USA > Pennsylvania > Blair County > Biographical and portrait cyclopedia of Blair County, Pennsylvania > Part 69
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71
In politics Mr. Hewitt is a republican, and takes a warm interest in the success of his party, with which he has so long been identified. He is an active worker in the Evangelical Lutheran church, of which he has been a member for over half a century. IIe is a man of quiet manners, of consistent morals, and of liberality, and is now well prepared in a beautiful home to enjoy the fruits of his long years of honest labor and successful business enterprises.
DANIEL J. LEATHERMAN, M. D.,
a young and popular physician of the borough of Williamsburg, is a son of Daniel and Caroline (Michael) Leatherman, and
584
BIOGRAPHY AND HISTORY
was born at Lewistown, Frederick county, Maryland, March 16, 1861. Ilis paternal grandfather Leatherman was a native of Germany, and came in early life to eastern Pennsylvania, where he followed farming for a short time near Philadelphia. Ile then removed to near Middletown, Mary- land, where he died in 1863, at sixty-one years of age. Hle reared a family of six sons and three daughters, and his widow died in 1865, when in the sixty-first year of her age. Daniel Leatherman, one of their sons, and the father of Daniel J. Leatherman, was born on his father's farm, Hear Lewistown, in 1820. IIe was a farmer for many years, and owned and operated a mill near Lewistown for some time. IIe is a large landowner in Frederick county and western Maryland, and still resides near Lewistown, in his native State. He is a Lutheran in religious belief. Mr. Leather- man has been twice married. His first wife was Caroline Michael, whom he married in 1843, and who died in 1870, leaving eight children, five sons and three daughters. In 1873 Mr. Leatherman married for his sec- ond wife Josephine Curtis, by whom he has three children. Two of Mr. Leatherman's sons by his first wife are : Dr. M. E. Leath- erman, who was graduated from the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Baltimore, in 1877, and since then has been in the active and successful practice of his profession at Mechanicstown, Maryland; and Rev. R. L. Leatherman, a Lutheran minister of the city of Minneapolis, Minnesota, who was graduated from Roanoke college in 1888, and the Lutheran Theological seminary of Philadelphia in 1891.
Daniel J. Leatherman was reared on his father's farm, and after receiving an acad- eric education at Lewistown, entered Ro-
anoke college, of Salem, Virginia, from which institution he was graduated at the end of a special three years' course. IIe then chose medicine as a profession, and entered the college of Physicians and Sur- geons, of Baltimore city, from which he was graduated in March, 1886. After graduation he opened an office at Mechanicstown, in his native county, where he remained until 1890, when he came to Williamsburg, Wood- bury township, this county.
In 1888 Doctor Leatherman was united in marriage with Katie A. Whistler, a daughter of Rev. Henry Whistler, of Me- chaniestown, Maryland, and who is now attending lectures at the Women's Medical college of Baltimore, from which she will be graduated in the class of 1894.
Dr. Daniel J. Leatherman is a democrat in politics, and has been for several years a member of the Evangelical Lutheran church. Doctor Leatherman has built up a very fine practice at Williamsburg and in the sur- rounding section of country, where his pro- fessional skill and success have rendered him popular as a physician with the public.
THOMAS WHITE, an industrious and well situated farmer of Frankstown township, is a son of Samuel and Anna (Bancroft) White, and was born in Franks- town township, Blair county, Pennsylvania, May 4, 1853. Ilis paternal grandfather, James White, was a native and life-long resident of Derbyshire, England. He mar- ried, and his son, Thomas White, the father of the subject of this sketch, was born near Derbyshire, April 2, 1816. He learned the trades of baker and brewer, which he fol- lowed in his native country of England
585
OF BLAIR COUNTY.
util 1852, when he came to Blair county, where he settled in Frankstown township. Five years later, in 1857, he removed to Hollidaysburg, where he was engaged in the general mercantile business for one year, and then went to Tyrone, near which, in a district called the Kettle, he ran a truck farm until 1890. In that year he retired from active life, and came to Altoona, where he has resided ever since. He has been twice married. llis first wife was Anna Bancroft, who died in March, 1856, at Frankstown, when in the fifty-seventh year of her age. For his second wife he married, in 1860, Mrs. Anna Jeff, of Ty- rone, who died in 1882. By his first mar- riage he had ten children, of whom seven lived to reach manhood and womanhood.
Thomas White passed his boyhood years on his father's farm in Frankstown town- ship, attended the common schools for about one year, and then became a laborer on a farm, where he worked for some years. After attaining his majority he engaged in farming, which he has followed continuously and successfully ever since. He owns a valuable farm of one hundred and twenty- five acres of tillable and productive land near the village of Frankstown.
On Christmas day, 1887, Mr. White was united in marriage with Mary E., daughter of Joseph and Catherine Harpster, of Frankstown township. Mr. and Mrs. White have four children, two sons and two daughters : Samuel F., Oscar H., Catherine D., and Elberta S.
In politics Mr. White is a republican, and a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. He has been for several years a member of the Evangelical Lutheran church, and is a substantial and reliable citizen of his community.
N EWTON CRUM, the popular pro- prietor of the Clarendon hotel of Altoona, was born at Wilmore, Cambria county, Pennsylvania, August 9, 1856, and is a son of Oliver and Hannah (Smay) Crum. The Crums are descendants of the old Crum family of Germany, an empire that has added much toward shaping the industries of the civilized world. Ephraim Crum (grandfather ) died in 1874. He was one of the early settlers of Cambria county, and owned a flouring and saw mill at Wil- more, where he resided for many years. In political opinion he was a republican, and being a man of sound judgment and wise discretion, he was elected as justice of the peace, which office he held for a number of years. Oliver Crum (father) was born in Cambria county, in 1834, and devoted the greater part of his life to agricultural pur- suits. In August of the third year of the great civil war he enlisted as a private in Co. G, 149th Pennsylvania infantry, and in 1864, at the battle of the Wilderness, where the pomp and glory of war gave precedence to its untold horrors, he was taken prisoner and conveyed to Andersonville prison, where, on September 23, 1864, he was released from his oppression by the summons of death.
Newton Crum was reared upon a farm in Cambria county, and improved the oppor- tunities afforded him in securing a good education in the common and the soldiers' orphans schools, to prepare himself to enter upon the scenes of active life. At the age of seventeen he was employed as a brake- man by the Pennsylvania Railroad Com- pany. Serving in this capacity for a few years, he was promoted to freight conductor, and from 1881 to 1890 was under the em- ploy of the same company, and worked in their blacksmith shops in Altoona. Since
586
BIOGRAPHY AND HISTORY
1872 Mr. Crum has been a resident of Al- toona, and in 1890 he became engaged in the hotel business. IIe is now proprietor of the Clarendon hotel, located on the corner of Eleventh avenue and Seventeenth street, has his house well arranged for the traveling public, and enjoys a large and first-class patronage.
Newton Crum married Rose Tiemey, daughter of Thomas Tiemey, of Altoona, in 1880. Their union has been blessed with four sons and one daughter: John O., Charles R., Edward O., Walter J., and Rose A.
Newton Crum started in life with no other assistance than willing hands, a clear head and determined energy. Industry and per- severance are among his marked character- istics, and have won for him good success in his business. He owns some valuable real estate in the city of Altoona, beside his hotel property. In political convictions Mr. Crum is a republican who closely ad- heres to the principles of his party, and believes in the supremacy of its principles as being necessary for the true development and future prosperity of the American Union.
AMES E. NEASON, ex-county com- missioner of Cambria county, and the proprietor of the Union hotel of Altoona, is a son of John and Mariah (Donough) Neason, and was born at Spruce Creek, Huntingdon county, Pennsylvania, March 18, 1835. James Neason (grandfather) was a native of county Mayo, Ireland, and in 1794 came to this country in search of a home. Pleased with the appearance of eastern Pennsylvania, he settled at Chester, where he resided for eight years. At the expiration of that time
he removed to Allegheny township, Cam- bria county, where he purchased a tract of forest land, which he soon changed into a beautiful farm. Here he resided until he passed away at the ripe old age of ninety- four years. He was a democrat, and a member of the Catholic church, in whose affairs he took an active part. His son, John Neason ( father), was born in Cambria county, and when yet a young man removed to Huntingdon county, where he resided until 1840. In that year he returned to Clearfield township, Cambria county, where he cleared a fine farm out of the woods and there resided until his death in 1874, at the age of seventy-five years. He advocated the principles of the Democratic party, and held many township offices. In religious sentiment he was a close adherent to the principles of the Catholic church. He mar- ried Mariah Donough, a native of Allegheny township, Cambria county, who died in 1883 at the advanced age of seventy-nine years. She was of the same religious belief and church membership as that of her husband.
James E. Neason was reared on the farni in Cambria county, where his environments were green fields and wooded plains. His opportunities for securing an education were limited, and were confined to the common schools. He remained upon the farm, and was engaged in agricultural and lumbering pursuits until 1869, when he was elected to the office of county com- missioner of his native county, which posi- tion he held for a term of three years. At the close of his term of office he again became engaged in farming and lumbering, and in 1879 he abandoned farm life and removed to the city of Altoona, where he has since resided. For three years, from 1879 to 1882, he was employed in the
587
OF BLAIR COUNTY.
Pennsylvania railroad shops, and in Janu- ary, 1882, he became engaged in the hotel business, which he has conducted success- fully ever since. He has been proprietor of the Union hotel for the last five years, and by the excellent accommodations of his house has secured a large patronage.
In 1860 Mr. Neason was united in mar- riage with Susan Troxel, daughter of Wil- liam Troxel, of Clearfield township, Cam- bria county, and to them were born two sons and three daughters : Minnie, married John P. Cassiday, and is a resident of Al- toona; Ellen, wife of M. P. Roman, also resides in Altoona; Rose, married M. A. Keough, and is a resident of the same city ; and John and Paul, who are now attending St. Vincent college, near Latrobe, West- moreland county.
In politics Mr. Neason is a democrat, and in religious sentiment a Catholic, being a member of the Catholic church of Altoona. His business ability and energy and success prove that he is a man well fitted to succeed in any enterprise in which he may engage.
AMES CRAWFORD, of Irish de- scent, was an early settler at Newry, where he died about 1824. He had sons nained William, David, and James. The former married Fannie Moore, of Duncans- ville, and in 1829 moved to Sinking valley, settling on a farm which has been improved by John McLain. He died in July, 1833, at the age of forty-eight years. His daugh- ter became the wife of Samuel Morrow, ant the sons, James died in 1838; Joseph resides on the lower Crissman farm; Rob- ert on part of the Dysart farm; David and Jordan at the head of the valley; Elihu P. in Pleasant valley; Samuel and John re-
moved to Illinois. The elder Crawford was greatly harassed by the Indians, who de- stroyed the cabin in which he lived.
LINDA E. HOOPER, an efficient in- structor and first assistant in the Al- toona High school, was born in the city of Philadelphia, this State, and is a daughter of William M. and Eleanor ( Bryan ) Hooper. The Hoopers are of English descent, and her paternal grandfather Hooper was one of the early settlers of Blair county, and followed his trade of blacksmith near Maria Forges until his death. His son, William M. Hooper, was born in Blair county, from which he removed, shortly after his marriage, to Phil- adelphia, where he resided and was engaged in business until his death, which occurred in 1872, at forty-two years of age. He attended Selinsgrove academy, and taught for a short time before going to Philadel- phia, where his first employment was as book-keeper in a wholesale grocery house. In a short time he left his position as book- keeper to become a member of the wholesale dry goods firm of Hood, Bonbright & Co., from which he withdrew in a few years to become a member of the firm of MeLean, Hooper & Co. This latter firm was engaged in the manufacture and sale of sewing ma- chines, and under the management of Mr. Hooper had secured a fine trade at the time of the death of the latter. Mr. Hooper was a democrat, and a member and trustee of the Methodist Episcopal church, and was rapidly winning his way into the front rank of the business men of Philadelphia, with bright prospects of success before him, when he was stricken down by the hand of death in the very prime of life. Mr. Hooper mar- ried Eleanor Bryan, of Maria Forges, who
588
BIOGRAPHY AND HISTORY
was a Methodist in religious faith and church membership, and died at Altoona in 1888, when in the fifty-fifth year of her age.
Linda E. Hooper received her education in the public schools and the Girls' Normal school of Philadelphia, and in 1874, with her mother and brother, Harry B., came to Altoona, where she has resided ever since. Immediately after coming to Altoona she secured a position as a teacher in the primary department of the public schools, and was successively promoted until 1880, when she was elected first assistant in the Altoona Iligh school, which position she has held with credit ever since. Miss Hooper is a member and has been for fifteen years the organist of the Second Lutheran church, in whose Sunday school she teaches a large class of young ladies. She is also a mem- ber of the Chautauqua Literary society, in whose methods of inducing home study and self culture she is very much interested.
Linda E. Hooper is a close student, and has carefully studied the methods of culture and the methods of instruction, and thor- oughly understands the principles of the new education, whose aim is the natural and symmetrical development of the child nature. Miss Hooper has tested theories by practice in her teaching, and thereby has acquired valuable experience, that has contributed to some extent to her known efficiency and marked success as an in- structor whose standard of work, although high and ideal, yet is practical and attain- able, as attested by the substantial progress of her pupils.
"""HOMAS F. MOFFITT, senior mem- ber of the marble cutting firm of Moititt & Co., of Altoona, is one of the few
natives of the great west who have come east and cast in their fortunes with Blair county. He is a son of John and Sarah A. (McGough ) Moffitt, and was born in Cass county, southwestern Iowa, on New Years' day, 1858. John Moffitt was born in Ireland in 1832, came to New York city in 1845, and a few years later removed to St. Louis, Missouri, from which he afterward went to Cass county, Iowa. While a resident of the Hawk Eye State he enlisted as a soldier in the Union service, and served for three years in one of the western armies. Shortly after the close of the late war he removed to Savannah, Missouri, where he has resided ever since. Ile learned the trade of marble cutter, which he has followed throughout life. He is a member of the Catholic church, and a democrat in politics, and has served as school director, beside holding various other township offices. He married Sarah A. McGough, who was born in 1838, in the city of Wheeling, and is a Catholic in religious faith and church membership.
Thomas E. Moffitt, although born in Iowa, yet was principally reared in Missouri, where he received his education in the common schools and the Brothers' school of St. Joseph, Missouri. Leaving school, he learned the trade of marble cutter with his father, and in 1877 went to St. Louis, where he worked for three years. He then came to Altoona and followed his trade until 1887, when he embarked in the marble business, in which he continued up to 1889. In January of that year he formed a part- nership with David A. Yon, under the firm name of Moffitt & Co., and they have been successfully engaged in the marble business ever since. Their office, shop, and yards are at No. 807 Green avenue, where they have good facilities for rapid, systematic
1
589
OF BLAIR COUNTY.
and successful work in all the various branches of the marble business. They have a large stock of different kinds of marble and granite suited for monuments and all other kinds of cemetery work of any grade desired, from the plainest to the most elaborate, while specimens of Mr. Moffitt's artistic workmanship may be seen in nearly all of the largest and most beauti- ful cemeteries of Blair county and the central part of the State.
In September, 1882, Mr. Moffitt was united in marriage with Katie Cole, daugh- ter of Abraham Cole, then a resident of Altoona. Their union has been blessed with three children, one son and two daughters: Edna, Charles, and Nettie.
Thomas E. Moffitt is a democrat in poli- ties. He is a well respected citizen, an excellent workman, and a pleasant, sociable gentleman.
THE MOORE FAMILY, whose name
is identified with Scotch valley as origi- nal settlers, came to this country probably about the year 1768 from Scotland. It consisted of Samel Moore, his seven sons and two daughters: Daniel, William, John, Samuel, James, David, Joseph, Elizabeth, and Jane. Their first stopping place in the interior was in Kishacoquillas valley, where the hardy Scots commenced clearing land; but the yield not being such as they were led to expect, the two elder brothers, Dan- iel and William, were sent abroad by the old patriarch to look for better land, and more of it. Accordingly, they shaped their course westward, prospecting as they went, until they reached what is now known as Scotch valley. How they found their way to that place, an unbroken wilderness, five
miles from the nearest human habitation, or what the inducements were for stopping there, were puzzling questions then. Let the reader now look at the fine farms of Scotch valley and he will see that in select- ing the spot the Moores were actuated by a sagacity that enabled them to see those fine lands blooming like the rose in the future. They immediately occupied a large tract of land, built a cabin, and commenced clear- ing. The year following they went to Kishacoquillas, and brought on the father and the remainder of the family. Beneath their sturdy blows the giant oaks fell, and the wilderness was turned into fields of waiving grain, and they soon had a home that made them even forget the Highlands of Scotland. When the war broke out they were all stanch republicans, active and energetic men, and were foremost in all measures of defense for the frontier.
William Moore, second son of Samuel, a useful man, loved and respected by all who knew him, met his death at the hands of an Indian, in August, 1778.
During the troubles of 1779-80, when the frontiersmen fled before the assaults and merciless massacres of the Indians, the Moores returned to their former residence in Kishacoquillas. But the restless Scots did not remain away from their farm long. Some of them returned in a year, but the old patriarch, Samuel, did not return until after the surrender of Cornwallis. He was then accompanied by a colony of Scotch- men, consisting of the Crawfords, Irwins, Fraziers, Stewarts, Macphersons, and others, constituting from twenty-five to thirty persons.
The descendants of the men who wound their way up the Juniata in Highland cos- tume nearly three-quarters of a century
590
BIOGRAPHY AND HISTORY
ago, with all their worldly possessions upon pack-horses, are also numerous, and many of them have risen to wealth and eminence by their own unaided exertions.
JANE (GIBSON ) COFFMAN, widow
of Curtis Coffman ( the latter a descend- ant of the old Coffman family of Blair county), is a daughter of James and Jane ( Miller) Gibson, and was born in Scotch valley, Blair county, Pennsylvania, May 19, 1826. Her paternal grandfather Gibson was one of the early settlers of the county, and had several narrow escapes from the Indians. IIe lived in those frontier days when the settler car- ried his trusty flint lock gun with him to the field to protect himself from the Indians, whose war parties frequently raided the settlements for plunder and scalps. Often when he or any of his neighbors would be called away for a few hours they would hide their children in the woods and cover them with leaves, where they would remain without making any noise until their par- ents' return. His son, James Gibson (father), was born near Frankstown, and removed, in 1857, to Reedsville, Indiana, where he died in 1864. He was a Lutheran in religion, and a republican in politics, and married Jane Miller, who is now dead. Mr. and Mrs. Coffman were the parents of nine chil- dren : Mary A., Catherine, William, Mrs. Jane Coffman, Elizabeth, James, Sarah, Jacob, and Agnes.
Jane (Gibson ) Coffman was reared to womanhood on her father's farm, and re- ceived her education in the subscription schools of that day.
She was united in marriage with Curtis Coffman, who was born in 1809, in Juniata county. He came in early life to Franks-
town township, and by hard labor and care- ful management, in which he was ably as- sisted by his wife, he acquired a farm of eighty acres of well improved and very desirable land. He was a republican in politics, and died in 1876. To Mr. and Mrs. Coffman were born five children : James L., born December 14, 1855, married Annie Hetrick, and is engaged in the gen- eral mercantile business at Yellow Springs, of which place he is postmaster; Curtis, born in 1857, married Rebbeca Keller, and is now engaged in farming; William B., born in 1859, is now engaged in cultivating the home farm; Banks, born in 1861; and Mary.
Since her husband's death Mrs. Coffman has resided on the home farm, which she has managed very successfully. She has erected a good barn, and made many other useful and valuable improvements, which have added greatly to the appearance and much to the value of the farm. Mrs. Coff- man was a helpmeet in the true sense of the word to her late husband. She is pleasant and agreeable, and her children's happiness and prosperity are now her greatest care.
W ILLIAM LAYMAN, an indstrious farmer of North Woodbury township, and who has served continuously as an elder of the Reformed church for over a quarter of a century, is a son of John and Mary (Seacrisp ) Layman, and was born in North Woodbury township, Blair county, Pennsylvania, September 22, 1830. The Layman family settled in Franklin county as early as the beginning of the present century. One of its members was John Layman, the father of the subject of this sketch. John Layman was a farmer's son,
591
OF BLAIR COUNTY.
mid consequently his boyhood years were passed on the paternal acres, while he re- ceived such education as the subscription schools of his native township afforded. Ile, however, made good use of his oppor- tunities, and secured a good business edu- vation. Like many others thus situated during the first quarter of the present cen- tury, he pushed west of the Juniata to find better openings for farming than were then afforded to men commencing life or those of moderate means in Franklin county or eastern Pennsylvania. After coming to what is now Blair county Mr. Layman set- tled in North Woodbury township, where hu. purchased a farm and followed farming and stock raising until his death, at the ad- vanced age of seventy-seven years. He was a successful farmer, a republican in politics after 1856, and had served as an elder of ti ... Reformed church for many years before his death. He married Mary Seacrisp. They reared a family of ten children, seven sous and three daughters.
William Layman grew to manhood in his native township, received his education in the early common schools of Pennsyl- vania, and was carefully trained to farming 4 and farm management. After attaining hi, majority he engaged in farming for himself, which he has successfully pursued ever since.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.