USA > Pennsylvania > Blair County > Biographical and portrait cyclopedia of Blair County, Pennsylvania > Part 23
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the city of Altoona, at the good old age of ninety years. .
Joseph B. Hileman was reared in his native county, and received his education in the district schools of Blair county, and at the Hollidaysburg academy. After leaving school, he engaged in farming, and followed that vocation until 1852, when he came to Altoona and embarked in the general mer- cantile business on Eleventh avenue. He continued in that line successfully for a period of twelve years, after which he dis- posed of his store and engaged extensively in the lumber business. For twenty years he was an active lumber dealer, handling great quantities of all kinds of rough and dressed lumber, and selling in distant mar- kets as well as supplying the home demand. During this time he resided for four years in Michigan, engaged in managing his large lumber interests in that State. After that he practically retired from the lumber trade, and has devoted his attention principally to looking after his large real estate interests in the city. He is also connected with the banking interests of Altoona, being a di- rector in the First National bank of this city.
On October 12, 1847, Mr. Hileman was married to Ann R. Eaverson, a daughter of George Eaverson, of Shepperdstown, Vir- ginia, and to their union was born a family of six children : Virginia, died in early life ; Octavius, now engaged in the real estate and insurance business at Iron Gate, Vir- ginia; Andora, who graduated from Vassar college, New York, and married E. J. War- ing, of Plainfield, New Jersey, now engaged in business at Newark, that State; Sallie G., now the wife of Dr. William E. Hughes, a practicing physician of the city of Philadel- phia; Jeannette, married William F. Hop- kinson, a civil engineer residing at Renova,
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Clinton county, this State; and Joseph B., who was graduated from the Pennsyl- vania college, took a special course at Har- vard university, and then entered the medical department of the University of Pennsyl- vania, from which he was graduated in 1891, and is now practicing his profession in Altoona. Mrs. Hileman, the mother of this family, died in 1883, and Mr. Hileman was again married, this time wedding Urilla M. Geiger, of Springfield, Ohio.
In his political affiliations Mr. Hileman has always been a republican, and is now serving as one of the city assessors. In 1884 he was elected a member of the elec- toral college and voted for James G. Blaine, and has long been prominent in the local councils of his party. For half a century he has been a prominent member of the First Lutheran church at Altoona, and is at present serving as treasurer of the Alle- gheny synod of his denomination. He has frequently represented his church in the general synod.
OHN A. HILLER, an old, well known, and prosperous citizen of Tyrone, who enjoys the distinction of being the oldest harness maker in this section, is a son of John and Mary ( Reichle) Hiller, and was born in Weidemburg, Germany, August 1, 1829. His father was a native of the same place, and passed his life there, dying Feb- ruary 26, 1843, at the early age of forty-five years. He was a farmer by occupation, and, by his marriage to Mary Reichle, had a fam- ily of fourteen children, six sons and eight daughters, three of whom emigrated to America: John A; Isaac, who is at present located at Houtzdale, this State; and Mar- tin, now of Marion, Marion county, Ohio.
John A. Hiller was reared in his German home at Weidemburg, and received a good German education in the schools of that place. After leaving school he learned the trade of saddler and harness maker in his native country, and, at the age of nineteen, bid 'farewell to the Fatherland and started across the treacherous ocean to seek a home in the new world and among a strange people. After his arrival in America he made his way to Pittsburg, this State, where he lo- cated and worked at his trade as a journey- man until 1855. In that year he removed to Tyrone, this county, then a small village, and engaged in the harness business. At first there was not much work to be done, but, as population increased, and the excel- lence of his work became known, his busi- ness grew and it was not long until he had all he could do. He has continued to re- side here since 1855, and for nearly thirty- seven years has applied himself closely to his business, being very successful and ac- cumulating considerable property. Al- though he now owns a store supplied with a complete stock of harness and all acces- sories, and is proprietor of one of the finest business blocks on Main street, he still spends a good deal of his time at the bench, handling the awl as rapidly and accurately as he did when a young man. He is natur- ally industrious, and is perhaps never hap- pier than when busily employed in his use- ful occupation.
On May 6, 1852, Mr. Hiller married Mar- garet Braun, who died February 7, 1892. To this union was born a family of seven children, only four of whom are now living : Wilhelmina, at home; William F., now en- gaged in the insurance business at Tyrone ; Mary, married John E. Bottger, an engineer on the Vanderbilt railroad system, residing
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BIOGRAPHY AND HISTORY
at Fort Wayne, Indiana; and Henrietta, living at home with her father.
In politics Mr. Hiller is a republican, and has served as a member of the town coun- eil and school director. He is a member of the First English Lutheran church, and of Tyrone Lodge, No. 52, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, of which he is treasurer. Ile is also a member of Altoona Encamp- ment, No. 129, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and Sinking Spring Lodge, No. 127, Knights of Pythias.
JOSIAH D. HICKS, one of the self- made men of Blair county, a promi- nent attorney of Altoona, a leader in local politics, and a popular secret society man, is a son of John and Barbara (Eynon) Hicks, and was born near Phoenixville, Chester county, Pennsylvania, August 1, 1844. His father and mother were both natives of Wales, but emigrated to America in 1842, and located in the city of Phila- delphia. The family remained there for a brief period of time, and then removed to Chester county, where John Hicks (father) secured employment in the iron works at Phoenixville, being a forgeman by trade. In 1846 he came to what is now Blair county, and resided in this and Huntingdon counties until 1861, when he removed to Cleveland, Ohio. He died in 1874, at the age of fifty-eight, while visiting his son, Rev. W. W. Hicks, at Milledgeville, Georgia, for his health. He was a prominent mem- ber of the Methodist Episcopal church, and was for many years a class leader and ex- horter in that church. Ile was an aboli- tionist and republican in politics, and cast his first vote for John C. Fremont. IIe was a great admirer and strong supporter
of Abraham Lincoln. By his marriage with Barbara Eynon he had a family of eight children. She was also a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, and died in 1869, at the age of forty-seven years.
Josiah D. Hicks was reared partly in Blair and partly in Huntingdon counties. During his boyhood he attended the com- mon schools of his neighborhood, and fin- ished his education after coming to Altoona, at a night school taught by Prof. John Miller, which he attended for nearly three years. When he first came to this city he was employed as clerk in the mercantile establishment of Clement Jaggard, one of our most successful merchants at that time. Later he accepted a position in the freight and ticket department of the Pennsylvania railroad at Altoona, and in 1864 was pro- moted to a clerkship in the office of the superintendent of transportation, Robert Pitcairn, by whose influence he afterwards became chief clerk of the Tyrone division, with his office at Tyrone. Mr. Pitcairn is now general agent and superintendent of the Pennsylvania railroad, with headquar- ters at Pittsburg. Mr. Hicks held the posi- tion of chief clerk of that division for three years, and then removed to Altoona and embarked in the general merchandise busi- ness in partnership with his brother, W. W. Hicks. This enterprise was conducted for a short time, when they sold out, and Josiah D. removed to his farm near Williamsburg, this county, where he engaged in farming for four years. During this time he com- meneed reading law, under the tutorship of Alexander & Herr, of Altoona. In 1873 he left his farm and engaged in the insur- ance business at Tyrone until he had fin- ished reading law and was ready for exam- ination. May 4, 1875, he was admitted to
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OF BLAIR COUNTY.
the bar, and at once opened a law office in Tyrone, where he was regularly engaged in general practice until March, 1884, when he removed to Altoona and formed a law partnership with D. J. Neff, under the firm style of Neff & Hicks. This firm has existed to the present time (1892), and has become well known throughout central Pennsyl- vania, enjoying a large and lucrative prac- tice. In the fall of 1880, Mr. Hicks was elected district attorney on the republican ticket, running far ahead of his ticket. He entered upon the discharge of his official duties in January, 1881, and his work was so satisfactory that when his first term had expired he was unanimously re-nominated by his own party and was re-elected to the same position. In 1890 he became solicitor for the Pennsylvania Railroad Company, a position he still holds, and in the same year was a candidate for election to con- gress, but, while carrying his own county, was defeated for nomination in the district, and in this year (1892) he received again the unanimous nomination in Blair county.
In April, 1861, Mr. Hicks enlisted in Company H, 14th Pennsylvania infantry, but was rejected on account of his small stature. In the spring of the following year he enlisted again, but while on his way to join the company was intercepted by his mother, who had come from Cleve- land, Ohio, for that purpose, and was once more prevented from joining the army. In August, 1862, he made another and more successful attempt to become a soldier, and was sworn in as a private in Co. K., 125th Pennsylvania infantry, under an as- sumed name (which was afterwards cor- rected). He took part in the battle of An- tietam and at Chancellorsville ; at the latter battle he was wounded and was discharged
from the army in June, 1863. After this he re-enlisted twice for short terms-first as third sergeant in the 46th Pennsylvania militia, and again as first lieutenant, being commissioned by Governor Curtin to assist in raising a battalion of one-hundred day men. The battalion was promptly enlisted, sworn into the United States service at Harrisburg, and assisted in driving the con- federates from the State after the burning of Chambersburg.
In December, 1868, Mr. Hicks was united in marriage to Anna M. Sparr, a daughter of Isaac Sparr, of Williamsburg, who was one of the very early settlers of this county. She died at Tyrone in the summer of 1875, leaving three children, two sons and a daughter: Hattie W., William B., and Herbert S., the latter dying in infancy. In 1877 Mr. Hicks was again married, this time wedding Josephine Barrick, daughter of Dr. Samuel Barrick, of Frederick county, Maryland. To this union have been born one son and one daughter: Cora Eynon and Charles B.
Politically Mr. Hicks is an ardent repub- lican, and cast his first vote for Abraham Lincoln, while serving in the army and before he was twenty-one. He takes an active part in local politics, is a fluent extemporaneous speaker, and served as chairman of the Republican county com- mittee when Senator Quay was chairman of the State committee. He is very popular in his party, and no doubt the future will bring him additional political honors. He is a member and trustee of the Metho- dist Episcopal church, and a member of Tyrone Lodge, No. 152, Independent Order of Odd Fellows. He has been a prominent member of the Grand Army of the Republic ever since it was organized in Pennsyl-
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BIOGRAPHY AND HISTORY
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vania, and is now past post commander of Col. D. M. Jones Post, No. 172, of Tyrone, and also of Fred C. Ward Post, No. 468, of Altoona. He was a member of the National Encampment at Indianapolis, and elected a delegate by the recent State en- campment at Pittsburg as National Dele- gate to the National Encampment at Wash- ington, District of Columbia.
In the line of his profession Mr. Hicks is solicitor for two of the largest building associations in Altoona. He owns a fine farm near Williamsburg, which is well im- proved and stocked, and the operations of which he personally superintends, deriving much pleasure therefrom. He has been connected with the Blair County Agricul- tural society for fifteen years, and during the last six has been its vice-president. He has also been a member of the State board of agriculture for six years, and takes an active and intelligent interest in all ques- tions affecting agricultural pursuits.
GUSTAVE KLEMMERT, deceased,
was born at Burgsinn, province of Bavaria, in the united German empire, in 1845. He was reared in his native place and obtained his education in the common schools there. After leaving school he learned the trades of cooper and brewer, and continued to work at the brewery busi- ness in his native land until 1868, when he bid farewell to home and friends and started alone for the new world, determined to establish himself in the great republic, whose fame had reached him in his child- hood's home, and had wonderfully inter- woven itself with his growing aspirations and plans for the future. He arrived in New York a stranger and without money,
but soon obtained employment in a brewery in that city, and worked at his trade there until 1870. In that year he came to Al- toona, this county, and obtained a position with Martin Hoelle, proprietor of the Al- toona brewery, with whom he remained until 1873. He then formed a partnership with John Stehle, of this city, and pur- chased the Eagle brewery, located at the corner of Thirteenth street and Fourth avenue, which they operated for one year. At the end of that time Mr. Klemmert bought out his partner's interest in the enterprise, and afterward conducted the business in his own name. He remodeled and improved the brewery building until it became almost a new structure, and added such machinery and facilities as were needed to make it first-class in every respect. It has a yearly capacity of between five thou- sand and six thousand barrels. Mr. Klem- mert also remodeled and completed the residence adjoining the brewery. He suc- cessfully conducted the brewery business until his death, July 15, 1891, at which time he was in the forty-sixth year of his age. He was a member of the German Catholic church, and a straight democrat in politics. He served for four years as chief of the fire department in Altoona, and as treasurer of that department until his death.
On February 7, 1876, he was married to Mrs. Fredericka (Theurer) Schmitt, of the city of Altoona. She was born at Alten- staig, Wurtemberg, Germany, in 1839, and came to the United States with her father, Michael Theurer, when only thirteen years of age. She lived at Tyrone, this county, until 1861, when she removed to Altoona, and was married here in 1863 to John Schmitt, of this city. He died in 1872,
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leaving three children, of whom two are yet living: John II., who is now assisting his mother in running the brewery; and Renette, who married Emil Thieme, of this city. Mrs. Klemmert is a member of the German Lutheran church. She had no children by her last marriage.
H ARRY E. FERGUSON, now serving as city treasurer of Altoona, and a member of the well-known firm of D. Fer- guson & Son, general merchants, is a son of Daniel S. and Sarah J. (Elway ) Fergu- son, and was born in the city of Altoona, Pennsylvania, February 24, 1863. The Fergusons are of Scotch-Irish extraction, the grandfather of the subject of this sketch, William Ferguson, having been born in the Emerald Isle about 1791. He emigrated to America, settling in New Jersey, where he was married, and early in the fifties removed to Altoona, this county, where he resided until his death in 1863, at the age of sev- enty-three years. He married Mary Mc- Keag, by whom he had a family of eleven children, among them being Daniel S. (father), who was born in New Jersey, but came to Altoona with his father's family in 1850, when the present city was only an insignificant village. He has resided here ever since, and during the last decade has been engaged in the general merchandise business. Previous to this he was in the employ of the Pennsylvania Railroad Com- pany for many years. He is a member of the Chestnut Avenue Methodist Episcopal church, a republican in politics, and is con- nected with Altoona Lodge, No. 473, Inde- pendent Order of Odd Fellows. HIe mar- ried Sarah J. Elway, and to their union was born a family of four children. She was a
native of Blair county, this State, and is now in the fifty-sixth year of her age, and a devoted member of the Methodist Epis- copal church of Altoona.
Harry E. Ferguson was reared in the city of Altoona, and received his education in the public schools here and at the Mil- lersville State Normal school. After leav- ing school he accepted a position as clerk in a large mercantile establishment in Al- toona, where he remained until 1882. He then formed a partnership with his father, under the style of D. Ferguson & Son, and purchased the entire stock of goods from his former employers and continued the business of the old firm. He was possessed of that enterprise, energy and capacity for details which is everywhere requisite for success, and for ten years the firm has done a thriving and prosperous business, and now has a large trade and carries a fine stock.
In politics Mr. Ferguson is a stanch re- publican, giving his party an earnest and intelligent support on all leading questions. In 1890 he was elected on the republican ticket to the office of city treasurer of Al- toona, and is now serving in that respon- sible position. He is a member of Moun- tain Lodge, No. 281, Free and Accepted Masons; Mountain Chapter, No. 189, Royal Arch Masons; Mountain Council, No. 9, Royal and Select Masters; and Mountain Commandery, No. 10, Knights Templar. He is also a member of Lulu Temple, Nobles of the Mystic Shrine, of Philadel- phia, and a thirty-second degree Mason, holding membership in the Pittsburg con- sistory. When only sixteen years of age he joined the volunteer fire department of Altoona and was an active member for five years, since which time he has been an
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honorary member of that organization, and has served as treasurer of the Excelsior Hose company during the last eight years. In fraternal circles and with the general public, Mr. Ferguson is extremely popular, and takes rank among the leading citizens of Blair county.
JOHN H. MILLER, a good business
man and a prominent and successful merchant of Tyrone, is a son of William and Leah (Summey ) Miller, and was born at Baileyville, Centre county, Pennsylvania, August 25, 1843. The Millers are of Scotch-Irish lineage, and the American branch of the family was founded by James Miller, the paternal grandfather of John H. Miller, and who came from Scotland to Chester county shortly after the close of the revolutionary war. His son, James C. Miller (grandfather), was born in 1787 and removed to Mifflin county, which he after- wards left to settle in Centre county, where he died in 1857. He was a farmer, a demo- crat, and a Presbyterian. He married Anna McCloskey, by whom he had eleven children, six sons and five daughters. One of these sons, William Miller (father ), was born on December 31, 1815, at Millroy, Mifflin county, and was successively a resi- dent of Centre and Huntingdon counties, in the latter of which he died December 21, 1872. Ile was a miller by trade, and in connection with milling was engaged to some extent in farming. He was a demo- crat in politics, had served for many years as a deacon in the Dunkard church, and married Leah Summey, by whom he had eight children, three sons and five daugh- ters. Mrs. Miller (mother), aged seventy- five years, is still living in Huntingdon,
this State. She is a daughter of Christian Summey, who was born in Lancaster county in 1784, and in 1869 went to the Shenan- doah valley, Virginia, where he died at Woodstock, Shenandoah county, that State, in 1879, aged ninety-five years. Ile was a farmer and school teacher, a democrat in politics, and a member of the Reformed church, and married Mary Limebaugh, by whom he had eight children, who grew to maturity.
John H. Miller was reared in Centre county, received his education in the com- mon schools and Pine Grove academy, and then engaged in merchant milling at Pine Grove Mills. In 1868 he left that place and went to Mt. Union, Huntingdon county, where he operated the National steam mill for five years. He then embarked in mer- chandising, and conducted his combined mercantile and milling business until 1876, when he went to Petersburg, where he operated a mill until 1887. In that year he came to Tyrone and engaged in his present wholesale grain and flour and retail grocery business. He carries a full stock of every- thing in his combined lines of business, and has a very flattering trade. His estab- lishment is on the corner of Tenth street and Washington avenue, and has been care- fully fitted up to suit his business and for the convenience of his many patrons. Mr. Miller is a member of the First Presby- terian church of Tyrone, and Oak Hall Lodge, No. 783, Petersburg, Huntingdon county, and Tyrone Encampment, No. 279, of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. He is a past officer and a trustee, and the treasurer of his encampment, to whose financial affairs he gives as close attention and as intelligent supervision as he does to any of his own business enterprises.
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OF BLAIR COUNTY.
On December 19, 1865, Mr. Miller mar- ried Nancy K. Bottorf, of Pine Grove Mills, Centre county, and to their union have been born six children : William, who mar- ried Grace Chamberlain, and is engaged in business with his father; Blanche, John K., Charles O., Gertrude, and Jessie E.
John H. Miller is a democrat in politics, and while a resident in Huntingdon county took an active part in political affairs, serv- ing in 1884 and again in 1885 as chairman of the Democratic county committee. He has also been sent as a delegate to Demo- cratic State conventions, and in other posi- tions of trust and responsibility has ren- dered efficient service to his party.
C.HOWARD MONTGOMERY, car .. accountant on the Bell's Gap & Clear- field & Jefferson railroad, is a man of fine mental qualifications, and to his careful management much of the efficiency of the car service on that road is due. He is a son of Oswald C. and Gertrude L. (Lynch) Montgomery, and was born July 16, 1850, in the city of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Montgomerys are of English descent, and for several generations were residents of the Empire State. Oswald C. Mont- gomery (father) was a native of Dutchess county, New York, being born at Rhine- beck-on-the-Hudson in 1822. About 1830 he removed to the city of Philadelphia. He was a bank teller by occupation.
C. Howard Montgomery was principally reared in Philadelphia, and received his education in the superior schools of that city. . At the early age of fifteen years he began business on his own account as a clerk in the dry goods house of Barcroft & Co., whose establishment at that time
was located on Market street, Philadelphia. He remained with that firm for four years, when he resigned his position and went into the whaling service, serving first on the north Atlantic, and then in the south Atlantic ocean. He also made a trip to the Mediterranean sea, and after returning from that voyage became superintendent of ocean steamships for the Baltimore Storage & Lighterage Company at Baltimore, Mary- land. After occupying that position for a period of three years, he was sent to Bell- wood, this county, in 1887, as rodman in a surveying party, and in a short time after his arrival here was offered a position with the Bell's Gap & Clearfield & Jefferson Rail- road Company to take charge of and organ- ize their car department. The road had just received its first equipment of seven hundred and fifty cars, to which two hun- dred and fifty more were added a couple of years later. At that time one hundred cars each way was considered a big day's work, while three hundred both ways is now an ordinary day's work. Mr. Montgomery has now occupied this position for more than five years, rendering satisfaction to his offi- cial superiors and becoming familiar with railroading in all its branches. His official designation is car accountant, and he has six clerks under his charge.
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