USA > Pennsylvania > Blair County > Biographical and portrait cyclopedia of Blair County, Pennsylvania > Part 37
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71
327
OF BLAIR COUNTY.
sylvania, at an advanced age. Levi Smith (father) was born in Huntingdon county, and was a prosperous farmer. Ile lived to be sixty-six years of age, and then met an accidental death. IIe was an ardent re- publican, and an active member of the Methodist Episcopal church. He married Mary Pheasant, and to their union was born a family of thirteen children.
James M. Smith received his education in Hollidaysburg, this county, having been a student at the seminary there in its early days. After acquiring a good English edu- cation he began reading medicine with his brother, Dr. George W. Smith, of Holli- daysburg, and later entered the medical department of the University of Pennsyl- vania, from which he was graduated in 1870, with the degree of M. D. He then entered the office of Doctor Dunwiddie, at Warrior's Mark, Huntingdon county, where he prac- ticed for one year, and in 1871 removed to Tyrone, at which place he has been engaged in general practice ever since. Doctor Smith early gained an enviable reputation as a physician, and has long enjoyed a large and remunerative practice.
In 1874 Doctor Smith was united in mar- riage with Rosa Reynolds, a daughter of George W. and Elizabeth (Peel) Reynolds, , of Shippensburg, Pennsylvania. To this union has been born a family of two sons and a daughter: Francis G., who is now a cadet in the United States Military academy at West Point; Elizabeth, and James R.
Doctor Smith is a republican in his politi- cal faith, and has served on the town council and school board of Tyrone. He has been a director in the First National bank of Tyrone since its organization, and holds membership in Tyrone Lodge, No. 494, Free and Accepted Masons, of which lodge he is
a past master. Doctor Smith is a pleasant, affable gentleman, liberal in his views, and popular among the people. He has been for years a prominent member of the Blair County Medical society, and is now serving as president of that organization.
JAMES C. HUGHES, now a prominent
business man of Altoona, is one of the self-made men of the old Keystone State, who, beginning with nothing but inherited ability, have achieved financial and social success by earnest effort and unconquerable energy. He was born September 9, 1848, at Buffalo Run, Centre county, Pennsylvania, and is a son of John D. and Hannah ( Hicks) Hughes. Ile was reared in Centre county until he had attained the age of fifteen years, and received only an ordinary com- mon school education. In 1865 he came to Altoona and has been a resident of this city ever since. After leaving school he learned the blacksmith trade, and continued to work at that occupation until 1873, when he em- barked in the grocery business. At first his trade was small, but it increased by degrees, and in 1876 he added a line of general merchandise. He gave close atten- tion to business, and by industry, enterprise and native ability, had soon built up a pros- perous trade. A customer once gained was never allowed to drop away through inat- tention or incivility, and his dealings were marked by that scrupulous integrity that lies at the bottom of all permanent success. The consequence has been a constantly in- creasing patronage, and he now carries a good stock of all kinds of general merchan- chandise, and is doing a larger business than ever before. In addition to his gen- eral store, Mr. Hughes is a member of the
328
BIOGRAPHY AND HISTORY
firm of G. L. Cyphers & Co., and they run two hardware stores in this city and one tinware store. In all these mercantile en- terprises he has met with success, and is a stockholder in the city electric railway of Altoona. Ile also owns some valuable real estate in this city.
In October, 1868, Mr. Hughes was wed- ded to Elizabeth Walton, a daughter of Elias Walton, of the city of Altoona, and to this union has been born a family of ten children, eight sons and two daughters : John, Harry, Charles, Bertha, James, Ralph, May, Arthur, Robert, and Clyde.
Politically Mr. Hughes is a democrat, taking an active part in politics and ever anxious for the success of his party and the triumph of its principles. IIe is now serv- ing as school director, and is a well known friend of popular education. He is also a leading Mason, being 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.
The family of which Mr. Hughes stands as the representative is of Irish origin, and was planted in America at an early day by the paternal great-grandfather of the sub- ject of this sketch, who was a native of the Emerald Isle, but emigrated to the United States while yet a young man, and settled in Centre county, Pennsylvania. He mar- ried and reared a family, among his children being John D. Hughes (father), who was born at Bellefonte, Centre county, this State. Ile removed to Altoona in 1865, and after residing here three years, returned to Centre county. In 1876 he again located in Al- toona, and thereafter was a resident of the city until his death, in 1885, at the advanced
age of sixty-one years. He was a black- smith by trade, and followed that occupa- tion until 1876, when he engaged in the coal business at Altoona. He was an active and influential member of the Methodist Episcopal church, and in politics a democrat of the old school. He married Hannah Ilicks, a native of Centre county, who still survives him, and now resides in the city of Altoona, in the sixty-fifth year of her age. She also is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, and is held in high es- teem by her many friends.
IUS SNEERINGER, one of the oldest and most esteemed residents of Tyrone, who was universally beloved and respected, was a son of Joseph and Margaret (O'Bold) Sneeringer, and was born at Conewago, Adams county, Pennsylvania, June 16, 1813. Joseph Sneeringer was born at Conewago, of which he was a lifelong resident, and where he died July 29, 1868, aged eighty-one years. He was an extensive and successful farmer, owning three large farms at one time. He was a consistent member of the Catholic church, and an old-line whig in politics until the advent of the Free Soil party, when he became a democrat. He married Margaret O'Bold, by whom he had fourteen children, eleven sons and three daughters, of whom the subject of this sketch was the eldest.
After receiving a good common English education Pius Sneeringer learned the trade of miller, which he followed until 1847, when ill health led to his engaging in the mercantile business at Littlestown, Adams county, in partnership with Joseph Fink, and then had as successive partners, Samuel Sneeringer, John A. Renshaw, and E. L.
329
OF BLAIR COUNTY.
Study. In 1853 he came to Tyrone and engaged successively until 1866 in the mer- cantile and lumber business with James Shultz, T. B. Heims, and E. L. Study, under the firm name of P. Sneeringer & Co. From 1867 to 1871 he was in the dry goods busi- ness, and in 1868, with T. B. Heims, erected the Tyrone steam flouring mill, which they operated until 1872. In that year he and J. T. Mathias embarked in the manufacture of cigars and the wholesale and retail to- bacco business, and in 1880 Mr. Mathias withdrew and J. A. Sneeringer took his place, under the firm name of P. Sneeringer & Son, which firm continued successfully until Mr. Sneeringer's death in 1890.
In Conewago chapel, on May 24, 1836, he was united in marriage, by Rev. Matthew Lekue, with Eliza A. Brothers, of Littles- town, Adams county, who still survives him. They had a family of eight children, of whom three, Augustus A., Austin C., and Mary C., preceded their father to the other life. The five children surviving are : Mrs. William Vogt ( see sketch of William Vogt) ; Mrs. Emma Baumgardner; Mrs. Elizabeth Aultz, widow of Captain Aultz; James A .; and Mrs. Clara Flynn, wife of P. Flynn, whose sketch appears in this volume.
Pius Sneeringer was born and reared a Catholic, in which faith he consistently lived and died. He was an old-line whig until the formation of the Know-nothing party, when he became a democrat. Ile was always interested in the welfare of Tyrone. He was one of the organizers of the Tyrone Gas and Water Company, of which he was a director at the time of his death. He was also a member of the firm of Study & Co., which was engaged in mining iron ore on the Shoenberger lands near Tyrone. He was not fond of prominence, never sought
for municipal office, which he often declined, and devoted himself to his business and his home.
His long and useful life closed on July 10, 1890, when his summons came and he passed quietly away. His remains are en- tomed in Oak Grove cemetery. Appropri- ate notices of Mr. Sneeringer appeared in the county press, and one who knew him well wrote of him as follows: "The de- ceased was known to almost every one in Tyrone, and was deservedly popular. He was the possessor of a most lovable disposi- tion. Of course the sterling traits of his character shone most brightly in his own home, and to those who knew him best they were most radiant. Ever an indulgent, kind father and husband, and a true friend, he was one of those for whose living the world is better."
D AVID G. McCULLOUGH, who has
been engaged in the grocery business in Altoona since 1876, and is one of the surviving wounded veterans of the old 54th Pennsylvania infantry, is a son of John and Barbara ( Crider ) McCullough, and was born in Birmingham, Huntingdon county, Penn- sylvania, December 30, 1839. His paternal grandfather was of Scotch lineage, and died in Jefferson county in 1840, when in the seventy-second year of his age; while his maternal grandfather, Peter Crider, was of German descent, from Lebanon county, Pennsylvania, and died in Blair county, at forty-two years of age. John McCullough, the father of David G. Mccullough, was born in 1804, in Baltimore, Maryland, and died at Birmingham, in 1849, when in the forty-sixth year of his age. Ile was a stonemason by trade, but during the winter
330
BIOGRAPHY AND HISTORY
seasons worked at coopering, as in his day all stonemason work ceased with the ap- proach of winter. IIe was a good work- man and an industrious man, and married Barbara Crider January 4, 1827, who was born in 1805, and passed away April 18, 1885, at Birmingham, Pennsylvania, in her eightieth year. They were the parents of seven children, four sons and three daugh- ters : Mary, Martha, Rachel, Andrew, John, James, and David G.
David G. Mccullough was reared at Bir- mingham, where he received his education in the common schools and the high school of that place. Leaving school, he followed farming for a short time, then was in the employ of the Pennsylvania Railroad Com- pany for three years, and at the end of that time, on September 4, 1861, left the pur- suits of civil life to risk his life in defense of his country's liberties. He enlisted at Johnstown, Cambria county, on the above named date, as a private in Co. A, 54th Pennsylvania infantry, was promoted to corporal for meritorious service, and was honorably discharged on February 9, 1864, but immediately re-enlisted as a veteran. He served on his second term of enlistment until January 28, 1865, when he was dis- charged on a surgeon's certificate, for phys- ical disability. His first service in the field was in the Army of West Virginia, where his regiment saw some very hard scouting service along the line of the Balti- more & Ohio railroad, as well as severe fighting in the mountains of West Virginia. Ilis regiment was afterwards transfered to the Army of the Shenandoah, and formed a part of the first brigade, first division, eighth army corps. Corporal Mccullough was wounded in the left arm at the battle of New Market, May 15, 1864. This wound
confined him to a hospital for eight months, and, rendering him unfit for further active service in the field, led to his discharge. Returning home, he went, during the suc- ceeding year, to Johnstown, Pennsylvania, where he was engaged in the grocery busi- ness until 1873, when he came to Altoona and became the junior member of the gro- cery firm of Confer & Mccullough, which existed for three years. In March, 1876, Mr. Mccullough purchased his partner's interest, and since then has devoted his time and energies to the building up of the fine trade which he now enjoys. His gro- cery store is at No. 1121 Eleventh avenue, where he keeps a large and carefully selected stock of fresh and pure family groceries.
On September 24, 1868, Mr. Mccullough wedded Mary A., daughter of Jeremiah Hite, of Johnstown, Pennsylvania. To their union have been born six children, five sons and one daughter: Frank M., now attend- ing Lehigh university, at Bethlehem, this State, from which institution he will be graduated in the class of 1894; John E. and David G., jr., now attending Altoona High school; Charles; Lillie; and Herman.
David G. MeCullough is a stanch repub- lican in politics, who has always yielded his party an unflinching loyalty, and an active, whole-hearted support. IIe is a member of F. C. Ward Post, No. 468, Grand Army of the Republic, and thoroughly understands the business in which he has been so suc- cessfully engaged for nearly a quarter of a century.
E DWIN S. EBERMAN, a retired citi- zen of Hollidaysburg, and who was in the confectionery manufacturing business in that place for thirty-two years, is the eldest son of John M. and Catherine ( Rupely)
!
331
OF BLAIR COUNTY.
Eberman, and was born in the city of Lan- caster, Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, Jan- uary 8, 1816. His paternal grandfather, Philip Eberman, was a native of Germany, and in 1812 came to the city of Lancaster, where he resided until his death, in 1850. Ile was a democrat, and served one term as sheriff of Lancaster county. He was a member of the Lutheran church, and mar- ried and reared a family of five children : John M., Susan, George, William, and Jacob. John M., the eldest son, and father of the subject of this sketch, was born August 1, 1787, in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, and there he followed his trade of tinning for several years. He then went to Harrisburg, where he was engaged in the confectionery business until a short time before his death, which occurred June 5, 1865. Ile was a democrat in politics, and served as a clerk for several years in the land office at Har- risburg. He was a member of the Evan- gelical Lutheran church, and married Cath- erine Rupely, who passed away in 1842, aged forty-seven years. They were the parents of eleven children : Edwin S., Ellen, Frederick, John, Margaret, F. A., Henrietta, Charlotte, Luther M., Agnes S., and Charles.
Edwin S. Eberman was reared at Lan- caster and Harrisburg, and received a good common English education, and engaged in the manufacture of confectionery with his father. In 1832 he came to Hollidaysburg, Blair county, where he opened, on Mont- gomery street, a confectionery establish- ment, and manufactured all kinds of candies and confections for thirty-two years. In 1882 he disposed of his business, and since then has been living a retired life. He and his amiable wife reside in a pleasantly appointed home on Walnut street, where they are ever glad to welcome their friends.
In 1835 Mr. Eberman married Euphronia Snyder, who was born in Lancaster county, November 12, 1817. She is a daughter of Jacob Snyder, who was born in Germany, October 9, 1796, came to the United States about 1812, and resided in South Carolina, Lancaster, and at Hollidaysburg, where he died, May 8, 1847, aged eighty-one years. Jacob Snyder was a democrat and Luth- eran, and served in the war of 1812. IIe married Barbara Parker, by whom he had four children : Nancy, Mrs. Euphronia Eber- man, Elizabeth, and Jacob, all of whom are living.
Edwin S. Eberman is an old-time demo- erat in politics, who believes in the sim- plicity of republican goverments and their honest administration by public officials. He is a member and trustee of the Evan- gelical Lutheran church of Hollidaysburg. When the late war commenced, Mr. Eber- man, although forty-five years of age, and safe from all probable drafts, yet responded to President Lincoln's call for troops, and enlisted as a private in Co. A, 3d. Pennsyl- vania infantry. He was soon appointed as a hospital steward, and served as such until the 13th day of July, 1861, when he was hon- orably discharged from the Union service. To-day Mr. Eberman is among the few surviving Union soldiers who have passed their three-score and ten years.
W ARREN H. MOORE, junior partner in the well known firm of Stoke & Moore, contractors and builders, of the city of Altoona, is a son of Thomas H. and Mary (Hagerty) Moore, and was born January 22, 1838, in what is now Logan township, Blair county, but was then Huntingdon county, Pennsylvania. The Moores are descended
332
BIOGRAPHY AND HISTORY
from an old English family, but have been citizens of the Keystone State from an carly day. The paternal grandfather of the sub- jeet of this sketch, James Moore, was a native of Chester county, removed to Cen- tre at an early date, where he died in 1832, aged sixty-three years. Ile was a farmer by occupation, and also run several large teams on the road. He married Magdalene Hastings, and reared a family of six chil- dren. One of his sons, Thomas H. Moore (father), was born near Bellefonte, Centre county, in 1801, but after attaining man- hood removed to this (then Huntingdon ) county, and located in Logan township, about 1835. IIe had been reared on the farm, but learned the trade of miller, and after settling in this county followed the milling business for a number of years. He was finally compelled to abandon it on ac- count of his health, and afterward engaged in buying and selling lumber to some extent. IIe was a regular attendant of the Presby- terian church, and in politics an old-line whig. He married Mary Ilagerty, by whom he had a family of ten children. She was a native of Centre county, a devoted mem- ber of the Baptist church, and died in 1855, at the age of forty-nine years.
Warren II. Moore was reared in this county, and obtained a good practical edu- cation in the common schools of his neigh- borhood. After leaving school he became a carpenter's apprentice, and thoroughly learned that trade. To this business, either in the capacity of employee or employer, he has devoted nearly all his active life. In 1868 he removed to Altoona, and has re- sided in this city ever since. During the last eighteen years he has been engaged in contracting and building, since 1885 in part- nership with William Stoke, the well known
planing mill man of Altoona, under the firm name of Stoke & Moore. Their partner- ship extends only to the contracting and building business, and among the many fine structures they have erected in this city, mention may be made of the new gas works, the silk mill, and two of the new brick school houses. Their work is first-class in every particular, and the firm has high standing wherever known, both as regards their ability and their integrity.
On October 29, 1864, Mr. Moore was united in marriage to Jennie Ridenour, a daughter of William Ridenour, of the city of Altoona. To their union has been born a family of eight children, six of whom - two sons and four daughters-are now liv- ing: Elmer T., William A., Jessie M., Mary M., Lizzie R., and Edna H.
On April 20, 1861, Mr. Moore enlisted in Co. B, 3d Pennsylvania infantry, for three months, and September 20th reënlisted in Co. F, 76th regiment, as a sergeant, for three years. He was in active service for a year and six months, stationed most of that time on the coast of South Carolina. IIe was discharged October 17, 1862, at Hilton Head, on account of surgeon's certificate of disability. Politically he is a republican, giving his party a uniform support on Na- tional and State issues, but exercising a degree of independence in local politics. He is a member of Fred C. Ward Post, No. 468, Grand Army of the Republic. In business affairs he is energetic and enter- prising, and ranks among the best citizens of Blair county.
TRA WENTZEL, an enterprising and progressive business man, and a leading merchant of Bellwood and the northwestern part of Blair county, is a son of Daniel and
333
OF BLAIR COUNTY.
Catherine (Campbell) Wentzel, and was born near Sunbury, in Northumberland county, Pennsylvania, November 16, 1850. His pa- ternal grandfather, John Wentzel, was born in one of the eastern counties of Pennsyl- vania during the latter part of the eighteenth century, and settled in Northumberland county when six years of age, where he died in 1845. He learned the trade of stone- mason, which he followed for some time, but his principal employment was contract- ing on stone work and tilling his farm. IIe married, and of his children, Daniel Wentzel (father) was born in 1816, near Sunbury, in Northumberland county. He was reared on the farm, and received a good practical education in the old subscription schools. Leaving school he learned the trade of stonemason with his father, but did not follow it long until he turned his attention to farming and contracting on stone work. In the spring of the year 1855 he removed to Perry county, where he has resided ever since, in a comfortable and well appointed home. Ile is republican in political opinion, has held several of his township offices, and takes considerable interest yet in local pol- ities. He married Catherine Campbell in 1837, a native of Northumberland county, who is now in the seventy-fourth year of her age. To their union were born thirteen children : Harriet, deceased; David, born in 1839, and died in September, 1876; Lu- cinda, born in 1841, and married George Garber, of Blaine, Perry county ; Caroline, now dead; Sinarra, married Anna Kline, served in the 108th Pennsylvania infantry during the late civil war, and is now a resi- dent of Taylor county, Iowa; Mary, wife of Abraham Bistline, a miller of Anderson- burg, Perry county ; Catherine, who died in infancy ; Ira; Dennis, married Lizzie Gut-
shall, and is a farmer near Duncannon, this State; Sarah, married Jacob Loy, a farmer of Andersonburg; John MeL., of Blaine, who married Jennie Bornman; Martha M., wife of George A. Bartley, of Centre, Perry county ; and Anna, married to a Mr. Leiter.
Ira Wentzel passed his boyhood days on the farm, and received his elementary edu- cation in the common schools. He pursued his academic studies at Mt. Dempsey acad- emy, of Landisburg, Perry county, and then entered the Millersville State Normal school of Pennsylvania, from which he was grad- uated in the class of 1874. Before going to Millersville he had. taught several terms in the public schools of Perry and Cumber- land counties, and after graduation he served for one year as principal teacher in the Orphans' home at Loysville, and one and one-half years as principal of the Sol- diers' Orphan school at McAlisterville. At this time his brother, David Wentzel, who was a merchant at Blaine, Perry county, died, and Mr. Wentzel being appointed as his executor, took charge of the store in March, 1877, and conducted it successfully for eleven years. At the end of that time he retired from business until March 1, 1889, when he came to Bellwood and en- gaged in his present general mercantile business. ITis establishment is 25 x 115 feet in dimensions, and he keeps as heavy a stock and as fine an assortment of goods as is to be found in any store outside of a city.
December 30, 1875, Mr. Wentzel married Clara Amanda, daughter of Francis Snyder, of Honey Grove, Juniata county. Their children are: David Eugene, born Septem- ber 20, 1876; Bertha Kuhn, born September 21, 1878; Fannie Araminta, born July 28, 1880; Merrill LeRoy, born February 18, 1882; Lawrence Landis, born April 20,
:
334
BIOGRAPHY AND HISTORY
1884; Clara Leslie, born January 30, 1886; Tra MeClay, born February 12, 1888; Daniel Ileston, born January 8, 1890; and Mary Catherine, born September 29, 1891.
Ira Wentzel takes a deep interest in the material and commercial welfare of Bell- wood. He is vice-president of the Robin- son Machine Company, as well as being interested in several other business enter- prises. He is a member of the Evangelical Lutheran church, and a republican in poli- ties, and has been serving for some time as president of the school board of his borough. Ile is a member of Logan Lodge, No. 490, Free and Accepted Masons; Mountain Chapter, No. 189, Royal Arch Masons; and Mountain Commandery, No. 10, Knights Templar, of Altoona. Mr. Wentzel is a thorough-going and energetic man of ex- ecutive ability and business experience, and has slowly but steadily won his way to a useful, prominent and honorable position in society and business.
I ENRY T. HEINSLING, a resident of
Altoona, and a member of the bar of Blair county in active service, is a son of Tobias and Ann (Hammond) Heinsling, and was born at St. Clairsville, Bedford county, Pennsylvania, January 30, 1851. Tobias Heinsling was born three years be- fore the close of the last century, and grew to manhood in his native province of IIesse Darmstadt, which is now a part of the great German empire ushered into existence by King William and Count Bismarck, who both believed in the unification of Germany. Tobias Heinsling was variously engaged in Germany until he was thirty-five years of age, when, in 1846, he left the Fatherland to cross the dark Atlantic and settle at St.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.