BIO: Benjamin F. AFRICA, Huntingdon County, PA

Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Lana Clark 
<myclarkhistory@hotmail.com>

Copyright 2006.  All rights reserved.
http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm
http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/pafiles.htm 
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Commemorative Biographical Encyclopedia of the Juniata Valley: 
Comprising the Counties of Huntingdon, Mifflin, Juniata and Perry, 
Pennsylvania, Containing Sketches of Prominent and Representative 
Citizens and Many of the Early Settlers.  Chambersburg, Pa.: J. M. 
Runk & Co., 1897, page 37 
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  BENJAMIN F. AFRICA, secretary and treasurer and general superintendent of the 
Huntingdon Electric Light Company, and lessee of the Huntingdon gas works, was 
born in Huntingdon, Pa., August 15, 1858.  He is a son of J. Simpson. and 
Dorothea C. (Greenland) Africa. 
  The first years of Benjamin F. Africa were passed in his native town; his 
education was received in a private school of Philadelphia, a district school of 
New Jersey, and later in the public schools, academy and Normal School of 
Huntingdon.  His course of study completed, so far as regarded school education, 
he applied himself, in the office of his father, to civil engineering and 
draughting.  About 1878, Mr. Africa was elected secretary and treasurer of the 
Huntingdon Gas Company, and efficiently fulfilled the duties of those offices 
until 1882.  At the same time, he acted on various occasions as chief draghtsman 
in the Department of Internal Affairs, Harrisburg, Pa., and in 1883 was 
regularly appointed to that position, which he filled with credit for four 
years.  Returning in 1887 to Huntingdon, Mr. Africa became the lessee of the 
Huntingdon gas works, and was also re-elected secretary and treasurer of the 
company.  When the electric light plant was established in Huntingdon he 
superintended its construction, and was made secretary and treasurer of that 
company also.  In 1892 he was elected to the borough council, but declined to 
serve, on account of his connection with companies having contracts with the 
borough.  In 1894, he was the nominee of his party, the Democratic, for the 
legislature, but was defeated. 
  Mr. Africa is an active member of Mount Moriah Lodge, No. 300, F. and A.M.; 
Standing Stone Chapter, No. 201, R.A.M.; and Huntingdon Commandery, No. 65, K. 
T. 
  On November 5, 1885, Benjamin F. Africa was married in Harrisburg, Pa., to 
Susan I., daughter of Hon. Benjamin F. and Susan C. (Kuntz) Meyers, of that 
city.  Mr. and Mrs. Africa have two sons, named in baptism J. Simpson and 
Benjamin Meyers; the former born September 18, 1886, and the latter July 11, 
1888. the family belong to the Presbyterian church.