BIO: Albert C. MINGLE, Centre County, PA Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Patty Millich Copyright 2008. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/centre/ http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/centre/1picts/commbios/comm-bios.htm _____________________________________________________________________ Commemorative Biographical Record of Central Pennsylvania: Including the Counties of Centre, Clearfield, Jefferson and Clarion: Containing Biographical Sketches of Prominent and Representative Citizens, Etc. Chicago: J. H. Beers, 1898. _____________________________________________________________________ ALBERT C. MINGLE, the well-known retail boot and shoe dealer of Bellefonte, Centre county, is a representative of the best type of American citizenship, his public spirit being no less noticeable than is his ability and enterprise in business lines. The history of the Mingle family is one interesting in many respects. It dates back into another century, and is closely connected with the development of the country from that time to the present day. They were among the first to settle in Pennsylvania, and, at the time of their coming here, the State was still under the English rule. This was in 1732 when the first of the Mingle family settled in Berks county. In 1802, the great-grandfather of A. C. Mingle, the subject of our sketch, located in Union county. His son, David, who was still quite young, accompanied by a brother, joined the army during the war of 1812, David, becoming a member of Capt. Henry Miller's company, stationed at Marcus Hook. At the close of the war he learned the art of shoemaking and later married a Miss Grove of Union county, a member of the family noted for their prowess in battling with the Indians. About the year 1823 he settled in Mifflinburg, but later moved to Haines township, Centre county, where he lived until 1854. He then went to Stephenson county, Ill., remaining there to the time of his death in 1872. He had twelve children, and was twice married, his first wife dying in Centre county. The children of the first wife were: Henry A., the father of our subject; Samuel, a boot and shoe maker who died some years ago at Lock Haven, Penn., and Susan Motz, who died at Woodward, Penn., December 11, 1897. Henry A., the father of Albert C. Mingle, was born at Mifflinburg in the year 1818, and when he was but two or three years old, his father moved to Centre county. At the age of fourteen years Henry worked with his father at the trade of shoemaking, going, as was the custom at that time, from house to house, making and repairing shoes for the farmers and their families. When about twenty-one years old he settled in Aaronsburg, bought a home and there lived until the year 1891 when he died. He followed his trade as a shoemaker until 1865, when he engaged in mercantile business for a number of years. While still quite young, he was for five years captain of the Patriotic Riflemen; was justice of the peace for eighteen years; held nearly all of the township offices during different periods of his life, and after retiring from the mercantile business, was elected county commissioner, which office he creditably filled for three years. He was a man who had the respect and confidence of all who knew him, and throughout his entire life was a consistent member of the Reformed Church. He was married to Miss Eve Bower, who still survives him. Her family, who are of Swiss origin, settled in Lebanon county at an early date, and from that point the grandfather of Mrs. Mingle moved to Penn's Valley, Centre county, and became one of the first settlers of the Valley where numerous of his descendants still live. Henry A. Mingle raised five children: William B., who since 1873 has been cashier of the Penn's Valley Banking Company at Centre Hall; Dr. D. H., a practicing physician at Maxwell, Iowa; Thomas J., who is in the employ of the Singer Sewing Machine Co., at Minneapolis, Minn.; Albert C., the subject of our sketch, and Edward G., who lives with his mother at the old homestead. Albert C. Mingle was born at Aaronsburg, COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 211 Penn., September 26, 1854. He received a thorough education in the public schools and the Aaronsburg Academy. At the age of eighteen years he was apprenticed to the printer's trade on the Millheim Journal, which at that time was published in both English and German, thus giving him an excellent training in the two languages. After serving his time at the case, he abandoned the trade of printing and accepted a position in the mercantile establishment of William Wolf, at Centre Hall, Penn., where he remained for five years. Being desirous of embarking in business for himself, he moved to Bellefonte, and opened his present establishment. Strict attention to business and honest dealings have placed him among the foremost of the business men in Bellefonte. His success in life, however, has not been achieved without hard work, but with an untiring energy and a practical knowledge of what is essential in his respective calling, he has built up for himself a business and a name of which he can well feel proud. In 1882 he was married to Miss Maggie Hoffer of Centre Hall, Penn., and his home is now graced by a charming wife and two bright daughters, Helen and Roxie. While never aspiring to public office, he was several years ago elected mayor of the Republican city of Bellefonte, on the Democratic ticket, and at the present time is a member of the Bellefonte school board. Socially he is also prominent, being a Mason, Royal Arch Mason and a Knight Templar, also a member of the I. O. O. F. In all of these societies he is a past officer, and has represented them all in the Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania.