BIO: Henry S. SMELKER, 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, page 348-349.
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  HENRY S. SMELKER, a son of Thomas A. and Mary (Matson) Smelker, was 
born in Shirleysburg, Huntingdon county, Pa., December 23, 1839. Thomas 
A. Smelker was born in Snyder county in 1802, and was a son of Thomas 
Smelker, an early settler of that county, and of German ancestry. The 
father died when Thomas A. was twelve years of age, and he was bound 
out until he was twenty-one years old to a man named Thomas, under whom 
he learned carpentry. After reaching his majority he worked as a 
journeyman in Philadelphia for two years. While in that city he was 
married to Mary Watson, of the Society of Friends. About 1828, he 
removed from Philadelphia to Shirleysburg, Huntingdon county, Pa., 
where he pursued his trade for a number of years. In 1840 he purchased 
what is now known as the Poor-house farm, which he cultivated until 
1846; he then removed to Germany valley, and bought a tannery, which he 
operated four years. This he exchanged for a farm in the same valley, 
on which he resided for about thirty years. His wife died September 23, 
1873, aged sixty-two years. He died at the home of his daughter, Mrs. 
Henry Musser, in the Kishacoquillas valley, June 12, 1878, aged 
seventy-six years. Mr. and Mrs. Smelker were the parents of twelve 
children, named as follows: George, deceased, who married Catherine 
Bowman, who died after two children were born to them, and he married 
as his second wife Keziah Pennybacker, of Juniata county; Sabra, 
deceased, who married Augustus Wakefield, also deceased, of Petersburg, 
Pa.; Rebecca, wife of William Bell, of Bellwood, Blair county, Pa.; 
John W., deceased, served in the Union army three years, and afterwards 
married Miss Nannie McCulloch, of Juniata county, and died from the 
effects of a cold contracted in the service; Charles B., also in the 
Union army, married Annie Aultz, of Mount Union, Pa., and now resides 
in Houston, Tex.; Henry S., of Mount Union, Pa.; Hannah, wife of Henry 
Musser, now county treasurer of Huntingdon county, Pa.; Isabella (Mrs. 
Howard Friedley), removed to Kaufman, Tex., where she died; Julia, 
widow of Walker Cree, who died at their home near Burnt Cabins, Pa., 
and she removed to Kaufman, Tex., where she still resides; Nelson, who 
also served in the Union army, married May Traxler, and they reside 
near Kaufman, Tex.; Mary (Mrs. John Ovelman), of Altoona, Pa.; and 
Benjamin, who died in Altoona at the age of twenty-two years.
  Henry S. Smelker was educated in the common schools. He remained at 
home assisting his father on the farm until he was twenty-five years of 
age, when he embarked in the butchering business at Mount Union, 
continuing it for two years. In 1868, he removed to Catawissa, Franklin 
county, Mo., where he engaged in farming. Owing to ill-health, he 
returned to Pennsylvania within a year, and engaged in mercantile 
business in McVeytown, Mifflin county. After a few months, he removed 
to Germany valley, Huntingdon county, then to Cora, where he continued 
in business twenty years, building for himself a large and commodious 
brick store and dwelling. In 1889 he removed to Mount Union and bought 
out the general store of David Shaver, and also purchased the building 
and ground from Dr. W. T. Sheaffer. Here he has since carried on 
business with gratifying success, building up a large and lucrative 
trade.
  Mr. Smelker was married in June, 1865, to Miss Rebecca Spangle, of 
Cromwell township, Huntingdon county. Their children are: Ada (Mrs. 
Eugene Glover), of Pueblo, Col.; Eva, at home; Cora (Mrs. Frank De 
Frehn), of Mt. Union, Pa.; and Fannie, who died February 12, 1883, aged 
three years.
  Mr. Smelker is a leading business man of Mount Union, and ranks among 
the enterprising and public-spirited citizens of that borough. In the 
conduct of his business affairs, he adheres to those methods which are 
consistent with honor and integrity, and which have won for him 
deserved respect and esteem. He is a staunch Republican or as office-
seeker, has always taken an interest in the party's success. He served 
as postmaster of Cora for fifteen years; has been a member and 
president of the school board of Mount Union, and also a member of the 
borough council. Mr. Smelker is connected with the Dunkard church. He 
is affiliated with Mount Union Lodge, No. 477, I.O.O.F. In addition to 
his mercantile business, Mr. Smelker is interested as a stockholder in 
the De Frehn Chair Company, a leading manufacturing enterprise of Mount 
Union, and has always given his aid and support to every undertaking 
calculated to forward the best interests of the borough.