Biographical and portrait cyclopedia of Blair County, Pennsylvania, Part 57

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

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491

OF BLAIR COUNTY.

Dr. Nowell left Philadelphia and came, toward the close of the year 1884, to Altoona, where she has built up an exten- sive and first-class practice.

In the history of Altoona Dr. Mary E. Nowell will have the honor of being re- corded as the first lady practitioner of medicine in that prosperous and progressive city. Strongly attached to her profession and devoting her whole energy and entire time to its constant and exacting require- ments, Dr. Nowell well has deserved the flattering success which she has won by her ability and skill as a physician. She is well read and progressive, and has been during her professional career an earnest, enthusiastic and constant student, who has kept well abreast of the advancement of medical science and practice. Of quick perception and good judgment, Dr. Nowell entertains a contempt for all shams and pretences in life and society, as well as in her profession, in which she is active, prominent and successful.

JAMES BLAIR ROBISON, a com-

fortably situated farmer of Frankstown township, who now owns the old homestead which has been in possession of the Robison family for four generations, is a son of James, jr., and Elizabeth (Curry ) Robison, and was born on the farm where he now resides, in Frankstown township, Blair county, Pennsylvania, March 12, 1853. His paternal great-grandfather, Abraham Robi- son, was a native of Scotland, and came to this country when it was unsettled in this part, and took up a large tract of land, on which he proceeded to make a home for his family, which he had left in Franklin county. He brought his family to their

new home in the year 1770. . By his mar- riage with Hannah Allen he had eight children, four sons and four daughters, of whom were: James Robison, born 1766; Elizabeth Robison, born 1789; and John Robison. The names of the rest are un- known. Abraham Robison was born in 1737, and died April 16, 1811, while his wife, Hannah ( Allen ) Robison, was born in 1749, and died March 13, 1835. Mr. Rob- ison, at his death, gave each of his sons and daughters a farm, bequeathing the home- stead to his son, James Robison (grand- father), who married his cousin, Elizabeth Robison, and to them were born seven chil- dren : Abraham Robison, born February 15, 1814; John Robison, born December 27, 1815; Jane Robison, born February 23, 1818; James Robison, jr., born April 23, 1820; Harriet Robison, born October 6, 1822; Allen Robison, born September 16, 1825; and Margaret Robison, born April 20, 1828, of whom all are dead except Har- riet and Margaret. James Robison died February 18, 1830, willing the homestead farm to his son, James Robison; and his widow, Elizabeth Robison, died January 12, 1849. James Robison, jr., was a good neighbor and useful citizen. IIe was a re- publican in politics, and a Presbyterian in religion, as were his ancestors before him. Ile died September 9, 1881, willing the homestead to his son, James Blair Robison. IIe was united in marriage, in 1845, with Elizabeth Curry, who was born August 15, 1825, and to them was born a family of fif- teen children : Woods W. Robison, born February 2, 1846; Maggie E. Robison, Feb- ruary 20, 1848; Winfield S. Robison, No- vember 19, 1849; Agnes J. Robison, March 22, 1851; James Blair Robison, March 12, 1853; Forest Robison, December 10, 1854;

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BIOGRAPHY AND HISTORY

Robert W. Robison, August 13, 1856; Sarah C. Robison, March 1, 1858; Lilly M. Robison, October 30, 1859; Martha Eliza- beth Robison, September 4, 1861; Rhoda B. Robison, February 22, 1863; Delia A. Robison, January 21, 1865; Andrew G. Robison, November 6, 1866; Archibald S. Robison, April 10, 1868; Gertrude J. Rob- ison, August 10, 1870.

James Blair Robison passed his boyhood days and grew to manhood on the paternal acres, received his education in the common schools, and then went west, where he fol- lowed farming in Kansas for six years. At the end of that time he returned to Franks- town township to take possession of his present home farm of one hundred and seventy-five acres of good tillable and pro- ductive land. He also owns a tract of forty-four acres of good timber land, and follows grain and stock-raising. He is a republican in politics, and while not overly demonstrative in advocating republicanism, yet always gives his party and its nominees an earnest and hearty support.

On January 1, 1880, Mr. Robison was united in marriage with Martha Widder- field, an adopted daughter of William Wid- derfield, of Illinois. To Mr. and Mrs. Rob- ison have been born five children, two sons and three daughters: Earnest B. Robison, born April 26, 1881; James R. Robison, April 17, 1883; Violet Robison, April 20, 1885; Gertrude B. Robison, born April 11, 1887, and died July 22, 1890; and Mary E. Robison, born August 11, 1889.

F ON. GEORGE H. SPANG, a leading lawyer of Hollidaysburg, an ex-district attorney of Bedford county, and an ex-mem- ber of the house of representatives of Pen-

sylvania, is a son of George B. and Sara' A. (Farquhar) Spang, and was born Febru ary 16, 1830, at Roaring Spring, in what i now Taylor township, Blair county, Pen sylvania, but which then was a part o Bedford county. His paternal grandfather Henry Spang, was of German descent. II. was born in Philadelphia, and in 1824 cam to Roaring Spring, where he died son years afterward. Ilis son, George B. Spang (father), was born in Philadelphia, fron which he removed to Oley Forge, in Berke county, where he remained until 1822, wher he came to Roaring Spring and purchased a tract of four hundred acres of land from John Ullery, upon part of which the larger part of the present flourishing town of Roar- ing Spring was afterward built. He was superintendent of Springfield furnace for several years, and then engaged in farming, which he followed until his death, which occurred August 15, A. D. 1856. IIe was an old-line whig in polities, and a strict member of the Evangelical Lutheran church, and for many years prior to his death had been very active in the improvement of his town. lle married Sarah A. Farquhar, a daughter of William Farquhar, by whom he had nine children. Mrs. Spang was a native of Mary -; land, and died in September, A. D. 1866.

George H. Spang spent his boyhood days at Roaring Spring, and at fifteen years of age became a student in the preparatory depart- ment of Marshall college at Mercersburg, Franklin county. After some time spent at that institution he entered Pennsylvania college at Gettysburg, Adams county, from which he was graduated in the class of 1852. In the next year after leaving col- lege he became a law student in the office of Hon. Job Mann, of Bedford, this State, and on May 3, 1854, was admitted to prac-

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493

OF BLAIR COUNTY.

tice in the courts of Bedford county. IIe soon built up a fine practice at Bedford, and on May 9, 1856, was appointed district attorney of that county, to fill an unexpired term caused by the resignation of Col. Thomas A. Boyd. On October 14, 1856, he was elected district attorney for a term of three years, was reelected on October 11, 1859, and on November 3, 1874, was elected to represent Bedford county in the house of representatives of Pennsylvania for the ses- sions of 1875 and 1876; on November 3, 1876, was reelected and served during the ses- sions of 1877 and 1878. At the expiration of his term he returned to Bedford, where he remained until 1883, when he came to Roaring Springs, which he left the succeed- ing year to open an office at Martinsburg, at which place he practiced up to Decem- ber, 1891. He then came to Hollidaysburg, and has already secured a first-class and very remunerative practice.

On November 25, 1862, Mr. Spang mar- ried Elizabeth J. Alsip, daughter of Sheriff John Alsip, of Bedford county, and they have one child, a daughter named Carrie L., who is the wife of Rufus C. Haderman, a lawyer and the present prothonotary of Bedford county.

In politics Mr. Spang has always been a democrat. While serving in the State legis- lature he was a member of several important committees, and was recognized as an able, logical and fluent speaker. He is above medium height, with rather classical fea- tures, and of fine personal appearance. George H. Spang stands well in his chosen profession as one who carefully guards the interests of his clients, and who never neglects any proper means to secure success in the many cases which he tries in the courts of Blair county.

JAMES T. ROBINSON, manager of the

Robinson Machine Company of Bell- wood, and the inventor of the wonderful patent electric street railway motor trucks, is a son of Samuel Turner and Rachel (Ricketts ) Robinson, and was born in Fau- quier county, northern Virginia, November 31, 1838. His paternal grandfather, Gerry Robinson, was a native of Scotland, and settled, about the middle of the last cen- tury, in Stafford county, Virginia, from which he soon removed to Warren county, that State, in which he died. He was honest, industrious and frugal, like the great majority of his race, and followed farming until his death. He married and left a family of several children, who were noted for industry and thrift. One of his sons, Samuel Turner Robinson ( father ), was born in Warren county, Virginia, September 10,1801.

James T. Robinson was reared in the rich and beautiful valley of Virginia, and re- ceived a limited education in the primary schools then in existence in the State of Virginia. At an early age he was thrown upon his own resources, but with the char- acteristic energy of the wonderful Scotch race he determined upon winning success in business life for himself. His first employ- ment was as a laborer upon the construction of the early railroads of the country, but he soon mastered such a knowledge of their construction that he was enabled to become a successful contractor. IIe then followed contracting until 1861, when he entered the Confederate army as a private in Co. I, 12th regiment Virginia cavalry, and served in the Army of Northern Virginia up to the battle of the Wilderness, May 5, 1864. He was wounded so severely on that day that he was discharged shortly afterward from

BIOGRAPHY AND HISTORY

494

the Confederate service on account of phys- ical disability. After the war had closed he resumed railroad contracting, which he followed in different States until 1884, when he entered the machine shops at Philips- burg, Pennsylvania, as superintendent. He remained in these shops until 1890, then removed to Altoona, and in July, 1891, came to Bellwood, where he has resided ever since.

In 1865 Mr. Robinson married Elizabeth Crockett, and they have two children : Charles M., a young and rising architect of Altoona (see his sketch ) ; and Nellie.

In July, 1891, Mr. Robinson organized the Robinson Machine Company of Bell- wood, which erected machine works at that place. The main building is 30 x 100 feet, the moulding room 30 x50 feet, and the blacksmith shop 30 x 30 feet in dimen- sions. They manufacture and repair a great many kinds of iron machinery, but the principal output of the shops are patent electric street railway motor trucks. This great invention of Mr. Robinson was pat- ented by him in 1891. The object of this motor truck is to fill a long felt want in the electrical propulsion of street cars. It has been thoroughly tested, with very satisfac- tory results. It has been highly recom- mended by different electrical experts, who have carefully examined it, and already orders for the motor trucks are coming in to the company from nearly every part of the United States.

JOHN A. CANAN, who has been iden- tified with the interests of Altoona by nearly a quarter of a century's business life within its limits, and who has won success because he has had the ability to earn and

the will to command it, is a son of John J. and Margaret (Davis) Canan, and was born at Hollidaysburg, Blair county, Pennsyl- vania, February 11, 1850. The American branch of the Canan family was founded by Col. John Canan, who was a native of that wonderful north of Ireland which gave so many thousand brave hearts and stout arms to help win the independence of the thir-

teen colonies. He came to Huntingdon county between 1760 and 1775, and served as a colonel in the American army during the revolutionary war. He was a promi- nent man in central Pennsylvania, and died at Williamsburg, this county, in 1831, when well advanced in the ninetieth year of his age. He was a surveyor by profession, built, in 1807, Etna, the first furnace in Blair county, and was a large land owner. He served, in 1787 and in 1788, as a mem- ber of the supreme executive council of Pennsylvania from Huntingdon county, was appointed, in 1791, as associate judge of that county, which he represented in the general assembly in 1791 and 1792, and in 1794 was elected State senator for the dis- triet composed of the counties of Hunting- don and Bedford. He married, and one of his sons was Major Moses Canan (grand- father), who was born in Huntingdon county, and served in the war of 1812 with the rank of captain. IIe afterward moved to Ebensburg, Cambria county, where he became one of the ablest lawyers of that place, and served one term as associate judge of the courts of the county. He died at Johnstown, that county, in 1863, aged eighty years. He was a republican in poli- ties during the latter part of his life, and married Mary Henderson, a daughter of Major William Henderson, a native of Cum- berland county, who was the captain in

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OF BLAIR COUNTY.

conanand of the guards around the old State house in Philadelphia when the Dee- laration of Independence was signed by the members of the Continental Congress, July 4, 1776. He afterward was promoted to major, and died in 1811, aged fifty-six years, while his sword and watch are still in the possession of the Canan family. Of the sons born to Major Moses and Mary (Henderson ) Canan, one was John J. Ca- nan, the father of John A. Canan. He was born in 1813, in Huntingdon county, and early in life went, in about 1831, to Ebens- burg, Cambria county, where he started a newspaper, which he afterward removed to Johnstown, that county. In 1846 he came from Johnstown to Hollidaysburg, where he was agent for Captain Leech's canal boat line for some time, and then was en- gaged in freight forwarding until 1858, when he embarked in the lime business at Canan's Station, on the railroad between Hollidaysburg and Altoona, where he re- mained until 1871. In that year he came to Altoona and formed a partnership with his sons, under the firm name of Canan Brothers, which was changed, in 1876, to the present firm name of John A. Canan & Co. They handled coal and building sup- plies until of late years, when they relin- quished the coal trade, and now confine themselves to manufacturing lime and hand- ling builders' supplies. Their business has increased to such an extent that they have found it necessary to establish a branch house at the prosperous town of Bellwood. John J. Canan is a republican, and a mem- ber of the First Presbyterian church of Al- toona, and married Margaret Davis, who was born in 1813, in Wales, reared at Ebensburg, Cambria county, and is a mem- ber of the same Presbyterian church as her

husband. Mr. Canan has been a clear- headed and able business man, whose per- sistent energy and comprehensive grasp of details in commercial affairs has secured him a large share of the measure of success which he has attained.

John A. Canan spent his boyhood days and youth principally at Hollidaysburg, and received his elementary education in the public schools. He pursued his academic studies at Hollidaysburg seminary, and at- tended Lafayette college, of Easton, North- ampton county, from 1869 to 1871. Leav- ing college he became a clerk in the Al- toona postoffice, where he remained but a short time before engaging with his father in their present lime and building supply business. They enjoy a good trade, and have a large number of patrons. He is also identified with other business enter- prises, and has served for some time as a director of the Altoona, Clearfield & North- ern railroad. He is a deacon and trustee of the First Presbyterian church of Altoona, and a member of Altoona Council, No. 580, Royal Arcanum, and Altoona Lodge, No. 132, Improved Order of Heptasophs. He is a republican in politics, takes an active part in the interests of his party, and has served two terms as a member of the com- mon council. Self-reliant but prudent, courageous but cautious, Mr. Canan care- fully examines any enterprise, and then acts decidedly in the course of action upon which he has determined. IIe is a good business man, a true friend, and an enter- prising citizen.

On May 29, 1888, John A. Canan was united in marriage with Lizzie M. Morrow, of MeVeytown, Mifflin county, Pennsyl- vania, a daughter of the late Rev. R. II. Morrow, who was pastor of the Presby-

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BIOGRAPHY AND HISTORY

terian church of Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Mr. and Mrs. Canan have two children : Mar- garet M. and Mary H.

R EV. ALLAN SHELDON WOODLE,

a gentleman of culture and education, and the popular and efficient rector of St. Luke's Protestant Episcopal church of Altoona, is a son of Major Isaac and Cor- nelia (Sheldon ) Woodle, and was born at Janesville, Rock county, Wisconsin, July 22, 1845. Major Isaac Woodle ( father) was born at Washington, in Washington county, Pennsylvania, November 9, 1819, was gradu- ated from Washington college in the class of 1840, and then went to Janesville, Wis- consin, where he read law and was admitted to the bar. After his admission he opened an office at that place and practiced his profession until his death, which occurred April 3, 1862. Major Woodle was instru- mental in developing the Rock River Valley railroad, and in 1861 took an active part in raising a cavalry regiment, of which he became quartermaster with the rank of major. He was a prominent democrat, a member of the Protestant Episcopal church, and a Knight Templar in Free Masonry. On May 16, 1844, he married Cornelia Sheldon, a daughter of Major William B. Sheldon, of Delhi, Delaware county, New York, and who died in 1864, when in the forty-fourth year of her age.

Allan Sheldon Woodle was reared at Janesville, Wisconsin, and received his education in the high school of that place and Sinsinawa Mound and Racine colleges. Leaving college he spent five years in the study of theology at Nashotah Theological seminary, from which institution he was graduated in 1873 with the degree of

Bachelor of Divinity. After graduation he served his deacinate at Milwaukee under Bishop Armitage, and his first charge was at St. Matthias Protestant Episcopal church of Waukesha, Wisconsin, where he served for two years. At the end of that time he was called to New York city as assistant minister of Christ's church at Fifth avenue and Thirty-fifth street, and as manager of the Church Journal. In 1876 he was elected rector of St. Luke's church of Altoona, which he has served faithfully and effici- ently ever since. His pastoral duties were very arduous upon taking charge of St. Luke's church, but throwing himself ener- getically into the work he won success. Under his administration a large and fine stone church has been erected to take the place of the small one which had been built in 1858. The membership, which was small in 1876, has increased to eight hun- dred, of whom three hundred are communi- cants. The church structure is at the cor- ner of Eighth avenue and Thirteenth street, and has been well furnished throughout.

On September 12 of the Centennial year, Rev. A. S. Woodle was united in marriage with Abbie C. Tisdale, daughter of Henry Tisdale, of Newport, Rhode Island. To Rev. and Mrs. Woodle have been born five children, two sons and three daughters : Allan Sheldon, jr., now attend- ing St. Paul's college, Concord, New Hamp- shire; Bernon T., Mary K., Cornelia S., and Margaret C.

Rev. Allan S. Woodle is a democrat in political opinion. He is a fine looking man, pleasant and courteous, yet so far dignified as to command the respect of all who come in contact with him. Rev. Woodle is a logical reasoner, a clear thinker, and an interesting speaker. His sermons ever

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OF BLAIR COUNTY.

represent his own heartfelt convictions as to truth and duty, and in his preaching he always has careful regard to the order and proportion of Christian truth and to the wants of his people. IIe has given to the church a thorough, conscientious, and faith- ful ministry which has been greatly fruitful of good.

WILLIAM L. LOWRIE, M. D., a

grandson of Hon. Walter Lowrie, and a leading young physician of Tyrone, who is rapidly attaining to distinction within the sphere of his chosen profession, is the eldest son and second child of Jonathan R. and Mary L. (Lyon) Lowrie, and was born at Warrior's Mark, in Warrior's Mark township, Huntingdon county, Pennsylva- nia, November 18, 1859. The Lowrie family is of Scotch-Irish descent, and has been for the last century one of the honorable and influential families of central and western Pennsylvania, where many of its members have been prominent in civil and political affairs. Senator Walter Lowrie, the grand- father of Doctor Lowrie, was a son of John Lowrie, who came from Scotland in 1792, and settled in Sinking valley, but soon removed to Butler county, which he after- ward left to settle in Pittsburg, of which city he served as mayor for one term. Sen- ator Lowrie was born in Scotland in 1784, and accompanied his father to Butler county, where he commenced life for himself. He served three terms in the State senate of Pennsylvania, and was elected, in 1818, as United States senator from Pennsylvania. Ile was intelligent, careful and conscientious, a man of excellent judgment and inflexible honesty, and made a good record in the senate, which then contained some of the ablest statesmen which this country has

produced. At the expiration of his term, in 1825, he became secretary of the senate, which position' he held for eleven years. He then removed to New York city, where he served as secretary of the board of foreign missions of the Presbyterian church until his death, in 1868, at the advanced age of eighty-four years. He was a democrat until after the formation of the Republican party, when he became a supporter of its principles. Senator Lowrie married a Miss McPheron, and had a family of seven children, five sons and two daughters: Matthew, who was a leading lawyer at the Butler county bar; Rev. John C., now a doctor of divinity, and secretary of the Presbyterian board of foreign missions; Rev. Walter, who was a missionary to China and was killed by pirates; John R., who died in 1885; Eliza, now dead; Mary, who married a Mr. Baird; and Rev. Reuben, who was a Presbyterian minister. Jonathan R. Lowrie ( father ) was born February 17, 1823, in Butler county, and died December 10, 1885, at Warrior's Mark. He entered Jefferson college, of Cannonsburg, this State, from which he was graduated in 1842, in a classical course. He then read law with Judge Walter Low- rie, of Pittsburg, was admitted to the bar in 1845, and practiced at Hollidaysburg until 1851, when he retired from the active practice of his profession to become a mem- ber and the legal adviser of the iron manu- facturing firm of Lyon, Shorb & Co. Hle continued in this business from 1853 to his death, in 1885. He was a member and elder of the Presbyterian church at War- rior's Mark, to which he contributed liber- ally, and whose present church building he erected. Mr. Lowrie was twice married. In 1840 he married Mary Lyon, who died in 1862, at the age of thirty-eight years, and

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حية للحد سه-تي سيرى .--.

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BIOGRAPHY AND HISTORY

left three children : Sallie R., William. L., and Robert, now practicing law in Phila- delphia. Mr. Lowrie married, in 1867, for his second wife Matilda N. Nassau, and by his second marriage had a family of five children : Charles N., a civil engineer; Matilda N., now dead; Walter, student at Princeton college; S. Stewart, now de- ceased; and Matthew, who is attending Lawrenceville High school. Mrs. Mary L. Lowrie, his first wife, was a daughter of John Lyon, the senior member of the great iron manufacturing firm of Lyon, Shorb & Co., who owned and operated Pennsylvania and Bald Eagle furnaces, Tyrone and Cole- raine forges, Sligo iron works, and several large rolling mills in Pittsburg, where they were the proprietors of the celebrated Mo- nongahela house. John Lyon was a native of Pennsylvania, and lived for many years in Pittsburg, where he died in 1868, when in the eighty-fourth year of his age. Ile was a member of the Presbyterian church, and was thrice married. His first wife was a daughter of Hon. William MeClay, United States senator from 1803 to 1808, and she died and left one son, William M., who is now dead. His second wife was a Miss Patton, who died and left one son, J. Pat- ton, who is now deceased. For his third wife he married a Miss Stewart, a sister of David Stewart, of Coleraine Forges, and reared a family of eight children : James, of Pittsburg ; S. Stewart, of Bellefonte ; George W., of Philadelphia; Mary L., mother of the subject of this sketch; Margaret, mar- ried a minister by the name of Hamill, and is dead; Jane, wife of Buche Ayres, of Philadelphia ; and Sallie, now dead.

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Biographical and portrait cyclopedia of Blair County, Pennsylvania, Part 57

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

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