OBIT:  McPIKE, H. A.; 1909; Ebensburg, Cambria Cnty., PA

Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Patty Millich

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Cambria Freeman
Ebensburg, PA
Friday, 17 Sep 1909
Volume 43, Number 38


Editor McPike Dead 

H. A. McPike, who along with the late Hon. R. L. Johnston, 
founded the CAMBRIA FREEMAN in 1886 died at his home in 
Washington D. C. on Friday, September 10th, aged 84 years

Mr. McPike was born at the Foot of Plane No. 10 in Blair 
County, Pa., and sometime after his birth the family moved 
to Hollidaysburg where the deceased learned the printing 
trade in the BLAIR COUNTY RADICAL office.  In the early 
'50s, Summit, this county, at the head of the planes on the 
Old Portage Railroad was a promising town. A Catholic 
seminary was built and a Catholic newspaper, the CRUSADER, 
the forerunner of the Pittsburg CATHOLIC, was established 
with H. A. McPike as the publisher. The abandonment of the 
Old Portage Railroad when the PRR was built caused Summit 
to decay and the destruction of the seminary and the 
CRUSADER office by fire ended the publication of the paper 
and Mr. McPike, for a number of years after, followed other 
pursuits, residing for times in Johnstown, Hollidaysburg 
and Altoona.

In January, 1867, the first issue of the CAMBRIA FREEMAN 
was issued with the late Hon. R. L. Johnston as editor and 
H. A. McPike as publisher and for seventeen years 
thereafter, Mr. McPike was a resident of Ebensburg and in a 
couple of years after the FREEMAN was established he became 
the sole proprietor.

He is remembered in Ebensburg by the older people for his 
genial disposition, kindly ways and strict integrity.  In 
1884 Mr. McPike sold the FREEMAN to Jas. G. Hasson and 
removed to Altoona where in company with several other 
gentlemen, he founded the Altoona DAILY TIMES.  Ten or 
twelve years ago he disposed of his interest in the Altoona 
TIMES and removed to Washington D. C., where he had since 
been employed by the government printing office.

Mr. McPike was thrice married and is survived by his third 
wife and two sons, George, a son of his first wife, who 
resides in Altoona, and Martin J., son of his second wife, 
at home in Washington.  His remains were buried in 
Washington on Monday last.


[NOTE:  The dates of publication of the FREEMAN are as 
typed in the newspaper but seem to be incorrect.]