USA > Pennsylvania > Blair County > Biographical and portrait cyclopedia of Blair County, Pennsylvania > Part 50
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Ilis wife was Ann Aultz, a native of Miffli county, who is now dead, dying in he eighty-second year, and had nearly all he life been a devoted member of the churc to which her husband belongs. She was c Scotch-Irish descent.
William Worth Dunmire grew to man hood on the farm owned by his father il Mifflin county. He was familiar with farn work, and always ready to bear his part ir any necessary labor. His early education was obtained in the common schools of hi; native county, and later he received a class ical training at Dickinson seminary, Wil liamsport, Pennsylvania. After leaving school he studied at home for one year, and in 1871 entered the ministry of the Meth odist Episcopal church at Carlisle, Pennsyl vania, becoming a member of the Centra Pennsylvania conference. Ile traveled ar an itinerant minister for a period of sixteer years, becoming acquainted with every phase of the work of his church, and hac signal success on all his charges. In 1882 he embarked in journalism, establishing the Williamsburg Independent while pastor of the Williamsburg Methodist Episcopal church. A little later he began the publi- cation of the Bellwood Independent, while pastor of the Methodist church at Bellwood. which he continued for over three years. On May 8, 1885, he issued the first number of the Evening Independent, at Altoona, which, from the start, became a lively and strong paper, and he is now engaged in the publication of a daily and weekly paper in that city known as the Independent Loyal American. As a writer he is terse and vig- orous, and his newspaper work has become known as among the best in this part of the State.
On Sunday, July 30, 1870, Mr. Dunmire
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was united in marriage to Rosa C. Vail, a daughter of Dr. Steven M. Vail, formerly a resident of one of the New England States, the founder of the first theological seminary in the United States, and during the presi- deney of General Grant was consul at Ba- varia, Germany. To this union has been born a family of eight children, five sons and three daughters: Harvey, Benson, Mary, Emma, Ida, Willie and Charlie (twins), and Roy. Mrs. Rosa C. Dunmire was educated at Dickinson seminary, Wil- liamsport, Pennsylvania, graduating from that institution in 1869. Her mother was a student in several of the dead languages, but died of cancer a few years since.
In politics Mr. Dunmire is strictly inde- pendent, and conducts his paper on inde- pendent lines. He is noted for his patriot- ism, and in his writings and public addresses is a vigorous defender of all our cherished American institutions-the free schools, free speech, free press. In argumentative discourse, and in platform oratory, he is earnest, strong, clear, and convincing. All his life he has been strictly temperate, never drank whisky, beer, or ale, does not drink tea or coffee only as a medicine, but drinks cold water the year through, has a wonder- ful amount of good health, and weighs two hundred and forty-seven pounds, and has most excellent natural eyesight.
F EV. NICHOLAS J. O'REILLY, an
accomplished and scholarly gentleman, and the present efficient pastor of St. Mark's Catholic church, of Altoona, is a son of Michael J. and Mary (Reilly) O'Reilly, and was born in Ballyjarnesduff, County Cavan, Ireland, February 28, 1858. His parents were natives of the old and well known
city of Belfast, on the Langan river, and in the counties of Antrim and Down, Ireland. Michael J. O'Reilly was a well educated man, and after completing a full law course in Ireland came to Ballyjarnesduff, where he was successfully engaged in the practice of his chosen profession until his death, in 1861. He married Mary Reilly, and to their union were born two children: Rev. Nicholas J., and Martin P., who is a grad- uate of New York university, of New York city, and is now engaged in the drug busi- ness in the metropolis of the new world.
Nicholas J. O'Reilly was reared in New- foundland, and received his education at Laval university, of Montreal, Canada, from which institution of learning he was grad- uated in 1883. In that year he came to Altoona, where he became private secre- tary and assistant to Rev. John Tuigg, bishop of the diocese of Pittsburg. He served faithfully in that capacity until the death of Bishop Tuigg, December 7, 1889, when he assumed full charge of St. John's church, with its membership of nearly five thousand, and continued as its pastor up to April, 1890, since which time he has been pastor of St. Mark's church.
In January, 1889, Father O'Reilly pur- chased the ground upon which St. Mark's church stands, and proceeded, in June, 1890, to the erection of the present fine church of that name. It is a handsome brick structure, 62 x 118 feet in dimensions, with capacity to seat twelve hundred peo- ple, and cost in the neighborhood of forty thousand dollars. It is neat and tasteful in design, handsome in appearance, fin- ished in hard wood throughout the interior, and is well furnished. St. Mark's church has a membership of eighteen hundred, and has constantly increased in numbers
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and prosperity under the charge of its present pastor, Rev. Nicholas J. O'Reilly. In addition to erecting this church, Father O'Reilly has established a school which now has over two hundred and thirty pupils, and has increased so fast in numbers that he contemplates the erection of a large and first-class school building. By his integ- rity, scholarship, energy, and successful labors for the moral improvement and spiritual welfare of his people, Father O'Reilly commands the respect of the pub- lie, and enjoys the confidence of his congre- gation.
THOMAS J. BURKHOLDER, a pros-
perous merchant, and who established the first store at Juniata, whose postoffice is Kipple, is a son of John J. and Lydia ( Trout ) Burkholder, and was born in Antis township, Blair county, Pennsylvania, Feb- ruary 18, 1851. The Burkholder family is of German descent, and were among the carly settled families of Pennsylvania. John J. Burkholder, the father of the subject of this sketch, was a native of Bedford county, this State, and died at his home in Antis township, August 21, 1885, when in the seventy-fourth year of his age. Early in life he settled in Antis township, where he followed farming and dealing in horses on an extensive scale for many years. During the late civil war he purchased large num- bers of horses for the United States govern- ment. He was a republican in politics, and lived an active, useful life. Mr. Burkholder had twelve children, of whom were: P. G., a farmer of Antis township; Margaret J., wife of A. S. Marks; Mary E., who married Norval Hawk, of Juniata; David M., who was born in 1844, stood six feet tive and one-half inches in height, weighing two
hundred and twenty pounds, and while serving in Captain Huff's company, was mortally wounded by a sharp shooter when in the act of cooking his breakfast, after the battle of Cold Harbor; Julia A., who married H. A. Rossman, of Chambersburg, and died in October, 1874; Henry C., a farm manager, near Houtzdale, this State, for the Clearfield Coal Company ; Lowanda, widow of Daniel Ainsworth, who died from cold contracted while attending the centen- nial at Philadelphia; Thomas J .; W. Lloyd, an assistant foreman in the car repair shops at Altoona ; Vinetta, wife of James P. Funk, a cigar and tobacco dealer of Philadelphia; and J. M., who resides on the home farm. His widow, Mrs. Lydia ( Trout ) Burkholder, was born in 1817, and still resides on the home farm in Antis township. She is a consistent member of the Methodist Episco- pal church, and her father, John Trout, was an early settler and large landholder of Antis township, where he died.
Thomas J. Burkholder was reared on the farm, received his education in the common schools, and followed farming until 1874, when he came to Altoona to enter the em- ploy of the Pennsylvania Railroad Company as a laborer. In a short time he was given charge of the wheel and axle platform, which position he held up to 1885, when he resigned to give his time fully to the mer- cantile business, in which he had embarked in partnership with R. J. Buchanan, in 1881, at Juniata. This was the first store at Juniata, and was operated on a small scale until the village began to attain some size. Mr. Burkholder purchased his part- ner's interest in 1885, and now has a large establishment, heavily stocked with dry goods, groceries, provisions, flour, feed, and everything else to be found in a first-class
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general mercantile store. Mr. Burkholder delivers goods promptly, deals fairly, and has a large patronage.
In 1874 he married Minerva J. Buchanan, a daughter of John Buchanan, of Hunting- don county, and a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, who died November 9, 1888, leaving six children: John Lester, Dossy M., Laban E., Lydia E., Myrlee A., and Paul I. On January 14, 1890, Mr. Burkholder was united in marriage with Martha J., daughter of William and Sarah Chesney, of Huntingdon county, and by this second union has one child, a son, named Lee Plummer.
Thomas J. Burkholder is a republican in politics, and a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, of whose board of trus- tees he is president. He is a charter mem- ber of Hancock Castle, No. 124, Ancient Order Knights of the Mystic Chain; Belle- view Lodge, No. 497, Independent Order of Odd Fellows; and Washington Camp, No. 402, Patriotic Order Sons of America.
LOUIS G. LAMADE, editor and pro- prietor of The Deutscher Volksfuehrer (The German Peoples' Leader), of Altoona, the only German paper published in the Juniata valley, is a son of Dietrich and Caroline (Zuepfle) Lamade, and was born in Goelshausen, near Bretten, Germany, August 22, 1854. ITis parents were natives of Baden, and strict members of the Evan- gelical Lutheran church. They came to the United States in the spring of 1867, and settled in Williamsport, where Dietrich La- made died on January 1, 1869, when he was in the forty-fourth year of his age. Ilis widow, who was born in 1826, is still a resident of Williamsport. To Mr. and Mrs.
Lamade were born fourteen children, nine of whom are still living: Dietrich and Fred are the publishers of the celebrated Penn- sylvania Grit, of Williamsport; John, who is superintendent of a large planing mill at Bay Mills, Michigan ; Charles, a foreman of the same mill; Louis G .; William, now learning the printing business in the office of the Grit; Barbara, wife of Fred Kiessling, a merchant tailor of Williams- port; Kate, who married Henry Tally, of Bay Mills, Michigan; and Elizabeth, wife of Andrew Waltz, a contractor and builder of Williamsport.
Louis G. Lamade was reared in Germany until he was thirteen years of age, when he came with his parents to Williamsport. He received the principal part of his education in his native land, and after a few months' residence in Williamsport he entered a printing office, where he remained for eight years. During the latter part of this time he was foreman successively of the Epito- mist and the Times. IIe left Williamport and went to Scranton, this State, where he worked at his trade for six months, and then journeyed to Harrisburg, which he left in a short time for Newark, New Jer- sey, at which place he remained but a few months. IIe then went to New York city, where he followed his trade until 1880, when he came to Altoona and became fore- man on the Call, which position he held until 1881. In March of that year he pur- chased his present paper, Deutscher Volks- fuehrer ( The German Peoples' Leader), from Harry Slep, who is now proprietor of the Mirror. The Volksfuehrer was first issued by Mr. Slep March 28, 1878. It is an inde- pendent weekly paper, published on Friday of each week, and has a wide circulation among the German population and those
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BIOGRAPHY AND HISTORY
able to read German in this and adjoining counties. It is a six column folio, carefully edited, and contains much valuable informa- tion in addition to news of general interest and local happenings. Mr. Lamade has added a job printing department to his office, and is prepared to do all kinds of work in that line.
In the summer of 1881 Louis G. Lamade married Frances, daughter of Leonard Sol- ler, of Altoona, and they have a family of four children, two sons and two daughters: Carl, Lizzie, Katy, and Louis.
In politics Mr. Lamade is a democrat, and served as jury commissioner from 1889 to 1892, and during 1885 as alderman from the Fourth ward by appointment of Gov- ernor Pattison. He is a member of the German Lutheran church of Altoona, and of the several German singing societies of the city. He is also a member of Vandalia Lodge, No. 227, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and Mystic Castle, No. 91, of the Ancient Order Knights of the Mystic Chain, as well as holding membership in several benevolent associations. He takes an inter- est in the material prosperity of Altoona, and has been treasurer of the Germania Building association for several years. Mr. Lamade is well qualified as an editor, and has been successful in establishing a first- class paper of extended circulation and in- dependence in political affairs.
EV. JAMES E. DONNELLY, a cour-
teous, accomplished and scholarly gen- tleman, and the present efficient pastor of St. Mary's Catholic church of Hollidays- burg, is a son of Edward and Ann ( Mahan ) Donnelly, and was born in County Long- ford, Ireland, December 20, 1850. Edward
Donnelly was born and reared in Ireland, where he had two brothers, James and Thomas, who were well educated men and efficient priests. He received a classical education, and in 1865 came to Brooklyn, New York, where he was engaged as an accountant for a number of years. He then removed to Pittsburg, this State, where he died in 1885, aged seventy-three years. He was an expert accountant, and married Ann Mahan, a native of Ireland, and died in Pittsburg in 1887. They had a family of seven children, three sons and four daugh- ters: Edward, of Brooklyn, who is a con- tractor in the business of unloading ships; Patrick, a machinist of Pittsburg; Rev. James E .; Ellen, wife of James Tracey, a resident of Pittsburg; Ann, wife of Robin Savage, of the same city; Kate, married to Michael English, also of Pittsburg; and Mary, widow of James Cormick, and now a resident of the Iron City.
James E. Donnelly pursued his studies for some time at St. Xavier's college, of New York city, under the charge of the Jesuits, then went to St. Michael's college, of Toronto, Canada, which he left after a few months to enter St. Michael's seminary, of Pitts- burg, at which he completed his theological course. On June 10, 1873, he was ordained to the priesthood by the Rt. Rev. Bishop Dominee, of Pittsburg, and was appointed as an assistant to the Rev. William Pollard, the then venerable and scholarly pastor of St. John's church, Pittsburg -south side. After three years of efficient service he was promoted to a higher and more responsible position, and given charge of the churches of Parker and Petrolia, which he labored faithfully with until he was appointed pas- tor of the Freeport church, of Armstrong county. He served the latter congregation
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OF BLAIR COUNTY.
until he was made the director of St. Fran- cis college, of Loretta, this State, where he remained for several months, and at the end of that time was assigned as pastor of the Catholic churches of Johnstown and Gallit- zin. His labors in that field were very pleasant and profitable until November 4, 1889, when he assumed charge of St. Mary's Catholic church of Hollidaysburg, which he has arduously and faithfully served ever since.
The history of St. Mary's church is one of interest. Prior to 1800 Doctor Gallitzin visited a few Catholics, who were residing at Frankstown. Fathers Heyden and Lem- eke visited the neighborhood of Hollidays- burg between 1800 and 1840, but it remained for Father Bradley, of Newry, in 1841, to gather the few members of his church and establish Catholicism in Hollidaysburg. He erected the present church edifice, which was dedicated March 17, 1844. It is a fine and substantial brick building, 63 x 87 feet in dimensions, and well furnished through- out. Father Bradley was succeeded by Rev. R. A. Wilson, whose successor, Rev. John C. Brady, was in turn succeeded by Father John Walsh, who served from 1848 to 1876, and under whose pastorate the school building, hall and parsonage were built, and a beautiful chime of bells placed in the tower of the church. Father Walsh was succeeded by his brother, Rev. Thomas Walsh, and after him in regular succession as pastors of the church came Fathers J. E. Reardon, Haggerty, Kettle, and James E. Donnelly, the present pastor.
Father Donnelly has labored very ardu- ously and with good success for his church, and under his charge the congregation has increased rapidly, until now it numbers seven hundred and twenty members. The
parochial school employs four teachers, and enrolls nearly two hundred pupils. The church, parsonage and school hall are all fine buildings, and in December, 1853, when the papal nuncio, Cardinal Cajetan Bedini, passed through Hollidaysburg, he stopped and administered confirmation in St. Mary's church.
BENJAMIN F. BOOKS, M. D., one of
the young and successful physicians of Altoona, and a graduate of Hahnemann Homeopathic Medical college of Philadel- phia, is a son of Solomon and Nancy Kath- arine (Wright) Books, and was born in Mifflintown, the county seat of Juniata county, Pennsylvania, May 14, 1859. ITis paternal great-grandfather, Michael Books, was born in France. At some time during the last century he left the home of his childhood and came to Pennsylvania, where he found sufficient advantages in Berks county to induce him to settle there. Ile married, but whether in France or Berks county, is not known. Ile gave his for- tune, which he had made in Chester county, to the American cause in the revolutionary war, and received for it Continental money, or script, which became worthless in his hands. He then removed to York county, but in a short time purchased a tract of land in Kiscoquilles valley, Mifflin county, to which his family would not remove. Some time after this he went to Dauphin county, where he died, and where his remains were interred in a cemetery at Harrisburg. He had six children, four sons and two daugh- ters. The sons were: Jacob, Peter, John, and Henry. Henry Books (grandfather) removed in early life from York to Juniata county, where he purchased a farm on Co- colamus creek. He married Catharine
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BIOGRAPHY AND HISTORY
lemperly, of Dauphin county, and they reared a family of eleven children. Solo- mon Books (the youngest son and father of Dr. B. F. Books ) learned the trade of chair and cabinet maker with John Schuaier, at Mifflintown, where he has resided since 1848. He afterward bought out Mr. Schu- aier, and manufactured furniture, which he sold along the Pennsylvania canal by boat. Ilis health afterward failed, and he was ap- pointed in the mail service, in 1861, by Abraham Lincoln, and remained in the ser- vice until September 21, 1864, when he was hurt in the big railroad wreck at Tharps- anton; was one year before he could do anything. In 1865 he was appointed by Mr. Lincoln to organize and run the first postal cars run in Pennsylvania, and held that position until Andrew Johnson came into power by the death of President Lin- coln. Mr. Johnson had him removed, and in 1869 he was appointed by President Grant as postmaster at Mifflintown, which position he held until President Garfield was assassinated, and then he was removed by President Arthur. Since that time he has been engaged in the wholesale lumber business. He married Miss Nancy C. Wright, daughter of David Wright, in 1855. They had seven children : Ida J., Charlotte M., Dr. B. F., Lincoln, William, Catharine, and Curtis, of whom the latter four died when young. Mr. Books is a stanch repub- liean in politics, and handles large quanti- ties of railroad ties and lumber of all kinds, which are brought from different parts of the Juniata and Susquehanna valleys.
Benjamin F. Books received his educa- tion in the public schools of Mifflintown, and then, having selected medicine as his profession, he entered the office of Dr. D. C. Smith as a medical student. When he had
finished reading under the preceptorship of Dr. Smith he went to Cleveland, Ohio, and pursued his studies in the Cleveland Homeo- pathic Medical college for one year. At the end of that time he entered Hahnemann Homeopathic Medical college, of Philadel- phia, from which institution he was grad- uated in the spring of 1883. During that same year he located at Lewiston, Pennsyl- vania, where he practiced until 1885, when ill-health compelled him to relinquish his practice. He then went to Colorado, where in three years he fully regained his health. In 1889 he returned to Pennsylvania, and on November 18th of that year opened an office in Altoona, where he has been in suc- cessful practice ever since.
October 4, 1884, Dr. Books was united in marriage to Sarah Kauffman, a daughter of Jonas Kauffman, of Mifflintown, Juniata county, this State. To Dr. and Mrs. Books has been born a family of two children : Blanche and Edwin.
Dr. Books is a republican in politics, yet takes no prominent part in political affairs, and devotes his time and attention to the study of his profession and the care of his practice.
F LEMING HOLLIDAY, now paymas- ter of the Great Bend Coal Company at Bellwood, is second in line of descent from the founder of the city of Hollidays- burg, a veteran of the civil war, and a man of wide experience in life. He is the young- est son of John and Mary ( Lowry) Holli- day, and was born April 26, 1823, in Logan's valley, Antis township, Blair county, Penn- sylvania. His paternal grandfather, Adam Holliday, was born in the north of Ireland, but while yet a young man, about 1750, left his native land, and in company with a
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brother named William, emigrated to Amer- ica and settled in Lancaster county, Penn- sylvania. After remaining in that county for a short time the two brothers removed farther west and located on the banks of the Conocoheague creek, and in 1768 came into' what is now Blair county and settled where the city of Hollidaysburg now stands. Adam Holliday took out a warrant for one thousand acres of land, including the present site of the city ( for which he afterward paid the sum of two hundred and twenty-two dollars and twenty cents), and immediately began the erection of a log house on the open space now known as "The Diamond." It is related that when he drove the first stake he casually remarked that "whoever is alive a hundred years after this will see a tolerable-sized town here, and this will be near about the middle of it." During the revolutionary war he rendered valuable service in protecting the frontier from In- dian depredations, in some instances pur- chasing supplies and organizing forces for defending the settlement at his own ex- pense. In December, 1777, he visited Phil- adelphia to secure public funds for the defence of this frontier, and was successful in his mission, returning with means suf- ficient to supply Holliday's fort with pro- visions and ammunition for some time. Ile remained active during the war, and after its close he became quite wealthy, although at one time almost ruined by the loss of his land through some informality in the title. He died in 1801, leaving two children : John, the father of the subject of this sketch; and Jane, who became the wife of William Reynolds, of Bedford county. She was born October 10, 1783, and died May 10, 1865, in her eighty-second year. IIer husband was proprietor of the Bedford
Springs hotel for many years, and became well known. They had a family of chil- dren, among whom were William, Holliday. James, Henry, Mary, and Ruth. Henry removed to one of the southern states years ago, and all the others are deceased. Johr Holliday (father) was born December 18 1780, at what is now the city of Hollidays. burg, this county, where he was reared and and received such education as was afforded by the occasional subscription schools 01 that early day. In 1802 he married Mary Lowry, a daughter of Alexander Lowry, one of the earliest landed proprietors in that vicinity, and of Scotch descent. Inheriting most of his father's estate, he became the wealthiest man in this section of western Pennsylvania, and in 1807 removed to the present site of Johnstown, Cambria county where he purchased a large farm, including the land on which the city was afterwar built, from Doctor Anderson, of Bedfor county. A town was at once laid out an christened Johnstown, in his honor, bu there came no "boom " in building lots, an after a short time he appears to have los all faith in the future of his new enterprise At any rate, he sold the land to Pete Livergood for eight dollars an aere, an returned to Hollidaysburg, where he erecte a large two-story hewed log house, whic he occupied as a hotel and general store In the fall of 1827 he sold that property t Peter Ilewit, who used the building as hotel, postoffice and general store unt 1839, when it was torn down and the bric structure now known as the America house erected on its site. John Hollida continued to reside at Hollidaysburg unt his death, which event occurred Decembe 20, 1843, in the sixty-third year of his ag Ile was a whig in politics, and took a
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