BIO: Harry V. WIKE, Huntingdon County, PA Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Dave Wilson Copyright 2007. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/pafiles.htm ************************************************************** __________________________________________________________ McElroy, James Thomas Jr., McElroy's Family Memories, Huntingdon, PA: (Author), 1930, page 232. __________________________________________________________ HARRY V. WIKE Mount Union, Pa. Caf‚ and Caterer: The subject of this sketch, Harry V. Wike, was born at Huntingdon, Pa. A son of Blair Wike, who formerly resided at Huntingdon, Pa.; he was a coremaker and iron moulder with the H.H. Lane Machine Shop. This shop in its day had a wide reputation for excellent work, and also noted for the training of skilled mechanics. Mr. Wike, Sr., is now living a retired life at Lewistown, Pa. He married Mary Bergoon; she died in 1886, at the age of twenty-six years. Harry V. Wike received his education at the Fourth Ward schools of Huntingdon, Pa., and to further his educational knowledge, he attended night school at the Brunham Y.M.C.A., pursuing a course in mechanical engineering. In his youth he was on a farm; stayed on the farm till the age of sixteen years; for two years he was a moulder at the Keystone Radiator Works at Huntingdon, Pa., and for twelve years was a machinist at the Standard Steel Works at Burnham, Pa. In 1912 he moved to Mount Union, Pa.; engaged in the mercantile business until 1914, after which he was a shipping clerk for the Harbison-Walker Refractories Co., for thirteen years. On August 1, 1927, he took over the Awkerman Cafe, and remodeled it throughout, giving it a homelike appearance. A special feature is the serving of Sunday dinners, which are prepared in a special manner, appetizing and pleasing to all. The trade is extensive, consisting of school teachers and instructors, business and professional people, coming from all sections. The business increases as the place becomes better known. He served on the election board, Second Ward, and during the World War was a registration clerk on the draft board. He was also advertising chairman of all drives, including the Red Cross, Salvation Army, and Liberty Loans, and in this work his efforts met with much success and gave this section of the country a record. He had one sister, Elsie, who died at the age of thirty years. Harry V. Wike was married to Clara Forney, and to this union were born two sons: Harry V., Jr., a graduate of the Mount Union High School, at present located at Pittsburgh, Pa., with the Harbison-Walker Refractories Co., in the Accounting Department; Wilbur Herbert, better known as Jack; in the seventh grade school. Three daughters: Lillian, a high school graduate; also a graduate nurse of the Philadelphia General Hospital; she was married to Robert Wilson, of Philadelphia, Pa.; he is engaged in the real estate and insurance business; Mildred, a Sophomore, in high school; Helen, six years of age, first year at school. Mr. and Mrs. Wike belong to the Presbyterian church. Mr. Wike is an enterprising business man.