BIO: Mennasseh ISENBERG, Huntingdon County, PA

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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, pages 200-201.
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  MENNASSEH ISENBERG, Alexandria, Huntingdon county, Pa., was born in 
Alexandria, July 27, 1847, son of Mr. and Mrs. John Isenberg.  John 
Isenberg, who was a native of Huntingdon county, passed his early youth 
in Porter township, where he received a common school education. He 
became a blacksmith. He married at the age of thirty-two, and for some 
time after resided and followed his vocation in Williamsburg, Pa. From 
that place he removed to Alexandria, the home of his later years. His 
wife's maiden name was Shedge. They had the following children: Sarah 
Ann, who died young; Ephraim, residing at Sandy Ridge, in the Allegheny 
mountains, Pa.; Mary Elizabeth (Mrs. John Shainer), Bellwood, Blair 
county, Pa.; Nancy Jane (Mrs. James Bryan), of Butler county, Pa.; 
Susanna, died in infancy; John W., laborer, Birmingham, Blair county, 
Pa.; George S., foreman of the Bald Eagle shops, Tyrone, Pa.; Samuel 
Gesler, engineer, of Butler county; and Amos K., carpenter, Altoona, 
Pa. John Isenberg's life covering the greater part of a century (1807-
1885), was one of industry and faithfulness. He was a diligent worker, 
shirking no hard tasks. For fifty years he was a member of the 
Methodist Episcopal church, devout and active; his wife was of the same 
communion, and was also of the number of those whose death leaves a 
deeply regretted vacancy in the congregation. She died at the age of 
seventy-five.
  After attending the common schools of Alexandria until he was 
fourteen, Mr. Isenberg was employed in the iron works of the Messrs. 
Hatfield, in Porter township. He removed to that locality in 1865, and 
later to Barree Forge, where he worked during the war. At the latter 
place Mr. Isenberg learned the business of a blacksmith, serving an 
apprenticeship of three years with Joseph McCarty. This time having 
expired, he worked as journeyman for five years in the same township, 
and then returned to his former employer, Mr. Hatfield, as foreman; 
this position he occupied for six years. In the spring of 1879 he 
settled where he now resides, renting for six years, and then 
purchasing a dwelling and a small tract of land. Until 1892 Mr. 
Isenberg gave his whole attention to his trade; in that year he assumed 
charge of the grist-mill of George Sprankle, which he superintends in 
addition to the work of his smithy. In connection with the latter, he 
has established a coach making and repairing shop. From his youth, Mr. 
Isenberg has supported the Republican party. He is at present justice 
of the peace, having been elected in 1896.
  Mennasseh Isenberg was married, July 25, 1867, to Mary C. Larkins, of 
Barree township. Their children are: Rhoda May (Mrs. Charles Crowell), 
Altoona, Pa.; Rebecca McElroy (Mrs. Irwin Leaper), Petersburg, Pa.; 
Eleanora, died in 1892; Anna, died an infant; John H.; Blanche (Mrs. 
Jesse Isenberg), Alexandria; Charles Walter; and George William. Mr. 
Isenberg has been for twenty-seven years a member of the Methodist 
Episcopal church; has served on the board of stewards, and is now 
president of the board of trustees of the congregation at Alexandria. 
He has been for two years and a half superintendent of the Sunday-
school. Mr. Isenberg's experiences have been varied, but always in the 
line of honorable and useful toil. During his earlier engagement with 
Mr. Hatfield, he drove on the tow-path of the canal, visiting in this 
way different parts of Pennsylvania and Maryland. The best of his 
experience is that he has always cared for the welfare of others. When 
a boy his earnings assisted in the support of his father's family. For 
this reason, he married without other dependence than his vigor and 
industry; by diligence and uprightness he has won respect, and placed 
his family in a condition of comfort.