Biographical and portrait cyclopedia of Blair County, Pennsylvania, Part 38

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


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Clairsville, in Bedford county. When he was once settled in his new home he opened a shoe store, which he conducted until his death, which occurred in 1854, when he was in the sixty-seventh year of his age. Ile was reared and trained in the Lutheran faith, and at an early age became a member of the Evangelical Lutheran church, in which he was an active and zealous worker. He became a democrat after he came to the United States, and married Ann Hammond, a native of the city of Philadelphia, who died in Altoona in 1889, at the advanced age of eighty-four years. She was reared a Presbyterian, but afterward united with the Evangelical Lutheran church, of which she was a consistent member until her death.


Henry T. Heinsling spent his boyhood days at St. Clairsville, and received his edu- cation in the common schools and Mission- ary institute of Selinsgrove, Snyder county. In 1875 he resolved upon a professional life, and made choice of jurisprudence. He then left St. Clairsville, and in the same year came to Altoona, where he read law with Neff & Riley. He was admitted to the bar of Blair county in August, 1877, and has been engaged ever since in the practice of his profession in the city of Altoona. He is a conservative democrat in politics, and has served for the last ten years as city clerk. Mr. Heinsling gives careful atten- tion to his cases, and spares no time or pains to advance his clients' interest. IIe has familiarized himself with the different branches of law in which cases are likely to arise in the courts of Blair and adjoining counties, and has grown into a good and de- sirable practice.


On February 20, 1885, Henry T. Hein- sling united in marriage with Sarah C. Lou- don, daughter of John Loudon, of Altoona,


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whose sketch appears elsewhere in this vol- ume. To Mr. and Mrs. Heinsling have been born three children : Juniata, Ruth, and Elizabeth.


H. HALE BROTHERLIN, M. D.,


A. M., a popular young physician of Hollidaysburg, who has been in practice here since 1885, is a son of John and Martha Gregg (Kinne ) Brotherline, and was born in this city, May 30, 1859. The Brother- lines are of German descent. Thomas Brotherline (grandfather) was a native of Huntingdon, this State, but removed to Frankstown at an early day, where he was engaged in the butchering business for many years, and where he died in 1833, aged fifty years. He married Sarah Davis, by whom he had a family of nine children, four sons and five daughters.


John Brotherline (father) was born at Frankstown, in what is now Blair county, in 1812. He received a good common school education, after which he studied law, was admitted to the bar of this county, and for many years practiced his profession in the courts of this and adjoining counties. Ile excelled as a counselor at law. He was also proprietor and editor of the Blair County Whig, which was a warm and zeal- ous advocate of the Whig party, and was recognized as a political force in that day. Its editor was as ardent and eloquent in his support of party measures on the stump as in the columns of his journal. IIe also took an active part in every enterprise calculated to advance the interests of the county, or develop its latent resources and possible in- dustries. He lived in Hollidaysburg nearly ' all his life, and died at his home here in 1879, in the sixty-sixth year of his age.


Ile was eminently a self-made man, having achieved success in the face of adverse cir- cumstances, by untiring industry and a per- severance which eliminated all considera- tions of failure. He served as paymaster, with the rank of major, during the civil war, and was a prominent man in this county for many years. IIe was a life-long member of the Presbyterian church, and was always active in support of the various interests of his church. He married Martha Gregg Kinne, a native of Centre county, this State, who still survives him. To them was born a family of six sons : James Irvin, John, Henry Hale, Davis Willard, Erie Gregg, and Ner. Brotherlin - E. Gregg and II. HIale being the only ones now living. Mrs. Brotherline is of Scotch-Irish descent, a devoted member of the Presbyterian church, and resides in a comfortable and handsome home in the city of Hollidays- burg. Her father was Henry Hale Kinne, he having married Sarah Gregg, a daughter of Andrew Gregg, who was a United States senator.


H. Hale Brotherlin grew to manhood in Hollidaysburg, and received a good English education in the public schools of this city. He afterward attended the Hollidaysburg academy, and took a course of training in Bry- ant & Stratton's Business college, and then entered Princeton college, from which he was graduated in 1880. IIe immediately matriculated at the Jefferson Medical col- lege of Philadelphia, and after three years of earnest and faithful study was graduated from that institution in 1883. Since 1885 he has been actively engaged in the practice of medicine and surgery at Hollidaysburg, in which he has been very successful and has attained a high standing. He is still an earnest student of his profession, and keeps


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thoroughly posted on the experiments and discoveries constantly being made in the field of medical science.


Doctor Brotherlin is a member of the County and State Medical societies, and also of the Academy of Medicine at Altoona. Hle has served as president of the County Medical society, and is now a member of its examining board. He has been physi- cian of the Blair county alms house for several years. He is a member of the Presbyterian church at Hollidaysburg, and of Juniata Lodge, No. 282, Free and Ac- cepted Masons, of which he is now junior warden. He is also a thirty-second de- gree Mason. In politics he is a stanch re- publican, giving that party a hearty support on National and State issues, but inclined toward independence in local polities.


JOHN M. ENZBRENNER, the pro-


prietor of the Empire brewery, of Al- toona, and a member of the Tammany democratic club of that city, was born in Altoona, Blair county, Pennsylvania, on September 8, 1860, and is a son of George J. and Elizabeth (Laubacher) Enzbrenner. The Enzbrenners are of old German stock, and George J. Enzbrenner was born in 1815, in the kingdom of Bavaria, in the southern part of Germany. IIe was reared in his native land, and served an apprenticeship in a brewery. Germany at that time was re- covering from the heavy shock which it had received from the policy of Napoleon Bona- parte prior to the annihilation of his power on the field of Waterloo, and although re- viving industries offered increased opportu- nities for the young and ambitious, yet Mr. Enzbrenner did not accept any situation that was within his grasp, and sought, in


America, for a wider field than what the Fatherland afforded. He landed at New York city in 1849, and in a short time set- tled at Hollidaysburg, where he remained until 1853, when he came to Altoona. He resided there until his death, December 21, 1880, at sixty-five years of age. Soon after coming to Altoona he started the first brew- ery of that place. It was known for many years as the Enzbrenner brewery, and then its name was changed by his son, John M., to that of Empire brewery, by which it is now known. George J. Enzbrenner was a democrat in political opinion, and in relig- ious faith and church membership was a Catholic. His success in the new world justified his wisdom in leaving the shores of the old one. He married Elizabeth Lau- bacher, a native of Wittenburg, Germany, who was born in 1825, and is a consistent member of St. Mary's Catholic church of Altoona, where she resides. Mr. and Mrs. Enzbrenner reared a family of four children, two sons and two daughters.


John M. Enzbrenner grew to manhood in Altoona, and received his education in the public schools of that city. Leaving school he learned the trade of baker, which he fol- lowed from 1877 to 1882, and during a part of that period of time was the proprietor of a first-class bakery. In the last named year his brother Conrad, who had charge of the Enzbrenner brewery, died, and he succeeded him as proprietor of the brewery and changed the name Enzbrenner to Empire, as has been stated before in this sketch. The Empire brewery is at No. 1424 Thir- teenth avenue, and has a capacity of six thousand barrels per year. Mr. Enzbrenner has a very large home trade, and fills many orders from various cities and towns in this and adjoining counties. He seems specially


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qualified for the brewery business, in which he has made quite a reputation for furnish- ing a choice and pure article of beer. In addition to his brewery he owns some very valuable property in Altoona. He is a member and liberal supporter of St. Mary's Catholic church, and has held membership for some time in the celebrated Tammany Democratic club of Altoona. He is an ar- dent democrat, has always been an active supporter of his party, and has strong faith in the future triumphs of its principles.


On May 5, 1884, he married Rose Kiesel, a daughter of Coonrod Kiesel, of Altoona, and their union has been blessed by the birth of four children, two sons and two daughters : John, Barbara, Catherine, and Charles.


JOHN G. WAITE, of Tyrone, whose life was one of usefulness to his community, was a son of John and Esther (Wagoner) Waite, and was born in Sinking valley, in what is now Tyrone township, Blair ( then Huntingdon ) county, Pennsylvania, June 20, 1824. John Waite was born in 1787, in the celebrated Sinking valley, when it was yet in Bedford and just shortly before it became a part of Huntingdon county. He was one of the carly farmers of his sec- tion, and died in 1830, at the age of forty- nine years. He married Esther Wagoner, and to their union was born a family of seven children, four sons and three daugh- ters : Daniel, who died in 1865; Mary, who married Jacob Stover; Abram, see his sketch which appears in this volume; John G .; Henry, now dead; Eva, who married George W. Walters, of Altoona, where they now reside; and Esther, wife of D. S. Week- land, a resident of the city of Altoona. After the death of Mr. Waite, in 1830, Mrs.


Waite and the family remained in Sinking valley until 1837, when they removed to Shaffer's Creek, and subsequently to Eden valley, near Spruce Creek, where she passed away in 1874, when in the seventy-eighth year of her age.


John G. Waite was but six years of age when his father died, and was reared by his mother in Sinking and Eden valleys. He received a good common school education, and then commenced the battle of life for himself. After his marriage, in 1850, he settled on what is known as the Hunting- don Furnace farm, which he tilled until 1860, when he purchased a well improved farm in Warrior's Mark valley. IIe con- ducted that farm very successfully up to 1885, in which year he removed to Tyrone, where he resided until his death, in 1891.


On March 27, 1850, John G. Waite was married to Isabella Henderson, of Spruce Creek, this State, by Rev. George Guyer, who is now dead. Mr. and Mrs. Waite were the parents of four children, one son and three daughters: Robert HI., who died in 1865, at the early age of thirteen years; Anna M., who married Frank L. Peck, a native of Kansas, and they reside on the old home farm in Warrior's Mark township; Margaret E., and Drusilla B., who are at home. Mrs. Isabella Waite is a daughter of David Henderson, who was born June 30, 1789, in Half Moon valley, Pennsyl- vania, and died at Spruce Creek in 1882, when lacking but seven years of being a centenarian. He was a farmer by occupa- tion, a democrat in politics, and always took an active part in the Methodist Episcopal church, of which he was a prominent and honored member. He held the office of school director for several terms, and mar- ried Margaret Conrad, by whom he had


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nine children, five sons and four daughters : Elizabeth, who married Daniel Waite, of Eden valley ; Robert L., a farmer, of Spruce Creek; Mrs. Isabella Waite; Miss Mary Ilenderson, of Tyrone; Thomas K., a resi- dent of Union Furnace, this State; Sam- uel C., now a resident of Eden valley ; Mar- garet, wife of Samuel Dysart, of the State of Illinois; John M. (deceased); and David P., who lives on the Henderson home farm at Spruce Creek.


John G. Waite was a very practical and prosperous business man. In agricultural pursuits, which he followed mainly during his life, he was very successful. He was an earnest and active member of the Methodist Episcopal church for over thirty years, and at the time of his death was serving as a trustee of the First church of that denomi- nation at Tyrone. He was severely afflicted with inflammatory rheumatism from 1872 until November 2, 1891, when death re- leased him from his sufferings, and his spirit passed from time to eternity. His funeral services were impressively conducted by his pastor, Rev. R. H. Gilbert, and Dr. B. B. Ilamlin, presiding elder of the Altoona dis- triet, assisted by his former pastors, Rev. G. D. Pennypacker, of Clearfield, and Rev. George Leidy, of Huntingdon. His re- mains rest in a beautiful lot in Tyrone cemetery, and his memory is fondly cher- ished by his family and relatives, and the large circle of friends to whom he was en- deared by many kind acts and a Christian lite.


HARLES M. ROBINSON, a member of the architectural firm of Smith & Robinson, at Altoona, and a young man who has already distinguished himself in his profession, is the only son of James T.


and Elizabeth ( Crockett ) Robinson, and was born at Hamilton, Virginia, March 3, 1866. Samuel Turner Robinson (grandfather ) was a native of Virginia, and the family can be traced back in that State to times ante-dating the war of the revolution. It occupied a position of respectability and honor in the early annals of that Commonwealth. James T. Robinson (father) was born in Fauquier county, Virginia, and now resides at Bell- wood, this county, where he is manager of the Robinson Machine Company, which is engaged in the manufacture of the patent electric street railway trucks. This won- derful invention was patented and is now entirely controlled by Mr. Robinson, and in addition to its manufacture, his company produces all kinds of machinery and iron work. He married Elizabeth Crockett, by whom he had a family of two children, one son and a daughter : Charles M., the subject of this sketch, and Nellie, living at home with her parents.


Charles M. Robinson received his educa- tion in the high school at Welland, Ontario, Canada, and afterward took a special course in civil engineering. After completing his education, he entered the employ of the Beech Creek Railroad Company as time- keeper, where he remained one year, and then, removing to Michigan, entered the office of D. S. Hopkins, an architect at Grand Rapids, where he applied himself to the practical study of architecture. IIe became familiar, not only with the various styles wrought out by the master builders of past ages, but with the principles underlying the beauty and utility of each, and the best work done by modern designers of business - structures and palatial residences. After leaving Michigan, he spent one year in the office of Architect Peebles, at Pittsburg, this


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Charles M. Salinas


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OF BLAIR COUNTY.


State, and then, in 1889, formed a partner- ship with George T. Smith, under the firm name of Smith & Robinson, architects, at Altoona, and has ever since been successfully engaged in the practice of his profession in this city. He is also a director in the Robin- son Machine Company, of Bellwood.


On June 24, 1891, Mr. Robinson was united in marriage with Annie W. Custer, a daughter of B. F. Custer, of Altoona, chief clerk in the motive power department of the Pennsylvania railroad. Mr. Robinson is too much absorbed in business to give much attention to practical politics. He is a member of Mountain Lodge, No. 281, Free and Accepted Masons.


The firm of which Mr. Robinson is a member, although young in years, has now an assured standing in its line, and presents a record of unusual success. They have recently closed a successful contest for fur- nishing plans for the new Blair county alms house, in which their competitors were such distinguished architects as Lonsdale, of Philadelphia, who drew the successful plans for the Pennsylvania world's fair building at Chicago; and A. S. Wagoner, of Wil- liamsport, whose plans for the same build- ing won second prize from the world's fair commissioners. The drawings for the Blair county alms house, which won the firm this victory, were made by Mr. Robinson per- sonally. Soon after the Johnstown flood, this vigorous young firm opened a branch office in that town, where they have done work calculated to reflect credit on the pro- fession. Among their triumphs may be mentioned the Johnstown Opera house, and Markleton sanitarium, which are as com- plete and perfect in their way as any struc- ture in central Pennsylvania. The school buildings of Altoona and Johnstown, Ty-


rone Opera house, and the magnificent stone residence of Charles Von Lunen, have won them deserved reputation. They have done all architectural work for the school board of Altoona since the organization of the firm. They are wide-awake, up with the times, energetic in business, enthusiasts about their profession, and may be depended on to maintain the high rank they have achieved, and become more widely known with every passing year.


p H. KELLY, of Altoona, is the special representative for central Pennsyl- vania of the Penn Mutual Life Insurance Company of Philadelphia, and city editor of the Altoona Times. He was born on the 15th of August, 1863, in County Don- egal, province of Ulster, in northwestern Ireland, and is a son of James and Margaret Kelly.


He was reared in his native land until he was thirteen years of age, in 1876, when he came to the United States. He received his education in the National schools of Ire- land, the parochial schools of Altoona, and St. Mary's academy, of Marion, Kentucky. Leaving school, he learned the trade of ma- chinist in the Altoona machine shops of the Pennsylvania Railroad Company, in whose employ he remained until 1890. In that year he quit his trade to accept service with the Penn Mutual Life Insurance Company of Philadelphia, and was given a position in their New York city office, where he showed such aptitude for the insurance business that he soon, by close application and study, mastered its principles and the successful methods of its management. Ile was then sent back to Altoona as a special agent for an important district composed of


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BIOGRAPHY AND HISTORY


six counties of central Pennsylvania. He has served in that position faithfully and efficiently ever since.


P. H. Kelly is a member of St. John's Catholic church of Altoona, of Alpha Branch, No. 598, Catholic Knights of Amer- ica, and of Columbus Branch, No. 120, Young Men's Institute. He is a member of the Emerald Beneficial association of Altoona, and although but a young man, yet he has served seven years as an officer of the Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania of that organization. He is a democrat in poli- ties, and while giving a hearty and active support to the cardinal principles of his party, yet does not allow any detail of his extensive business to suffer by neglect of inattention on his part. On April 15, 1892, he accepted the position of city editor of the Times, and in that capacity has shown great aptitude as a journalist. He has traveled extensively, and few men enjoy a larger acquaintanceship in professional, busi- ness and social spheres. Prompt, accurate and reliable, Mr. Kelly is making a success out of his valuable and important business.


A LFRED A. SMITH, a resident of Ty-


rone, and senior member of the mer- cantile firm of Smith & Son, is a son of Jacob and Ann (Baird ) Smith, and was born in Logan valley, Blair county, Penn- sylvania, February 21, 1837. The Smith family in Blair county was founded by John Smith, the paternal grandfather of the sub- ject of this sketch. John Smith was born near Hagerstown, in western Maryland, where he was an extensive farmer for sev- eral years. He came to Logan valley in 1807, served as a soldier in the war of 1812, and died near the city of Altoona in 1850,


when about eighty years of age. He was an old-line whig in polities, a farmer by occupation, and a member and officer of the Methodist Episcopal church, in whose in- terest he was always an active and promi- nent worker. His son, Jacob Smith ( father), was born in Maryland, February 25, 1805, and was brought, at two years of age, by his parents, to Logan valley, where he was reared, educated, and resided until his death, which occurred September 18, 1883, at seventy-eight years of age. His princi- pal business was farming in Logan valley, in which his family were among the early settlers. He was an old-line whig and re- publican in politics, and was a Methodist in religious belief and church membership. Like his father before him, he was an officer and active worker in his church for its ad- vancement, and the dissemination of Chris- tianity in the community. In 1825 he wedded Ann Baird, daughter of John Baird, of Frankstown, and who died in 1863, aged fifty-six years. Mr. and Mrs. Smith reared a family of six children, four sons and two daughters : Elizabeth, now dead; John A., who resides in the city of Altoona, where he is engaged in the general merchandise busi- ness; Allen D., enlisted in Co. I, 110th Pennsylvania infantry, at Hollidaysburg, in March, 1865, and died in Louisville, Ken- tucky, on June 23, 1865, from disease con- tracted in the Federal army; Martin, now dead; Alfred A .; and Lucinda (deceased).


Alfred A. Smith grew to manhood in Logan valley and received a good common school education in his native township. Ile then attended an academy for a short time and engaged in teaching, which he followed for eight consecutive winters. At the end of that time, in 1863, he embarked in farming in Logan valley, and after an


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OF BLAIR COUNTY.


experience of five years as a farmer he came, in August, 1868, to Tyrone, where he en- gaged in the grocery business with his cousin, D. A. Smith, under the firm name of D. A. Smith & Co. The firm afterward became Smith & Gray, when Z. B. Gray succeeded D. A. Smith, and continued as such until 1884. In that year Mr. Gray retired, and Mr. Smith admitted his son, A. Edwin, as a partner, under the present firm name of A. A. Smith & Son. They have a large and remunerative trade, and carry in . stock staple and fancy groceries, canned goods, delicacies, and confectionery, besides provisions and dried fruits. Mr. Smith is an energetic and practically experienced business man, and knowing the wants of his patrons has successfully sought to meet them in the careful selection of his well assorted stock. His store is at No. 20 Tenth street, and has been arranged to meet the demands of his business.


In politics Mr. Smith is a republican, and has served for the last three years as presi- dent of the school board, and two years pre- vious as a member of the town council. In religious belief he is a Methodist, and has been for several years a member, steward, and class leader of the First Methodist Episco- pal church of Tyrone. He is a member and past grand of Tyrone Lodge, No. 152, Inde- pendent Order of Odd Fellows, and a mem- ber and past grand patriarch of Encamp- ment No. 279, of the same order. He has been diligent and successful in business, is a man of sound judgment and known integ- rity, and as a town officer has always been faithful in the discharge of his duties.


On December 27, 1859, Alfred A. Smith married Amelia Turnbaugh, daughter of Heury and Catherine Turnbaugh, of Logan valley. Mr. and Mrs. Smith have eight


children, six sons and two daughters: T. Clark, a printer in the Herald office ; Judson S., now engaged in the drug business in Tyrone; A. Edwin, in the grocery business with his father; Anna -M .; Bertha J .; Harry M., a druggist; Jesse G., a clerk in the postoffice; and Amber G.


JOHN FLANIGAN, a contractor and builder of Altoona, whose skill and ability is seen in many of the substantial structures in this city, and who is otherwise identified with the business interests of the Mountain City, is a son of James and Mary (Deven) Flanigan, and was born June 29, 1840, in county Louth, Ireland. His father and mother were both natives of the Emerald Isle, and resided in their native land until 1853, when they emigrated to the United State, and in June of that year located at Altoona, Blair county, Pennsylvania. Here they lived until death closed their earthly career. James Flanigan (father) died at his home here, October 18, 1886, aged seventy-two years. Ile was a member of the Roman Catholic church, in politics a straight democrat, and a laborer by occu- pation. By his marriage to Mary Deven he had a family of seven children. She was a member of the Catholic church, and died May 1, 1880, aged sixty-seven years.




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