Biographical and portrait cyclopedia of Blair County, Pennsylvania, Part 35

Author: Wiley, Samuel T., editor. cn
Publication date: 1892
Publisher: Philadelphia, Gresham
Number of Pages: 1160

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310

BIOGRAPHY AND HISTORY

in giving lessons in drawing and painting. The eighth and next to the youngest was James T., the principal subject of this sketch; while the youngest son was George C., who died May 13, 1879, in his thirty- sixth year. When less than eighteen years of age he enlisted as a private in Co. I, 5th Pennsylvania reserves, and after the battle of Antietam was promoted to be lieutenant in the 2d Pennsylvania artillery. He was wounded during the Pennsylvania campaign and taken prisoner at the battle of Chapen's Farm, spending six months in the military prisons at Danville and Salisbury before be- ing exchanged. He was promoted to the rank of captain when exchanged, and was mus- tered out of service June 8, 1865. After the war he became an editor and journalist, and was thus engaged at the time of his death.

The maternal grandfather of Doctor Wil- son, Jeremy Cunningham, was a native of Ireland, but emigrated to America at an early day and settled in Huntingdon, this State, where he died at an advanced age. Ile was a farmer, a member of the Presby- terian church, and a soldier in the war of 1812. He married a daughter of Col. John Spencer, an officer in the revolutionary war, and an early settler in the Hart's Log val- ley. To their union was born one son, and a daughter named Agnes N., the mother of Doctor Wilson. Mrs. Cunningham died while this daughter was very young, and Mr. Cunningham married again, and had three sons and two daughters by this second marriage. After her mother's death, Agnes N. Cunningham went to live with her ma- ternal grandfather. She early became a member of the Presbyterian church at Alex- andria, of which George Wilson was an elder, and the acquaintance there formed resulted in their marriage. She died at

Alexandria July 24, 1891, aged nearly eighty-nine years, having passed her entire life in that picturesque village.

Dr. James T. Wilson was reared at Alex- andria, Huntingdon county, receiving a good common school education, and later taking a course of training in the Commercial col- lege at York, this State, from which insti- tution he was graduated in 1856, when only sixteen years of age. He then taught for two winters while studying during the sum- mer months, after which he became a clerk in a store at Pottsville, Pennsylvania, where he remained one year, and then secured a position as store-keeper at Pennsylvania furnace. He remained there two years, when, having attained his majority, he be- gan reading medicine with Dr. Daniel Houtz, of Alexandria. He studied with Doctor Houtz two years, after which he matriculated at the University of Pennsylvania, and was graduated from that institution in March, 1864, with the degree of M. D. He located in Petersburg, Huntingdon county, where he practiced for one year, and in the spring of 1865 removed to Tyrone, this county, where he has since resided and devoted his attention exclusively to the practice of medi- cine. He has been quite successful, and now enjoys a lucrative practice and an hon- orable professional standing.

On October 25, 1866, Doctor Wilson was wedded to Henrietta Clement, a daughter of Samuel and Henrietta Clement, of Hunt- ingdon county, and their union has been blessed by a family of four children: S. Clement, born October 25, 1867; George C., born June 28, 1869; Edward, born Jan- uary 14, 1875, and died June 10, 1876; and Carroll D., born March 1, 1877. Mrs. Wil- son was born in the city of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, June 12, 1842.

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OF BLAIR COUNTY.

In his political affiliations Doctor Wilson has always been a democrat. IIe is a mem- ber of Tyrone Lodge, No. 494, Free and Accepted Masons, and also of Sinking Springs Lodge, No. 127, Knights of Pythias.

JOHN W. CONFER, who has been largely instrumental in shaping many of the leading industries of Duncansville, is a son of Samuel B. and Elizabeth (Stifler) Confer, and was born in Duncansville, June 17, 1862. Jacob Confer (paternal grand- father ) was a native of McKee's Gap, Penn- sylvania, and removed to Claysburg, Blair county, where he resided until his death. In politics he was a firm supporter of the Whig party, and a faithful attendant of the Evangelical Lutheran church. He married Elizabeth Kephart, of Claysburg, by whom he had five children, two sons and three daughters : David M., who was working for the Pennsylvania Railroad Company at Huntingdon, this State, where he was killed by an accident on the railroad in 1861; Keziah, married Thomas Elder, of Holli- daysburg, and who is engaged in the rail- road shops at Altoona, Pennsylvania; Elizabeth, married Henry Trout, of Bell- wood, and died in 1891; Mary, married J. E. Shartzer, of Altoona, who is engaged in the railroad shops in that city ; and Sam- uel B. Samuel B. Confer (father ) was born at McKee's Gap in 1831, and became a cap- tain on the Portage railroad, serving for a time in that capacity. He was then em- ployed by the Pennsylvania Railroad Com- pany, under whom he served as a conductor for a period of twenty years. In 1855 he came to Duncansville, where he has resided ever since. He owns a large store in that place, and carries a full line of dry goods

and groceries. He adheres to the Republi- can party, and, served one term as commis- sioner of Blair county. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, and is a tireless worker in the cause of Christianity. He holds the positions of trustee, Sunday- school superintendent, and class leader, and has widened the circle of friends by his efforts for the advancement of morality, law and good order. He married Elizabeth Stifler, and to this union were born five children : David Clarence, born May 20, 1857, married Alice M. Hyle, and is a prom- inent physician of Duncansville, who was graduated from the medical department of the University of Pennsylvania, Philadel- phia, in 1881; Lloyd G., born June 10, 1860, is now a conductor on the Penn- sylvania railroad, resides at Williamsburg, this county, and married Nannie G. Wood, a native of Hollidaysburg; Blanche, born March 11, 1866, died March 24, 1866; Nellie K., born February 19, 1877, and resides with her parents; and John W.

John W. Confer was reared in Duncans- ville, where he has always resided. Ile received his education in the public schools of his native town, and for a short time pursued special studies under Professor Stewart, of Hollidaysburg. He is asso- ciated with his father in the mercantile business at Duncansville, and has been the general manager of the store for several years.

On April 16, 1891, John W. Confer was united in marriage with Margaret C. Gib- son, of Duncansville, and to their union has been born one daughter: Pauline G., who was born January 31, 1892.

In politics Mr. Confer is a republican. He is an earnest Sunday-school worker in the Methodist Episcopal church. IIe is a

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BIOGRAPHY AND HISTORY

prominent Mason, having served in 1889 as master of Juniata Lodge, No. 282, Free and Accepted Masons, of Hollidaysburg, and is now secretary of his lodge, and of Mount Moriah Chapter, No. 166, Royal Arch Masons. IIe is also a member of Mountain Commandery, No. 10, Knights Templar, of Altoona, and has been enter- prising and faithful in the performance of all Masonic duties. He is secretary of the Building and Loan association, secretary and treasurer of the Town Hall association, and treasurer of the borough of Duncans- ville. Mr. Confer has made himself useful in building up an important industry of his town, and the results of his patient labor are to be seen in his present large and flour- ishing business.

[ANDREW A. WHITBRED, proprie-

tor of the large and handsome green- houses, corner Fifth avenue and Thirtieth street, Altoona, and one of the leading flor- ists of that city, is a son of Charles and Mary E. (Cooney) Whitbred, and was born in the city of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, July 14, 1852. The paternal great-grand- father of the subject of this sketch, Emanuel Whitbred, was a native of Germany, born and reared at Leipsic, from which place he emigrated to America and located in Phila- delphia. In that city he resided until his death, at which time he had reached an advanced age. He married and reared a large family of children. Among his sons was Joseph Whitbred (grandfather), who was born in Philadelphia, and passed his entire life in that city. After attaining manhood he learned the trade of carpenter, and followed that occupation only for a time. IIe was a man of energy, ambition,

and enterprise, however, and soon began contracting and building. IIe was gifted with good judgment in addition to being a good workman, and became quite success- ful in his business. He continued to oper- ate as a contractor and builder in that city until 1822, when he was accidentally killed by falling from a large building on the construction of which he was engaged. Ile married and had a family of two children. His son, Charles Whitbred (father), was born in Philadelphia, and, like his father, resided in that city all his life. He ob- tained a good education in the public schools of his native city, and after leaving school learned the trade of brass worker. For some years he was engaged in that occupation, but later embarked in the mer- cantile business there, and being a stirring, energetic man, capable, honest, and enter- prising, he met with good success and con- trolled a fine business. His death occurred in 1861, at the age of forty-six years. IIe was a whig and republican in politics, and married Mary E. Cooney, and to their union was born a family of four children, three sons and one daughter. Mrs. Whitbred was a native of Bucks county, this State, of Irish descent, and died at her home in the city of Philadelphia, in 1859, aged twenty- nine years.

Andrew A. Whitbred was reared in Phil- adelphia, and received a fine English educa- tion in the public schools of that City of Brotherly Love. After leaving school he engaged in several different lines of work, among others the trade of shovel making, at which he worked for a time in his native city, and later at Cheltonham. He early learned something of the florist's business, and was frequently employed in that line by some of the leading florists in Philadel-

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OF BLAIR COUNTY.

phia and elsewhere. In 1872 he located in the city of Altoona, and engaged for a time in growing early vegetables under glass. In 1884 he embarked in the business of a florist, and now has one of the largest and best arranged green-houses in the city, located on the corner of Fifth avenue and Thirtieth street, occupying nearly the entire block, and requiring over twenty-two thous- and square feet of glass roofing. Here may be found nearly all the floral treasures of this clime, reinforced by a bewildering array of the choicest similar productions of other lands -in short, all the multitu- dinous forms of plant and flower that go to make up the complete stock of a first- class florist, or that can charm the senses by variety in form and color or delicate perfume.

On February 13, 1877, Mr. Whitbred was united in marriage with Malissa Smith, a daughter of Peter M. Smith, of the city of Altoona, and this union has been blessed by the birth of six children, three sons and three daughters : Ida, Annie, Charlie, Mary, Edward, and George.

Politically Mr. Whitbred is a republican, always giving his party a loyal support on general issues, but a little independent in local politics. He is a member of the Al- toona Rolling Mill Mutual Aid association, having been at one time employed in a roll- ing mill for several years prior to engaging in his present prosperous business.

JOHN M. YINGLING is a reliable citi-

zen, and has become well known as an extensive dealer in marble in the borough of Duncansville. He is a son of Frederick and Susan (Wilt) Yingling, and was born in Juniata township, Blair county, Pennsyl-

vania, December 21, 1853. Isaac Yingling (grandfather) was a native of Maryland, and came from that State to Pennsylvania and settled in what is known as Carson valley, Blair county, where he resided until his death. He was a republican in politics, and held the office of supervisor of his township for a number of terms. He mar- ried and reared a family of three sons and two daughters: Abram, Frederick, Jona- than, Sallie, and Kate. Frederick Ying- ling (father) was born in Carson valley, November 7, 1815, and afterward removed to Juniata township, but at present is a res- ident of Allegheny township, this county. He learned the trade of carpenter, which he followed thirty-three years, and afterward was under the employ of the Pennsylvania Railroad Company in their shops at Al- toona, serving with that company for a time. He then removed to Juniata township, and there was engaged in farming for a few years, after which he retired from business life. Politically he is a republican, and in religious affairs is an attendant of the Evan- gelical Lutheran church, to which he is a liberal contributor. He married Susar Wilt, of Juniata township, and to then were born five children, one son and four daughters : Annie (deceased) ; Matilda Jane married Henry M. Yon, of Blair county Florence (deceased ); Ida May (deceased ) and John M.

John M. Yingling was reared in Blai. county, received his education in the com mon schools, and learned the trade of car penter. He worked at first with his father and afterward he became a cabinet make and furniture dealer at Duncansville. II 1889 he embarked in his present marbl. enterprise at the same place, where he ha done a good business ever since. ITis offic

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BIOGRAPHY AND HISTORY

and yards are on Main street, and he has built up a large and reliable trade in his part of the county.

On September 30, 1875, he was united in marriage with Lucinda Shaw, of Poplar Run, Freedom township, and their union has been blest with a family of five children, two sons and three daughters : Edwin, born July 10, 1876; Susan, born February 4, 1881, and died February 25, 1881; William F., born April 1, 1883; Mary C., born Sep- tember 20, 1886; and Rhoda, who was born October 14, 1887.

John M. Yingling was formerly a mem- ber of Lodge No. 19, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, of Hollidaysburg, this county. In politics he adheres to the principles of the Republican party, which has always received his support at the ballot box. He gives most of his time to his business, which has constantly increased since he opened his marble yards at Duncansville, in 1889. By first-class material, good work, and reasonable prices, Mr. Yingling has secured his flattering patronage.

RANK P. MOLLOY, chief of the fire department of Altoona, and one of the most active, energetic and successful dem- ocratic leaders of that city, is a son of Frank and Ellen (Canan ) Molloy, and was born in county Donegal, province of Ulster, Ireland, March 17, 1846. The Molloy family has been resident of County Donegal for several centuries, and is connected by blood and marriage with some of the oldest families of Ireland. Frank P. Molloy's paternal grandfather, Daniel Molloy, was born at Glenties, County Donegal, in 1761, and died in 1866, when he was one hundred and five years and nine months of age. Ile had

been hale and hearty until within six months of his death. His son, Frank Molloy ( father ) was born at Glenties, and died in 1870, aged forty-nine years. He was en- ployed for nineteen years by the English government as an inspector at Liverpool, and afterwards returned to Glenties. He married Ellen Canan, who now resides on the homestead farm at Glenties, and is very active and well preserved for her ninety-one years of age. They reared a family of six sons, of whom the following three came to America : Maurice, of Washington city ; Mc- Cormick, a dry goods merchant, contractor and builder, who resided for many years at No. 921 South Twentieth street, Philadel- phia; and Frank P. Mrs. Frank Molloy is a daughter of Dominick Canan, who was corporation clerk of his native town of Glen- ties for sixty-five years, and retained his health and mental powers until his death, at the remarkable age of one hundred and fifteen years and six months.

Frank P. Molloy, of Altoona, Pennsyl- vania, received his education in the district schools of his native town and a night school of Philadelphia, this State. At six- teen years of age he left Ireland, and landed at New York May 23, 1861. He went to Philadelphia, where he was engaged for a short time as a clerk in a general mercan- tile establishment, and then served an ap- prenticeship of four years and nine months to the plumbing trade. After learning his trade he worked for eighteen months as a journeyman, and at the end of that time, in 1866, came to Altoona, but remained only a short time, when he went back to Phila- delphia, where he worked for a plumbing firm until 1870. On February 15 of that year he started in the plumbing business for himself in Altoona, on Eleventh avenue, but

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OF BLAIR COUNTY.

soon removed to the site of the Schenk block, on the corner of Eleventh avenue and Fourteenth street, where he followed plumbing until 1886, when he sold his es- tablishment to J. F. Storm. He then en- gaged in the hotel business, and rented the St. Lawrence hotel, corner of Eleventh avenue and Fourteenth street, which he conducted until 1889, when he sold it to James Heaton, its present manager. Leav- ing the St. Lawrence hotel, he purchased the Franklin house, on the corner of Ninth avenue and Seventeenth street, which he conducted very successfully until the present year, when he rented it to W. J. McFaaly.

On September 21, 1870, Mr. Molloy mar- ried Margaret Murphy, daughter of Mrs. Murphy, of Tunnel Hill, Cambria county, and they have seven children : Frank, now attending St. Vincent's college, Westmore- land county ; William, Harry, John, Mar- garet, Edna, and Ellie.

Frank P. Molloy is an active member of St. John's Catholic church, of which his family are members. He is a director of one and a stockholder in four building and loan associations. He joined the Vigilant Steam Fire Engine Company in 1871, and is a life member in the following companies : Good Will, No. 1; Empire Hook and Lad- der Company ; Excelsior Hose ; Logan Hose ; Hope Fire Engine, No. 8; and Friendship HIose and Fire Patrol. He served as assist- ant engineer of the fire department of Al- toona from 1884 to 1886, and then was elected, without opposition, as chief of the fire department, which position he has held with credit to himself ever since. In poli- ties Mr. Molloy is an ardent democrat, and has always been an active and successful worker for his party. He has been a mem- ber of the common council for ten years,

during three years of which time he served as president of that body. His services as president were so acceptable to the public that his friends are now presenting his name again as a candidate for the presi - dency of the common council of Altoona and at the reorganization, on Monday, May 2, 1892, he was elected president by the unanimous vote of both democrats and re - publicans.

WILLIAM A. FOUSE, one of the sub

stantial farmers of Huston township is a son of Frederick and Catherine (Acker Fouse, and was born in Huston township Blair county, Pennsylvania, Christmas day 1824. Nicholas Fouse, the paternal great grandfather of the subject of this sketch was born in Polse, Germany, and war among the pioneer settlers of Clover Creek settlement and Huston township. He was a blacksmith by trade, but followed farming and was a participant in several expedi. tions against the Indians. He was a whig and a member of the Reformed church, and married a Miss Brumbaugh, by whom he had five children. His grandson, Frederick Fouse (father), was born in the Clover Creek settlement, of which he was a life- long resident. He was a farmer by occu- pation, a republican in politics, and in re- ligious faith and church membership a member and deacon of the German Re- formed church. He served for many years as a justice of the peace, and died Septem- ber 10, 1873, at the age of seventy-three years. He married Catherine Acker, who died October 30, 1844, at the age of forty- seven years and twenty days. They had eight children, five sons and three daugh- ters: Margaret Nicodemus, now dead; Catherine Greaser ( deceased) ; Elizabeth

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BIOGRAPHY AND HISTORY

Boyd; Solomon (deceased ) ; William A .; Jacob; John (deceased ) ; and Paul, now dead.

William A. Fouse was reared on the home farm, received his education in the schools of his neighborhood, and has always fol- lowed farming at the Clover Creek set- tlement. He owns a farm of two hundred and thirty acres, of which one hundred and sixty acres are in a good state of cultiva- tion. His farm, which has been well im- proved, is favorably located in regard to church, school, and market. Mr. Fouse is a republican in political sentiment, has held the office of supervisor in his native town- ship, and always gives his party a cordial support. Ile is a careful farmer, a good citizen, and a consistent member of the German Reformed church.

On May 31, 1845, William A. Fouse mar- ried Catherine Greaser. To their union have been born nine children, five sons and four daughters: Susan, wife of Henry Rhodes, a farmer of Roaring Spring; Mar- garet, who married Joseph Detwiler, a car- penter, of Huston township; Elizabeth, wife of Martin Acker, who is engaged in farm- ing; Jane; Reuben, of Duncansville, who married Anna Collins; George, now dead; Calvin; Samuel; and William.

F ENRY ELWAY, a retired business man and farmer, who saw active ser- vice in our civil war, and whose residence is at No. 2507 Seventh avenue, in the city of Altoona, is a son of James and Sarah (Prosser) Elway, and was born September 27, 1827, in Gloucestershire, in the west of England. Ilis paternal grandfather, Wil- liam Elway, came from England to the United States in 1831, and located in North-

umberland county, Pennsylvania, where he died in a short time from a fever contracted while on his voyage to this country. James Elway (father) was born and reared in the west of England, where he lived until 1830, at which time he emigrated to America and located for a time in the city of Philadel- phia. He later removed to Centre county, this State, and resided there until 1833, when he came to Blair county. He died in Altoona, on the 26th of August, 1862, in the fifty-eighth year of his age. IIe was a minister of the United Brethren church, and did much to build up the interests of that denomination in these parts. He was a whig and republican in politics. He mar- ried Sarah Prosser in England, and to their union was born a family of eleven children, seven sons and four daughters. Mrs. Elway was born in 1808 and died in 1887. She was a member of the United Brethren church, and greatly esteemed for her many womanly virtues and kindly acts. Her father was a native of IIerfordshire, Eng- land, and died there at the remarkable age of one hundred and five years.

Henry Elway was reared principally in Blair county, and obtained his education in the common schools here. After leaving school he engaged in farming and teaching for some years, and in 1858 moved into the city of Altoona and embarked in the mer- cantile business. He continued to operate in that line until 1863, when he sold out and enlisted for three months in Co. D, 46th Pennsylvania infantry. When his term of service had expired, he reënlisted for one year, and was made second lieutenant of Co. I, 205th Pennsylvania infantry. His company was attached to the second brig- ade, third division, ninth army corps, and did effective service on some of the most

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OF BLAIR COUNTY.

hotly contested fields of the great civil war. On June 2, 1865, being the close of the war, Mr. Elway was discharged at Alexandria, Virginia, and, returning to Altoona, once more engaged in merchandising in this city. He became quite successful in business, and conducted his general store until 1876, when he sold out and purchased a farm in Allegheny township. For some fourteen years he devoted his attention to agricul- tural pursuits, but in 1890 finally retired from all active business, and is now spend- ing the evening of his life in peace and quietude at his handsome home in Altoona, where he is surrounded by all the necessi- ties and comforts calculated to promote his happiness. In addition to his fine farm in Allegheny township, he owns some valuable real estate in this city.

On March 1, 1853, Mr. Elway united in marriage with Hannah Root, a daughter of Jacob Root, of Bellwood, this county. In religion Mr. Elway is a member of the United Brethren church, and in his political con- victions an ardent republican. He has served the city in the capacity of assessor and as a member of the common council, and is a highly esteemed citizen.

G EORGE M. STEWART, president of

the Master Plumbers' association of Altoona, and the proprietor of the oldest plumbing and gas fitting establishment in the Mountain City, is a son of George and Corriene (Homer) Stewart, and was born at Lewistown, Mifflin county, Pennsylvania, November 14, 1839. His paternal grand- father, David Stewart, was of Scotch descent, and came from Scotland to Pennsylvania, and finally settled at Lewistown, where he purchased a large and valuable farm, which

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Biographical and portrait cyclopedia of Blair County, Pennsylvania, Part 35

Author: Wiley, Samuel T., editor. cn Publication date: 1892 Publisher: Philadelphia, Gresham Number of Pages: 1160

Author: Wiley, Samuel T., editor. cn
Publication date: 1892
Publisher: Philadelphia, Gresham
Number of Pages: 1160