USA > Pennsylvania > A history of the Juniata Valley and its people, Volume III > Part 16
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Traced through a long line of German ancestors, who, in BUSH their varied walks of life, bore the name with credit and honor, the Bush family is found in Huntingdon county, where planted by the emigrant, Augustus, in the year 1852. He was a member of the German Reformed church, as was his wife, Catherine Rudolph, likewise a native of Germany. Children: I. Valentine, a retired farmer of Juniata township, married Harriet Garner. 2. Wil-
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liam, a farmer, married Ada Yocum, of Walker township, and lives in Juniata township. 3. Silas, a farmer of Juniata township, married (first) Anna Garner, died September 29, 1891, (second) Jennie Parks. 4. Christian, of further mention. 5. John, married Jennie Shenefelt, employed in Huntingdon. 6. Elizabeth, married Lincoln David. 7. Jennie, twin of Elizabeth, married Amos Kelly. 8. Mary, married John M. Heffner, a farmer of Juniata township. 9. Rudolph, a farmer. 10. George, died in infancy. 11. Caroline, died in infancy.
(II) Christian, son of Augustus and Catherine ( Rudolph) Bush, was born in Juniata township, Huntingdon county, Pennsylvania, Au- gust 5, 1862. He obtained his education in the public schools of his native township and early in life began to work on the farm, an occu- pation in which he continued until 1903. He then abandoned general farming operations and began to specialize in the raising of fruit, and at the present time (1913) owns a fine fruit farm near Huntingdon. Politically he is a Republican, and from 1906 to 1908 was county com- missioner. Both he and his wife are members of the Methodist Epis- copal church. He married, in 1881, Sadie Ridenour, born April 7, 1862, daughter of Levi and Nancy (Foster) Ridenour, natives of Ger- many, who settled in Huntingdon county. Children of Levi and Nancy Ridenour : Missouri, Alice, Annie, all three deceased; and Sadie, of previous mention, married Christian Bush. Children of Christian and Sadie (Ridenour) Bush: Ralph Luther, of further mention: Elsie, born in May, 1887, lives at home; and Gladys, who was born January 26, 1894.
(III) Ralph Luther, first child and only son of Christian and Sadie (Ridenour ) Bush, was born in Juniata township, Huntingdon county, Pennsylvania, December 31, 1882. He was educated in the public schools of Huntingdon, and until 1903 was employed on his father's farm. In this year he entered the employ of the J. C. Blair Company. and has from one of the lowest positions on the force risen steadily until at the present time he is shipping clerk. He is a Republican in politics, and is associated fraternally with the Knights of Pythias. Both he and his wife are members of the Lutheran church.
He married, August 31, 1910, Mary Katherine Raymond, daughter of Augustus Raymond, a railroad employee, who was killed on the Pennsylvania railroad in 1894.
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The McAteer family has been identified with the early
McATEER history of Huntingdon county, Pennsylvania, and has been distinctly prominent in promoting the industrial and financial conditions of that section. The various members have also been prompt in showing their devotion to their country in times of trouble, and more than one has sacrificed his life in defense of the rights of the country.
(I) Patrick McAteer, who was a native of county Antrim, Ireland, emigrated to America when he had attained manhood, in 1795, and set- tled within the present limits of West township, Huntingdon county, Pennsylvania. Subsequently he removed to Cambria county, in the same state, where the remainder of his life was spent. He was en- gaged in agriculture and the lumbering industry, and, in association with Michael McGuire, built the first saw mill in West township. Among his children were: Jonathan, see forward; James; William; Patrick; and several others.
(II) Jonathan, son of Patrick McAteer, was born in Emmitsburg, Maryland, 1793, and died at Altoona, Pennsylvania, January 16, 1868. He was occupied with farming in Huntingdon county until 1860, when he removed to Altoona, Pennsylvania, and there lived in retirement. In political matters he was a Whig, and in religious, a Catholic. At one time he held the rank of captain of the militia. Mr. McAteer married Mary Noble, born in Porter township, Huntingdon county, in 1799, died in Altoona, Pennsylvania, in 1871. She was the daughter of Samuel and Elizabeth (Spencer) Noble, and the granddaughter of John Spencer, a native of Ireland. John Spencer settled in what is now known as Porter township, Huntingdon county, Pennsylvania, prior to the revolution. He served in the Continental army and at- tained the rank of major. His home was near Alexandria, where his death occurred about the year 1820. He had a number of children, among them being: John Jr., who went to Ohio in 1805, and was captain of a company in the war of 1812; William, twin of John Jr., removed to Ohio in 1816; Robert, who moved to Ohio in 1824; Eliza- beth, who married Samuel Noble, lived where Altoona now stands, and became the mother of Mrs. McAteer; Margaret, married John Agle, of Alexandria, and later removed to Ohio; Mary, married William McElroy, of the vicinity of Barree Forge; Martha, married Jeremiah
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Cunningham, of Shaver's Creek Valley, and had children: David and Mrs. George Wilson. Children of Mr. and Mrs. Jonathan McAteer : I. Patrick H., who served in the Union army during the civil war. Company C. 12th Pennsylvania Cavalry, was promoted to a captaincy, and died in 1869. 2. Samuel A., was a farmer until the year 1865, when he removed to Altoona, Pennsylvania, entered the employ of the Pennsylvania Railroad Company, and died at his post as conductor of a passenger train, January 17, 1886. 3. Matthew, was also in the employ of the Pennsylvania Railroad Company, and died in Hunting- don. 4. Henry J., see forward. Martha, Mary, Elizabeth, Ellen and another child died very young.
(III) Henry J., son of Jonathan and Mary ( Noble) McAteer, was born in Logan township ( formerly West township), Huntingdon county. Pennsylvania, January 4, 1838. He received a common school education in the schools of his native township and at the Mooresville Academy, and then entered the employ of the Pennsylvania Railroad Company as a passenger brakeman in 1859. In due course of time he was advanced to the position of conductor, retaining this position until 1869, at which time he was elected to the legislature, served one term, and was re-elected to succeed himself. He then engaged in coal opera- tions in Clearfield county, Pennsylvania, and has been connected with this and with farming since that time. He resides in Alexandria, and for the past quarter of a century has owned and managed two farms of two hundred and eighteen acres and one hundred and sixty-five acres of land, respectively. In 1884 he was elected to the senate of Pennsylvania for a term of four years, and during this time served on the committees of appropriations, banks and education. He also frequently represented his district in the national and state conventions. From 1893 until 1897 he was deputy surveyor of the port of Philadel- phia. Prior to this time he was a member of the World's Columbian Commission, having been appointed to this post by Governor Patter- son. He is a member of the Presbyterian church, and of the Mount Maria Lodge, No. 300, Free and Accepted Masons.
Mr. McAteer married, October 26, 1865, Clara Porter Houtz, born in Alexandria, a daughter of Dr. Daniel and Susan (Bucher) Houtz, and had children: 1. An infant, deceased. 2. Mary Clare, died at the age of ten months. 3. Dorothy Bucher, married John E.
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Black, a dealer in glass sand, who lives in Pittsburgh; they have no children.
William Lower, a well-known farmer of Petersburg,
LOWER Huntingdon county, Pennsylvania, represents a family which has been identified with various trades and call- ings for many years in the state.
(I) John Lower, his paternal grandfather, located in Williams- burg, Blair county, Pennsylvania, after his marriage, and there the remainder of his life was spent. His trade was that of shoemaking, at which he was successful. He married Isabella Laney, a native of Ire- land, who was brought to this country by her parents in her early youth and settled in Pennsylvania. They had children: James; Ben- jamin; Mary Jane; Isabella; Henry, see forward; Joseph, a preacher in the Presbyterian church, and the only one of these children now (1913) living; Margaret.
(II) Henry, son of John and Isabella (Laney) Lower, was born in Blair county, Pennsylvania, and died in Huntingdon county, Penn- sylvania, in 1875. After his marriage he settled in Williamsburg, Blair county, and was engaged in work as a bricklayer, and subse- quently removed to Huntingdon, where he followed the same calling. He married Susan Swope, who died in 1907 at the age of eighty-two years. She was a daughter of John and Mary Martha Swope, and a granddaughter of William Swope, who was one of the early settlers of Huntingdon county. John Swope settled at McConnellstown. Pennsyl- vania, after his marriage, where he was for a time an ironmaster, and later a merchant and miller. He had children: Elizabeth; Louisa; Mary; Susan, mentioned above; Henry; Peter. Henry and Susan (Swope) Lower had children: I. Mary E., married William Miller, now deceased, and lives at Petersburg with her two children: Walter L. and Ada E. 2. John, is a bricklayer, and resides in Huntingdon with his daughter Annie. 3. William, see forward. 4. Harry, a farmer living in Petersburg. 5. Annie C., married Frederick D. Neff, has one son, Roy, and lives in Steelton, Pennsylvania. In political matters Mr. Lower was a Democrat. He was a member of the Presbyterian church, while his wife was a member of the Reformed church.
(III) William, second son and third child of Henry and Susan
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(Swope) Lower, was born in Huntingdon, Huntingdon county, Penn- sylvania, February 11, 1852. His education was acquired in the public schools of his native township, and during his spare time he was of great assistance to his father in the cultivation of the homestead farm. In 1872 he engaged in farming in Henderson township, and resided there for a period of twelve years. Four years were spent in Shaver's Creek Valley, and he then purchased a farm of two hundred and eight- een acres in Logan township, outside of Petersburg, on which he still resides. He occupies himself with general farming, and has improved this property in every possible direction. He erected a number of new buildings, and is a progressive farmer in every sense of the word. He sold a strip of his property to the Pennsylvania Railroad Company, so that the extent of his property at the present time is two hundred and eleven acres. Mr. Lower has never married. He is broad minded and liberal in his ideas, and takes an active interest in whatever concerns the welfare of the community.
Gustav Altman, of Alexandria, Huntingdon county, ALTMAN Pennsylvania, descends from German ancestry, and is of the first generation born in the United States. His grandparents were Wilhelm and Ida ( Fritsche) Altman. He was born September 28, 1819, probably in Dessau, Germany; was a goldsmith and jeweler, and served in the German army. His wife died in 1858 and he married again, and was living with his second wife when his death occurred, on July 17, 1875. Children by first marriage : 1. Franz, deceased. 2. Gustav, of whom further. 3. Wilson, a merchant in Rochester, New York. 4. Carl, railway employee in Bremen, Germany. 5. Matilda (Mrs. Buzzard), of Staten Island. 6. Emil, died in New York. 7. Ida, died in Germany.
(II) Gustav Altman, son of Wilhelm and Ida (Fritsche) Altman, was born at Dessau, on the Elbe river, in Central Prussia, July II, 1839. He attended school in his native town of Dessau, until he was fifteen, when he went to Bremen and sought a berth on a sailing vessel without success. While in Bremen he was told of the wonderful oppor- tunities in the United States, and he sailed, alone, for New York. The passage occupied fifty-two days; the vessel was becalmed twice, which lengthened the voyage. Reaching New York he went immediately to
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his uncle's home in New Jersey, and remained with him a year and a half, working on the farm for $4 per month. At the expiration of that time his uncle exchanged his farm for property in New York, and young Altman accompanied him to that state, and found work in a ma- chine shop, where he labored for a year. Being young and adventurous, he decided that he would like to try whaling as a means of gratifying his love of traveling. With a companion he started for New Bedford, going by boat as far as Newport and the rest of the trip by rail. On applying for a position on a whaling vessel he was refused employment, and, very much disappointed, the two began to retrace their steps, walk- ing to Newport, as they had no money to pay their fare. He offered in payment of transportation from Newport to New York his coat, in which was a book that he had brought from Germany, and in which were the pictures of his parents and some souvenirs from the Father- land. He asked, after he had delivered the garment, to be permitted to take the pictures, but was refused this simple and just request. Reach- ing New York he was too proud to seek his uncle and let him know of his circumstances, and went to Honesdale, Pennsylvania, where he found employment in the coal mines of the Pennsylvania railroad. When he had saved forty or fifty dollars he went on foot to New York, for the purpose of redeeming his coat and securing the pictures, but was unable to find the man who had taken them in pledge of the future payment of one dollar. He then returned to Pennsylvania and was employed in threshing for a few days. He went on foot to Porter township, Huntingdon county, and solicited work, and obtained it on various farms. He worked for Samuel Neff the following winter for board and schooling, and remained with him until 1859. Later he was employed by Benjamin L. Neff. He then rented the Neff mill from Mr. Neff, on shares, with Mark Bodley. He continued this until the breaking out of the civil war, when he enlisted at Petersburg, Pennsyl- vania, in Company H, Fifteenth Pennsylvania Volunteers, Captain Jo- seph Johnson, for three months. The company went to Harrisburg, then to Carlisle, then to Lancaster, Pennsylvania, when the regiment was assigned to Negley's brigade, under General Pattison. They were ordered to Martinsburg, Virginia, and were in the fight at Falling Waters. They were sent back to Carlisle, where they were paid off and discharged. Mr. Altman resumed charge of the mill temporarily, after
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which he went to Ohio and worked in Massillon in a mill. From there he went to Cincinnati, Ohio, and from there to Paducah, Kentucky, and to Huntsville, Alabama, where he was assigned to the Twelfth Indiana Artillery to take charge of the ammunition wagons. Here he had camp fever, and was sent to Nashville, Tennessee, where he was honorably discharged. He returned to Pennsylvania, where he became temporarily connected with the IIome Guards. He later joined a company in the Forty-sixth State Militia. On February 29, 1864, he enlisted in Com- pany C, Captain Lawson, of the Seventy-first Pennsylvania Volunteers, and went to the front. He was with Sherman when he went through Tennessee, Georgia and South Carolina. He fought at Tunnel Hill, Georgia, May 7, 1864. He was badly wounded, September 5, 1864, by a bursting shell, and was in the hospital at Nashville, Tennessee, when he was discharged, June 13, 1865. He went at once to Petersburg, Pennsylvania, where he resumed milling. In 1866 he was made head miller. He next rented a mill in Alexandria, Huntingdon county, Penn- sylvania, from James Dysart, and where he lived until his death, March 6, 1913. He was a Republican and was actively interested in politics. He was reared in the Lutheran church in the Fatherland, and remained a member to the last day of his life. He married Margaret Guisler, a daughter of Michael and Rosanna Guisler. Children: I. Ida, married Frank Fouse, and lives in Alexandria. 2. Bertha, married George Lloyd; lives in Alexandria. 3. Sarah, died in infancy. 4. John, died in infancy. 5. Gustav, of whom further. 6. William, died in infancy.
(III) Gustav Altman Jr., son of Gustav and Margaret (Guisler ) Alt- man, was born September 20. 1879, in Alexandria, Pennsylvania. He received an excellent education in the public schools of his native place. afterward attending the Lebanon Business College. Leaving college he entered his father's mill and became its manager for three years while it was still under the firm name of Phillips & Altman. He, with Mr. Barrick, purchased the mill from Phillips & Altman, and Gustav Altman Jr. managed it alone for two years. His next venture was the purchase of his partner's interest, leaving him sole proprietor, and for the past three years he has been owner and manager, during which time he has greatly increased the volume of business, added to the ca- pacity of the mill and does general milling, shipping to all points in Central Pennsylvania. He has bought a handsome residence on Main
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street, in Alexandria, and here makes his home. He is a Republican, working actively for the interests of the party. He is a member of the Reformed church, as is his wife. He is also a member of the Sons of Veterans. Mr. Altman is regarded as one of the up-to-date business men of his section, and through his efforts has contributed to the indus- trial growth and wealth of Alexandria.
He married, in 1903, Ida Pearl Miller, born at Spruce Creek, Hunt- ingdon county. Children: I. Seward Earl. 2. Kermit.
STOVER The Stover family, of which John Stover, of Spruce Creek township, Huntingdon county, Pennsylvania, is a member, is one of the oldest in point of residence in Juniata Valley, where it has been established for many succeeding gen- erations. The founder of the American branch, David Stover, came from England about the year 1738, and probably landed on Manhattan Island, New York. He was from Derbyshire, and was a farmer and horse breeder. With him came his family, a wife, four sons and two daughters. He located in New Jersey, but later went into Pennsyl- vania, took up wild land, improved and farmed it until his death. Among his children was David Jr., of whom further.
(I). David Stover, son of David Stover, the English emigrant, was born in England, and came with his parents to America when he was two years old. He grew to manhood in New Jersey, and there married Ann Janes, or Jaynes. When his father decided to go to Pennsyl- vania he and his family accompanied him. As they were journeying through the vast wilderness they were attacked by a roving band of Indians and renegade white men, and the children and wife of David Jr. were killed. Later he married Mary Hunter, and among their chil- dren was Daniel, of whom further.
(II) Daniel Stover, son of David and Mary (Hunter) Stover, was born in Pennsylvania. He was a farmer and a member of the company of home guards, organized for the purpose of keeping watch on the In- dians. He entered the Continental army from Pennsylvania and served the entire time of the revolutionary war. At the close of the war, after articles of peace had been signed between England and the colonies, he returned to Pennsylvania, began farming, and married Susan Holmes. Among their children was Jacob, of whom further.
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(III) Jacob Stover, son of Daniel and Susan ( Holmes) Stover, was born in Pennsylvania about 1800. He was a farmer and a carpenter, and assisted in erecting many of the most substantial buildings in the Juniata Valley. At this dual occupation he amassed quite a handsome fortune. Among his children was Daniel, of whom further.
(IV) Daniel Stover, son of Jacob Stover, was born near Markles- burg. Pennsylvania. He received a meager education in the common schools of the township in which his parents lived, and on reaching man's estate he followed the family vocation and became a farmer, and acquired much land. He was a man of great influence in his com- munity, upholding the law and assisting in its enforcement. He died near Marklesburg, and was there buried in the family cemetery. His children, all of whom are dead: I. Jonathan. 2. Daniel. 3. Jacob, of whom further. 4. Catherine, married John Walls. 5. Nancy, died un- married. 6. Fannie, married Augustus McDermott, of Scotland, who settled in Pennsylvania. 7. Mrs. Hamer.
(V) Jacob Stover, son of Daniel Stover, was born in Huntingdon county, Pennsylvania, and there was reared on the family homestead. He attended the common schools in his vicinity, and on leaving selected farming as his vocation. He married the daughter of a neighboring farmer, rented a place on Spruce Creek, in the township of the same name. In 1850 he moved with his family to Warriors Mark township. where he purchased one hundred and twenty-five acres of land, which he soon converted into a producing farm. He erected comfortable houses for himself and stock, and made a model place for those times. He prospered greatly and later purchased a nearby place of almost equal acreage. He became, through his progressiveness, conspicuously iden- tified with the best interests of his community, and was one of its promi- nent and most highly respected citizens; and when he died, in 1888, he was greatly mourned by his friends and neighbors. He was an ardent Republican, working for the party ; and held several local offices, to his credit and the satisfaction of his constituency. He and his wife were devout members of the United Brethren congregation, supporting the church generously. He married Mary Waite, born in Huntingdon county, Pennsylvania, and died in 1893, a daughter of Casper and Es- ther Waite, both of whom were of English extraction, and who were early settlers of Sinking Valley, where he owned much property, such
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as farming lands and cattle, and where they both died. They lived quiet, retired lives, doing good among their less fortunate neighbors, by whom they were highly esteemed. Besides Mrs. Stover, who was their eldest, their children were: Esther, married Augustus Weekland; Eve, mar- ried George Walter; Daniel; Henry; Abram; John, all of whom are dead. Children of Jacob and Mary (Waite) Stover: I. Susannah, married John Wallace, and died in Sinking Valley. 2. Esther, married D. P. Henderson, of Spruce Creek Valley. 3. Fannie, deceased; mar- ried George Bridenbaugh. 4. John, of whom further. 5. Miles, a farmer in Warriors Mark Valley. 6. Mary, married Pierce Gray, of Center county, Pennsylvania. 7. Emory J., farms homestead.
(VI) John Stover, son of Jacob and Mary (Waite) Stover, was born on the farm he now owns in Spruce Creek township, Huntingdon county, Pennsylvania, December 6, 1849. He was reared in the free life of his father's farm and attended the public schools of the town- ship. He remained at home with his father until he reached the age of twenty-seven, when he married and took charge of one of his father's farms on Eden Hill. After the death of Mr. Stover Sr., John Stover purchased the interest of the other heirs, and since that time has made many notable improvements in the buildings, erectings others, and bringing the land up to a high state of productiveness. In 1907 he bought two hundred and thirty-nine acres, making his land holdings three hundred and eighty-six acres, upon which he does successful general farming. He is one of the prosperous, substantial men of his section, and wields an influence for good, right living and thinking. In politics he has followed in the footsteps of his father and is a Re- publican. He has served as school director and supervisor; and both he and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal church. Than Mr. Stover there is no more highly respected citizen in Huntingdon county.
He married, in February, 1879, Mary C. Gray, born in Center county, Pennsylvania, a daughter of John W. Gray, a prosperous farmer of that county. Children of John and Mary C. (Gray) Stover: I. Blanche, at home with parents. 2. Edwin, unmarried, assists father in managing the farm. 3. Victor, a farmer in Mifflin county, Pennsyl- vania; married Virginia Ayers; one child: Dorothy. 4. Agnes, at home. 5. Harold, assists father on farm.
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George Fetterhoof, of Spruce Creek, Hunting-
FETTERIIOOF don county, Pennsylvania, descends on both the paternal and distaff sides from honorable German ancestry, the founders of both American branches having come to America before the revolutionary war. The paternal immigrant pro- genitor probably reached Philadelphia in 1760, or thereabout. In the Pennsylvania records of the soldiers of the revolution George Fetter- hoof is named several times, and he participated in many of the most notable battles. After the cessation of hostilities he returned to Penn- sylvania and engaged in farming. Among his children was Michael, of whom further.
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