USA > Pennsylvania > A history of the Juniata Valley and its people, Volume III > Part 9
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(IV) William, son of Major John and Mary (Glass) Shaver, was born October 10, 1804, in a log house where the Shaver store house now stands at Mt. Union, Pennsylvania, and died August 10, 1855. He was a farmer, living near Mt. Union, and was a prominent and influential man in his township. He was a strong Whig, and always voted the ticket; and was captain of militia. Both he and his wife were members of the Presbyterian church. He married Catherine Wallace, born September 1, 1818, near Granville, Mifflin county, Penn- sylvania, and died March 19, 1900; she was daughter of Robert and Ann (Wilson) Wallace. After the death of Mr. Shaver his widow married John D. Stewart, in 1863. Robert Wallace, father of Cath- erine (Wallace) Shaver, was born in Belfast, Ireland; he ran away from home when a small lad and came to the United States, landed in Virginia, and eventually moved to Philadelphia, and while there he engaged extensively in the mercantile business. Later he moved to Mifflin county on a farm that he had purchased. While in Philadel- phia he married Ann Wilson, daughter of James Wilson, one of the framers of the Declaration of Independence, which he signed; he also assisted in framing the constitution of the United States; he was a federal judge under President Washington; was a trustee of Prince- ton University, and one of the noted jurists of his day. At the pres- ent time his decisions are quoted as authority. He had two daughters: Ann, who married Robert Wallace, and Mary Jane, who married Mr. Crossett, and died in Philadelphia. After the death of Judge Wilson's wife he married a widow with several children; these children took the name of Wilson, and on the death of Judge Wilson took many of his important papers, which are in the possession of their descendants at the present time. Children of Robert and Ann (Wilson) Wallace : Catherine, married William Shaver; and others. Children of William and Catherine (Wallace) Shaver: I. Mary Ann, deceased; married Luther Sidel, of Philadelphia. 2. Amanda, deceased; married Jacob
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Covert, of Trenton, New Jersey. 3. Narcissa, married William T. Sheaffer. 4. Elsie J., married John S. Bayer, of Huntingdon, Penn- sylvania ; he was formerly a merchant, and is now in the planing mill business ; was register and recorder, also served as representative of his district two terms. 5. John B., died in infancy. 6. Robert, died in infancy. 7. Catherine, married Robert Heller; resides in Altoona, Pennsylvania. 8. William, died in infancy.
William Henry Pennell, of Duncannon, Pennsylvania,
PENNELL descends from straight Irish ancestry on the paternal side, the race that has done so much to develop the vast latent resources of this country. His father, Andrew Pennell, was born in Ireland, and upon coming to America first resided in Norris- town, Pennsylvania, in 1836, and he engaged in contracting for quar- rying stone. He married Margaret Horneth, born in Norristown, Pennsylvania, of German ancestry. After their marriage they moved to Wheatfield township, Perry county, Pennsylvania, where he bought four hundred and fifty acres of land partially improved. He erected a new barn, remodelled the dwelling house and made other improve- ments. Later he built a new house and other barns, making it one of the model farms of that section of the state. He was a Republican, voting with and upholding the tenets of that party at all times. Both he and his wife were members of the Methodist Episcopal church and actively supported it. In 1858 he built a church for that demonination on a portion of his farm, donating church and land to the members of that creed in the community. This edifice is still standing and is known as the Pennell church, a monument to his religious zeal and his pious life. Children: 1. John, a railway foreman; died in Harris- burg, Pennsylvania ; he was a member of the Bucktail Regiment from Pennsylvania, which did such valuable service for the Union: he was wounded at Grangeville, was honorably discharged, but on recovery he reënlisted in the 21st Pennsylvania Cavalry, and served until the close of the civil war. 2. Robert, makes his home in Williamstown, Pennsylvania ; he served three years in the 9th Pennsylvania Cavalry during the civil war. 3. George, a prominent citizen of Duncannon, Pennsylvania; he enlisted in the 133d Pennsylvania Volunteer Infan- try at the outbreak of the civil war, and served out the time of his
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enlistment; later he entered the 9th Pennsylvania Cavalry Regiment; is now president of the Bank of Duncannon. 4. William Henry Pen- nell, of whom further. 5. Thomas, a farmer in Wheatfield township. 6. Andrew, died in Newport, in 1910. 7. Hanson, an upholsterer in Newport, Pennsylvania. 8. Mary, unmarried; makes home with her brother James, on the Pennell homestead. 9. James, unmarried; lives on homestead.
(II) William Henry, son of Andrew and Margaret (Horneth) Pennell, was born March 23, 1842, in Wheatfield township, Perry county, Pennsylvania. He attended the public schools of the town- ship and was reared on the Pennell homestead. He grew to man's estate in the quiet surroundings of the farm and home life, and was about to decide on following the occupation of his father when the war cloud of 1861 burst over the country. In 1861, at the age of nineteen, he enlisted in the 20th Pennsylvania Cavalry Regiment for six months' service, but served seven. On being discharged he re- enlisted in the 21st Regiment of Pennsylvania Cavalry and remained with it until the close of the war. He saw much active service, and was in the battles of Petersburg and Fort Hell, went through the bloody Wilderness campaign, and reached Gettysburg the day follow- ing the decisive battle which gave the field and victory to the Union troops. He was in about fifty engagements, great and small. At Petersburg he lived for days in a mine underground, and did notable service at that crucial time. After peace was declared he returned to Pennsylvania to take up again the broken threads of life. On look- ing around he decided on oil speculation, as that business was then claiming a large share of public attention, and went to the oil fields of Pennsylvania. Here he remained one year, and at the expiration of that time he went to Duncannon and opened a livery stable, combining with it a butcher's shop. Disposing of this dual business, he was offered and accepted the position of nail shipping clerk at Duncannon for the Steel Company. In 1870 or thereabouts he received the appoint- ment of postmaster at Duncannon, and retained the position for eight years. Owing to a change in party and administration at Washington he resigned this position and engaged in selling farm machinery. In 1897, after the inauguration of President Mckinley, Mr. Pennell was a second time appointed postmaster, which post he holds at the present
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time (1913), and is the oldest postmaster in length of service in this part of the state. Since his first appointment as postmaster the office has been raised from the fourth to the third class, and there have been established four rural routes which are served from Duncannon. Over 95,000 pieces of mail are handled monthly. He is a Republican, and at one time was tax assessor for the borough. Both he and his wife are members of the Presbyterian church. He is commander of Lieu- tenant William Allison Post, Grand Army of the Republic, and has been for the past fifteen years, and is a bright member of the Knights of Pythias.
He married Jane Brown, born in Duncannon. Children: I. Sa- rah C., married H. A. Birmingham, and lives in Kansas City, Mis- souri; one son, Herbert. 2. William Henry Brown, assistant post- master; married Margaret Smith. 3. Maggie, died aged fourteen months.
HARMAN The records of Mifflin county, Pennsylvania, while frequently mentioning the name Harman, give no clue to the ancestor of the family or when they came into the county. The first member of the family named is Jacob, an old resident of Belleville, where he plied the shoemaker's trade and where he and his wife died. He married and had issue: Isaac, Sam- uel; Lewis, of further mention; Jackson; Mary; Catherine and Eliza.
(II) Lewis, son of Jacob Harman, was born in Mifflin county, Pennsylvania, January 24, 1826, died in Belleville, same county, De- cember 23. 1895. He was a farmer all his life, and with his wife be- longed to the Lutheran church, of which he was a deacon. Politically he was a Democrat, never holding public office. He married Mary Jane Gable, born in Brady township. Huntingdon county, Pennsyl- vania, January 30, 1828, died near Belleville, August 4, 1880, daughter of George, born in Lancaster county, March 14, 1796, died in Hunting- don county. November 3. 1833, a shoemaker, and Elizabeth (Weaver) Gable, born in Lancaster county, September 5, 1810, died at Allens- ville, May 9, 1877. George Gable was a member of old Mount Mo- riah Lodge. No. 178 (now No. 300), Free and Accepted Masons. Children of George and Elizabeth Gable: Mary Jane, of previous mention, married Lewis Harman: William M .; Catherine and Martha.
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Children of Lewis and Mary Jane Harman: I. Melissa E., married James Harman, deceased, and lives in Yeagerstown. 2. William M., a butcher of Harrisburg. 3. George G., of further mention. 4. Jacob E., postmaster at Yeagerstown. 5. Martha J., died in infancy. 6. Philip M., a farmer, died near Belleville, aged forty-seven years. 7. Martha Catherine, married Charles Yingling, and lives at Mckeesport, Pennsylvania. 8. John Lewis, a contracting drayman of Pittsburgh. 9. Mary J., died aged forty-three years; married Frank Haffly. IO. Isaac Thomas, a postman of Helena, Ohio.
(III) Dr. George G. Harman, second son and third child of Lewis and Mary Jane (Gable) Harman, was born at the cross roads, about two miles below Belleville, Mifflin county, Pennsylvania, May 16, 1854. Deciding upon the medical profession as his walk in life, he entered Jefferson Medical College, of Philadelphia, after preparatory study at Kishacoquillas Seminary, in Mifflin county, and Susquehanna College, at Selinsgrove, Pennsylvania. Before entering the medical college he read medicine with Dr. M. F. Hudson. After receiving his degree of M. D. from Jefferson College with the class of 1880, he be- gan to practice at Allensville, where he continued for two years, mov- ing thence to Reedsville, remaining there five years. In 1887 he came to Huntingdon, where he has since remained, having built up a large practice among the best people of the city. He is a member of the County Medical Association, of which he is president; Pennsylvania State Medical Association, of which he has been vice-president, and a member of the judicial council of the state board of trustees and the American Medical Association, to whose annual congress he has sev- eral times been sent as representative from Pennsylvania. He is ex- aminer for a number of life insurance companies, and for three terms served as coroner of Huntingdon county. For five years he was assis- tant surgeon of the Fifth Regiment Pennsylvania National Guard, and belongs to the Military Surgeons' Association and the National Society of Anæsthetists. He also holds the responsible position of president of the medical and surgical staff of the J. C. Blair Memorial Hospital, where he does much practical work, as well as exercising supervision of that of others, he being one of the most skilled anæsthetists on the staff. In politics he is a Republican; he has been president of the council for seven years; a member of the board of education, acting as
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secretary for the past four years; and by virtue of his office as coroner, became acting sheriff for one month following the death of Sheriff Wilson. The only organization with which he is connected in a purely business relation is the Grange Trust Company, in which he is a direc- tor. He holds high rank in the Masonic fraternity, being a member of Lewistown Lodge, No. 203, Free and Accepted Masons; Standing Stone Chapter, No. 201, Royal Arch Masons, in which he is a past high priest ; Huntingdon Commandery, No. 65, Knights Templar, in which he is past commander ; and Jaffa Temple, Ancient Arabic Or- der Nobles of the Mystic Shrine, of Altoona. He also holds member- ship in the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. Both he and his wife are members of the Lutheran church, in which he has served for twenty years as elder and deacon. Dr. Harman's life, since he has been a resident of Huntingdon, has been one of ceaseless activity, embracing all phases of professional, fraternal and political existence, and in all he has won honors.
Dr. Harman married. October 25, 1882, Eva M. Smucker, daugh- ter of Amos and Elizabeth (Focht) Smucker, a native of Brady town- ship, Huntingdon county, Pennsylvania. Children: 1. Earl S., city passenger agent of the Northern Pacific Railroad at Pittsburgh ; mar- ried Ethel M. Chaney, and has a daughter, Helen. 2. Jay Lewis, now employed in an architect's office in Clifton, Arizona. 3. George Blair, a graduate of Huntingdon high school.
The branch of the Fisher family of which this sketch FISHER treats has been resident in Huntingdon county, Pennsyl- vania, for a number of generations, and has been promi- nently identified with a variety of activities in that section of the country.
(I) Isaac Fisher, grandfather of the subject of this sketch, was well known as a stage driver in the early days of this county, driving the stage coach which plied between Huntingdon and Holli- daysburg until the construction of the Pennsylvania railroad put an end to this form of business. For some time he was busy as a canal man, then handled the mail for the Pennsylvania Railroad Company for a number of years. He married (first) Anna Lindsay, by whom he had three children: James, William Henry and Deranda. Name
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of second wife not known. His third wife was Rhoda Africa, by whom was a child, Edmond.
(II) William Henry, son of Isaac and Anna (Lindsay) Fisher, was born in Huntingdon county, Pennsylvania, where he was educated in the public schools. At a suitable age he was apprenticed to learn the printer's trade, and while doing this he spent all of his spare time in acquiring learning of every nature, and worked on the Huntingdon Monitor, and so continued until the building of the Huntingdon & Broad Top Railroad, when he accepted a position as conductor in its service. A few years later he established himself in the restaurant business, with which he was connected until his retirement in 1890, a period of twenty-five years. His political affiliations were with the Republican party, for which he did excellent service, notably while he was still employed on the above-mentioned paper. He and his wife were both members of the Presbyterian church. He married Rebecca Long, who had sisters: Alice, married a Mr. Potter; and Sadie, mar- ried George Martin, and has one child, Frank, and a brother, Chris- tian Garber. Mr. and Mrs. Fisher had children: Harry, engaged in business as a barber; Anna, married John Swivel, also a barber, and has one child, Charlie; George Weistling, see forward; Leberta, mar- ried William H. Lang, a painter, now deceased, and had two chil- dren, Lawrence Fisher and George Lewis Lang.
(III) George Weistling, son of William Henry and Rebecca (Long) Fisher, was born in Huntingdon county, Pennsylvania, May 16, 1871. He received a thorough and practical education in the public schools of his native township, and at a suitable age established him- self in business, dealing in newspapers and cigars, and also conducting a barber shop until 1890, in which year he purchased the restaurant managed for a quarter of a century by his father. The following year he rebuilt this, putting in all the most modern improvements in this line, and also operated a bakery whose daily output in bread was three thousand loaves. He employs now in all, for the restaurant and bakery combined, a force of ten men and five women, and his patron- age is widespread. Mr. Fisher takes pleasure in providing for the comfort and health of those in his employ, and the most sanitary ar- rangements are to be found in both places. He is actively connected with a number of other important business enterprises, among them
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being a director in the Grange Trust Company, director in the Juniata Street Railroad Company, and treasurer of the Huntingdon Hosiery Company. He has played an important part in the politics of the section, giving his support to the Independent Republicans, and has served six years as a member of the town council and three years as chief burgess. His fraternal affiliations are with the Knights. of Pyth- ias and the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks. Mr. Fisher is president of the Association of Master Bakers of Pennsylvania, 1912- 1913.
Mr. Fisher married, June 2, 1892, Gertrude, daughter of David and Elizabeth (Foust) Decker, the former a merchant of Mill Creek, Penn- sylvania. Children: Paul Russell, born April 7, 1894: and George Donald, born April 8, 1900. Both Mr. and Mrs. Fisher attend the Pres- byterian church.
The first member of this branch of the Davis family of
DAVIS whom there is record is William Davis, born in Blair county, Pennsylvania. He was left an orphan at an early age and was brought to Penn township, Huntingdon county, by his paternal aunt, Mrs. Jane Geissinger, who made the journey across the mountains on horseback to bring the child to her own home. He grew up at the Geissinger farm and at a suitable age learned the car- penter's trade, becoming an expert mechanic. After his marriage he located at Marklesburg, where he worked at his trade, later becoming a contractor, many buildings in that locality yet standing as mute wit- nesses of his industry and skill. After several years as a successful builder, his health failed, compelling a change of occupation. He pur- chased a farm in the neighborhood, spending the years 1870 to 1875 thereon, then retired to a home in Huntingdon, where he died in 1876. He was a Democrat in politics, and both he and his wife were men- bers of the Lutheran church. He married (first) Mary Grove, who died 1869, (second) Mary Moyer, who survives him. Children by first wife: John C., now living in Huntingdon, retired : George, died in Iowa; Henry H., of whom further; William, now a merchant of Mount Union, Pennsylvania ; Maurice, of Waynesboro, Pennsylvania, employed in a farm implement manufactory: Susan, married James Coy, whom she survives, a resident of Mill Creek, Pennsylvania :
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Annie, married George W. Rupert, and resides in Huntingdon. Chil- dren of second wife: Frank, a lumberman, resides near Huntingdon; Irvin, with J. C. Blair Company, resides in Huntingdon.
Mary (Grove) Davis was a daughter of Daniel and Elizabeth (Beightel) Grove, both born in Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, where they married. Later they came to Huntingdon county, where Daniel purchased a farm of over two hundred acres in Woodcock Valley, near Grafton, on which they lived the remainder of their lives, quiet, indus- trious, prosperous Mennonites. Children: John and Jacob, died young; Isaac, died in Penn township, Huntingdon county, a farmer ; David, the last survivor of eight children, now residing with his son Daniel on the old Grove homestead; Elizabeth, married Thomas Hamer, of McConnelstown; Susan, married Abraham Johnson, a car- penter, and lived at Marklesburg, where she died; Mary, of previous mention, first wife of William Davis; Martha, died in Marklesburg, married George Brumbaugh, and was the mother of Dr. M. G. Brum- baugh, superintendent of the Philadelphia schools.
(II) Henry H., son of William Davis and his first wife, Mary Grove, was born in Marklesburg, Pennsylvania, August 28, 1859. He was educated in the public schools of Penn township and at Juniata College, then for eight years was a teacher in the public schools. He then spent three years in the government railway mail service as clerk, running between New York and Pittsburgh. He then engaged in the lumber business near Grafton, Pennsylvania, then was a mercantile clerk until 1895, when he established and until 1909 successfully con- ducted a general store at Grafton. In that year he closed out his Graf- ton interests and located at No. 420 Washington street, Huntingdon, where he opened and now conducts a prosperous general store. Mr. Davis is a Democrat in politics, serving from 1906 until 1908 as county commissioner. Both he and his wife are members of the Reformed church. He is a capable business man, and interested in all that per- tains to the welfare of his community.
He married Nannie, daughter of John and Catherine (Van De- vender) Householder, of Marklesburg, Pennsylvania. Children: May, now and for the past five years cashier for the firm of William Reed; Carrie, resides at home, a dressmaker; Charles, an employee of the Westinghouse Electric Company, married Alice Kurtz, and resides in
-
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Wilkinsburg, Pennsylvania; Grace, resides at home; Cora, resides in Wilkinsburg, with her brother Charles; Lena, resides at home, a high school student; Harry, a high school student; John.
Dr. Howard Clinton Frontz, of Huntingdon, Pennsyl-
FRONTZ vania, descends from Swiss forbears, seated for several generations in Lycoming county, Pennsylvania. His father, George Clinton Frontz, was born in Lycoming county, Penn- sylvania, December 7, 1841, died there July 22, 1880. He spent the greater part of his business life in Hughesville, engaged as a merchant. He enlisted on August 14, 1862, as a private in Company H, 13Ist Regiment Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry; was promoted corporal, January 1, 1863, and mustered out with his company, May 23. 1863. He married Sarah Emma Kistner, born September 15. 1845, died July 17, 1883. Children: Harry Kistner, a practicing dentist of Rollins- ville, Colorado; Cyrus Benjamin, a practicing dentist of Denver, Colo- rado; Howard Clinton, M. D., see forward: Chalmers Eugene, Lutheran minister at Tiffin, Ohio; Jacob Arthur, private secretary to president of the International Correspondence Schools, Scranton, Pennsylvania.
Dr. Howard Clinton Frontz, third son of George Clinton and Sarah Emma (Kistner) Frontz, was born at Hughesville, Lycoming county, Pennsylvania, September 8, 1871. He obtained his early education in the public schools at Hughesville, Pennsylvania, and in 1887 entered the preparatory school of Pennsylvania College, Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, remaining there and in the college until December, 1889. He then en- tered the employ of the Williamsport & North Branch Railroad Com- pany, continuing until 1891. He then entered the medical department of the University of Pennsylvania, whence he was graduated M. D. in June, 1894. From July I until December 31, 1894, he was resident phy- sician at the City Hospital, Williamsport, Pennsylvania. From Janu- ary 1, 1895, until April 1, 1908, he was physician in charge at the Penn- sylvania Industrial Reformatory at Huntingdon. He then resigned and at once established in private medical and surgical practice in Hunting- don, where he is highly esteemed as an honorable, skilful physician. He is a member of the American Medical Association; the Medical So- ciety of the State of Pennsylvania and the Huntingdon County Medical Society, taking active interest in the work of each, keeping in close
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touch with the latest thought and discovery in medicine, or surgery, through the medium of these societies and their publications. He is a trustee and surgeon of the J. C. Blair Memorial Hospital; is surgeon for the Pennsylvania railroad, the Huntingdon & Broad Top Railroad; the East Broad Top Railroad; also county medical inspector of Hunt- ingdon county, physician in charge of Tuberculosis Dispensary No. 47, Pennsylvania Department of Health, and medical examiner for several leading insurance companies. He is prominent in the Masonic fra- ternity and holds past official honors in lodge, chapter and commandery. He is past master of Mount Moriah Lodge, No. 300, Free and Accepted Masons; past high priest of Standingstone Chapter, No. 201, Royal Arch Masons; past eminent commander of Huntingdon Commandery, No. 65, Knights Templar ; member of Mountain Council, No. 9, Royal and Select Masters, of Altoona; member of Harrisburg Consistory, thirty-second degree, Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite; member of Jaffa Temple, Ancient Arabic Order of Nobles of the Mystic Shrine; and is district deputy grand master of the thirty-fourth district, Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania, Free and Accepted Masons. In politics he is a Repub- lican; in religious faith a Lutheran.
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