USA > Pennsylvania > Blair County > Biographical and portrait cyclopedia of Blair County, Pennsylvania > Part 42
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
Harry Slep was twice married. His first
wife was Mary C. Daugherty, a native of Harrisburg, this State. The ceremony took place at Carlisle, Pennsylvania, in 1856. They had three children : Alice May, Will S. II., and Edward J. Mrs. Slep died at Harrisburg, December 31, 1862. ITis second marriage took place at Altoona, September 17, 1871, choosing for his help-meet Mrs. Anna M. Humes, a resident of the city, and who had one son, G. Humes, by her first husband, James Humes, deceased. To this last marriage were born four children : Daniel N., Frederick B., Cora Campbell, and Mary Catherine, all of whom are living except Frederick B., who died when two years of age.
Mr. Slep joined the Methodist church at Harrisburg in 1850, and at present is a deacon in the Second Presbyterian church of Altoona, having joined this church when he married the second time, his wife having been then and is now a member of that church.
ANIEL SNIVELY, a prosperous farmer of Woodbury township, and who served as a Union soldier before Peters- burg and Richmond during the late civil war, is a son of Christian and Barbara (Beyers) Snively, and was born in Wood- bury township, Blair county, Pennsylvania, January 16, 1846. The Snivelys were early settlers in the Shenandoah valley, Virginia, where the paternal great-grandfather of Mr. Snively owned nearly all the land of one county, but during the revolutionary war he took part in favor of the English govern- ment, and his land and property were con- fiscated by the Virginia authorities. IIe then removed to Franklin county, this State, and afterward came to Woodbury township, where he purchased one hundred
367
OF BLAIR COUNTY.
and sixty acres of land of Captain Phillips, one of the first settlers of the Juniata valley. Ile died in 1829, aged ninety-one years. Ilis son, Rev. Jacob Snively (grandfather), was born in Maryland, and crossed the mountains by a bridle path to Woodbury township, where he settled and cleared out a large farm. He married Barbara Rhodes and reared a family of six children : George R., Christian, David, Susan, who is seventy years of age and resides on the home farm ; Mary, and Elizabeth, widow of Abraham Shelley, of Harmon, Carroll county, Illinois. Rev. Jacob Snively learned the trade of miller at Chambersburg, this State, and came to Woodbury township, where he died in 1860, aged seventy-nine years. He was a whig in politics, and served for many years as a minister in the River Brethren church, in which he ranked as one of the ablest and most influential men of that re- ligious denomination. He also was a prom- inent man in his township and in civil affairs. His son, Christian Snively (father), was born in 1809 on the home farm, where he died in 1872, aged sixty-three years. He was a farmer by occupation, and in 1861 left the Democratic party to become a re- publican. He married Barbara Beyers, who died October 26, 1861, at the age of forty-eight years. They reared a family of eight children, of whom six are living: Benjamin, of Martinsburg ; Daniel; Samuel; Mary A., wife of Samuel Sparr; Abraham, of Denver, Colorado; and Elizabeth.
Daniel Snively was reared on the home farm, received his education in the common schools of Woodbury township, and then engaged in farming, which he has followed successfully ever since. In August, 1864, Mr. Snively enlisted, at Williamsburg, in Captain Shollar's company (B), 208th Penn-
sylvania infantry, and participated in the battle of Fort Steadman and the charge on Fort Mahone. He was honorably dis- charged from the Federal service at Alex- andria, Virginia, on June 1, 1865, and re- turned to his farm. Mr. Snively is a repub- lican in politics, and has always been an ardent advocate of the cause of prohibition. He is a member of Williamsburg Evangel- ical Lutheran church, R. M. Johnson Post, No. 474, Grand Army of the Republic, and a member and steward of Clover Creek Grange, No. 791, Patrons of Husbandry.
In 1871 Daniel Snively married Mary A. Sorrich, daughter of George W. and Nancy Sorrich, of Woodbury township. To Mr. and Mrs. Snively have been born four chil- dren, three sons and one daughter: Orville C., Austin C., Herman I., and Lulu F.
C ALVIN B. BARTLEY, a prominent and substantial, merchant, and one of the self-made men of Altoona, is a son of Cornelius and Margaret ( Castner ) Bartley, and was born in Juniata county, Pennsyl- vania, April 4, 1832. Cornelius Bartley, whose birthday was in the initial year of the present century, was a native of central. Pennsylvania. He was of German descent, and settled, at an early age, in Juniata county, where he followed his trade of carpenter until 1840, when he engaged in farming. IIe met with fair success in agri- cultural pursuits, and died in 1848, when in the forty-eighth year of his age. IIe was an old-time democrat, and a strict mem- ber of the Evangelical Lutheran church, and married Margaret Castner, a native of Juniata county, who preceded him to the tomb by three years. She died in 1845, when in the forty-third year of her age.
368
BIOGRAPHY AND HISTORY
-
-
Calvin B. Bartley was reared on a farm, received his education in the common schools, and at seventeen years of age, be- came an apprentice to learn the trade of carpenter. When his term of apprentice- ship was ended, he engaged in carpentering and contracting, which he followed success- fully, at various places in Juniata county, until 1880, but worked principally at Mif- fintown. In the last named year he came to Altoona, where, in December, 1891, he opened his present general mercantile house and heavily-stocked feed store. His estab- lishment is a brick structure, on the corner of Third avenue and Fourth street, which he erected in the fall of 1891. He carries choice lines of general merchandise, from dry goods down to groceries, and keeps constantly on hand large quantities of all kinds of feed. The quality of his goods, with reasonable prices and courteous atten- tion, has won him patronage, and he is fast building up an extensive and excellent trade in the city, as well as securing many patrons from the surrounding country.
On November 24, 1859, he married Sarah A. Duffield, daughter of Thomas Duffield, of Perry county. Mr. and Mrs. Bartley have nine children, four sons and five daughters: Charles S., Thomas B., Harry S., U. S. Grant (resident of Pittsburg), Annie, wife of John C. Saylor, of Altoona; Mary A., married to Levi II. Goshen, of Altoona; Laura, wife of William Lauver, of Juniata county; Jennie M., married to Frank S. Moore, of Altoona; and Lottie. Three of the sous are residents of Altoona, where they are engaged in contracting and building.
Calvin B. Bartley is a republican, and a member of the Methodist Episcopal church of Altoona, and Mifflintown Lodge, No. 131,
Independent Order of Odd Fellows. He owns some very valuable real estate, has erected three very fine buildings at his place of business, and some years ago built the largest and most complete barn to be found to-day in Juniata county. He still follows contracting, to some extent, and has erected quite a number of substantial, as well as some very fine buildings, since embarking in the general mercantile busi- ness. Mr. Bartley is a pleasant and ap- proachable gentleman, and has achieved success by his own energy and industry.
THOMAS O. RHODES, a well known
painter and reliable citizen of Altoona, was born in Mifflin county, Pennsylvania, July 26, 1854, and is a son of Michael and Mary (Wilson ) Rhodes. The Rhodes' are of German extraction. Peter Rhodes (grandfather ) was born in the eastern part of the Keystone State, and became one of the early settlers of Mifflin county, where he took up a tract of forest land and soon changed it into a fine farm. Passing through the scenes of a busy life, he died in Mifflin county in 1864, at the ripe old age of ninety-four years. During his life he cleared two hundred and fifty acres of land, and performed nearly all the labor therein in- curred himself. In religious sentiment he was a faithful member of the Presbyterian church, and was highly respected as a man of honor and merit. Michael Rhodes (father) was also born in Mifflin county, where he resided until the spring of 1872. IIe then removed to Altoona, where he re- sided until 1890, when he died, at the advanced age of seventy-five years. By occupation he was a farmer, and stood high as an honest and industrious man. In
- ---
محـ
369
OF BLAIR COUNTY.
religious belief he was a member of the United Brethren church, and always gave a loyal support to the Democratic party. IIe married Mary Wilson, a native of Hunting- don county, and a member of the same church as himself. She died in 1886, at the age of sixty-two years.
Thomas O. Rhodes was born and reared in Mifflin county, and received his edu- cation in the common schools. Leav- ing school, he learned the trade of painter, which he followed until 1883, when he removed to Roanoke, Virginia. Spend- ing four years in the sunny south, he re- turned to Pennsylvania and resumed his trade, in which he has ever since been engaged. Possessed with energy and per- severance, he commands an extensive trade, and has become the owner of a pleasant home in the Mountain City. He also owns a paper store at No. 1013, Eighth avenue, where he keeps in stock a full line of all de- signs of wall paper.
On May 13, 1880, Mr. Rhodes united in marriage with Martha Westly, a daughter of George Westly, of Bellwood, Blair county.
In religious affairs Thomas O. Rhodes takes an active part in the interests of the Methodist Episcopal church, of which he is now a trustee. He has always supported the Democratic party, and is a member of Centennial Castle, No. 204, Knights of the Golden Eagle. He resides at No. 916 First avenue, and is surrounded by everything essential to make his home comfortable and happy.
C LINTON W. SAUSSER, the well known marble dealer at Tyrone, who ranks among the useful and highly re- spected citizens of Blair county, is a son of
Willam J. and Sarah A. (Motter ) Sausser, and was born at Berrysburg, Dauphin county, Pennsylvania, November 9, 1857. The Saussers are of German extraction, but the family has been resident of Pennsylva- nia for many generations. Jonathan Saus- ser (grandfather) was born in Berks county, this State, but in early manhood removed to Dauphin county, where he is yet living, hale and hearty, at the good old age of ninety years. He is a farmer, and has de- voted most of his long life to agricultural pursuits, but for a time was engaged in the marble and coach manufacturing business at Berrysburg. In politics he is a denio- crat, and in church membership a Lutheran. He has been twice married, first wedding Rebecca Miller, by whom he had a family of nine children, four sons and five daugh- ters. She died in 1871, at the age of sixty- six years, and some time later Mr. Sausser united in marriage with Mrs. Julia Lentz, and to this latter union were born two daughters. William J. Sausser ( father ) was born at Berrysburg, June 20, 1835, and re- sided there until April 2, 1866, when he came to Tyrone, this county, where he died on the 22d of October, 1880. IIe was a marble cutter by trade, and was in partner- ship with his father while in Berrysburg, under the style of Sausser & Son. After moving to Tyrone, he engaged in the same business, and owned and operated the works alone until 1879, when his son, C. W. Saus- ser, became his partner, under the firm name of W. J. Sausser & Son. Since his father's death the son has carried on the business in his own name, dealing extensively in both foreign and domestic marbles and granites. William J. Sausser was a democrat, and served as assessor of Tyrone for two terms. He was a member of the Evangelical Luth-
370
BIOGRAPHY AND HISTORY
eran church at Tyrone, and was the organ- izer and first superintendent of the Lutheran Sabbath school at that place. Ile was always prominent and active in church work, and married Sarah A. Motter, by whom he had a family of six children, four sons and two daughters. Joseph Motter (maternal grandfather) was a native of Lebanon county, this State, but removed from there to Dauphin county, where he died in 1860. IIe was a shoemaker by trade, and followed that occupation all his life. IIe was a whig and republican in politics, and a member of the Evangelical association in religion. Ile married Cath- erine Yarger, and reared a family of four children, three daughters and a son.
Clinton W. Sausser was reared principally at Tyrone, and received a good common school education in the public schools of that town, after which he took a course of training in the Iron City Business college at Pittsburg, from which institution he was graduated July 3, 1875. He learned the trade of marble cutter, and after becoming a member of the firm of W. J. Sausser & Son, had the general management of the business of that firm until his father's death, since which, as before stated, he has continued the business, and has been very successful. His work is always first-class, and his trade has become large and re- munerative.
In 1875, March 25th, Mr. Sausser was united in marriage with Elizabeth Bell, a daughter of Thomas Bell, of Huntingdon county, and their union has been blessed by the birth of two children, both daughters, named Mary B. and Sarah E.
In his political affiliations Mr. Sausser is a democrat, like his father, and has served as a member of the city council of Tyrone
two years. He is a member of the Luth- eran church of Tyrone, and two years ago was made a deacon in that church. He is a member of Tyrone Lodge, No. 152, Inde- pendent Order of Odd Fellows, and of the Royal Arcanum, serving in the latter organ- ization as treasurer for a time, just after its formation, January 7, 1885. Ile is also a member of Tyrone Council, No. 943, Royal and Select Masters.
WILLIAM R. SMITH, the present alderman from the Third ward of Altoona, and who served as a Union soldier during the late civil war, in the western armies, is a son of Dr. Samuel Haller and Mary (Rupley ) Smith, and was born near the borough of Woodbury, in Woodbury township, Bedford county, Pennsylvania, April 16, 1844. The Smith family has been resident of central Pennsylvania for over a century. The paternal grandfather of William R. Smith removed to Juniata county, where he purchased a farm, and was engaged in clearing it out when he was stricken down by typhoid fever and died. He was a hard-working man, a con- sistent member of the German Baptist, or Dunkard church, and had married some years before his death. His son, Dr. Samuel Haller Smith (father), was born near Me- Callistersville, Juniata county, October 29, 1811. IIe read medicine with Dr. Nealy, was graduated from the old Pennsylvania Medical college, of Philadelphia, in 1830, and then returned to Woodbury, Bedford county, where he has been in active prac- tice ever since, and ranks high as a physi- cian. Dr. Smith ( of whom a fuller account will be found in the biography of Dr. Albert S. Smith ) is a democrat, a member of the
371
OF BLAIR COUNTY.
Dunkard church, and married Mary Rupley, who was born October 16, 1815. They were the parents of eight children, of whom three sons and two daughters are living : Calvin, who married Matilda Davis; Car- rie; William R .; Anna, wife of Dr. I. N. Bowser, of Martinsburg; and Dr. Albert S., whose sketch appears in this volume.
William R. Smith grew to manhood at Woodbury. He had before him, in the career of his father, an example of industry and worth that was the best object lesson to be learned by any developing youth. Hle received his education in the public schools of Woodbury, and Martinsburg col- legiate institute. Leaving school, he re- solved upon a business life, and in order to more fully qualify himself for the financial management of whatever commercial enter- prise he might embark in, he entered, in 1863, the Iron City Business college of Pittsburg, this State, from which he was graduated the same year. He then went to Chicago, where he became a clerk in a mercantile house, but in a few months left the store to serve as a soldier under the flag of his country. He enlisted in 1864, as a private, in Co. F, 134th Illinois infantry, and served until the close of the war, when he was honorably discharged, in 1865, at Camp Fry, Chicago. His regiment was stationed in the State of Kentucky during his term of service. After the close of the war he came to Altoona, and embarked in the general mercantile business, which he followed continuously and successfully for eight years. In 1890 he was elected as alderman for the Third ward, and has served acceptably in that position ever since. Mr. Smith is a republican in poli- ties, and a member of Fred C. Ward post, No. 468, Grand Army of the Republic, and
Juniata Lodge, No. 246, Ancient Order of United Workmen, and the order of Solon.
On the 23d' of February, 1869, Mr. Smith was united in marriage with Anna Confer, daughter of Samuel Confer, of Altoona. Mr. and Mrs. Smith have five children - three sons and two daughters: Edwin, An- nie M., Albert C., Samuel HI., and Louise C.
SAMUEL SHUFF, one of the reliable citizens and prosperous merchants of the city of Altoona, is a son of Jonathan and Mary ( Airhart ) Shuff, and was born near Frederick city, Frederick county, Maryland, January 9, 1824. The Shuff's and Airharts are of German descent. Wil- liam Airhart (maternal grandfather) was born in Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, in 1759, removed to Maryland, and after- wards to Virginia, where he resided for a time, and then returned to Lancaster county, in which he died, at Columbia, in June, 1861, at the remarkable age of one hundred and two years. He was a member of a very old German family of the United States, was a moulder by trade, and a mem- ber of church. Jonathan Shuff (father), who was a native of Frederick county, Maryland, died in that county in 1826. He was a whig in politics, and was em- ployed by a furnace company. He married Mary Airhart, by whom he had three children. Mrs. Shuff was born at Newton, Frederick county, Virginia, was a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, and passed away on the old homestead in Fred- erick county, Maryland, June 2, 1862, when in the sixty-ninth year of her age.
Samuel Shuff was reared principally in Maryland, received his education in the common schools, and after leaving school,
372
BIOGRAPHY AND HISTORY
learned the iron moulder's trade, at which he worked in Baltimore, Maryland, and Richmond, Virginia, until 1865, when he came to Altoona and entered the shops of the Pennsylvania Railroad Company, for whom he worked until 1885. In 1883 he embarked in the general mercantile busi- ness, which was conducted by his two sons until 1885, when Mr. Shuff left the employ of the railroad company and took charge of the store. He first opened his store in the lower part of his dwelling house, but has since erected a frame store building on the same lot. He has a good stock of gen- eral merchandise, and an increasing and lucrative trade. ITis residence and store are situated on Fourth avenue, between Fifteenth and Sixteenth streets, and this part of the city was all woods when he first settled here. Mr. Shuff is of that class of reliable and industrious men whose aim in life is to succeed by honorable and honest means, and has, by patient industry and untiring perseverance, acquired a compe- tency and an honorable position in his community. He is a republican in politics, and is an attendant and contributor of the Methodist Episcopal church, of which his family are members. During the late war, as he was a Union man, he had some trouble in escaping from Richmond to Washington city.
On the 29th of December, 1859, Mr. Shoff married Susan A., daughter of Wil- liam and Helen B. ( Stevens) Camack, formerly of the state of New York, but then residents of Richmond, Virginia. This union has been blessed with five children, three sons and two daughters: Samuel E., who was born in Richmond, Virginia, Wil- liam C., born in Baltimore, Maryland; and John E., married Mamie K. Shotts, a native
of Kentucky, and is a resident of Washing -. ton city ; Annie E., and Harriet V., all born in Altoona. William Camaek was born at Newburg, New York, January 12, 1806, and died at Oilville, Virginia, June 13, 1887. Ile was a cotton manufacturer, but during the latter years of his life he was engaged in the milling business. Mrs. Shuff's grandfather, William Camack, was born in County Down, Ireland, April 1, 1776, and came to the United States in 1800. Ile was a soldier in the war of 1812, being stationed at West Point. Mrs. Shuff's, maternal grandfather, James L. Stevens, was of French extraction, but was born in the United States. Ife was a sol- dier in the war of 1812, and was at the bombardment of Ft. McHenry, where he he was one of the nine Americans that were wounded.
JOHN D. LOVE, a prosperous merchant of Hollidaysburg, and a wounded veteran of the Army of the Potomac, is a son of William and Eliza (Dean) Love, and was born near the village of Water Street, Hunt- ingdon county, Pennsylvania, November 23, 1835. Like so many other sturdy and pioneer families of central Pennsylvania, the Love family is of Scotch-Irish descent. Three generations back, the paternal grand- father of John D. Love removed from his native valley of Kiscoquillus to Huntingdon county, where he was engaged for several years in farming, and where he died. He married and reared a family, and one of his sons was William Love (father), who re- moved in 1836 to Woodbury township, this county. Like his father before him, he gave his time to farming, in which he met with good results. Ile died in 1840, aged forty years. He was an old-line whig, a
-----
٠٠٢٠٠
Hans B. L. Hewitt
375 //
OF BLAIR COUNTY.
strict member of the Presbyterian church, and married Eliza Dean, of Huntingdon county, who had been an earnest, enthusi- astic and working member of the Presby- terian church for over thirty-five years, and passed away from earth in 1846, when in the fifty-first year of her age. She was a granddaughter of John Dean, who, with his father, was among the early settlers of Huntingdon county.
John D. Love spent his boyhood days on a farm near Williamsburg, and received his education in the common schools of Penn- sylvania. Leaving school he was engaged in farming until 1862, when he enlisted for nine months as a soldier in Co. D, 125th regiment, Pennsylvania volunteers. He was wounded, at Chancellorsville, in the head by a piece of a shell. From the battle field he was removed to Lincoln hospital, in Washington city, and after he had partly recovered was sent to Harrisburg, this State, where he was honorably discharged from the United States service, on May 1, 1863. From 1863 to 1868 Mr. Love was engaged in farming, and in the latter named year he commenced contracting, which he followed for ten years. In 1878 he came to Holli- daysburg and ran as a conductor, for seven years, on a work train from Altoona to Williamsburg. At the end of that time, in 1885, he engaged in the grocery business. In 1891 he erected his present large brick residence and store-room on Allegheny street, where he resides and gives his time and attention to his grocery business. His room is large and conveniently arranged, and well stocked with all the essentials and luxuries in his line of trade which are needed or used by his numerous patrons.
In 1874 he married Mary E. Donalley, daughter of John Donalley, of this county.
John D. Love is a republican in politics, and a member and trustee of the Presby- terian church. He has been a member of the Grand Army of the Republic for several years, and is a pleasant and courteous, although a quiet and reserved man, who stands well with all who know him.
H ON. BENJAMIN L. HEWIT, ex-
speaker of the house of representatives of Pennsylvania, and a prominent and act- ive member of the Blair county bar, is well and favorably known throughout the State as a man of ability and integrity, and has long been recognized by the Republican party as one of its most safe and popular leaders. He is a son of Nicholas and Mary (Murphy) Hewit, and was born at Peters- burg, Huntingdon county, Pennsylvania, June 4, 1833. He is of German and Scotch- Irish parentage, tracing his ancestry on his paternal side through his great-grandfather, Nicholas Hewit, to an ancestor who left the Fatherland. to settle in the province of Penn, while his maternal grandparents, Murphy, who both died at an advanced age, were of that wonderful Scotch-Irish Pres- byterian race so prominent in the early set- tlement and history of central and western Pennsylvania. Nicholas Hewit, sr., served in the revolutionary war from Berks county, and afterward removed to West township, Huntingdon county, where he died in 1837, and where his remains to-day sleep in Manor Hill cemetery. His son, David Hewit (grandfather), married Elizabeth Graffius, a descendant of the famous pio- neer, Martin Nicholas Graffius, who was born May 2, 1722, and died May 20, 1790. They were early settlers in the Juniata val- ley, and of their children one was Nicholas
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.