USA > Pennsylvania > Blair County > Biographical and portrait cyclopedia of Blair County, Pennsylvania > Part 65
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553
OF BLAIR COUNTY.
W ELLINGTON Y. LEVENGOOD,
M. D., the leading practitioner of B .: Ilwood, is one of the best posted young physicians in Blair county, and one whose successful career during the past fifteen Years reflects credit on the profession. IIe is the eldest son of Augustus W. and Cath- erine (Yohn) Levengood, and was born April 6, 1857, in Douglass township, Berks county, Pennsylvania. The Levengoods have been residents of the Keystone State since the early days of the Commonwealth. Augustus W. Levengood (father) is a na- tive of Berks county, and was born about 1832. IIe was reared and educated in that county, where he has devoted his long and active life to agricultural pursuits. He now resides on his fine farm in Douglass town- ship, that county, at the advanced age of sixty years. Politically he is a democrat, and during his more active years took a deep interest in all public questions. IIe married Catherine Yohn, a native of Berks county, born about 1835, and by this union had a family of five children : Wellington Y., the subject of this sketch; Harrison, who married a Miss Eagle, and now resides as Pottstown, Montgomery county, this State, where he is engaged as an engineer; Alice, wedded to William Rhodes, a wagon- maker and blacksmith of Pottstown, Mont- gomery county; Annie, married . Elmer Lenhart, a salesman in the city of Philadel- phia; and Emma, deceased.
Wellington Y. Levengood received an academic education, finishing his studies in the Keystone Normal school at Kutztown, Berks county, and an academy. IIe after- ward taught school for three years, reading medicine meanwhile in the office of Dr. John Todd, of Pottstown. Later he matric- ulated at the University of Pennsylvania,
in Philadelphia, and was graduated from the medical department of that well known institution on 'March 12, 1877, with the degree of M. D. Ile at once located at Lawrenceville, Chester county, where he practiced for a short time, and in Septem- ber, 1877, removed to Bellwood, this county, where he opened an office, and has ever since been successfully engaged in the prac- tice of his profession. In 1889 he took a special course at the Philadelphia Polyclinic hospital, where he made a particular study of diseases of the nose and throat. About this time he formed a partnership with his cousin, Dr. Brooklyn B. Levengood. They have an extensive and lucrative practice, extending from fifteen to twenty miles in all directions from the borough of Bellwood, and have acquired an enviable reputation for skill and unusual success in the treat- ment of disease. Dr. Levengood is an en- thusiast in his profession, and spares no pains to keep abreast of the times in all matters pertaining to the healing art. Like all successful physicians, he is still an earn- est student, realizing that every worthy achievement must be purchased by the pure coin of persistent effort.
Dr. Levengood was united in marriage to Harriet E. Yohn, September 26, 1878, and to them has been born a family of four daughters : Maude, Myra, Bessie and IIelen. Mrs. Levengood is a daughter of Mr. Yohn, of Pottstown, Montgomery county, and was born in that county.
Politically Dr. Levengood is a republi- can, taking considerable interest in local politics, but entirely without political ambi- tion. He finds the exacting duties of his profession sufficient to occupy most of his time, and rarely allows anything to distract his attention therefrom, even by way of
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BIOGRAPHY AND HISTORY
recreation or relaxation. He has already achieved deserved success, and being still in the very prime of life, bids fair to win yet wider recognition, and see many years of usefulness and honorable activity in his chosen field of labor.
W ILLIAM BELL, who died in August, 1877, was widely known and warmly esteemed as one of the most active and en- ergetic members of this community. He was born in Dauphin county, and in early life was trained to be a mechanic. Studious application to his business and a natural aptitude for his calling led naturally to successful endeavors, and so in good time he rose to be a building contractor of more than ordinary importance. Upon taking a contract to construct what was known as the "Crooked Dam" on the Juniata river (for canal purposes), in Blair county, he made his home in Williamsburg, and in the county resided ever after until his death. In the spring of 1839 he moved to the vicinity of Altoona, and devoted himself to farming pursuits. Upon the homestead he passed the remainder of his life, which in ail its phases presented a wholesome in- fluence and useful example.
HIe lived to reach the age of seventy-six, his wife (Elizabeth, daughter of Peter Good,) having preceded him to the "silent majority " by eleven years. He was among the formost workers in the Lutheran church, and for forty-four years he was an active and zealous member therein, having, with his wife, joined the church ( under Rev. Jacob Martin ) in 1833, while living at Williamsburg. His religious faith was a model, and the ardent enthusiasm with which he devoted himself to church work a conspicuous illustration of that faith.
REV. SOLOMON F. FORGEUS, an
able and eloquent divine, the highly esteemed pastor of Logan's Valley Baptist church, of Bellwood, and vice-president of the Baptist State Mission and State Edu- cational societies, is the only child of Chris- tian and Rebecca ( Linderman ) Forgeus, and was born in South Coventry township, Chester county, Pennsylvania, August 19, 1844. Ilis paternal grandfather, Andrew Forgeus, was one of the Hessian soldiers who were brought over from Germany by King George II. of England to aid in his vain attempt of putting down the Ameri- can revolution. He deserted from the British army, and enlisted under Washing- ton at Valley Forge. At the close of that war he settled in the northern part of Chester county, where he followed farming until his death. He was a member of the Evangelical Lutheran church, and reared a respectable and industrious family of sev- eral children. ITis son, Christian Forgeus (father), died in Berks county in 1853. He was a shoemaker by trade, but followed merchandising. He was a Lutheran in religious faith and church membership. For his second wife he married Rebecca Linderman, daughter of John Linderman, a native of Germany, who settled in Mont- gomery county.
Solomon F. Forgeus was reared in his na- tive county, and at eigliteen years of age, on August 7, 1862, enlisted as a private in Co. C, 134th Pennsylvania infantry, in which he served until May 26, 1863, when he re- enlisted as a private in Battery C, 3d Penn- sylvania heavy artillery. On January 5, 1864, he was discharged from the battery in order to be commissioned second lieu- tenant of Co. G, 9th regiment United States colored troops. He was promoted to first
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OF BLAIR COUNTY.
lieutenant January 7, 1866, appointed ad- jutant of the regiment April, 1866, and dis- charged from the Federal service Decem- ber 19, 1866. Hle served in the armies of the James and the Potomac, and in Texas. Returning home from the army he resumed his school studies at Conoquessing academy, of Zelienople, Butler county. At the com- pletion of his academic course he entered Lewisburg university, from which he was graduated in the class of 1872. Leaving the university he commenced his studies for the Baptist ministry, and after some time spent at Cornell university he entered Crozier Theological seminary, from which he was graduated in 1875. After gradua- tion he was called to the Baptist church of Tunkhannock, Wyoming county, where he was ordained and installed as pastor on August 12, 1875. He remained with that church until 1878, when he became pastor of Clark, Green, and Mt. Bethel churches of Lackawanna county, which he served ac- ceptably for three years. At the end of that time he assumed charge of the Dun- ning church, of the same county, for which he labored successfully until October, 1881, when he accepted a call to become pastor of Logan's Valley Baptist church of Bell- wood, where he has labored diligently and successfully ever since for the upbuilding of the kingdom of his Divine Master.
October 28, 1875, Mr. Forgeus married Ida, daughter of Andrew Kennedy, of Lan- caster county. Rev. and Mrs. Forgeus have four children, one son and three daughters: Susan, Royal, Margaret R., and Elizabeth.
Rev. Forgeus, in politics, was formerly a republican, but is now a prohibitionist, and has served as a member of the borough school board since its organization in 1888.
His services for the advancement of his church and in the cause of education and Christianity have received recognition at the hands of the Baptists of the State, who, through their representatives in associations and other organizations, have made him vice-president of their State mission and educational societies, while he has served for nearly ten years as secretary of the Baptist State Ministers' Union. Solomon F. Forgeus, while pleasant and courteous, yet is firm in his convictions and decided in the course of action which he deems to be right upon any question or issue. He is a man of clear perception, good judgment, fine scholarship, and retentive memory. He is logical, interesting, and at times very eloquent in advocating what is right or de- nouncing that which is wrong. As a pas- tor his constant endeavor has been to de- clare to his hearers the word of life, and his sermons represent his own deep-felt convictions as to truth and duty.
CAPT. GEORGE C. DAVISON is a
well known architect, contractor, and builder of the borough of Tyrone, and sole proprietor of the Tyrone brick works. IIe is president of the Tyrone Industrial Company, recently organized for the purpose of carry- ing on manufacturing enterprises of various kinds in that city, and is an active, far- seeing business man, possessed of great executive ability. He is a son of John A. and Ellen (Dunlap ) Davison, and was born at Tyrone Forges, Blair county, Pennsyl- vania, March 29, 1845. His paternal grand- father was John Davison, an ironmaster, of Cecil county, Maryland, who failed in busi- ness during the trying times that resulted from our second war with Great Britain,
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BIOGRAPHY AND HISTORY
and in 1814 removed from Maryland to Tyrone Forges, this county, where he en- tered the employ of Lyon, Shorb & Co., and superintended the erection of the machinery in their slitting mill and nail factory. IIe was a whig in politics, and served as cap- tain of a company of Maryland volunteers during the war of 1812. He died at Tyrone Forges about 1820. His wife was a Miss Armstrong, and they reared a family of six children, two sons and four daughters. John A. Davison ( father ) was born in Cecil county, Maryland, in 1803, but while yet a lad came with his father's family to Tyrone Forges, this county. Ile passed nearly all his life in this county, and died on his farm, west of Tyrone, in 1876. Ile was the first machine nail cutter in central Pennsylvania, and operated the first nail machine ever set up in this section, working under the super- intendence of his father, and in the employ of Lyon, Shorb & Co., at Tyrone Forges. He remained with that firm until 1848, act- ing as forge carpenter, weighmaster, etc. In 1848 he purchased a small farm in Sny- der township, where he resided until his death, in 1876. He was first a whig and later a republican in politics, and served as school director, tax collector, supervisor, and justice of the peace. IIe held the latter office for a period of fifteen years in succes- sion, and was elected for another term, but declined to serve. He was a man of high moral character and strict rectitude in all his dealings. He married Ellen Dunlap in 1829, and to their union was born a family of eleven children, six sons (two of whom died in childhood ) and five daughters. Mrs. Davison was a native of Barrce, Hunting- cion county, this State, born in 1807, and died in Tyrone, October 12, 1889. She was a very capable woman, and a devoted mem-
ber of the Methodist Episcopal church for more than seventy years.
Capt. George C. Davison was reared on his father's farm, near Tyrone, accustomed to hard work during the summer, and at- tending school during the winter. He was an apt student, and acquired a good English education in the common schools of his na- tive place. In 1862, when only seventeen years of age, his young mind became im- bued with military ardor, and, leaving the farm, he enlisted at Tyrone in Co. A, 125th Pennsylvania infantry, and served with that company until May, 1863, when he was dis- charged at Harrisburg. At the battle of Chancellorsville he was wounded and left on the field for dead, but finally revived, was taken to the hospital, and recovered. In 1864 he reenlisted as a veteran in a Penn- sylvania battery, and served in the cam- paign of that year, participating in all the engagements of the Army of the Potomac from the Rapidan to Petersburg. He was knocked down by the explosion of a shell at the battle of Cold Harbor, and received a contused wound in the right forearm at the storming of the works before Peters- burg. His battery was consolidated with the 2d Pennsylvania artillery in September, 1864, and with that organization partici- pated in the battle of Chappen's Farm, north of James river, and afterward held the line of fortifications at Bermuda Hun- dred until the evacuation of Richmond. After the surrender of Richmond this com- mand was stationed in the city of Peters- burg, Virginia, until February, 1866, and was mustered out of service at Philadelphia sometime during the following month.
In 1875 he was commissioned captain of the National Guard of Centre county, this State, by Governor Hartranft, and served as
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557
OF BLAIR COUNTY.
such until September, 1876, when he re- signed and removed to Blair county, locat- ing on the old homestead, near Tyrone. In 1880 he moved into the borough of Tyrone, where he has since resided, and engaged extensively in contracting and building. lle is also an architect of experience and ability, and a number of fine buildings in that place are built after plans originated by him. In addition to his other business, Captain Davison is sole proprietor of the Tyrone brick works. He has been success- ful in all his business enterprises, and pos- sesses good judgment and the energy neces- sary to make his mark in the business world. He is now serving as president of the Tyrone Industrial Company, recently organized for the purpose of carrying on manufacturing enterprises in that city. Politically he is a republican, very firm in his convictions, and ardent in the support he gives his party. He has served as coun- cilman of Tyrone.
On December 29, 1868, Captain Davison was wedded to Westanna M. Jones, of Ty- rone, and to their union was born a family of' five children, only two of whom now survive : Maude, born September 17, 1870, married William C. Grazier, a carpenter, residing in Tyrone; Oren J., born August 29, 1873, and died September 17, 1874; Viola, born May 1, 1875, deceased October 22, 1876; George L., born April 9, 1877, and passed from earth October 17, 1891; and Leo P., born January 15, 1880.
PROF. WILLIAM C. REEM is one
who has been engaged in teaching for a number of years, and has made a good record in his profession. He is a son of Capt. Charles and Sarah J. (Ewing) Reem,
and was born at Frankstown, Blair county, Pennsylvania, November 17, 1850. Capt. Charles Reem ( father) was a native of the Keystone State, and when a young man located at Frankstown, where he resided until the commencement of the late war. Ile enlisted in the 3d Pennsylvania in- fantry, and after a service of three months he enlisted as second lieutenant of Co. A, 84th Pennsylvania infantry. On March 23, 1862, while serving as captain of his com- pany, he was killed at Winchester, Virginia. By trade he was a shoemaker, and was engaged for several years in shoemaking at Frankstown. He was a democrat in poli- ties, and married Sarah J. Ewing, a native of Pennsylvania, where she died March 21, 1889, at the advanced age of sixty-two years. She was of Scotch-Irish descent, and attended the Presbyterian church in Altoona.
William C. Reem was reared in Blair county, where he received his elementary education in the common schools, was fur- ther educated in the Soldiers' Orphans' school in Huntingdon county, and after- wards attended the Juniata Collegiate in- stitute at Martinsburg, Blair county. Leav- ing school, he began teaching in Logan township, and has been engaged in the profession of teaching ever since. Stability of character and fidelity to his profession have been the means of his commanding good positions. For a period of fourteen years he was principal of one of the high schools of Altoona, and for twelve years he had charge of the Webster school of the same place.
In 1875 Mr. Reem was united in marriage with Nancy J. McCartney, a daughter of Douglass McCartney, of Logan township. To them have been born a family of five
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BIOGRAPHY AND HISTORY
sons : HI. Roscoe, Harper L., Charles G., Marion D., and Dayton R.
He and his wife are members of the First Presbyterian church of their city. Mr. Reem is a member of White Cross Lodge, No. 250, Kights of Pythias; of Lieutenant S. C. Potts Post, Grand Army of the Re- public; and a member of the Sons of Veterans; and Local Assembly, No. 5699, Knights of Labor. Politically he is a stanch supporter of the Democratic party. He is a resident of Logan township. Prof. Reem has been engaged in teaching for a number of years, has filled his different positions with honor and ability, and his labors have always given general satisfaction.
J OHN LYON PORTER, a member of the firm of Austin Brothers & Porter, of Tyrone, is a descendant of the old and honorable Scotch-Irish Presbyterian Porter family of central Pennsylvania. IIe is a son of George B. and Sallie (Lyon ) Porter, and was born at Carlsville, Clarion county, Penn- sylvania, September 15, 1857. His paternal great-grandfather, Hon. Thomas Porter, was born in Ireland, and came to America at some time during the last half of the eigh- teenth century. He was a farmer by occu- pation, settled in Centre county, and died at Alexandria, Huntingdon county. He was a demorat in politics, a ruling elder in the Presbyterian church, and married Jane Montgomery, a native of Centre county, by whom he had three children : John, Charles, and Elizabeth. After his death his widow became the wife of Dr. William Jackson, and died at Alexandria. The eldest son, John Porter (grandfather), was born at Alexan- itria, September 9, 1797, died at Pennsylva- nia Furnace, same county, March 24, 1881,
and his remains were interred in the Alex- andria cemetery. He served as an elder of the Presbyterian church for over sixty years, and was elected by the democrats, in 1830, to represent Huntingdon county in the house of representatives of Pennsylva- nia. He served as an adjutant in the 29th regiment State militia, was one of the in- corporators of the Pennsylvania railroad, and was for many years in partnership with a Mr. Bucher in the mercantile business at Alexandria. On March 13, 1821, Mr. Porter married Mariah Bucher, by whom he had eight children, four sons and four daughters. One of these sons, George B. Porter (father), was born at Alexandria, March 13, 1826. He followed farming for some time, and then was engaged in the mercantile business at Alexandria. He is independent in poli- ties, has served for several years as an elder of the Presbyterian church of Alexandria, and has always been active in the cause of religion in his community. On December 23, 1851, Mr. Porter married Sallie Lyon, who died May 15, 1860, and left three children : Myla, wife of A. M. LaPorte; John Lyon; and William L., who is secre- tary of the Young Men's Christian associa- tion of York, Pennsylvania. Mrs. Porter was born in 1831. She was a daughter of John Lyon by his third wife, who was a Miss Patton previous to her marriage. John Lyon was the senior member of the great iron manufacturing firm of Lyon, Shorb & Co., which owned several forges, furnaces and rolling mills in this State. He lived to be eighty-four years of age, and a fuller account of his life will be found in the sketch of Dr. W. L. Lowrie, of Tyrone.
John L. Porter received his education at Lawrenceville High school, New Jersey, and learned the trade of machinist, which
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OF BLAIR COUNTY.
he followed until 1878, when he went to Spruce Creek valley, where he was engaged in farming for eight years. At the end of that time, in 1886, he came to Tyrone, and during the next year became a member of the present firm of Austin Brothers & Porter. In 1890 this firm erected their large and well equipped foundry and machine shop plant near Tyrone, on the Little Juniata river. Their principal buildings are a machine shop, 40 x 100 feet, a foundry, 40 x 60 feet, and a pattern department and engine room in a structure 35 x60 feet. They employ twenty men, have a large trade, and build a very large number of steam engines and shears to cut iron. They use first-class material, employ skilled workmen, and pro- duce work that ranks high for quality and general excellence.
November 25, 1880, Mr. Porter married Caroline, daughter of William M. Phillips, of Alexandria, Huntingdon county. To their union have been born two children: Susan M. (deceased) ; and Ruth.
John L. Porter is a republican in politics, and a member of the First Presbyterian church of Tyrone. He is a good' business man, a practical and expert machinist, and an active worker in the Presbyterian church, of which his paternal ancestors have been worthy members for many generations.
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ENRY L. SHOLLY, superintendent of the Tyrone Iron Company's works at Tyrone, and an enterprising and thrifty business man, is the eldest son of Jacob and Susannah (Snyder) Sholly, and was born at Port Treverton, Snyder county, Pennsylvania, January 17, 1852. The Shollys are of Swedish extraction, and the family was planted in America about 1638,
when the Swedes and Finns settled in what was then known as New Sweden. Jacob Sholly, grandfather of the subject of this sketch, was a native of Lebanon county, this State, but removed to Snyder county while yet a lad, and lived there until his death at an advanced age. He was a farmer by occupation, and grew familiar with all the difficulties which beset pioneers in a new country. He purchased a large tract of wild land and cleared out a fine farm, on which he lived for many years previous to his death. He was a member of the Evangelical Lutheran church, and formerly a whig, but later became a repub- lican in politics. He married Lydia Stahl, by whom he had a family of five children who grew to maturity : Kate married Isaac Deemer, and together with her husband is now deceased; Jacob (father ); Simon, who died about 1860; Susan, married Benjamin Neitz, and they reside at Port Treverton, Snyder county ; and Adam, who enlisted in 1861, served through the civil war (receiv- ing injuries which rendered him an invalid for life), and now resides near Pallas, Snyder county. Jacob Sholly ( father), is a native of Snyder county, this State, where he has spent nearly all his life. While yet a boy he began boating on the Pennsyl- vania canal, and followed that occupation for more than thirty years. In later life he purchased a farm and engaged in agricul- tural pursuits exclusively. He is an ardent republican in politics, and a member of the Evangelical Lutheran church. Ile married Susannah Snyder in 1851, and to their union was born a family of eight children : Henry L., Emma, Jacob (married Mary Oves, and resides at Nealmont, this county ), John, George, Simon (the last three now deceased ), David ( married Kate
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BIOGRAPHY AND HISTORY
Shaffer, and is now a farmer of Snyder county ), and Sallie, married Lincoln Straw- ser, a farmer of that county.
The maternal grandfather of Henry L. Sholly was Jacob Snyder, a native of Snyder county, where he lived all his life, and died about 1860, at the age of sixty-five years. Ile was a farmer and a member of the Lutheran church. In politics he was first a whig, but in later life became a republi- can and stanch abolitionist. IIe married a Miss Hockmeister, and had a family of ten children, five sons and five daughters: George, David, John, Jacob, Samuel, Sus- annah (mother ), Elizabeth, Catherine (mar- ried Samuel W. Herrold), Sarah, and Ema- line (married John Swigart). Of these children George, David, Susannah, and Catherine are deceased, while the others are yet living in Snyder county.
Henry L. Sholly was reared on his father's farm in Snyder county, and ac- quired a good primary education in the common schools there, after which he at- tended the Freeburg academy five terms, and later took courses of training in the Union seminary at New Berlin, Union county, and the State Normal school in Snyder county. After leaving school he engaged in teaching during the winter season until 1879, when he engaged as a laborer with the Montour Iron and Steel Company, at Danville, receiving ninety cents a day. He had worked only two weeks in that capacity when he was pro- moted to be weighmaster and timekeeper, and soon afterward entered the foundry as clerk and book-keeper. Some time later he became shipper and timekeeper in the yards and inspector of rails and merchant bar iron, and soon had charge of all the finished products of the mill. December
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