USA > Pennsylvania > Blair County > Biographical and portrait cyclopedia of Blair County, Pennsylvania > Part 22
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Austin V. Price spent his boyhood days in Huntingdon county, where he received his education in the common schools. At eighteen years of age he engaged in the sale of sewing machines, and soon became so fine a solicitor that he was given as his field all of Blair county. After four years he left the employ of the sewing machine company and learned the trade of carpenter
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and builder with Andrew Dillon, of Al- toona. After learning his trade he worked at carpentering until the spring of 1884, when he engaged in his present planing mill and building and contracting business.
On June 17, 1875, Mr. Price married Jennie, daughter of George Strayer, of Altoona, and they have four children, one son and three daughters : George W., May, Emma, and Annie.
In politics Mr. Price is a republican, and has served several times as a member of election boards, and once as assessor of Altoona. He is a member of the Church of God, and Camp No. 31, Patriotic Order Sons of America, of which he is a past president. While he takes no decided part in political matters, yet he has always served faithfully in every position assigned him by his party. His planing mill is located at No. 2200 Fifth avenue. He employs several men, and gives special attention to the manufacture of window and door frames, brackets, sash, shutters, and blinds. He has a good trade, and has been contractor for many substantial buildings in Altoona and the surrounding country. Austin V. Price commenced business with but little capital, and has been remarkably success- ful. He has continually enlarged his busi- ness and increased his patronage, and ranks among the honorable and substantial citi- zens of the county.
D AVID E. PARKER, a respected citi- zen, and a member of the planing mill and contracting firm of Kline, Parker & Co., of Altoona, is a son of Robert S. and Mary C. ( Robley ) Parker, and was born within four miles of Mount Union, Hunting- don county, Pennsylvania, March 15, 1856.
The ancestry of the Parker family is traced back to England, from which David Parker (grandfather) came to America prior to the revolutionary war, in which he served as a soldier in the Continental army. After peace had been declared and the inde- pendence of the thirteen colonies acknowl- edged by the mother country, he settled in Centre county, but in a short time removed to Huntingdon county, where he resided until his death, at seventy-two years of age. He married, and reared a family, and one of his sons, Robert S. Parker (father), was born in 1813. He went in early life from Centre to Huntingdon county, where he remained until 1856. In that year he went to Mifflin county, which he left six years later to return to Huntingdon county, in which he has remained ever since. He is a successful farmer and stock-raiser, a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, and a stanch republican in politics. He married Mary C. Robley, who was born at Elizabeth, New Jersey, and was a consistent member of the United Brethren church. She died August 19, 1880, at sixty-five years of age. To Mr. and Mrs. Parker were born nine children, six sons and three daughters.
David E. Parker grew to manhood in Huntingdon county, and received a good English education in the common schools of his neighborhood. Leaving school, he learned the trade of carpenter, at which he worked in his native county for three years, and then, in 1879, came to Altoona, where he resided up to August, 1890, when he removed to Juniata, a suburb of Altoona. He continued to work at his trade until 1882, was then engaged in contracting ur to December, 1888, when he formed a part- nership with his brother, II. II. Parker, and John G. Kline (see their sketches), under
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. the firm name of Kline, Parker & Co. This firm is engaged extensively in the planing mill and contracting business, and has a large trade in Altoona and many other cities of Pennsylvania. Their offices are located at Juniata, in Blair county, and on the corner of Sixth avenue and Fourth street, Altoona. They own and operate a planing mill at Juniata. They manufacture flooring, siding, mouldings, sash, doors and blinds, deal in rough lumber of every de- scription, and make a specialty of verandas and stair-cases.
On May 20, 1880, Mr. Parker married Alice Miller, daughter of George Miller, of Huntingdon county, and to their union have been born two children : Clara A. and Dora L.
David E. Parker is a republican in politics, and while not lacking in a hearty support of his party, yet gives his time to his busi- ness and the personal supervision of the company's planing mill at Juniata. He thoroughly understands his work, and is a pleasant and courteous gentleman.
ARRY IRVIN DAVIS, one of the leading druggists of Hollidaysburg, is a son of Guyan Irvin and Mary (Barn- hart) Davis, and was born at Freeport, Illinois, December 17, 1860. Ilis paternal grandfather, Thomas Davis, was born in 1793, in Cecil county, Maryland, and re- moved, in 1823, to Penn's valley, near Bellefonte, Centre county, this State, where he followed his trade of carpenter and farming until his death. He was an old- line whig and republican in politics, and a Presbyterian in religious belief, and served as a soldier in Captain Sample's militia company, which participated in the
defense of Baltimore during the war of 1812. His son, Guyan Irvin Davis (father), was born in Penn's valley, January 28, 1827, and, after receiving a fair common school education, entered as a clerk in a retail country store. After serving three years in one place and two years in an- other, he, with an elder brother, started in business for themselves in Bellefonte, this State, and two years later, the Califor- nia gold fever getting up, Guyan I. Davis sold out to his brother and started for Cali- fornia, via Cape Horn, in February, 1852. He spent one year mining for gold, and, not succeeding as he expected, entered into the express and banking business in the firm of Everts, Davis & Co., in which enter- prise he was fairly successful. In a few years he sold out and returned to the At- lantic states, settled at Freeport, Illinois, in 1857, and was engaged in merchandising until the breaking out of the rebellion in 1861, when he entered the service of the United States as quartermaster of the 11th Illinois infantry. He served for three months, re-enlisted and served for three years, and at the expiration of his service settled in Hollidaysburg and engaged in merchandising, and has up to this time fol- lowed the same calling. During the war he participated in all the important events of the war in the Army of the Tennessee, from the battle of Fort Donaldson to the fall of Vicksburg, and after that event was in the Red River expedition as aid-de-camp to the commander of the 13th army corps, which position he held for nearly two years.
He married Mary Barnhart, of Centre county, who was born in 1832. To their Union have been born two children : Harry Irvin and Julia Curtin, wife of Edward Stone, a merchant of Bellwood, and who
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was born May 30, 1857, and has three chil- dren. Mrs. Davis is a daughter of Judge Henry Barnhart, who was born in 1792, in Lycoming county, and afterwards removed to Centre county, which he represented in the legislature from 1830 to 1834, and of which he was associate judge for several years. Judge Barnhart was a democrat and a Methodist, and followed the iron shipping business at Bellefonte for several years.
Harry Irvin Davis was reared principally in Blair county, received his education at Hollidaysburg academy, and in 1881 entered the Philadelphia college of pharmacy, from which he was graduated in the class of 1883. After graduation he came to Hollidaysburg where he established his present drug store. IIe carries a large stock of fresh and pure drugs, makes a specialty of filling physi- cians' prescriptions and has a very remu- nerative and flattering patronage.
In politics Mr. Davis is a republican. He is a member of the Presbyterian church, ranks as a successful business man, and en- joys the respect and confidence of his many patrons.
DANIEL M. McFARLIN, one of the
energetic and enterprising young busi- ness men of Altoona, is a son of Robert W. and Catherine McFarlin, and was born near Fort Littleton, Fulton county, Penn- sylvania, September 19, 1858. Ilis paternal grandfather, John McFarlin, was born in Franklin county, Pennsylvania, where he followed farming, and also in Bedford and Fulton counties, until his death, in 1872, at eighty-six years of age. His son, Robert W. McFarlin (father), was a native of Fulton county, Pennsylvania, yet was reared at New Enterprise, Bedford county, Penn-
sylvania, where he received his education. In 1854 he removed to Fulton county, but four years later returned to New Enter- prise, where he remained but a short time, when he removed to Cross Roads, Bedford county. At the end of five years he left the latter place, came to near Duncansville, this county, where he remained five years, and then, in 1871, removed to his present home in Altoona. He is now in the sixty-sixth year of his age, has been principally engaged in farming and stock-raising during the active years of his life, and at the present time, while not incapacitated for agricul- . tural pursuits, yet has withdrawn from business life. He is a democrat in polities, and a member of the German Baptist church, and married Catherine Launch- baugh, who was born in Germany, in 1830, came to this country with her parents in 1836, and is a member of the German Bap- tist church. They reared a family of seven children, five sons and two daughters.
Daniel M. McFarlin was reared at New Enterprise, Cross Roads, and Duncansville, this State, and received his education in the common schools. ' Leaving school, he was variously employed for a few years, and in 1871 came with his father- to Altoona, where he was engaged as a clerk in several stores for over twelve years. He then (1883) embarked in the general mercantile business, which he has followed successfully ever since. For his business establishment and residence he erected his present hand- some three-story brick structure, 46 x 70 feet in dimensions, at the corner of Fourth avenue and Third street, in the midst of a flourishing community, and in a section of the city that is fast building up with fine private residences. He occupies three floors, 22 x 70 feet, with general merchandise. Ilis
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large and carefully selected stock embraces first-class goods of every description in his line of business, including special depart- ments of dry goods, groceries, provisions, boots, shoes, and notions. Mr. McFarlin makes a specialty of farm and garden pro- duce, employs four courteous assistants, and runs a free delivery wagon to all parts of the city for the accommodation of his num- erous patrons.
On the 24th day of May, 1883, Mr. Mc- Farlin married Lizzie B. Dilling, a daughter of Isaac Dilling, of near Martinsburg, Penn- sylvania.
Daniel M. McFarlin is a republican, and a deacon and trustee of the German Baptist church of Altoona. He is pleasant and ap- proachable, and justly popular as a citizen and business man.
DEV. JACOB S. BASSLER, pastor of the Children of Zion church, of Martinsburg, and a member of the foundry and machine shop firm of Snoeberger Bros. & Bassler, is a son of Rev. Andrew and Barbara (Stern) Bassler, native of Wash- ington county, Maryland, and was born in Middle Woodbury township, Bedford county, Pennsylvania, May 14, 1829. ITis paternal great-grandfather, Valentine Bass- ler, was a native of Basle, Germany, born August 25, 1738, who came to Pennsyl- vania, and settled in Lancaster county, where he died in 1806, when in the sixty- eighth year of his age. His son, Jacob Bassler (grandfather), was born in 1765, and in 1812 went to Bedford county, in which he died on March 12, 1837, aged seventy-two years. Jacob Bassler followed blacksmithing, farming and distilling. He was a federalist and whig in politics, and a
member of the Mennonite church, and married Mary Shank, by whom he had seven children, three sons and four daugh- ters. One of these sons, Rev. Andrew Bassler (father), was born in Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, November 29, 1804, and went with his father to Bedford county, this State, from which, in 1870, he came to Martinsburg, where he has since resided. He was an active and efficient minister of the River Brethren church for over forty years, and only retired from regular minis- terial work when disqualified by advanced age. He is a republican in political views, has served as overseer of the poor and school director, and now resides upon his farm. He married Barbara Stern, who is a native of Washington county, Maryland, and to this union were born seven children, three sons and four daughters.
Jacob S. Bassler received his education in the early common schools, and spent twenty years in farming in Bedford county. Ile then, in 1870, came to Blair county, and nineteen years later relinquished farming to engage in the foundry and machine shop business as a member of the firm of Snoe- berger Bros. & Bassler. This firm employs eight men, does all kinds of work in their line of business, and makes a specialty of repairing. They turn out good work, and have a large and remunerative patronage.
November 13, 1855, Rev. Jacob S. Bass- ler married Lydia Shank, of Waynesboro, Franklin county, and they have four chil- dren : Anna B., wife of Levi Acker, a re- tired farmer of this county ; Susan E., mar- ried Jacob Gresser, who is now engaged in farming; J. Harry, who married Fannie Coffman, and is a machinist of the firm of Snoeberger Bros. & Bassler; and Minnie C., married J. I. Mock, of Woodbury, a
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teacher in the public schools of North Woodbury township.
Rev. Jacob S. Bassler is a republican in politics, and has served his township as a school director and a supervisor of roads. He was a member of the Brethren in Christ church for a long time, and then united with the Children of Zion church at Mar- tinsburg, of which he has been pastor for the last eight years. He is an efficient minister and a pleasant and courteous gen- tleman.
J. W. ISENBERG, D. D. S., a grad- uate from the Pennsylvania college of dental surgery, who has successfully prac- tieed in the city of Altoona for more than a quarter of a century, winning distinction in his profession, and acquiring consider- able property, is a son of Samuel and Susanna Isenberg, and was born November 4, 1841, at Williamsburg, Blair county, Pennsylvania. Samuel Isenberg (father) was of German descent, and was born in Huntingdon county, this State, in 1810. In 1837 he removed to Williamsburg with his family, where for many years he was engaged in the manufacture of shoes. He married Susanna Thompson, by whom he had a family of four children, of whom three are still living. He married the sec- ond time, Mrs. William Slonaker, by whom he had four children, all living. He died in 1880, at the advanced age of seventy years.
John W. Isenberg was reared in the vil- lage of Williamsburg, and received a good practical English education in the public schools of that town. He remained at home working with his father until his twentieth year, at which time occurred the opening contest of our gigantic civil war,
and catching inspiration from the spirit of patriotism that pervaded his locality, young Isenberg enlisted as a private in Co. A, 125th Pennsylvania infantry. He partici- pated in the battles of South Mountain and Antietam, where he was severely wounded, September 17, 1862, and remained in the hospital until his regiment was mustered out of service. He returned home, and in December, 1863, came to Altoona, and be- gan the study of dentistry with Dr. W. S. Bittner. At the end of one year he became a partner with Dr. Bittner, and practiced with him until 1866, when he withdrew from the firm, and established himself in dental rooms of his own.
Until 1870 Dr. Isenberg resided in the city of Altoona, but in that year he removed his family to El Dorado, in Logan town- ship, where he purchased about thirty acres of land, upon which he erected a pictur- esque country residence, and found relaxa- tion in superintending the cultivation of small fruits. In that department of horti- culture he became authority, and did much to awaken a public interest in the small fruits, which can be most successfully grown in this latitude. For several years he was the Pennsylvania railroad agent and post- master at El Dorado, and engaged exten- sively in the sale of agricultural imple- ments, this business being superintended by his son, George L. Isenberg. The property at El Dorado was sold in 1883.
In October, 1878, Dr. Isenberg went to Philadelphia, and attended a course of lec- tures at the Pennsylvania college of dental surgery, from which institution he grad- uated in February following with the degree of D. D. S. He had met with success in his profession from the start, and his busi- ness soon became extensive and profitable.
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He devoted his attention to dentistry, with little intermission, for a period of twenty years, when his health became impaired, and in 1883 he removed to Kent county, Delaware, where he purchased a farm, and located upon it, hoping the change to coun- try life and outdoor exercise would restore his shattered constitution. In this hope he was not disappointed, and six years of farm life left him in condition to again take up the duties of his profession. In 1889 he returned to Altoona, and has since been actively engaged in the practice of dentistry in that city. He still owns the farm which he purchased in Delaware.
In December, 1865, Dr. Isenberg was united in marriage to Selina F. Green, a daughter of Allen Green, of Huntingdon county. To them was born a family of four children, only three of whom are now living: George L. Isenberg, Anna E. Isen- berg, and Emma S. Isenberg.
Dr. Isenberg became a member of the Methodist Episcopal church when only thirteen years of age, and for many years has been identified with the active work of his denomination. He has served his church as steward, class-leader, and Sunday school superintendent, and has been instru- mental in doing much good. IIe has long been known as among the most active and prominent workers in the cause of temper- ance, assisted in the organization of the Blair County Temperance union, and was its fiscal agent and a member of its execu- tive committee for many years. He has labored diligently, early and late, by pre- cept and example, to build up the cause and secure final victory for total abstinence. He has won high standing in his chosen profession, and enjoys the respect and esteem of all who know him ..
JOSEPH H. BLACKBURN, resident of Williamsburg, and now retired from active life, sank the first shaft for bituminous coal on the eastern side of the Alleghenies, and was for over a quarter of a century a rep- resentative business man of Blair county. He is a son of Samuel and Rebecca ( Wise- garver) Blackburn, and was born in St. Clair township, Bedford county, Pennsyl- vania, April 16, 1828. The Blackburn family traces its ancestry back to a time in the early history of England, and the American branch of the family in central Pennsylvania was founded by Samuel Black- burn, the paternal grandfather of the sub- ject of this sketch, and who died in St. Clair township, Bedford county, Pennsyl- vania. He was of the Quaker faith, and married and reared a family of six children, one of whom, Samuel Blackburn ( father), was born in 1799, in St. Clair township, where he died in 1856. He was a lifelong resident of Bedford county, where he fol- lowed farming, and was also engaged for several years in the hotel business in the town of Bedford. He was an active and thoroughgoing business man, and married Rebecca Wisegarver, who died in 1851, when in the forty-ninth year of her age. They reared a family of eight children, four sons and four daughters, of whom three are now living: Samuel F., a farmer of Stuart, Iowa; Rebecca, wife of Dr. John Becker, a prominent physician of Aurora, Illinois; and Joseph II. Mrs. Blackburn was a daughter of John Wise- garver (maternal grandfather), who came in early life from Germany to St. Clair township, where he married and reared a family of nine children, and followed farm- ing until his death in 1850, at seventy-eight. years of age.
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OF BLAIR COUNTY.
Joseph H. Blackburn received his educa- tion in the common schools and Bedford High school, and then (1846) became a clerk in the store of Alexander Knox, of Newry, this county. He served in that capacity until 1849, when he went to Cum- berland, Maryland, where he was in the employ of the mercantile house of Lowndes & Cramer for two years. At the end of that time he came to Hollidaysburg, this county, and was with the firm of Lloyd & Graff for two years. He then, in 1856, became a member of the general mercantile firm of Leamer, Lemon & Co., which con- tinued in existence until 1857, when the firm name was changed to that of Leamer & Blackburn. Two years later Mr. Black- burn withdrew from the firm to become manager of Watson, Denniston & Co.'s store at Gaysport, which position he held until 1861, when he went out as sutler of the 6th Maine regiment in the Army of the Potomac. At the end of six months he returned to Hollidaysburg, where he was successively engaged in the mercantile and coal business, and as a member of the coal firm of Cooper, Blackburn & Porter, he sank (1864) and operated the first bitumi- nous coal shaft on the eastern side of the Alleghenies. The shaft did not pay well, and Mr. Blackburn disposed of it in a short time to open the first coal mine on Ben's creek, in Cambria county, which he operated successfully until 1874, when he came to Williamsburg and assumed charge of the Williamsburg Manufacturing Company's store at that place. Three years later he founded a mercantile establishment under the firm name of H. A. Blackburn & Co., which he conducted most successfully until 1891, when he retired from active business life.
On June 10, 1851, Mr. Blackburn mar- ried Sarah J., daughter of Daniel and Angel McConnell, of Newry, and who died Jan- uary 10, 1871, at forty years of age. They had six children, three sons and three daughters, of whom the sons are still liv- ing: William, who has an interest in the iron and steel firm of Carnegie, Phipps & Co., of Pittsburg; Julius, a clerk with the above named firm; and Harry, a clerk for the same firm at Braddock, this State. On November 5, 1874, Mr. Blackburn was united in marriage with Mrs. Martha Royer, of Williamsburg.
In politics Joseph H. Blackburn is a dem- ocrat of the Jacksonian and Cleveland school, who has ever labored earnestly for the triumph of the cardinal principles of the Democratic party, and when compli- mented by the democrats of Blair county, in 1876, with the nomination for prothono- tary, he ran in advance of his ticket. While a resident of Hollidaysburg he served three successive terms as school director, and was a member of the council for six years, serving at the time mountain water was brought to the town. He is a member of the Presbyterian church, and a member of the board of deacons since 1858, and is deservedly respected and esteemed by all who know him.
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JOSEPH B. HILEMAN, now practi- cally retired from active business, though still devoting his time to the management of his real estate interests in Altoona, was for twelve years a leading merchant of that city, and for two decades conducted a large lumber business in this State and Michigan. IIe is the only son of Michael and Sarah (Bouslaugh ) Hileman, and was born August
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30, 1833, in Allegheny township, Blair county, Pennsylvania. His paternal grand- father, Michael ITileman, sr., was born in the eastern part of this State, but removed to Huntingdon county in 1802, and in 1804 came to Blair county, settling in what is now Frankstown township, where he died about 1847, at the unusual age of ninety- three years. His remains lie entombed in the Frankstown cemetery. He was among the pioneer farmers of this section, and married a Miss Young, by whom he had a family of fourteen children, nine sons and five daughters, all of whom lived to reach maturity, and all married. The seventh of these children was Michael Hileman (father), who was born in York county, this State, February 12, 1796, but was brought by his father to Huntingdon, and subse- quently to Blair county, while yet a lad. He was principally reared and educated in this county. By occupation he was a farmer, and spent the active part of his life in agricul- tural pursuits. In 1854 he removed to Altoona, and resided in this city until his death, April 6, 1879, at which time he had passed three annual mile posts beyond the lengthened term of four-score years. In politics he was first a Jacksonian democrat, but later became a whig, and after that party dissolved, he affiliated with the re- publieans. He served for a time as post- master, and was for several years a member of the board of school directors. He was an active, influential member of the Evan- gelical Lutheran church for many years, occupying the position of elder in his church. He married Sarah Bouslaugh, a daughter of Sebastian Bouslaugh, and to them was born an only son, the subject of this sketch. Mrs. Hileman was born April 5, 1802, and is now living with her son in
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