BIO: Robert A. ZENTMYER, 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 118-119.
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  ROBERT A. ZENTMYER, Spruce Creek, Huntingdon county, Pa., was born at 
Huntingdon Furnace, April 24, 1861.  He is the son of David and Susan 
(Kinch) Zentmyer.  John Zentmyer, grandfather of Robert Zentmyer, as 
born in Franklin county, Pa., near the South Mountains, not far from 
Pen Mar, about 1806.  In 1831 he went to Springfield Furnace, Blair 
county, where he remained for some time, after which he moved to Spruce 
Creek valley to the farm now owned by the heirs of Robert L. Henderson.  
He then rented one of the farms of the Huntingdon Furnace Company, and 
in 1866 bought a farm in Porter township, Huntingdon county, where he 
resided until his death.  He was well known as Major Zentmyer, having 
held that rank in the State militia.  He married Margaret Gates, of 
Blair county, who died about 1889.  Mr. Zentmyer died in 1891; he and 
his wife are buried in a small graveyard on the farm.  Their children 
are:  Isabella, wife of David Kinch, of Altoona; David; Frank, enlisted 
in Company I, Fifth Pennsylvania Reserves, was wounded at 
Fredericksburg, and died in Libby Prison; Priscilla, wife of E. C. 
Kinch, resides near Altoona; Porter, secretary and treasurer of the 
Clearfield Manufacturing Company; Miles, attorney in Schulyler, Neb.; 
Margaret, wife of David C. Stine, Bellefonte, Pa.; John W., insurance 
solicitor, resides in Blair county; Benjamin, on the homestead; and 
George, who died young.
  David Zentmyer was born at Springfield Furnace, Blair county.  His 
parents moved to a farm near Spruce Creek, in Huntingdon county, where 
he worked with his father, who was a jobber in lumbering.  In May, 
1861, he enlisted in Company I, Fifth Pennsylvania Reserves.  This 
company, known as the Scott Infantry, was one of the old militia 
companies, organized before the war.  They were mustered into service 
at Harrisburg and sent to the front in July, 1861.  He enlisted as 
orderly sergeant, became second, then first lieutenant, and on the 
promotion of Captain Dare to colonel of the regiment, commanded the 
company for some time.  At the time of his death he was adjutant of the 
regiment, with the rank of first lieutenant.  He was in active service 
for eighteen months and took part in many battles.  He was killed in 
the battle of Fredericksburg, December 13, 1862, and buried on the 
field.  Mr. Zentmyer's widow is living in Franklinville.
  Robert A. Zentmyer was an only child.  His boyhood was spent on the 
farm; he attended the public school, and when he was eighteen entered 
Juniata College; graduating in the teacher's and business course in 
1882.  For five years he was principal of the public schools of 
Curwensville and New Washington.  In 1887 he became assistant 
superintendent of the Britton Coal and Coke Company of Philadelphia, in 
West Virginia, which position he held for a year and a half.  Returning 
to Clearfield county, he located at Madera, and for four years was 
employed in surveying, mining engineering, and as a coal contractor.  
In 1893 he went to Huntingdon Furnace, as book-keeper and assistant 
manager of the Huntingdon Furnace estate.  This position he held for a 
year and then took charge of a grist mill belonging to the estate.  Mr. 
Zentmyer's politics are Republican.  For thirteen years he has been a 
member of the Methodist Episcopal church, and takes a prominent part in 
all church work.