USA > Pennsylvania > Blair County > Biographical and portrait cyclopedia of Blair County, Pennsylvania > Part 63
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BIOGRAPHY AND HISTORY
sketch was Andrew Reifsnyder, a native of Germany, who emigrated to America in 1744. The vessel on which he came over set sail early in June, and arrived at Phila- delphia in September of that year. He set- tled near Germantown, Philadelphia county, this State, on territory included in Mont- gomery when the latter county was created, in 1784. He was a farmer by occupation, married and reared a large family, among his sons being Peter Reifsnyder (grand- father), who was born in Montgomery county. He was reared on his father's farm and inured to honest toil. After at- taining manhood he married, purchased a farm in his native county, and spent his life there, engaged in the cultivation of the soil. Ile became prosperous, and lived in that county until his death, at an advanced age. Among his sons was Philip Reifsnyder ( father), who was born and reared in Mont- gomery county, and served as a soldier in the war of 1812. At the close of that war he removed to Chester county, where he resided until his death. He was among the early navigators of the Schuylkill river, and for some time was engaged in boating coal down that stream to Philadelphia. It was while on one of these trips that he met his death, being accidentally drowned in the Schuylkill river above Reading in 1827. Hle was a member of the German Reformed church, and a man of great energy and enterprise. He married Elizabeth Lauch- man, a native of Montgomery county, by whom he had a family of children. She was of German descent, a member of the Lu- theran church, and died in 1835.
Joshua L. Reifsnyder was reared partly in Chester and partly in Montgomery county. His education was obtained in the common schools of that day. He remained
on the farm until he had reached his eigh- teenth year, when he became an apprentice under his unele, Jacob Reifsnyder, and learned the wheelwright's trade. For a period of five years he worked at that busi- ness, and then learned the trade of carpen- ter with Theodore Skeem, remaining with Mr. Skeem between two and three years. IIe subsequently embarked in business for himself as a carpenter, contractor, and builder at Pottstown, Montgomery county, and remained there until the spring of 1852, when he removed to Altoona, this county. Here he engaged in contracting up to 1857, when he was compelled to abandon the business on account of his health. Having regained his health to some extent, he once more began contracting, and followed that business until 1880, when he embarked in the hardware trade in this city. For more than five years he devoted his time and energies to that business, but in 1886 disposed of his store and again took up contracting and building. He now con- trols a large and prosperous business, and has erected many fine houses in the city. Examples of his skill in this line may be seen in the Central hotel, the Arlington house, and many other large and substan- tial structures which add to the architect- ural beauty of Altoona. He owns some valuable real estate in this city.
In 1843 Mr. Reifsnyder united in mar- riage with Christiana Hartenstein, a daugh- ter of Jacob Hartenstein, of Montgomery county, this State. She died in August, 1884, leaving four children, one son and three daughters: Isabella, wife of John P. Levan, of Altoona; Hannah, wedded to Edward Hoyne, also of this city; Le- Barron, a clerk in the employ of the Pennsylvania Railroad Company ; and Ida
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OF BLAIR COUNTY.
Catherine, who married Ambrose Zeek, now residing in the city of Altoona. In 1885 Mr. Reifsnyder was again married, this time wedding Mrs. Flora ( Brow) Boorland, of Huntingdon county, this State. He has no children by this last marriage.
Politically Joshua L. Reifsnyder is a dem- verat, and has always given his party a hearty support- on questions involved in State or National polities. In local affairs, however, he is inclined to be more inde- pendent, and supports the men or measures which, in his judgment, will serve the pub- lie interest best. He is a firm friend to popular education, and has served for nearly a dozen years as a member of the school board of this city. For two years he was a member of the common council of Al- toona, and is a pleasant, affable gentleman who makes friends wherever he is known.
F RANK BRANDT is one of that re- liable and substantial class of men whose success in life has depended upon their own efforts. He was born in Cambria county, Pennsylvania, May 6, 1862, and is a son of William and Rosanna (Wade ) Brandt. The Brandts are of German descent, and Frank Brandt's paternal grandfather was a native of Germany, and settled in Pennsyl- vania, where he was employed for many years as a member of different brass and instrumental bands, which traveled in vari- ous sections of the United States. His son, William Brandt (father), was born in this State in 1812, and embarked in the saw and grist mill business in Cambria county, where he remained until 1868, when he removed to his present home on the Dry Gap road, one and one-half miles from Altoona. After coming to Blair county he conducted a gro- cery in Altoona for some years, at the end
of which time he retired from the pursuits of active business life. He has been suc- cessful in his various enterprises, has an excellent farm where he resides, and owns a productive farm and good flouring mill in Cambria county. He is a democrat and Catholic, and married Rosanna Wade, who was born in Butler county in 1830, and is a member of the same church as her hus- band. They reared a family of children.
Frank Brandt was reared in Cambria county and the city of Altoona, received his education in the public schools, and learned the trade of carpenter, which he followed regularly until 1886. In that year he engaged in contracting and building, which business he has followed continuously and successfully ever since.
In 1881 Mr. Brandt was united in mar- riage with Annie M. Burkhart, daughter of James M. Burkhart, of Altoona. To their union have been born four children : Bertha M., Annie, Elma V., and Catherine E.
Frank Brandt has given close attention to his business, which has gradually in- creased from year to year until he now has a large and remunerative patronage. His planing mill is on Twenty-first avenue, while his office, shop and lumber yards are at No. 1628 Twentieth avenue, where he furnishes estimates of all kinds of work in his line of business. IIe handles shingles, lath, pickets, mouldings, door frames and mantels. Mr. Brandt resides on Twentieth avenue, in Logan township, just beyond the city limits, owns considerable real estate, acquired by his own exertions, and has met with good success as a contractor and builder. He is a democrat in politics, a Catholic in religious belief and church men- bership, and an energetic and thorough- going business man.
540
BIOGRAPHY AND HISTORY
THOMAS J. BURKE, general manager
of the house furnishing firm of C. V. Burke & Co., of Altoona, and chairman of the Blair county democratic committee, is a son of Patrick Henry and Margaret (Sul- livan ) Burke, and was born in Genesee town- ship, Potter county, Pennsylvania, August 8, 1848. His paternal grandfather, John Burke, was born in the town of Mullingar, county of Westmeath, Ireland, and in 1836 settled in the Dominion of Canada, which he left two years later to become a resident of New York. He was a civil engineer by profession, was a member of the corps of engineers that located the Genesee valley canal, upon whose construction he was a contractor for several years, with head- quarters at Rochester, New York. He was a Catholic in religious belief, and died at the residence of his son, Patrick II., in Potter county, Pennsylvania, in 1864, at seventy-eight years of age. Ilis son, Patrick H. Burke (father), was born in the town of Roscommon, County Roscommon, Ireland, and came, in 1838, to New York, where he was engaged with his father for four years in contracting on the Genesee valley canal, between Olean and Rochester. At the end of that time, in 1842, he removed to Potter county, this State, where he followed con- tracting on the Erie and Pennsylvania rail- roads until a few years before his death, in 1884, at sixty-seven years of age. Ile was a member of the Catholic church and a democrat in politics, and owned a large farm in Potter county. He married Mar- garet Sullivan, a native of Bangor, Maine, who died in April, 1872, at forty-seven years of age.
Thomas J. Burke was reared on the farm until he was sixteen years of age, and after completing his academic course, entered the
Edinboro State Normal school of Erie county, Pennsylvania, from which favorably and well known educational institution he was graduated in the class of 1868. Leav- ing Erie county he was engaged in teaching in Potter and Mckean counties for four years, but in the meantime, in 1869, had embarked in the general mercantile and lumber business, which he followed in Elk and Clearfield counties until 1874. From 1869 to 1874 he read law with IIon. J. G. Hall & Bro: In 1874 he engaged, at St. Mary's, Elk county, in the insurance and shipping business, which he pursued until 1885, when he came to Altoona to assume his present position as manager of the large house furnishing firm of C. V. Burke & Co. The large and well appointed house furnish- ing bazaar of this firm extends from 1507 to 1513 on Eleventh avenue, where they keep in stock everything that pertains to the proper furnishing of a modern home. The establishment is divided into sixteen departments, which are presided .over by courteous managers. The firm sells on the installment plan, and has a large patronage in Altoona and the surrounding country.
In 1872 Mr. Burke married Ida G. Brunau, of Clearfield county, who died in 1881. In 1884 he wedded Carrie V. McHenry, of Du- bois, Clearfield county, and to this second union have been born three children : Ida R., Margaret Ethel, and Kathleen May.
Thomas J. Burke has met with good success in his different business enterprises. IIe is a member of the Knights of the Golden Eagle, a past chancellor of Logan Lodge, No. 79, Knights of Pythias, and a member of the Grand Lodge of the Knights of Honor of Pennsylvania. In polities Mr. Burke has always been a democrat of pronounced views, and at the present time is a friend and warm
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OF BLAIR COUNTY.
supporter of Governor Pattison, of Penn- sylvania. He served as auditor of Elk county from 1872 to 1875, and as justice of the peace from 1875 to 1881, besides having held the office of notary public for six years. Within the last eleven years he has served repeatedly as a delegate from Mckean, Elk, Clearfield, and Blair counties, to democratic State conventions. Thomas J. Burke has always been unswerving and active in the support of the principles of democracy as advanced by Jefferson and Jackson and ('leveland, and believes that the highest prosperity of the nation is only to be at- tained under a democratie administration of the government.
FILBERT L. SPANOGLE, M. D., one
of the young, active, and progressive physicians of the city of Altoona and Blair county, is a son of Mahlon and Amanda (Thompson) Spanogle, and was born near the town of Warrior's Mark, in the town- ship of Warrior's Mark, Huntingdon county, Pennsylvania, March 4, 1861. The Span- ogles are of German descent, and the founder of the American branch of the family was a native of Baden-Baden, a city and watering place in the grand duchy of Baden, an important province of the pres- ent German empire. John Spanogle, the paternal grandfather of Dr. Spanogle, was born and reared in Huntingdon county, which he left previous to 1861, and settled in Illinois, where he died. He married, and was a prosperous farmer. His son, Mahlon Spanogle (father), was born in Huntingdon county, and went west with his father, but when President Lincoln made his second call for troops he returned to this State and enlisted in the 205th
Pennsylvania infantry. He served out his first term of enlistment and then re-enlisted for three years, or during the war. He participated in all the skirmishes and bat- tles in which his regiment was engaged, fell mortally wounded while fighting in front of the defences of Richmond, and was taken to Fortress Monroe, where he died in a few days. He was a tinner by trade and had followed farming prior to the war. IIe married Amanda Thompson, and left a family of children.
Albert L. Spanogle was reared in his native township, and received his education in the common schools and Millersville State Normal school, of Lancaster county. Leaving school, he went west, where he was engaged for some time as a clerk in a drug store, and then determined upon medi- cine as his life vocation. He read medi- cine with Dr. C. II. Coleman, and entered the medical department of the university of Ann Arbor, of Michigan, from which he was graduated in June, 1881. Immediately after graduation he took a post-graduate course in New York city, at Bellevue Med- ical college and Long Island hospital, and then, in 1882, came to Altoona, where he has resided ever since in the successful practice of his chosen profession. In poli- ties he believes in the cardinal principles of the Democratic party, but is rather inde- pendent in supporting local measures and local candidates. Dr. Albert L. Spanogle is an intelligent gentleman, a thoroughly and specially qualified physician, and enjoys a good practice.
Dr. Spanogle was united in marriage with Agnes Morrow, of Altoona, an intelli- gent, amiable woman, and a very fine mu- sician. She is a daughter of John C. Mor- row, a painter, of Pittsburg, who enlisted
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BIOGRAPHY AND HISTORY
in a Federal regiment, was captured by the Confederates, and died in Andersonville prison. To Dr. and Mrs. Spanogle has been born one child.
ERDINAND A. WINTER, the lead- ing and representative dealer in pianos, organs, and other musical instruments in Altoona, is the son of Rev. E. Ferdinand and Joanna (Swarz ) Winter, and was born at Philipsburg, Beaver county, Pennsyl- vania, May 23, 1844. Rev. E. Ferdinand Winter was a native of Germany, and in 1839 came to Beaver county, this State, where he served continuously as pastor of Bury Reformed church for forty-seven years. He was an accomplished musician and a graduate of one of the leading Ger- man universities, and became a pioneer in teaching music in Beaver county. IIe was a man of talent, education, and taste, who ranked high as an artist. While earn- estly and efficiently engaged in pastoral work he gave his leisure moments to art and music and the cultivation of flowers, of which he was very fond. He was a demo- erat in politics, and died in May, 1887, when in the seventy-fifth year of his age. Rev. Winter was an untiring and zealous worker in the vineyard of his Divine Mas- ter, where his chosen life-work was crowned with abundant success. He was honored as a minister, respected as a citizen, and ad- mired as a man of talent, truth, and hon- esty. He married Joanna Swarz, a mem- ber of the Reformed church, who was born in Miningen, Switzerland, in 1821, and is now a resident of Rochester, Beaver county.
Ferdinand A. Winter was reared at Phil- ipsburg and Pittsburg, received his educa- tion in the common schools and Conno-
quessing academy, and then was engaged for several years in teaching music. In 1871 he resigned his position as professor of vocal and instrumental music at the United Presbyterian Ladies' seminary, of Beaver county, Pennsylvania, to engage in the sale of pianos in Pittsburg, which he followed successfully for eight years, and during that time tuned and repaired more pianos than any other man in the State. In 1879 Mr. Winter came to Altoona, where he estab- lished his present music house. Ilis prac- tical knowledge of music and business abil- ity has enabled him to secure and control all the best class of trade in his line of business in Altoona and throughout the county. He handles the finest piano fortes made, and has splendid instruments from the factories of Starr, Albrecht, Lester, and Jacob Bros. He is also the leading dealer and importer in Altoona in musical instru- ments and supplies of all kinds. Mr. Win- ter is an expert authority in the selection of first-class, reliable instruments, and in- variably gives satisfaction to his patrons, to whom he is prepared to afford the same advantages that they could secure in the larger cities of the United States.
In 1875 Ferdinand A. Winter married Emma, daughter of Henry Buhl, of Butler county. To their union have been born seven children, five sons and two daughters : Walter F., Arthur E. and Harry B. (twins), Edith E., Carl Lewis, Paul T., and Marie H.
In 1861 Ferdinand A. Winter enlisted as a soldier in the 63d regiment Pennsylvania infantry, and served for some time as its band master, after which he was transferred to the 5th heavy artillery, of whose band he had charge until 1865, when he was honorably discharged from the United States service. He is a member of the
مبد ٠يجدكـ
543
OF BLAIR COUNTY.
Presbyterian church, Grand Army of the Republic, Knights of the Golden Eagle, and the Order of Elks. Mr. Winter is in- dependent in politics, and has been for the last ten years one of the best known and most popular business men of Altoona.
JOHN C. SMITH, a prosperous farmer of Logan township, who served before Richmond and Petersburg during the last two years of the great civil war as a cor- poral in the 188th Pennsylvania infantry, is a son of Matthias and Jane (Coleman ) Smith, and was born on the farm adjoining the one on which he now resides, in Logan township, Blair county, Pennsylvania, Jan- uary 18, 1839. His paternal grandfather, John Smith, was a native of the State of Maryland, and some time before the com- inencement of the present century settled in what is now Logan township, where he took up a tract of four hundred acres of land, on which he resided until his death, in 1850, at over eighty years of age. IIe was of German descent, was one of the earliest settlers of the section in which he lived, and married and reared a family of children. His son, Matthias Smith, the father of the subject of this sketch, was born in Logan township in 1813, and fol- lowed farming until 1861, when he went into the Union service as a teamster, and at the end of six months' time he was taken sick and returned home, where he died in 1864, from the effects of exposure in the army. He was a successful farmer, a zeal- ous member of the Methodist Episcopal church, and a stanch republican in politics. Hle married Jane Coleman, who was born in the autumn of 1813, and died February 14, 1892. Mrs. Jane ( Coleman ) Smith was
a grand-daughter of the celebrated Thomas Coleman, one of the famous Indian hunters and frontier scouts of the Juniata valley, and who was called Old Coley by the Indians, who dreaded his death-dealing rifle and vengeful tomahawk, on account of having killed his brother, whose body they left boiling in a sugar kettle, to be found by him.
John C. Smith was reared on the farm on which he now resides, receiving his edu- cation in the common schools of Logan township, and then engaged in farming, which he followed successfully up to the present time. In February, 1864, he en- listed in the 3d Pennsylvania heavy artil- lery, at Fortress Monroe, and in March following was transferred to Co. D, 188th Pennsylvania infantry, in which he served as a corporal until December 20, 1865, when he was honorably discharged at Philadel- phia, having been mustered out at City Point, Virginia.
In 1859 Mr. Smith married Ellen Cherry, a daughter of Thomas Cherry, of Antis township, and who died in 1874. In 1877 he wedded for his second wife Lucinda Riggle, daughter of Henry Riggle, of this township.
John C. Smith is a republican in politics, and has never failed to support his party upon all important issues. He is a member and has been for some years a trustee of the Methodist Episcopal church. Mr. Smith now owns the old Smith homestead farm of one hundred and forty-five acres of choice and productive land. It is a well improved farm, upon which is a good brick residence and all necessary out buildings. He keeps his land in good condition, and is esteemed as a good neighbor and a useful citizen in the community where he resides.
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BIOGRAPHY AND HISTORY
N EWTON F. CUNNINGHAM, a skill-
ful and experienced workman, and the assistant foreman of the shops of the freight department of the Pennsylvania Railroad Company at Altoona, is a son of John M. and Catherine (Wilson ) Cunningham, and was born at Huntingdon, Huntingdon county, Pennsylvania, December 10, 1848. John M. Cunningham was a native of Mifflin county, and in early life came to Altoona, where he worked for a short time in the shops of the Pennsylvania Railroad Company, and then removed to Hunting- don county, where he died in 1868, at sixty years of age. He was a carpenter and bridge builder by trade, and ran a foundry at Huntingdon for several years before his death. He was a whig and republican in politics, and a regular attendant of the Methodist Episcopal church, and married Catherine Wilson, a native of Georgetown, Maryland, and a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, who died in 1873, aged seventy-one years. They reared a family of children. One of their sons, James D., en- listed in a Pennsylvania regiment during the late civil war, and was killed at the bat- tle of Cold Harbor, while another son, Wil- liam F., was killed by an accidental shot while serving as a policeman at Leadville, Colorado.
Newton F. Cunningham was reared at Huntingdon, received his education in the common schools, and then learned the trade of carpenter, which he followed for some time. In August, 1870, he came to Al- toona, and on the 8th day of that month went to work in the shops of the freight department of the Pennsylvania Railroad Company, whose foreman then was Andrew Kipple. He was variously engaged in these shops until he fully mastered all the details
of the different kinds of work done in them, and in July, 1887, was appointed by Mr. Kipple as assistant foreman, which position he has held ever since.
In 1873 Mr. Cunningham was united in marriage with Ellen Young, of Blair county. To their union have been born six children, three sons and three daughters: Harry, Louisa, Myrtle, James, Raymond, and Minnie.
Newton F. Cunningham is a republican in politics, has always given his party an unfaltering support, and served one term as a member of the common council from the Seventh ward. IIe thoroughly under- stands the business in which he is engaged, and to whose management he brings twenty-one years of experience, both as a workman and a manager. IIe is a member of Mountain City Lodge, No. 837, Indepen- dent Order of Odd Fellows. Mr. Cunning- ham, at different times, invested in real estate in Altoona, which has now become valuable and desirable. Skill marks his work, good judgment has characterized his business transactions, and honor and hon- esty have stamped all his dealings with his fellow citizens.
The Cunninghams are of Irish descent, and the family has been resident of the United States for nearly two centuries.
JONATHAN HAMILTON, a highly respected citizen and prosperous farmer of Logan township, is a son of Robert and Nancy (Smith ) Hamilton, and was born in Frankstown township, Blair county, Penn- sylvania, August 8, 1811. The Hamiltons and Smiths are of Scotch-Irish descent, and possess in a large degree those worthy qualities which so distinguish their race.
545
OF BLAIR COUNTY.
Robert Hamilton was born near the manu- facturing and seaport city of Belfast, in County Down, Ireland, and came, about 1798, to Cumberland county, this State, but soon afterward removed to Frankstown township, where he remained until 1818. In that year he purchased and removed to the farm in Logan township now occupied by the subject of this sketch, on which he resided until his death, which occurred in 1849, when he was in the seventy-eighth year of his age. He was one of the most extensive farmers of his day in Logan town- ship, where he owned his home farm of one hundred and ninety acres and another farm, the larger part of which is now within the city limits of Altoona. IIe was a democrat and afterward a whig in politics, and a member of the Hollidaysburg Pres- byterian church, and his house was the stopping place and home, for the time be- ing, of all the ministers of his church who passed through Altoona. He was energetic and hospitable, and married Nancy Smith, a native of Franklin county, and a Presby- terian in religious faith, who passed away in 1858, at the advanced age of seventy-six years. They reared a family of eight chil- dren, five sons and three daughters, of whom four sons and two daughters are living: Mary, widow of James Hutchi- son, of Altoona; James, a resident of Illi- nois; Jonathan; John, of Altoona, whose sketch appears elsewhere in this volume; William S., of Lawrence county, Pennsyl- vania; and Sarah A.
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