USA > Pennsylvania > A history of the Juniata Valley and its people, Volume III > Part 26
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(II) Samuel P., eldest son of Levi and Mary ( Pheasant ) Smith, was born in Union township, Huntingdon county, Pennsylvania, Sep- tember 3. 1832. He was educated in the public schools and at Cassville Seminary, and for several years taught in the public schools. He fol- lowed the occupation of his father and became a successful farmer, owning one hundred and twenty acres of highly improved land, located in Union township, on which he resided until 1892. He then sold his property and moved to Brady township, there purchasing a farm of three hundred and twenty acres which he improved with good build- ings. He continued in the active management of his estate until about 1908, although not by any means incapable of attending to his affairs. He held the full confidence of his community and was elevated to many positions of trust by the votes of his fellow men. He served in all
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township offices; was justice of the peace for Union township; was elected to the same position in Brady township; and in 1881 was elected commissioner of Huntingdon county. He was scrupulously upright in his management of public affairs, making an honorable official record in keeping with his private character. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, having been active in all its affairs during his younger years. In political faith he is a Republican. He married, in Union township, Catherine, daughter of David and Isabella (Wright) Swope, of German descent. David Swope was a well-known farmer of Union township, a large land owner, and member of the Baptist church. Chil- dren of Samuel and Catherine Smith: Ralph P., born September 7, 1854, married Amanda Fisher ; Isabella, married Madison Swope; Jen- nie, married James Kidder; Josephine, married Milton Myerly; Har- rison, sheriff of Huntingdon county, married May Snowden; Clara, married Howard Laird; Samuel, a farmer of Union township; Julia, married Charles Straitiff ; and Edgar Monroe.
(III) Edgar Monroe, youngest child of Samuel P. and Catherine (Swope) Smith, was born in Union township, Huntingdon county, Pennsylvania, February 6, 1875. He grew to manhood on the home farm, was educated in the public schools, and has always devoted him- self to agricultural pursuits. He farmed the homestead acres, lived for a time in the Big Valley, Mifflin county, then returned to Hunting- don county, purchasing one hundred and thirty acres near Alexandria on which he now resides. His farm is a well improved, fertile tract, and shows the result of skillful management. Mr. Smith is an inde- pendent Republican. He married in 1895, Rebecca, daughter of James Huey. Children: Mary A .; Cora M .; Nora, deceased; Edna J., and Samuel H.
Oliver Scott Rumberger, of Huntingdon county, RUMBERGER Pennsylvania, descends from German stock that was transplanted to American soil immediately be- fore the revolutionary war. The immigrant forbear settled in Penn- sylvania, and there finished his life. His descendants are widely scat- tered over the state. One or more of them were soldiers in the war of 1812, while the family was largely represented in the civil war.
(I) George Rumberger moved from the southeastern part of Penn-
Q & Rumberger
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sylvania to Huntingdon county in the early part of 1808, and settled in what is now Warrior's Mark township. He worked as a farm laborer for Mr. Nearhoof, and as the latter was unable to pay him cash for his services he made a deed to him of wild land north of the village of Warrior's Mark. This he cleared, put up log buildings, dwelling house and barns, lived for many years on it and finally died an old man in 1845. He and his family were members of the Lutheran church, and lived quiet, unostentatious lives. He married Catherine Rider, daugh- ter of a neighboring farmer. Children: 1. John, lived and died on the original homestead. 2. Elizabeth, married John Krider of Lebanon, lived and died in Center county, Pennsylvania. 3. George, of whom further. 4. Nancy, married Henry Bratton, lived and died in Warrior's Mark township. 5. Mary, died, unmarried, in 1898.
(II) George Rumberger, son of George and Catherine (Rider) Rumberger, was born in Warrior's Mark township in 1812. Ile re- ceived his education in the common schools, and lived on the home- stead, and there died. He and his wife were standing under a large willow tree in the yard, in 1850, when a bolt of lightning struck the tree and killed them both. He was an ardent Whig, and he and his wife were members of the Lutheran church. He married Margaret Leathers, born in 1820, in Center county, Pennsylvania. Children: I. Oliver Scott, of whom further. 2. George, lives in Putnam county, Indiana ; was a soldier in the civil war, a member of the Fifth Pennsylvania Re- serves. 3. John H., died in 1866 from effects of imprisonment in Andersonville : member of 148th Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry Regi- ment. 4. Samuel, member of Company H, Hoth Pennsylvania Vol- unteer Infantry Regiment ; died three months after enlistment. 5. Cath- erine, unmarried, lives in Mifflin county, Pennsylvania.
(III) Oliver Scott Rumberger, son of George and Margaret (Leathers) Rumberger, was born February 28, 1840, near the village of Warrior's Mark, Warrior's Mark township. Huntingdon county, Penn- sylvania. He received only a meagre education in the common schools of the township, and at the age of ten years, after both parents were killed at once and the same time by a bolt of lightning, he was placed among strangers. In 1857 he began to learn the carpenter's trade with Jacob Rider, and worked for him until 1861, when, at the call for vol- unteers from Pennsylvania, he enlisted, August, 1861, in Company D.
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49th Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry Regiment, and served in this company until March, 1864. He was transferred at that time to Com- pany H, of the same regiment, having been promoted to the captaincy by slow steps, beginning in March, 1863. He was mustered out in June, 1865, as captain of his company. He was wounded May 10, 1864, at Spottsylvania Court House, in the breast. Some of the bat- tles in which he participated were Yorktown, Williamsburg, Malvern Hill, Antietam, Fredericksburg, first and second battles; Gettysburg, Wilderness, Spottsylvania, Cold Harbor, Weldon Railroad, Petersburg, twice; Winchester; during them all he conducted himself with valor and exceeding daring. He returned after the war to Huntingdon county and for years conducted a carpenter's shop. He purchased fifty-three acres of land in the meantime, where he farmed in a small way but with profit. In 1897 he was appointed postmaster at Warrior's Mark and continued in that position until 1913, a period of sixteen years, during which time he saw his office grow from fourth to third class. He ran two rural routes successfully, establishing same on a business basis. He is a staunch Republican, and has held many offices of public trust, among them being that of township auditor, school director and tax assessor for six years. Than Mr. Rumberger no one stands higher in the regard of the township. He commands the esteem and respect of his fellow citizens, irrespective of political affiliations. He, with his wife, is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church. He belongs to the Union Veteran Legion.
During the civil war, on one of his infrequent furloughs home, he married, January 21, 1864, Nancy Elvira Rider, born July 31, 1842, in Warrior's Mark, a daughter of Jacob and Maria (Hyskell) Rider. Jacob Rider was born in Lebanon county, Pennsylvania, and died in Huntingdon county, February, 1887. He was brought by his father, John Rider, to Huntingdon county, when quite young. After his mar- riage to Maria Hyskell, born in Warrior's Mark township, and died there December 25, 1887, he settled in Warrior's Mark, in a home that he had already erected. He was a carpenter and builder, and left as his monuments many of the handsomest and most substantial public and private buildings in Huntingdon county. Both he and his wife were members of the Methodist Episcopal church, and were active in their work for it. Children of Oliver Scott and Nancy Elvira (Rider)
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Rumberger : 1. Zula, born October 13, 1865; married Frank Leliman, a farmer in Warrior's Mark township; children: Frances, Pauline. 2. George Edwin, born April 1, 1870; a farmer living on home place ; married Luella Wilson; children : Ethel, Lee, Almeda, Verna. 3. Ada Virginia, born July 8, 1872; married Hays Wills, of Warrior's Mark township; children: Helen Dorothy, Mildred, Lorena, George Oliver. 4. Margaret, born November 27, 1880; married Nevin M. Miller, a coal and fuel dealer of Tyrone, Pennsylvania; one son, Kenneth.
JOHNSTON This branch of the Johnston family descends from a Scotch ancestor who came to America at an early day, settling in Shavers Creek Valley, Huntingdon county. He there became owner of considerable land and reared a large family, two of his sons succeeding to the ownership of the home farm. His son, William Johnston, was born in Shavers Creek Valley, but moved to Hart's Log Valley when a young man and lived there the remainder of his life. He married Elizabeth Caldwell, and of his large family only one survives, James Wilson Johnston, a physician living in north- ern Missouri. Elizabeth Caldwell, called Betsey in the family Bible, was born on her father's farm, in what is now Porter township, Hunt- ingdon county, May 4, 1796, and was married to William Johnston, March 3, 1814. Children: I. William Bruce, of whom further. 2. David, moved to Benton, Marion county, Missouri. 3. James Wilson, a physician, previously referred to. 4. Thomas, settled in Kingston, Caldwell county, Missouri. 5. Samuel, settled near his brother Thomas. 6. John D., died in Shavers Creek Valley, in 1881. 7. Elizabeth, mar- ried, July 4, 1849, George Borst, of Shavers Creek Valley, who died in 1858; she died July 12, 1880, leaving two children-Mollie E., and George C. 8. Sarah, never married. 9. Mary Ann, married Joseph Robinson, of Blair county; she died in November, 1881, leaving chil- dren : James, Charlotte and Estelle. 10. Rebecca, married Robert Caldwell, of Beaver county; children: Harriet. Elizabeth, Sarah, Minerva, Samuel, William, James, Calvin and Robert.
Elizabeth (Caldwell) Johnston was a daughter of Major David Cald- well, and a granddaughter of Robert Caldwell, born in county Derry, Ireland, of Scotch parents. He came to America with his brother Charles in early manhood, settling first near Greencastle, Pennsylvania.
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In 1754 they explored the upper Juniata Valley, selecting homes for themselves in what is now Porter township, Huntingdon county. In 1755 they brought their families and made settlement in what is now Hart's Log Valley, where they remained unmolested until 1778, when Indian troubles began. Robert settled on the Little Juniata, near where the Barre Iron Works were afterwards built. He was on friendly terms with the Indians, who always gave him warning of approaching danger, allowing him time to prepare therefor or to flee to the nearest fort. He died in the fall of 1799, and is buried in the Hart's Log grave- yard, near Alexandria. He left three sons-David, William and Sam- uel; also five daughters. David Caldwell, known as Major David, was born May 8, 1762, died April 28, 1813. He married Rebecca, daughter of Matthew Dean, of Canoe Valley, January 13, 1789. She was one of the four children of Matthew Dean who were with him in the cornfield at the time when his wife and the rest of the family were killed by the Indians in 1780, at the home farm. David was a major of militia, and elder of Hart's Log Presbyterian church. He had twelve children, of whom Betsey (Elizabeth) was the eldest daughter and fifth child. She married, as previously stated, William Johnston.
(III) William Bruce, son of William and Elizabeth (Caldwell) Johnston, was born in Huntingdon county, in 1816, died in 1886. He became a farmer, and soon after his marriage settled on the farm in Franklin township, on which his son, William Hunter Johnston, re- sides, and there lived until his death. In 1851 he built the present dwell- ing of his son, and there lived in comfort and prosperity for twenty- eight years. He was a Republican in politics, and both he and his wife were members of the Presbyterian church, which he served for many years as elder. Mr. Johnston was noted in his neighborhood for his devotion to his religious duties, his honest truthfulness, and sturdy uprightness of character. He married Sarah Ann Montgomery, born in Chester county, Pennsylvania, in 1814, coming to Chester county with her parents when a child. She was a great-granddaughter of Wil- liam Montgomery, born in Ireland, who settled in Maryland, coming to Huntingdon county, Pennsylvania, about 1792, spending his latter days there with his son Charles. Charles Montgomery was born in Mary- land, where he grew to manhood, coming to Pennsylvania with the Matterns and other early settlers of the county of Huntingdon. He
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took up land, built a log cabin, and there lived for some time, but later moved to Chester county, pioneer life becoming too strenuous. lle afterward returned to Huntingdon county, where he died. He is buried in the Presbyterian cemetery at Graysville, beside his father, William Montgomery. Thomas, son of Charles Montgomery, was born in Mary- land, in 1780, and was twelve years of age when brought to Huntingdon county by his parents, where he died in 1847. He was a surveyor and a farmer, prominent in the county, holding the rank of major in the militia. Hle, too, is buried in the Graysville cemetery. He married a Miss Hunter, who bore him three children: Sarah Ann, married William Bruce Johnston, of previous mention ; Jane H., married Joseph Long, and died in Chester, Pennsylvania; Elizabeth, died aged about twenty years. Children of William Bruce and Sarah Ann Johnston : 1. Thom- as, a veteran of the civil war ; lived in Kansas, died at the Home in 1884; he married Jennie Furguson, and had four sons. Harry, John, Howard and Bruce. 2. Caroline, twin of Thomas; now resides in the Ozark mountain region of Missouri; unmarried. 3. William Hunter, of whom further. 4. Elizabeth, residing with her sister Caroline, in Missouri.
(IV) William Ilunter, son of William Bruce and Sarah Ann (Montgomery) Johnston, was born in Franklin township, Huntingdon county, Pennsylvania, February 23, 1848. He was educated in the public schools, finishing his studies at Airy View Academy. He re- mained on the home farm until he was sixteen years of age, then be- coming a teamster, driving a six-horse team, hauling logs and lumber. Until he was twenty years of age he continued teaming, but during that period attended the academy. In 1870 he settled on a farm owned by his father in Virginia, where he married and remained for six years. In the spring of 1877 he returned home and for three years cultivated rented farms in the township. In 1884 he became manager of the home farm, and on his father's death bought out the other heirs and became sole owner of the homestead, now a farm of two hundred and fifty-six acres, one hundred and twenty-five of which is under cultivation. He has prospered in his undertakings and is one of the substantial farmers of his township. He has held several local offices, and from 1898 to 1901 was a commissioner of Huntingdon county, elected as a Republican. Both he and his wife are members of the Presbyterian church.
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He married, in 1872, Susan Foster, born in Charlotte county, Vir- ginia, daughter of William Gideon Foster. Children: I. Charles Bruce, his father's assistant on the farm. 2. Kate Stuart, married Louis D. Gensimore, and resides near Birmingham, Huntingdon county. 3. Mary Wright, married William K. Prestle, and resides in Pitcairn, Pennsylvania. 4. Edwin M., a farmer near Bellwood, Pennsylvania; married Martha Everhart. 5. Sarah, residing at home. 6. Fanny Fos- ter, died aged eight years. 7. Jennie Jackson, formerly a teacher ; mar- ried George G. Shultz, July 30, 1913. 8. Margaret. 9. Susan Foster, a teacher. 10. Anna Moore, a teacher. II. William Vaughan.
J. Price Wertz, a prominent business man of Lewistown,
WERTZ Mifflin county, Pennsylvania, is descended from a family which came to this country from Germany, in the early part of the eighteenth century, the members of which have borne their share bravely and nobly in working for the welfare of the country of their adoption.
(I) Daniel Wertz, a native of Germany, who had resided in Eng- land for a time, emigrated to America and settled near Landisburg, Perry county, Pennsylvania. He was a farmer by occupation, and became a man of influence in the community in which he resided.
(II) James, son of Daniel Wertz, settled with his parents at Landis- burg. He was a carpenter by trade, and died at the age of eighty-six years ; his wife died a few years later.
(III) Peter, son of James Wertz, was born in Adams county, Penn- sylvania. He settled in Spring township, where he had purchased a farm which he cultivated until his death. He also followed the occupa- tions of a carpenter and a butcher. He married Mary Foose and had children: Peter, Margaret, Elizabeth, Catherine, Pollie, David, Henry, Mollie; John, see forward; Daniel, Sarah, Annie, Abraham and Isabel. He and his wife were members of the Lutheran church.
(IV) John, son of Peter and Mary ( Mollie) (Foose) Wertz, was born at Newport, Perry county, Pennsylvania, April 24, 1819. His opportunities for securing a good education were limited. When he was twenty years of age he attended a subscription school at Little Germany, paying for this tuition himself. He was but a very young lad when he drove a cart in the ore banks of his father, and at the age of sixteen
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years he was apprenticed to learn the trade of shoemaking. This class of work was never to his liking, and at the age of nineteen years he ran away from home, his entire capital consisting of nineteen cents. Going to Mount Arabella Furnace, he found employment there, being engaged in chopping wood for a period of six months. One season was spent as the driver of a team on the canal, after which he went to Newport and made an arrangement with a Mr. Foster to learn carpentry, his wages to be six dollars per month. His next engagement was with a Mr. Beatty, from whom he received thirteen dollars per month, working as a car- penter on the canal, and in 1838, having heard that John Musser, of Lewistown, was in need of carpenters, he engaged to work one week on trial for that gentleman. So satisfactory was his work that he was at once engaged at a salary of twenty dollars per month, and remained with him for nine months. For some years he was then employed in the boat yard at Lewistown for various people, and, in 1850, he assisted in constructing the bridge across the Juniata river. In the same year he went to Illinois, and for almost half a year was at work on the Burling- ton & Peoria railroad. He then returned to Newport, where he worked at house carpentry during the summer and on the canal in the winter. Farming then engaged his attention for a time, and he became the owner of a farm which he subsequently sold. He built the home, which he later occupied with his family, in 1884, and in 1885 opened the store which he conducted for a number of years. Ile was a strong supporter of the Democratic party, and an advocate of free silver. He was a mem- ber of the Lutheran church, of which he was a regular attendant.
Mr. Wertz married ( first ) December 22, 1842, Mary, born in Perry county. Pennsylvania, 1824. died in 1886, daughter of Abraham Frye, of Tyrone, Blair county, Pennsylvania. He married (second) Mrs. Catherine Zimmerman, a widow. Children, all by the first marriage : I. William, see forward. 2. Mary Jane, born March 31, 1845 ; married Perry Rider, and resides in Newport, Pennsylvania. 3. Catherine, born December 11, 1846; married John Barrick, of Newport, Pennsylvania. 4. Mary Ellen, born September 29, 1847, died young. 5. Emma Re- becca, born September 9, 1849; married Joseph Murphy, of Miller town- ship, Perry county, Pennsylvania. 6. Martha Eve, born June 15. 1853. died at the age of twenty years. 7. John, born June 17, 1856, resides in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. 8. Margaret. twin of John; married John
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Haines, of Altoona, Pennsylvania. 9. Peter, born November 13, 1858, resides at Newport, Pennsylvania. 10. Charles, born June 4, 1860, is a farmer in Iowa. II. James, born December 26, 1863, is a farmer in Dakota.
(V) William, son of John and Mary (Frye) Wertz, was born at Lewistown, Mifflin county, Pennsylvania, October 31, 1843. When he was four years of age his parents removed to Ickesburg, Pennsylvania, and he has a faint recollection of the flood of 1847; later the family moved to Newport. The common schools of Newport furnished his education until the age of nine years, when he commenced the serious business of life as a driver of mules on the tow path. So small was he at this time that he was obliged to take the mules to a fence in order to mount them. He was thus employed until he was old enough to take charge of a boat. He enlisted for a period of nine months, at Newport, Pennsylvania, August 9, 1862, becoming a private in Company I, 133d Regiment Pennsylvania Volunteers, and was sent to the front with his regiment and participated in the battles of Fredericksburg, Chancellors- ville and Antietam. He was honorably discharged at the expiration of his term of service, May 28, 1863, and returned to his home. In Septem- ber. 1863, he purchased an interest in the boat "Abraham Collins," of which, with its team of five mules, he had sole charge, day and night, until early in 1865. In the summer of 1864 he also had charge of an- other boat, the "Lizzie Dugan," for A. Collins, of Falmouth. He became the sole proprietor and manager, in 1865, of the boat "Parish No. 35." He added to his fleet of boats by purchase, from time to time, until it numbered nine. They plied between Nanticoke, Baltimore, New York and Philadelphia. Two trips were made to Lake Champlain and Fort Henry, which consumed one month and five days, and netted the (at that time) large sum of three hundred dollars. Mr. Wertz was actively engaged in the boating business until 1892, when his other busi- ness interests consuming the greater part of his time, he sold all his boats with the exception of five. He became a stockholder in the People's Bank of Newport, upon the organization of that institution, and filled the office of director for a period of seventeen years. When the bank was reorganized, becoming the National Bank, he was also a stockholder and director, an office he is still holding. He resided in Oliver township until his removal, in 1884, to Newport, where he had purchased a resi-
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dence which he has occupied since that time. He has filled several town- ship offices as a representative of the Democratic party, and was a sup- porter of the free silver movement. He served several terms as a dea- con of the Zion Lutheran Church, and has been a member of its Sab- bath school throughout his life. He is a member and past commander of Lieutenant Arnold Lobaugh Post, No. 297, Grand Army of the Re- public.
Mr. Wertz married, August 12, 1863, Catherine, daughter of the Rev. Samuel Glaze, who was killed on the railroad crossing at Newport, Pennsylvania. Children: I. Margaret W., married Silas J. Clark, of Newport, Pennsylvania. 2. William Henry, a coal operator at Houtz- dale, Pennsylvania; married Cora Noll, of Newport, Pennsylvania. 3. Carrie Letitia, married Harry B. Miller, and removed to Pendleton, Ore- gon, in 1895. 4. Laura Myrtle, married Herman E. Snyder, of Harris- burg, Pennsylvania. 5. An infant, deceased. 6. J. Price, see forward. 7. Victor Haldeman. 8. Fannie Eleanor.
(VI) J. Price, son of William and Catherine (Glaze) Wertz, was born in Perry county, Pennsylvania, November 2, 1875. He was edu- cated in the public schools of his district, where he proved himself an apt and studious pupil. At a suitable age he engaged in business, and after a variety of experiences established himself in the laundry business in 1902, on South Main street, where the old brewery was formerly located. In 1906 he removed to No. 127 South Main street, where his business is conducted at the present time ; he has since bought the entire property. In 1909 he commenced the manufacture of shirts, in which line of industry he has achieved an undeniable success. He has seventy- five people in his employ, and everything is done which can tend toward the comfort of his employees or facilitate the work. Like his ancestors in this country, Mr. Wertz is a staunch supporter of Democratic prin- ciples, and he is a member of the following organizations, all of Lewis- town: Independent Order of Odd Fellows; Patriotic Order Sons of America, and Knights of Pythias.
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