Biographical and portrait cyclopedia of Blair County, Pennsylvania, Part 64

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

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Jonathan Hamilton was reared on the farm where he now resides, received his education in the old subscription schools of Frankstown and Logan townships, and tlien embarked in farming, which he has followed continuously ever since. He owns

one hundred and forty acres of the old homestead, and has his farm well improved and in a fine state of cultivation.

In 1838 Mr. Hamilton married Mrs. Mary (MeKee) Fleck, of Logan township, and to their union were born five children, three sons and two daughters: Joseph S., who enlisted in the 110th Pennsylvania infantry, and died from the effects of a wound re- ceived in the battle of Chancellorsville; Nancy A., Gabriel T., Hattie B., and John K. Mrs. Hamilton was a member of the Presbyterian church, and died in 1881, when in the seventieth year of her age, and left, besides the children named, one son by her first husband, who is Thomas Fleck, of Tyrone township.

Jonathan Hamilton has been a member and ruling elder of the First Presbyterian church of Altoona since its organization. IIe has been a republican ever since the formation of that party, and although no politician, has held several township offices. In addition to farming Mr. Hamilton has dealt considerably in live stock, and has al- ways stood high as an honorable and honest man.

JOHN HAMILTON, now resident of Altoona, and a stockholder of the Edi- son Electric Light Company of Altoona, is a son of Robert and Nancy ( Smith ) Hamil- ton, and was born in Scotch valley, Blair county, Pennsylvania, March 8, 1816. The Hamiltons were Scotch-Irish Presbyterians, who held strictly to the faith of their race. Robert Hamilton was born near the ancient city of Belfast, in County Down, in the cele- brated north of Ireland, which was the early home of the Scotch-Irish race. Hle came, about 1798, to Pennsylvania, where he was a resident of the Cumberland valley

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BIOGRAPHY AND HISTORY

for a short time, and then removed to near Frankstown, in the Scotch valley. From the Frankstown neighborhood he removed, in 1818, to the farm in Logan township, near Juniata, on which his son, Jonathan Hamilton, now resides. He died in 1849, at the advanced age of seventy-eight years. At the time of his death he owned three large farms, and ranked as one of the most extensive as well as successful farmers of Logan township. Mr. Hamilton was an ardent democrat up to the time of the Jack- son and Clay campaign, during which he became a whig, and supported that party ever afterward. He was a stirring, ener- getic man, and held several township offices during his lifetime. He was a member of the Presbyterian church of Hollidaysburg, of which his family were members, and his house was the home of all the ministers who passed through Altoona. He married Nancy Smith, who was born in the Cumberland valley, in Franklin county, and died in 1858, when in the seventy-sixth year of her age. To Mr. and Mrs. Hamilton were born eight children, five sons and three daugh- ters, of whom four sons and two daughters are living: James, of Illinois, now eighty- four years of age; Jonathan, who resides on the old homestead, and whose sketch ap- pears in this volume; John; William S., a resident of Lawrence county, Pennsylvania,. aow in the seventy-fourth year of his age; Mary, widow of James Hutchison, late of Altoona, and resides on Union avenue in that city; and Sarah A., who resides with her brother Jonathan on the old homestead.

John Hamilton was reared on his father's farm, and received his education in the old subscription schools, which were often taught by incompetent, dissipated and bru- ial teachers. Leaving school he assisted

his father in farming until 1844, when he purchased his present farm, on a part of which a portion of the Seventh ward of Al- toona is built. In 1883 Mr. Hamilton re- tired from active life and removed to Al- toona, where he has resided ever since.

In 1844 John Hamilton married Eliza- beth, daughter of John Lytle, of Gaysport, who died in 1851, and left two children : Franklin L., and Robert II. Mr. Hamilton was remarried in 1856 to Margaret Peter- son, daughter of Louis Peterson, of Alle- gheny City, this State, and by his second marriage has one child living, a son, Lewis T., of Dakota.

In polities Mr. Hamilton is a republican, and when Blair was a part of Huntingdon county he served as juror at Huntingdon. Hle is an active and influential member of the First Presbyterian church of Altoona, and has been for some time a stockholder of the Edison Electric Light Company. Mr. Hamilton is a fine looking man, of rather dignified appearance, and has always commanded the respect of the different communities in which he has resided.

W. MONROE C. CRAINE, a graduate of the Philadelphia college of phar- macy, and one of the leading druggists of the city of Altoona, is a son of Wilson E. and Sarah A. (Clarkson ) Craine, and was born in Blair county, Pennsylvania, Febru- ary 19, 1865. The Craines are of English lineage, and Mr. Craine's paternal grand- father, Christopher Craine, was an early settler in Antis township, where he followed farming and run a foundry until his death, which occurred about the year 1867. ITis son, Wilson E. Craine ( father), was a native of Blair county, where he followed farming

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OF BLAIR COUNTY.

until 1868, when he engaged in the general mercantile business in Altoona. In 1880 he retired from all active business and traveled through the south on account of ill health, but was not benefited by his change of climate, and died, while on his return to Al- toona, at Carsville, Huntington county, in 1882, when in the forty-fifth year of his age. He was a member of the Second Methodist Episcopal church of Altoona, and a democrat in politics, and served his bor- ough for several years as a member of the school board.

W. Monroe C. Craine received his educa- tion in the public schools of Altoona, and then was successively employed until 1885 as a clerk in drug stores of that city, Mount Pleasant, and Greensburg. Two years later, in 1887, he entered the Philadelphia college of pharmacy, from which he was graduated the same year. Immediately after gradua- tion he returned to Altoona and established his present drug store, at the corner of Chestnut avenue and Fourth street, where he carries a large and complete stock of fresh and pure drugs. He is also proprietor of another drug store, situated on the corner of Sixth avenue and Fourth street, and en- joys a large and remunerative trade.

In 1889 Mr. Craine was united in mar- riage with Emma Thompson, daughter of John R. and Amelia Thompson, of Birming- ham, Huntingdon county. To Mr. and Mrs. Craine have been born two children : Mary and Robert.

In polities Mr. Craine is a strong repub- lican, and has been for some time serving from the Seventh ward of Altoona as a member of the city council, in which he is chairman of the committee on surveys, and a member of the committees of finance and of exonerations and printing. IIe is a mem-

ber of the Eighth Avenue Methodist Epis- copal church, Veranda Lodge of Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and Altoona Lodge, Knights of Pythias, of which latter he is a past chancellor. Mr. Craine brings to the service of his patrons a thorough knowledge of the profession in which he is engaged, and is remarkably accurate and careful in filling the prescriptions of physicians, and in putting up all drugs or chemicals ordered from him.

ROF. WILSON W. OSBORNE, prin-

cipal of the Jefferson school of Altoona, and who for more than a quarter of a century has been earnestly engaged in his profession, is a son of David and Lillie (Stevens) Os- borne, and was born in Fulton county, Penn- sylvania, July 3, 1830. The Osbornes are Scotch, a hardy, active and resolute people. John Osborne (grandfather) was a native of Fulton county, where he followed farming

up to the time of his death. His son, David Osborne (father), was also born in the Key- stone State, and was engaged in agricultural pursuits in Fulton county, where he died in 1887, at the advanced age of eighty-two years. He was an attendant of the Methodist Epis- copal church, and in politics he was an ardent supporter of the Democratic party, and filled many of his township's offices. He married Lillie Stevens, a native of Fulton county, and who now resides on the old home- stead, where she well enjoys the comforts of life, although eighty-eight years of age. She is of the same religious belief as was her husband. Mr. and Mrs. Osborne reared a family of children, and two of the sons served as soldiers in the Union army during the late civil war.

Wilson W. Osborne was reared in Fulton county, and received his education in the

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BIOGRAPHY AND HISTORY

local academy and Cassville academy, of Huntingdon county, from which latter in- stitution he was graduated in 1853. The same year in which he was graduated he began teaching in Logan township, where he continued in the profession until 1863. At that time he removed to Altoona, where he has been engaged in teaching ever since. He has taught in all the wards of the city, and is now principal of the Jefferson school, of which he has had charge for four years.

In 1858 Professor Osborne was united in marriage with Catherine Bowles, a sister to Prof. James B. Bowles, of Altoona. This union has been blest with one son and two daughters: Crawford B .; Jennie, married C. D. Jordan, who is also a resident of Altoona; and Bertha E., wife of Theodore II. Griffin, a resident of the same city. On April 22, 1891, Mrs. Osborne died, and left a husband and three children with many friends to mourn her loss.

In politics Mr. Osborne closely adheres to the principles of the Democratic party. He has taught for a period of thirty-four years, and honors his profession by skill, scholar- ship, and many other qualities that tend to elevate the teacher's work.

AMES C. WATTS, of the wholesale

mercantile firm of James C. Watts & Brother, of Altoona, is essentially a man of vigorous action and great capacity for work, which facts were well illustrated when his store was burned, in 1891, and ere the ashes were cold had made preparations to con- tinue his business. IIe is a son of David and Elizabeth ( North ) Watts, and was born at Richfield, Juniata county, Pennsylvania, December 15, 1860. Ilis paternal grand- father Watts was a native of England, and

became an early settler near Richfield Juniata county, where he followed farming until his death. His son, David Watts (father), was born in 1823, and early in life removed to Mifflin county, where he was engaged in the general mercantile business until a few years before his death, when he retired from active life. He was an influ- ential democrat, acted for several years as chairman of the democratic county commit- tee, and served one term as treasurer of Juniata county, besides holding the most important of the offices of his township. Ile married Elizabeth North, who was born in 1832, and is a consistent member and active worker of the Presbyterian church. HIer father, Thomas North, who settled in early life in Juniata county, was of Scotch descent, and followed farming and tanning until his death. He was a leading man in his community, and one of his nephews is II. M. North, an able and leading lawyer of Columbia City, Lancaster county.

James C. Watts was reared at Mifflin, received his education in the common schools, and at twenty years of age went to the city of Philadelphia, where he was en- gaged in clerical duties and mercantile pur- suits for nine years. During that the be familiarized himself with every minor detail of various branches of the mercantile busi- ness, as well as studying closely the princi- ples upon which they were founded and the methods by which they were most success- fully conducted. Thus specially qualified for business life by practical training, he came, in November, 1889, to Altoona, where he formed a partnership with his brother, Edward T. (see his sketch ), under the firm name of James C. Watts & Brother, and they engaged in their present wholesale wood and willowware business. Their store

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OF BLAIR COUNTY.

was burned in July, 1891, but Mr. Watts immediately took steps to continue his bu iness. The establishment of the firm is pow at Nos. 1003-1005 Eleventh street, where they have an unusually large stock in their various lines of goods. They are manufacturers' agents, and wholesale dealers in wood and willow ware, oileloths, station- ery, rope, twine, and different kinds of paper from manilla to straw. Mr. Watts has built up a large and prosperous trade in the city and among many merchants of Blair and adjoining counties.

In politics Mr. Watts is a democrat. IIe is unmarried, has been a member of the Presbyterian church for several years, and although yet young in years takes rank among the most prosperous and energetic citizens of Altoona.

ARTIN BELL, district attorney of Blair county, and a lineal descendant of Edward Bell, the founder of Bellwood and an early iron manufacturer of the Juniata valley, is a son of Rev. A. K. and Mary E. ( Allen) Bell, and was born in Antis township, Blair county, Pennsylvania, September 30, 1849. The founder of the old pioneer Bell family of central Pennsyl- vania was John Bell, who settled in Sinking valley prior to the revolutionary war, during which he was often compelled to flee with his family to Lowery's fort to escape massacre by the Indians. His son, Edward Bell (grandfather), was born in Sinking valley, March 17, 1769, and died April 14, 1852, agod eighty-three years. He was a mill- wright by trade, and in the first year of the present century he came to the site of Bell- wood, where he built a grist mill, distillery and saw mill, which improvements gave the

place the name of Bell's Mills, and later, in honor of Mr. Bell, was named Bellwood. Edward Bell was a remarkably energetic and successful man, and in 1830 had come into the ownership of three thousand six hundred and seventy-four acres of land. Two years later he built Elizabeth furnace and Mary Ann forge, and in 1836 his son, Martin Bell, at Elizabeth furnace, was the first man in the world to use escaping gas from the tunnel head of a furnace for the production of steam. Edward Bell married Mary A. Martin, by whom he had nine children, seven sons and two daughters. Mrs. Bell was a daughter of Rev. James Martin, of Scotch-Irish descent, who was the first Presbyterian minister that ever preached in Blair county. Rev. A. K. Bell, D. D. (father), was born in Antis township, in 1814, and died in 1888, aged seventy-four years. He was an able Baptist minister, and served several churches in central Penn- sylvania, as well as being pastor for a number of years of one of the largest and leading Baptist churches of Allegheny City. IIe was an abolitionist and republican in poli- tics, and married Mary E. Allen, a native of Dauphin county, and a member of the Bap- tist church, who is now seventy-five years of age, and resides at Hollidaysburg. They reared a family of children.

Martin Bell was reared in Blair county and Allegheny City, and received his educa- tion at Lewisburg, now Bucknell university, of Union county, from which institution he was graduated in 1869. After graduation he read law with Samuel S. Blair, of IIolli- daysburg, and was admitted to the bar in 1873, and since then has been in the active and continuous practice of his profession at Hollidaysburg.

In 1877 Mr. Bell was united in marriage

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BIOGRAPHY AND HISTORY

with Irene Lemon, a daughter of Robert M., and a niece of IIon. John A. Lemon, of Hollidaysburg. They have five children, two sons and three daughters: Eliza, Eliza- beth, Roberta, A. K., and Martin, jr.

Martin Bell is a stanch republican in poli- ties. He was elected district attorney of Blair county in 1886, and served so acceptably and with such efficiency that at the end of his term he was re-elected for a second term, which he is now serving. He is a member of Portage Lodge, No. 220, Free and Accepted Masons ; Mount Moriah Chap- ter, No. 166, Royal Arch Masons, of Holli- daysburg; and Mountain Commandery, No. 10, Knights Templar, of Altoona. As a lawyer Mr. Bell wins his cases by thorough preparation, close examination of witnesses, and an able presentation of his testimony to the jury.

G RAHAM McCAMANT MEAD-

VILLE, of Bellwood, and ex-sheriff of Blair county, is entitled to the distinction of having been held prisoner in as many, if not more, southern prisons during the last war as any other soldier who served in the Union armies. He is a son of Joshua B. and Judith (Ginter) Meadville, and was born near Warrior's Mark, in Warrior's Mark township, Huntingdon county, Penn- sylvania, June 15, 1844. His paternal grandfather, William Meadville, was of Scotch ancestry, and settled in Hunting- don county about the commencement of the present century. IIe was a native of Maryland, and married a Miss Binn, of that State. His son, Joshua Meadville, was born January 1, 1808, and followed farm- ing and teaming during most of his life, in Huntingdon and Blair counties. IIe died in Antis township on April 14, 1853,

when in the forty-sixth year of his age. He was a democrat of anti-slavery views, had held various township offices, and served for several years as a member of a cavalry company of the old State militia. He married Julia Ginter, who was born September 4, 1806, and was a daughter of William Ginter, a native of a Rhineland district of Germany, and a forgeman by trade, who settled in Morris township, Huntingdon county, where he died. He was a son of Daniel Ginter, and married Catherine Dry, by whom he had three sons and four daughters. Mr. and Mrs. Mead- ville had eleven children : Sarah, who died in infancy; Mary, wife of David Beamer, who is in the employ of the railroad com- pany at Altoona; William, who was killed; John, of Bellwood, who served as a Union soldier through the late war, and is now right foreman on the Bell's Gap railroad ; Matilda, wife of John Henshey of Antis township; Joshua B., who enlisted August 1,1861, in Co. F, 2d Pennsylvania reserves, was taken prisoner at Weldon railroad fight, and died in prison at Saulsbury, North Carolina; Arbline, who married Martin Robinson, and is now dead; Graham Mc- Camant; Peter, of Bellwood, who enlisted as a Union soldier in the Army of the Potomac, was held as a prisoner by Mos- by's guerrilla's for some time, and after be- ing exchanged served until the close of the war; Annetta died in infancy; and Ruth A., who now resides with her mother at Bellwood.

Graham McCamant Meadville was reared in his native county, and received his edu- cation in the common schools and an acad- emy, which he attended for ten months after the close of the late war. At sixteen years of age he enlisted, on August 26,

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OF BLAIR COUNTY.

1861, in Co. F, 76th Pennsylvania infantry, and served three years seven months and eleven days in the Department of the South, being successively under the com- mand of Generals Hunter, Mitchell, and Gilmore. He was in several battles, among which were: Salt Works and Poctaligo, Georgia, October 22, 1862; Morris Island, South Carolina, July 10, 1863; and Fort Wagner, same State, July 11, 1863. He was taken prisoner at Fort Wagner, and confined successively in Charleston jail, Castle Thunder, Belle Island prison, Moore Hospital prison, Pemberton prison, and Belle Island (second time), and at Ander- sonville, Savannah, and Milan. He was paroled on November 21, 1864, after a continuous imprisonment of sixteen months and ten days, and sent to Annapolis, Mary- land, from whence he was taken to Har- risburg, this State, where he was honorably discharged from the Federal service on March 7, 1865. He immediately returned home, and on the 19th day of the same month entered the employ of the Pennsyl- vania Railroad Company as a laborer in their foundry at Altoona. He was soon transferred to the railroad as a brakeman, and then promoted to the position of lo- comotive engineer, which position he still holds. He removed to Bellwood, where he has resided ever since.

September 25, 1872, Mr. Meadville mar- ried Anna Mary McClellan, daughter of William McClellan, of Bellefonte, Centre county. They have eight children, three sons and five daughters: Flora May, born August 13, 1873; Joshua W., born March 21, 1875; Blanche B., born September 5, 1379; Mary B., born August 23, 1881; Graham G., born July 12, 1883; Peter Russell, born November 8, 1886; Ruth E.,

born June 30, 1888; and Judith, born June 30, 1889.

In politics Mr. Meadville is a republican, and in 1885 was elected as sheriff of Blair county, which office he held for a term of three years. At the expiration of his term, in 1888, he was appointed and served one year as deputy sheriff. In religious belief he leans toward the Baptist faith of his ancestors. Of late years he has interested himself to some extent in real estate, and now owns, three and one-half miles west of Bellwood, in Antis township, a valuable farm of one hundred and eighty-six aeres of land, on which he raises some very fine horses and cattle. In 1889 he erected the fine three-story brick opera house block at Bellwood. Mr. Meadville is one of the higher degree Masons in the United States. He is a member of Lodge No. 391, Free and Accepted Masons; Clearfield Chapter, No. 228, Royal Arch Masons; Constantine Commandery, No. 33, Knights Templar; Syria Temple, Ancient Arabic Order Nobles of the Mystic Shrine; and Gourgas Grand Lodge of Perfection, Ancient Scottish Rite Masons. Graham McCamant Meadville is a tall man of fine personal appearance. He is energetic and active in whatever he undertakes, served creditably and efficiently as a county officer, and ranks high as a man of business ability and spirit, and of public enterprise.

M ICHAEL BRIDENBAUGH, a

highly respected citizen of Bellwood, and a descendant of one of the old and worthy families of central Pennsylvania, is a son of Philip and Polly ( Hileman ) Bri- denbaugh, and was born at Petersburg, Huntingdon county, Pennsylvania, October 29, 1823, His paternal grandfather, Michael

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BIOGRAPHY AND HISTORY

Bridenbaugh, was a native of Germany, which country he left soon after his mar- riage, in 1783, and came to Lebanon county, Pennsylvania, where he remained but a short time. Ile then removed to near Petersburg, in Huntingdon county, where he purchased a farm of two hundred acres of land, and was engaged in farming until his death, which occurred October 29, 1823. Ile was an old-line whig in politics, and a member of the Dunkard or German Baptist church, and married a Miss Hullinger, in Germany, by whom he had eight children, all of whom are now dead. ITis son, Philip Bridenbaugh (father), was born in 1788, in Lebanon county, and was brought by his parents, in 1798, to near Petersburg, Hunt- ingdon county, where he followed farming until his death. He was a whig, and served his township for several terms as tax col- lector and as road supervisor. He was an active and enthusiastic member of the Ger- man Reformed church, and contributed largely of his means and time toward the building of every Reformed church that was erected during his life-time in the Sinking valley. He was a wealthy and prosperous farmer for his day, and stood high as a public-spirited citizen and an honorable and upright man. He married Polly Hileman. Mr. and Mrs. Bridenbaugh reared a family of twelve children, seven sons and four daughters : Harriet, Henry, Michael, Susan, Eliza, Mary, and Rebecca, and Philip, David, Joseph, Benjamin, and one other, who are now dead.

Michael Bridenbaugh grew to manhood on his father's farm, and received his edu- cation in the schools of his neighborhood. Leaving school he assumed charge of his father's farm, which he ran for twelve years, and then took charge of his father-in-law's

farm, which he managed successfully for two years. He was then variously engaged until 1861, when he purchased his present farm of one hundred and thirty-two acres of land, of which one hundred acres are under cultivation.

In 1847 Mr. Bridenbaugh married Eliza Reamey, daughter of Frederick and Martha Reamey. Having no children of their own, they have reared five adopted children, of whom three are married and settled.

In political opinion Mr. Bridenbaugh is a republican, and never fails to cast his ballot for his party at county, State and National elections. He is a member of the Evangelical Lutheran church, and has always been active in religious affairs. Mr. Bridenbaugh is pleasant and gentlemanly, has always been generous and liberal in the support of any good cause, and now enjoys the respect and good will of all who know him. Mr. and Mrs. Bridenbaugh reside in a pleasant and enjoyable home, which is well provided with everything necessary to render them comfortable and happy.

1 PHILIP BRIDENBAUGH, of Tyrone

township, was married to a daughter of Michael Hileman, of Frankstown, and died in 1831, at the age of seventy-three years. He was the father of sons named John, Henry, Michael, Philip W., David, Joseph, and Benjamin, while his daughters were married to Thomas Russell, Frank Wilson, Alexander Seeds, Mahlon Stryker, and William Louden. The sisters of Philip Bridenbaugh married into the Hileman, Smith, Hollinger, and Sprankle families, who were among the pioneers of different parts of the county, while the Bridenbaughs were well known as among the prominent settlers of the valley.

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Biographical and portrait cyclopedia of Blair County, Pennsylvania, Part 64

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