deeds in this county, they having been made out to him, and transferred from him to the pur- chasers. He was the owner of much land himself in Huntingdon, Bedford, and In- diana Counties. He died about 1806 at the age of 33 years and was buried at Manor Hill, Huntingdon County. He married a Miss Adams, and they had the following children: Robert, father of our subject; Jane (Crane), who was a resident of Bed- ford County some years but died in Blair County, Pa.; Margaret, who was the wife of David Bell; and Eliza, who was the wife of Martin Bell. Robert McKnight was born January 4, 1803, on a large farm up Shaffers Creek in Huntingdon County, Pa., and after his father’s death, which occurred about three years later, his mother located in the bor- ough of Huntingdon; where he was reared. He was 12 years old, when with his mother he went on horseback to Tennessee, a dis- tance of more than 500 miles. They went to see a cousin of hers named Patton and remained all winter, Robert attending school there during their stay. After their return home he wrote a letter back to where they had visited, and for nearly 45 years received no reply. Then unexpectedly a letter came from a son of the recipient of the letter in 1859, with due apology. It was the beginning of an interesting correspond- ence relating largely to ante-bellum condi- tions. Robert McKnight was an excep- tional student for that day, a fine penman and a mathematician. He with his mother and three sisters later located on a farm of 175 acres in the vicinity of Elizabeth Fur- nace, and resided there until his death, December 27, 1860. He married Mary MclIlwain, who was born February 14, 1813, near the big spring at Williamsburg, Blair County, Pa. Her father died young, and her mother, who in 832 maiden life was an Ake, later married Brit- ton Pierce, an old soldier of ‘the War of 1812, and at the time of her death was liv- ing in Bedford County, Pa. Robert and Mary McKnight had the following chil- dren: Eliza, widow of John A. Sprankle; Margaret, widow of Allen McCartney of Altoona; Ellen, deceased, who was the wife of Maj. George H. Gwin of Altoona; Anna and Sarah, both of whom died of scarlet fever; John P., subject of this rec- ord; William, who lives in Huntingdon County; Blair, who lives in Allegheny Township; Robert, of Altoona; Wilson, of Altoona; Reuben, deceased, who re- sided in Altoona and was about 24 years old at the time of his death; and Mary, who is the wife of Oscar Nelson, of Al- toona. Mrs. McKnight died February 26, 1904, aged gi years and was buried in Fair- view Cemetery at Altoona. She was for years a member of the Baptist Church of Logan Valley, and Robert McKnight at- tended the various churches of the neigh- borhood, but was a member of none. The grandfather of our subject was a member ' of the Church of England. Robert, who was politically a Whig, served as justice of the peace during his entire active life, and held some office after coming here. He was many years auditor, and because of his excellent handwriting made a most: effi- cient one. He served also as school di- rector, and in all minor offices, except that of constable. John P. McKnight was reared at the old home at Sabbath Rest and attended the lo- cal schools of that locality, and after the war, in 1865 and 1866 attended the acad- emy at Martinsburg. He was a boy when the war was in progress, and had given his father a promise not to enlist until of age. He served in Company E, 104th Pa. Vol. Inf., enlisting for one year or during the remainder of the war, and he served until its close. His company was stationed at Richmond and Petersburg, being at the latter place when Lee surrendered, and af- HISTORY OF BLAIR COUNTY ter the war, they policed Norfolk for some time. He was discharged at Philadelphia August 28, 1865. He then completed his education at the Martinsburg Academy, and for one winter was engaged in carpen- tering. In 1867 he went west prospecting, but worked for a while in Illinois, in Sep- tember of that same year returning to the home place. His- family owned property and he built in Altoona and farmed at the same time, and after his marriage located. on his wife’s property, which is situated in the city of Altoona, and consists of one lot and house. They resided here nine years, and during this entire time he held some township office. About 1884 he located on his present place, which then consisted of two acres and a’blacksmith shop. It was humorously referred to as ‘“Crider’s Forge,” the blacksmith shop and a log house having been built by Jacob Crider. Mr. McKnight has remodeled the house, and now has sixty acres of farm land, which he bought from David Smith. Mr. McKnight was married June 23, 1874, to Grace Matilda Hagerty, who was born in Logan Township, near the limits of Al- toona, and is a daughter of Samuel and Elizabeth Reed (McGlathery) Hagerty. They have three children living and one deceased, namely: Mary E., living at home; Grace, who died aged four years; John Roy McKnight, M. D., an army sur- geon, who attended the local schools of the county, Bucknell University, and Jefferson Medical College, and is now completing an eight months’ government course in Wash- ington, D. C.; and Abram Garfield. The last mentioned, who has charge of tests on gasoline engines for the Fairbanks-Morse Company, attended the local schools and is now taking a night course—the Dominion Commercial Course—at the Toronto Uni- versity at Toronto, Canada. He is an ex- pert machinist and served a four years’ ap- prenticeship at Bellwood, then went to Be- loit, Wis., and entered the employ of the Fairbanks-Morse Company, and when that AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS firm began manufacturing in Toronto, was placed in charge of the tests there. r. McKnight and family are members of the Baptist church, of which he is also one of the board of deacons. He is politic- ally a Republican, and has filled all of the local offices except that of constable. He was for many years a school director and did much for the cause of education, study- ing the conditions and requirements of the schools. He is an avidious reader and an intelligent and well informed man. Mr. McKnight is fraternally a member of the Patrons of Husbandry, Grange No! 664 of Bellwood. He was formerly an Odd Fel- low, and also belonged to Sanford Beyer Post, G. A. R., No. 426, of Bellwood. CLARENCE HAMILTON BOOKS, M. D., deceased. In the death of Dr. Clar- ence Books, at his home at Barbara, Pa., on March 2, 1910, Blair County lost a worthy citizen and the medical profession a skillful and conscientious practitioner. He was born at Roaring Spring, Blair County, Pa., June 9, 1872, and was a son of Abra- ham F. and Sarah (Henry) Books, the lat- ter of whom is deceased. Dr. Books was a self-made man, having made his own way in life from the time he was twelve years old. From boyhood it was his cherished ambition to finally be- come a doctor of medicine, but little en- couragement was given his aspirations and his educational opportunities were con- fined to the public schools of Roaring Spring. At the age of twelve he entered the employ of the P. R. R. Company, and learned telegraphy under Mr. Sam. A. Hamilton of Roaring Spring. He soon be- came an expert in receiving messages, be- ing one of the ablest in the employ of the company. After thirteen years’ service, he left the employ of the company in order to prepare himself for his chosen work in life; and, after doing preparatory work at a Roaring Spring summer normal school and the Uni- . ‘secutive years 833 versity of Valparaiso, at Valparaiso, Ind., he finally entered the University of the South, at Sewanee, Tenn., where he was graduated in the medical department in 1900. He took a special course in operative surgery, and in diseases of children. Coming back to Pennsylvania, he took the State Board examination and located at Mines, where. he built up a substantial prac- tice and at the same time, through a win- ning personality, won many friends. Dur- ing the summer of 1908 he took post-grad- uate work in Philadelphia, but owing to ill health he practiced medicine only a few months after his return. When he found himself in the grip of the “white plague,” he moved from Martinsburg, where he had lived for the past year, to his farm at Bar- bara, where he died on the above men- tioned date. Dr. Books never took any very active part in politics but was a Republican in his views. He was a member of the Church of God, having early in life identified him- self with that denomination. On April 13, 1901, Dr. Books was mar- ried to Miss Nannie J. Nugent, a daughter of Willis J. and Mary (Bolger) Nugent, both deceased, who were former residents of Cherry Tree, Indiana County, Pa. He is survived by his wife and one little daugh- ter, Mary Sarah. JOHN RODGER FRASER, a much es- teemed citizen, who is living in retirement in Juniata, Pa., after years of unceasing ac- tivity in the business world, was for 42 con- in the employ of the Pennsylvania Railroad, and has been a resident of Blair County, Pa., since Decem- ber 29, 1865. He was born June g, 1841, in Glasgow, Scotland, the second child of Alexander and Mary (Logan) Fraser. Alexander Fraser, a netiender and a na- tive of Peterhead, Scotland, was an actor by profession and followed that business during his residence in his native country. In 1848 he brought His wife and son, our 834 subject, to America in a sailing vessel, and located in Tariffville, Hartford County, Ct., until June, 1865, then came to Altoona, Pa. He resided here until his death, which oc- curred some time during the middle eight- ies. His wife, Mary Logan Fraser, was born in Paisley, Scotland, and was a daugh- ter of Thomas Logan, a hand-loom weaver and local preacher. JohnR. Fraser was about seven years old when his parents came to this country, and was reared at Tariffville, Ct., where at the age of nine years, he started to work as a draw boy in a brussels carpet manufactory. He later assisted his father in painting dur- ing the summer months, returning again to the factory in the winter. On April 18, 1861, in answer to the first call for troops, he enlisted as a private in Capt. Jos. R. Hawley’s Rifle Company A, Ist Reg. Ct. Vol., for three months’ service, and was honorably discharged July 31, 1861. After remaining home one month, he re-enlisted in September, 1861, as a private in Com: pany B, 8th Ct. Vol. Inf., for three years, and on April 1, 1862, for meritorious con- duct at Boque Banks, N. C., was advanced to sergeant. In 1864 he re-enlisted. in the same company and regiment and contin- ued in the service until the war closed, be- ing mustered out at City Point, Va., and discharged at Hartford, December 18, 1865. During his entire service he did not miss any of the engagements of his regiment. He was with Burnside in North Carolina, was in the Ninth Corps until the battle of Fredericksburg, and was with the Army of the James. After his return home from the war he was married, on Christmas Day, 1865, and four days later joined his parents in Altoona, Pa. He then engaged in paint- ing between Altoona and Harrisburg for the Pennsylvania Railroad and in Septem- ber, 1866, entered the car shops, where he worked for about four months under Rob- ert Scott. He was then made gang foreman and spent 27 years in the paint shops of the car department, after which HISTORY OF BLAIR COUNTY he entered the machine shops at Juniata, where he continued for 15 years, when he was put on the retired list. It is seldom one undertakes to learn a new trade at the age he did, but he was rated as a machinist when he retired. Mr. Fraser was married December 25, 1865, to Mary Whitelaw, who was born in Tariffville,, Hartford County, Ct., and died March 21, 1907. Of the six children born of this union only two are living: William A., a resident of Pittsburg, and an employee of the Pennsylvania Railroad, who married Annie Fresht, and has three children, Will- iam J., Mary Alberta, and Florence; and Mary, wife of John Hollingshead, who also is in the employ of the Pennsylvania Rail- road at Juniata. Mr. Fraser is politically a Republican and. was for nine years justice of the peace, re- signing from that office after the death of his wife, at which time he also retired from the shops. He was at one time chairman of the county committee, was three years a member of the city committee of Altoona, and was a member of the first select council at Altoona. He was chairman of the high- way committee when the Seventh Street, and the Ninth and Fourth Street bridges were built, and was also a member of the council of Juniata, of which he was presi- dent one year, and was serving when that borough obtained water works. Mr. Fraser has been very prominent in Masonic circles, and highly honored in the lodge. He is a member of the Logan Lodge No. 490, F. & A, M., at Altoona. He was for a number of years correspondent for the Altoona Tribune and also contrib- uted a number of articles under the nom de plume of “Aunt Emma.” Many years after the war, the State of Connecticut gave a medal to the members of the First, Sec- ond and Third Volunteer Regiments, who enlisted in the United States service in re- sponse to President Lincoln’s first call for troops for the defense of Washington, in . AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS April, 1861, and the medal received by Mr. Fraser is treasured most highly by him. HARRY FRANKLIN WALTERS, a member of the bar of Blair County, with offices in the Casanave Building, Altoona, Pa., who has, by force of energetic ‘applica- tion to his profession, acquired a practice that ranks second to none, is a son of Moses and Sarah E. Walters, and was born at Claysburg, Blair County, Pa., October 16, 1869. His parents are both living and‘ re- side at Pleasant Hill, a suburb of Altoona, where his father is a well known gardener, and is also a veteran of the Civil War. After completing his public school course at Altoona, Pa., he registered as a law stu- dent under Thomas H. Greevy and Frank G. Patterson, then composing the law firm of Greevy & Patterson, and was admitted to the practice of his chosen profession in 1894. A short time thereafterwards, viz., in October, 1894, Frank G. Patterson re- tired from the firm of Greevy & Patterson and Harry F. Walters associated himself in the practice of law with Thomas H. Greevy, one of the best known lawyers of the Blair County bar, under the firm name of Greevy & Walters. He continued in part- nership with Mr. Greevy until 1902, and continued to practice alone until 1904, when he formed a law partnership with Jacob Shindel Leisenring, one of the lead- ing members of the Blair County bar, which continued until the death of Jacob S. Leisenring, which occurred in January, 1910. Mr. Walters continued the large practice of the firm as successor to the business and has a large and growing prac- tice in all of the courts of the state and ap- pellate courts, and makes a specialty of commercial law and has established a repu- tation in that branch and is well known throughout the entire United States as a leading commercial lawyer. He is a mem- ber of the Commercial Law League of America, composed of the leading commer- cial lawyers of the United States and is also 835 the member from Biair County of the Pennsylvania Law Alliance, an organiza- tion of leading lawyers of the state, who have banded together for the betterment of the legal profession and to establish a higher code of ethics. Mr. Walters organ- ized the Economy Building & Loan Asso- ciation, one of the leading loan associations of this city, and has been its solicitor since its incorporation in 1895. Politically Mr. Walters is a Republican, but has never sought office and does not take an active part in politics, his large practice requiring all his time and attention. Mr. Walters was united in marriage on September 8, 1897, to Mary Alice Shafer, of the city of Altoona, a daughter of John N. and Ellen Shafer, of this city, who are well known residents of the city. He is a member of the fraternal order of Hepta- sophs and stands very high both person- ally and professionally in the esteem of his fellow members of the bar and his fellow citizens. JOSEPH M. LUPFER, member of the firm of Lupfer & Bower, well known gen-- eral merchants of Bellwood, Pa‘, who on April 1, 1905, succeeded the firm of Ira Wentzell & Company, has been identified with the business interests of this borough since 1889. He was born September 13, 1869, in Huntingdon County, Pa., a son of Joseph M. and Lydia A. (Wentz) Lupfer, the former of whom, a tanner by trade, died in 1875. Seven children were born to the parents of our subject: Maria M., who married C. G. Minick of Ridgeway, Pa.; Daniel A., a resident of Reading, Pa.; Ja- cob W., deceased, who was a resident of Lewiston, Pa.; Ruth E., the wife of W. M. Bower of Bellwood; Frances J., who married N. F. Evans of Loysville, Pa.; Jo- seph M.; and Israel, a resident of Blaine, Pa. Joseph M. Lupfer was reared and edu- cated in Perry County, Pa., where his par- ents located when he was about six years 836 old. After finishing his schooling he taught one term and worked on the farm until 1889. He then came to Bellwood, where he began driving a delivery wagon for Ira Wentzell, and in 1901, after having taken a business course at the Bryant-Strat- ton Business College at Buffalo, N. Y., be- came a member of the firm, which was af- terwards known as Ira Wentzell & Com- pany. On April 1, 1905, Mr. Lupfer formed a partnership with his brother-in-law, William M. Bower, who at that time came from Perry County, and they became suc- cessors to the firm of Ira Wentzell & Com- pany. Lupfer & Bower have met with uninterrupted success, and carry a full line of groceries, dry goods, and general mer- chandise. Mr. Lupfer is a member of the I. O. O. F. and holds membership with the Lutheran church. He has served on the borough school board, and was a member of the board of health five or six years. On June 26, 1895, Mr. Lupfer was joined in marriage with Margaret E. Glasgow, youngest daughter of James P. and Eliza- beth M. (Esterline) Glasgow, and they have one son, James Robert, aged fourteen years, who attends the schools of Bellwood. MORGAN DIVELY, deceased, for many years was one of, the representative men of Greenfield Township, Blair County, Pa., a man of sterling character, honest and upright in all his dealings with his fel- low men, a kind and obliging neighbor and a devoted and considerate husband and father. Mr. Dively was born in Greenfield Township, Blair County, Pa., March 9, 1839, and died on his farm in the same township, July 5, 1906. His parents were Frederick and Barbara (Duncan) Dively. Frederick Dively was born in Greenfield Township, a son of George Dively, who was one of the early settlers in this region and was the founder of a large and highly respected family, one that is connected with much that is important in Greenfield Township. : HISTORY OF BLAIR COUNTY- Morgan Dively attended the district schools in boyhood but as soon as he was old. enough and strong enough, he took his place among the family wage earners and worked on the farm and also in the woods. For a number of years he was engaged in the lumber business and at one time con- ducted a saw-mill on his farm. He owned eighty-four acres of valuable land, which his widow retains and occupies. He was a man of peaceful inclinations but when he felt it to be his duty, he enlisted for service in the Civil War, and faced the dangers and endured the hardships of a soldier’s life for almost a year. He cast his vote with the Republican party but it was from principle, not with any desire for office. He was a man of Christian life, a member of the Re- formed church and his example was bene- ficial:'to his community. On May 6, 1861, Mr. Dively was married to Miss Elizabeth Lingenfelter, who was born in Greenfield Township, July 18, 1842, and is a daughter of George and Barbara (Claar) Lingenfelter, and a granddaughter of Jacob Lingenfelter, who came to Green- field Township from Germany. The Lin- genfelter family is a large and very sub- stantial one of this section. Seven children were born to Mr. and Mrs, Dively, namely: Mary C., who is the widow of Jacob M. Bowser, resides at Hollidaysburg; Stephen S., who lives in Greenfield Township; Lucy, who is the wife of H. E. Stine, of Altoona;' Laura, who resides in Greenfield Township; Charles T., who is a resident of Altoona, is a survivor of the Spanish- American War and saw service in the Phil- ippine Islands; and Alton L. and Logan G., who reside with their mother on the homestead. Mrs. Dively is well known in the township and has a wide circle of friends. She is a member of the Church of the Brethren. THE FIRST NATIONAL BANK of Bellwood, Pa., was organized and began business September 22, 1904, and has made AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS wonderful strides during its five years of existence, having become firmly established high in the opinion of the public. The first president of the institution was Fred Bland, who still continues in that capacity. The vice president originally was Capt. W. H. Jeffries, who was succeeded by W. F. Wag- ner of Coalport, the present incumbent. The first cashier was C. A. Patterson, who soon after was succeeded by C. A. Cunning- ham, who remained but a short time. He was in turn succeeded by Robert L. Scott, who entered upon his duties as cashier of this institution in 1905. He is a man of recognized ability, and previous to taking his present position resided in Philipsburg, Pa., where he received a thorough banking training with the First National Bank. He was subsequently engaged in the coal busi- ness at that place. The First National Bank of Bellwood has prospered greatly during Mr. Scott’s tenure and in 1909 a fine brick building was erected and properly fitted for the conduct of a banking business. The excellent condition of the bank at the close of business September I, I9I0 is shown by the appended statement: Resources: Loans & Investments Overdratts i. esc Sarena Gara U. S. Bonds & Premiums Banking House, Furniture and 241.36 Fixtures “oui dawaseiaeeaneee 15,633.84 Due from Reserve Banks ...... 38,811.72 Cash cintwecrgn et aaa eae se 12,073.46 Redemption Fund with U. S. Treasurer $178,022.59 Liabilities : Capital Stock ...............4. $ 25,000.00 Surplus & Profits ............ 9,451.48 Circulation 1... 0.0.0... 000 00. 20,000.00 DEPOSITS: cewuieracunce eee as 123,571.11 $178,022.59 837 . JAMES CALVIN CRAWFORD, M. D., physician and surgeon at. Tyrone, Pa., where he has been in successful practice since 1905, was born in Sinking Valley, Blair County, Pa., May 26, 1878, and is a son of Dr. Luther F. and Harriet (Bryan) Crawford, and a grandson of Robert and Mary (Fleck) Crawford. James Calvin Crawford attended the pub- lic schools of Sinking Valley until he was twelve years of age, when his parents moved to Tyrone but he remained several years longer with his grandmother in Sink- ing Valley. With the class of 1897 he grad- uated from the Tyrone High School and then entered the Millersville Normal School but shortly afterward, when the call came for troops for service in the Spanish-Amer- ican War, he joined the Sheridan Troop, in 1898, and served until the close of hos- tilities. Dr. Crawford’s father has been prominently identified with the N. G. P., for a number of years and his own connec- tion dates from 1897, and has continued un- til the present, During active service his rank was first sergeant of the troop. In 1899, Dr. Crawford entered Jefferson Med; ical College, Philadelphia, where he was a student until 1904, and was graduated in medicine at the University of the South, at Swansea, Tenn., in 1905, and has been in active practice ever since. He is a member of the Blair County Medical Society and of the Pennsylvania State Medical Associa- tion. His fraternal connections are nu- merous, including membership in Tyrone Lodge, No. 494, F. & A. M. and the Mod- ern Woodmen of America and others. Dr. Crawford was married to Miss Laura K. Beyer, a daughter of the late F. D. and Elizabeth (Blake) Beyer, the former of whom was interested for many years in a planing mill and lumber business, which, since his death in 1907, has been continued by his sons. The mother of Mrs. Crawford died in the fall of 1902. Dr. and Mrs. Craw- ford have four children: James C., born August 28, 1905; Margaret, born May 30, 838 1907; Robert Luther, born July 19, 1908, and Elizabeth Blake, born October 27, 1910. Dr. Crawford~ mairitains his office in his handsome residence which is situ- ated on the corner of Fifteenth Street and Lincoln Avenue, Tyrone. In politics he is a Republican but takes only the interest of a good citizen in political affairs. With his _wife he belongs to the First Lutheran Church at Tyrone. FREDERICK S. WILT,* one of Blair Township’s well known and highly regarded citizens, residing near Newry, Blair County, Pa., where he administers as a justice of the peace, was born in Juniata Township, Blair County, February 16, 1841, and is a son of David Y., and Elizabeth (Stiffler) Wilt. David Y. Wilt spent his whole life in Juniata Township and was a son of Peter Wilt, an early settler. He married Eliza- beth Stiffler, and they had twelve children of whom there are but two survivors: Fred- erick S. and Simon G., the latter of Juniata Township. Four sons were soldiers in the Civil War: Frederick S., Joseph J., Henry M. and John, a notably patriotic family. Frederick S. Wilt enjoyed no other edu- cational advantages than those offered by the district schools. He was reared on a farm but when the time came that he could choose his own career, he learned the car- penter trade and followed it for a number of years and also was in the timber industry, working over great tracts from the cutting of the trees on through their manufacture into lumber and the final sale of the same. Later he engaged in farming in Juniata Township and continued until 1893, when he located in his present home not far from Newry. For ten months of the Civil War he served in the army, enlisting in August, 1862, in Co. I, 137th Pa. Vol. Inf., which be- came a part of the Army of the Potomac. He participated in the momentous battles of South Mountain, Antietam, Fredericks- burg and the Wilderness, vivid memories of which he can recall and wonder again HISTORY ‘OF BLAIR COUNTY and again how he ever escaped to return from such fields of carnage. He has always been something of a leader in public affairs in his neighborhood, wherever he has lived and in Juniata Township served also as a justice of the peace, as a school director, constable and tax collector. At present he is a member of the schoo! board of the borough of Newry and has been president of this body. Mr. Wilt was married first to Miss Cathe- rine Kunsman, who left children as follows: James O., of Duncansville, Pa.; Harry Howard, residing in Juniata Township; Nora, wife of Michael Moyer, living at Newry; and Homer, who is deceased. Judge Wilt was married the second time, in 1877, to Mrs. Sarah J. Weaver, widow of John Weaver, a former resident of Cambria County, and who died while serving as a soldier in the Civil War. Her parents were Peter Burtnett and wife, former residents of Cambria County. They are members of Pine Grove United Brethren Church at Poplar Run and formerly he was a steward in this church. A. J. NORRIS, who is engaged in gen- eral farming on a tract of 92 acres in Wood- bury township, Blair County, Pa., is also ° the owner of a farm of 193 acres in Hunt- ingdon County, Pa., and has been a resident of Blair County since 1888. He was born June 9, 1856 in Huntingdon County, Pa., a son of Isaac and Mary (Showalter) Nor- ris, both of whom were born and died in Huntingdon County, Pa. His father fol- lowed farming all his life in Huntingdon County. He was politically a Democrat and was religiously a member of the Dun- kard Church, as was also his wife. They were parents of the following children: Ellen, deceased wife of Alexander McCall; Nancy, married Samuel Greenwalt, now de- ceased; Elizabeth, married Matthew Mc- Call; and A. J., the subject of this record. The paternal grandfather of our subject RALPH R. WHITTAKER, M. D. AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS was Joseph Norris, and the maternal grand- father was Abraham Showalter. A. J. Norris was reared and educated in Huntingdon County, Pa., and after finishing his schooling, which he obtained in the dis- trict schools, embarked in agricultural pur- suits, first renting the Samuel Royer farm, which is located on Clover Creek in Blair County. He came to-his present farm in 1901, when he bought it from Mr. Hoover, and also owns a fine farm of 193 acres in Huntingdon County. Mr. Norris takes an active interest in the affairs of the Demo- cratic party, and has served as a member of the school board, and is at present a school director of this township. On September 9, 1880, Mr. Norris mar- ried Catherine Saylor, a daughter of John and Elizabeth Saylor, who were agricultur- ists of Huntingdon County, Pa., and parents of the following children: Miles, James, Bell, Jane, Samuel, George and Thomas. The following children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Norris; Florence, who mar- ried John Meech, has three children, Mary, Norman and Roland; Emory O.; Isaac B.; Elizabeth, wife of Charles Mench; Elda, married William Isenberg; and Irvin M. The religious connection of the family is with the Dunkard Church. RALPH R. WHITTAKER, M. D., a well known physician and surgeon of Williams- burg, Pa., has been identified with the medical profession of this borough since March, 1909, and was born November 25, 1879, in Hunt- ingdon County, Pa., a son of William and Caroline (Huyett) Whittaker, and a grandson of Thomas Whittaker. William Whittaker was a native of Hunt- ingdon County, Pa., and a farmer by occupa- tion. His religious connection was with the Presbyterian church, while in politics he was identified with the Republican party. Four children were born to William and Caroline Whittaker: Frederick A., Wilbur H., Mabel Clare, and Ralph R. Mrs. Whittaker was the -mother_of two children by a former marriage 839 with Reuben Oaks, namely: William, and Mary, who is the wife of G. A. Beckley. Dr. Ralph R. Whittaker was reared in his native county, and after a common school edu- cation, attended the Juniata Academy one year, then spent two years at Mercersburg, where he graduated with the class of 1903. His knowledge of the medical profession was obtained at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, and he graduated from same with the class of 1907. He spent one year at the Allegheny General Hospital, at Allegheny, Pa., in general hospital work, then was assist- ant surgeon for the Carnegie steel plant at Homestead, Pa., and since March, 1909, has been located at Williamsburg, Pa., where he is successfully engaged in the general practice of medicine and surgery. On February 24, 1909, Dr. Whittaker was married to Miss Helen Winnifred Ullery, who is a daughter of John C. and Catherine (Pais- ley) Ullery, of Altoona, Pa., and is one of three children born to her parents: John, James, and Helen Me John C. Ullery was a moulder by trade. . Whittaker is a mem- ber of the I. O. O. fr of Williamsburg ;° the Heptasophs, of Huntingdon ; and Juniata Lodge, F. & A. M., of Hollidaysburg. He and his wife are both members of the Presbyte- rian church. WILLIAM L. HICKS, attorney at law, who has been identified with the Blair County bar for twenty-nine continuous years was born at Williamsburg, Blair County, Pa., November 14, 1856, and is a son of John and Nancy (Jones) Hicks. His father for a number of years was en- gaged in building and contracting but later retired to a farm, where his death occurred in 1894, at the age of seventy-one years. His mother passed away in 1904 aE the age of seventy-six years. William L. Hicks was educated in the public schools of Williamsburg and Will- iamsburg Academy and later became a stu- dent in the private school of Prof. J. A. Stewart, where he gave special attention to 840 mathematics and languages. Mr. Hicks then taught school for five years, in Blair and Cambria Counties. In 1878 he entered the office of Attorney H. M. Baldrige and began the study of law and later passed two years under the preceptorship of Hon. J. D. Hicks, of Tyrone, and at the March term of court, in 1882, was admitted to the Blair County bar. He immediately located at Tyrone and with the exception of one year spent at Altoona, has been in continuous practice there ever since. He is a member also of the Superior and Supreme Courts of the state. Mr. Hicks is a valued member of the Blair County and also of the State Bar Associations, his ability and high pro- fessional standing being recognized in both bodies. For twenty-five consecutive years he has been borough attorney of Tyrone. In addition to a large practice he is inter- ested otherwise, being a member of several industrial concerns and is a director of the Blair County National Bank, of which he was one of the organizers. He has taken a very active part in the political affairs of Blair County and in 1899 was elected dis- trict attorney and served in that important office until 1905. He has been identified also with building and loan organizations and was instrumental in the laying out of Northwood, now a part of Tyrone and also of Beaverdale, in Cambria County. Since 1902, Mr. Hicks has maintained his office in the Blair County National Bank Building at Tyrone. In 1881 Mr. Hicks was married to Miss Clara M. Snowden, a daughter of James M. and Mary (Blake) Snowden, the former of whom died recently at Tacoma, Wash. Mr. and Mrs. Hicks have two children: Howard Snowden, who is interested in fruit growing in the State of Washington; and Margaret Blake, who resides at home. Mr. Hicks and family attend the Presbyterian church. MARTIN H. MACKEY*, vice president of the Union Bank of Altoona, Pa., has been HISTORY OF BLAIR COUNTY identified with many of the important busi- ness interests of this city for thirty-seven years and is an honored survivor of the great Civil War to which he gave three- years of his young manhood. He was born at Milesburg, Center County, Pa., March 17, 1832, and is a-son of John and Annie (Fleck) Mackey. The Mackey family originated in Scot- land and from the Scottish Highlands came William Mackey, the grandfather, to the United States and found a home among the early settlers in Path Valley, Franklin County, Pa. With a brother who had ac- companied him from Scotland he served as a soldier in the War of 1812, establishing an honorable military record that was sus- tained by both his son and grandson. Tohn Mackey, father of Martin H., was born in 1802 and survived until 1886, dying at Altoona where he had lived in retirement for some years previously. During the Civil War he served in a regiment of Pennsyl- vania Infantry which participated in the battle of Gettysburg, where he was captured by the enemy and was subsequently con- fined for three months in a Confederate prison. He married Annie Fleck, who was born in 1813, in Center County, Pa., and ‘died in 1846. Two sons and three daughters were born to them. Martin H. Mackey was reared and at- tended school in Center County and there he learned his father’s trade of carpenter. In 1856 he entered into the planing mill and contracting business at Milesburg where he continued until 1862. Civil War was then raging and Mr. Mackey was not lacking: in that true love of country, that noble patriot- ism that swept aside all personal considera- tions and made of the peaceable artisan a determined soldier. He enlisted in the Fed- eral army, becoming a member of Co. F, 148th Pa. Vol. Inf., with the rank of ser- geant and performed every soldierly duty that fell to his lot until the close of the war, when he was honorably discharged, He re- sumed his former pursuits and remained in AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS Center County until 1872 when he came to Altoona and has been a valued and useful citizen here ever since. His interests have mainly been connected with lumber, al- though not exclusively. He is vice presi- dent of the Union Bank of Altoona, one of the soundest and most conservative finan- cial institutions of Blair County. In his political views he is a Republican as was his father before him. Grand Army affairs interest him and he is a member of the Fred. ‘C. Ward Post, G. A. R., No. 468, at Al- toona. Mr. Mackey was reared in the Pres- byterian faith. On October 6, 1857, Mr. Mackey was married to Miss Sarah Swanger, a native of Mifflin County, Pa., and their seven children bore the following names: John A., Harry L., Leroy B., Willis E., Edmund M., Edith G. and Maud M. Of the above family Harry L. is deceased and is survived by a widow who resides. with Mr. and Mrs. Mackey at No. 805 Eighth Avenue, AIl- toona. The surviving sons are all prom- inent business men of Altoona. Leroy B. is a large contractor. Willis E. is an able member of the Altoona bar, with offices in the Central Trust Building. He was born August 26, 1872, was educated in the common and High schools and the Pennsylvania State College and in 1897 was graduated in law at Carlisle, Pa., and in the same year was admitted to the bar. He is a Republican in politics. THOMAS McCAULEY,* deceased, for many years a sterling citizen of Altoona, a’ man of great force of character and for- merly identified with large business enter- prises, came of pioneer ancestry, his father having settled in Blair County when it was little more than a wilderness. Thomas Mc- Cauley was born in 1824, a son of Henry McCauley, and a grandson of an early im- migrant probably from Scotland. The life story of the late Thomas Me- Cauley was that of a poor boy, with abso- lutely no advantages, who, through sheer 841 force of character pushed himself upward until he gained recognition as an equal and even a superior of men who had been given opportunities that he had to fight to secure. In 1854 he came first to Altoona, accepting at that time .a position of foreman in the shops of the Pennsylvania Railroad at this point, and continued there until 1860, when he embarked in business for himself. For several years he owned and operated a planing mill and later was in the steam saw mill business in Clearfield County, and sub- sequently was the moving spirit in other large enterprises. His business faculty was excellent and his judgment usually faultless, but neither were able to. cope with the great financial panic of 1873, and he, with thousands of other men in the business world, was forced to see his ample fortune swept away. He was ever held in- the highest esteem at Altoona and many of the present prospering business enterprises as well as public utilities of the city had his early and practical support. Mr. McCaulev married Miss Ann Ramey, who died in 1886. She was a daughter of Frederick and Martha (Keller) Ramey. Of their children. one son, Herman K. Mc- Cauley is one of the leading citizens of Altoona. He is secretary and treasurer of the Altoona Iron Company, which conducts one of the largest manufacturing plants of the city, and is a stockholder and otherwise is connected with a number of successful - business concerns of this section. DR. BROOKLYN B. LEVENGOOD, a prominent member of the medical profess- ion of Bellwood, Pa., has been a resident of this borough for 22 years, and has been con- tinuously and successfully engaged in the practice of his profession here. He was born June 21, 1868 in Glendale, Berks County, Pa., and is a son of William W. and Matilda (Boyer) Levengood, one of the early families of Berks County, Pa. The mother still survives and is a resident of Pottstown, Pa., and of the four children 842 born of her union with William W. Leven- good three are still living. Dr. Brooklyn B. Levengood was reared in Glendale, and his education was obtained in the common schools and at Arms Acad- emy, and also at the Jefferson Medical Col- lege, from which he graduated in 1889.. He was first associated with Dr. W. Y. Leven- good of Bellwood in the practice of medi- cine and after the retirement of the latter succeeded to his practice and enjoys the confidence and is held in high esteem by his fellow citizens. He has been railroad sur- geon for twenty years, is a member of the medical staff of Mercy Hospital of Altoona, Pa., a member of the County, and State Medical Societies, and a member of the board of Health of Bellwood. He is a mem- ber of the board of directors of the First National Bank of Bellwood and is politically inclined to be independent. His fraternal connection is with the Masonic order, being a member of the Tyrone Lodge No. 494; the Consistory at Harrisburg and the Shrine at Altoona. Dr. Levengood was joined in marriage with Estelle M. Smith, a native of Kansas City, Mo., who came with her parents to Bellwood, Pa., and they have one son, Rodman Whitley Levengood. Bs FRED CLARK FARRAND, D.O., a leading practitioner of the curative system of Osteopathy, located at Tyrone, Pa., was born at Westfield, N. Y., March 1, 1885, and is a son of Nathaniel W. and Florence (Vader) Farrand. Nathaniel W. Farrand, father of Dr. Far- rand, is manager of the Husted Milling Company, at Buffalo, N. Y., which is now the family home. Four children, two of them older than Dr. Farrand, make up the family, the three sisters being: Jennie, who is the wife of Samuel V. Barton, of Pitts- burg, Pa.; and Mabel L., and Mildred E., both residing with their parents. Fred C. Farrand received his early edu- cation in the schools of Geneva, N. Y. and later completed his High School course at HISTORY OF BLAIR COUNTY Buffalo, in 1903. Many circumstances, in- cluding reading and personal experience, led him to enter upon the study of osteop- athy with the intention of making its prac- tice his life work, and in 1903 he became a student in the Union College of Osteopathy at Wheeling, W. Va., where he was grad- uated January 15, 1907. For some months he engaged in practice at Pittsburg but on February 6, 1908, became a resident of Ty- rone, establishing his offices in the First National Bank Building. He has built up a large and lucrative practice and has. met with remarkable success in some cases of long standing as well as those of more or- dinary type. He is a member of the Penn- sylvania Osteopathic Society and is secre- tary of the Blair County Osteopathic So- ciety. Dr. Farrand married Miss Jessie B. Mc- Kinney, a daughter of John G. and Adelaide B. McKinney, and they have one son, Wayne Gray Farrand. Dr. and Mrs. Far- rand are members of the First Presbyterian Church. He is identified fraternally with Allegheny Gateway Lodge, No. 187, Odd Fellows, and Sinking Spring Lodge No. 127, Knights of Pythias, Tyrone. He is not active politically but is interested in all pub- lic matters where, in a professional way, he can be useful or add to the general welfare by good and intelligent citizenship. PROF. H. ATLEE BRUMBAUGH, principal of the Taylor Township, Blair County, High School and supervising prin- cipal of the public schools of Taylor Town- ship, is one of the foremost educators of Blair County, and is a man of culture, high aims and great executive ability. He was born in South Woodbury Township, Bed- ford County, Pa., October 10, 1874, and is a son of John F. and Maggie (Imler) Brum- baugh, both of whom were also born in Bedford County. H. Atlee Brumbaugh enjoyed both com- mon school and collegiate advantages, pro- viding for the latter by teaching school in AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS his native township. He is a graduate of Juniata College, at Huntingdon, Pa. He has effectively filled numerous positions of responsibility as an educator, serving as as- sistant principal of the public schools at Roaring Spring; for one year as principal of the Juniata High School; for two years as principal of the Logan School, at Juni- ata; for one year as principal of the Llyswen School at South Altoona, and in September, 1909, assumed his present. duties. ‘He is essentially an educator and can look back with considerable satisfaction to what he has accomplished along this line. He has other talents also and has become well known as an author, a number of published books standing to his credit, while his mag- azine and newspaper contributions are nu- merous. He has a talent for versifying and, although he does not call himself a poet, his many friends call attention to productions that seem to prove it. Among his published works are the following: Life in Verse, Life in Song, and Tom Marx and Poems. He is a regular contributor to The Inglenook, which is a magazine of merit published by the Brethren Publishing House, at Elgin, Ill., and also to the Sunday-school papers of the same church, of which he is a member. The following is a selection from his writ- ings, which brings comfort and happiiess to all who read and remember it: SUNSHINE AND SHADOWS. Our days sometimes are darkened By clouds that gather low; Some clouds in life must gather, And rainy winds must blow; The nightly shadows whisper: “We will not long remain; So never be discouraged, The sun will shine again. Your light will scatter shadows; This lesson you must heed: You heal a heart that’s wounded, Or help to make it bleed; 843 The winds are softly lisping: “A smile will shine in rain,” The smile that you give daily Will come to you again. Prof. Brumbaugh married Miss Lydia Ebersole, of Bedford County, a daughter of Daniel C. Ebersole of South Woodbury Township, and they have two children: Mabel A. and Harold C. As a citizen he is held in very high esteem at Roaring Spring, which is his place of residence. His friends have put him forward as a candidate for the superintendency of the public schools of Blair County. HERMAN K. McCAULEY,* secretary and treasurer of.the Altoona Iron Company, manufacturers of refined bar iron, has been identified with this important business con- cern ever since his graduation from college. Mr. McCauley is a native of Altoona, born February 6, 1856, and is a son of Thomas and Ann (Ramey) McCauley. The late Thomas McCauley, father of Herman K., was born in Blair County, in 1824,-and was a son of Henry McCauley, one of the early settlers whose parentage was either Scotch or Irish, Scotland and Ireland both having contributed largely to the sturdy class that first invaded this. sec- - tion and, surmounting dangers and difficul- ties, developed its hidden resources. Thomas McCauley located at Altoona in 1854 and spent the remainder of his life here, his death occurring in 1880. He mar- ried Ann Ramey, who survived him six years. Herman K. McCauley was educated in the schools of Altoona until prepared for college and then became a student at La- fayette College, at Easton, Pa., where he pursued the full course and was graduated in 1879. Mr. McCauley is a man noted for his decision of character and this was shown at the very entrance of his business career. Fresh from college and a long period of close attention to his studies, he sought no. ses 844 recreation but almost immediately started to work, accepting a clerkship in the Al- toona Iron Foundry and has been connected with the iron industry ever since. He has climbed step by step, showing efficiency in every department, by 1882 becoming secre- tary of the company and in 1893 was also made treasurer. He is now numbered with Altoona’s representative business men. The Altoona Iron Company was organized in 1872 and incorporated in 1873. It has large resources and its president is John P. Levin, one of Altoona’s capitalists. The plant covers ten acres and is situated at Ninth Avenue and Thirtieth Street, and sev- eral hundred men are employed. Mr. McCauley was married November 4, 1880, to Miss Sadie M. Crawford, a daughter of John Crawford, of Sinking Valley. They have three children: Anna D., Martha and Russell. The family residence stands at No. 1301 Sixth Avenue, Altoona. With his family, Mr. McCauley is a member of the Second Presbyterian Church. In politics he is a Republican. ROBERT L. PIPER, M. D., a prominent physician and surgeon at Tyrone, Pa., and an interested and useful citizen, was born on the old Piper homestead in Bedford County, Pa., on which his great-grand- father, John Piper, had settled and in which he erected what was known 4s Piper’s Fort, a strong building used as a place of refuge from the Indians. The parents of Dr. Piper were James and Lydia (Fink) Piper. The Piper family is one of the oldest in Bedford County. Three brothers of the name came to this section from Ireland and the great-grandfather settled on the farm in Bedford County, now owned by Samuel Piper, a brother of Dr. Piper, in 1770. Here generations of the family have been born and a number of them have become prominent in different walks of life. The grandfather of Dr. Piper was a veteran of the War of, 1812 and a grand-uncle, was a member of the legislature. Dr. Piper is HISTORY OF BLAIR COUNTY one of the following family of children: Ed- ward, who, for thirty years was connected with the Atchison Railroad, now lives re- tired at El Paso, Tex.; William Scott, who died at home when aged twenty-six years; Samuel, who lives in Everett, and owns the old farm in Bedford County; Valentine, who is an engineer on the Great Northern Railroad, lives at Minneapolis; Margaret, who is the widow of Dr. Thomas Rhodes, of Saxton, Bedford County; R. L.; and Mary, who is the wife of James H. Craig, . of Altoona. Robert L. Piper was graduated from the Collegiate Institute, at York, Pa., in 1886, after which he taught school for two years and then entered Hahnemann College, Phil- adelphia, where he was graduated in 1892 and in the same year located at Tyrone. Here he is in the enjoyment of a large practice and has repeatedly been shown the confidence and esteem of his fellow citizens. He is a member of the Blair County Med- ical Society and of the American Institute of Homeopathy and is one of the trustees of the State Homeopathic Society. He is identified also with Tyrone Lodge, F. & A. M., Council, Chapter and Shrine; the Odd Fellows, and the Junior order of A. M. Dr. Piper was married to Miss Maud L. Eberly, who is a daughter of Lee L. Eber- ley, of York, Pa., and they have two chil- dren: Robert L. and Agnes E. The son is a student in the military school at Chester, Pa., and the daughter is a student in a private school.at Tyrone, preparing for col- lege. Dr. Piper and family are members of the Presbyterian church. In politics he is a Republican. The attractive family home is situated at No, 1225 Logan Avenue, Tyrone. E. THOMPSON CLARK,* tax collector of the borough of Williamsburg, and fore- man of the paper mill, was bornMarch17, 1860 in Catherine township, Blair County, Pa., and is a son of John and Mary (Sisler) Clark. JOSEPH B. SNIVELY AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS John Clark was a son of John and Eliza Clark, and during his early life followed farming, but spent the last 25 -years of his life as cashier of the Williamsburg Bank, which was a branch of the First National Bank of Hollidaysburg. He was politically a Republican in early life, and later a Pro- hibitionist, and was a member of the Pres- byterian Church. Six children were born to John and Mary Clark: E. Thompson; Anna, who is the wife of C. T. Witherow; Ida, who married C. C. Clemson; J. Grier; Charles, and Dean. E. Thompson Clark was reared in Cath- - erine township, where he attended the com- mon schools, and later learned the miller’s trade, whlch he followed for 25 years. In 1903 he became identified with the paper mill of Williamsburg, where he is engaged as outside foreman, and is also serving as tax collector of the borough. He is politic- ally identified with the Republican party and has served in nearly all of the town offices. In 1889 Mr. Clark was joined in marriage with Lucretia Moore, a daughter of Elias and Amanda Moore, who also had another daughter, Ola, the wife of Elmer Brua. Mrs. Clark died in 1897 leaving four chil- dren,—Edgar, Ellen, Donald, and Isabel. Mr. Clark formed a second union with Edith Moore, a half sister of his former wife, and a daughter of Elias and Margaret (Stewart) Moore, who were parents of the following — children: Ruth, Clyde, Joseph, and Edith, who is the wife of our subject. Mr. and Mrs. Clark are members of the Presbyterian Church. e 8 JAMES P. FRANCISCUS, one of the leading and representative business men of Tyrone, Pa., and prominently identified with and interested in its progressive commercial activities, is a native of Lewistown, Mifflin County, Pa., and is a son of F. G. and Ellen (Parker) Franciscus. ‘ F, G. Franciscus was born at Baltimore, Md., and died at Lewistown, Pa., in 1900, 845 at the age of seventy-seven years. For fifty-one years he had been in the hardware business, and was a substantial and re- spected citizen of Lewistown. He married Ellen Parker, a native of Mifflin County, who died when her children were small. The two survivors are, James P., and Mrs. Catherine Lindsey, wife of Ellwood C. Lind- sey, of Philadelphia. James P. Franciscus attended Tuscarora Academy and was educated both at Lewis- town and Philadelphia. He then became interested with his father in the hardware business at Lewistown and continued there until 1892, when he established himself in the same business at Tyrone. Owing to the death of his father he and his sister came into possession of his interests and he still carries on the hardware business there. Mr. Franciscus married Miss Mary Wal- lace, a daughter of Rev. R. M. Wallace, formerly pastor of the Altoona Presbyterian Church, and they have two children, Elea- nor and Rodger. In his political views, Mr. Franciscus chooses to be independent. He is a valued member of the Business Men’s Association, is connected with the Improve- ment Building and’ Loan Association of Tyrone and is a member of the Tyrone Club. He is a man of pleasing personality and is recognized by his fellow citizens as one of business qualifications of a high order. JOSEPH B. SNIVELY, proprietor of one of the leading furniture and undertaking es- tablishments of Williamsburg, Pa., is also a stockholder’ and director of the Farmers’ and Merchants’ Bank of this borough, and comes of one of the old established families of the county. He was born August 16, 1849, in Blair County, Pa., and is a son of David and Hannah (Bayer) Snively, who were also na- tives of Blair County. The family originally came from Germany and was established in Blair County more than one hundred years ago, the old homestead, which has been in the 846 family for 115 years, having been purchased from a Capt. Phillips. David Snively was a son of Jacob Snively, and was a farmer and miller all his life. He was politically an adherent of the Republican party. He and wife were members of the River Brethren church. Of his union with Hannah Bayer were born the following chil- dren: Susan, deceased; Joseph. B.; Eliza- beth, wife of William Lower; Sarah, de- ceased; Barbara; George; Jacob, deceased; Hiram, deceased; Catherine, wife of Walter Worley; and Myra, who is the wife of George Batzell. Joseph B. Snively was reared to manhood and educated in the county, and became a miller by trade, having followed that business for a number of years. Since June 14, 1898, he has been proprietor of his present furniture and undertaking establishment, which occupies three ground floors and two rooms upstairs. In March, 1868, Mr. Snively was united in marriage with Miss Sarah Henderson, a daugh- ter of George and Jane (Roller) Henderson, who were well known farmers of Blair County, and of their union were born the fol- lowing children: David R.; Cora; Howard O.; Gertrude, who is the wife of Anderson Fay; Frank Melvin; and Daisy. Mr. Snively is politically a Republican and has served one term on the town council, and one term as supervisor. JOSEPH U. BLOSE, M. D., whose suc- cess as a physician and skill as a surgeon has advanced him to the front rank among the professional men of Central Pennsyl- vania, has been actively engaged in medical practice at Altoona since 1886, coming to this city with six years of professional ex- perience behind him. He was born in North Mahoning Township, Indiana County, Pa., October 3, 1856, and is a son of William and Elizabeth (Shaw) Blose, and a grand- son of Michael Blose. William Blose was born in Armstrong County, Pa., January 21, 1825, and was a son of Michael and Sarah (Wangaman) HISTORY OF BLAIR COUNTY Blose, who were natives of Germany. In’ 1850 William Blose moved to North Ma- honing Township, Indiana County, where his subsequent life was spent, agriculture being his occupation. During the last year of the Civil War he served honorably as a soldier, being a member of Co. B, 67th Pa. Vol. Inf. He married Elizabeth Shaw, who was brought from Ireland by her father, Thomas Shaw, and was reared in Arm- strong County. To them were born chil- dren as follows: Calvin; Dr. Daniel A., who graduated from the Lewisburg University and later took a theological course at Au- burn Seminary and became a clergyman; Joseph U.; William T.; Dr. James Miles, who graduated from Oberlin University and later became prominently identified with one of the most noted musical colleges of the United States; Benjamin F.; Sarah, who married Phineas Work; Jennie, who mar- ried Henry Knauf; and Ella, who married Charles Perritt. Joseph U. Blose remained at home dur- ing his early school period and later took a classical course at Glade Run Academy in Armstrong County, after which he became a student of medicine in the office of Dr. John W. Morrow, a prominent physician and leading public man of Indiana County. On February 26, 1880, Dr. Blose was grad- uated from the Columbus Medical College, at Columbus, O., and in 1895 took a post- graduate course in the Ohio Medical Uni- versity at Columbus. Prior to coming to Altoona on November 15, 1886, Dr. Blose practiced for two years at Pine Flats and for four years at Cherry Tree, Pa. He has identified himself with all the leading med- ical organizations of the country and has been admitted to membership in the Al- toona Academy of Medicine and Surgery, the latter being an organized body of trained scientists. He is a member of the staff of the Altoona Hospital, Surgeon to the Mercy Hospital, and has served on the city board of health. He is ex-President of Blair County Medical Society. In his JOHN WILSON AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS political preferences he is a Republican. Personally he is a man of courteous and dignified address, and aside from his pro- fession as well as in this connection, has al- ways commanded the respect of his fellow citizens. Dr. Blose was married in 1875, to Miss Lillie T. C. Brown, who is a daughter of the late Gen. Samuel C. Brown, who was a distinguished officer in the Civil War. Dr. and Mrs. Blose had four daughters: Edith Edna, Tina Marie, Ethel, and Helen. Helen died October 27, 1905. Edith Edna married Robert L. Gamble, a business man of Altoona, and Tina Marie married Robert Lingenfel- ter. Ethel is still at the home. Tina Marie Blose Lingenfelter is still director of the well known Blose orchestra. Dr. Blose maintains both his home and office at No. 401 Howard Avenue, Altoona. The relig- ious connection of the family is with the Episcopal Church. JOHN WILSON, proprietor of the Cen- tral Hotel, at Tyrone, Pa., conducts a first class hostelry and takes that personal inter- est in his guests that makes them feel at home and inspires the feeling that makes many of them return to his hospitable roof whenever opportunity offers. Mr. Wilson belongs to one of the old families of North- umberland County, England, where he was born March 20, 1857. His parents were James and Hannah Wilson, plain, quiet, in- dustrious people who lived useful lives and died with the respect and esteem of all who had known them. By a remarkable coinci- dence, they both passed away on the same day, in 1896, at the same age, both having been born in 1812. Of their nine children there are.three survivors: William, a resi- dent of Luzerne County, Pa.; Thomas W., a resident of Northumberland, England; - and John, of Tyrone. John Wilson remained in England until 1881, when he came to America and for about two years was engaged in coal min- ing at Plymouth,Luzerne County, Pa.. In 847. 1883 he went to Houtsdale, in the Clearfield County mining district, and again engaged in mining and continued in that industry for some twenty-two years longer. He was the proprietor of the Imperial Hotel at that place for nine years and then came to Ty- rone and took charge of the Central Hotel, which he has successfully conducted ever since, having been in the hotel business for fifteen years. He is known all through this section and he is one of the most personally popular hosts inthe city. In 1889 Mr. Wilson was married to Miss Jane Smiles, a daughter of Matthew Smiles, of Houtsdale, and they have had six chil- dren: William S., Joseph, Helen, Mary, John, and David Black, the last named be- ing accidentally killed by a fall from a wagon, in Tyrone. Mr. Wilson is a. Repub- lican but official life presents no temptation to him, his business affairs and family and social interests absorbing his time. He is identified with Clearfield Lodge, B. P. O. E. GUY H. SMITH, a progressive and suc- cessful farmer of Frankstown Township, Blair County, Pa., who is the competent manager of all of the home farm of 250 acres which is tillable, was born on this place, January 10, 1871, and is a son of Will- iam C. and Angeline (McKenzie) Smith. William C. Smith, who is one of Franks- town’s substantial men, owns 577 acres of valuable land in this township, of which he is a native, born here in September, 1846. His parents were Samuel and Elizabeth (Brotherlin) Smith, the former of whom was born in Frankstown Township in 1817. Samuel Smith was a farmer all his life and was one of the reliable and responsible men of his day and was made financial agent for the Government in handling funds in rela- tion to drafted men during the Civil War. He was a staunch Presbyterian and a liberal] member of the church. The Smith family came originally from Scotland and in the person of James Smith, settled in Blair County in 1787. 848 William C. Smith attended the district schools and spent one term at:Juniata Acad- emy, and then turned his attention to farm- ing and became interested also in the saw- mill industry. Industry and good judgment have been elements in bringing about his financial independence, while honesty and probity have made him a citizen worthy of the high esteem in which he is held by his fellow citizens. Like his father and grand- father, he is a member of the Presbyterian church. In 1869 he married Angeline, a daughter of Hamilton and Angeline Mc- Kenzie, who came, from Beaver County, ‘Pa., to Blair County, in 1865. Mr. and Mrs. McKenzie had the following children: Cor- nelia, who is the widow of Thomas Jackson; Margaret, who is the wife of W. J. Moore; Anna, deceased, who was the wife of Will- iam Wilson; Alvin and Thomas, both of whom are deceased; Emeline, who is the widow of M. M. More; James, and Ange- line, who is Mrs. Smith. Mr. and Mrs. Smith have two sons: Guy H., and Samuel Chester, both being farmers. Guy H. Smith was educated in the public schools and at Dickinson Seminary, at Will- iamsport, Pa., for one term, after which he went into the grocery business at Altoona, where he continued for six years. He then became interested with his father in buying timber and manufacturing lumber, sawing for the railroads. In 1907 he took upon himself his present responsibilities and since then has confined himself closely to agri- cultural activities. On September 18, 1901, Mr. Smith was married to Susan Olive Stewart, who is a daughter of Angus and Ruth (Robinson) Stewart, and they have one son, William Stewart. Mr. and Mrs. Smith are members of the Presbyterian church at Hollidays- burg. In politics he is a Republican. He served two terms acceptably to his fellow citizens in the office of tax collector and one term in that of mercantile appraiser. HISTORY OF BLAIR COUNTY WILLIAM. ROBISON FINDLEY, M. D., deceased, one of the earliest and one of the most eminent physicians of Altoona, Pa., was born at Lewistown, Pa., October (2, 1811, and was a son of Joseph and Mar- tha (Robison) Findley. The family is of Scotch-Irish extraction and was founded in America as early as 1740. William Robison Findley was given many educational advantages, receiving instruc- tion in the classics from Rev. James S. Woods, and in mathematics from Dr. James Telfer, both noted educators of that time. Later he read medicine with Dr. Edmund Burke Patterson, of Lewistown, and from under his care entered the University of Pennsylvania, where he received his degree. In 1831 he began his practice of medicine, selecting villages which seemed to offer good fields for professional work, his first choice being Manor Hill, in Huntingdon County, and later Williamsburg and Frankstown, Blair County. When Dr. Findley came to-Altoona in October, 1858, its business men boasted of its population of 4,000 and did not hesitate to predict that it would contain 7,000 in- dividuals at some time within the period covered by their natural lives. The present city, with its population of between 40,000 and 50,000, its teeming marts of trade, its magnificent business structures and almost palatial homes, its great transportation fa- cilities, its temples of religion and its beau- tiful school buildings—none of thé optimists of 1858, even in their wildest dreams ever imagined it. In this promising little town Dr. Findley established himself permanently and he lived to see much of the growth above indicated and bore no small part in bringing about many of the conditions which now prevail. Particularly was he in- terested in the progress and development of medical knowledge and was one of the organizers and an officer in the Union Med- ical Society which drew its membership from Blair and adjacent counties. He was one of the promoters of the Altoona Hos- - AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS pital. In early days he was a Whig and later a Republican. For many years he was active in Masonry and attained a high degree in the fraternity. He was asso- ciated with the leading men of the city and county in many public ways. Dr. Findley was married January 12, 1837, to Miss Elizabeth Fleming, and they reared a family of children, of which the following is a brief mention: Two of the sons—William M. and Thomas F.—became physicians. Another son, James Woods Findley, was for many years cashier of the Union Bank (as now named) and was also largely interested in building and loan as- sociations, being treasurer of several. He was also prominent in church work as a member of the Broad Avenue Presbyterian Church, serving many years therein as trustee. The two surviving children are Alexander T. and Mary E., the latter of whom resides at Hagarstown, Md. Alexander T. Findley, above mentioned, was born at Frankstown, Pa., September 4, 1846, and after completing his school atten- ‘dance learned the machinist’s trade, at which he has worked since 1868, being con- nected with the Pennsylvania Railroad shops. His church relations are with the Second Presbyterian Church of Altoona, Pa. He married Miss Lavinia G. Wallace and their comfortable home is situated at No. 1223 Eighth Avenue, Altoona. In pol- itics Mr. Findley is a Republican. WILLIAM HARRISON FLENNER, one of Tyrone’s best known citizens, who has maintained his home here for twenty- eight years, has been in the fire insurance business since May, 1896, and is very active in Grand Army affairs, being a surviving officer of the great Civil War. He was born at Huntingdon, Huntingdon County, Pa., May 11, 1839, and is a son of Capt. John and Eliza S. (Rettew) Flenner. Captain John Flenner was born near Huntingdon, Pa., December 25, 1809, and died in Huntingdon County, May 2, 1894, 849 aged eighty-four years, four months and seven days. His father was a Revolution- ary soldier. Indians were still numerous in Huntingdon County that early in the cen- tury, and a brother of Captain Flenner, Samuel Flenner, was killed by a savage while stooping over a spring to drink. He owned 1,200 acres of valuable land iri Texas. Captain Flenner was a shoemaker by trade. He became a man of wealth and public im- portance in Huntingdon and served as coun- cilman, burgess, assessor, street commis- sioner, poor director and county com- missioner. On August 1, 1862, he enlisted as first lieutenant, of Co. H, 5th Pa. Vol. Inf., for service in the Civil War, and in less than three weeks was commissioned cap- tain. He participated in the battles of An- tietam and Chancellorsville and received a thigh wound in the latter engagement, but served until the expiration of his term of enlistment, when he was honorably dis- charged. Capt. John Flenner was married to Eliza Rettew, on April 10, 1831, who died May 28, 1885, aged sixty-nine years and five months. She was a useful member of the Baptist church, with which she had been connected from girlhood, and at the time of her death was president of the Ladies’s Aid Society of that body. The following chil- dren were born to the parents of William H. Flenner, namely: Mrs. Mary C. Africa, who resides at Washington, D. C.; Mrs. Emma Thompson, who lives at Bristol; Farman, who was an apprentice in the office’ of the Monitor, at Huntingdon, and at the time of his accidental drowning in the Rays- town Dam, in 1871, was eighteen years of age; William H.; and John R., who is a resident of Huntingdon. William Harrison Flenner was educated in Prof. Hall’s private school at Huntingdon and later became a student in the Moores- ville Collegiate Institute. Through William Lewis and his estimable wife he became .in- terested in printing offices and was con- nected with Mr. Lewis in this line for some 850 years. He taught school for a considerable period, twenty-four terms_ in Huntingdon County, three terms in Oneida Township, three terms in Porter Township, four terms in Franklin Township, two terms in War- rior’s Mark Township, four terms in Jack- son Township, nine terms at Birmingham and one at Huntingdon. During all this time he was accomplishing much in the way of literary composition, being correspond- ent for the following newspapers: the Shir- leysburg Herald, the Philadelphia Press and other journals and it was while en- gaged thus that he received a pass to an execution for a capital crime, the execution taking place at Huntingdon. Mr. Flenner was recognized as a young man of brilliant parts at that time and the position of clerk to the board of county com- missioners was offered him; this he did not accept, but at the opening of the Civil War he was serving as tax collector. When Captain Miller, an old veteran of the Mex- ican War, started to raise a company in answer to the first call for troops, he offered Mr. Flenner the position of third sergeant in the organization, which became Co, D, sth Pa. Vol. Inf. The other officers were Col. R. P. McDowell, Lieutenant Colonel Benjamin C. Christ and Major R. Bruce Petrikin. This company was discharged July 25, 1861, and Mr. Flenner then re- turned home and shortly afterward was ap- pointed recruiting officer for Co. H, 125 Pa. Vol. Inf., r2th Army Corps. Mr. Flenner and his father went out in the same com- pany, the latter as first lieutenant and later became captain. Mr. Flenner was ap- pointed sergeant-major of the regiment. He went to Washington and thence to Vir- ginia with recruits, afterward, until the close of the war, serving in every rank up to the captaincy. After he returned to Hunting- don County he practiced dentistry having learned the profession previous to enlisting in the army, and continued in the practice of that profession for thirty years. Shortly after the close of the Spanish-American HISTORY OF BLAIR COUNTY War he sold out his professional interests and by order of his physician, sought an occupation less strenuous than dental sur- gery. On August 20, 1861, Mr. Flenner was married to Miss Amanda Jane Mattern, who was born January 5, 1845. The father of Mrs, Flenner was George W. Mattern, who, for very many years was a prominent and useful citizen of Pennsylvania. He was a son of Jacob and Jane (Wareham) Mattern, and was born March 14, 1810, on the old Mattern homestead at Seven Stars, in Franklin Township, Huntingdon County, Pa., and whose death occurred when he was aged ninety years, three months and five days, on June 20, 1900. He was a prac- tical and successful farmer and owned large estates. He was a stanch Republican from the organization of that party and: formerly had been a Whig and took a very active in- terest in both State and National affairs. His recollections of early days in Spruce Creek Valley, when game abounded and pioneer conditions prevailed, always claimed attentive listeners when his stories were told. He frequently spoke at the family reunions, which are a regular feature of the Mattern kindred, and his death was sin- cerely mourned by his many descendants although he had long passed the accorded years of the Psalmist. He was a member of the Lutheran church for seventy-two years and for fifty-three years was an officer in the same. He was thrice married; first to Miriam Stevens, second to Jane Mc- Pheran, and third to Nancy Haugh, and he was the father of a number of children. The survivors of the second marriage are: Mrs. Flenner and John S., who resides, on the old homestead at Seven Stars. The mother of these chlidren died August 15, 1872. Other survivors of the Geo. W. Mat- tern family are: Mrs, Elizabeth Shoup, of Lorain, O.; Mrs. Alexander Bob, of Mar- tinsburg, Pa.; and Jeremiah C., of Holli- daysburg, Pa. To William H. Flenner and wife the fol- AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS lowing children have been born: Albert Wareham, married Carrie Fisher, in 1893, is a partner in the Flenner & Caldwell Shoe Store, Tyrone, and has five children—Rob- ert Wareham, Albert Lawrence, Miriam, Donald and Elizabeth; Clarence Lincoln, who was born March 8, 1865, died February 8, 1884; Harry Rettew is asmachinist resid- ing at Bellwood; Lulu Lillian, who died July 30, 1909; Bertha Alberta, who is the widow of Frank Murphy, who was accident- ally killed on the railroad, has one daugh- ter, Florence; Jennie McPheran, who died September 28, 1891; Anna Mattern, who is the wife of Arnold R. Rhodes and they have two. children—Lillian and Ruth; George Stewart, who is a train director with the Pennsylvania Railroad, married Verna Caldwell and they have three children— Madeline L., Helen B. and Gerald S.; Mary Orabel, who is the wife of P. D. Wilson, who is clerk to the trainmaster at Tyrone, of the Pennsylvania Railroad; Desina Ruth, who died September 16, 1905; and Arthur Raymond, is a student at Tyrone. William H. Flenner is a Republican in his political sentiments and at present is serving in his fourth term as assessor. When he first came to Tyrone he was offered one of the public schools but he declined the honor as he had made up his mind to leave the educational field, in which, however, he had been unusually ‘successful. He is identi- fied with the D. M. Jones Post, No. 172, G. A. R., at Tyrone and belongs also to the Sons of Veterans. WILLIAM HENRY McGARVEY, who has been engaged in gardening and fruit growing on his present place in Logan Township, Blair County, Pa., for the past 26 years, was born January 10, 1844, on the farm adjoining his present place, and is a son of William and Mary (Grey) McGar- vey. William McGarvey, grandfather of subject, who came from Lancaster County to Blair County at an early period, was the first of the family to locate in this county. 851 . William McGarvey, father of subject, was born in 1821 on what was known as the Christy farm, west of Altoona, Pa., and spent his entire life in this county. He fol- lowed the trade of a hatter and tailor in Hollidaysburg for many years, but subse- quently bought a farm of 130 acres in Lo- gan Township, where he engaged in agri- cultural pursuits until his death, which oc- cured April 8, 1901, when he was 83 years of age. He was.an active Democrat, but later became a Lincoln Republican, and fin- ally a strong Prohibitionist. Mr. McGar- vey was united in marriage with Mary Grey, who was born and reared in Blair County, Pa., and was a daughter of James and Jane (Cuningham) Grey. Her father came from Lancaster County, Pa., and bought and located on the farm in Logan Township on which our subject was born. He subsequently located on a farm above and adjoining this farm, and there spent his declining years. There were six daugh- ters and three sons born to William and Mary McGarvey: Anna (Wicker), is a res- ident of Altoona; William Henry; Or- lando, is a resident of Eldorado; Jennie (Farley) resides in ‘Logan Township; Nancy (Robertson) is a resident of Al- toona; John lives on the old home place; Adda (Clapper), resides in Eldorado; Fan- nié (Brown), resides in Altoona; Louisa (Smull) is also a resident of Altoona, Pa. William McGarvey was a member of the Baptist church of Altoona. William Henry McGarvey was reared and educated in Logan Township, and has always made a specialty of gardening and fruit growing, including a variety of vege- tables, celery, cherries, plums, apples, peaches and grapes. He both wholesales and retails his produce, making two trips a week and often daily trips to Altoona, where he finds a ready market for his goods. He has resided on his present place since 1884, and has made all of the improvements and erected all of the buildings, including his fine two-story brick residence. 852 On December 25, 1873, Mr. McGarvey was married to Carrie Wilson, who was born in Frankstown Township, Blair County, Pa., and of their union were born three children: Mary, married Albert Rhodes, of Altoona, and is the mother of three sons, Charles, Walter, and Luther; Stella; and William, who married Ella Gotschal, and is a resident of Altoona. Mr. McGarvey holds membership with the Baptist Church of Altoona, and in politics, is identified with the Republican party. ANDREW OBER, a well known citizen of Juniata Township, Blair County, Pa., and owner of a well improved farm of 100 acres, has resided here since 1892, and was born May 15, 1848, in Fayette County, Pa., a son of John and Julia A. (Zimmerman) Ober. John Ober was born in Bedford County, Pa., and was a son of Henry Ober, who was of German extraction. John Ober was a plasterer by trade and in early man- hood removed to Fayette County, where he followed his trade in connection. with farm- ing the remainder of his life. ‘The mother of our subject was also a native of Pennsyl- vania. Andrew Ober grew to man’s estate in Fayette County and obtained his education in the local schools of that county. When young he learned the plasterer’s trade, which he followed successfully for many years, but since coming to Blair County, in 1892, has devoted his entire time to agricul- tural pursuits, and is the owner of a fine farm of 100 acres. On January 15, 1878, Mr. Ober was mar- ried to Jennie Francis, and of their union were born three children: Alice, married James C. Diehl, of Blair County, Pa.; Francis, and Nellie, both residing in Juniata Township, Blair County, Pa. Mr. Ober is a man of public spirit and enterprise, a friend to the public schools and education in general, and is ever ready to aid in the promotion of those measures which tend toward the advancement of the community HISTORY OF BLAIR COUNTY in which he lives. He is a member of the Poplar Run Grange, the P. of H., and in politics, is independent, although inclined towards prohibition. WILLIAM L. LOWRIE, M. D., a prom- inent physician and surgeon at Tyrone, Pa., where he is also an active and interested citizen, was born at Warrior’s Mark, Hunt- ingdon County, Pa., and is a son of Jona- than R. and Mary (Lyon) Lowrie, and a membér of an old and distinguished family of this state. The great-grandfather of Dr. Lowrie .was Joseph Lowrie, a native of Scotland, who was a pioneer in Butler County, hav- ing settled for a brief period previously in Sinking Valley, Blair County. Among his sons was Walter Lowrie, who was born in Scotland and lived to attain great distinc- tion in his adopted land. He was eight years old when his parents.came to Amer- ica and was reared in Butler County, Pa. He served as a member of the United States Senate and for eleven years after the termination of his term, served as sec- retary of the senate. The larger part of his life was passed in Butler County but some years before his death he removed to the city of New York and there filled the office of secretary of the Board of Foreign Missions. Jonathan R. Lowrie, father of Dr. Low- rie, was born in Butler County but spent a large part of his life in Blair County, where he was one of the early and leading mem- bers of the bar. In 1848 he was married and in 1854 moved to Warrior’s Mark. His death occurred in 188s, at the age of sixty-three years. William L. Lowrie pre- pared for college at Birmingham and then entered Williams College, in Massachu- setts. His medical education was pursued in the University of Pennsylvania, where he was graduated in the class of 1883. He located first at Mapleton Depot, in Hunt- ingdon County, and engaged in practice there from 1883 until January, 1887, when AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS he came to Tyrone, where he enjoys a large and lucrative practice and occupies a foremost place in his profession. He is identified also with financial and other busi- ness interests here but: his personal atten- tion is confined to his professional duties. He is a member of the Tyrone Medical Club, the Blair County Medical Society, the Pennsylvania State Medical Association, the American Medical Association, and the Railway Surgeons Medical Association. In 1887 Dr. Lowrie was married to Miss Bertha G. Finney, at Potts Grove, Pa. Her father was the late Rev. H. G. Finney, a well known Presbyterian clergyman, who died in May, 1910. Dr. and Mrs. Lowrie have three children: Mary L., Sarah F. and William. The beautiful family resi- dence is situated at No. 861 Washington Street, Tyrone, Pa. R. W. SHOENFELT, owner of a foun- dry and machine shop at Williamsburg, Pa., was born March 20, 1869, in Blair County, Pa., and is a son of John and Maria (Whittaker) Shoenfelt. John Shoenfelt followed milling during his early life, but later engaged in farming in Blair County. His marriage with Maria Whittaker re- sulted in the following issue: James; Sarah, who is the wife of H. D. Brum- baugh; Harry; R. W., subject of this rec- ord; Ellen; Margaret; Jennie, who is the wife of D. D. Detwiler; Charles; Irwin; Carrie; Homer; Susan; and Elmer, de- ceased. John Shoenfelt was politically a Republican, and was religiously a member of the Reformed church, his wife being a member of the Progressive Brethren church. R. W. Shoenfelt obtained his educational training in the common schools of the county, then learned pattern making in the shops at Hollidaysburg, Pa., and subse- quently followed his trade at various places until 1908. At that time he purchased a foundry and machine shop at Williamsburg from William Leisig. This was shortly af- 853 terward destroyed by fire, and replaced by | a more modern shop, where Mr. Shoenfelt carries on a general foundry work in con- nection with the manufacturing of mine car castings. He employs about three men the entire year. On March 6, 1895, Mr. Shoenfelt married Blanch Carney, who is a daughter of Sam- uel and Charlotte Carney, well known resi- dents of Hollidaysburg. She has four sis- ters: Anna, Delia, Rebecca, and Irene. Three children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Shoenfelt, namely: Lottie, J. Lee, and Ethel, the last mentioned being now deceased. Mr. Shoenfelt is politically a Re- publican, and the religious connection of the family is with the Baptist church. CHARLES B. CLARK, a representative citizen of Altoona and a prominent member of the Blair County bar, was born in Trum- bull County, O., January 1, 1854, and is a son of Warren and Clarissa (Eno) Clark. Warren Clark was born in Trumbull County, on the old Clark estate, in 1826. The family is of Scotch-Irish ancestry and of Pilgrim stock. The great-grandfather, Giles Clark, was a pioneer from Connecti- cut to Ohio in 1801, and secured large tracts ‘of land in Trumbull County, on which his son, Henry Clark passed his life and his grandson and great-grandsqn were born. Warren Clark remained in Trumbull County until 1870, when he moved to Mich- igan, where he lived for four years and then returned east and took up his residence at Blairsville, in Indiana County, Pa. In 1887 failing health caused him, to remove to Florida, where he resided until 1890, when he returned to Pennsylvania and became a resident of Altoona, where he died January I, 1909. On July 3, 1851, he married Clar- issa Eno, in Trumbull County, Ohio. She died in 1889 at Starke, Fla. Charles B. Clark obtained his education in the public schools of Ohio and afterward, for some years, engaged in teaching, in Ohio, Indiana and Pennsylvania, and while 854 so occupied, made use of his leisure time in studying law and with such success that he was admitted to the bar of Indiana County, Pa., on September 13, 1880. For one year he practiced law at Blairsville and then ac- cepted a clerical position with the Pennsyl- vania Railroad Company at Altoona and continued to perform its duties for the next four years. In the meanwhile he had made many friends in this city and decided to make it his home, and in October, 1885, was admitted to the bar of Blair County, and also to the Supreme Court of the state. In addition to attending: to a large practice, giving special attention to Building and Loan Association law, Mr. Clark has been interested in publishing directories of dif- ferent sections, in 1886 and until 1895, issu- ing directories of Altoona and Johnstown, and in 1888, of Beaver Falls and the Lower Beaver Valley. In politics he is a Repub- lican and has always taken an interest in public affairs and not without reason has had some political aspirations. He has pos- sibly inherited some of the independent spirit of his old Puritan forefathers. and oc- casions have arisen when he has refused to submit to the dictation of party managers, against his conscientious scruples, and thus has failed in securing party support for nom- ination to office. He was a delegate, how- ever, to the Pennsylvania Republican State -Convention in 1908. In the swing of the circle the time may come when the ideals of Republicanism that he cherishes may be the main party issues. , Mr. Clark was married on December 13, 1877, to Miss Hallie I. Johnson, a daughter of Michael Johnson, of Westmoreland County, Pa. Two daughters were born to them, Nellie and Stella Mabel, the latter of whom died when aged four years. The former is the wife of Capt. W. G. Reed, of Blairsville, an officer in the Pa, N. G. Mr. Clark owns the valuable corner property on Fifteenth Street and Eleventh Avenue, on which his residence stands, in addition HISTORY OF BLAIR COUNTY to a number of houses and lots in other parts of the city and suburbs. H. S. GURD, proprietor of a general store and one of the leading business men of Will- iamsburg, Pa., was born in 1865, at Jefferson- ville; N. Y., and is a son of Thomas and Han- nah Gurd. Thomas Gurd was born in England, and since coming to this country has been a res- ident of New York state. There were five children born to Thomas and Hannah Gurd, namely: Frances, who is the wife of Henry Stephenson: Elizabeth, who is the widow of a brother of Henry Stephenson; Mary and Guy. H. S. Gurd obtained a common school edu- cation and at the age of seventeen years began learning the tanner’s trade, which he followed until 1905, when he came to Williamsburg, Pa., and purchased his present store from the Eastep Norris Company. He has since been sole proprietor of the business and is recog- nized as one of the successful business men of the borough. He is affiliated with Lodge No. 29, F. & A. M., of Moorefield, W. Va., and in politics is identified with the Republican party, being now one of the school directors of the borough. In 1891 Mr. Gurd was joined in marriage with Miss Carrie Weaver, who is a daughter of Ferdinand and Anna Weaver of Williamsburg. The following children were born to her par- ents: Charles; Orlando; James; Ferdinand; Maud, who is the wife of Henry Gurd, a cousin of our subject; Jesse; John; Leona, who mar- ried Henry Good; and Carrie. .Three children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Gurd: Verna, Hazel and John. HON. WILLIAM F. HILLER, for- merly burgess of Tyrone, Pa., and a repre- sentative citizen of the borough, was born here, May 28, 1856, and has been in busi- ness since boyhood. His parents were John A. and Margaret (Braun) Hiller. John A. Hiller was born in Germany and came to America and located at Pittsburg, Pa., in 1848, coming from there to Tyrone, in 1855, where he followed his trade of har- H. 8. GURD AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS nessmaker until 1900, when he retired. His death occurred January 4, 1910, when he was aged eighty years, five months and four days. He married Margaret Braun, who was born also in Germany and died on her sixty-fifth birthday, February 7, 1892. Of their children three daughters and one son survive, namely: Wilhelmina and Hen- rietta, both of whom reside at Tyrone; A. Mary, who is the wife of John E. Bottger, of Fort Wayne, Ind.; and William F. William F. Hiller was born in the year following the location of his parents at Ty- rone and later obtained his education in the Tyrone schools. When old enough to learn a trade he entered his father’s shop and worked at the saddlery business until 1892, when he went into insurance and real es- tate dealing, with which line he has remained connected ever since. In addition to his im- portant interests in this direction he has others and is president of the W. E. Hoff- man Co., milk, bakery, ice and ice cream; is vice president of the Central Building and Loan Association of Tyrone; is presi- ‘dent of the Harrison Mutual Burial Asso- ciation, arid is president of the local board of fire underwriters at Tyrone. For many years he has been active in politics, voting with the Republican party, and has served as tax collector, as a member of the board of health and as burgess, in all capacities proving his worth as a sterling citizen. In 1892 Mr. Hiller was married to Miss Sarah E. Valentine, a daughter of Cyrus Valentine, of Altoona, and they have had eight children born to them, namely: Es- ther and Margaret, twins, John A., Fred- erick V., William F., Helen, Anna and Karl Edgar. Mr. Hiller and family are members of the English Lutheran church. Frater- nally he has been interested in several or- ganizations and an official in these for many years, being a member of Sinking Spring Lodge, No. 127, Knights of Pythias, of which he has been treasurer for twenty years; a member of Good Will Council, No. 42, Jr. O. U. A. M., at Tyrone, of which he 855 has been treasurer for twenty-five years, and a member of the Tyrone Castle, No. 79, K. G. E.; and also a member of the Volun- teer Fire Department. AUGUSTUS G. MYERS, whose valu- able farm of about eighty-four acres is sit- uated in Taylor Township, Blair County, Pa., is a highly respected citizen of this sec- tion, in which he has lived since 1906. He was born in Bedford County, Pa., March 30, 1859, and is a son of Henry B. and Maria (Mock) Myers. Henry B. Myers and wife were members of old Bedford County families of German extraction. They remained in Bedford County until 1872, when they moved into Blair County, where the remaining years of their lives were spent. Augustus G. Myers was thirteen years old when his parents came to Taylor Town- ship, Blair County, and he has lived in this township ever since. He is largely a self made man, through industry and good judg- ment having gained a foothold as to ’ma- terial things and through honesty and good will having secured a wide circle of friends. | He settled on his present farm in 1906 and has been carrying on general agriculture here with a success that speaks well for his methods of farming. On October 13, 1886, Mr. Myers was married to Miss Rachel. E. Clapper, who was born in Bedford County, Pa., a daugh- ter of Samuel and Susan (Garver) Clapper, and a granddaughter of John Clapper and of John Garver, who were early settlers and responsible men in Bedford and Blair Counties. Samuel Clapper was born in Bedford County and died December 7, 1905, at the age of 72 years. His widow, who was born in Blair County 70 years ago, still survives. Five children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Myers: Harry B., Pearl S., Elmer B., Carl P. and Ruby A. All survive except Carl P., who died June I, 1895, at the age of one year. Mrs. My- ers is a member of the Brethren church. 856 Mr. Myers casts his vote with the Demo- cratic party. JOHN GRANT ANDERSON, general manager of the Tyrone and Williamsburg Paper Mills of the West Virginia Pulp and Paper Company is one of the leading busi- ness men of Tyrone, Pa. He was born in Coshocton County, O., October 29, 1863, and is a son of Dr. John and Anna (Steven- son) Anderson. Dr, John Anderson was born in Ohio in 1817, and died in Coshocton County in 1888, where he had practiced medicine for a number of years. He married Anna Stev- enson, who was born in Maryland and died in Coshocton County, O., in 1878, aged fifty-one years. Of their family of seven children, one son died in infancy and three sons and three daughters are living. Sarah is the wife of Joseph K. Cass, of Tyrone. Annie M. is the wife of Samuel Irvine, of Pittsburg. Ida M. is unmarried and re- sides at Tyrone. Leroy K. is a paper sales- man in business at Chicago. -Charles E. ‘is in the drug business at Coshocton, O. John Grant completes the family. John G, Anderson was educated in the Coshocton schools and graduated from the Coshocton High School in 1880, after which he completed a business course in a com- mercial college and in 1881 he entered the employ of the well known paper firm of Morrison, Cass & Co. This subsequently became the Morrison & Cass Paper Com- pany, which now operates under the style of the West Virginia Pulp and Paper Com- pany. In 1890, Mr. Anderson came to Ty- rone as secretary and treasurer of the Mor- rison & Cass Paper Company and since its consolidation has been general manager of the West Virginia Pulp and Paper Com- pany’s Tyrone and Williamsburg mills. Mr. Anderson was reared in the Presbyte- rian faith. He is a Republican in his ‘polit- ical views. HISTORY OF BLAIR COUNTY S. F. HETRICK, who is now living in retirement at Williamsburg, Pa., is vice president of the First National Bank of this borough, and is also the owner of two fine farms in Woodbury Township, Blair County. He was born January 4, 1840, in Morris Township, Huntingdon County, Pa., and is a son of John and Catherine (Focht) Hetrick, who were prominent farmers of Huntingdon County. The father was polit- ically a Democrat and he and his wife were both members of the Lutheran church. They were parents of the following chil- dren: S. F., the subject of this record; Margaret, who is the wife of John Plum- mer; Mary, who married John L. Miller; Elizabeth, the wife of Frank Brennaman; Susan, who married William Morgan; and David M. S. F. Hetrick was reared and educated in his native township, then engaged in agri- cultural pursuits until about 26 years of age, after which he was employed in vari- ous ways for about two years. He ran a hucksters wagon to Altoona for three years, then was unable to work because of illness for about three years, and subsequently ran a boarding house for 4 time. He again re- turned to farming, renting a farm in Cath- erine Township for five years, after which he purchased a farm in Woodbury Town- ship. about four miles south of Williams- burg. This he operated for 20 years, mak- ing many improvements on it, including the erection of a fine modern home. He sub- sequently purchased another tract of farm land in Woodbury Township, residing upon and farming it for nine years, and in 1908 came to Williamsburg, where he purchased property and has since been living here in retirement. He still owns his two farms and although retired from business activ- ities, is engaged in shipping grain on a small scale. Mr. Hetrick is politically a Republican, and his religious connection is with the Lutheran church. Mr. Hetrick was married January 18, 1866, to Maria Nancy Biddle, who is a AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS daughter of Jacob and Susan Biddle, and is one of the following children born to her parents: Melinda; Caroline; Maria Nancy; Gilbert; and Andrew. Mr, and Mrs. Hetrick have reared the following children: Frances Marrion; John C.; Walter B.; Elmyra B., wife of Vance Craig, deceased; and Oscar B. CHARLES McCLELLAND WAPLE, the genial and popular proprietor of the ‘Ward House, one of the leading hostelries of Tyrone, Pa., was born at Salem Church, _ Clearfield County, Pa., December 29, 1863, and is a son of Thomas and Maria Waple. Thomas Waple was born in Virginia. He is a blacksmith by trade but now lives retired at Phillipsburg, Pa., being in his sev- enty-fifth year. He married a lady of Clear- field County and they had two children: Charles McClelland and Lillie, the latter of whom is the wife of Amos Owens, of Clearfield. Charles M. Waple was reared in Clear- field County and obtained his education in the public schools of Bigler. On June 26, 1880, he came to Tyrone and for seven years following had charge of the finishing de- partment in a tannery at this place. In 1887 he went into the hotel business, taking charge of the Pennsylvania House at Ty- rone and conducting it for some five years. In 1893 he changed to the Central Hotel, which he successfully conducted for eleven years and then went to Phillipsburg, where he had charge of the Potter House for five years. In May, 1910, Mr. Waple came back to Tyrone, where he has a host of friends, and purchased the lease of the Ward House. Since taking charge he has spared no ex- pense in renovating the whole building and not confining his efforts to the inside. The beautiful cement walks around the hotel make an exceedingly attractive relief for the stately building which has between eighty and 100 rooms and all of these have been equipped with appropriate comforts -and conveniences, from the office to the 857 servants’ quarters. It is conveniently lo- cated near the station of the Pennsylvania . Railroad and the cuisine is kept up to the highest mark. It is Mr. Waple’s aim to make this a favorite stopping place for trav- elers, transients, tourist parties and perma- nent guests, giving them assurances and proof that this is a pleasant home for any length of time. Mr. Waple is a member of all leading fraternal organizations. In politics he is a Republican and has served two terms as a member of the Tyrone town council as he was also of the Phillipsburg council. He takes an intelligent citizen’s hearty interest in county politics. In 1884 Mr. Waple was married to Miss Margaret Troutwine, and they have three living children: Walter, who is proprietor of the Potter House at Phillipsburg; Charles, who is a student at Susquehannah University; and Catherine, who attends the public schools at Tyrone. Mr. Waple is a man who stands high socially and other- wise, is of unimpeachable business integrity. His fame as a host extends all through Cen- tral Pennsylvania. ALEXANDER DYSART MORROW, who has been a resident of Tipton, Pa., for the past seventeen years, was prior to that living in Sinking Valley, Tyrone Township, Blair County, Pa., and was born there April 18, 1844, a son of Matthew and Ellen (Dy- sart) Morrow. Robert Morrow, great-grandfather of our subject, was of Irish descent and was one of the ‘pioneers of Sinking Valley, having come from Path Valley, and was living here as early as 1783. He died in Tyrone Town- ship in 1810. Robert was father of two sons and one daughter—Robert, grandfather of our subject, lived in Tyrone Township; James, who also lived in Tyrone Township, died in 1841; and Rebecca, who married James E. Stewart of Tyrone Township. The farm settled upon by Robert Morrow is now owned by one of his descendants, Miss 858 -Margaret Morrow. Robert Morrow, grand- father of subject, married Margaret Moore, a daughter of Joseph Moore, who resided some years on the Robert Morrow farm, where he was several time obliged to de- fend his home from the Indians. He died in 1807. Robert Morrow was father of the following children: Robert, George, John H., Matthew, Joseph, Samuel—all of whom resided in Blair County—and Rebecca, who married Joseph K. Orr of Sinking Valley; and Nancy, well known in the valley, who died May 21, 1885. Matthew Morrow, father of Alexander D., was born in Tyrone Township in 1814, and lived in Sinking Valley until 1869, when he left the farm and located at Tipton. He some time later bought three lots and the house where our subject now lives from Capt. Elliott, and retired except from the banking business. inal stock holders and organizers of the Altoona Bank, now the Central Trust Com- pany, and was one of the original directors. His son, Robert P. Morrow, now deceased, was the first cashier of this bank. Mr. Morrow continued his connection with the bank until his death in September, 1893. Matthew Morrow married Ellen Dysart, -who was born in Sinking Valley, a daugh- ter of Alexander Dysart, and died January g, 1871. The following children were born of their union: Margaret, died November 24, 1871, aged 30 years; Alexander Dysart, subject; John MHarvey, lives in Tama County, Iowa; Robert R., died in July, 1873, aged 24 years; William G., died at Tipton, lived some years in Colorado; Ella V., died August, 1880, aged 24 years; and Ann, who died aged one year. Mr. Mor- row was politically a Republican, and served in various local offices. He was a member of the Presbyterian church. Alexander D. Morrow was reared on the home place in Tyrone Township, and ob- -tained his education in the local schools and at Elders Ridge Academy, where he attended a short time. He remained on the He was one of the orig-- HISTORY OF BLAIR COUNTY home place until August 18, 1861, when he enlisted for service in the army in Com- pany G, 11th Pa, Cav. He served three years with that company mainly in Vir- ginia and North Carolina, his company bearing the envied reputation of being the best drilled cavalry regiment in service. He was mustered out in August, 1864, at Jones’ Landing, and has a relic of a spur, taken from a wounded prisoner, whom he carried on horseback before him. After his father left the farm and moved to Tip- ton, Mr. Morrow conducted the place for twenty-five years, and in the spring of 1894, ran for sheriff on the Republican ticket, and was offered the nomination the following term, but did not care to accept it. He then came to Tipton and has since added four lots to his father’s old place here, and sold the farm to Lawrence Pagin. Mr. Morrow was married March 11, 1869, to Alice Tussey, who was born in Canoe Valley, Huntingdon County, Pa., a daugh- ter of Robert and Dorothy (Harnish) Tus- sey. John Tussey, great-grandfather of Mrs. Morrow, was the first of the family to come to Pennsylvania, and located in Harts Log Valley, below Alexandria, in Hunting- don County. He was the father of three children, David, John B. and Mary. David, grandfather of Mrs. Morrow, was born near Alexandria in 1783, and was 21 years of age when he moved to Canoe Valley. He mar- ried Elizabeth Means, a daughter of Hughey and Margaret (Dean) Means, the latter also coming of one of the oldest fam- ilies of Huntingdon County. The Deans suf- fered considerable loss of property and rel- atives through the Indians. Robert Tissey was born January 30, 1816, in Canoe Val- ley, and was reared on the home farm. He was married February 6, 1840, to Dorothy Harnish, who was born December 15, 1814, a daughter of Samuel and Susannah (Kel- ler) Harnish. Robert Tussey always lived in Canoe Valley, where he farmed exten- sively, and also dealt in cattle, supplying the people of that community with beef AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS and fresh meats. He was the father of the following children: William H., deceased; Susannah, married William Irwin of Phil- lipsburg; Samuel C.; Mary E., deceased; Elizabeth A., wife of subject, born March 1, 1847, and died January 27, 1904 (she is buried in Arch Spring Cemetery) ; David F., deceased; Lydia Laura, married William Isett and lives in Philadelphia; Anna Caro- line, married George Moore of Altoona; Robert J., lives in Alexandria; and Lillian M., who teaches in the schools of Altoona. Christian Harnish, grandfather of Mrs. Tus- sey, came from Berks County, Pa., where his grandfather had settled in 1800, to Hunt- ingdon County, and bought 1,000 acres of land in what is now Morris Township. Mr. and Mrs. Morrow had the following children: Frank Tussey, who was born April 23, 1870, is a member of the Blair County bar, but is not engaged in practice on account of ill health. He read law with Craig & Bowers of Altoona, and also at- tended the Carlisle Law School and at Dover. Edith Bell was born September 1, 1871, and died June 3, 1904. Ella Kate was born March 2, 1873, and died June 10, 1873. Samuel B. was born July 11, 1874, and died April 4, 1880. Mary M. was born May 7, 1876, and is a graduated nurseof the Nason Hospital at Roaring Spring, Pa. Rachel Harnish, who was born November 20, 1877, is a trained nurse, and a graduate of the Philadelphia Children’s Hospital. Alice Elizabeth, who was born February 26, 1879, was married June 15, 1910, to J. W. Shoen- felt of Altoona. She is a graduate of the Normal School and taught- some time in Bellwood. One son born July 10, 1880, died unnamed. Dorothy, who was born July 9, 1882, is a graduate of Millersville School and teaches in Bellwood. Alex- ander Dysart, Jr., born October 27, 1885, died December 9, 1905. Mr. Morrow is politically a Republican, although inclined to be independent. 859 HON. JOHN HOWARD GRAZIER, burgess of Tyrone, Pa., as well as a leading business man of the place, belongs to one of the old and representative families of Blair County. He was born in Sinking Val- ley, Blair County, Pa., January 17, 1863, and is a son of Joseph B. and Mary (Webb) Grazier. Joseph B. Grazier was born in Hunting- don County, Pa., and was brought to Blair County when a small boy. He followed an agricultural life and died on his farm situ- ated near Tyrone, in 1879, at the age of six- ty-three years. He married Mary Webb. who was born in York County, Pa., and was brought to Blair County in infancy. Her death occurred at Tyrone, when aged seventy-five years. Of the eleven children born of this marriage, two died in infancy, the others being as follows: Cynthia, who is now deceased, was the wife of G. W. Swayne; Albert, who is a resident of Al- toona; Kate, who is the wife of G. W. Bur- kett, of Altoona; Frank, who lives at Ty- rone and follows the carpenter trade; Ellie, who is the wife of H. M. Stover, of War- rior’s Mark, Huntingdon County; Alice, who is the wife of H. C. Stine; James B., who is a member of the firm of Grazier Bros. & Stine, of Tyrone;- Priscilla, who is a resident of Altoona; and John Howard, who is the youngest of the family. John Howard Grazier was educated in the public schools and Birmingham Semi- nary, attending until he was twenty years of age, after which he alternated working . on the home farm and teaching school for four years. In 1888 he came to Tyrone and went into the hardware business and has been identified with the same ever since, first under the style of Grazier Brothers and later as Grazier Bros. & Stine, being the head of the firm. Mr. Grazier has been much more than a successful business man. He has interested himself in public mat- ters and has frequently been called on by his fellow citizens to take charge of impor- ~~ tant affairs and on each occasion has ac- 860 quitted himself with credit. He served as a member of the borough council for four years and during two years of this period was the president of that board, and in Feb- ruary, 1909, he was elected burgess. His administration of this office has been en- tirely in the interests of the public, no pri- vate concern ever enjoying special privi- leges or receiving favors. While he is nom- inally a Democrat, he is disposed to give political support occasionally to candidates, irrespective of party, whose past record as well as present availability, meets with his approval. In November, 1899, Mr. Grazier was married to Miss Olive M. Grammer, a daughter of A. J. Grammer, of Newark, N. J. They have four children: Allen, Jo- seph, Clara and John. Mr. Grazier is a member of Allegheny Gateway Lodge, No. 187, I. O. O. F., at Tyrone. He is a mem- ber of the Presbyterian church, in which he is serving as an elder. SOLOMON S. LAYMAN, deceased, for many years was a successful agriculturist of North Woodbury Township, Blair County, Pa., and later a valued citizen of Martinsburg, in which borough his long and useful life closed, on November 23, 1907. He was born November 7, 1832, in Taylor Township, Blair County, and was a son of John and Mary Layman. Three of his brothers still survive, namely: Jacob and William, both residents of North Wood- bury Township; and Samuel, living at Dal- las Center, Ia. Solomon S. Layman spent his whole life in Blair County. Farming and stock rais- ing were the main interests of his manhood and thereby he accumulated a comfortable fortune. In later years he retired to Mar- tinsburg and during his years of residence there took an interest in public matters and at times cheerfully accepted citizenship re- sponsibilities. Previous to moving to the borough he had many times served in town- ship offices and afterward became a mem- HISTORY OF BLAIR COUNTY ber of the borough council where his expe- rience and sound judgment made him valu- able as a public official. He was a Repub- lican in his political views but he was a broad-minded man and never permitted his private sentiments to dominate his official acts. He was a member of and a deacon in St. Matthew’s Evangelical Lutheran Church at Martinsburg. ; On January 27, 1868, Mr. Layman was married to Miss Mary A. Brown. She was born November 14, 1842, and now resides in a handsome home at Martinsburg. Her parents were Daniel and Susan (Ling) Brown, both of whom were natives of Bed- ford County. When she was nine years old the family moved to North Woodbury Township, Blair County, where the parents subsequently died, and there she was reared and educated. Of the children of Daniel and Susan Brown, the following survive: Mary A.; Jeremiah, who resides at Ros- well, New Mex.; Hannah, who is the wife of Benjamin Newcomer, of Curryville, Pa.; Isaac C., who lives at Martinsburg; Heze- kiah, who is a resident of Pittsburg; Cath- erine, who is the wife of Jacob Law, of Cur- ryville; George F. and Daniel, both of whom live at Martinsburg; Susan, who is the wife of George Burket, living at Mar- tinsburg; and Martha, who is the wife of S. S. Rhodes, of Curryville. To Solomon S, Layman and wife six chil- dren were born, namely: Emma, who is ‘the wife of Rev. John Furry, of North Woodbury Township; Mrs. Minnie C. Al- len, who lives in North Woodbury Town- ship; Annie, who is the wife of William Tipton, of North Woodbury Township; W. Roy, who lives in North Woodbury Town- ship; Homer B., who is in business in Pitts- burg; and Effie M., who is now deceased. This family has long been active and inter- ested in the work of St. Matthew’s Evan- gelical Lutheran Church, and belong also to the social circles which give and accept neighborly hospitality. AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS WILLIAM F. TAYLOR, J. P., one of Tyrone’s best known citizens, to which place he came in 1875, has ever since been identified more or less with business inter- ests here and for twenty-three years has served in the office of justice of the peace. He was born at Milesburg, Center County, Pa., November 6, 1848, and is a son of Thomas B. and Livan (Lucas) Taylor. Thomas B. Taylor was born in Hunt- ingdon County, Pa., a son of John Taylor, moved to Center County when a young man and died there in 1888, at the age of eighty-two years. He spent his active years working as a forgeman in the McCoy & Lynn Iron Works at Milesburg. He was married first to a Miss Brooks and five chil- dren were born to them, namely: Jose- phine, who married Alfred Green, for- merly of Altoona but now of Kansas; Sam- uel B., who resides in Clearfield County; Thomas T., who is a retired citizen of Al- toona; Harriet, who is the wife of Wilson Hahn, of Philadelphia; and Maggie, who is the wife of Abram Peters, of Eureka, Kans. Thomas B. Taylor married Livan Lucas for his second wife. She was born in Center County, Pa., and survived until December, 1908, having reached her nine- ty-second year. She was a daughter of John Lucas, who lived at what is now known as Snow Shoe. Four children were born to the second union, namely: Will- iam F.; Agnes, who was the widow of John Grant and later married L. H. Fowler of Berwick, Pa.; and Lyda and Florence, both of whom reside at Milesburg, in Center County. William F. Taylor attended the Miles- burg schools in his youth and afterward worked for a time at the cabinet-making -trade, following which he engaged in clerk- ing both at Milesburg and at Hopewell, in Bedford County. After coming to Tyrone he entered the employ of the firm of Van Valzah & Wilson and continued as a clerk with that house until 1880 and for the suc- ceeding five years was in the furniture busi- 861 ness for himself. In 1887 he was elected a justice of the peace and appointed register of vital statistics and has been busy with official duties ever since. On February 13, 1873, Mr. Taylor was married to Miss Emma Haupt, a daughter of Samuel and Eliza (Auchmoody) Haupt, of Union County. Five children were born to this marriage, as follows: Vema, who is the wife of Rev. J. Max Lantz, pastor of the Methodist Episcopal church at Spring Mills, Center County, and they have four children—Richard T., William, Emily and Elizabeth; Edna, who is the wife of Robert A. Zentmyer, a civil engineer at Tyrone, and they have two children—Roberta and Rebecca; John V., who is a clerk in the su- perintendent’s office of the Pennsylvania Railroad Company, married Ora Keynote; William F., who is bookkeeper for the West Virginia Pulp & Paper Company, married Maud Mackey and they have two children —Edna and Sarah; and Mabel, who is en- gaged in the millinery business with the firm of Grazier & Taylor, and resides at home. Mr. Taylor and family are members of the Methodist Episcopal church. The pleasant family home is situated at No. 1230 Washington Avenue. In politics Mr. Tay- lor and sons are Republicans. All have lit- erary talent to a marked degree and Judge Taylor and two of his sons are newspaper correspondents, his own letters appearing in the Mirror; those of John V., in the Tri- bune, while William F., Jr., contributes to the Times. FRANK J. F. CONFER, who has been a member of the legal profession of Altoona, Pa., since 1902, was born in that city in 1878, a son of Capt. F. P. Confer, who for the past twenty-five years has been living in retirement in Altoona. Capt. F. P. Con- fer was born in 1836, in Blair County, near the Y Switches and there he in later years conducted a hotel. He also conducted very successfully the old Confer Hotel, which was very popular among the railroad men of 862 that day. After taking up his residence in Altoona he operated the old Model Gro- cery for some time. He is a veteran of the Civil War, having served as captain of Com- pany G, 1st Pa. Reserve Cavalry. Frank J. F. Confer was reared in Altoona and educated in the public schools. He also attended Cornell University and Notre Dame University, graduating from the lat- ter in the class of 1897, but continued his studies at this institution by taking a post- graduate course in 1898. In 1902 he was admitted to the bar and has since that time been actively engaged in the practice of the law in Altoona, in all the state and federal courts. Mr. Confer is solicitor for the Anderson Paper & Twine Company of Al- ‘toona. Fraternally, Mr. Confer is a mem- ber of the Order of Eagles and of the Blair County Bar Association; religiously, he holds membership with St. John’s Catholic Church. A. J. DETWILER, who operates a plant in Huston Township, Blair County, Pa., for the manufacture of various grades of lumber, and also nail keg staves, is one of the leading citi- zens of Williamsburg, Pa., and was born July 14, 1884, in Woodbury Township, a son of John and Emma -(Enyeart) Detwiler. The father still resides in Woodbury Township, is politically a Democrat, and holds membership with the Brethren church. He married Emma Enyeart, who died in 1900, and they had six children, namely: Laura, wife of Joseph Lan- dis; A. J., subject of this record; Jesse M., Mary, wife. of Jonas Baker; George and Emma. A. J. Detwiler was reared in Woodbury Township and obtained his education in the common schools and at Juniata College, where he was in attendance for two years. He then taught school one term in Catherine Township and one term in Woodbury Township, since which time he has been engaged in the manu- facture of lumber and nail keg staves. He em- ploys ten men at the plant in Woodbury Town- ship, and about sixty additional men at various HISTORY OF BLAIR COUNTY other plants and manufactures about fifty car loads of material per month, disposing of the lumber to the railroads and mines, and market- ing the staves to the various steel companies. Mr. Detwiler was married October 31, 1907, to Miss Anna Senora Bolton, the second daugh- ter of Jacob and Hannah (Reiff) Bolton, who reside at Collegeville, Montgomery County, Pa. Mrs. Detwiler has two sisters, Stella and Viola. One son and one daughter have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Detwiler, Howard Bol- ton and Gladys. They are both members of the Church of Brethren. Mr. Detwiler is in- dependent politically. JAMES C. McCONAHY, a representa- tive business man of Tyrone, Pa., engaged as a shoe merchant, was born at Lewis- town, Mifflin County, Pa., March 18, 1860, and is a son of James E. and Sarah (Bearly) McConahy. , Both parents of Mr. McConahy were born also at Lewistown, where his mother died when he was but twenty months old. The father, James E. McConahy, engaged in the blacksmith business at Lewistown. He was a veteran of the Civil War, in which he served for four years and during this period was wounded and also incarcerated in Libby Prison. His death occurred on May 17, 1893. To his first marriage, with Sarah Bearly, three children were born: William B., a machinist living in Philadelphia; Ja- cob, an engineer, living at Camden, N. J.; and James C. James E. McConahy mar- ried Jennie Walls, of Mapleton, Hunting- don County, Pa., for his second wife and five children were born to them: Bertha, who is the wife of Edward Dysart, of Mapleton; Frank, who is a railroad man; Mary, who is the wife of Frank Brown, of Mt. Union; Juniata, who is the wife of Ed- ward Foster, of Mapleton; and Grace, de- ceased, who was the wife of Frank Moore. James C. McConahy was afforded the usual term in the public schools but he was only fourteen years of age when he started to work at the shoemaking trade and A. J. DETWILER AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS worked on the bench in a shoe shop at Lew- istown for three and one-half years, after which he operated a shoe shop of his own at Mapleton for several years, and for a short time at Huntingdon. In 1881 he came to Tyrone and for one year worked at his trade but in 1882 again went into business for himself, at his present stand, on the corner of Logan Avenue and Four- teenth Street, where he has continued for twenty-eight years, his being one of the landmark business houses of this section of the city. When he started it was necessar- ily in a very modest way, but he laid his foundations carefully and through honesty, industry and fair dealing has built up a large and. prosperous business and now is the oldest exclusive shoe merchant in the city. He has additional interests, and is a member of the Tyrone Business Associa- tion and of the Tyrone Board of Trade. In 1882 Mr. McConahy was married to Miss Anna Chandler, a daughter of George A. Chandler, of Newton Hamilton, Mifflin County, Pa., and eleven children have been born to them, as follows: Harry E., who is bookkeeper for the firm of Templeton & Co., married Bernadine Sweeninger, and they have one child, James S.; Bessie A., who lives at home; N. C., who is engaged in the real estate and insurance business at Tyrone, married Alice Port, and they have one little daughter, Anna; Carrie B., who is the wife of C. F. Zerby, of Scranton and James C., John Raymond, Ruth Ann, Russell S., Gerald William and Mary; and one who is deceased. Mr. McConahy and family are members of the Methodist Epis- copal church. He is interested in the Y. M. A. A. and is serving as first vice president of the organization. He is identified with the Odd Fellows, the Royal Arcanum and several other bodies of like nature. In pol- itics he is a Democrat. D. M. REPLOGLE, manufacturer of Magnolia flour and custom and merchant miller and also dealer in general merchan- 863 dise, is one of the leading and enterprising business men of Drab, Pa. He was born in South Woodbury Township, Bedford County, Pa., September 30, 1870, and is a son of Isaac B. and Mary B. (Miller) Rep- logle. . Isaac B. Replogle and wife were both born in Bedford County, and they now re- side at New Enterprise. The paternal grandfather was Rev. John B. Replogle, whose father, Daniel Replogle, was born in Germany and was a pioneer settler in Bed- ford County. Rev. John B. Replogle was a minister in the German Baptist church, in which his son Isaac B. was a deacon and of which his grandson, D. M., is a member. D. M. Replogle was reared to man’s es- tate in South Woodbury Township and there attended the public schools. . Prior to his marriage he followed farming on the home place and afterward engaged in the same industry for himself until the fall of 1900, when he came to Blair County and started his milling enterprise, and opened his store on April 1, 1907, and in the same year was appointed postmaster at Drab. He is one of the town’s busy and public spirited men and is interested in everything that promises to build up this section which he has chosen for his home. Mr. Replogle was married to Miss Mary J. Greenwalt, a daughter of the late Sam- uel Greenwalt, a former prominent resident of Woodbury Township. Mr. and Mrs. Replogle have had six children, as follows: Charon S., Earl D., Vera M., Bertha M., Ada F., and Nancy M. Mr. Replogle gives political support to the Democratic party. GEORGE WASHINGTON BURKET, M. D., the oldest practicing physician in Ty- rone, Pa., was born at Smicksburg, Indi- ana County, Pa., March 4, 1832, and is a son of Jacob and Catherine (Miller) Bur- ket. Jacob Burket, father of Dr. Burket, was born in York County, Pa., July 28, 1879, and died at Brookville, Jefferson County, 864 Pa., July 26, 1880. He removed from York and settled in Sinking Valley and then moved to Indiana County in 1831, and in 1844, to Brookville, in Jefferson County. He was engaged in the mercantile and other lines of business until retiring from active life. Jacob Burket was thrice married and he was the father of numerous children. The mother of Dr. Burket bore the maiden name of Catherine Miller. She was born August 23, 1811, and died at Brookville, April 12, 1884. George W. Burket obtained his early ed- ucation in the district schools and Brook- ville Academy. He read medicine in the office of Dr. George Watt, of Brookville, and graduated at the Cleveland, O., Med- ical College, in the class of 1857. His first location for practice was at Elderton, Arm- strong County, where he remained for ten years. In 1867 he took a course in Belle- vue Hospital, New York City, graduating in the same year and immediately after- ward coming to Tyrone, where, for forty- four years he has been in continuous prac- tice. Although the practice of medicine is acknowledged to be one of great nervous as well as physical strain, Dr. Burket has met its demands for over a half century, with- out any diminution of his mental powers and with remarkably few tokens of advanc- ing age. Here and there a careful observer may find a few gray hairs but his whole appearance suggests one many _ years younger. In the autumn of 1856, Dr. Burket was married to Miss Nancy Burket, a daughter of Major John Burket, of Center County, Pa. Dr. Burket’s office and residence are located on the same site on which he first settled in 1867, this home being a landmark with the older residents, who have many times enjoyed a gracious hospitality here. Dr. and Mrs. Burket are members of the Methodist Episcopal church at Tyrone, of which he is a trustee and to which he has always given generous support. His pro- fessional affiliations include membership in HISTORY OF BLAIR COUNTY the Blair County, Pennsylvania State and the American Medical Associations. He is identified also with Tyrone Lodge, No. 494, F. & A. M.,-at Tyrone. Dr. Burket is one of Tyrone’s most substantial and most highly esteemed citizens. WILLIAM H. MARKLEY,* - senior member of the firm of Markley & Louden, real estate and insurance dealers of Al- toona, Pa., has been a resident of this city for the past 32 years and was born in 1857- in Juniata County, Pa. William H. Markley grew to manhood in Juniata County, Pa., later removed to Perry County for a time, and in 1878 came to Altoona, where the first two years he spent as a clerk in a store. He then oper- ated a general store with considerable suc- cess for 12 years, and for the past 18 years has been engaged in the real estate busi- ness, having been the first man in Altoona to take out a license for that business. The present firm of Markley & Louden, which was established in 1905, deal extensively in Florida lands and for the past ten years have also carried on a-large fire insurance business. Mr. Markley is a man of public spirit and enterprise and has served two terms on the city council, and was assessor three years. He is a member of the Lutheran church, and is fraternally a Knight Templar, a Ma- son and a Shriner. In 1887 Mr. Markey was joined in marriage with Sarah L. Law, who was born and reared in Altoona, Pa., and of their union has been born one son, Raymond, who is a student at Gettysburg College. LEWIS B. WEBER, whose well culti- vated farm of 122 acres is situated in Hus- ton Township, Blair County, Pa., was born June 18, 1856, in Clearfield County, Pa,, and is a son of George J. and Elizabeth (Zilliox) Weber and a grandson on the maternal side, of Godfrey Zilliox, who was an old resident of Clearfield County. Both AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS parents of Mr. Weber were born in Ger- many and came to America with their par- ents in their youth. Lewis B. Weber was reared in Clearfield County and obtained his education in the district schools and learned the principles of farming from his father. For seventeen years he devoted himself to agricultural pursuits in his native county and then, in October, 1902, he came to Blair County and settled on his farm in Huston Township. Mr. Weber attends closely to his business, farming and stock-raising, and has met with excellent success and is numbered with the substantial men of this section. He takes a good citizen's interest in pub- lic affairs in his township, but is not a poli- tician. Mr. Weber was married December 25, 1884, to Miss Susan Haag, who was born in Jefferson County, Pa., a daughter of the late Frederick Haag, who formerly was a well known resident there. Yo Mr. and Mrs, Weber a family of seven children were born, all of whom have been afforded edu- cational advantages. Mary E., the eldest daughter, is the wife of Homer Hamilton, of Huston Township. Elizabeth E. is the wife of Blaine Greaser, of Altoona, Pa. George G. is a student in the State Nor- mal School at Lock Haven, Pa. William O., Charles E., Clair L. and Agnes A., all reside at home. Mr. Weber and family are members of the Reformed church at Drab, Pa. STEPHEN REED MATTHEWS, who resides on a farm of 160 acres in Franks- town Township, Blair County, Pa., was born August 31, 1840, at Huntingdon Fur- nace, Huntingdon County, Pa., and is a son of George Bowman and Mary (Markley) Matthews. George Bowman Matthews was born in New Jersey, and during his early life was a school teacher, but spent his later years en- gaged in farming, and died in Mifflin County, Pa. The mother of our subject 865 was a native of Mifflin County, her birth occurring in Little Valley, and she died in Blair County, Pa., where she made her home with her son during the last forty years of her life. Both parents were mem- bers of the Presbyterian church, and the father was politically a Democrat. They were the parents of the following children, Jessie, deceased; Sarah, the deceased wife of Alexander Stewart; Parmela, deceased wife of Samuel Giland; George, was killed in the war; Sophia, was the wife of Mich- ael K. Lane; William, deceased; Joseph, deceased; Matilda, married Martin L. Rob- ison; and Stephen R. Stephen R. Matthews was reared on the farm and attended the local schools of the township until fourteen years of age. He was but 12 years of age when his father died, and was consequently thrown upon his own resources at an early age. He be- gan working for different farmers during the summer months and attended school during the winter for about two years after his father’s death. On August 18, 1861, he enlisted in Company K, 49th Penna. Vol. Inf., under Capt. Mathias Niece and served eighteen months as a private. He re-en- listed December 24, 1863, in the Third Bri- gade, First Div. of the Sixth Army Corps and was: detailed from his company as bri- gade wagon master, which position he held until July 15, 1865, when he was honorably discharged with the regiment near Halls Hill, Va. He participated in the following battles: Yorktown, Va., April 16, to May 4, 1862; Williamsburg, May 5, 1862; Gar- nets Hill, Va., June 27, 1862; Goldens ° Farm, Va., June 28, 1862; Savage Station, Va., Juné 29, 1862; White Oak Swamp, Va., June 30, 1862; Malvern Hill, Va., July 1, 1862; Gramptons Gap, Md., September 14, 1862; Antietam, Md., September 17, 1862; Fredericksburg, Va., April 13, 1863; Fredericksburg, Va., April 29, 1863; Fred- ericksburg and Salem Church, May 3, and 4, 1863; Gettysburg, Pa., July 2, 3, 4, 1863; Frankstown, Md., July 12, 1863; Rappa- 866 hannock Station, Va., November 7, 1863; Locust Grove, Va., November 27, 1863; Mine Run, Va., November 28, 1863. “He was present with his train at the following places, Wilderness, Va., May 5, 4, 7, 1864 ; Spottsylvania, Va., May 8, 9, 10, II, 12, 1864; Cold Harbor, Va., June 22, 23, 1864; Petersburg, Va., June 22, 23, 1864; Welden Run R. R., or Rean Station, Va., June 30, to July 2, 1864; Winchester or Opequan, Va., September 19, 1864; Saylors Creek, Va., April 6, 1865; and after marching to Danville to head off Johnston was honor- ably discharged July 15, 1865. After the close of the war Mr. Matthews went to Altoona, Pa., and for about nine months was employed on the railroad, then worked ‘on a farm by the month until the time of his marriage, when he engaged in farming for himself. Mr. Matthews was married November 22, 1866 to Lavina McCormick, a daughter of James and Lucinda McCormick, agricul- turists of Sinking Valley, Blair County, Pa., and the parents of the following children: John B.; Lavina, wife of our subject; Mary, who is the wife of Joshua R. Pheasant; Alice, the wife of Harry Hileman; Thomas; and Isabel, who is the wife of Charles Moss Hileman. The following children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Matthews: James Reed; Howard Markley; Harry McClel- land; Alpha Gertrude, deceased wife of Roy K. Hileman; Philip Garfield; and Jessie, who is the wife of Ernest E. Rhodes. Mr. Matthews is politically identified with the Republican party, and is now town- ship supervisor, his term of three years hav- ing begun March 4, 1910. He previously served one term as supervisor in Franks- town township and four years term in Blair township, and was for three years a jury commissioner. He is a member of the Presbyterian Church, the G. A. R. Post No. 39 at Hollidaysburg, and is also a member of the U. V. L. HISTORY OF BLAIR COUNTY CECIL A. PRESTON, superintendent of the Middle Division of the Pennsylvania Railroad, with home and office at Altoona, Pa., has been identified with railroads ever since he was graduated at the Polytechnic College, Philadelphia, in 1872. He was born at Philadelphia, of English parents. They were Edward H. and Margaret Pres- ton. Mr. Preston’s rapid and uninterrupted rise from rodman on the Cattaraugus Rail- way, to the important office he now so ably fills, makes an interesting story to those who recognize the difficulties he had to overcome and the competition he had to meet, at each step of the way. As noted, he entered the service in 1872 and was rod- man until June, 1877; transitman and en- gineer in charge of railroad surveys to 1878 with the Madeira & Mamore Railway, in Brazil, South America; to May, 1880, on surveys with the West Pennsylvania Di- vision Pennsylvania Road; in 1880 trans- ferred to Baltimore, Md., and from Septem- ber to December, 1880, was assistant su- pervisor at that point; December, 1880, to April, 1882, assistant supervisor Pennsyl- vania Road, at York, Pa.; August, 1882, to January, 1890, supervisor Baltimore Divi- sion, same road; January, 1890, to April, 1893, assistant engineer, same division;. April, 1893, to July, 1900, principal assistant engineer Pennsylvania Road at Williams- port, Pa.; July, 1900, to April 1, 1902, su- perintendent Elmira & Canandaigua Divi- sion Northern Central Railroad, Pennsyl- vania system; April 1, 1902, to June I, 1903, superintendent Eastern & Susquehannah Divisions, same road and Philadelphia & - Erie Road; and from June 1, 1903 until the present, has been superintendent of the Mid- dle Division of the Pennsylvania Road at Altoona. The mere occupancy of this po- sition, evidences his efficiency as a railroad man. Mr. Preston is identified with nu- merous fraternal and social organizations. He resides at the Logan House, Altoona. AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS ROBERT IRWIN TUSSEY, who owns a farm of 234 acres in Frankstown township, which he purchased from his father, is a native of Blair County, Pa., and was born on ‘his present farm February 4, 1875, a son of Samuel and Anna (Hileman) Tussey. Samuel Tussey was born at Spruce Creek, Huntingdon County, Pa., and when a young man came to Blair County and purchased this present farm in Frankstown township. This he farmed for about 18 years and with the exception of three years spent in the army has always followed farming. He now spends the greater part of his time in the south, where he owns an orange grove. He is a Republican in politics and has served in nearly all of the township offices, includ- ing that of supervisor and school director. Samuel Tussey married Anna Hileman, who was born in Frankstown township, Blair County, Pa., and they became the parents of the following children: Harry, Susan, Robert I, our subject; Dorothy, who is the wife of Joseph Moore and has four children, Hugh, Josephine, Frank and Dorothy; Jo- seph; Byrde, who is the wife of William Robb; Jay; Samuel; Hugh, deceased; and Clara. Robert Irwin Tussey grew to maturity on the home farm, and attended the local schools until 21 years of age. He then en- -gaged in farming with his father for a time, and now owns the home farm of 234 acres. He is a man of enterprise and public spirit, and is one of the successful and progressive agriculturists of the township. Mr. Tussey was married June Ist, 1904, to Mary (Porter) Crawford, a daughter of Russell and Nancy (Dean) Crawford, for- merly prominent farmers of Sinking Valley, Blair county, but now living in retirement at Hollidaysburg. Mrs. Tussey has one sister, Elsie, a trained nurse, who lives in Philadelphia, Pa. Mr. and Mrs. Tussey have had two children; Ralph, who was born March 3, 1905; and Helen, who was born December 1, 1907. In politics, Mr. Tussey is a Republican, and has served 867 three years as road supervisor. He and his wife are members of the Lutheran Church, RAYMOND FRED SMELTZER,* one of the leading druggists and enterprising business men of Williamsburg, Pa., was born May 12, 1883 at Altoona, Pa., and is a son of Ferdinand and Anna L. (McCon- nell) Smeltzer, and a grandson of Peter Smeltzer. Ferdinand Smeltzer came to Blair county from Cambria County, Pa., and located at Altoona, where he is now engaged in shoe- making, but was formerly an employee of the Pennsylvania railroad for many years. His religious connection is with the Catholic Church, and he is politically identified with the Democratic party. His union with Anna L. McConnell resulted in the follow- ing issue: Charles, Anna, Mary, Edward, Joseph, Catherme, and Raymond F., our subject. * Raymond F. Smeltzer spent his boyhood in Altoona, and was educated at the St. John Parochial School and the High School of this city. He also studied pharmacy in Altoona, and was first employed in the A. F. Shomberg drug store. He passed the examination at Williamsburg and also passed as a registered druggist at Pittsburg, and in 1904 embarked in the drug business at Williamsburg, where he has since been continuously and successfully engaged in that business. Mr. Smeltzer is politically a Republican, and is fraternally a member ‘of the M. W. of A. of Williamsburg. His religious connection is with the Catholic Church. In May, 1905, Mr. Smeltzer was united in marriage with Eva M. Brookbank, whose parents had the following children: Clem- mentine, who is the wife of William Lingen- felter of South Fork; Ernest; Lila, who is a nurse at the Morristown State Hospital; and Eva M. Mr. and Mrs. Smeltzer have two sons; Raymond Frederick, Jr., and Sterling Brockbank. The religious connec- 868 tion of the family is with the Catholic Church. HARRY E. CHAMBERLIN, who is en- gaged in general farming and truck garden- ing on a farm of 175 acres in Frankstown township, Blair County, Pa., was born Au- gust 15, 1868, in Frankstown township, and is the only child born to John and Mar- garet (Larinson) Chamberlin, both now de- ceased. The father, who died in Fayette County, Pa., followed mining, was a Re- publican in politics, and both parents were members of the Lutheran Church. The mother died in Blair County and was buried at the Geeseytown Cemetery. Harry E. Chamberlin was reared in his native township, attended the local schools until seventeen years of age, and then learned the trade of a stationery engineer, and followed that business for about nine years. He has since been extensively en- gaged in farming and in February, 1904, purchased his present farm of 175 acres from the heirs of his maternal grandfather. John S. Larinson. Here he has since carried on general farming in connection with truck gardening, and disposes of his produce, which consists of vegetables of all kinds, at Altoona, where he finds a ready market. In August, 1891, Mr. Chamberlin married Addie J. London, who is a daughter of John and Sarah (Stewart) London, the former also a stationary agent, and a resident of Blair County. Mrs. Chamberlin is the eld- est of the children born to her parents, namely: Addie; Laura, the wife of Samuel Eckard; William; Edith, the wife of Linus Cochran; George, Albert, Bertha, and Ed- ward. The following children have been born to our subject and wife: Bessie, An- drew, Linnie, Ralph, Harry, Ethel, Anna, Theodore, and Chester. Mr. Chamberlin is politically a Republican, and is affiliated with the K. O. T. M., Quaker City Tent of Salem, Ohio. He is a member of the Men- onite church. HISTORY OF BLAIR COUNTY JOHN HALTON, deceased, passed out of life leaving not only a large fortune to his fam-- ily, which he had accumulated through his own industrious efforts, but also a name that was held in honor and respect throughout a long and useful existence. He was six years old when he was brought to Altoona and this city claimed his loyal affection as long as he lived. He was born in County Meath, Ireland, August 15, 1844, a son of John S. and Jane (Darby) Halton, who had six children, three of whom are yet living. The death of John Halton oc- curred August 10, 1903. The parents of Mr. Halton were both born in County Meath and there they remained until 1850, when they emigrated to America and came to Altoona, Pa. They were good people, consistent and devoted members of the Catho- lic church, and in the new country found the opportunities for comfortable living that they had not been able to secure in their own land. oe S. Halton died in 1879 and his widow in 1881. John Halton attended the schools of Altoona until old enough to learn a_ self-supporting trade. He had a natural leaning toward me- chanics, although his father had been a farmer, and he entered the shops of the Pennsylvania Railroad at Altoona and later was placed in charge of the gas and steam fitting department. His early investment in city property proved him a man of prudence and forethought and each year he had the satisfaction of seeing it increase in value. In 1876, Mr. Halton was married to Miss Mary Rodgers, who is now deceased. She was a daughter of Andrew Rodgers of Philadelphia. Two children were born to this union: Mary R. and Edward R. Edward R. Halton, who is manager of the Halton Coal Company at Altoona, was born in this city, January 23, 1882. He was edu- cated in the Altoona schools, graduating from the High School, and at Lehigh University. The Halton Coal Company is a large commer- cial enterprise of Altoona, handling anthracite and bituminous coal and dealing also in coke and kindling wood. The office and yard of the company is located at 1605-1611 Ninth Avenue. JOUN HALTON AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS Mr. Halton resides at No. 1506 Sixth Avenue, Altoona. THEODORE D. SNOEBERGER,* of the firm of Gorsuch & Snoeberger, at Mar- tinsburg, Pa., founders and machinists, manufacturers of all kinds of castings, farm implements, etc., and dealers in pumps and fixtures, iron pipe, fittings, valves, engine and cylinder oils, making a specialty of heating and plumbing, is one of the repre- sentative business men of this place. He was born in Taylor Township, Blair County, Pa., December 11, 1842, and is a son of Joseph and Hannah (Deeter) Snoeberger. The former was a native of Bedford County and the latter of Blair County. Theodore D. Snoeberger is a true exam- ple of a self-made man. He was only four years old when his father died and when nine years of age he left the shelter which had been his home and went to earn his own living. Farmers in the neighborhood were glad to have the services of a bright and willing lad in return for board and clothes, and so capable did he prove himself that by the time he was twelve years of age he was able to secure wages, which he in large part devoted to taking care of his mother whom he provided for thenceforward until her death in the nineties. He has one sur- viving brother, Daniel T., who is also a resident of Martinsburg. When he was twenty-one years old, Mr. Snoeberger started to learn the carpenter trade and served an apprenticeship of three years and for a long time afterward worked as a car- penter and developed into a builder and contractor. Later he became interested in the foundry and machine business and has worked alone and also with partners, at Martinsburg, since 1874. The present firm of Gorsuch & Snoeberger was organized in June, 1909. A large amount of business is done by this firm in their various lines. Mr. Snoeberger is so well and favorably known to his fellow citizens that many large contracts that might otherwise have been 869 placed with houses of reputation in larger cities, have been entrusted to him and have been satisfactorily completed. Mr. Snoe- berger was married to Miss Hannah Smouse, a native of Bedford County, and they have one daughter, Ada, who resides with her parents. Mr. Snoeberger and family are members of the Brethren church. JOHN HALLER, who is owner and pro- prietor of the Eagle bakery at Altoona, Pa., is a representative business man of this city and he maintains his home and conducts his business at Nos. 1208-10-12 Fifth Avenue. He was born in Germany and is a son of ~John and Sarah Haller who still live in the old country. Mr. Haller has one brother, Matthew Haller. In May, 1890, John Haller left his home and parents and came to the United States and stopped first at Pittsburg, Pa. In that city he learned the baking business and in 1893, when he reached Altoona, secured em- ployment as a baker with Albert F. Hess, with whom he remained for two and one- half years. Mr. Haller started into busi- ness for himself on April 6, 1896 and for eight years. conducted an establishment on Thirteenth Avenue and Eighteenth Street. He then bought the business and location of Albert F. Hess, Jr., tore down the old structure and erected on the site his present modern bakery in which every improved de- vice known to the trade has been intro- duced in order to make his products whole- some and appetizing. It is probably the most sanitary bakery in the city and he does a very large business, having twenty- five people on his pay roll. In October, 1894, Mr. Haller was married to Miss Anna Weiss, a daughter of Chris- tian and Sarah Weiss, of Altoona, and they have three sons: John Christian, William Herman, and Frederick Martin. Mr. Hal- ler and family are members of the German Lutheran church. Politically he is a Demo- crat and fraternally he is identified with the Eagles, the Ow!s and the Elks. - what his life work should be. 870 ABRAM BURKET, general merchant and representative citizen of Claysburg, Pa.,- who has been identified with the interests of this place since 1870, was born in Blair County, Pa., March 6, 1842, and is a son of David and Barbara (Dively) Burket, and a grandson of Samuel Burket, who was a very early settler in what is now Greenfield Township, Blair County. Abram Burket was seven years old when his father died. He was reared in Green- field Township’ and obtained his education in the public schools and when the Civil War broke out had scarcely yet decided In August, 1861, he enlisted for service, entering Co. G, 11th Pa. Vol. Cav., which became a part of the Army of the Potomac. This was but the beginning of four years of army life, for, after the expiration of his first term of en- listment, he re-entered the same company and regiment and received his honorable discharge. He had enlisted as a private and through bravery and valor was pro- moted and was mustered out as a second lieutenant. He participated in the battles of Ream’s Station and of Suffolk and fought in twenty-two sharp engagements. He was also employed in the dangerous service of scouting and, although he took hazards innumerable and faced every kind of danger, he survived to return home practically un- harmed. He subsequently embarked in the mercantile business and in 1870 established himself at Claysburg where he is one of the oldest continuous business men. For a time he served as postmaster but has never been eager for political office. His interest in the public schools led him to consent to serve as school director in Greenfield Town- ship, where he also held the office of con- stable for a time. Mr. Burket was married to Miss Cather- ine Mauk, a daughter of Paul Mauk, a for- mer prominent resident of Claysburg, and of their children, the following survive: Paul W., who is a resident of Claysburg; Howard, whose home is near Philadelphia ; HISTORY OF BLAIR COUNTY Watson E., -who is in the mercantile busi- ness at Claysburg; Edward M., who is a farmer in Greenfield Township; Charles E. and George I., both of whom reside at Claysburg; Homer A., who is a Law student in the Michigan State University at Ann Arbor, Mich.; and H. Claude, who also re- sides at Claysburg. Mr. Burket and family are members of the Reformed church. He is an independent voter. DAVID M. THOMPSON, an enterpris- ing citizen of Williamsburg, who is now serving as street commissioner and super- intendent of the water works, was born February 28, 1851, at Hollidaysburg, Pa., and is a son of Roswell D. and Mary M. (Sellers) Thompson. The father was a blacksmith by trade, a Republican in poli- tics, and the religious connection of both parents was with the Methodist Church. The following children were born to the parents of our subject: Margaret, Caroline, John, David M., George, Mary, Emma, Charles B., William, and Harry. David M. Thompson was reared in Blair County and was married March 5, 1874 to Annie M. Mentzer, a daughter of Ephraim and Susan Mentzer, and of their union were born the following children: Howard M.; Mary M., the wife of J. R. Detwiler; Estella, married Andrew Gailey; and William G. Mr. Thompson is fraternally a member of the Portage Lodge of Masons at Hollidays- burg, and the I. O. O. F., of Williamsburg. He is a Republican in politics, and has served as a school director and is now su- perintendent of the water works and street commissioner of the borough of Williams- burg. The family holds membership with the Lutheran Church. WILLIAM E. DEAN, proprietor of a general store and one of the substantial business men of Williamsburg, Pa., was born in 1863 in Juniata County, Pa. He was reared and educated in his native county and in 1884 came to Williamsburg AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS “and was engaged for some time here as a mechanic. About 1890 he embarked in his - present business, in which he has been quite successful. His store has a floor space of 32 by 100 feet and he carries a general line of dry goods and other articles in general, demand, his stock being always of good quality. He keeps two clerks Soneante employed. In 1884 Mr. Dean was united in marriage with Della Fox, who is a daughter of Henry and Sarah Fox of Yellow Springs. Of this union there have been born one son and one daughter, namely: William, who is a civil engineer, now employed in the Philip- pines, and Ruth. The religious connection of the family is with the Methodist church. and Mr. Dean is politically identified with the Republican party. D. E. PARKER, president of the First National Bank, and one of the leading citi- zens of Juniata, Pa., was born in 1856 in Huntingdon County, Pa., and was there ed- ucated and reared to maturity. About 1878 Mr. Parker came to Altoona and engaged in carpentering until 1889, and then estab- lished a planing mill and carried on a gen- eral contracting business until 1905. In January of that year, Mr. Parker and others organized the First National Bank of Ju- niata, which was opened up for business June 28, 1906, and has been president of same since the time of its organization. They have met with uninterrupted success in their work and have grown rapidly along all lines. Mr. Parker has served 13 years on the village council, and is fraternally a member of the I. O. O. F., the Encamp- ment, the Juniata Grange, and the Juniata Fire Company. His religious connection is with the Presbyterian Church of Juniata, of which he is a member of the board of trustees. On May 20, 1880, Mr. Parker was joined in the bonds of wedlock with Alice Miller of Huntingdon County, Pa., and to them have been born two children: Clara, who 871 is the wife of C, A. Jones of Juniata, Pa.; and Dora. D. G. MEEK, cashier of the First Na- tional Bank of Juniata, and a native of Cen- ter County, Pa., was born in 1870, a son of George Y. Meek, and comes of one of the oldest established families of Blair County, Pa. At the age of 12 years he came with his parents to Tyrone, Pa., where he ob- tained his educational training, and when about 21 entered the employ of the Blair County Bank. He continued in the employ of this concern about 14 years, beginning at the bottom as office boy and worked in various positions until the time of his resig- nation, after which he engaged in the mer- cantile business. Upon the organization of the First National Bank of Juniata, he ac- cepted.a position as cashier of same and has since served in that capacity. Mr. Meek is a member of the Trinity Lutheran Church, of which he is an elder and member of the council. He affiliates with the I. O. O. F. and the Encampment, and is an hon- orary member of the Tyrone Club. Mr. Meek was married in January 1908 to Beu- lah Fasic of Juniata and they have one son, Richard Burns Meek. EMORY E. RHODES, postmaster at Royer, Blair County, Pa., was born in this. town, January 30, 1871, and is a son of James and Evaline (Gunnett) Rhodes. The Rhodes family is an old settled one in Woodbury Township and the parents of Emory E. were active -in the Methodist Episcopal church. They had six children, namely: Emory E., Minnie, wife of Charles Sweeny; Harry; Etta, wife of John Horton; Norman and Harvey. Emory E. Rhodes obtained his education in the Royer schools. His first work was done for Royer business men, F. R. Schmucker & Co., with whom he remained for eight years, then John Manning and still later he was with the Pittsburg Limestone Company. Mr. Rhodes then went into / 872 business for himself and for the first two months had a partner, since when he has been alone and since 1897 has been post- master. In politics he is independent. He attends the Methodist Episcopal church. His fraternal relations are with the Masons: and Odd Fellows, belonging to Juniata Lodge, No. 282, F. & A. M., and to the Odd Fellows at Williamsburg. ARCHIBALD C. CLAPPER, a prom- inent citizen of Huston Township, Biair County, Pa., now filling the office of town- ship tax collector, was born in Huston Township, December 21, 1856, and is a son of John H. and Mary (Brumbaugh) Clap- per. : John H. Clapper was born on the farm in Huston Township now owned by his son, Archibald C., and spent his entire life here, dying in 1903. He was a son of Henry Clapper, who was a son of Ludwig Clapper, one of the earliest settlers in what is now Huston Township. The village of Clapper- town perpetuates his memory. At various times the late John H. Clapper consented to accept township offices and in the discharge of the duties pertaining to them he was honest .and efficient. He was a member of the Lutheran church. He married Mary Brumbaugh, who was also born in Huston Township and now resides at Martinsburg, with her daughter, Mrs. Margaret Hagey. Although quite advanced in years she re- tains her faculties and enjoys visits from her friends. Three of her children still sur- vive, namely: Margaret, who is the widow of George W. Hagey; Archibald; and John S., who resides at Swissdale, Pa. Archibald C. Clapper was reared in Hus- ton Township and attended the public schools and later passed three sessions of study at the Juniata Collegiate Institute at Martinsburg, Pa., which was succeeded by four years at Kishaquillas Seminary, in Mif- flin County. He was thus well prepared when he began to teach school and for nine terms followed educational work. Since then he HISTORY OF BLAIR COUNTY has given his attention largely to farming and stockraising, devoting his 125 acres of land to these industries. Mr. Clapper was married first to Miss Ada Rider, a native of Center County and a daughter of Michael C. Rider, a former well known citizen of Huston Township. Three children were born to that marriage, namely: George L., of Chicago, Ill.; John C., of Birmingham, Ala.; and Fleda F., of Huston Township. Mr. Clapper’s second marriage was to Mrs. Mahala Wilson, a daughter of the late John Donaldson, of Huntingdon County, Pa. Mr. Clapper is a member of the Lutheran church in which he is a deacon. In politics he is a Repub- lican. He has frequently been tendered public office by his party and fellow citizens and served three years as county auditor, three years as a member of the township school board and is now serving as county collector of taxes for Huston Township. He is identified with the order of Odd Fel- lows at Martinsburg. Mr. Clapper is a broad minded and intelligent man and has proved trustworthy in every charge com- mitted to his care. HOWARD FRANCIS COX, an enter- prising agriculturist and highly esteemed citizen of Antis township, Blair. County, Pa., was born November 29, 1862, on the farm where he now lives, and is a son of Asbury and Margaret Alice (Williams) Cox.. Samuel Cox, grandfather of Howard F., was born in Huntingdon County, Pa., and was a son of Joshua Cox, who was one of the very early settlers of that county. Sam- uel resided until 1842 in Huntingdon County, when he removed to what is now Blair, where he has a fine farm of 135 acres, which is now owned by his son J: Be. Cox. He married Nancy Beck, also a native of Huntingdon County, and of their union were born the following children: Porter, who died aged twenty-two years; Asbury, father of our subject; Martha, who died at the age of three years: Samuel Davis, who AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS is a resident of Altoona; Benjamin Frank- lin, who resides in Logan township; Cath- erine, deceased, who was the wife of Luther Coleman; Jeremiah Beck, who lives in Al- legheny, Pa., and is the owner of the old home farm; Anna, who is the wife of Allen McCartney, of Juniata; Ella, who is the wife of D. D. Coleman, of Juniata; and Mar- tin T., who resides in Juniata. Asbury Cox was born September 1o, 1839, in Huntingdon County, Pa., and was three years of age when he accompanied his parents to Antis township. He has since resided continuously on his present farm of eighty acres, which is a part of the old Williams homestead. On February 14, 1862, he married Margaret Alice Williams, who was born and has always lived on the farm where she now resides. She was the only child of John C. and Ann (Cherry) Williams, and comes of one of the old fam- ilies of Antis township. Her grandfather, Thomas Williams, lies buried on this farm and was one of the first of the family to locate in the township. The following chil- dren were born to Asbury and Margaret A. Cox: Howard Francis, subject of this rec- ord; Ira Marvin, who died aged four years; Nettie, who is the wife. of Clark Nearhoof, of Antis township; Annie, wife of Harvey G.-Reigh, of Antis township; Emma, who married David W. Irwin, of this township; Nannie, wife of Robert. Mauk, of Grand Rapids, Mich.; and Bertha, who married Edward Steele, of Antis township. Mr. Cox belongs to the Patrons of Husbandry. Howard Francis Cox resides on the home farm, just across the road from his mother and father, known as “Sabbath Rest Farm,” and was here reared and in boyhood at- tended the local. schools. He also attended a subscription school, which furnished a course of study equivalent to a high school course, the teacher being Prof. E. N. Root, of Bellwood. After thus completing his literary studies, he was engaged in teaching ‘in Antis township for a time. Subsequently he spent four years working on the middle 873 division of the Pennsylvania Railroad. In June, 1885, he took charge of the home farm and has since resided here continuously. In 1885 Mr. Cox became a member of the Sheridan Troop and when he severed his connection therewith in 1894, he had risen to the rank of first sergeant. At the time of the Spanish-American War he attempted to re-enlist but the ranks were full. Mr. Cox is a member of the State Board of Agriculture from Blair County, and is act- ively interested in aH matters that pertain to farming. He is an active member of the Pennsylvania State Grange and is its second officer, being subordinate only to William T. Creasy. In politics he is a Democrat and has served three years as township supervisor. Fraternally, he be- longs to the Patrons of Husbandry; the JT. O. O. F.; K. of G. E.; I. O. R. M.; and the F. O. E. On September 13, 1888, Mr. Cox was joined in marriage with Lucinda C. Bryan, a native of Altoona, Pa., and a daughter of Dr. M. M. and Emma (Defibaugh) Bryan, and to them have been born the following children: Ira Clyde, a stenographer in Ga- ble’s Store in Altoona, who was born De- cember 1, 1890, and is a graduate of Juniata College, and of Zeth’s Business College; Earl Raymond, who was born December 23, 1892, and is a graduate of the Antis town- ship High School and Juniata College; Alma Margaret, born August 2, 1895, who attends the schools of Antis township; Mil- dred May, born September, 26, 1897; and Samuel Paul, born August 4, 1902, who attends the schools of the township. Mr. Cox has successfully conducted the Farm- ers’ Institutes of Blair County for a number of years, and has‘the confidence and esteem of the entire State Department of Agri- culture. He is a firm believer in, and an ardent advocate of, the centralization of rural schools, and the teaching of Agricul- ture therein. 874 J. T. BROWN, a veteran of the Civil War, who has been living in retirement since May Ist, 1909, after an active career in the business world, was for 44 years identified with the Pennsylvania Railroad Company and has been a resident of Blair County, Pa., since 1852. He was born April 9, 1839, in Fayette County, Pa., and is a son of Alexander and Mary (Lafferty) Brown, and is of Scotch-Irish descent. His parents were natives of Westmoreland County, Pa., but resided for a time in Fay- ette County, Pa., and subsequently came to Blair County, where they spent the remain- der of their lives. Of the seven sons and three daughters born to them but one still survives, namely, J. T. Brown, the subject of this record. J. T. Brown was reared in Westmoreland County, Pa., and in 1852 came to Blair County and was for a year employed in the furnaces at Blair Furnace. He then lived in various parts of the county, but princi- pally in Logan township. and in 1865 en- tered the employ of the Pennsylvania Rail- road Company, working first in the car building. department. He was then for 15 years employed as a foreman in the car building department but since May 1, 1909, has been living. in retirement. On April 18, 1861 at President Lincoln’s first call for troops, Mr. Brown enlisted with Company B, and the 3rd Pa. Vol. Inf. for three months, and at the end of that time enlisted with Company F, 76th Pa. Vol. Inf. for three years and veteranized with that company. On July 11, 1863, he, was ser- iously wounded, receiving a gun shot wound through both thighs at Fort Wagner, S. C., and was taken prisoner. He remained in the hospital some time and was first con- fined at Charleston, S. C., then removed to Columbia, and was also taken to Libby Prison and Belle Isle for a time, and was finally parolled and taken to his own lines. At City Point his shoulder was broken by a shell and he was confined to the hospital boat on the James River. His service was HISTORY OF BLAIR COUNTY principally in the army of the James in the department of the south. He was then sent to Richmond, where he was a member of the Tenth Corps until that corps was re- duced to such an extent, that it was con- solidated with the Eighteenth Corps, and was mustered out in May, 1865, at Harris- burg, Pa. On September 17, 1868, Mr. Brown mar- ried Sarah Jane Shotts, who was born in Logan township, Blair County, Pa. a daughter of Philip and Katie (Mullen) Shotts, who were well known agriculturists of the county. Of their union were born the following children: James A., who lives adjoining his father, married Annie Smith and has two children, Joseph Clare; and Margaret; Harry, died aged 11 years; EI- mer Ellsworth; Joseph Ambrose, lives ad- joining his father, and is employed in the shops. He married Bertha Grove, and has three daughters, Kathryn; Ethel and Min- nie and one son Clyde; Cordella M., married John R. Johnson of Dubois, Clearfield County, Pa.; Margaret; and Catherine. Mr. Brown is a member of the G. A. R. Post No, 468, the Union Veterans Legion, the I. O. O. F., the I. O. R. M. and the Knights of Malta. In politics he is a rad- ical Republican, and has served in various local offices, having been a member of the school board a number of years, auditor of the township one term, and also jury com- missioner one term. He and his estimable wife are members of the Fifth Avenue M. E. Church of Altoona. OLIN K. McGARRAH, M. D., who has at- tained considerable prominence in the practice of medicine and surgery in Blair County, Pa., has been located at Altoona, since 1897, and enjoys the confidence and esteem of his fellow citizens. He was born in Mechanicsburg, Cumberland County, Pa., a son of Rev. James H. McGarrah, a prominent minister of the Methodist Episcopal church. His educational training was obtained at the Williamsport and Dixon Academies, and on May 5, 1895, he AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS graduated from the Hahnemann Medical Col- lege, after which he located in Huntingdon, Pa., where he followed his profession until 1897 He then came to Altoona, where he engaged in practice for two or three years, when he re- moved to Philadelphia, where he established himself in business while taking a special course at the Hahnemann and Orthopedical Hospital. He also attended clinics at the vari- ous hospitals in that city and in 1900 returned to Altoona, where he has been eminently suc- cessful in the practice of medicine and surgery, practicing according to both the regular and the homeopathic systems. On January 3, 1902, Dr. McGarrah was joined in marriage with Miss Louisa A. John- son, a daughter of Joseph A. Johnson. Dr. McGarrah affiliates with the Methodist Episcopal church. He is a member of the Belle-Letter Fraternity of Williamsport, the K. of P., Red Men, Eagles and the Owls. JACOB A. BOYCE,* who has had an active and varied career in the business world, is engaged in truck gardening at Eldorado, Blair County, Pa. He was born in Bucks County, Pa., February 19, 1834, and is a son of Jacob and Charlotte (Davis) Boyce. Jacob Boyce, the father of subject, was a civil engineer and also conducted a store while in Bucks County. He moved west to Cambria County, near Carrolltown, and thereafter followed his profession. While thus engaged he came across a beautiful place in the corner of Clearfield County, which he purchased and resided upon until his death. This farm is rich in coal and timber, is now owned by the two survivors of the family, Jacob A. and his brother M. L. Boyce, the latter of whom resides on the place. Of the other children, Evan died in the west; John died in the army during the Civil War; another son died in infancy, and a daughter, Charlotte, died in early woman- hood. The father of this family was a man of exceptional education for his days, and until 1882. 875 gave his children superior training at home, so that there was little to be gained from attendance in the common school. Jacob A. Boyce was educated largely at home, but attended the public schools some time and afterward received instruction from an old professor. At an early age he learned civil engineering, which he has fol- lowed more or less all his life. He began teaching school at Cherry Tree, Indiana County, as early as 1858, and continued in that profession, with some interruptions He has been a resident of El- dorado since 1863, and for some two years taught in the old school standing opposite his residence. His last two years as a teacher were spent in the schools of Al- toona. He operated a saw mill up in the mountains until 1869, and was afterwards variously employed until 1882, at which time he was appointed agent of the station at Eldorado, and also postmaster. He filled these positions in a most acceptable man- ner for more than 25 years, and was also during that time proprietor of a store. In connection with his duties as agent and postmaster he carried on a coal business, which he still retains. About the time he became agent at Eldorado, Mr. Boyce be- gan gardening in a small way, and after leaving that position went into it more ex- tensively, building a large greenhouse. He sells his products directly to the customer in Altoona, and has some who have been his patrons for more than 20 years. In 1865 Mr. Boyce married Sarah Lance, whose sad loss he was called upon to mourn in January, 1909. She is buried at Rose Hill Cemetery. Four children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Boyce: Jennie, who has charge of the railroad office at Eldorado; Anna (Culbert), living in Philadelphia, Pa.; Kate (Gorsuch), a resident of Patten, Pa.; and Mary, also employed in the railroad office at Eldorado. Mr. Boyce is politically a Republican, and religiously, the family attend the Fifth Avenue Church at Altoona. 876 ABRAM R. IRWIN, who has been a res- ident of Bellwood, Pa., since 1875, was for forty years engaged in farming in Blair County, Pa. He was born on what is now the Wentzell farm below Hensheystown, Pa., March 9, 1832, a son of Daniel and Catherine (Crain) Irwin, and is a direct descendant of one Jared Irwin, who came from Ireland about the time of the advent of William Penn. It is said that Jared Ir- win bought the land of Penn, where Phila- delphia now stands, and the family branched out to various parts of the country, many becoming prominent and useful citizens. Jared Irwin married into the royal Stuart family and had a family before coming to this country. One Jared Irwin became sec- ond governor of the state of Georgia, and the branch from which our subject’s family sprang, settled in the vicinity of York, Pa. The grandfather of our subject was named Jared, as also was his great grandfather. The name seems to occur in all branches of the family, indicating that the Irwins in all this country generally are descendants of this original Jared Irwin. Jared Irwin, grandfather of our subject, lived in Hunt- ingdon County, Pa. Daniel Irwin, father of Abram R., was born in Huntingdon County, Pa., and was for some years located in the vicinity of Tyrone. About 1833 he bought the farm now owned by the heirs of Frank Irwin, and resided in Gospel Hollow until the time of his death at the age of sixty-eight years. He was survived some years by his widow, who. in maiden life was Catherine Crain. Daniel and Catherine Crain reared the fol- lowing children: Belinda, now deceased, who married Abram McCartney; Adie Crain Ir- win, deceased; Evaline, deceased, who mar- ried Joseph Adlum; John, deceased; and Abram R., who is the only survivor. Abram R. Irwin was reared on the home- stead and attended the common schoo!s of the township. He began working on the farm at a very early age, and was glad to be allowed twenty-five cents a year to at- HISTORY OF BLAIR COUNTY tend the review in Sinking Valley. He ul- timately received a part of the home farm tiring in 1875, and moving to Bellwood, where he bought four or five lots on First Street and built a home. He then entered the employ of the Bell’s Gap Railroad, and worked as rodman in laying out the roads from Lloydsville to Coalport. He later ran on the road for some time as baggage mas- ter, being with the company some ten or fifteen years. In 1881 Mr. Irwin bought a square of land and built his present home on the corner of Third and Martin streets. He also has three other houses and several lots left, and a son of his also owns six lots of this square. On January 17, 1854, Mr. Irwin married Betanna S. Hileman, who was born near Frankstown and died February 1, 1874. They had the following children: Howard, born November 16, 1854, who lives in De- pew, N. Y.; Isadora Blanche, born Decem- ber 13, 1856, who is the widow of John Min- gle and lives in Sinking Valley; Harry Hud- son, born October 8, 1858, who lives on the home farm, in which his father still has an interest; Jessie Kate, born March 17, 1861, who married James Campbell, of Bellwood; George Brinton McClellan, born June 20, 1863, who lives in Gadsden, Alabama; Rose Leslie, born October 20, 1867, who is the wife of William Stafford and resides near Davenport, Iowa; Fred Bennett, born Oc- tober 30, 1869, who lives near Davenport, Iowa; Hester Bell, born March 22, 1872, and now deceased, who was the wife of Clyde Greenland; Rebecca. Hileman, born October 22, 1873, who married Harry Laird of Bellwood. Mr. Irwin formed a second matrimonial union with Catherine Gwin, who is now deceased. On October 23, 1884 he was united in marriage with Jane Eliza- beth Beigle, who was born September 17, 1835 in Franklin County, Pa. Mrs. Irwin is highly educated and was for about twenty years engaged in missionary work in Ten- nessee, Georgia and Alabama. She belongs to the Baptist church, Mr. Irwin being a AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS member of the Presbyterian church. The latter has charge of the Logan Valley Cem- etery, serving as secretary. He was for many years a Democrat but votes inde- pendently, voting for the man rather than for the party, and, other things being equal, favoring prohibition candidates. DAVID E. NORTH, one of the leading attorneys of Altoona, Pa., has been identi- fied with the legal profession of Blair County, Pa., since 1899, and was born in 1872 at Huntingdon, Pa., where he was reared and obtained his elementary educa- tion. He attended the George Washington University of Washington, D. C., and sub- sequently read law in that city, and in 1899 was admitted to the bar of Blair County, Pa. He has since resided at Altoona, Pa., where he has been engaged in the practice of his profession, and has established an en- viable reputation as a lawyer and counselor of unusual ability and intelligence. Mr. North has always taken an active interest in politics, and is president of the Common Council of Altoona. JOSEPH M. DELOZIER,* one of the representative farmers of Frankstown Township, Blair County, Pa., was born at Sinking Valley, Blair County, January 3, _1868, and is a son of David and Susan (Moore) Delozier. Both parents are de- ceased. They were members of the Pres- byterian church. Their family contained the following children: Mary, who married T. T. Hileman; Nellie, who married J. C. Myers; Russell; Unice, deceased, who was the wife of Kail Baird; Jennie, who is the wife of Edward E. Leader; and Joseph M. Joseph M. Delozier attended school with niore or less regularity until he was seven- teen years of age, since when he has worked continuously on a farm. In 1897 he bought his land from Jonathan Slippey, his father- in-law, and carries on general farming and on account of his success is ranked with the best farmers of the township. He uses im- 877 proved machinery and follows modern methods, reaching results that are entirely satisfactory. On December 25, 1889, Mr. Delozier was . married to Miss Blanche Slippey, a daugh- ter of Jonathan and Rebecca (Hileman) Slippey, both of whom are now deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Slippey were old and well known residents of this township. They had five daughters, namely: Blanche (Mrs. Delozier); Mary, deceased, who was the wife of Morrison Lindsey; Sarah, who is the wife of Frank Mentzer; Rebecca, who is the wife of Irvin Mentzer ; and Clara, who is the wife of W. F. Reese. Mr. and Mrs. Delozier have one son and one daughter: Frank, ‘who. is his father’s assistant, and Cora, who is a student in the Stewart school. The family belongs to the Lutheran church. He has always cast his vote with the Re- publican party and has been elected to a number of township offices, indicating that he enjoys the confidence and respect of his fellow citizens to a considerable ,degree. He served as tax collector and auditor for three terms and at present is township as- sessor. JOHN WINFIELD GARDNER, of the well known firm of Gardner & Miller, retail dealers in coal, brick and builders’ supplies, with business location on West Tenth Street, Tyrone, Pa., is a member of one of the old pioneer families of this section of Pennsylvania. He was born in Clearfield County, Pa., January 29, 1853, and is a son of Andrew and Mary Ann (Ream) Gardner. | Andrew Gardner was born in Blair County, Pa., in 1830, and is a son of Andrew Gardner, and the grandson of William Gard- ner. It was William Gardner who estab- lished the family in what is now Blair County, coming here prior to the Revolu- tionary War. There were no roads through the forests and the hardy pioneers found their way about by following Indian trails. William Gardner built a log house on one of the mountain streams and lived in that 878 until he was able to erect a better one. The latter was but recently torn down after standing for 116 years. William Gardner married a daughter of John Kratzer, of Kratzer’s Forge, known to the present gen- eration as Cold Springs. A family of sturdy children were born in this forest home and the sons were mainly engaged in lumbering and teaming. The family has produced men of robust constitution and an example is found in the venerable father of John W. Gardner, who, after years of lumbering, en- tailing physical exertion of the hardest kind, still enjoys good health and easily bears the weight of his eighty-one years. He mar- ried Mary Ann Ream, who was born at Phillipsburg, Pa., a daughter of Johrr Ream, and died in Blair County, in 1908. Ten children were born “to this marriage, namely: John Winfield; Frances, who is the wife of Andrew Foreman, of Houtsdale, Pa.; Clarissa, who married Edwin Garman; William A., a railroad man, who lives at Cumberland, Md.; Elmira, who is deceased, was the wife of Henry Rhinesmith; Robert C., who was accidentally killed in the lum- ber regions near Elkins, W. Va.; Harry, who is a resident of Chicago, is a railroad man; Frank, who is engaged in the mercan- tile business at Tyrone; Charles, who is a traveling salesman, maintains his home at Tyrone; and Violet, who is the wife of Ed- ward Fulton, of Pittsburg, Pa. The father of the above family is a member of the Brethren church. John W. Gardner was reared near Tipton, in Blair County, where he attended the pub- lic schools and seminary, afterward becom- ing interested in the lumber regions and later being foreman of a body of timber and mining men. Then he came to Tyrone, where he has resided for the past thirty years, mainly identified with merchandising and for the past ten years has been in his present line and is numbered with the sub- stantial and representative business men of the city. HISTORY OF BLAIR COUNTY Mr. Gardner married Miss Violet Fore- man, a daughter of Moses Foreman, of In- diana County; Pa., and they have had five children: Harry, who is a member of the firm of Cryder & Gardner, clothiers, at Ty- rone, married Elizabeth Troutwine; James Albert, who is a merchant at Tyrone, mar- -ried Facie Campbell and they have one son, James Winfield; Susan and Winfield, both of whom are at home, and one child now deceased. The family residence is on Jefferson Avenue. Mr. and Mrs. Gardner. are members of the Methodist Episcopal. church. He is an active citizen, in politics a Republican but with independent tenden- © cies. His fraternal associations are with the Knights of Pythias, the Heptasophs and the Woodmen of the World. JOHN M. RHODES,* a well known farmer and stock-raiser and also a‘competent veterinary surgeon, with a large practice, has been a resident of Barbara, Pa., since 1878, and owns 165 acres of valuable land situated in Huston Township, Blair County, Pa. He is a native of Huston Township, born February 11, 1840, and is a son of Abraham D, and Eliza (McGraw) Rhodes. Abraham D. Rhodes was born in Huston Township and was a lifelong resident of Blair County. His father, Daniel Rhodes, was born in Pennsylvania and at a very early day located in North Woodbury Township, Blair County, and later moved from there to Huston Township. He was a veterinarian and his son, Abraham D. also engaged in its practice and in natural suc- cession, the latter’s son, John M., inherited the tastes and skill which led to his begin- ning his practice in veterinary science when he was only fifteen years old. Abraham D. Rhodes married Eliza McGraw, who was also born in Huston Township, and of their children there are three survivors: John M.; Jane, who is the wife of Daniel Hoover, of Huston Township; and Anna, who resides at Hollidaysburg. Abraham D. Rhodes was a Republican in his political views and AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS was a leading member of the Reformed church. John M. Rhodes has always had his home within the boundaries of Huston Township and since leaving his school books has been actively and continuously interested in ag- ricultural matters. To the cultivation and improvement of his large farm he has de- voted time and intelligent care, while stock- raising has been an important feature. He is a fine judge of stock and for eighteen years was general agent for the Union Horse Insurance Company, being well qual- ified for the same on account of his years in the horse business as dealer and shipper, and also on account of his professional knowledgé. Mr. Rhodes was an early set- tler in the village of Barbara and it was mainly through his efforts that this place was made a post-office, and he served ten years as the first postmaster. He has been active in many directions and is one of the township’s most public spirited men. In politics he is a Republican. he served as secretary of the school board and has always advocated measures looking to the improvement of the township schools. Mr. Rhodes was married to Miss Barbara Fouse,-who was born in Huston Township, a daughter of Adam Fouse, a former well known citizen, and they have had three children: Adam, who is deceased; Sarah J., who is the wife of David Barnet, of Martins- burg; and John, who is a resident of Bar- bara, Pa. Mr. Rhodes is a member of the Reformed church at Drab, Pa., and was a member of the building committee when the present church building was erected some years ago. FRANK H. HAGERTY, a leading cit- izen and successful business man of Arch Springs, Blair County, Pa., where he con- ducts a general store, a flour mill and owns 600 acres of land, is a progressive and en- terprising citizen who is well and widely known. He was born at Janesville, Clear- field County, Pa., June 2, 1856, and is the For six years 879 é eldest of four children born to his parents, James A, and Sarah E. Hagerty. The three others are: Theresa, who was the wife of Daniel H. Paulhamus, now living in Aber- deen, S. D.; J. F., who is a resident also of Aberdeen; and Roberta, who married J. L. Warren, of Monango, N. D. Frank H. Hagerty was educated in Hunt- ingdon County and was variously em- ployed until November, 1880, when he went to St. Paul, Minn., and in 1881 moved to Jamestown, N. D. In February, 1882, he went to Aberdeen, S. D., where he em- barked in the real estate business and later the banking business in which he continued until 1891, when he removed to Tacoma, Wash., remaining there until December 25, 1895, and then came to Arch Springs, Blair County. Here he has invested largely and by his enterprise and use of capital has con- tributed to the prosperity of the place. He was reared in the Republican political faith but in late years votes independently. For two and one-half years previous to the ad- mission of North and South Dakota as states, he served as commissioner of emi- gration and held local offices there. Mr. Hagerty was married September 27, 1882, to Miss Ada M. Crawford, a daugh- ter of John A. and Elizabeth Crawford, of Arch Springs, Pa. No children were born to them but they have two adopted sons who are as their own. One of these is Frank R., who is city editor of The Aber- deen American, of Aberdeen, S. D., and the other is Harry J., a graduate of the medical department of Tuffts’ College in Septem- ber, 1910, who is now one of the physicians of the Wooster State Hospital for the In- sane. Mr. and Mrs. Hagerty are members of the Presbyterian church. CHARLES ~LOWREY DOUGLASS, foreman of the car repair shops of the P. & N. W. Railroad, at Bellwood, Pa., has been a lifelong resident of Blair County, and was born in Antis Township, June 22, 1855. 880 His :parents were John and Abeline (Liv- ingstone) Douglass. ; ; John Douglass was born in what 1s now Tyrone Township, Blair County, but which was then Huntingdon County, Pa. He lo- cated in Antis Township in 1841, and his business was farming and lumbering. He owned a small farm of eleven acres and was living on it at the time of his death. He was a son of John Douglass, who was born in Ireland and was in early manhood when he came to this section of Pennsylvania, lo- cating first in Sinking Valley and later re- moving to Loveland. John Douglass, father of Charles L., married Abeline Liv- ingstone, who was born in_ Bedford County, Pa., and is a resident of Bellwood. Her father went out as a soldier in the War of 1812 and never returned. Of the chil- dren born to John Douglass and wife there are five survivors, namely: Jane, who is the wife of Joseph Cherry, of Carolina County, Md.; Charles L.; Mary, who is the wife of William Williamson, of Antis Township; Susanna, who is the widow of William Carothers, of Bellwood; and James, who resides with his mother at Bell- wood. Charles Lowrey Douglass obtained his education in the public schools of Antis Township. For thirty-eight years he has been identified with the P. & N. W. Rail- road, beginning as a brakeman in the Mid- dle Division, working then as a blacksmith in the Altoona shops, and advancing stead- ily from one position to a higher one. For thirty years he has been in the repair shops and for twenty of these has been foreman. Mr. Douglass not only has the practical knowledge and dexterity required in such a position as his, but he possesses also the large measure of executive ability that en- ables him to handle a large body of men without friction, at the same time securing the best results for the company. Mr. Douglass was married August 27, 1874, to Miss Margaret Boyer, who was born in Berks County, Pa., and is a daugh- HISTORY OF BLAIR COUNTY ter of Lewis Boyer, who came to Antis Township when Mrs. Douglass was five years old. Mr. and Mrs. Douglass have two children, Francis Eldridge and Bertha Alice. The former is with the Erie Railroad and is located at Lima, O. He married Addie Estep and they have two children, Robert and Bertha. The daughter of Mr.-Doug- lass is the wife of F. C. Nohewald, of Ta- coma, Wash. Mr. Douglass is a member of the German Baptist church. Nominally he is a Republican but is inclined to cast his vote very: frequently as his judgment dictates. CALVIN WALTER, one of the county commissioners of Blair County, Pa., and a leading citizen of Claysburg, was born in Greenfield’ Township, Blair County, July 24, 1854, and is one of a family of five chil- dren born to Joseph H. and. Susannah (Claar) Walter. Joseph H. Walter was a soldier in the Civil War, a member of Co. K, 19th Pa. Cav., and died at Memphis, Tenn., in 1863. . Calvin Walter was educated in the public schools of Greenfield Township, and then learned the cabinetmaking trade and with it combined undertaking. For some twen- ty-seven years he was thus engaged. When he assumed the duties of a county commissioner he retired. The election took place in the fall of 1908, Mr. Walter having Joseph Harney as an opponent. Blair County is normally Republican but Mr. Walter had the personal popularity which overcame this and he was elected on the Democratic ticket. He has long been numbered with the county’s solid and representative men and is well qual- ified to belong “to as responsible a public body as the board of county commissioners. Mr. Walter was married first to Eliza- beth Walter, of the same family name but- no relation, who died. Three children were born to that union: Kirk; an infant that died unnamed; and Alton, also de- ceased. Mr. Walter later married Miss Sarah Black, a daughter of Michael Black, AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS of Greenfield Township, and they have had three children: Mabel, deceased, Mary F., and John H. Kirk Walter, who succeeded his father in the mercantile business, and is interested in the lumber and saw-mill business in ad- dition to his father’s late business interests, is a graduate of the State Normal School at Lock Haven. Later he taught school for some seven years and then was connected with the Pennsylvania Railroad Company. He married Miss Jennie Johnson, a daugh- ter of a leading physician of Claysburg, and they have four children—three daughters and one son. Miss Mary F. Walter has been a highly valued teacher in the public schools of Greenfield Township for some years. John H. Walter, the youngest of the family, is also devoting himself to edu- cational work. Mr. Walter is identified with no organization of a public nature ex- cept the Grange, Patrons of Husbandry. REV. ERNEST ’ ROEDEL McCAU- LEY, D. D., pastor of Grace Lutheran Church of Altoona, has had his present charge since February 1, 1900. A man of great force of character, an enthusiast in his noble calling, he has exerted a wonderful influence for good in the community. Dr. McCauley was born in Salem, Va., June 13, 1869, and is a son of Hon, William and Margaret (Shirey) McCauley. It is an old and respected family of that. state, having been located there for some genera- tions. The paternal grandfather, Hon. John McCauley, was, in his time, a leader and a great power among his people in the Old Dominion, and for years faithfully rep- resented his district in the state senate. Hon. William McCauley above men- tioned, was clerk of the U. S. District Courts of the Western District of Virginia, and was the incumbent of that office when his death occurred, May 29, 1908. On the maternal side, Dr. McCauley comes of no less honored blood. His mother is of Ger- man extraction, a daughter of the late 881 Peter Shirey and a brother of Rev. J. D. Shirey, D. D., who was president of North Carolina College. Of the children born to William and Margaret (Shirey) McCauley, the second son, Rev. Victor McCauley, A. M., formerly was located at Guntar, India, where he was acting principal of Watts’ Memorial College, and at present is a mis- sionary at Sarranapalli, India. The third son, Rev. J. W. McCauley, B. D., is at pres- ent pastor of the Church of the Incarna- ‘tion, Baltimore, Md. Ernest Roedel McCauley was reared in the town of his nativity and obtained his preliminary education in the local schools. For.a period of four years he was deputy clerk of the county and circuit courts of Roanoke County. His early collegiate edu- cation was received at Roanoke College, from which he was graduated in June, 1892. During the fall term of 1892 he Was enrolled in the Lutheran Theological Seminary, at Gettysburg, Pa. During the summer vaca- tion of 1893, his junior year, he had-charge of the Lutheran Memorial Church at Blacksburg, Va., and during the summer of 1894, of the Oakland-Deer Park parish, Md. Upon his graduation from the seminary in 1895, he was tendered and accepted a call from the First Lutheran Church of Cedar Rapids, Ia. There he remained until Sep- tember, 1897, when he received a call to a larger field of labor, and, although most suc- cessful with his first church, resigned and accepted a call from the Brushton Avenue Church of Pittsburg, Pa., where his minis- try was continued with gratifying results until December, 1899. On February 1, 1900, he accepted a call from Grace Lutheran Church, Altoona; of which parish he is the present incumbent. Dr. McCauley is a pleasant and courteous gentleman, firm in his convictions and de- cided in the course of action he deems right. upon any question or issue. He is a man of clear perception, good judgment, a fine scholar and a fluent speaker. In 1907 the degree of Master of Arts was conferred 882 upon him by his Alma Mater, and June II, 1908, he was honored with the degree of Doctor of Divinity, from Susquehannah University, of Selinsgrove, Pa. When Rev. McCauley came to Grace congregation, they were without a church building. During the first year of his pas- torate the church now owned and occupied, was erected. By a far-seeing policy the congregation acquired the valuable busi- ness corner at Tenth Avenue and Elev- -enth Street, which is now valued at $65,- ooo. There has been a steady growth in membership until at the present, 325 per- sons are enrolled. A wonderful growth in the Sunday-school is noted and the Fellow- ship Class, numbering 137 young men, en- joys the distinction of being the largest young men’s class in Altoona. In 1909, this class furnished what is known as the Fellowship Rooms, occupying the second floor of the business building owned by the congregation at the rear of the church. The aim of the Fellowship Rooms is to af- ford a place for proper moral intellectual and spiritual entertainment of young men. It is open house and not restricted to class or church members. In 1909 Rev. McCauley solicited the con- gregation to buy what was known as Union Chapel, at South Altoona, which had been -in operation some years with a Sunday- school, the membership of which never had exceeded sixty-nine. It was encumbered and at Rev. McCauley’s request, the Grace congregation bought the property for $500. It became known as Grace Chapel and im- mediately great advancement was made, the building having been enlarged to ac- commodate a Sunday-school of 366 mem- bers. $3,800 was spent in improvements and the property now has a value of more than $7,000. The wonderful work accom- plished by the pastor, both at the chapel and church, has met with hearty support and co-operation, and the present per cap- ita offering of $39, reveals the fact in un- mistakable terms. HISTORY OF BLAIR COUNTY Rev. Ernest Roedel McCauley was mar- ried September 7, 1897, to Miss Grace Beth Ford, a native of Cedar Rapids, Ia., and a daughter of Fred D. and Olive (Smith) Ford. Mr. Ford is deceased and his relict resides at the home of her daughter in Al- toona. A son, Harold Arthur Ford, who also lived at Altoona, was called to his final rest, March 29, 1909, at the age of twenty- three years. ' Mrs. McCauley, known to the world of music as Grace Ford McCauley, is a wom- an of many accomplishments and of charm- ing personality. Kindly endowed by nature, with a bright mind and wonderful voice, her ambition has carried her along in the cultivation of her talents to a plane not fre- quently attained. She excels as a linguist, singing and speaking in a number of lan- guages with equal facility. Musically, Mrs. McCauley first perfected herself on the pipe organ, taking her first lessons under Mrs. Hobensack, of Pittsburg, and attending the Frederick Archer lectures and recitals in the Carnegie Music Hall. She received vocal training under Herr Buchler, of Bos- ton, prior to spending a year abroad as a student in the Sternes Conservatory at Berlin. Nicholas Rothmuhl, famed as head of the dramatic school of that institution, and decorated as the royal chamber singer by Emperor William, says of his pupil: “She has the most wonderful quality and range of any singer I have ever taught.” Upon her return to the United States, Mrs. McCauley continued her studies under the great American teacher, Oscar Saenger, who, in speaking of her said: “Mrs. Mc- Cauley has the most remarkable voice in range and quality I have ever heard.” Com- ing from these great masters, known al- . most as well for their lack of sympathy and enconragement as for their ability as in- structors, these words are indeed generous and bespeak the surpassing quality of Mrs. McCauley’s voice. Rev. and Mrs. McCauley have two sons: William Ford, born January 30, 1900; and AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS Frederick Dixon, born December 25, 1902. The family home is at No. 1830 Twelfth Avenue, Altoona. H. B. REPLOGLE, M. D., physician and surgeon at Altoona, Pa., with convenient of- fice quarters at No. 612 Fourth Street, was born at Woodbury, Bedford County, Pa., in 1881, and came to Altoona in July, 1907. Dr. Replogle devotes his entire attention to his practice which is a large and substantial one. He was educated in the public schools and also by private tutors and pursued his med- ical studies in Hahnemann Medical College at Philadelphia, where he was graduated in 1906. He spent one year gaining most valuable prac- tical experience in the Metropolitan and Belle- vue Hospitals, in New York, and six months were devoted to the Opthalmic Hospital, after which the well prepared young physician came to Altoona. He engages in a general practice but makes something of a specialty of diseases of the eye, nose and throat and has been par- ticularly successful in this line. He is examin- ing physician for several fraternal organiza- tions. He is a member of the Blair County Homeopathic Society and the State organiza- tion and the North American Institute of Ho- meopathy and keeps thoroughly abreast with the times in his science. Dr. Replogle was married October 15, 1907, to Miss Cora Lee, a daughter of W. S. Lee, of Altoona, and they have one daughter, Eliza- beth Marguerite. Dr. and Mrs. Replogle are members of the Baptist church. “He is identi- fied with the Knights of Pythias. JOHN FAY, M. D.,* deceased, once Blair County’s acknowledged most eminent man of medicine, able as a physician and skilled as a surgeon, spent the greater part of his long, useful, beneficent life in the city of Altoona, Pa., where his death occurred December 6, 1907, he almost rounding out his seventy-seventh year. He was born at Williamsburg, Blair County, Pa., Decem- ber 14, 1830, and was one of a family of six sons born to his parents, who were Joseph and Catherine Fay. 883. John Fay obtained his early education in the local schools. Later he prepared for Jefferson Medical College at Philadelphia with a physician at Williamsburg, and in 1855, his name was inscribed as a graduate of that institution, on a list that reaches far back and includes many illustrious names in - the practice of medicine. He had scarcely entered upon the physician’s life ere the Civil War was precipitated, and with the instincts of the healer, he was anxious to enter into the great struggle which he fore- saw would not be of short duration. On August 16, 1862, he entered the army as assistant surgeon of the 125th Pa. Vol. Inf., and continued at the post of duty, whether on the field or in hospital or fever camp, until he was honorably discharged on ac- count of being prostrated by typhoid fever, in October, 1862. He continued his asso- ciation with old comrades as a member of the S. C. Potts Post, Grand Army of the Republic, at Altoona, and enjoyed their re- spect and esteem. In 1870 Dr. Fay established himself in practice at Altoona, entering into partner- ship at that time with Dr. J. M. Gemmill, under the firm name of Gemmill & Fay. He then had fifteen years of successful med- ical practice behind him and was already looked upon as a leader in his profession. The above partnership lasted for a few years and after the retirement of Dr. Gem- mill, Dr, Fay continued alone, at this time being appointed physician and surgeon of the Pennsylvania Railroad, one he contin- ued to fill until the close of his life. In every branch of medical science, Dr. Fay was at home, his natural abilities sup- plementing his knowledge and experience. His prominence was emphasized on many occasions by election to responsible admin- istrative offices in medical organizations and in scientific bodies. He was greatly in- terested when the establishing of a city hos- pital became a public question and so ac- tive was he in all preliminary measures with this great charity in view, that when the 884 hospital became a fact, his superior qualifi- cations were universally recognized and he was elected its chief of staff and remained in this responsible position during the con- tinuance of his life. On the wall of the main hall of this institution, the interested visitor may read this tablet: “In grateful memory of Dr. John Fay, Chief of Staff.” This memorial tablet was erected in 1907 by the medical staff of the hospital with im- posing and impressive ceremonies which in- cluded the unveiling of the tablet of bronze by a daughter of the physician whose mem- ory was so honored. Dr. Fay was a member of the following medical organizations: Just one year prior to his decease he cele- brated the anniversary of his entrance into practice, he being almost the Nestor of the profession in Altoona at that time. For a number of years he maintained his office in the Pennsylvania Railroad Building. Dr. Fay married Miss Catherine Royer, who, with their three children, Henry, Rob- ert H. and Ella, survives. He was a member of the First Presbyterian Church at Altoona. JOHN F. NELSON, an extensive fruit grower and progressive citizen of Antis Township, Blair County, Pa., son of James M. C. Nelson, who was of Scotch-Irish an- cestry, is the owner of a highly improved farm of 183 acres,,and was born December 20, 1858, in the upper school district of An- tis Township. James Nelson, grandfather of our subject, came from the Cumberland Valley about 1818, and located at the foot of Brush Mountain, in what now is Blair County, Pa. Here he became the owner of 600 acres of land, part of it being now known as the old Long farm. He here operated a saw-mill and powder-mill, then sold out and moved to Ohio, returned to Pennsylvania and set- tled on Long farm, now owned by our sub- ject. His father was blown up but not killed in the powder-mill. About 1835 Mr. HISTORY OF BLAIR COUNTY Nelson removed with his family to Ohio, but a year or two later returned to Blair County, where he spent the remainder of his life. He was buried in the Asberry Ceme- ‘tery. James M. C. Nelson, father of our subject, was born in 1828, at the foot of Brush Mountain, in what is now Blair County, Pa., and died in February, 1910, at the advanced age of 82 years. He married Amanda By- ers, who was born in Cambria County, Pa., and died in Blair County, at the age of 62 years. Of their union were born ten chil- dren, namely: Ai Nelson, deceased, was a resident of Logan Township; Maggie, is the wife of Asbury Miller of Fairview; John Franklin, the subject of this record; George, deceased, was a resident of Juniata; Sadie, married Harrison Cherry of Westchester, Pa.; Edith, widow of Wilson Foust, re- sides in Juniata, Pa.; Carrie, married Harry Weaver of Altoona; Emma, married Thomas Fouse of Juniata; Mary, deceased wife of Morris Fasic; and James B. Mr. Nelson was politically a Democrat. John F. Nelson was reared in Blair County, Pa., and has lived here all his life, with the exception of eight years, during part of which time he was engaged in oper- ating a blacksmith shop for himself. He has specialized in fruit growing all his life, receiving his first lessons from his father, but for the past 25 or 30 years has made it a business for himself. Of his farm of 183 acres, he devotes between 80 and go acres to fruit growing, having about 5,000 apple trees, and altogether has between nine and ten thousand fruit trees. His first crop is rhubarb, the second, strawberries, and the third, raspberries, is followed by plums, pears, peaches, grapes and apples. He ‘is thus engaged in marketing about eight months of the year, and runs one and two wagons daily. In connection with his fruit growing he also runs an hydraulic cider press, which is operated by steam. Mr. Nelson is a'so the propagator as well as a producer of many choice fruits, thereby AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS adding to fruit growing the nursery busi- ness, in which he is practically skilled. He is also the inventor of several useful devices for the farmer and fruit grower, thereby laying the foundation for the good and hap- piness of his fellow man in the present as well as in the coming generations. On January 9, 1882, Mr. Nelson was united in marriage with Clara A. Reigh, who was born in Antis Township, a daughter of John and Rachel (Neream) Reigh. Mrs. Nelson’s father was a native of Ger- many, and at the age of fourteen years came to this country with his father, Henry Reigh. John and Rachel Reigh were par- ents of the following children: Clara A., wife of subject; Lizzie, who is the widow of George Nelson, is a resident of Juniata; Harry, died in Williamsburg, Pa., in 1908; Martin, a butcher, lives in Juniata; Frank, lives in Juniata and is employed by the Pennsylvania Railroad Company; Ella, married John Zeigler of Juniata; Maggie, married Harry Boyles of Juniata; Edward, is in the meat business in Altoona, Pa.; and Mary, wife of Kyle Haggerty of Juniata. Ten children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Nelson: Ernest, died in in- fancy; Mary, is the wife of William Simp- son, and has one son,-James Dalbert; John, died aged two years and nine months; Aaron F., who lives on the home farm, mar- ried Blanche Baney and they have one son, John Marshall; Cora Bell; James Edison; Benjamin Franklin; George Dewey; Es- tella Clara; and Ai, who died aged eight months and eight days. Mr. Nelson and family are all members of .the Baptist Brethren church. He is politically a Pro- hibitionist, but was formerly a Democrat for some time. DAVID KAUFFMAN,* one of North Woodbury Township’s most respected cit- izens, a township official and a surviving sol- dier of the great Civil War, has been a resi- dent of this section for forty-two years. He was born in Bedford County, Pa., February 885 29, 1840, and is a son, of Frederick and An- nie Kauffman. Frederick Kauffman was born in Lancas- ter County, Pa., and in 1833 came from there to Bedford County and settled in Mid- dle Woodbury Township when that section was a wilderness. Mr. Kauffman remem- bers his parents’ stories of the hardships of those early days and of nights made sleep- less by the howling of wolves outside their log cabin. Frederick Kauffman became a man of local prominence and acceptably held numerous township offices and in the course of nature both he and wife passed away, a number of children surviving them. David Kauffman was reared on the pio- neer farm of his father in Middle Woodbury. Township and attended the district schools when opportunity offered. In August, 1862, he enlisted for service in the Civil War then in progress, entering Co. C, 133d Pa. Vol. Inf., in which he served faithfully for nine months, being attached to the Army of the Potomac, and during this period participat- ing in the battles of Antietam and Freder- icksburg, also Chancellorsville, together. with numerous skirmishes, in many of which his life was endangered. After the end of his term of enlistment and his honorable discharge, he returned to Bedford County, ‘but shortly afterward went to Hamilton County, Ind., where he married and lived for two years. In 1867 Mr. Kauffman re- turned to Bedford County, and in the fall of 1868 came-to North Woodbury Town- ship, Blair County, where he has lived ever since. In politics he is a Republican and at present is serving in the office of road tax collector. On December 22, 1863, Mr. Kauffman was married to Miss Elizabeth Gasho, who was born in Wayne County, Ind., a daugh- ter of Henry and Barbara (Kready) Gasho, who were natives of Lancaster County, Pa. When Mrs. Kauffman was three months old her parents moved to Hamilton County, - Ind., where she. was reared and married. Six children were born to Mr. and Mrs. ~~ N 886 Kauffman, namely: Mary, who is the wife of William Keith, residing in Blair County ; Barbara, who is the wife of James Morgan, residing in North Woodbury Township; Missouri, who is the wife of George F. Stonerook, living in North Woodbury Township; Irvin G., who also lives in North Woodbury Township; Andrew G., who lives in Taylor Township; and Harry, who is deceased. -Mr. and Mrs. Kauffman are members of the Mennonite church. DAVID ALLEN RIGGLE, who carries on general farming on the old home place in Antis Township, has been a life long resi- dent of Blair County, Pa., and was born January 15, 1837, on the place where he now lives, a son of Henry and Elizabeth (Smith) Riggle. Henry Riggle and his father came from Maryland and were the first of the family to locate in Blair County, Pa. He pur- chased the farm on which our subject lives from Daniel Domer, who had not cleared any of the land, but had built a cabin upon it. This farm, which consisted of 122 acres, was cleared by Henry Riggle and placed in a state of cultivation. Henry Riggle first married a Miss Buttonburg, by whom he had three sons, all of whom died in infancy. His second marriage was with Elizabeth Smith, a daughter of John Smith, who lived in Logan Township on the farm where Frank Black now lives. Seven daughters and six sons were born to Henry and Eliza- beth Riggle: Matilda, deceased wife of Simpson Manley, also deceased; Mary Ann, the wife of David Manley of Antis Town- ship; John Amos, died aged four years; David Allen; Sarah Jane, the widow of John Calvert of Altoona; Alexander, was residing in the brick house at Asbury Church at the time of his death; Martin, died in the army during the Civil War; Lu- cinda, the wife of John C. Smith of Homer’s Gap; Amanda, lives with her sister, Mrs. John Smith; Joseph, lives in Fairview, Blair County; Luther, was a resident of Bell- HISTORY OF BLAIR COUNTY wood, died at the age of 35 years; and Sa- vannah, deceased wife of Lloyd Burkholder of Blair’s Furnace. David A. Riggle has always, lived on his present farm and now sleeps in the room in which he was born. He spent about eight years on the upper farm, which is also on this place, and at the early age of 12 years began handling the team on the home work. Mr. Riggle subsequently sold the farm at a ‘good price, to the Pennsylvania Railroad Company from whom he now rents the land, and also looks after the company’s water rights. Mr, Riggle also owns a farm of 54 acres below Salem Church and has recently set out a young orchard. He has also oper- ated a saw-mill and threshing machine for the past six years, and is very hale and active for one of his years. On January 25, 1858, Mr. Riggle married Louisa A. Myers, who was born on a farm near Birmingham, Huntingdon County, and is a daughter of Martin and Anna (Ganoe) Myers. Nine children were born of this un- ion, namely: Isa Dora is the wife of Joseph Glasgow of Blandburg, Cambria County, Pa.; Ida May, deceased wife of David Bur- kett, resided near Everett, Pa.; Ira Martin, died aged 20 years; Idella, married Joseph Conrad of Antis Township; Ina Kate, who married William Doyle, lives on the home place; Ithiel Henry, died aged four years; Iberry Asa, died aged two and a half years; Imer Josiah, lives in Kansas; and Iota, who lives athome. Although Mr. and Mrs, Rig- gle have been married for more than a half of a century, they did not celebrate their golden wedding, and the names of the nine children born to them all begin with an I. Mr. Riggle is politically a Republican, and has served in the various township offices. He is a member of the Patrons of Hus- bandry. A. K. FIGART,* justice of the peace for over forty-five years in the town of Franks- town, Pa., who now lives more or less re- tired from all but official activity, is one of AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS the leading and substantial citizens of this place. He was born in Sinking Valley, Pa., November 25, 1825, and is a son of William and Sarah (Kantner) Figart. He was the fifth born in his parents’ family of éight chil- dren and is one of the two survivors, the other being a sister, Ellen, who is the wife of John Stiver. ; Although educational. advantages were not so easily secured when Mr. Figart was a boy, as at present, he obtained a fair knowledge of books before’he was consid- ered too old to attend school. He worked for a time on his father’s farm and then learned the blacksmith’s trade, one which he followed for forty years. In the mean- while he acquired real estate and owns a blacksmith shop and two residence proper- ties. In 1846 Mr. Figart was married to Miss Mary Cruse, who died March 10, 1903. She was a daughter of John and Mary Cruse, old settlers in Frankstown Township, whose other children were: Frederick, John, William and Sidney. Five daughters and three sons were born to Mr, and Mrs. Figart, namely: Mary Ellen, who is de- ceased, was the wife of William Ling; Eliz- abeth, who is deceased, was the wife of George W. Kemberling; Edward Forest; Lloyd; Alice, who is deceased; Woods Dorsey, who is deceased; Ora Ann, who lives with her father; and Mollie, who is the widow of William A. Crole. Judge Figart is a member of the Baptist church. In pol- itics he is a Republican and in earlier years was a Whig. He has served as school di- rector and as constable and has held the of- fice of justice of the peace probably as long a continuous period as any other justice in Blair County. His long life has been mainly spent amidst familiar surroundings and probably no other citizen of Blair County is better posted on local matters or can re- late more interesting stories pertaining to the events which actually make up the his- tory of a community. He is held in the highest esteem by his fellow citizens. X 887 HENRY C. CRIDER, proprietor of a general store, and also postmaster at Sab- bath Rest post office, Blair County, has been a life long resident of this county. He was born June 23, 1861, in Tyrone, Pa., a son of Peter and Ruth (McFarland) Crider. The first immigrant of the Crider family was Jacob Crider, who came to America in 1712, obtaining from William Penn 800 acres of land near Lancaster, Pa. He was followed by Martin Crider, who with three sons—Joseph, John Jacob, and Frederick— landed in Philadelphia September 16, 1736, Martin, who was a blacksmith by trade, set- tled near Conestoga, Lancaster County, Pa., and the family owned a considerable quantity of land in LeEsnon Township, that county. Martin Crider had other children, for we find that his son Henry (born_1746, died November 15, 1779) married Barbara Yoder, who came from Switzerland. Among their children was Peter, great- grandfather of the subject of this sketch, who was born August 15, 1776, and died March 18, 1818, in Sinking Valley, which was then in Huntingdon, but is now in Blair County. The next in line of descent was Henry, grandfather of our subject, who came here from Lancaster County, and who married Maria Sellers. Their family, which was large, consisted mostly of girls, there being but one son, Peter. Peter Crider, above mentioned, was born on a farm a short distance out of Tyrone, Pa., and became a farmer, which occupa- tion he followed until within a few years ago. He married Ruth McFarland, a daughter of John McFarland, and their family was as follows: Henry C., whose name appears at the head of this sketch; Leah, now deceased, who was the wife of James Wood; John, who is residing in Al- toona; Lizzie, wife of Harry Sutton, of Al- toona; George, who died at the age of twenty years; Myrtle, who died at the age of seven; C, W., who is now a resident of Altoona, Pa. Mrs. Ruth Crider, the mother 888 of the above mentioned children, died De- cember 31, 1910, and Mr. Peter Crider is now living in retirement at Pinecroft. Henry C. Crider was about nine years of age when his parents moved to Elizabeth Furnace, and with the exception of twelve years spent in Altoona, he has always re- sided here. He carried on general farming until 1892, when he was appointed postmas- ter at Sabbath Rest, the post office for which place was for years known as Elizabeth Furnace, but is now known as Pinecroft. About the time of his appointment as post- master, Mr. Crider opened a general store, and for the past three years he has also been operating a planing-mill and a cider mill, Mr. Crider was married October 25, 1881, to Margaret Woomer, who was born and reared at Elizabeth Furnace, and is a daugh- ter of James and Mary (Oswalt) Woomer, both of whom were reared in Blair County. The following children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Crider: Mary, who died when but a few days old; Grace, who is the wife of Howard McKnight and the mother of ‘ four children—William, Anna, Isabel- and Clara Bell; Ruth, who married Wilbur Peters, of Elizabeth Furnace, and has one child—May; Clara Belle, who died at the age of five years; Alma and Mila, who were twins; Peter, who died at the age of about one year; Harry, who resides at home; Ed- ward, who died at the age of two years; and _ Margaret Leora. In politics Mr. Crider is identified with the Republican party and has served as auditor of the township for two years. His religious connection is with the Lutheran church. CHARLES H. MANLOVE,* who has been a resident of Altoona, Pa., for the past 26 years, is superintendent of the Census Department of this city and also carries on a general street contracting business. He was born in 1862, in Philadelphia, Pa., and there reared and educated. Early in life he worked in the mills, but later became a pro- HISTORY OF BLAIR COUNTY fessional ball player and followed that pro- fession for three years. He then spent 23 years working in the shops of the Pennsyl- vania Railroad at Altoona, after which he engaged in the cigar and tobacco business for some time. Mr. Manlove is identified with the Republican party and has always taken an active interest in political affairs, having served as county and city chairman of the Republican party. Mr. Manlove was married October 16, 1884, to Minnie Moore of Altoona; and of their union were born the following chil- dren: Peter, who lives in California; Charles H., who is studying medicine at the University of Valparaiso; Florence, the wife of E. C. Meinhart of Altoona; Bertha; Thomas R. and Marion. Mr. Manlove is fraternally a member of the K. of P., the Fagles, and the Moose. EDWARD BELL DYSART, proprietor of a general store at Tipton, Pa., is also ex- tensively engaged in dairying, and has al- ways resided on the old home place, which is located in Antis Township, about a quar- ter of a mile from Tipton, and is the owner of two farms adjoining the home place; also owner of Tipton and surrounding farms. He was born February 17, 1844, in Antis Township, Blair County, Pa., and is a son of William Patterson and Elizabeth (Bell) Dysart. Alexander Dysart, grandfather of our subject, was a native of Ireland, his old an- cestral home being at Karnamady, near Londonderry. In the neighborhood of 1780 he came to America. He was one of the early settlers of Sinking Valley, Tyrone Township, Blair County, Pa., and traded there some time with the Indians. He be- came the owner of several farms in Sink- ing Valley, and served three terms in the Legislature from Huntingdon County, which is now known as Blair County. He died in 1850. He married Eleanor Patter- son, a daughter of Col. John Patterson, who fought in the War of the Revolution, and AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS + was killed in battle near Philadelphia. Her mother was a Dysart, and after the death of Col. Patterson, her mother married a Dysart, who was a brother of Alexander Dysart, grandfather of our subject. The Pattersons settled and farmed in the region east of Huntingdon, along the river, where some of their descendents still live. William Patterson Dysart, father of Ed- ward Bell, was born and reared in Sinking Valley, Tyrone Township, Blair County, Pa., and in early manhood clerked around in the iron works. He finally built an iron works where Fred Bland now resides in about 1826, and in about 1832, after selling the iron works to Mr. McCamant, moved to the farm which our subject now owns. He built a home and otherwise improved the farm, which his father had owned, and also became the owner of several other tracts of land. He conducted a store on the home place and in 1850 built a store at Tipton, and operated this continuously until his death in 1870. He was buried in private burying grounds on the home place. He was a member of the Baptist church, of which he was a deacon for many years, and was politically a Whig, and later a Repub- lican. William P. Dysart married Elizabeth Bell, a daughter of Edward Bell, and a rep- - resentative of one of the prominent old fam- ilies of this vicinity. Of their union were born ten children: Anna Mary, deceased wife of Fleming Holliday, was a resident of Philadelphia at the time of her death; Ellen, married Asbury Stewart, and was residing with our subject at the time of her death; Alexander, deceased, was a resident of An- tis Township; Sarah, who died in 1909, in Antis Township, was an army nurse during the Civil War; Eliza Bell, is the wife of Dewitt C. Taylor of Tyrone; Margaret, lives with her brother, subject of this rec- ord; Edward Bell, subject; Florence, who lives with a sister in Tyrone, Pa., was a home missionary for many years; Cather- ine, married Franklin W. Stewart of Hunt- ingdon, Pa.; and William Patterson, Jr., de- 889 ceased, was for many years employed by the railroad. He was employed in the offices at Philadelphia when stricken with his fatal illness, but died on the home place near Tip- ton. Edward Bell Dysart has always lived on the home farm, and since boyhood has worked in the store, which he now owns. His education was obtained in the local schools of the township and at Pennsylvania State College, where he spent two and a half years. Mr..Dysart manages the work on the home place, which now consists of about 1,000 acres, and also owns and man- ages two adjoining farms. He for many years made a specialty of raising short horn cattle, but is now extensively engaged in dairying, in connection with general farm- ing. Mr. Dysart also has property inter- ests in Altoona, and is a stockholder in the First National Bank at Tyrone, Pa. He is a Citizen of enterprise and public spirit, and is recognized as one of the substantial and influential farmers of the township. A. few years ago Mr. Dysart visited his grand- father’s ancestral home near Londonderry, Ireland, the old place having recently changed hands, and he also visited Italy and France. HON. JOHN K. RAY, formerly bur- gess of Tyrone, Pa., and a representative business man of the place, is superintend- ent of the North Star Tannery of the Elk Tanning Company, a large commercial en- terprise of Tyrone. adelphia, Pa., September 28, 1853, and is a son of Daniel P. and Anna (Keim) Ray. Daniel P. Ray was born in New Hamp- shire and when he was fifteen years of age accompanied his parents to Penna. He became a manufacturer of belts and .in 1865 came to Altoona and conducted the tannery that then was located on Ninth Street, near Fairview Cemetery. When the lease expired he did not renew it and on May 15, 1871, discontinued his manufac- turing business. He broke the ground for He was born at Phil- ~ 890 the erection of what is known as the Bald Eagle Tannery at Tyrone, in 1870. On Thanksgiving Day, in the following year, he located at Tyrone and conducted the above tannery until the time of his death, March 24, 1881. He married Anna Keim, who lived to the age of seventy-two years. They had two sons and two daughters: John K.; Daniel P.; Catherine E., who is the widow of J. William Howe, of Tyrone, Pa., now residing in Erie, Pa.; and Emily K., who is the widow of Charles W. Gray, residing at Ocean Park, Cal. John K. Ray is a graduate of the Phil- adelphia public schools. He came to Ty- rone with his parents and has resided here since 1871. After his father’s death, in as- sociation with his brother, Daniel P., and the late J. William Howe, his brother-in- law, he conducted the Bald Eagle Tannery until May 1, 1893, when it was merged with the U. S. Leather Company. Daniel P. Ray one year later removed to Olean, N. Y., where he has charge of a tannery. When running .on full time the tannery with which Mr. Ray of Tyrone is identified, about fifty men are given employment, the product being sole leather. Mr. Ray is a thoroughly competent man in this line of business with which he has been identified since boyhood. ‘In politics Mr. Ray is a Democrat and he has been a very active and useful citizen. This fact has been recognized and he has frequently been urged to accept public of- fice and served four years as a member of the city council and also as burgess. He owns valuable property and has a beautiful brick residence at No. 814 Washington Av- enue, where he and family have resided since April, 1886. Mr. Ray was married September 1, 1876, to Miss Maria Cadwallader, a daughter of Horatio P. and Mary (McClaskey) Cad- wallader, of Potter’s Mill, Center County, Pa. They have had the following children: John Waldron, deceased; Daniel P.; Horatio C.; Emily, deceased; and Anna. HISTORY OF BLAIR COUNTY Daniel P. Ray, who is a practicing physi- ° cian at Johnstown, Pa., is a graduate of Dickenson College, at Carlisle, and of the Johns Hopkins Medical College, of Balti- more, locating at Johnstown August 1, 1908. He was married May 5, 1909, to Miss Mary McQuown, who died January 28, 1910. She was a daughter of Hon. M. L. McQuown, a member of the State Sen- -ate from Clearfield County. ‘Horatio C. Ray is a graduate of the Pennsylvania State College. He is a mining engineer and spent four years in work in his profes- sion in the far West and in Mexico. On September I, 1910, he was appointed pro- fessor of metallurgy in the University of Pittsburg, Pa. For many years Mr. Ray has been prominent in Masonry and his membership is as follows: Tyrone Lodge, No. 494, F. & A. M.; Mountain Chapter, No. 189, R. A. M., Altoona; Mountain Council, R. S. M.; Mountain Commandery, No. 10, K. T., Altoona; Harrisburg Con- ‘sistory and Scottish Rite at Harrisburg; Lulu Temple, Philadelphia, Nobles of the Mystic Shrine; and the Masonic Veterans. He attends many important conclaves and enjoys the honors. and hospitalities very generally accorded this ancient fraternity. He is identified also with Lodge No. 212, Tyrone, B. P. O. E. . JOSEPH WALKER PARKS, proprietor of the Wopsy Poultry Yards, located two and a half miles northwest of Altoona on the Altoona and Beech Creek Railroad is a man young in years but of more than na- tional reputation as a poultryman. Al- though he has won numerous firsts with show birds at many of the best shows, it is in commercial qualities he has excelled. “Parks’ 200 Egg-Strain, bred-to-lay, Barred Plymouth-Rocks,” have attracted the wid- est attention and he has made shipments. of eggs to all parts of this country, Hawaii and Mexico. He also has shipped chickens to all parts of the world, to Spain, England, Australia, Porto Rico and Cuba, Panama, AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS Alaska. The Wopsy Poultry Yards have furnished chickens for the Pennsylvania State College, the Arkansas State College, Iowa State College, and also the Govern- ment Indian Reservation in Oklahoma. Mr. Parks has made a study of the business from every standpoint, and the success with which he has met where others have failed, shows the reward of intelligent and well merited effort. Joseph Walker Parks was born in Kaiser, W. Va., May 30, 1881, and is a son of Joseph R. and Alice Carolina (Ross) Parks. His mother died July 17, 1904, and was buried at Maurers Cemetery. His father resides with him, and is assessor of Logan Township, a position he has filled for a number of years. Joseph W. Parks was one year old when his parents moved to Altoona, Pa., and here he was reared and educated, attend- ing the public schools and the Altoona Business College. He had a fancy for pet stock from the first of his recollections and when quite a small tot had a very nice se- lection of bunnies, and his first start in chickens was of a pair that he traded two rabbits for. Then his next venture was to pay $1 for three hens; the chickens were immediately named and he has and prizes very highly the old record book that he kept of the work of the biddies, each one having its name—one Bess, Gray, Nellie, and Blacky—and while there were no rap nests at that time, Mr. Parks knew each hen’s eggs, and kept a close record of same, and his old books show that Gray laid 20 eggs without missing a day. Mr. Parks living in town and only having a small lot, worked at several different jobs, but the hen. fever enthusiasm carried him over seemingly insurmountable obstacles, showing that he had struck the proper channel. Mr. Parks was three months in the em- ploy of Howard Cox, whom he in after years bought out. May 1, 1899, with less than five dollars in his pocket, he started west on a bicycle with a view of obtaining 891 a job on a poultry farm. He went to the farm of Mr. Keeler at Winnemac, Indiana, and although his means were practically ex- hausted, he would not accept the offer made to him. He immediately started for Hope, Indiana, sleeping out in the open en rotte, and upon his arrival entered the employ of Sidney Conger, after riding 23 days. He remained six months, and then for five months was with Judge B. N. Pierce of Indianapolis, preparing the latter’s birds for the various shows, including the Chicago and Indianapolis Shows. Returning to Al- toona he persuaded his parents to move to the farm on which he now lives. He re- mained home five or six months, then re- turned to Judge Pierce at Indianapolis. In the spring he again came home and started his poultry farm on a scientific basis, in ad- dition to his stock, having purchased the chickens and equipment from his former employer, Mr. Cox. Being short of means, he worked nights in the railroad shops, at- tending to his chickens during the day. In 1903 Mr. Parks left the business in charge of his father and again went to Hope, Indiana, where he prepared the chickens of U. R. Fishell, the largest specialty breeder in the world, for the World’s Fair at St. Louis. He-had charge of the car with all the poultry from that section of Indiana, and upon his arrival at St. Louis was made assistant superintendent at the World’s Fair. Of five events in competition with the world, some 700 White Rocks being en- tered, Fishell captured three firsts with birds prepared by Mr. Parks. After the close of the fair he returned to his home and with renewed energy turned his atten- tion to the development of his own farm. It was his aim to raise chickens with good commercial points rather than show birds, and he labored incessantly to improve the strain of his Barred Plymouth Rocks, im- proving his place with all that was modern and most approved for the care of his stock. The results were of the best and prize after prize has fallen to his flock. Prof. Graham 892 of the Ontario Agriculture College pro- nounced his the best for commercial pur- poses he had seen. He has selected pens, containing chickens only with records of 200 eggs or better a year. Some have bet- ter records and one has a record of 255 eggs in 365 consecutive days. There is a con- stant demand for eggs and chickens, and the letters received from purchasers are such that Mr. Parks may well look with ‘pride upon what he has accomplished. He has now in course of construction an incu- bator and brooder house, 25 by 110 feet, with one 20,000 capacity incubator, and one 3,500 chick capacity brooder. Heat is supplied with two automatic hard coal stoves. Mr. Parks is also inventor and pat- entee of a device for breaking up broody hens, that has been a boon to the poultry business and is proving a profitable invest- ment for the time spent in working out same. He gives much of the credit for his success to his father, who also had an inter- “est in the business until the fall of 1909, when our subject bought his father’s inter- est. On February 6, 1908, Mr. Parks was mar- ried to Viola Eleanor Moore, who was born in Logan Township, and is a daughter ‘of Calvin B. Moore. Two children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Parks: Joseph Calvin, and Robert Richard. Mr. Parks is politically a Republican, although inclined to be independent, and has served two years as township clerk. He is a member of the P. O. S. of A., the Grangers and the Amer- ican Poultry Association. SAMUEL B. HARE, who, through the pos- session of a logical mind, force of character and natural forensic ability, combined with both theoretical and practical knowledge of the law, has become a leading member of the bar of Blair County, belongs to one of the prominent families of this county. He was born at Al- toona, Pa., December 16, 1873, and is a son of William M. and Harriet (Lafferty) Hare. William M. Hare, who was one of Altoona’s HISTORY OF BLAIR COUNTY prominent and representative business men, was born October 12, 1842, in Mifflin County, Pa., and died October 16, 1910, and was a son of William and Matilda (Goodman) Hare. Will- iam Hare was also born in Mifflin County, later became a business man at Mill Creek and there served many years as a justice of the peace. He married Eliza Goodman; of Lan- caster County and they both died in Catherine Township, Blair County, where they had been people of quiet lives but useful and respected. Their large farm came into the possession of their children. William M. Hare remained on the home farm until he was twenty-two years of age and then moved to Altoona and there en- gaged in the meat business until 1889, after which he gave his attention to livestock and realty. The beautiful family residence is situ- ated at No. 90g Chestnut Avenue, Altoona. In 1864 he married Harriet Lafferty, also of Blair County, and they have seven children, five daughters and two sons. Of the latter, Samuel B. is the subject of this record. Harry is en- gaged in farming. Samuel B. Hare was educated in the public schools and Susquehanna University, and in 1897 became a student of the Dickinson Law ‘School at Carlisle, Pa., where he was gradu- ated in the following year. He was admitted to the bar of Blair County in January, 1900, and on October 26, 1903, he was admitted to practice in the Supreme Court, and on April 26, 1905, in the Superior Court. Like older members of his family, Mr. Hare is a strong Republican and he has frequently been elected to public offices and urged warmly for others. For four years he served as borough solicitor of Juniata, is attorney for the board of road supervisors of Logan Township, and in 1904 was a candidate for district attorney, an office his many friends desire him to fill after the election in 1911, being a candidate before the primaries. He has a large and substantial private practice and is also claim agent and ad- juster for the Altoona and Logan Valley Elec- tric Railway Company, under the control of the American Railway Company of Philadelphia. On September 18, 1906, Mr. Hare was mar- . AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS ried to Miss Mildred Grace Orner, a daughter of Martin V. Orner, of Altoona, a prominent citizen holding the office of building inspector. Mr. and Mrs. Hare are members of Grace Lutheran Church. They reside at No. 1208 Tenth Street, Mr. Hare’s offices being in the Nicholson Building. He is identified frater- nally with the Elks and the Knights of Pythias. AUGUSTUS ELLSWORTH BACH- ERT, civil and mining engineer, whose technical connections include membership in the American Society of Civil Engineers ; American Institute of Mining Engineers; Engineers’ Society of Pennsylvania; Amer- ‘ican Electrochemical Society, and who is also a member of the board of examiners of the Eighteenth Bituminous District of Penn- sylvania, is a man of distinction in his pro- fession and since May, 1909, has been a resident of Tyrone, Pa. He was born in Rush Township, Schuylkill County, Pa., not far from Tamaqua, August 14, 1862, _and is a son of William M. and Susannah (Messerschmidt) Bachert. Mr. Bachert, together with many other men of achievement at the present day, realizes the present and constantly increas- ing value of biography and to the lack of this interest in the past, he, with others, has found difficulties in tracing family relation- ships and ancestral data beyond a certain period. Old family papers have been gath- ered by him and an organization formed for the furthering of genealogical research into the origin of a widely distributed fam- ily bearing the similar names of: Bacher, Bachert, Bauchert, Baucher, and others of near orthography. He has found a mass of facts and evidence leading very far back and while many connecting links are absent, it is his hope that in his lifetime the obscur- ity of the past as to his family beginnings may be cleared. To this end he has con- sulted many authorities and quotations may be made from some of these. In Rupp’s “Thirty Thousand Immigrants in Pennsyl- 893 vania” it is stated: “Francis Daniel Pasto- rius, born at Sommerhausen, in Franconia, Germany, September 26, 1651, arrived at Philadelphia in the ship America, Capt. Jo- seph Wasey, August 20, 1683, with his fam- ily. He was accompanied by a few German emigrants” and among these appears the name of Conrad Bacher, alias Rutter. Again, “October 16, 1727, forty-six Pala- tines with their families, about two hundred persons, imported in the ship Friendship, of Bristol, John Davies, Master, from Rot- terdam, last from Cowes, whence the ship sailed June 2oth, had on board Nicholas Bo- gert.” “On September 5, 1730, forty-five Palatines with their families, one hundred and thirty persons, imported in the ship Alexander and Ann, William Clymer, Mas- ter, from Rotterdam, last from Cowes, had on board a Rudolph Messerschmidt,” the maiden name of the mother of Mr. Bachert being Messerschmidt. Among numerous other references from the same authority, it is found that on September 23, 1732, one Nicholas Bogerdt, was imported in the ship Adventurer. Mr. Bachert deems is prob- able that this Nicholas Bogerdt was the Nicholas Bachert, who, with Solomon and Jacob Bachert, were all taxables at the time of the formation of Berks County, Pa., was his direct ancestor. Other states than Pennsylvania, especially those of North Carolina and Georgia, in which Palatines settled between 1709 and 1710, in the for- mer state and between 1734 and 1741, in the latter, a similarity of names is discov- ered, and in fact, a study is necessary of names which, at first sight, seem dissimilar, must be made in order to secure an authen- tic history. Old documents prove that re- lated branches of the family spelled the name—Bachert, Baucher, Bauchert, Bau- gher, Bougher and Pughard, while present correspondence is being carried on with M. Quentin Bauchard, Member of the Munici- pal Council, Chateau de Villers-le-Sec, Aisne, France, regarding other ofthogra- phy and possible connecting family links. 894 The name is well known and represented in France as Bauchart and Boucher, the latter being a corruption from the ancient Celtic of Bouchonnier. The tracing of one’s an- cestry is a laudable ambition and a fasci- nating study. This is especially so when as in Mr. Bachert’s case, no heroic deeds of forebears are required to establish his own prominence or prove his usefulness in his own generation. William Miller Bachert, father of Augus- tus E. Bachert, was born in Schuylkill County, Pa., in March, 1839. He was a son of William Bachert, a grandson of Nicholas Bachert, and a great-grandson of Nicholas Bacher, who served in the Revolutionary War. William Miller Bachert was a builder and contractor and also was a man- ufacturer of powder and supplied this neces- sity to the Government during the Civil War, after attempting to become a soldier, his application being refused on account of his being below the required size. He was a man of much importance and served two consecutive terms in the General Assembly from 1889 until 1893, being elected on the Democratic ticket. His death occurred in 1903. He married Susannah Messer- schmidt, who survives. Her father, who was born in Berks County, was taken to Schuylkill County in boyhood. His father, Valentine Messerschmidt was with Gen- eral Washington’s army at Valley Forge. To William M. and Susannah Bachert the following children were born: Augus- tus Ellsworth; Mary, who is the wife of J. A. Zehner, a civil engineer, residing at Wilkesbarre, Pa.; William Franklin, who is a carpenter foreman, and resides at Sum- mit Hill, Carbon County, Pa.; Hannah E., who married F. W. Becker, a truck farmer in Schuyikill County; Norman J., who is a builder and contractor, living at Newark, N. J.; Sadie, who married Alexander For- sythe, a resident of New Rochelle, N. Y., who is train dispatcher for the N. Y., N. H. & Hartford R. R.; Hosea, whose death fol- lowed that of his father, a widow and son tending college; HISTORY OF BLAIR COUNTY a surviving him; Laura, who is the wife of William H. Meese, a train dispatcher on the N. J. Central R. R.; Edgar E., who was a school teacher, resides near Tamerend and has charge of the air brakes and pumps for the Jersey City R. R., at that point. Augustus E. Bachert started to school when he was only four years of age, early displaying that unusual alertness of mind that has been the means in large degree of enabling its possessor to reach his present. advanced place in his profession while a comparatively young man. After a period spent in the State Normal School at Mil- lersville, he entered the Ohio Northern University in 1882 and was graduated in civil engineering in the class of 1885. He lost no time in looking about for some easy position, but within two weeks was hard at work along the line in which his advance- ment has been continuous. However, when only a boy, he had shown ability and a de- cided taste for engineering and had sur- prised his associates with his enthusiasm and accuracy. Thus, Mr. Bachert’s engi- neering record, which is as follows, begins long before he had won any technical di- ploma: 1874-5, at the age of twelve years, began as chainman and on instrument work on property surveys in Schuylkill, Carbon and Luzerne Counties, Pa.; 1876, made property surveys and these settled disputed boundaries between Philadelphia & Read- R. R., H. A: Weldy & Co., and others; 1876-1885, made property surveys while at- 1885-6, chainman South Pennsylvania R. R., Div. III, under F. H. Clement and Gaylord Thompson, and’ en- gaged upon property surveys; 1886-90, as- sistant to Thomas S. McNair, Resident En- gineer, Lehigh Valley R. R., location and construction on railroad, hydraulic and mining (anthracite coal) engineering; 18go- 95, resident engineer and land agent, East Broad Top R. R., Rockhill Iron & Coal Company, Broad Top Improvement Com- pany and Broad Top Semi-Anthracite Coal Company; 1895-6, architecture and con- AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS tracting, Hazelton, MacAdoo, Pa.; 1896- 1900, assistant engineer to Thomas S. Mc- Nair, chief engineer, Cranberry Improve- ment Company, Union Improvement Com- pany, Black Creek Improvement Company, and Highland Coal Company, engaged upon railroad, mining, hydraulic and municipal engineering; 1900-1904, division engineer and division superintendent, H. C. Frick Coke Company, in charge of Leisenring Division, consisting of Leisenring Nos. 1, 2, 3 and the Trotter, Adelaide, Rist, Henry Clay, Davidson, Youngstown and Bitner mines and over 3,000 coke ovens—Connells- ville, Pa.; 1904-5, chief engineer Ellsworth Coal Company, Ellsworth, Washington County, Pa.; 1905-09, general superintend- ent, Rockhill Iron & Coal Company, Broad Top Improvement Company, and Broad Top Semi-Anthracite Coal Company; 1907, January 1, appointed chief engineer, East Top R. R: in addition to above duties; 1909, May 1, opened an engineering office at Tyrone, Pa.; forty-five mile connecting steam railroad. In October, 1885, Mr.. Bachert was mar- ried to Miss Ada E. Weaver, a daughter of Charles F. and Catherine (Moyer) Weaver, of Delano, Schuylkill County, and they have three children: Olive Amy, Mabel and Helen. Olive Amy completed her musical education at Darlington Seminary. She is the wife of Jesse E. Bell, of Weatherly, Carbon County, Pa. The second daughter adopted the noble profession of a nurse, graduating from the Homeopathic Hospi- tal at Reading, Pa. She is now the wife of T. J. Hussion, who is foreman of the Big Four Railroad shops at Urbana, Ill. The youngest daughter is a student in the Ty- rone High School. Mr. Bachert is a member of Hazle Lodge, No. 327; F. & A. M., (a life member) Hazelton, Pa.; Standing Stone Chapter, No. 201, R. A. M., Huntingdon, Pa.; Har- risburg Council, No. 7, R. & S M., Harris- oe Huntingdon Commandery, No. 65, K. T., Huntingdon, Pa.; Harrisburg Lodge \ 1910, August, locating a Elizabeth Bell, 895 of Perfection, No. 14, Harrisburg; Harris- burg Council, Princes of Jerusalem, 16th degree; Harrisburg Chapter, Rose Croix, 18th degree; Harrisburg Consistory, S. P. R. S., 32d degree, Harrisburg; Iran Tem- ple, A. A. O. N. M. S., Wilkesbarre; Correspondence Circle, Quatuor Coronati, Lodge 2076, London, Eng; Correspond- ence Circle, Lodge of Research, No.: 2429, Leicester, Eng.; Huguenot Commandery, No. 405, A. & I. O., Knights of Malta, Rob- ertsdale, Pa.; William McKinley Lodge, No. 13, 1. 0. O. F., Connellsville, Pa.; De- lano Council, No. 958, Royal Arcanum, Delano, Schuylkill County, Pa.; Tyrone Lodge, No. 212, B. P. O. E., Tyrone; Schuylkill County Historical Society, Potts- ville, Pa.; Pennsylvania German Society, and the National Geographic Society, Washington, D. C. IRA RUSH BURNS, who was elected. chief burgess of Bellwood, Pa., in March, 1909, is the present incumbent of that office, and has been a resident of this borough for the past 20 years. He was born May 18, 1866, in Lake City, Minn., and is a son of Capt. W. J. and Elizabeth (Bell) Burns. Capt. W. J. Burns was born in Mifflin County, Pa., December 6, 1838, and worked at his trade here as a carpenter until the beginning of the war. He enlisted as a lieutenant in Co. M, 16th Pa. Cavalry, at a call of Andrew G, Curtin for 16,000 cavalry- men, and when his captain was killed was made captain of Griggs Cavalry. After the war he moved to Lake City, Minn., and re- turned some few years later to Huntingdon County, but is now a resident of Bellwood, Pa. He was first united in marriage with who died in December, 1869, leaving two children: Ira R.; and Helen (Mrs. Myton) of Altoona, Pa. Mr. Burns formed a second union with Maggie Bell, a sister of his former wife, and of this. union were born four children: Lizzie (Collier) of Pittsburg, Pa.; Charles, a resi- 896 dent of Huntingdon; Harry, living in Al- toona; and Ray, who lives in Pittsburg. Ira R. Burns was reared in Huntingdon County, and taught there six years, teach- ing his home school at Saulsburg; Pa., at the age of 16 years, and also taught nine years in Bellwood and in Antis Township. He learned carpentering when 16 years of age, and followed that business during the summers and since has been engaged in the same. He is one of the leading funeral di- rectors of Bellwood and his father also fol- lowed that line of business after coming here. Mr. Burns served little over two years as postmaster at Bellwood—under President McKinley one year—and was also appointed under President Roosevelt as an anti-Quay man in 1902, but the appoint- ment was not confirmed by the senate. He is politically a Republican and served some years on the county committee. Mr. Burns affiliates with the Maccabees of Altoona, and the F. O. E. of Bellwood. In 1888 Mr. Burns was joined in marriage with Bessie Snyder, who was born in Hunt- ingdon County and educated in the McCal- listerville schools. She is a daughter of John Snyder, who was an old soldier, and at an early age was left on orphan. Seven children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Burns: Clarence, employed as a stenographer for the Pennsylvania Railroad Company; Earl, employed in a store in Bellwood; Warren, who works in the office of the Pennsylvania Railroad Company; Daisy, attending school; Molly, who attends school; Agnes, also in school; and Ira Burns, Jr. The family holds membership with the Logan Valley Presbyterian Church. ADAM J. WOLF,* deceased, for many years was one of the most highly respected citizens of Hollidaysburg, where he was en- gaged successfully in the cabinetmaking and undertaking business. He was a rep- resentative man among our foreign born citizens, his birth having occurred at As- samstadt, Baden, County of Boxberg, Ger- HISTORY OF BLAIR COUNTY many, on December 21, 1821. His parents were Joseph and Mary (Fohman) Wolf, the father being a cabinetmaker by trade. Mrs. Joseph Wolf was a daughter of Dr. Carl: Fohman, a prominent physician of Baden, Germany. All of Mr. Wolf’s re- moter ancestors, so far as there is any rec- ord, were natives of Germany, in which country they passed their lives. Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Wolf raised a family of nine children—five sons and four daughters— all of whom were born in Germany. None of the daughters are now living. Of the sons the following is a brief record: Val- entine resides in his native land (the others all came to America). John settled at Dun- cansville, Pa., and resided there for many years, finally removing to Pittsburg, where the last years of his life were spent. Fran- cis also settled at Duncansville, which place he made his home until his death. Joseph removed to Texas, of which state he was a resident for a number of years. Adam, the remaining son, is the direct subject of this memoir. Adam J. Wolf received his education in - ‘the excellent schools of his native land. In 1843, when twenty-two years of age, he emigrated to this country, first taking up his residence in Philadelphia, where he re- mained for two years. He then removed to Hollidaysburg, where he worked for a time as a journeyman carpenter. Not sat- isfied, however, with being merely a wage earner, he husbanded his resources until he had sufficient capital to start in business for himself, when he began in a small way in the same line of trade. He was well adapted to succeed and soon found himself able to purchase property and to build the cabinet- making and undertaking rooms on Alle- gheny Street, where he for many years sub- sequently carried on a prosperous and ex- tensive business. Just across the street was his commodious residence, and adjoining it is Wolf’s Hall, a large and handsome block which he built in 1879. He also showed his enterprise and good business foresight by DANIEL D. WOOD AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS erecting other buildings in the town, all of which are desirable property. After a long and successful career Mr. Wolf transferred the business to his son, William F., and passed the rest of his days in retirement, though often consulted by his sons in re- gard to business affairs. His death was an event deeply regretted by the people of Hol- lidaysburg generally, who had known him so long as one of the town’s sterling citi- zens. Mr. Wolf was married on January 7, 1850, to Mary Elizabeth Hurm, a daughter of Godfred Hurm of Weildorf, Germany. Their family numbered six sons—William F., Henry A., Salem Joseph, Adam Rich- ard, Charles E. and Frank X. The follow- ing is their record in brief: William F. Wolf, who has been already mentioned as his father’s business successor, is now successfully engaged in the furniture business in Hollidaysburg, being located at No. 118 Allegheny Street. His residence is next door to his store, at No. 116. — Henry A. Wolf, who is now deceased, was engaged in the hardware business at Al- toona for a number of years, and resided at No. 1110 Seventeenth Street, Altoona. Salem J. Wolf, who is now engaged in the hardware business at Altoona, as pro- prietor of the S. J. Wolf Hardware. Co., returned to Hollidaysburg in 1876 and established what was then the principal hardware business in the city, known as the Salem J. Wolf Hardware Co. From that date up to 1884 his father was associated. with him in the business. He resides at present at No. 2430 Broad Street, Al- toona, Pa. Adam R. Wolf, who is the second vice- president of the Blair County Title and Trust Co., entered in the hardware business in the year 1880, and for many years con- ducted the Altoona Hardware and Supply Co. He was later proprietor of the A. R. Wolf Hardware Co., of Altoona, and conducted the same until he retired. He is also a director in the Blair County 897 Title & Trust Co., and has large real estate interests in Altoona. Charles E. Wolf, who was formerly in the hardware business at No. 1108 Eleventh Avenue, is now connected with the City Furniture Co., and resides at No. 1617 Thirteenth Street. Frank X. Wolf died in 1875 at the age of sixteen years. The sur- viving sons are all married and the descend- ants of the subject of this sketch include a number of grandchildren. The late Adam J. Wolf was a member of St. Mary’s Cath- olic Church of Hollidaysburg for many years previous to his death. In politics he supported the Republican party. DANIEL DEETER WOOD, one of Ty- rone’s most respected and beloved citizens, who, in his eighty-third year looks out on life with a happy smile and kind intentions and thus gives many a man encouragement and cheer, from his own experience show- ing his wide circle of friends that the eve- ning of life has its full compensations if its early and middle parts have been wisely spent, was born in Center County, Pa., March 18, 1828, and is a son of Ebenezer and Elizabeth (Deeter) Wood. Ebenezer Wood was of Scotch-Irish ex- “traction and his wife of Pennsylvania Dutch descent and both were born in Pennsyl- vania. His work was connected with fur- naces and he was considered an expert iron worker. He married Elizabeth Deeter and five daughters and three sons were born to them, all of whom have passed away except the subject of this record. Daniel Deeter Wood obtained his edu- cation in the subscription schools but as soon as he had acquired sufficient strength, he became an iron worker and continued as such until he was twenty-three years of age, when he became a clerk in a general store at Clearfield. In 1858 he entered the employ of the Pennsylvania Railroad Com- pany as freight brakeman and served as such for four months, when he was ap- pointed freight conductor on the main line. 898 In 1862 he came to Tyrone, having been promoted to the position of passenger train conductor on the Tyrone branches, and in 1864 he was appointed train master of the Tyrone Division, which responsible position he held continuously until 1900, retiring af- ter forty years of service, at the age of sev- enty-two years. He has witnessed wonder- ful changes in railroading and has also seen Tyrone grow from a comparatively small railroad town in 1851, when he first came here, until the present, when it shows to the world a city of wealth, comfort and culture, of which its residents feel justly proud. Martin Burley, now of Williamsport, is the only surviving man who was a resident of the place when Mr. Wood came here. The town was laid out by John T. Mathias and was first known as Eagle City, later becom- ing Tyrone City, and simply Tyrone when it became a borough. None of the original settlers survive. Mr. Wood was married January 8, 1852, to Miss Bedelia Maloy, who died January 24, 1905. She was a daughter of Patrick F. Maloy, then of Hollidaysburg. Three children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Wood: William, Charles A. and E. Frank. Will- iam Wood died at the age of sixteen months. Charles A. Wood, who is now a resident of Redlands, Cal., and was for twenty-seven years chief clerk in the office of the general superintendent of the Penn- sylvania Railroad at Altoona, moved to Cal- ifornia when he retired. He is a widower and has two children, Catherine M. and Charles Daniel. The former is the wife of A. J. Mullen, district attorney, residing at Woodstock, Ill. The latter, a young man of twenty-two years, is a successful fruit grower and resides at Redlands with his father. E. Frank Wood, the youngest of the family, also adopted a railroad career and at the time of his accidental death, on July 20, 1891, was engineer of a passenger train running between Lock Haven and Ty- rone. He had married and was survived by one son, Charles Augustus, who later HISTORY OF BLAIR COUNTY died from the result of a fall, when aged nineteen years. Mr. Wood’s eldest son has been a great traveler and is now a man of independent fortune, the owner of produc- tive orange groves along the Pacific coast. Mr. Wood owns a handsome modern resi- dence on Lincoln Avenue, Tyrone, and has other property. MARTIN L. ACKER, a prominent cit- izen of Huston Township, Blair County, Pa., president of the township school board, is proprietor of Airy Farm, a valuable tract of 131 acres, which he devotes to farming and stock raising. He was born in Huston Township, Blair County, March 7, 1862, and is a son of John S. and Mary M. (Sor- rick) Acker. John S. Acker was born in Huston Town- ship on the farm on which his father, Chris- tian Acker, had settled at an early time with his father, John Acker. The Acker family is of German descent and is one of the old- est in Huston Township. John S. Acker was a leading man in this township for many years, acceptably filling many public: offices and setting an example of worthy cit- izenship. He was a useful member of the school board, was road supervisor and tax collector and served also in the résponsible office of township treasurer. He was a member and liberal supporter of the Lu- theran church at Martinsburg. He married Mary M. Sorrick, who was born in Wood- bury Township, Blair County, Pa. She sur- vived her husband for eleven years, passing away in 1906, his death having occurred in 1895. Of their children, eight survive. Martin L. Acker was reared and edu- cated in Huston Township and has prac- tically passed his life here. Farming and stock raising have occupied his time and attention to a large degree but he has also’ found time to concern himself about public matters in his township and has served his fellow citizens in numerous public capaci- ties. The people of Huston Township are rather proud of their schools and good, AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS roads and credit for these conditions should be given the broad-minded and public-spir- . ited officials who have labored to bring them about. Mr. Acker served eight years as road supervisor and several terms as a member of the school board. He has also been tax collector, while his judgment is generally consulted in all important town- ship movements. In politics he is a Demo- crat, as was his father. Mr. Acker married Miss Elizabeth Fouse, -who was born in Huston Township, a daughter of William Fouse, and six children have been born to them, namely: John A,, Mervin C., William P., Roy E., Clara F. and Harry, the last named being deceased. Mr. Acker and family are members of the Lutheran Church at Martinsburg. WILLIAM E. GRAFFIUS, who has been identified with the Pennsylvania Rail- road Company for thirty-two years and now fills the responsible position of general yardmaster of the Tyrone Division, at East Tyrone, Pa., was born in Half Moon Val- ley, Center County, Pa., January 5, 1857. His parents were Thomas W. and Jane E. (Stephens) Graffus. Thomas W. Graffius was born at Birm- ingham, Huntingdon County, Pa., a son of John Graffus. He married Jane E. Steph- ens, who was born at Warrior’s Mark, Huntingdon County, Pa., and died in 1890, aged sixty-two years. Her father was Abednego Stephens, of Scotch-Irish de- scent. Five children were born to this mar- riage, namely: John, who is a resident of Philadelphia; Irene, who is the wife of H.. W. Anawalt, of Uniontown; Adda, who re-° sides at Philadelphia; Esther, whose home is in Pittsburg; and William E. For twen- ty-five years, Thomas W. Grafhus was a general merchant at Tyrone, a man who was respected and esteemed by all. He now is at home with his son John at Philadel- phia. William T. Graffius was educated in the Tyrone public schools and after completing 899 the High School course, entered into the mercantile business with his father with whom he was associated until 1876. In November, 1878, he entered the railroad service with the Pennsylvania Company, as a brakeman. In 1880 he was appointed as- sistant yardmaster in East Tyrone; in 1882 was made night yardmaster; in 1903, be- came day yardmaster, and in 1904 was ad- vanced to his present position, one that in- volves much responsibility. Faithfulness, fidelity and efficiency, in Mr: Graffus’ case, have brought about the usual result—pro- motion and the increased confidence of the great company with which he has been so long connected. On June 23, 1880, Mr. Graffius was mar- ried to Miss Rose E. Roughhead, daughter of Thomas Roughhead, of Jerseyshore, and six children have been born to them, three sons and three daughters, as follows: Thomas W., who is foreman of a candy fac- tory at Jacksonville, Fla; Thaddeus S., a machinist in the employ of the U. S. Gov- ernment, at Panama; Emma, who is the wife of James Dunlap, of East Liberty, Pa.; and Ruth E., Lillian and William, all of whom are at home. Mr. Graffius and wife .are members of the Methodist Episcopal church. The family has occupied the pres- ent home at No. 1048 Logan Avenue, Ty- rone, for a number of years and Mr. Graf- fius has been a resident of the borough since 1862. He takes no very active part in pol- itics although he keeps well informed and is numbered with the reliable and level- headed citizens. He is identified with the Republican party. . ALBERT M. WERTZ,* a well known general farmer residing on a farm of 107 acres in Frankstown Township, Blair County, Pa., was born June 9, 1837, on a farm adjoining his present place and is a son of Jacob and Ruth (Baird) Wertz. The paternal grandfather of our subject was Jacob Wertz, and the family origin- ally came from Holland. The parents of 900 our subject were farmers and came to this county from Lewiston, Huntingdon County, Pa. He was politically a Whig, but later a Republican. They were members of the Lutheran church and were buried at the Frankstown Cemetery. The following chil- dren were born to Jacob and Ruth Wertz: Sarah, the deceased wife of John Larson; Susan, married Abraham Robison; John, deceased; Charlotte, deceased wife of Levi Grove;. Jacob; William; Mary, deceased; Albert M.; Luther, deceased; Abigail, de- ceased wife of Asbury Mountain. Albert M. Wertz was reared in his native township and attended the local schools un- til sixteen years of age. He served nine months in the army without injury, enlist- ing in 1862 in Company I, 137th Reg. Pa. Inf., and was honorably discharged at the close of his term. He has resided on his present farm since 1864, when he purchased it from Martin Denlinger. The farm was without improvements of any kind, and Mr. Wertz has erected a fine home, a substan- tial barn, and all other necessary outbuild- ings. Here he has carried on general farm- ing, and is recognized as one of the most substantial and progressive farmers of the township, and is held in high esteem by his fellow citizens. In October, 1858, Mr. Wertz was joined in marriage with Catherine Ritchey, a daughter of George and Sarah Ritchey, prominent farmers of Bedford County, Pa., and the parents of the following children: Mary, the wife of Samtiel Wysong; Cath- erine, wife of our subject; Levi; Myria, the wife of Jerry Long; Sarah; David; Albert; Jane; Rebecca; Callie. To Mr. and Mrs. Wertz were born the: following offspring: Amon Boyd; Adrain Blair; Anna; Libby, married David Den- linger; Ruth, the wife of William Vipond; Sadie, deceased; Ida, married John Young; Julia, the wife of James Graham; Albert; and Eugene. Mr. Wertz is politically a Re- publican, and has served one term as a school director, was assistant supervisor, HISTORY OF BLAIR COUNTY and is a member of the burial association. The religious connection of the family is. with the Mennonite church. CHARLES A. STRAESSER,* postmas- ter at Martinsburg, Pa., a progressive, pub- lic spirited and useful citizen, is also a very popular public official. He is a native of Martinsburg, born April 12, 1863, and is a son of John and Margaret (Schmaltz) Straesser. John Straesser is a well remem- bered citizen of Martinsburg where he was engaged in business for many years. He was born in Germany and came to America in 1840, locating shortly afterward at Mar- tinsburg, where he died in 1893. Charles A. Straesser was educated in the Martinsburg schools. For some years he carried on a prosperous business in the line of gentlemen’s furnishings, but since he as- sumed the duties of postmaster, he has de- voted himself entirely to matters pertaining to this office and to those connected with the city council, of which he has been a member for six years. He was appointed postmaster by the late President McKinley, in 1898, and has been retained in office ever since. He is very active in political life and for several years was a member of the Blair County Republican Central. Committee. On January 26, 1901, Mr. Straesser was married to Miss Minnie C. Rhodes, a daugh- ter of the late Jacob D. Rhodes, of Martins- burg, and they have two children: Charles A. and Mary R. Mr. Straesser and family belong to the Lutheran Evangelical church and he has served for a number of years as one of the deacons. He is a member of the Order of Knights of the Golden Eagles, at Martinsburg, and belongs to both branches of the Odd Fellows at this place. ORLANDO G. FLECK, a well known agriculturist of Tyrone Township, Blair County, Pa., where he is operating a farm of 130 acres, was born in Canoe Valley, Huntingdon County, Pa., May 13, 1855. His parents were George and Sarah Ann (Tussey) Fleck. AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS George Fleck was born in Sinking Val- ley, Pa., where he married. He followed farming all his active life. In politics he was a Republican. Both he and wife were members of the Presbyterian church. They had the following children born to them: Hugh Alton, residing in Sinking Valley; Orlando G.; David Tussey, residing in Sinking Valley; Emma, wife of William McCormick, of Sinking Valley; George, also living in Sinking Valley; and Dean, who. died in infancy. Orlando G. Fleck was reared on the home farm and was educated in the public schools. Farming has been his chosen life work and he has been very successful in his agricul- tural undertakings. He carries on general farming, stock raising and home dairying. Mr. Fleck was married February 20, 1877, to Miss Charlotte Ramey, a daughter of Frank and Sarah Ann Ramey, of ‘Indiana County, the ceremony being performed at the Presbyterian parsonage at Sinking Val- ley. Mr. and Mrs. Fleck have the follow- ing children: Herbert F.,-who is married to Miss Annie Tipton of Bellefonte, Pa., is an engineer on the Pennsylvania Railroad, and retains his home at Altoona; Anna L., who resides with her parents; Mary C., who is. the wife of George Fleck, who is em- ployed in the railroad shops at Altoona; L. Ernest, who is employed by the Pennsyl- vania Railroad at Altoona; and Jennie M., A. Roller and Clara B., all residing at home. Mr. Fleck and family attend the Presbyterian church. He is a Republican in politics but has never desired public office. He is identified with the Moose, No. 25, and with the Grange at Sinking Valley. He is one of the represent- ative men of Tyrone Township. JOSEPH K. CASS, president of the First National Bank of Tyrone, Pa., and largely interested in the business of paper manu- facturing at this place, was born October 10, 1848, at Coshocton, O., and is a son of Dr. Abner L. and Margaret (Kerr) Cass. Dr. Abner L. Cass was born in Muskin- 901 gum County, O., in 1816. He was a son of George W. Cass, a native of New Hampshire, and a grandson of Major Jona- than Cass, who served under General Wash- ington, in the Revolutionary War. He won such distinction in military life that in 1791 he was commissioned captain of the 2d U. S. troops and appointed to Fort Duquesne. He never took command there, however, ‘possibly having already seen enough of war; instead, he took up a military section of five thousand acres of land in Ohio and lived there until death. He was the father of a notable family. One son, Hon. Lewis Cass, occupied positions of the greatest prominence in public life, serving his coun- try as a soldier and diplomat. He took part in the War of 1812; was governor of the Territory of Michigan from 1813-1831; was secretary of war from 1831-1836; was minister to France from 1836-1842; United States senator from 1845-1848 and from 1849 to 1857, and was secretary of state from 1857 until 1860. George Cass, the grandfather of Joseph K. Cass of Ty- rone, died in Muskingum County, O., hav- ing accompanied his father: from. .New Hampshire. Dr. Abner L. Cass was a prominent phy- sician in Coshocton, O., for the greater part of his life and after retiring from practice, moved to Chicago, IIll., where both he and wife died, in 1886. He married Margaret Kerr, who was a daughter of Joseph Kerr. The latter was born in the north of Ireland - and came to Washington County, Pa., among the early Scotch-Irish settlers. Later he moved to Allegheny County and became actively engaged in religious work as a minister in the United Presbyterian church and organized the United -resbyte- rian Theological’ Seminary at Allegheny. Several of his sons became ministers in this religious faith, notably Rev. David R. Kerr, D. D., who was connected with this educa- tional institution at Allegheny for a num- ber of years. Both he and his father died at Pittsburg. Five children were born to Dr. 902 Abner L. Cass and wife, as follows: Jo- seph K.; George W., who resides at Doug- las, Ariz.; John J., who died at the age of eight years; Agnes, who resides with her eldest brother, at Tyrone; and Abner L., who died in infancy. Joseph K. Cass attended the public schools in Coshocton in boyhood and then became a student at Kenyon College, where. he was graduated in 1868, as a civil engi- neer and subsequently spent several years in railroad construction work in Michigan. Mr. Cass then became interested in the manufacturing of paper, at Roaring Spring, Pa., and in 1875 entered into this business at that point, under the firm name of Mor- rison, Bare & Cass. In 1880 the company built a paper mill at Tyrone and after sell- ing his Roaring Spring interest to Mr. Bare, Mr. Cass continued in the business at Ty- rone, under the firm style of Morrison & Cass, until 1910, when this concern was merged with others which now continues paper manufacturing under the corporation. name of the West Virginia Pulp and Paper Company, Mr. Cass being president of its board of directors. For thirty-five years he has been engaged in paper manufacturing and has been an official in every company with which he has been identified. He was president of the Morrison & Cass Company and also of the Williamsburg Paper Manu- facturing Company after the purchase of the same from’ Charles Schwab. Shortly after the death of Mr. Morrison, in January, 1901, Mr. Cass was elected presi- dent of the First National Bank of Tyrone and has continued the head of this financial institution ever since. He is looked upon as a man of exceptional business ability and his name and services are sought by many large concerns for the public confidence they would command for any enterprise. Mr. Cass was married in 1879, to Miss Sarah M. Anderson, a daughter of Dr. John and Ann (Stevenson) Anderson, both of whom died at Coshocton, O. Mr. and Mrs. Cass have had four children: Charles, HISTORY OF BLAIR COUNTY Margaret Kerr, Joseph K., Jr., and Ann Stevenson, the last named residing at home. Joseph K., Jr., died when aged eight years. Charles Cass, who is secretary of the West Virginia Pulp and Paper Company, mar- ried Mrs. Mary Stoddard, a daughter of Col. J. P. Barry, who was a member of the English army, located for many years at Bombay, India. They have one daughter, Patricia. Margaret Kerr Cass is the wife of Charles T. Lipscomb, who is a cotton broker residing at Columbus, S. C. They have one son, Charles Joseph. Mr. Cass and family are members of the Presbyte- rian church. For the past eighteen years they have been residents of Tyrone, com- ing from Pittsburg. About 1892, Mr. Cass erected his handsome residence here, which is probably one of the most elegant of the many stately edifices in Tyrone. Polit- ically, Mr. Cass is a Republican. He is a man of pleasing manner, is broad minded in his attitude on many questions, uses his wealth unselfishly and commands the re- spect and enjoys the personal esteem of his fellow citizens. TREVAN BUCK, who has been living in retirement at Eldorado, Blair County, Pa., since 1893, was for many years engaged in agricultural pursuits on the old home place in Logan Township, and was born F ebruary 21, 1843, in Center County, Pa., a son of Jacob and Nancy (Woolheater) Buck. Jacob Buck at an early period came from Huntingdon County, Pa., to Center County, but subsequently returned to his native county for a time, but in the spring of 1853 came to Blair County and purchased about 169 acres of farm land in -Logan Township, which partly forms what is now known as Eldorado. Here he spent the remainder of his life en- gaged in agricultural pursuits. He married Nancy Woolheater, who was also a native of Huntingdon. County, Pa., and of their family three sons and seven daughters are living. One son, William Harrison, who served in the Civil War, was killed in the battle of the AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS Wilderness; Ira, who served in the same regi- ment, died shortly after the war as a result of exposure; Samuel David, who lives in Mis- souri,_served in an Ohio regiment. John Adam Buck, who lives in Missouri, was the only one of the five sons who did not serve in the war, being but an ‘infant at the time. Trevan Buck was two or three years old when his parents removed to Huntingdon County, where they resided for about eight years, and then came to Blair County. Here he was reared to maturity and subsequently engaged in farming the home place until 1893,-since which time he has lived in retire- ment on a tract of three acres, which is a part of the homestead, and is located in the bor- ough of Eldorado. His education was ob- tained in the common schools. On August 27, 1861, he enlisted in Co. F., 76th Pa. Inf., and was mustered out August 27, 1864, from the roth Army Corps. He was_ twice wounded, first at Pocotaligo Creek, when his right thigh was injured, and in July, 1863, was wounded through the right arm at the second assault on Ft. Wagner. On July 23, 1863, he was detailed as recruiting officer at Pittsburg to enlist and forward men to the front, and after spending thirteen months on that detail was mustered out. He is a mem- ber of the U. V. L., No. 17, of Altoona. Mr. Buck is a Republican in politics, and has served in the various township offices, having served nine years as school director, nine years as auditor, and eleven years as su- pervisor. He is a member of the First Luth- eran Church of Altoona. On December 26, 1869, Mr. Buck was joined in marriage with Miss Martha E. Lind- sey, who was born in Frankstown Township, and is a daughter of Davis and Martha (Clay- baugh) Lindsey. Mr. and Mrs. Buck had the following children: Samuel Ira, who married Emma Fluke, is a resident of Altoona; Jacob Hays, who is also a resident of Altoona, mar- tied Ella Feather, and they have two children, Pearl and Verne; Mary, who married Blair -A. Feather, who lives on a farm adjoining that of our subject; and one who died in in- fancy. 903 DAVID CHALMER STONE,* who is proprietor of a barber ship at Williamsburg, Pa., and also the owner of two residence properties in the borough, was born April 7, 1875, in Huntingdon County, Pa. He is a son of William and Elizabeth (Myers) Stone, who are retired residents of Will- iamsburg. David C. Stone attended the local schools of Huntingdon and Blair Counties, and af- ter completing his education engaged in agricultural pursuits for a short time. He then learned the barber’s trade and since August 10, 1897, has been proprietor of his present shop, where he employs one man and assistant. Mr. Stone is a Republican in politics, and has served on the town coun- cil. He is fraternally a member of the Hep- tasophs of Williamsburg. On August 29,’ Igor, Mr. Stone married Anna Ake, who is a daughter of P. W. and Marion Ake, well known farmers of Blair County, and of their union has been born one daughter, Eliza- beth, who was born April 28, 1906. The re- ligious connection of the family is with the Methodist church. SAMUEL S. RHODES,* a representa- tive agriculturist, stock buyer and shipper. residing near Curry Station, Blair County, Pa., on a valuable farm of 130 acres, which he purchased in 1894, was born January 14; 1857, in North Woodbury Township, Blair County, and is a son of Daniel G. and Annie (Shriver) Rhodes. Daniel G. Rhodes was a lifelong resident of North Woodbury Township, in which his father, Frederick Rhodes, was a very early settler. Daniel G. Rhodes pursued agricul- tural activities successfully and so ordered his life that he was looked upon by his fel- low citizens with respect and esteem. His death occurred in 1889. In politics he was a Democrat, while in his religious connec- tion he was an earnest member of the Church of the Brethren. Samuel S. Rhodes grew to manhood on his father’s farm and attended the public 904 schools of North Woodbury Township and later the Martinsburg High School, after which he taught four terms of school very acceptably, in his native township. He has always taken a deep interest in educational matters and has served three years as a member of the township school board. He ‘devotes his fine farm to crop raising, stock raising and dairying, all these activities being carried on in a careful, intelligent way that insures satisfactory results. He is numbered with the best farmers of his town- ship. Mr. Rhodes married Miss Martha Brown, who was born also in North Woodbury Township, a daughter of the late Daniel Brown. Eight children were born to this marriage, namely: Clarence B., Milton B., Harry B., Melvin B., Samie B., Mary B., Martha and Daniel. Of these Daniel is de- ceased. Samie B. is the wife of Andrew Brumbaugh and they reside near Martins- burg, Pa., Mary B. is the wife of Hiram Replogle and they live in Bedford County. Mr. and Mrs. Rhodes are members of the Church of the Brethren. They are well known people in the township and are noted for their hospitality. In politics, Mr. Rhodes is a Democrat but occasionally follows the dictates of his own judgment and votes in- dependently. HOWARD L. ORR, a prosperous and representative business man of Tyrone, Pa., wholesale and retail dealer in agricultural implements and supplies, with business quarters on East Tenth Street, was born at Sinking Valley, Blair County, Pa., Decem- ber 25, 1864. His parents were George W. and Rachel (Stalker) Orr. 2 George W. Orr was born and spent his life in Sinking Valley, where he died in 1894, at the age of sixty-six years. He was a son of John Orr (born July 11, 1787), who came to America from Scotland in com- pany with six brothers. John settled first in Big Valley, Blair County, Pa., and then moved to Sinking Valley, where he died in HISTORY OF BLAIR COUNTY 1868, at the age of eighty-one years. He married Annie Kyle, who was born June 18, 1789, and died in Sinking Valley, Sep- tember 28, 1845. They were survived by a large family whose names, with dates of birth are as follows. Joseph K., born April 19, 1810; Samuel K., February 14, 1812; Oliver P., December 16, 1813; Annie C., September 24, 1815; Jane E., May 4, 1817; William H., May 2, 1819; Matilda, Decem- ber 17, 1822; Catherine, September 14, 1826; George W., April 7, 1829; Mary M., Oct. 16, 1831; John K., March 12, 1837. George W. Orr married Rachel Stalker, who was born at Warrior’s Mark, Hunting- don County, Pa., in 1833, a daughter of John and Elizabeth Stalker, they being’ of Scotch-Irish descent. John Stalker was a blacksmith by trade and followed the same at different places, dying at Spruce Creek, Pa., in 1865, aged fifty-eight years. His widow survived him forty-two years. She was born in 1800 and died at Williamsburg, Pa., in February, 1907, being then in her 1o7th year. George W. Orr and wife were members of the Presbyterian church. Of their seven children there are three sur- vivors, namely: Elizabeth, who is the widow of Zachariah Jeffery, resides with her brother, Howard L., at Tyrone; Martha, who is the wife of Frank E. Fleck, resides at No. 214 Crawford Avenue, Altoona; and Howard L. Howard L. Orr attended the public schools of Sinking Valley and was reared on the home farm on which he remained until he was thirty-six years of age. In 1902 he moved to Tyrone and purchased the busi- ness then conducted by Harvey M. Gray, dealer in agricultural implements. Mr. Ort greatly enlarged the scope of the business and now conducts the largest establishment of its kind in the city. He is agent for the Conklin and Kramer wagons and carries a complete stock of buggies, spring wagons, sulky cultivators, spring-tooth harrows, fer- tilizers, etc., as well as heavy and light har- ness, being a manufacturer of the same, AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS blankets, robes, saddlery goods and whips. Mr. Orr is not only an enterprising and suc- cessful business man but he is a useful and constructive citizen. He has been a life- long Republican and on the ticket of that party has been frequently elected to office but his performance of public duties has been in no wise influenced by political bias. While a resident of Sinking Valley he served on the school board and was twice elected township supervisor. For the past five years he has been a member of the town council, of which he.is presiding officer. As a member of the Tyrone Board of Trade and of the Business Men’s Association, he assists in advancing the commercial inter- ests of Tyrone and is valued in these con- nections. He is a director of the Blair County National Bank. On December 22, 1899, Mr. Orr was mar- ried to Miss Cora Bridenbaugh, a daughter of Phillip and Annie (Bodley) Bridenbaugh, and they have one daughter, Thelma, who was born April 14, 1906. Mr. and Mrs. Orr -are members of the First Presbyterian Church. He is identified with Allegheny Gateway Lodge, No. 187, I. O. O. F., at Tyrone. Misses Martha and Mary Stalker, aunts of Mr. Orr, reside at Williamsburg. JOHN M. KEASEY,* who resides on a farm of 190 acres in Frankstown township, is one of the leading and substantial farmers of Blair County, Pa., and was born July 26, 1853, at Williamsburg, Pa., a son of Joseph and Elizabeth (Gibson) Keasey. The father, who was a blacksmith by trade, was buried at Williamsport, and the mother was buried at Geeseytown. They were mem- bers of the Lutheran Church, and he was politically a Republican. Five children were born to the parents of our subject: William, deceased; Margaret, the wife of George Curry; Hannah, the wife of Wil- liam Eckard; Winfield, and John M. John M. Keasey attended the common schools of Williamsburg until 15 years of age, and was then engaged in various lines 905 of business until about 1893, when he pur- chased his’ farm in Frankstown township from Kuhn and Branam. The farm was en- tirely without improvements, having but a log house and log barn in the way of build- ings, but Mr. Keasey has erected a fine barn and residence, and otherwise improved the place. November 2, 1882, he married Mary E. Merritts, a daughter of Peter and Eliza (Gibson) Merritts, who were among the early settlers of the county, and the parents of the following children: Samuel, deceased; Woods, deceased; John; Jane, who is the wife of Sampson Walls; Mary, James, Clar- ence, and Elmer. Four children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Keasey: Maud, is the wife of Frank Schalenberger, and the mother of two daughters, Hazel and Madeline; Myrtle is the wife of Paul Recke, and has one child, Francis; Orland, who assists his father with the farm work; Maggie, and Clyde. In politics Mr. Keasey is identified with the Republican party, and has served for two years as supervisor of the township. The religious connection of the family is with the Lutheran Church. L. R. OVER,* postmaster at Curryville, Pa., agent for the Adams Express Company at Curry Station and for the Pennsylvania Railroad and also owning a warehouse at Curry Station, is a general merchant at Curryville, dealing in grain, feed, coal, ve- hicles, farm implements, phosphates and general merchandise, and, with his many interests, is a leading man in this section. He was born in Bedford County, Pa., Sep- tember 29, 1871, and is a son of David H. and Elizabeth (Replogle) Over. David H. Over and wife were both natives of Bedford County, both being of old families of that section. During the Civil War, David H. Over was a soldier in the Union army and later successfully followed farm- ing near New Enterprise, Bedford County, where his death occurred in 1904. L. R. Over was reared and educated in 906 Bedford County and when nineteen years of age became a clerk for H. B. Aaron, a merchant at Loysburg, Pa., and for five years occupied a similar position with that and other mercantile houses, for one year being with L. Z. Replogle at Altoona and one year with the Penn Traffic Company, at Johnstown. He then embarked in a general merchandise business for himself at New Enterprise, Bedford County and came from there to Curry Station and Cur- ryville, in 1909, assuming at that time the different interests he is now successfully carrying on. In politics, Mr. Over is a Re- publican but outside of his present office, he has accepted no political position. He _is a member of the Church of the Brethren, in which he is a deacon. ‘TROBERT TIPPLE GARMAN, one of Tyrone’s representative business men and public spirited citizens, has been established _ here in the jewelry line since 1898. He was born at Bellefonte, Center County, Pa., January 14, 1875, and is a son of Daniel and Louisa (Schroyer) Garman. Daniel Garman was born in Dauphin County, Pa., in 1820 and died in 1908, hav- . ing reached his eighty-eighth year. He was wide'y known, having been in the hotel and livery business during the whole of his active life. He married Louisa Schroyer, who was born at Milton, in Northumberland County, Pa., and died in 1892, in Center County. They had nine children born to them, Robert T. being the youngest in or- der of birth. Robert T. Garman was educated in the Bellefonte public schools and the Bel'efonte Academy, Jeaving his books when fifteen years of age in order to learn a trade for which he had shown a natural aptitude from boyhood. He entered the jewelry store of W. T. Achenbach, at Bellefonte, where he remained for two years, after which he was with a cousin, H. Garman, in the same line, for five years. On April 10, 1898, he came to Tyrone, where he purchased the jewelry HISTORY OF BLAIR COUNTY department which had been conducted by George H. Garner, and continued in the jewelry business there until 1906, when he purchased the First National Bank Building, on the corner of Pennsylvania Avenue and Tenth Streets, where he may be found at present, having one of the largest stocks of fine jewelry in all this section, these quarters enabling him to make a beautiful and elab- orate display. His stock includes gold and silver articles, together. with precious stones, clocks, watches and porcelaines, many of these being of exclusive design and rare or- namentation, a Mr. Garman was married May 18, 1904, to Miss Virginia Bouse, a daughter of W. A. Bouse, who is trainmaster for the Pennsyl- vania Railroad, at Tyrone. They have three children: Robert, Rebecca West and Vir- ginia Schroyer. Mr. and Mrs. Garman are members of Trinity Episcopal Church at Tyrone, in which Mr. Garman is a vestry man. He is a member of the Business Men’s Association and of the Tyrone Coun- try Club. .Mr. Garman is a Democrat. HOWARD BLACK CALDERWOOD, Postmaster of Tyrone and a representative business man of that place, a leader in the insurance line, a notary public and secretary of the Improvement Building and Loan As- sociation, was born in this city, July 24, 1859, and is a son of James Monroe and Matilda (Hunter) Calderwood. James Monroe Calderwood was reared at Birmingham, Huntingdon County and came to Tyrone a young man as a school teacher. Later he served as agent of the Adams Ex- press Company and as a notary public and as a justice of the peace and was secretary of the Tyrone Building and Loan Associa- tion when it was first organized. His was about the sixth or seventh house erected in the place. He died in 1887 at the age of sixty-six years. He married Matilda Hun- ter, who died in 1870. They were parents of the following children: William Lowrie, who was born in 1849, for many years was AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS - special claim agent with the Pennsylvania Railroad Company and died im Philadelphia, where he has long resided; Howard Black; Mary Ella, now deceased, who was a resi- dent of Tyrone; and three who died in in- fancy. Until he was about eighteen years of age, Howard B. Calderwood attended school at Tyrone, after which he accepted a position as express manager on the Tyrone & Clear- field branch of the Pennsylvania Railroad, with the Adams Company, and continued one year and then became a clerk in the mercantile house of Van Valzah & Wilson, where he was employed for eleven years. In 1887 he purchased an insurance agency, first handling fire risks only but later taking life insurance also, together with building and loan work, his combined interests mak- ing him one of the city’s busiest men. How- ever he has found time to take an active part in public matters, has served both as burgess and as assistant burgess and as a member of the council, borough auditor and in other positions. On August 14, 1888, Mr. Calderwood was married to Miss Anna Irene Dixon, a daugh- ter of Elwood and Frances Dixon, formerly of Tyrone, but later of Newburg, N. Y. Four children were born to them: Bessie, Virginia Dixon, Howard B. and Dixon. Of these all survive except Virginia Dixon, who died in 1907. Mr. Calderwood and family attend the Methodist Episcopal church. He is secretary of the Tyrone Club and is a member of Tyrone Lodge, No. 152, Odd Fellows. J. C. MOCK,* who is engaged in agri- cultural pursuits in Woodbury township, Blair County, Pa., has with the exception of five years, always resided on his present farm, and was born here August 15, 1865, a son of Andrew and Mary (Snively) Mock, who were prominent farmers of this town- ship. His father always followed farming, was a Republican in politics, and a member of the Church of Brethren. Andrew and 907 Mary Mock reared the following children: J. C.; G. W.; Viola, the wife of J. E. Stoner; Anna E., the wife of Roller Rhule; Sadie, deceased; Lilly B., deceased wife of P. H. Laymond; and D. S. J. C. Mock spent his boyhood days on the home farm, and after obtaining an education in the local schools, engaged in agricultural pursuits, which he has followed all his life. In 1901 he purchased from the other heirs of his father’s estate, the home farm, which consists of 100 acres of highly improved and cultivated land. He is one of the enter- prising and public spirited citizens of the township and has served in various town- ship offices, including that of supervisor and committeeman, and is at present one of the school directors of Woodbury township. In politics he is a Republican. His religious connection is with the Church of God. , In 1894 Mr. Mock married Margaret Longacker, who is a daughter of Jacob Longacker, and is one of the following chil- dren born to her parents: Harry, George, Essie, Barbara, (wife of Adam Treese) ; Elizabeth; Carrie; Joanna, and Margaret. Mr. and Mrs. Mock have reared the follow- ing children: Ethel, Grace, Roy, Alma, Melda, John, and Mary. D. S. BURGET,* one of the enterprising and representative business men of North Woodbury Township, Blair County, Pa., deals in general merchandise, lumber, doors, sash, mouldings, etc., also coal, feed and flour, at Curryville, Pa., and also carries on a contracting and building business. Mr. Burget was born in North Woodbury Town- ship, Blair County, May 14, 1856, and is a son of Adam B. and a grandson of John Burget, who was an early settler in the county. David S. Burget was reared in his native. county and attended the public schools until about fifteen years of age, when he learned the carpenter trade and has followed thé same ever since, expanding into building and contracting and in 1885 building a plan- 908 ing mill at Curry Station, which he has operated ever since. He has been a resi- dent of Curry Station since 1877 and his business interests have been developed here, here he has reared his children and through the uprightness and usefulness of his own life, has exerted a beneficial influence on others. Few business men are so highly considered in their own communities as is _Mr. Burget, a man whose word is always as good as his bond. In early manhood, Mr. Burget was mar- ried to Miss Sarah Weyandt, of Bedford County, and nine children have been -born to them, six of whom survive: Ira W.; Flora, the wife of Scott Fluke; William W.; and Anna, Harry and Elvin. Mr. Burget and family are members of the Church of the Brethren. He takes no ‘active interest in politics but by his good citizenship assists in making his community law abiding and a pleasant village in which to seek a home. HARRY CRAWFORD LOTZ,* who is engaged in agricultural pursuits in Tyrone Township, Blair County, Pa., was born March 1, 1864, in Sinking Valley, and is a son of George and Catherine (Fleck) Lotz. The father of our subject has always followed farming. He is politically a Republican, and holds membership with the Lutheran Church. The following children were born to the par- ents of our subject: Abbie, deceased wife of Edward Fleck of Hollidaysburg, Pa.; Milton, a resident of Duncanville; Mary, deceased; Emma, deceased; Howard, who is engaged in farming; Edward, a resident of Hollidays- burg; Leslie; and Harry C. Harry C. Lotz, subject of this record, was married March 15, 1899, to Anna Fleck, who is a daughter of T. M. and Sarah (Stoner) Fleck, of Sinking Valley, and of their mar- riage were born three children: Thomas, Pauline and Beatrice. Mr. Lotz is a Repub- lican in politics, and is fraternally a member of the I. O. O. F., and the Modern Woodmen of America. His religious connection is with the Lutheran Church. HISTORY OF BLAIR COUNTY WILLIAM FUOSS,* who has been a resi- dent of Antis Township, Blair County, Pa., for a period of thirty-two years, is a member of the well known firm of Fuoss Brothers, who have been operating a mill since 1887, and is also identified with other business en- terprises of-this locality. He was born Jan- uary 26, 1862, at No. 617 Washington Street, Huntingdon, Pa., and is a son of Jacob and Annie K, (Schmiermund) Fuoss. Jacob Fuoss was born in Germany and in 1841 came to the United States and located at Huntingdon, Pa., which was previous to his marriage. He learned the miller’s trade at Bellwood and later bought the Cherry Tree Mill and also considerable timberland, and being of a speculative nature bought and sold tracts of land, but was not highly successful in this line of business. He also spent some time in Iowa, and in 1878 came to Antis’ Township and located where our subject now lives. He was married July 2, 1859, to Annie K. Schmiermund, who was born in Germany but did not come to this country until long after Mr. Fuoss had come. Of their union were born the following children: Anna C., who lives with her brother, the subject of this sketch; William, our subject; Jacob, who was born September 24, 1863, in Huntingdon, Pa., is one of the proprietors of the mill, and was married January 25, 1898, to Mary Shay (they have four children, Jacob Harold, Fred Earl, Milton Shay, and Anna Leah) ; George H., also a member of the firm of Fuoss Brothers, was born February 22, 1865, and married Myrtle Bulick, who was born in Bell- ville (they have three sons, William Emmor, Frank Albert, and George Clarence) ; Leon- ard, born October 3, 1867, who is engaged in cattle raising in Carlsbad, N. M. (he married Annie Byers, daughter of Henry and Susan Byers), and John, who lives at Bellwood, Pa. William Fuoss was thirteen years of age when his parents moved to Birmingham—in the spring of 1875—and received his educa- tion in the schools there and at Huntingdon. In 1878 the family came to Antis Township and located on our subject’s present place, the AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS old mill which is on the place, and having been established in 1820 by a Mr. Byer. It was owned by the Byers until 1883, but had for some years prior to that time been leased by the Fuosses. The father bought the mill and property in 1883 and on December 14, 1886, sold it to his sons, William, Jacob and George, who also own the mill at Bellwood, which they bought in 1895. The latter mill is operated separately now by John Fuoss. In 1882 Mr. Fuoss completed a commercial course at the Mount City Business College of Altoona. Since 1903 he has been president of the Farmers’ and Merchants’ National Bank of Tyrone, of which he is one of the di- rectors, and one of the original stockholders. Fuoss Brothers are also interested in the E. W. Rothrock Drug Company, a corporation of Tyrone. The brothers also have a tract of 235 acres on which they carry on farming in connection with the mill. On September 18, 1890, Mr. Fuoss mar- ried Lulu Ermine, who was born in Antis Township, a daughter of Sylvester and Eleanor (Harrison) Ermine, and they have three children: George Ermine, who is a stu- dent at the college at Valparaiso, Ind.; Leon- ard Lee, also a student at the Valparaiso Col- lege; and William Robert, now 16 years of age, attending ‘the Antis Township High School. Both of the older sons, who are 19 and 18 years old respectively, entered the col- lege in the fall of 1910, and were shortly after advanced to the senior class, both being thor- ough students. Mrs. Fuoss died June 18, 1901, and is buried at Tyrone Cemetery. Mr. Fuoss is a Democrat in national politics, but independent locally. He is president of the Antis Township school board and has also served in other local offices. He is a member of the Presbyterian Church, of which he has been an elder since 1887, and has been super- intendent of the Sabbath school for some years. He is fraternally a member of the Ty- rone Lodge, F. & A. M., and also the Consis- tory of Harrisburg, Pa. ARCHIBALD CONRAD HARNISH, an enterprising farmer and progressive citizen of 909 Blair County, Pa., resides on a farm of 136 acres in Frankstown Township, near the East Hollidaysburg railroad yards, this farm being one of the most finely located and desirable in the county. He is also the owner of 140 acres of mountain land in Blair Township. Mr. Harnish was born September 20, 1860, on the farm on which he now lives. He is a son of William and Maria (Ross) Harnish, both deceased. William Harnish was born in Canoe Valley, Huntingdon County, Pa., and his wife was a native of Centre County, Pa. He was one of the early settlers of Blair County and followed farming here during his active life. Retiring from this occupation, he spent eighteen years in Hollidaysburg. After the death of his wife he again returned to the farm, spending the last five years of his life with his son, at whose home he. died in 1893, at the age of 76 years. The following children were born to Will- iam and Maria Harnish: Jennie, deceased, wife of William Waters; Samuel, deceased ; Archibald C., and Maria, who is the wife of William Matthews. William Harnish was, politically, a Repub- lican, and the religious connection of the fam- ily was with the Presbyterian Church. — Archibald C. Harnish spent his boyhood days-on his father’s farm and obtained his education in the local schools and at Prof. Stewart’s Academy, which institution he at- tended for five years. For a period of six years after leaving school he was in ill health, and did not enter into business activities until 1884 when he came to the old homestead farm, which has been in the Harnish family for almost 100 years. This farm was first owned by Lazarus Lowry, who sold to the Denlingers and they in turn sold the mill and thirty-four acres of land to John Lowry. The remaining acres of land he sold to Dr. Wolf, he in turn selling the same to Tobias Harnish, of Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. Tobias Harnish became the owner of seven farms, five situated in Canoe Valley, the - homestead farm now owned by Archibald C. 910 Harnish and the adjoining farm owned at present by Harry Bouslough. Tobias Harnish willed the place to William Harnish, our subject’s father, who before his death, willed it to his son, Archibald C. Here Mr. Harnish now lives, actively engaged in agricultural pursuits. He is also the owner of some fine Jersey stock, the source of consider- able income. In May, 1887, Mr. Harnish was united in marriage with Mary A. Meyers, a daughter of Andrew and Margaret (Metz) Meyers, the latter deceased. Andrew Meyers is a well known contractor and builder, now living in retirement in Hollidaysburg. The Metz fam- ily were among the first settlers of Williams- burg and Morrison’s Cove. Mrs. Harnish is one of the following chil- dren born to her parents: Emma, Mary, An- drew, Catherine, wife of W. A. Mattern, of Gaysport, George M., an attorney of Bell- wood, Pa., Susan and Margaret. No children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Harnish but they are now rearing their fourth orphan. Mr. Harnish is a member of Juniata Lodge, No. 282, Free and Accepted‘ Masons, Wanita Lodge, No. 1142, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and Progressive Encamp- ment, No. 105, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, of Hollidaysburg. Politically he is a Republican. ISAAC P. WALTON,* deceased, formerly vice president of the First National Bank of Tyrone, Pa., and for many years a prosper- ous and honorable business man of this city, was born in Bucks County, Pa.; December 22, 1827. He came of old Quaker stock and was a son of Jesse and Mary Walton—one of their nine children, three of whom were sons. Isaac P. Walton left his home in Bucks County when sixteen years of age and went to Philadelphia, where he served an appren- ticeship to the jewelry trade and subsequently went into the jewelry business there for him- self. Failing health caused him to seek an- other home and thus, in 1859, he came to Ty- rone. It was while looking about for a suit- HISTORY OF BLAIR COUNTY able business field that he had a very unpleas- ant adventure that came near resulting in the loss of his life. With one whom he supposed to be his friend, he visited a remote mountain region and. there his companion robbed him of his money and jewelry and then murderously pushed him over a cliff. Fortunately Mr. Walton was able to break his fall by catching some twigs and thus saved his life. He came to Tyrone after this unpleasant encounter with no assets but a good name and excellent credit and his whole subsequent life proved the value of these in conducting his large business transactions. Mr. Walton opened his jewelry store at Ty- rone on the site of the Walton Block, No. 1039 Pennsylvania Avenue, and here devel- oped from a modest beginning what is re- puted the largest concern of its kind on the main line of the Pennsylvania Railroad be- tween Philadelphia and Pittsburg. There were few more public spirited men than Mr. Walton. Although he was born a birthright Quaker, he never felt himself bound by its somewhat narrow creed, although to the end of his life, he subscribed to many of its ad- mirable tenets. He laid the first brick pave- ment in Tyrone, in front of his own business block, setting an example to his fellow citizens in the way of public improvement, was the organizer of the first brass band and the first electric light company and also was a pro- moter of the first opera house at Tyrone. He was a man of social instincts and of happy disposition and it is remembered of him that he was an encourager of innocent gaiety and was considered an excellent and graceful dancer. Three times he was elected burgess of Tyrone and the borough made rapid prog-. ress under his intelligent administrations. He became president of the Tyrone Electric Light Company and gradually acquired a large amount of real estate among which is included the Walton Block and an adjoining property. Mr. Walton in his Marriage was as fortu- nate as he was in business, the lady of his selection being Miss Abby Noble, who was born at Portland, Me. She survives and re- MRS. ABBY N. WALTON ISAAC P. WALTON ‘AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS sides in the Walton Block, having much of her property now under rental. In this con- nection it is interesting to recall their early married life, showing as it does, that Mrs. Walton possessed the admirable qualities of a true helpmate and also the business capacity which not only made her able to care for her own family, including her aged blind father, but to also help her husband to build up his fortune. She opened up a millinery business and conducted it so wisely and thriftily that she realized from that source alone an ample income, retiring with some $20,000 to her credit. In the death of Isaac P. Walton, Tyrone lost one of her men of real worth. He was scrupulously honest and of unimpeachable business integrity and with those who knew him-no bond was ever required to bind a trans- action; his word was sufficient. He was loved, honored and respected by all classes. In his later years he was strong in the faith of Spiritualism and died in that belief. On many occasions he visited Spiritualistic con- ventions, serving as a delegate. For fifty years he was a member of the Masonic fra- ‘ ternity and this fraternal birthday was cele- brated by a banquet in his honor. His funeral was conducted with Masonic honors. The death of Mr. Walton occurred in October, 1904, at the age of seventy-seven years. DON CAMERON KYPER, M. D., physi- cian and surgeon in active practice at Al- toona, Pa., was born at Bellwood, Blair County, Pa., January 19, 1888, and is a son of George Washington and Abigail Susan (Ramey) Kyper. The late George W. Kyper was for many years a well known and esteemed resident of Bellwood, where he was engaged in the hotel business. He was born and reared in Sink- ing Valley.. His widow and all of his chil- dren, with the exception of the subject of this sketch, still reside in Bellwood. Leslie Ramey is in the grocery business, John Daniel in the insurance business, and Maude is the wife of W. T. Stevens, a business man of Bellwood. 913 Don Cameron Kyper, was sent to school when only five years old, and in 1904, at the age of seventeen, having passed through the intermediate grades, was graduated from the Bellwood High School, and in the following year from the Altoona High School. In the fall of 1905 he continued his studies in the University of Pennsylvania and was gradu- ated from the medical department in 1909. After serving as resident physician for one year at the Williamsport Hospital, he located July 7, 1910, in Tyrone. On February 8, 1911, he moved to 1015 Chestnut Ave., Al- toona. February 16, 1911, he was married to Alice “A. Echenlaub. Though Dr. Kyper has had as yet but a limited experience, he is a well qualified physician and has already made a creditable beginning in his profession. He is a member of the Tyrone Medical Society and of the Blair CountyMedical Society, and be- ing a close student keeps in touch with the latest discoveries in medical and surgical sci- ence. In politics he is a Repuylican, and is identified fraternally with the Elks and For- esters. He was reared in the faith of the Lutheran Church. CAPT. ALEXANDER M. LLOYD, for- merly president of the First National Bank of Altoona, Pa., was a man who played a large part in developing various important interests in Blair County, and one whose career is full of interest—in large measure because he won many of life’s prizes through his own un- aided efforts. Born in December, 1823, in Huntingdon County, Pa., he died in Blair County, March 31, 1892. His parents were Thomas and Mary (Moore) Lloyd. The Lloyds and Moores figure prominently among the pioneers of the Juniata Valley, their names appearing frequently in the early records. At the time of his death in 1847 the father of Capt. Lloyd was serving as sheriff of Huntingdon County. The other members of this family were the following: William M., of Altoona, who is the eldest; Mrs. Jane Swoope, of Huntingdon, Pa.; Mrs. Elizabeth Anderson, of Dixon, IIl.; Samuel Lloyd, of 914 Altoona; Henry, who is deceased; and Thomas B., who was the youngest. In 1833, when ten years old, Alexander M. Lloyd left home and became a member of the household of his maternal uncle, James Moore, who then lived in Woodcock Valley. At the age of fifteen years he found a self- supporting position with Thomas Owens & Son, at Birmingham, and a year later ac- cepted a clerkship in the warehouse of, his brother, William Lloyd, at Hollidaysburg. He also had some business training in the of- fice of the Portage Iron Company at Dun- cansville. In 1846 he became a merchant in his own right by becoming a partner in the business house of Gardner, Lloyd & Co.,’ at Hollidaysburg, and in 1854 he assumed per- sonal direction to the hardware establishment of Lloyd & Co. In 1857, as a member of the firm of Gard- ner, Osterloh & Co., Mr. Lloyd built Chimney Rock Furnace at Hollidaysburg, which he managed until 1859. Then, in association with his brother, Thomas Lloyd, he organized the firm of Lloyd & Co., in the canal-boat trans- portation business between Pittsburg and Col- umbia, which turned out to be a prosperous undertaking, and was continued until the Pennsylvania Railroad purchased the canal from the state and absorbed the large volume of business formerly carried on by private en- terprise. Mr. Lloyd, however, immediately recognized another favorable opportunity and went into the transhipping of freight between Williamsburg and Hollidaysburg, at the Port- age railway connection of the canal, continu- ing in this occupation until that portion of the water route was closed for traffic. After the abandonment of this enterprise, or in 1868, he embarked in the warehouse and produce commission business at Hollidays- burg, being associated with C. C. Wright. Inflated prices following the close of the Civil War prevailed and this business in staples became one of large proportions and in 1879 a branch house was established at Al- toona. When the First National Bank at Altoona was organized, Mr. Lloyd became one of its HISTORY OF BLAIR COUNTY directors, his brother, Henry Lloyd, being the president of the institution; and when the lat- ter died in 1879, Alexander M. Lloyd suc- ceeded him and continued at the head of the bank during the remainder of his life. He was interested also in other business enter- prises and was proprietor of a large general merchandise store at Altoona. To all of these enterprises he gave of his energy and experience and through his initiative and able management engineered them to prosperity. Captain Lloyd was a loyal citizen in the days when patriotism meant more than a mere expression of beautiful sentiments. When the Civil War broke out he was the captain of a local military company—the Juniata. Rifles—which had been organized October 28, 1858. When President Lincoln issued the first call for troops, Capt. Lloyd hurried his command to Harrisburg, and on April 20, 1861, took them to Washington, his being the first company to report ffom western Penn- sylvania. He was later appointed by the sec- retary of war to be a commissary in the vol- unteer service and his headquarters were at Huntingdon, Washington, Alexandria or Ball’s Bluff. On account of loss. of health he resigned in 1862 but was almost immediately after appointed by Governor Curtin, one of the commissioners to enroll the militia of Blair County; and by the general government one of the commissioners to attend to the first draft in the county. In January, 1864, he was appointed pro- vost marshal of the Seventeenth Congress- ional District and so continued until the close © of the war.