BIOS: File 4 - Biographical and Portrait Cyclopedia of Blair Co, PA: Samuel T. Wiley, Philadelphia, 1892. Contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by Judy Banja Typing and proofreading by subscribers to the RootsWeb PABLAIR mailing list, as noted on individual transcriptions. Copyright 2001. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/blair/ _________________________________________ Biographies in File 4, listing the page where they appear in the book: Acker, Henry D., page 395 Bartley, Calvin E., page 367 Blackburn, Joseph H., page 210 Dean, Hon. John, page 157 Geesey, Charles, page 396 Green, M.A., page 163 Hare, William M., page 394 Hewitt, Benjamin L., page 583 Hicks, Josiah D., page 214 Hileman, Joseph B., page 211 Hiller, John A., page 213 Klemmert, Gustave, page 218 Molloy, Frank P., 314 Rittman, Mary, page 362 Slep, Harry, page 364 Snively, Daniel, page 366 Stevens, Adie Allen, page 397 Stewart, Prof. James A., page 363 Stewart, Rev. John D., page 399 Wigton, Theodore H., page 159 HENRY D. ACKER, an intelligent citizen and prosperous farmer of Huston township, is a son of Henry and Margaret (Dilling) Acker, and was born in Huston township, Blair county, Pennsylvania, September 7, 1860. The Ackers are of German descent, and Henry Acker, sr., the paternal grandfather of Henry D. Acker, was born and reared in Huston township. He was one of the early settlers in the Clover Creek section. He was a democrat, a member of the German Reformed church, and reared a family of eleven children. His son, Henry Acker (father), was born October 19, 1807, and died January 9, 1874, when in the sixty-seventh year of his age. He was a democrat in politics, tilled a farm adjoining the homestead, and married Margaret Dilling, a daughter of Casper Dilling (maternal grandfather), who was born in Germany, and settled in Huston township, where he followed farming until his death. He was a democrat, a member of the German Baptist church, and married and reared a family of thirteen children, of whom nine are still living. Mrs. Margaret (Dilling) Acker was born in 1821, and resides upon the farm. To Henry and Margaret Acker were born eight children, four sons and four daughters: Susan, wife of Martin Hoover, a merchant of Fredericksburg; Elizabeth; Sarah, who married Daniel Greaser, a farmer; Levi; Henry D., Jane, wife of John H. Brumbaugh, who is engaged in farming; William D., who died in 1881; and one now dead. Henry D. Acker passed his boyhood days on his father's farm, received his education in the common schools of his native township, and engaged in farming, which he has followed successfully ever since. In 1884 he purchased his present farm of sixty-two acres, which lies one-half mile from Drab post-office. His farm is productive, and he keeps it in a good state of cultivation. On July 24, 1884, Mr. Acker married Sarah, daughter of Christian and Catherine Weidner, of Huston township. To Mr. and Mrs. Weidner have been born eight children: Christina (deceased); Reuben, Leonard, Dewalt, Caroline, Sarah, Christian, and Louise. In politics Mr. Acker is a democrat, and has served as tax collector. He has always taken an active part in the affairs of the German Reformed church, of which he has been a member and deacon for several years. He has been successful in his business affairs, and commands the respect of all who know him. Transcribed and submitted to the Blair County, PA USGenWeb archives by Linda Shillinger LindasTree@AOL.COM CALVIN B. BARTLEY, a prominent and substantial merchant, and one of the self-made men of Altoona, is a son of Cornelius and Margaret (Castner) Bartley, and was born in Juniata county, Pennsylvania, April 4, 1832. Cornelius Bartley, whose birthday was in the initial year of the present century, was a native of central Pennsylvania. He was of German descent, and settled, at an early age, in Juniata county, where he followed his trade of carpenter until 1840, when he engaged in farming. He met with fair success in agricultural pursuits, and died in 1848, when in the forty-eighth year of his age. He was an old-time democrat, and a strict member of the Evangelical Lutheran church, and married Margaret Castner, a native of Juniata county, who preceded him to the tomb by three years. She died in 1845, when in the forth-third year of her age. Calvin B. Bartley was reared on a farm, received his education in the common schools, and at seventeen years of age, became an apprentice to learn the trade of carpenter. When his term of apprenticeship was ended, he engaged in carpentering and contracting, which he followed successfully, at various places in Juniata county, until 1880, but worked principally at Mifflintown. In the last named year he came to Altoona, where, in December, 1891, he opened his present general mercantile house and heavily-stocked feed store. His establishment is a brick structure, on the corner of Third avenue and Fourth street, which he erected in the fall of 1891. He carries choice lines of general merchandise, from dry goods down to groceries, and keeps constantly on hand large quantities of all kinds of feed. The quality of his goods, with reasonable prices and courteous attention, has won him patronage, and he is fast building up an extensive and excellent trade in the city, as well as securing many patrons from the surrounding country. On November 24, 1859, he married Sarah A. Duffield, daughter of Thomas Duffield, of Perry county. Mr. And Mrs. Bartley have nine children, four sons and five daughters: Charles S., Thomas B., Harry S., U. S. Grant (resident of Pittsburg), Annie, wife of John C. Saylor, of Altoona; Mary A., married to Levi H. Goshen, of Altoona; Laura, wife of William Lauver, of Juniata county; Jennie M., married to Frank S. Moore, of Altoona; and Lottie. Three of his sons are residents of Altoona, where they are engaged in contracting and building. Calvin B. Bartley is a republican, and a member of the Methodist Episcopal church of Altoona, and Mifflintown Lodge, No. 131, Independent Order of Odd Fellows. He owns some very valuable real estate, has erected three very fine buildings at his place of business, and some years ago built the largest and most complete barn to be found to-day in Juniata county. He still follows contracting, to some extent, and has erected quite a number of substantial, as well as some very fine buildings, since embarking in the general mercantile business. Mr. Bartley is a pleasant and approachable gentleman, and has achieved success by his own energy and industry. Transcribed and submitted to the Blair County, PA, USGenWeb archives by Patricia Detterbeck Patric3169@aol.com JOSEPH H. BLACKBURN, resident of Williamsburg, and now retired from active life, sank the first shaft for bituminous coal on the eastern side of the Alleghenies, and was for over a quarter of a century a representative business man of Blair county. He is a son of Samuel and Rebecca (Wisegarver) Blackburn, and was born in St. Clair township, Bedford county, Pennsylvania, April 16, 1828. The Blackburn family traces its ancestry back to a time in the early history of England, and the American branch of the family in central Pennsylvania was founded by Samuel Blackburn, the paternal grandfather of the subject of this sketch, and who died in St. Clair township, Bedford county, Pennsylvania, April 16, 1828. The Blackburn family traces its ancestry back to a time in the early history of England, and the American branch of the family in central Pennsylvania was founded by Samuel Blackburn, the paternal grandfather of the subject of his sketch, and who died in St. Clair township, Bedford county, Pennsylvania. He was of the Quaker faith, and married and reared a family of six children, one of whom, Samuel Blackburn (father), was born in 1799, in St. Clair township, where he died in 1856. He was a lifelong resident of Bedford county, where he followed farming, and was also engaged for several years in the hotel business in the town of Bedford. He was an active and thoroughgoing business man, and married Rebecca Wisegarver, who died in 1851, when in the forty-ninth year of her age. They reared a family of eight children, four sons and four daughters, of whom three are now living: Samuel F., a farmer of Stuart, Iowa; Rebecca, wife of Dr. John Becker, a prominent physician of Aurora, Illinois; and Joseph H. Mrs. Blackburn was a daughter of John Wisegarver (maternal grandfather), who came in early life from Germany to St. Clair township, where he married and reared a family of nine children, and followed farming until his death in 1850, at seventy-eight years of age. Joseph H. Blackburn received his education in the common schools and Bedford High school, and then (1846) became a clerk in the store of Alexander Knox, of Newry, this county. He served in that capacity until 1849, when he went to Cumberland, Maryland, where he was in the employ of the mercantile house of Lowndes & Cramer for two years. At the end of that time he came to Hollidaysburg, this county, and was with the firm of Lloyd & Graff for two years. He then, in 1856, became a member of the general mercantile firm of Leamer, Lemon & Co., which continued in existence until 1857, when the firm name was changed to that of Leamer & Blackburn. Two years later Mr. Blackburn withdrew from the firm to become manager of Watson, Denniston & Co.'s store at Gaysport, which position he held until 1861, when he went out as sutler of the 7th Maine regiment in the Army of the Potomac. At the end of six months he returned to Hollidaysburg, where he was successively engaged in the mercantile and coal business, and as a member of the coal firm of Cooper, Blackburn & Porter, he sank (1864) and operated the fist bituminous coal shaft on the eastern side of the Alleghenies. The shaft did not pay well, and Mr. Blackburn disposed of it in a short time to open the first coal mine on Ben's creek, in Cambria county, which he operated successfully until 1874, when he came to Williamsburg and assumed charge of the Williamsburg Manufacturing Company's store at that place. Three years later he founded a mercantile establishment under the firm name of H. A. Blackburn & Co., which he conducted most successfully until 1891, when he retired from active business life. On June 10, 1851, Mr. Blackburn married Sarah J., daughter of Daniel and Angel McConnell, of Newry, and who died January 10, 1871, at forty years of age. They had six children, three sons and three daughters, of whom the sons are still living. William, who has an interest in the iron and steel firm of Carnegie, Phipps & Co., of Pittsburg; Julius, a clerk with the above named firm; and Harry, a clerk for the same firm at Braddock, this State. On November 5, 1874, Mr. Blackburn was united in marriage with Mrs. Martha Royer, of Williamsburg. In politics Joseph H. Blackburn is a democrat of the Jacksonian and Cleveland school, who has ever labored earnestly for the triumph of the cardinal principles of the Democratic party, and when complimented by the democrats of Blair county, in 1876 with the nomination for prothonotary, he ran in advance of his ticket. While a resident of Hollidaysburg he served three successive terms as school director, and was a member of the council for six years, serving at the time mountain water was brought to the town. He is a member of the Presbyterian church, and a member of the board of deacons since 1858, and is deservedly respected and esteemed by all who know him. Transcribed and submitted to the Blair County, PA, USGenWeb archives by Eileen HON. JOHN DEAN, the present nominee of the Republican party for the office of justice of the supreme court of Pennsylvania, ranks deservedly high as a jurist, and is one of those men who need not the dignity of office to give him name, power and influence among his fellow-citizens, or to command public respect and confidence wherever he is known. He is a son of Matthew and Anna (Patterson) Dean, (both of whom were born in Huntingdon county), and was born at Williamsburg, Blair county, Pennsylvania, February 15, 1835. With many other worthy names, the name of Dean is stamped upon the earliest history of Huntingdon county. Elizabeth Dean, the great-grandmother of Hon. John Dean, and three of her children were massacred in Canoe valley, in 1780, by a Delaware war party. Her husband, Matthew Dean, and five of their children escaped the tomahawk of the vengeful Indian by being at some distance from the house. Matthew Dean (see historical sketch in this volume), who was of Scotch-Irish extraction, had settled in Canoe valley prior to the revolutionary war, and of his five children who were not killed in 1780, one was John Dean (grandfather), of Water Street, Huntingdon county. He married and reared a family in his native township, of which he was a life-long resident. His son, Matthew Dean, was born in 1808, and died in December, 1886, at seventy-eight years of age. He was an industrious and useful citizen; although a tanner by trade, his principal business in life was that of farming. He married Anna Patterson, daughter of John Patterson, of Huntingdon county. They reared a family of clever children, eight sons and three daughters, all living except the youngest son. John Dean received his education in the common schools, Williamsburg academy and Washington college, of Washington, Pennsylvania, taught school at Williamsburg and Hollidaysburg, and read law with James M. Bell and D. H. Hoffius, of Hollidaysburg. In 1855 he was admitted to the bar, and in the same year opened an office at Hollidaysburg, where he was engaged in the practice of his profession until May, 1857, when he was elected superintendent of the common schools of his county for a term of three years. Two years latter he resigned the superintendency to form a law partnership with Hon. Samuel S. Blair, which continued to exist until 1864, when Mr. Dean withdrew and practiced alone for three years. He was then (October, 1867) appointed district attorney, to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of J. H. Keatley, and the next year was elected for a term of three years, which he served with credit to himself and satisfaction to the public. At the close of his elective term, in 1871, he was nominated and elected by the republicans as president judge of the Twenty-fourth judicial district for a term of ten years, over the regular nominee of the Democratic party and an independent candidate. His record was such on the bench that in 1881 he was re-nominated and elected without opposition, an unmistable [sic] evidence of the popular approval of his faithful and eminent services during his first term. His district comprised the counties of Huntingdon, Blair and Cambria, and his position was one of hard and constant labor, as the rapidly increasing business of these three counties imposed upon him an immense amount of labor. His two terms were remarkable not only for the great volume of their business, but also for the importance of their many individual cases. He decided every cause upon its merits, after a careful hearing and a thorough examination of every authority bearing in any degree upon the question involved, and thus he attained high standing as a judge before the supreme court, as well as the bench at large. In 1892, if elected judge of the Supreme Court, he will retire from the common pleas bench with the good will of the bar, and the esteem and respect of the public, for the ability, disinterestedness and impartiality with which he had presided for twenty years over the courts of the Twenty-fourth judicial district. In recognition of his eminent ability as a jurist, his high standing as a lawyer, and his deserved popularity for honor and integrity, Judge John Dean was nominated by the Republican party, in their State convention in Harrisburg, in April, 1892, as their candidate for the vacant justiceship of the supreme court of Pennsylvania, occasioned by the death of Judge Silas M. Clark, over such well-known judges as Harry White, of Indiana county, Judge Sadler, Judge Henderson, Judge Ewing, and others. In 1857 Judge Dean married Rebecca Calwell, daughter of Judge Calwell, of Hollidaysburg. His wife died in 1874. He again, in November, 1876, married Margaret Bell, daughter of Martin Bell. They have four children: Eliza, Anna, Claribel, and Margaret. Judge Dean has a beautiful home at Hollidaysburg, gives some attention to the management of his farming and other lands, and enjoys a popularity throughout central Pennsylvania that has been possessed by but very few other men since its settlement. As a lawyer his ability was recognized during the earlier years of his practice, and he soon rose to the highest rank in his profession, where he has held a commanding position ever since, and from which no allurement of political life, however powerful, has ever been able to draw him away. As a judge he was distinguished by his able opinions and impartial decisions, an as a citizen he is enterprising and progressive. As a man, in the true sense of the word, Judge Dean has won the esteem and respect ever due to those whose lives are devoted to right living and usefulness. As a public speaker he is able, pleasing, popular and eloquent, and his services are in constant demand as a lecturer on the leading questions and vital issues of the day. In personal appearance Judge Dean is prepossessing, dignified and gentlemanly. Over six feet in height, he is erect and active, and his clear and finely cut features give unmistakable evidence of his energy, earnestness and determined force of character. Judge John Dean has met the tasks and duties of every important post which he has held, with prudence, courage and forethought. Although controlled by ideas, sentiment and principle, yet he is practical when necessity demands or occasion requires. If Judge Dean is chosen in November (1892) by the ballots of his fellow-citizens to occupy a seat upon the supreme bench of the State, the history of his past career is sufficient to warrant that he will not be one to suffer the dignity and learning and efficiency of the supreme bench to fall from its present high standard. Transcribed and submitted to the Blair County, PA, USGenWeb archives by Ruth Curfman rcurfman@home.com CHARLES GEESEY, a lawyer in successful practice in Altoona, and who served for three consecutive terms as prothonotary of Blair county, is a son of Henry and Elizabeth (Koofer) Geesey, and was born at Frankstown, in Frankstown township, Blair county, Pennsylvania, April 10, 1850. His paternal and maternal ancestors were among the earliest settlers of York county, to which section they emigrated from Germany. His grandfather, Conrad Geesey, moved from York to Blair county early in the nineteenth century, and made his home in Frankstown township. His son, Henry Geesey (father), married Elizabeth Koofer, and was by turns during his life a farmer and mechanic near Frankstown village. His children numbered nine, of whom the youngest was Charles, of whose youthful industry and energy it may be remarked that he so improved the limited educational advantages offered by home schooling, that at the age of seventeen, while attending the district school, he was requested to take charge of the McCune school, in Frankstown township. For four years thereafter he employed his winters in school teaching, and his summers in prosecuting his own studies at the Juniata Collegiate institute, and under Professors Cort, Alexander, and Marsden. After that he devoted his time exclusively to teaching until June, 1881, having thus occupied the educational field as an instructor for a period of fourteen years, of which the last seven or eight years were passed in the grammar and intermediate departments of the public schools of Altoona. It may be here observed that Mr. Geesey's father intended him for the ministry, and sought to incline him that way; but the young man having no taste for the profession, the effort was soon abandoned. In 1868 he experimented in the study of dentistry with Dr. J. W. Isenberg, of Altoona. It needed, however, only a brief experience to convince him that dentistry was not to his liking. At the age of twenty he set out to master the profession of law, and he expected to follow his inclination to the end of a thorough course. Circumstances forbade it, for he was soon compelled to turn his best energies towards such employment as should provide him subsistence, and thus he regretfully relinquished his one favorite pursuit. In 1876 Mr. Geesey was put forward as a candidate for nomination to the office of county register and recorder. The nomination, which was made under the Crawford county system (by the people), went against him, but only by a majority of one hundred and forty-five votes. In June, 1881, Mr. Geesey entered the office of the locomotive shops at Altoona as clerk. He had by this time won conspicuous notice as a man of progressive, intelligent spirit, and being put forward as a candidate for nomination before the republican convention to the office of prothonotary of Blair county, he was carried to the front, although six other candidates opposed him. The election that followed was hotly contested, the opposition being led by J. P. Stewart, democrat, and W. R. Donald, labor reform. Although the democrats had for the three preceding terms chosen their candidate for prothonotary, the republican champion bore his colors to the fore on this occasion, after a remarkable close struggle. He was elected in 1882, and again in 1885 and 1888, and served acceptably and with credit to himself during his three terms. At the expiration of his first term he passed the preliminary examination to read law, registered as a student with Martin Bell, then district attorney, and was admitted to the bar at the December term of 1891. After admission he opened an office in Altoona, where he is building up a good practice. In October, 1871, Mr. Geesey married Anna B. Smith, daughter of William C. Smith, at one time a well known citizen of Mechanicsburg, Indiana county. They have six children, three sons and three daughters: Bessie, wife of Guy R. Singafelt, a book-keeper in a wholesale establishment of Chicago; Roy, Charles, Edna, Walter, and Grace. Charles Geesey is a member of the Second Evangelical Lutheran church of Altoona. He has a nice residence at No. 914 Sixth avenue, while his law office is situated in the Simmons block. He is a member and worshipful master of Juniata Lodge, No. 282, Free and Accepted Masons; king in Mt. Moriah Chapter, No. 166, Royal Arch Masons; a member of Mountain Council, No. 9, Royal and Select Masters, and Mountain Commandery, No. 10, Knights Templar. Mr. Geesey is also a member of the Improved Order of Heptasophs. He is popular with the public, and his perseverance, industry, and integrity warrant him success in the future, such as he has achieved in the past. Transcribed and submitted to the Blair County, PA, USGenWeb archives by Linda Shillinger LindasTree@aol.com M. A. GREEN, one of the most successful business men of the Keystone State, and the president of the Altoona Manufacturing Company, whose great industrial establishment is next in size to the wonderful and immense car shops of the Pennsylvania Railroad Company, was born July 16, 1852. He is also a mechanical engineer, and a member of the American Association of Mechanical Engineers. He became one of the organizers of the Altoona Car Company, limited of which he served as superintendent for seven years. The company was then organized under the name of the Altoona Manufacturing Company, and Mr. Green was elected president, which position he has very successfully filled ever since. Next to the Pennsylvania Railroad Company's shops, the second great industrial establishment in the Mountain City is the works of the Altoona Manufacturing Company, located on a five-acre tract of land on the western border of the city, just within its corporate limits, at Broad and Twenty-sixth streets. The first works built upon the site of the present extensive buildings was in the year 1868. These were burned down on May 23, 1879, but the work of reconstruction was at once begun, and from time to time since additional buildings and other improvements have been added. The Altoona Manufacturing Company is a joint stock organization. The company's plant, valued at about one hundred and seventy-five thousand dollars, is not only conveniently but also pleasantly situated. To Mr. Green himself, more than to any other man, is due the prosperity of the company and the general excellence of the work turned out by the establishment. Devoting his personal attention to every department of the works, and being perfectly acquainted with the details of the labor performed, he has accomplished results where others would have failed. The Altoona Manufacturing Company, in its earlier stages of existence, was mainly devoted to the building of cars. Now it is otherwise. Cars are still turned out, orders of this nature receiving constant attention, but this branch of manufacture is no longer the distinctive feature of the works. The construction of engines is now one of the main points in which the company competes for the general trade, and for the making of automatic high speed engines, for electric lighting, electric railways, and for all uses in which rapidity of action and close regulation are prime requisites, the company is proving very successful. The company manufactures automatic, and double and single hoisting and hauling engines, coal and coke breaking machinery, boilers, castings, regenerative gas furnaces, freight, stock, mine, and street cars and tank machinery. For these purposes the works are supplied with all the latest and most improved machinery. There are nine different departments in the works, employing in allover two hundred persons. Coming to the works by the way of Broad street, the first building reached is the office, a brick structure, 50 x 50 feet. Directly beside the business department is the draughting room, where three draughtsmen are employed. Above the business offices is the pattern shop, where six persons are employed. The machine shop building is of brick, two hundred feet long and fifty feet wide, with an L annex, also of brick, 40 x 50 feet. It employs sixty skilled workmen. The boiler and engine room is built of brick 40 x 50 feet, where an eighty horse power engine, supplied by a one hundred horse power boiler, furnishes the motive power for the works. Besides the boiler in use, one of eighty horse power is kept in reserve. An engineer and fireman are employed. The blacksmith shop is constructed of brick, in dimensions 50 x 75 feet, and requires a constant force of thirteen men. A few yards distance from the machine shop stands the foundry, built of brick like the others, and extending in length two hundred feet, while its width is fifty feet, and ninety-five men are employed. In a building of brick, 60 x 100 feet, is the boiler department, where twenty-eight men work. Near by the boiler department is the car shop and planning mill, a frame building, 75 x 100 feet, requiring twenty-five men. Finally, two two-story frame buildings, for the storage of patterns, have been recently constructed. These buildings are each 28 x 40 feet. These different departments are always busy, and for some time past the receipt of orders has been so great that night work was necessary in order to make headway against the demand. The total value of the manufactures during the last year was two hundred and fifty thousand dollars-figures which will certainly be increased during the year 1892. The Altoona Manufacturing Company is daily increasing its facilities for work, and the quality of the articles it gives to its customers, who are to be found all over the country, is building up for it a standard reputation in its line of business. In 1887 Mr. Green invented and patented the well known M. A. Green automatic high speed engine. In politics he is a republican. He is a member of Logan lodge, No. 490, Free and Accepted Masons; Mountain Chapter, No. 189, Royal Arch Mason; Mountain Commandery, No. 10, Knights Templar; and Syria Temple of the Nobles of the Mystic Shrine. M. A. Green is a man of high standing and repute in commercial circles, and the immense business of the company is largely the outgrowth of his energetic efforts and excellent management. Transcribed and submitted to the Blair County, PA, USGenWeb archives by Ruth Curfman rcurfman@home.com WILLIAM M. HARE, a leading live stock dealer of Altoona, and a man who by energy, enterprise and good business judgment has succeeded in accumulating a competency of this world's goods, is a son of William and Matilda (Goodman) Hare, and was born at Allensville, Mifflin county, Pennsylvania, October 12, 1842. William hare (father) was a orphan boy, who grew to manhood in Mifflin county, with none of the usual advantages for obtaining an education or getting a start in the world. In his composition, however, was force, ability, and a determination to make something of himself in defiance of adverse circumstances. He picked up such education as was possible for a poor boy compelled to work for his own maintenance, and as soon as opportunity offered, set in to learn the trade of tailor. He thoroughly mastered that trade, and locating in the village of Mill Creek, Mifflin county, engaged in tailoring, and successfully conducted that business until 1850, when he removed to Blair county. On coming to this county he purchased a farm im Catherine township, and devoted his latter years to agricultural pursuits. He was an extensive farmer, and met with good success-due principally to the care and energy with which he conducted all farm operations. He believed that whatever was worth doing at all was worth doing well, and his fields were kept in the finest state of cultivation. He died October 15, 1881, in the sixty-ninth year of his age, and greatly respected by a wide circle of friends and acquaintances. He was a leading member of the Evangelical Lutheran church, having connected himself with that denomination when only twenty years of age. In politics he was a whig and republican, and served as justice of the peace in his township. He married Matilda Goodman, a native of Lancaster county, this State, who died January 17, 1883, in the sixty-fifth year of her age. She also was a faithful and devoted member of the Lutheran church, and greatly beloved by all who knew her. William M. hare was reared principally on his father's farm in catherine township, and obtained his education in the common schools of his neighborhood. He remained on the farm with his father until twenty-two years of age, when he came to Altoona and engaged in the butchering business. He continued in that line until November 18, 1889, when he disposed of his butchering business and began dealing in live stock, purchasing cattle and hogs in the west and shipping them to the eastern markets. Hare is a natural judge of fine stock, and handles from five to six car loads of cattle and hogs every week. He has been extremely successful inthis business, and has accumulated a handsome fortune. In 1882 he erected the elegant brick structure on Chestnut avenue, where he now resides, and which ranks among the finest houses in the city of Altoona. He also purchased and now owns the old homestead in Catherine township, where his boyhood days were passed, beside other valuable property in Altoona, and a fine farm adjoining the city. In 1864 Mr. Hare was united in marriage with Harriet Lafferty, a daughter of Joseph Lafferty of Logan township, this county, and to this union was born a family of seven children, two sons and five daughters: Anna, Bertha, Amanda, Samuel, Harry, Helender, and Mary. Mr. and Mrs. Hare are taking great pains in the careful education of their children, all of whom have developed considerable artistic taste. The rooms of their home are embellished by a number of fine paintings, done by the deft fingers of their charming daughters. In politics Mr. Hare is an ardent republican, and an active worker for his party's success. He also takes a deep interest in all movements calculated to advance the prosperity and development of his town, or benefit his fellow citizens. Transcribed and submitted to the Blair County, PA, USGenWeb archives by Linda Shillinger LindasTree@AOL.COM HON. BENJAMIN L. HEWIT, ex-speaker of the House of Representatives of Pennsylvania, and a prominent and active member of the Blair County bar, is well and favorably known throughout the state as a man of ability and integrity, and has long been recognized by the Republican Party as one of its most safe and popular leaders. He is a son of Nicholas and Mary (Murphy) Hewit, and was born at Petersburg, Huntingdon County, Pennsylvania, June 4, 1833. He is of German and Scotch-Irish parentage, tracing his ancestry on his parental side through his great-grandfather, Nicholas Hewit, to an ancestor who left the Fatherland to settle in the providence of Penn, while his maternal grandparents, Murphy, who both died at an advanced age, were of that wonderful Scotch-Irish Presbyterian race so prominent in the early settlement and history of central and western Pennsylvania. Nicholas Hewit Sr., served in the Revolutionary War from Berks County, and afterward removed to West Township, Huntingdon County, where he died in 1837, and where his remains to-day sleep in Manor Hill Cemetery. His son, David Hewit (grandfather) married Elizabeth Graffius, a descendant of the famous pioneer, Martin Nicholas Graffius, who was born May 2, 1722 and died May 20, 1790. They were early settlers in the Juniata Valley, and of their children one was Nicholas Hewit (father), who ranked high as a businessman and public-spirited citizen. He was born July 24, 1809 and died February 19, 1883. He was an old-line Whig, an active politician, and intimate friend and compeer of Thaddeus Stevens from 1830 to 1850. Mr. Hewit was one of the leading citizens of his county, and under Governor Ritner's administration, built that part of the old Pennsylvania Canal between Hollidaysburg and Huntingdon. He never allowed his close attention to politics take any of his necessary time from his business affairs, as he regarded the prosperity of the citizen as the corner stone of the prosperity of the state. His political convictions were very strong and steadfastly maintained, and possessed a great capacity for work, he entered into every campaign of his party with energy and zest. He married Mary Murphy, who died April 30, 1871, when in the fifty-ninth year of her age. They had one child, Benjamin L. Hewit. Benjamin L. Hewit attended the common schools, and was prepared for college at Tuscarora Academy, under the guidance of Prof. David Wilson distinguished for scholarship, and by an additional course of training under the tutorship of Prof. D. Williams at Hollidaysburg. He entered Princeton College in 1851, and was graduated from that celebrated institution of learning in the unusually large class of 1854, with high rank in scholarship, and particularly in a literary point of view. Leaving college, he took a legal course of study under the tutorship of that distinguished scholar and lawyer, Hon. S. S. Blair, of Hollidaysburg, was admitted to the bar in October 1856, and soon won a liberal and lucrative clientage. He was elected district attorney in 1857, was honored by a reelection in 1860, and two years later left an excellent practice to enlist as a private in Co. A, 23 Pennsylvania Infantry. At the expiration of his term of enlistment he served for a short time as a private in Co. A, Independent Battalion, and during 1863 and 1864, and part of 1865, acted as field paymaster, with the rank of major of cavalry. As paymaster he was frequently assigned to special service on account of his familiarity with the organization of the army and the laws of the pay department. He was honorably discharged in September 1865, and returned to Hollidaysburg, where he resumed the active and successful practice of his profession and was thus engaged until 1870, when he was elected as a member of the House of Representatives of Pennsylvania. In 1871 and 1872 he was reelected, and during this session of his third term he was selected as chairman of the committee of ways and means, and during 1873 served as chairman of the house committee on the revision of the civil code. In 1878, 1879, 1880 and 1881 he was elected as a member of the house, and served efficiently and faithfully in the interests of his county and the state. During the session of 1878-1879 he was chosen as chairman of the general judiciary committee, and in 1881 was elected by a handsome and flattering majority as speaker of the house of representatives, receiving both the stalwart and independent republican vote, and one democrat vote. He presided with such fairness and impartiality over the sessions of the house that he received unusual commendatory notice from the press. Since 1882 Mr. Hewit has practiced his profession most assiduously and successfully at Hollidaysburg, and takes an active part in politics, being a stalwart republican, and at this writing is a candidate for the legislature. He owns a pleasant home at Hollidaysburg, and has considerable farming interests in Blair County and Dakota, which afford him recreation as well as profit. On June 18, 1857, Mr. Hewit was united in marriage with Miss Lilly Davis daughter of Judge Davis, deceased of Bedford, Pennsylvania and they have two sons living: Oliver H. Hewit, esq. of Duluth, Minnesota and Henry D. Hewit a farmer in Dakota, their mother dying March 25, 1873. On December 4, 1874, Mr. Hewit united in marriage with Miss Mary W. Smith a daughter of Joseph Smith, esq. late of Hollidaysburg, deceased. In 1873 Mr. Hewit was appointed by Governor Hartranft as fish commissioner and served until 1882. During which time he selected the different fishery sites and planned the Cory Hatching House, which was conceded at that time to be the best fish hatching establishment in the country, while it founder was regarded as one of the leading-practical fish culturalists of the day. He still takes an interest in fish culture, and frequently contributes interesting articles to the press on that subject. His political career as a legislator has been marked by his fearless and efficient support of every measure calculated for the best interests of his constituents and the welfare of the grand old Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. On account of his parliamentary tact, readiness and ability as a debater, and through knowledge of all questions affecting the policy of his party or public interests, he was always recognized as one of the republican leaders of the house. He was chairman of the committee in 1873 that presented an able and elaborate report on the revision of the civil code, on which action was postponed by the advisement of the Supreme Court Judge of the state. He was also chairman of the celebrated George O. Evan's war claim. In 1879 he and his compeers, Wolf and Mapes, made state reputations by their prevention of the passage of the riot bill, whose provisions would have taken four million dollars from the state treasury for unjust purposes. During the great struggle in 1881, over the election of a United States senator from Pennsylvania, Mr. Hewit name was frequently mentioned in connection with that high office, for which on different ballot he received several votes. Mr. Hewit is an interesting and entertaining speaker, an attractive and convincing jury pleader, and an able and sound reasoner. He has a fine vocabulary, is apt in expression, an by ability, integrity and earnestness has won prominence and honor in the legislative history of Pennsylvania. Transcribed and submitted to Blair County, Pa, USGenWeb archives by Janet Gray bmgray@dol.net JOSIAH D. HICKS, one of the self-made men of Blair county, a prominent attorney of Altoona, a leader in local politics, and a popular secret society man, is a son of John and Barbara (Eynon) Hicks, and was born near Phoenixville, Chester county, Pennsylvania, August 1, 1844. His father and mother were both natives of Wales, but emigrated to America in 1842, and located in the city of Philadelphia. The family remained there for a brief period of time, and then removed to Chester county where John Hicks (father) secured employment in the iron works at Phoenixville, being a forgeman by trade. In 1846 he came to what is now Blair county, and resided in this and Huntingdon counties until 1861, when he removed to Cleveland, Ohio. He died in 1874, at the age of fifty-eight, while visiting his son, Rev. W. W. Hicks, at Milledgeville, Georgia, for his health. He was a prominent member of the Methodist Episcopal church, and was for many years a class leader and exhorter in that church. He was an abolitionist and republican in politics, and cast his first vote for John C. Fremont. He was a great admirer and strong supporter of Abraham Lincoln. By his marriage with Barbara Eynon he had a family of eight children. She was also a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, and died in 1869, at the age of forty-seven years. Josiah D. Hicks was reared partly in Blair and partly in Huntingdon counties. During his boyhood he attended the common schools of his neighborhood, and finished his education after coming to Altoona, at a night school taught by Prof. John Miller, which he attended for nearly three years. When he first came to this city he was employed as clerk in the mercantile establishment of Clement Jaggard, one of our most successful merchants at that time. Later he accepted a position in the freight and ticket department of the Pennsylvania railroad at Altoona, and in 1864 was promoted to a clerkship in the office of the superintendent of transportation, Robert Pitcairn, by whose influence he afterwards became chief clerk of the Tyrone division, with his office at Tyrone. Mr. Pitcairn is now general agent and superintendent of the Pennsylvania railroad, with headquarters at Pittsburg. Mr. Hicks held the position of chief clerk of that division for three years, and then removed to Altoona and embarked in the general merchandise business in partnership with his brother, W. W. Hicks. This enterprise was conducted for a short time, when they sold out, and Josiah D. removed to his farm near Williamsburg, this county, where he engaged in farming for four years. During this time he commenced reading law, under the tutorship of Alexander & Herr, of Altoona. In 1873 he left his farm and engaged in the insurance business at Tyrone until he had finished reading law and was ready for examination. May 4, 1875, he was admitted to the bar, and at once opened a law office in Tyrone, where he was regularly engaged in general practice until March, 1884, when he removed to Altoona and formed a law partnership with D. J. Neff, under the firm style of Neff & Hicks. This firm has existed to the present time (1892), and has become well known throughout central Pennsylvania, enjoying a large and lucrative, practice. In the fall of 1880, Mr. Hicks was elected district attorney on the republican ticket, running far ahead of his ticket. He entered upon the discharge of his official duties in January, 1881, and his work was so satisfactory that when his first term had expired he was unanimously re-nominated by his own party and was re-elected to the same position. In 1890 he became solicitor for the Pennsylvania Railroad Company, a position he still holds, and in the same year was a candidate for election to congress, but, while carrying his own county, was defeated for nomination in the district, and in this year (1892) he received again the unanimous nomination in Blair county. In April, 1861, Mr. Hicks enlisted in Company H, 14 Pennsylvania infantry, but was rejected on account of his small stature. In the spring of the following year he enlisted again, but while on his way to join the company was intercepted by his mother, who had come from Cleveland, Ohio, for that purpose, and was once more prevented from joining the army. In August, 1862, he made another and more successful attempt to become a soldier, and was sworn in as a private in Co. K., 125th Pennsylvania infantry, under an assumed name (which was afterwards corrected). He took part in the battle of Antietam and at Chancellorsville; at the latter battle he was wounded and was discharged from the army in June, 1863. After this he re-enlisted twice for short terms--first as third sergeant in the 46th Pennsylvania militia, and again as first lieutenant, being commissioned by Governor Curtin to assist in raising a battalion of one-hundred day men. The battalion was promptly enlisted, sworn into the United States service at Harrisburg, and assisted in driving the confederates from the State after the burning of Chambersburg. In December, 1868, Mr. Hicks was united in marriage to Anna M. Sparr, a daughter of Isaac Sparr, of Williamsburg, who was one of the very early settlers of this county. She died at Tyrone in the summer of 1875, leaving three children, two sons and a daughter: Hattie W., William B., and Herbert S., the latter dying in infancy. In 1877 Mr. Hicks was again married, this time wedding Josephine Barrick, daughter of Dr. Samuel Barrick, of Frederick county, Maryland. To this union have been born one son and one daughter: Cora Eynon and Charles B. Politically Mr. Hicks is an ardent republican, and cast his first vote for Abraham Lincoln, while serving in the army and before he was twenty-one. He takes an active part in local politics, is a fluent extemporaneous speaker, and served as chairman of the Republican county committee when Senator Quay was chairman of the State committee. He is very popular in his party, and no doubt the future will bring him additional political honors. He is a member and trustee of the Methodist Episcopal church, and a member of Tyrone Lodge, No. 152, Independent Order of Odd Fellows. He has been a prominent member of the Grand Army of the Republic ever since it was organized in Pennsylvania, and is now past post commander of Col. D. M. Jones Post, No. 172, of Tyrone, and also of Fred C. Ward Post, No. 468, of Altoona. He was a member of the National Encampment at Indianapolis, and elected a delegate by the recent State encampment at Pittsburg as National Delegate to the National Encampment at Washington, District of Columbia. In the line of his profession Mr. Hicks is solicitor for two of the largest building associations in Altoona. He owns a fine farm near Williamsburg, which is well improved and stocked, and the operations of which he personally superintends, deriving much pleasure therefrom. He has been connected with the Blair County Agricultural society for fifteen years, and during the last six has been its vice-president. He has also been a member of the State board of agriculture for six years, and takes an active and intelligent interest in all questions affecting agricultural pursuits. Transcribed and submitted to the Blair County, PA, USGenWeb archives by Eileen JOSEPH B. HILEMAN, now practically retired from active business, thought still devoting his time to the management of his real estate interests in Altoona, was for twelve years a leading merchant of that city, and for two decades conducted a large lumber business in this State and Michigan. He is the only son of Michael and Sarah (Bouslaugh) Hileman, and was born August 30, 1833, in Allegheny township, Blair county, Pennsylvania. His paternal grandfather, Michael Hileman, sr., was born in the eastern part of this State, but removed to Huntingdon county in 1802, and in 1804 came to Blair county, settling in what is now Frankstown township, where he died about 1847, at the unusual age of ninety-three years. His remains lie entombed in the Frankstown cemetery. He was among the pioneer farmers of this section, and married a Miss Young, by whom, he had a family of fourteen children, nine sons and five daughters, all of whom lived to reach maturity, and all married. The seventh of these children was Michael Hileman (father), who was born in York county, this State, February 12, 1796, but was brought by his father to Huntingdon, and subsequently to Blair county, while yet a lad. He was principally reared and educated in this county. By occupation he was a farmer, and spent the active part of his life in agricultural pursuits. In 1854 he removed to Altoona, and resided in this city until his death, April 6, 1879, at which time he had passed three annual mile posts beyond the lengthened term of four-score years. In politics he was first a Jacksonian democrat, but later became a whig, and after that party dissolved, he affiliated with the republicans. He served for a time as postmaster, and was for several years a member of the board of school directors. He was an active, influential member of the Evangelical Lutheran church for many years, occupying the position of elder in his church. He married Sarah Bouslaugh, a daughter of Sebastian Bouslaugh, and to them was born an only son, the subject of this sketch. Mrs. Hileman was born April 5, 1802, and is now living with her son in the city of Altoona, at the good old age of ninety years. Joseph B. Hileman was reared in his native county, and received his education in the district schools of Blair county, and at the Hollidaysburg academy. After leaving school, he engaged in farming, and followed that vocation until 1852, when he came to Altoona and embarked in the general mercantile business on Eleventh avenue. He continued in that line successfully for a period of twelve years, after which he disposed of his store and engaged extensively in the lumber business. For twenty years he was an active lumber dealer, handling great quantities of all kinds of rough and dressed lumber, and selling in distant markets as well as supplying the home demand. During this time he resided for four years in Michigan, engaged in managing his large lumber interests in that State. After that he practically retired from the lumber trade, and has devoted his attention principally to looking after his large real estate interests in the city. He is also connected with the banking interests of Altoona, being a director in the First National bank of this city. On October 12, 1847, Mr. Hileman was married to Ann R. Eaverson, a daughter of George Eaverson, of Shepperdstown, Virginia, and to their union was born a family of six children: Virginia, died in early life; Octavius, now engaged in the real estate and insurance business at Iron Gate, Virginia; Audora, who graduated from Vassar college, New York, and married E. J. Waring, of Plainfield, New Jersey, now engaged in business at Newark, that State; Sallie G., now the wife of Dr. William E. Hughes, a practicing physician of the city of Philadelphia; Jeannette, married William F. Hopkinson, a civil engineer residing at Renova, Clinton county, this State; and Joseph B., who was graduated from the Pennsylvania college, took a special course at Harvard university, and then entered the medical department of the University of Pennsylvania, from which he was graduated in 1891, and is now practicing his profession in Altoona. Mrs. Hileman,. The mother of this family, died in 1883, and Mr. Hileman was again married, this time wedding Urilla M. Geiger, of Springfield, Ohio. In his political affiliations Mr. Hileman has always been a republican, and is now serving as one of the city assessors. In 1884 he was elected a member of the electoral college and voted for James G. Blaine, and has long been prominent in the local councils of his party. For half a century he has been a prominent member of the First Lutheran church at Altoona, and is at present serving as treasurer of the Allegheny synod of his denomination. He has frequently represented his church in the general synod. Transcribed and submitted to the Blair County, PA, USGenWeb archives by Eileen JOHN A. HILLER, an old, well known, and prosperous citizen of Tyrone, who enjoys the distinction of being the oldest harness maker in this section, is a son of John and Mary (Reichle) Hiller, and was born in Weidemburg, Germany, August 1, 1829. His father was a native of the same place, and passed his life there, dying February 26, 1843, at the early age of forty-five years. He was a farmer by occupation, and, by his marriage to Mary Reichle, had a family of fourteen children, six sons and eight daughters, three of whom emigrated to America: John A.; Isaac, who is at present located at Houtzdale, this State; and Martin, now of Marion, Marion county, Ohio. John A. Hiller was reared in his German home at Weidemburg, and received a good German education in the schools of that place. After leaving school he learned the trade of saddler and harness maker in his native country, and, at the age of nineteen, bid farewell to the Fatherland and started across the treacherous ocean to seek a home in the new world and among a strange people. After his arrival in America he made his way to Pittsburg, this State, where he located and worked at his trade as a journeyman until 1855. In that year he removed to Tyrone, this county, then a small village, and engaged in the harness business. At first there was not much work to be done, but, as population increased, and the excellence of his work became known, his business grew and it was not long until he had all he could do. He has continued to reside here since 1855, and for nearly thirty-seven years has applied himself closely to his business, being very successful and accumulating considerable property. Although he now owns a store supplied with a complete stock of harness and all accessories, and is proprietor of one of the finest business blocks on Main street, he still spends a good deal of his time at the bench, handling the awl as rapidly and accurately as he did when a young man. He is naturally industrious, and is perhaps never happier than when busily employed in his useful occupation. On May 6, 1852, Mr. Hiller married Margaret Braun, who died February 7, 1892. To this union was born a family of seven children, only four of whom are now living: Wilhelmina, at home; William F., now engaged in the insurance business at Tyrone; Mary, married John E. Bottger, an engineer on the Vanderbilt railroad system, residing at Fort Wayne, Indiana; and Henrietta, living at home with her father. In politics Mr. Hiller is a republican, and has served as a member of the town council and school director. He is a member of the First English Lutheran church, and of Tyrone Lodge, No. 52, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, of which he is treasurer. He is also a member of Altoona Encampment, No. 129, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and Sinking Spring Lodge, No. 127, Knights of Pythias. Transcribed and submitted to the Blair County, PA, USGenWeb archives by Eileen GUSTAVE KLEMMERT, deceased, was born at Burgsinn, province of Bavaria, in the united German empire, in 1845. He was reared in his native place and obtained his education in the common schools there. After leaving school he learned the trades of cooper and brewer, and continued to work at the brewery business in his native land until 1868, when he bid farewell to home and friends and started alone for the new world, determined to establish himself in the great republic, whose fame had reached him in his childhood's home, and had wonderfully interwoven itself with his growing aspirations and plans for the future. He arrived in New York a stranger and without money, but soon obtained employment in a brewery in that city, and worked at his trade there until 1870. In that year he came to Altoona, this county, and obtained a position with Martin Hoelle, proprietor of the Altoona brewery, with whom he remained until 1873. He then formed a partnership with John Stehle, of this city, and purchased the Eagle brewery, located at the corner of Thirteenth street and Fourth avenue, which they operated for one year. At the end of that time Mr. Kleminert bought out his partner's interest in the enterprise, and afterward conducted the business in his own name. He remodeled and improved the brewery building until it became almost a new structure, and added such machinery and facilities as were needed to make it first-class in every respect. It has a yearly capacity of between five thousand and six thousand barrels. Mr. Klemmert also remodeled and completed the residence adjoining the brewery. He successfully conducted the brewery business until his death, July 15, 1891, at which time he was in the forty-sixth year of his age. He was a member of the German Catholic church, and a straight democrat in politics. He served for four years as chief of the fire department in Altoona, and as treasurer of that department until his death. On February 7, 1876, he was married to Mrs. Fredericka (Theurer) Schmitt, of the city of Altoona. She was born at Altenstaig, Wurtemberg, Germany, in 1839, and came to the United States with her father, Michael Theurer, when only thirteen years of age. She lived at Tyrone, this county, until 1861, when she removed to Altoona, and was married here in 1893 to John Schmitt, of this city. He died in 1872, leaving three children, of whom two are yet living: John H., who is now assisting his mother in running the brewery; and Renette, who married Emil Thieme, of this city. Mrs. Klemmert is a member of the German Lutheran church. She had no children by her last marriage. Transcribed and submitted to the Blair Co, PA, USGenWeb archives by Eileen FRANK P. MOLLOY, chief of the fire department of Altoona, and one of the most active, energetic and successful democratic leaders of that city, is a son of Frank and Helen (Canan) Molloy, and was born in County Donegal, province of Ulster, Ireland, March 17, 1846. The Molloy family has been resident of County Donegal for several centuries, and is connected by blood and marriage with some of the oldest families of Ireland. Frank P. Molloy's paternal grandfather, Daniel Molloy, was born at Glenties, County Donegal, in 1761, and died in 1866, when he was one hundred and five years and nine months of age. He had been hale and hearty until within six months of his death. His son, Frank Molloy (father) was born at Glenties, and died in 1870, aged forty-nine years. He was employed for nineteen years by the English government as an inspector at Liverpool, and afterwards returned to Glenties. He married Ellen Canan, who now resides on the homestead farm at Glenties, and is very active and well preserved for her ninety-one years of age. They reared a family of six sons, of whom the following three came to America: Maurice, of Washington city; McCormick, a dry goods merchant, contractor and builder, who resided for many years at No. 921 South Twentieth Street, Philadelphia; and Frank P. Mrs. Frank Molloy is a daughter of Dominick Canan, who was corporation clerk of his native town of Glenties for sixty-five years, and retained his health and mental powers until his death, at the remarkable age of one hundred and fifteen years and six months. Frank P. Molloy, of Altoona, Pennsylvania, received his education in the district schools of his native town and a night school of Philadelphia, this state. At sixteen years of age he left Ireland, and landed at New York May 23, 1861. He went to Philadelphia, where he was engaged for a short time as a clerk in a general mercantile establishment, and then served an apprenticeship of four years and nine months to the plumbing trade. After learning his trade he worked for eighteen months as a journeyman, and at the end of that time, in 1866, came to Altoona, but remained only a short time, when he went back to Philadelphia, where he worked for a plumbing firm until 1870. On February 15 of that year he started in the plumbing business for himself in Altoona, on Eleventh Avenue, but soon removed to the site of the Schenk block, on the corner of Eleventh Avenue and Fourteenth Street, where he followed plumbing until 1889, when he sold his establishment to J.F. Storm. He then engaged in the hotel business, and rented the St. Lawrence Hotel, corner of Eleventh Avenue and Fourteenth Street, which he conducted until 1889, when he sold it to James Heaton, its present manager. Leaving the St. Lawrence Hotel, he purchased the Franklin House, on the corner of Ninth Avenue and Seventeenth Street, which he conducted very successfully until the present year, when he rented it to W.J. McFaaly. On September 21, 1870, Mr. Molloy married Margaret Murphy, daughter of Mrs. Murphy, of Tunnel Hill, Cambria County, and they have seven children: Frank, now attending St. Vincent's College, Westmoreland County; William, Harry, John, Margaret, Edna, and Ellie. Frank P. Molloy is an active member of St. John's Catholic Church, of which his family are members. He is a director of one and a stockholder in four building and loan associations. He joined the Vigilant Steam Fire Engine Company in 1871, and is a life member in the following companies: Goodwill, No.1; Empire Hook and Ladder Company; Excelsior Hose; Logan Hose; Hope Fire Engine, No. 8; and Friendship Hose and Fire Patrol. He served as assistant engineer of the fire department of Altoona form 1884 to 1886, and then was elected, without opposition, as chief of the fire department, which position he has held with credit to himself ever since. In politics Mr. Molloy is an ardent Democrat, and has always been an active and successful worker for his party. He has been a member of the common council for ten years, during three years of which time he served as president of that body. His services as president were so acceptable to the public that his friends are now presenting his name again as a candidate for the presidency of the common council of Altoona, and at the reorganization, on Monday, May 2, 1892, he was elected president by the unanimous vote of both democrats and republicans. Transcribed and submitted to the Blair County, PA, USGenWeb archives by Denise MARY RITTMAN a woman of fine business ability, and the proprietor of the Mountain City Brewery, was born in Altoona, and is a daughter of Michael and Mary (Falter) Fischer. Michael Fischer was born in 1828, in the kingdom of Bavaria, Germany, and in 1852 came to Hollidaysburg, which he left the next year to settle in Altoona, where he has resided ever since. He is a member of St. Mary's Catholic church of Altoona, and a democrat in political opinion. He married Mary Falter, who was born in Bavaria, and reared in the faith of the Catholic church, in which she lived and died. She passed away May 2, 1887, when in the fifty-fifth year of her age. Mr. and Mrs. Fischer had ten children, five sons and five daughters. Mary (Fischer) Rittman was reared at Altoona, and received her education in the public schools of that city. She was married in 1873 to Charles Haird, who was a native of Germany, and who followed brewing until his death. They had two children: Mary and Frank. Mr. Haird was a democrat, and a member of the German Catholic church, and died in 1886, at thirty-seven years of age. After his death she was married, on the 27th of November, 1889, to Daniel Rittman, who was a native of Germany, and came, in 1886, from Cleveland, Ohio, to Altoona. He was a brewer by occupation, and ran the Mountain City brewery for three years before his death, which occurred on the 25th of April, 1890, when he was in the thirty-fifth year of his age. Mr. Rittman was a democrat in politics, and a member of St. Mary's Catholic church. He was an industrious and energetic man, and had many friends who mourned his early death. The Mountain City brewery, which is located on Fourth avenue, between Fourteenth and Fifteenth streets, and was originally a frame structure that was erected by Mrs. Rittman's first husband, burned down in 1889, and Mrs. Rittman replaced it with the present large and commodious brick brewery, which stands on the site of the destroyed building. The premises occupied by the plant covers a considerable area of ground, upon which are erected all the necessary buildings for brewing and malting. The ice and storage houses are spacious and well arranged, and the product of the brewery is sent into market in good condition. Mrs. Rittman is conducting the plant most successfully, and has a steady and constantly increasing demand for her beer on account of its superior quality. Mrs. Rittman has shown herself to be an intelligent woman of unusual business ability and energy, and is a consistent and useful member of St. Mary's German Catholic church of Altoona. Transcribed and submitted to the Blair County, PA, USGenWeb archives by Patricia Detterbeck Patric3169@aol.com HARRY SLEP was born in Hesse Cassel, Germany, October 24, 1836. When ten years old he came to America with his grandmother and uncles, and lived in Mechanicsburg, Cumberland county, Pennsylvania, for four months, when he obtained a situation as printer's devil from George Bergner, who published the Vaderland's Wachter, at Harrisburg, the capital of Pennsylvania. He served his employer well for six years and six months, when he was considered a full fledged jour printer. The young man had certainly improved his time. He had not only endeavored to master the "art preservative," but he had succeeded, without going to school, in obtaining a fair English education by Employing his evenings in the search for knowledge. Mr. Henry Gilbert, a well known hardware dealer of Harrisburg, who had known the German boy Harry from the time he came to Harrisburg, said, on one occasion, to the writer, that "the young German seemed to put his whole soul into the trade, and when asked what he expected to make of himself, his answer would be, 'Be a master printer some day, own an office, run a German newspaper, and have on my tombstone the inscription, 'He was an artist printer." "Of course," said Mr. Gilbert, "I would laugh at the ideal of the young, penniless fellow, but encourage him to stick to that purpose." As already stated, at eighteen years of age the subject of this sketch was free, for he had been indentured by his next of kin, and then sought out offices where he could increase his knowledge of the art. At twenty hears of age he embarked in the newspaper business, in company with Lawyer McLaughlin, at Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania. The paper, The Gazette, now The Journal, was a six-column weekly paper, and being in a small town, the patronage was insufficient to keep two bodies and souls alive, and at the expiration of about a year the young aspirant for journalistic honors retired from the firm. In the fall of 1858 he was make-up on the Legislative Record, printed at the Telegraph office at Harrisburg, and soon after this was German make-up in the State printing office. Then he worked a short time on the Baltimore Sun, but soon returned east, and in 1860 took charge of the Patriot office at Harrisburg, but the labors were too great, the hours too long (from 9 A.M. until 4 the next morning), and he sought work in Philadelphia, with success. In 1865 he was persuaded to travel as a lecturer and advertising agent for a panorama, "The Old World," but before a month passed funds gave out, and Mr. Slep landed in Williamsport, this State, with only fifty cents and his stick and rule in his pocket. Obtaining employment at his trade here, he remained for several months, when he returned to Harrisburg and took a situation in Mr. Theo. F. Scheffer's job office, remaining there until he was offered the foremanship of the Meadville Republican job office. When that office was sold to another gentlemen, Mr. Slep returned east and worked again for Mr. Scheffer at Harrisburg, until he was offered the foremanship of the Altoona Sun office. This was in the spring of 1871. Altoona was then a small railroad town, but the ambitious jour printer judged from the amount of work done by the ever increasing number of men employed in the railroad shops, that Altoona would grow, and that a good run of job printing would be required, and an opening for a German newspaper was in the near future, so he determined to make his second effort to establish an office for himself. On October 20, 1872, the first job was turned out from the Mirror office -- the name was chosen with a view to giving that name to the English paper when it should be born, and it came to light on June 13, 1874, followed by a German paper styled Der Deutsche Volksfuehrer, on March 28, 1878. The Evening Mirror, as its name indicates, was a daily, only four pages, four columns to the page, and cost subscribers only one cent a day. Of course there were many discouragements and obstacles to overcome during its first two years, but they were manfully met, and the Mirror was paying very well, up to the railroad riots in July, 1877. Here the paper had to take the unpopular side of the questions at issue -- the destruction of railroad property -- and it gave out no uncertain sounds, and in the heat of the prejudices of the people, the majority of whom were railroad employees, and who were the paper's subscribers -- over two thousand -- it had to succumb. The paper was sold for a mere trifle to other parties, but the job office was retained, and in a few years the debts incurred in trying to save the Mirror (over $2,000) were all paid, and a new grip was taken by Mr. Slep and his two sons, Will and Edward, now of valuable service to him in the business. On June 16, 1888, the Mirror again appeared as an evening paper, four pages, six columns to the page, at one cent a copy, followed the next year by the Saturday Mirror, double the size of the daily Mirror, at one dollar a year, or both papers for twenty-five cents a month. The Mirror moved right along, and now has the largest circulation of any paper in Blair county. The Mirror is issued from its own commodious building, 25 x 60 feet, three stories high, specially built for the business. It is fitted up with the latest styles of job and newspaper materials, the fastest newspaper press in the county, with the latest improved electric motors, folding machines, etc., and thus the "young, penniless fellow," as Mr. Gilbert termed him, has realized his expectations of becoming "some day a master printer, own an office and run a newspaper." He not only published one paper, but between the years 1873 to 1888, over twenty-five publications have been printed at the Mirror office. Among them the following are mentioned in the record kept by the office: Altoona Baptist, in 1873; Mountain Echo, 1874; Living Age, 1874; The Mirror Hand-Book, 1875; The Home Base, 1876; Musical Advocate, 1877; The Gospel Trumpet, 1878; The Beacon (Baltimore), 1878; The First Venture (poems), 1879; The Literary American, 1879; Altoona Advance, 1879; The Mechanic, 1880; Youths' Mirror, 1880; Bookkeeper and Penman, 1880; Our Work (religious), 1880; History of Altoona and Blair County (book), 1880; Sunday Morning, 1881; Y.M.C.A. State Notes, 1882; The Sunday News, 1883; Sabbath School Review, 1888; The Mountain Signal; Town Talk; Church Home; By-the-Way; The Courier; and others. Some of the papers are still published, but the most have been discontinued, their projectors having learned that it requires more than ambition to run a newspaper successfully. Harry Slep was twice married. His first wife was Mary C. Daugherty, a native of Harrisburg, this State. The ceremony took place at Carlisle, Pennsylvania, in 1856. They had three children: Alice May, Will S. H., and Edward J. Mrs. Slep died at Harrisburg, December 31, 1862. His second marriage took place at Altoona, September 17, 1871, choosing for his help-meet Mrs. Anna M. Humes, a resident of the city, and who had one son, G. Humes, by her first husband, James Humes, deceased. To this last marriage were born four children: Daniel N., Frederick B., Cora Campbell, and Mary Catherine, all of whom are living except Frederick B., who died when two years of age. Mr. Slep joined the Methodist church at Harrisburg in 1850, and at present is a deacon in the Second Presbyterian church of Altoona, having joined this church when he married the second time, his wife having been then and is now a member of that church. Transcribed and submitted to the Blair County, PA, USGenWeb archives by Patricia Detterbeck Patric3169@aol.com DANIEL SNIVELY a prosperous farmer of Woodbury township, and who served as a Union soldier before Petersburg and Richmond during the late civil war, is a son of Christian and Barbara (Beyers) Snively, and was born in Woodbury township, Blair county, Pennsylvania, January 16, 1846. The Snivelys were early settlers in the Shenandoah valley, Virginia, where the paternal great-grandfather of Mr. Snively owned nearly all the land of one county, but during the revolutionary war he took part in favor of the English government, and his land and property were confiscated by the Virginia authorities. He then removed to Franklin county, this State, and afterward came to Woodbury township, where he purchased one hundred and sixty acres of land of Captain Phillips, one of the first settlers of the Juniata valley. He died in 1829, aged ninety-one years. His son, Rev. Jacob Snively (grandfather), was born in Maryland, and crossed the mountains by a bridle path to Woodbury township, where he settled and cleared out a large farm. He married Barbara Rhodes and reared a family of six children: George R., Christian, David, Susan, who is seventy years of age and resides on the home farm; Mary, and Elizabeth, widow of Abraham Shelley, of Harmon, Carroll county, Illinois. Rev. Jacob Snively learned the trade of miller at Chambersburg, this State, and came to Woodbury township, where he died in 1860, aged seventy-nine years. He was a whig in politics, and served for many years as a minister in the River Brethren church, in which he ranked as one of the ablest and most influential men of that religious denomination. He also was a prominent man in his township and in civil affairs. His son, Christian Snively (father), was born in 1809 on the home farm, where he died in 1872, aged sixty-three years. He was a farmer by occupation, and in 1861 left the Democratic party to become a republican. He married Barbara Beyers, who died October 26, 1861, at the age of forty-eight years. They reared a family of eight children, of whom six are living: Benjamin, of Martinsburg; Daniel; Samuel; Mary A., wife of Samuel Sparr; Abraham, of Denver, Colorado; and Elizabeth. Daniel Snively was reared on the home farm, received his education in the common schools of Woodbury township, and then engaged in farming, which he has followed successfully ever since. In August, 1864, Mr. Snively enlisted, at Williamsburg, in Captain Shollar's company (B), 208th Pennsylvania infantry, and participated in the battle of Fort Steadman and the charge on Fort Mahone. He was honorably discharged from the Federal service at Alexandria, Virginia, on June 1, 1865, and returned to his farm. Mr. Snively is a republican in politics, and has always been an ardent advocate of the cause of prohibition. He is a member of Williamsburg Evangelical Lutheran church, R. M. Johnson Post, No. 474, Grand Army of the Republic, and a member and steward of Clover Creek Grange, No. 791, Patrons of Husbandry. In 1871 Daniel Snively married Mary A. Sorrich, daughter of George W. and Nancy Sorrich, of Woodbury township. To Mr. and Mrs. Snively have been born four children, three sons and one daughter: Orville C., Austin C., Herman I., and Lulu F. Transcribed and submitted to the Blair County, PA, USGenWeb archives by Patricia Detterbeck Patric3169@aol.com ADIE ALLEN STEVENS. The bar in Pennsylvania is exceptionally good and has always received full recognition. In making up the roll of the leading and successful lawyers of central Pennsylvania, place must be accorded to the name of Adie Allen Stevens, of Tyrone, who enjoys the popular distinction of being one of the ablest members of the Blair county bar, and has been prominently identified for the last decade with the material development and prosperity of Tyrone. He is a son of James and Catherine (Agnew) Stevens, and was born at Tuckahoe, Blair county, Pennsylvania, August 20, 1845. His paternal grandfather, James Stevens, was born and reared in Ireland, which he left during the first quarter of the present century to make a home for himself in Huntingdon county, this State, where he married Elizabeth Broombaugh, the grandmother of the subject of this sketch. On the maternal side, Mr. Stevens' grandfather, Daniel Agnew, was born in the old and historic city of Belfast, Ireland. He came to America at the age of fifteen years, finally locating in Huntingdon county, Pennsylvania. He afterward removed to Sinking Valley, Blair county, where he was engaged in farming during the remainder of his lifetime. He died in the year 1835, aged fifty-three years. He was a linen weaver by trade, a farmer by occupation, and a Jacksonian democrat in politics. He was Presbyterian in religious faith and church membership, and married Catherine E. Newber, by whom he had six sons and six daughters, all of whom are dead except Catherine, the mother of the subject of this sketch. James Stevens (father), was born at Franklin Forge, Huntingdon county, February 24, 1818, and died in the city of Altoona, November 15, 1846. He received his education in the early public schools, and learned the trade of shoemaker, which he followed until his untimely death. On November 18, 1841, he married Catherine Agnew, who was born in Sinking Valley, Huntingdon county, August 12, 1824, and is now a resident of Tyrone. They had a family of two children: Samuel F., who enlisted as a soldier in Co. F, 76th Pennsylvania infantry, and was killed at Fort Wagner on July 11, 1863; and Adie Allen, the subject of this sketch. Adie Allen Stevens was reared in Blair county, and was thrown upon his own resources when but a mere youth. He attended the public schools at Altoona and in Antis township until he was fourteen years of age, when, through necessity, he left school to enter the gallery of a photographer in Altoona, and learned photography, which he followed until 1864, when he enlisted as a soldier in the First battalion of Pennsylvania volunteers, which was called into service for one hundred days to aid in repelling Lee's threatened invasion of the Keystone State. At the expiration of his term of service he reenlisted in the 15th Pennsylvania cavalry, and served until the downfall of the Southern Confederacy. He was in the Army of the Tennessee, and served as a dispatch bearer and orderly at the headquarters of his brigade. After being honorably discharged, at the close of the war, he returned to Blair county, where he resumed photography, and was engaged in that line of work at Duncannon and in Altoona until 1869. In the meantime his attention had been drawn to the study of law, for which he always had a natural liking, but without means to carry out, and during the spring of 1869 became a law student in the office of Hall & Neff, of Altoona, with whom he read until March 20, 1872, when he was admitted to the Blair county bar. After admission he immediately came to Tyrone, where he has remained ever since in active and successful practice. He was admitted to practice in the Supreme court of Pennsylvania in 1874, and in the United States district and circuit courts at Philadelphia in 1875. During his term at the bar he has been counsel on the part of many of the most important suits tried in the Blair county courts. May 30, 1869, in the city of Altoona, Mr. Stevens married Emma, daughter of Maxwell K. Howe, of this county, and to their union have been born four children, two sons and two daughters: May, George B., Irene (deceased), and James Howe. On April 1, 1885, A. A. Stevens associated with himself G. Lloyd Owens in the practice of law, and the firm has continued until the present time. For the last decade Mr. Stevens has taken an active and leading part in many of the important business enterprises of Tyrone. He is one of the organizers and directors of the First National Bank of Tyrone, which was established in August, 1890. He is a member of the firm of W. M. Holmes & Co., manufacturers of lime and shippers of lime stone, and has an interest in the Richland bituminous coal mines, of Cambria county. He is secretary of the Tyrone Gas & Water Company, and a stockholder in the Home Electric Light & Heat Company, and in several other business enterprises. Mr. Stevens is also active in religious and educational matters. He is a member of the First Methodist Episcopal church of Tyrone, of which he is a trustee and the superintendent of its Sunday-school, and has served two terms as a member of the city school board, being elected to that position irrespective of party. In politics Mr. Stevens was a republican up to 1869, when he became a prohibitionist, and has been an earnest worker and recognized leader in the cause of prohibition ever since. Adie Allen Stevens helped to organize the Prohibition party in Pennsylvania, served as chairman of its State committee from 1886 to 1889, and is now a member and vice-chairman of the National committee of the Prohibition party of the United States, and is one of its recognized leaders. He became a Good Templar many years ago, and is now a member of the Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania, and the Right Worthy Grand Lodge of the world of the Independent Order of Good Templars. No citizen of Tyrone has ever been more interested in its prosperity, or taken part more freely in any movement calculated to advance its material and social welfare than Mr. Stevens. Commencing life without capital or influence, he has won ample fortune and honorable position by ability, energy, and persistent effort-a fair example of the pluck of American boyhood. Transcribed and submitted to the Blair County, PA, USGenWeb archives by Linda Shillinger LindasTree@AOL.COM PROF. JAMES A. STEWART a successful educator, has been ever active in the line of his work, and has been largely instrumental in raising the standard of education at Hollidaysburg to a higher plane. He is a son of William and Mary E. (Porter) Stewart, and was born in Shaver's Creek Valley, Huntingdon county, Pennsylvania, September 23, 1834. James Stewart (grandfather) was of Scotch-Irish descent, and in all probability was a native of Chester county, from which he removed when he came to Huntingdon county, where he settled in the neighborhood of Petersburg. His life was one devoted to agricultural pursuits, in which he was very successful. In politics he at first was a Jacksonian democrat, but at the beginning of Jackson's second term he became an old-line whit. He was a member of the Presbyterian church, and married Jeannet Gray, by whom he had a family of eight sons and four daughters. William Stewart (father) was born in 1807, in Shaver's Creek Valley, where he resided until his death, which occurred in 1862. He was also a farmer by occupation, a supporter of the Democratic party, and an elder in the Presbyterian church. He married Mary E. Porter, of Shaver's Creek Valley. To their union were born one son and one daughter: Annie M., married George W. Wilson, and is now a resident of the old homestead, in Huntingdon county; and James A. James A. Stewart received his education in the Millwood academy and at Airyview, Juniata county, and afterward entered Jefferson college, from which institution he graduated in the class of 1858. In January, 1859, he removed to the "Old North State" (North Carolina), where he took charge of the Robeson institute, which he successfully conducted until the beginning of the late civil war. He then returned to Huntingdon county, where he was engaged in teaching during the greater part of his time until 1865, when he and S. S. Jack took charge of the Sewickley academy, in Westmoreland county, where he remained two years. During the years 1868 and 1869, he taught in West Nottingham academy, Maryland, teaching for Rev. S. A. Gailey. During the next year he had charge of the public schools of Milton, Pennsylvania, and for four years was principal of Logan academy, at Bellwood, this county. At the end of that time, in 1874, he removed to Hollidaysburg, where he conducted a private school, preparing boys for college, professional life, and business, until 1886, when he was elected principal of the public schools. He is still occupying the latter position. This school has attained a high standard, and many of its graduates have become successful business or professional men, or educators, in the different parts of our country. On December 29, 1859, Professor Stewart was united in marriage with Martha J. Murphy, of Washington county, and to them have been born nine children: Mary E., a teacher in the public schools at Gaysport; Margaret, Idalette, Frances, Blanche, Ernest, W. E., who married a Miss Keely, and is an employee of Wood, Morrill & Co., of Gaysport; and two who died when quite young. Mr. Stewart supports the Democratic party, and is an elder in the Presbyterian church. He takes great interest in the work in which he is engaged, and many of his pupils are now engaged in business and professional life, and have been successful. There is a pleasure comes to him, which only those who have experienced can know, when he sees the fruits of his labor thus demonstrated, and when he enjoys the gratefulness and friendliness of those whose success is partly due to the intellectual and moral training which they received at his hands. Professor Stewart has kept abreast of the times in the rapid and wonderful advance of teaching, and reflects credit on the profession to which he has given the best years of his life. Transcribed and submitted to the Blair County, PA, USGenWeb archives by Patricia Detterbeck Patric3169@aol.com REV. JOHN D. STEWART, proprietor of one of the leading jewelry stores at Tyrone, and a man whose life has been active and useful to his fellow-citizens in this part of the old Keystone State, is the eldest son of William C. and Jane (Dunlap) Stewart, and was born in the city of Cincinnati, Ohio, February 23, 1824. The Stewarts are descended from an ancient Scotch family, and have long been residents of Pennsylvania. William C. Stewart (father) was born in Centre county, Pennsylvania, about 1775, and was a broker of S. C. Stewart, the Tyrone banker (whose sketch appears elsewhere in this volume). He was educated in his native county, and after leaving school became a clerk in a mercantile establishment there. After some time he embarked in merchandising on his own account, and was thus engaged for several years, when he became a partner in the iron firm of Lyon, Shorb & Co., of this county, and continued his connection with that firm until 1846. He then removed to Cincinnati, Ohio, where he engaged in the manufacture of all kinds of iron, steel, and nails. This business he successfully conducted until his death, in 1850, after an active life spanning three-quarters of a century. His three sons-John D., William C., and Jesse S.,-were all engaged in business with him at Cincinnati, the firm name being Stewart & Sons. He was a whig and republican in politics, but cast his first vote for Andrew Jackson. He took great interest in the political movements of his day, and was active and influential in local politics. He was a prominent member of the Presbyterian church, holding membership in and regularly attending the church of Dr. Lyman Beecher, the father of Rev. Henry Ward Beecher, in which church he was a pew-holder at the time of his death. He married Jane Dunlap, by whom he had a family of six children, three sons and three daughters, of whom were: Laura, John D., William C., Jesse S., and Ella. Mrs. Stewart was a daughter of Maj. John Dunlap, who was a native of Scotland, but emigrated to America about 18-, and settled in Centre county, this State, where he was engaged in the iron business for many years, at Valentine Iron works, near Milesburg. He owned and operated the iron works, and died in that county. He was a democrat in politics, and a slave-owner. He married and reared a large family. After the death of Mrs. Stewart, William C. Stewart (father) married Mrs. Mary Methenberger, of the city of Philadelphia, and to this union was born one child, who died early in life. John D. Stewart received a collegiate education at St. Mary's college, Maryland, and after graduating from that institution in 1839, went into business with his father, at Cincinnati, Ohio. He remained there three years, and in 1842 removed to Tyrone Forges, Blair county, where he entered the employ of Lyon, Shorb & Co., as clerk and book-keeper. In this capacity he continued for a period of five years, after which he came to Tyrone, and has resided here continuously ever since. He was among the earliest residents of Tyrone, and erected a house and opened out a general store. He soon began dealing in lumber, which he continued for a considerable time. He has also dealt in real estate for about ten years, and then engaged in the jewelry business, which he has successfully conducted to the present time. He now carries a fine stock, and has a prosperous trade. He has been a member and local preacher of the Methodist Episcopal church for a period of forty years, and during that time has labored zealously for the advancement of the interests of his church and the betterment of humanity. He has undoubtedly accomplished much good, and will long be remembered by the people of this section. On August 23, 1862, he was appointed chaplain of the 125th Pennsylvania infantry, and served as such until his discharge, May 23, 186-. His brother, Jesse S. Stewart, was a member, and 1st lieutenant of Co. A, of the same regiment, and was killed in action at the battle of Chancellorsville, Virginia. In 1846 Rev. John D. Stewart was united in holy matrimony with Margaret Shell, of Birmingham, Huntingdon county, this State, and this union was blessed by the birth of a family numbering fourteen sons and daughters, only six of whom now survive: Alice, the widow of Samuel Burton; John A., who married Kate Martin, and is now manager of his father's jewelry store in Tyrone; Laura, the wife of W. F. Meninger, a clothier of Tyrone; Jessie; Charles, married Zura B. Gray, and is now engaged in the merchant tailoring business at Tyrone; and Harry L. The others died in early life. In his political affiliations Mr. Stewart was a whig previous to the advent of the Republican party, but upon its organization in Pennsylvania he became a member of that party, and has supported its general policy ever since. He has never taken an active part in the heated contests of political campaigns, however, believing that this was unnecessary in fully discharging the sacred duties of patriotism and good citizenship. Transcribed and submitted to the Blair County, PA USGenWeb archives by Linda Shillinger LindasTree@AOL.COM THEODORE H. WIGTON, cashier of the Altoona bank, one of the strongest institutions of central Pennsylvania, and well known financier and leading business man of that section, is a son of Samuel and Eliza (Ingram) Wigton, and was born at Wigton's Forge, in Franklin township, Huntingdon county, Pennsylvania, May 16, 1844. The crest of the Wigton family is found in the book of heraldry of England, and indicates that the family was prominent in civil and military affairs several centuries back in the history of that country. Three brothers who were members of this family came to Pennsylvania in the early part of the last century and settled in Bucks county, where they became the right hand men of Rev. Tennant, who was the founder of the old log cabin college whose distinguished successor is the celebrated Princeton college. A descendant of one of these brothers was Samuel Wigton, whose son Christopher was the grandfather of Capt. Christopher H. Wigton, whose son, Samuel Wigton, is the father of the subject of this sketch. Capt. Christopher H. Wigton was a native of Chester county, and commanded a company in the war of 1812. He was a farmer and furnace manager in his native county, and about 1836 removed to Mattern forge, which he had purchased in Franklin township, Huntingdon county, where he died in 1864. He was prominent and influential in political matters, and when he saw that fate destined the extinction of the Whig party he left its ranks, and was instrumental in organizing the Republican partying Huntingdon county. He was a friend of the free school system, and was one of the first two school directors elected in Franklin township. His son, Samuel Wigton (father), was born October 25, 1812, in West Fallon township, Chester county, where he received his education in the common schools of his day. He came with his father to Huntingdon county, where he was principally engaged for many years in farming in Franklin township. He was also largely interested in Wigton forge and Rock Hill furnace until 1857. He was a whig and republican in politics, and was elected in 1851 as a county commissioner, and in 1857 as a school director. In 1877 he removed to Altoona, where he died in 1887. He had served for twenty years before his death as a ruling elder in the Presbyterian church, with which his direct ancestors for five generations back had been prominently connected and had served in as ruling elders. He married Eliza Ingram, daughter of William Ingram, who settled in Huntingdon county in 1787. They had six children: Wade, who served in the 2d Pennsylvania heavy artillery in the late war, and is now in the freight department of the Pennsylvania railroad at Harrisburg; John M., residing on the home farm; Hannah; Christopher and William (twins), on in a railroad depot and the other in the mercantile business in Salt Lake City, Utah; and Theodore H. Theodore H. Wigton was reared in his native township, and received his education in Tuscarora academy and Juniata academy, then under charge of Dr. Shumaker. In 1864 he left school and went to Broad Top City, where he was a clerk for his uncle, R. B. Wigton, at Conard mines, but soon resigned his place and enlisted for one year as a soldier in the 19th Pennsylvania cavalry, and served on detached service in the southwest, and as far southward as New Orleans and Mobile. After being honorably discharged from the Union service he returned home, and in the spring of 1866 went to Vinton, near Chillicothe, Ohio, where he became a book-keeper for the Vinton Furnace and Coal Company. He was soon made manager of the company's works, and served satisfactorily in that position until 1872, when he resigned in order to come to Altoona, where he desired to embark in the banking business. In connection with others he helped organize the Altoona bank, of which he was elected a director and appointed assistant cashier. The cashier-elect was unable to attend to his duties, which were attended to by Mr. Wigton, and upon his death, in 1873, the latter was appointed cashier, and has served in that capacity ever since. On January 15, 1868, he married Mary Bailey, daughter of William Bailey, a merchant of Ferguson township, Centre county. They are the parents of four children, three sons and one daughter: Samuel, a rodman on the Pittsburg division of the Pennsylvania railroad; William Bailey, secretary of the Altoona Manufacturing Company; Mary, and Richard C. Theodore H. Wigton is a republican in politics, and has served one term as a member of the select council of Altoona. In religious belief he is a Presbyterian, and since 1869 has been a member of the Second church of that denomination in Altoona, in which he has served as a trustee and deacon for several years. He is one of the projectors and stockholders of the city railway, Oak Ridge Cemetery association, Altoona Light Company, and Altoona Heat Company. He is a past master in Mountain Lodge, No. 281, Free and Accepted Masons, and a member of Mountain Chapter, No 189, Royal Arch Masons, and Mountain Commandery, No. 10, Knights Templar. He was active in the movement for the erection of the present Masonic Temple, of whose building committee he was chairman. The solidity and good standing of the banks of a city add much to its reputation and largely to its volume of business and material prosperity. The National bank of Altoona; under its safe and conservative management, has been a factor in the progress of that enterprising and prosperous city, and much of the bank's remarkable success is due to the efforts of Theodore H. Wigton, who has won an enviable reputation for financial ability and correct business methods. Transcribed and submitted to the Blair County, PA, USGenWeb archives by Ruth Curfman, rcurfman@home.com