USA > Pennsylvania > Bedford County > History of Bedford and Somerset Counties, Pennsylvania, with genealogical and personal history > Part 20
USA > Pennsylvania > Somerset County > History of Bedford and Somerset Counties, Pennsylvania, with genealogical and personal history > Part 20
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Calvin M. Ankeny, son of Jones D. and Elizabeth (Mc- Dowell) Ankeny, was born January 10, 1856, in Somerset coun- ty, where until the age of nineteen he attended the common schools. For two years thereafter he assisted his father in the labors of the farm, and upon attaining his majority en- gaged in the produce business, disposing of his goods in the Johnstown market. At the end of twelve years he purchased a farm, which he cultivated in connection with his business. April 10, 1903, he moved to Somerset, where he bought the house which has since been his home. He is also the owner of a farm of one hundred and sixty-nine acres situated in Jenner township, near the old homestead. In addition to these he possesses several pieces of real estate in Johnstown and has a number of interests in the west.
Mr. Ankeny married, December 24, 1890, Cora L. Knepper, the descendant of ancestors who emigrated many years ago from Germany. George Knepper was a Somerset county farm- er and married Theressa Wegley, by whom he was the father of the following children : William G., of whom later; Mary Ann, Catharine, and Elizabeth. After the death of his wife Mr. Knepper married Martha Ambrose, and their children were: Henry, Rachael, Harriet, and Maria.
William G. Knepper, son of George and Theressa (Wegley) Knepper, was born in Somerset township and was educated in the common schools of his native county. He was a farmer and in politics a Republican. He married Sarah A. Baker and they have three daughters: Anna, Solista, and Cora L., born December 30, 1868, wife of Calvin M. Ankeny, as men- tioned above.
WITT AND WALKER.
Among the business men of energy and ambition in the borough of Somerset, the members of this well known firm rank high. The firm is comprised of George F. Witt and C. B. Walker. The former was born in Somerset, September 10,
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1877, son of George W. Witt and wife. The father was a foundry man the best years of his life, and still resides in Somerset. When about seventeen years of age, Mr. Witt com- menced to learn the butcher's business with George Auman, of Somerset. He then attended school for a time, which better qualified him for the activities of a business career. He then worked at the trade five or six years at Somerset and a suburb of Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, after which he returned to his native borough and became one of the firm of Davis & Witt, which was succeeded by Witt & Baker, who finally sold the market, and Mr. Witt was employed in the Seibert market, the one he had formerly owned an interest in. Finally Mr. Witt purchased the business from Seibert and continued to operate it alone from 1904 to May 17, 1905, when he took for his business partner a farmer, C. B. Walker, whose farm home is situated about four miles from the borough of Somerset, Pennsylvania. The firm is now known as Witt & Walker. They occupy No. 6 North Cross street, where they own a good one-story business house, which is on a leased lot. They buy and slaughter nearly all the meats they sell. They also buy and handle fish, game and poultry and put up their own ice, and in the winter months make a specialty of curing meats. Mr. Walker, the junior member of the firm, attends largely to the buying of the stock consumed in the market. Much of this live stock is bought in Bedford county, Pennsylvania. Their market is indeed a model for neatness and well selected meats. Orders by telephone are promptly delivered about the borough, in seasonable market hours.
Mr. Witt married, July 6. 1904, Lottie, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Shoemaker, farmers, living in Milford township, Som- erset county, Pennsylvania. By this union one child has been born: Harold Edward, September 11, 1905.
Of Mr. Walker, the junior member, it may be said that he was born May 23, 1858, the son of Levy and Mary Walker, of Somerset township, Somerset county, Pennsylvania. He was reared to farm labor and still owns and operates a good farm in Somerset township, Somerset county. He married, May 31, 1885, Mary Etta Spangler, daughter of Edward F. and Elizabeth Spangler, and was born July 30, 1866.
JOHN PUGH.
The great-grandfather of John Pugh, of Somerset, was James Pugh, a native of Rhode Island. who came to Somerset ahont 1780. His wife was Mary Hulett. born in New Jersey, and they had three sons: Hulett, James and Boaz, born in New Jersey, where their parents were married, before they came to Somerset county.
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Boaz Pugh, son of James Pugh, was born in Somerset county, and was all his life a farmer and a Republican. He married Susan Weigal, and their children were: Hulett, Salo- ma, Delila, Mary, John, of whom later; and Rachael.
John Pugh, son of Boaz and Susan (Weigal) Pugh, was born October 15, 1833, in Somerset, and received his education in the common schools. After leaving school he assisted his father on the farm until the outbreak of the civil war, when he enlisted in Company A, Tenth Regiment, Pennsylvania Re- serves, and served five months, when he contracted typhoid fever and was discharged. He returned home, recovered his health, and in March, 1865, was drafted, being enrolled in Com- pany G, Eighty-eighth Regiment, Pennsylvania Volunteers. He served until the close of the war and was discharged June 30, 1865. He returned to Somerset county, where he has since led a farmer's life. In politics he has always been a Repub- lican.
Mr. Pugh married, March 18, 1858, Elizabeth, born in Ohio, daughter of William and Catharine (Boyer) Luke, and their children were: Edward, Sara C., Gerome F., S. S., Jennie B., wife of S. B. Huston; and Irvin W. All are deceased with the exception of Miss S. S. Pugh and Jennie B., wife of S. B. Huston, of Somerset, and has two children; Ruth and Paul. Mrs. Pugh, the mother of the family, died August 18, 1874, and her husband has since remained a widower, his household being presided over by his daughter, Miss S. S. Pugh.
MARTIN A. RUTTER.
Martin A. Rutter, a furniture dealer of Meyersdale, Som- erset county, Pennsylvania, is a native of Huntingdon county, Pennsylvania, born December 9, 1844, son of William and Nancy (Rutter) Rutter, the former born in 1816, was a cabinet maker by trade and died in Huntingdon county in 1859.
Martin A. Rutter attended the public schools until he was fifteen years of age, when he engaged in clerking in a general store at Altoona. In 1862 he accepted a position as traveling salesman, carrying a line of notions, etc., and in 1871-72 con- ducted this business on his own account. He removed to Ursina in 1873, and the following year went to Centerville. In 1875 he located in Meyersdale, and for three years was occupied in clerking for Elias Miland and S. G. Hartley in their general stores. In 1878 he became interested in the Baltimore & Cum- berland Coal Company, and acted in the capacity of superin- tendent and general manager of same until 1884. He then be- came postmaster of Meyersdale, retaining this connection until 1889, conducting in connection with the postoffice a stationery and wall paper business. He continued in the latter business
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until 1891, and then for five years was associated with Ken- nedy Price in the planing mill business. In 1896 he discontinued this business and opened a furniture store in Meyersdale, in the conduct of which he has since been very profitably engaged. He is a thorough-going, alert business man, carrying a full line of the best house furnishings, and his store enjoys a gen- erous and ever increasing patronage.
Mr. Martin Rutter served in the army for eight months before the close of the war, a member of Company K, Seventy- eighth Volunteer Regiment of Pennsylvania. He enlisted in Blair county in March, 1865, and was honorably discharged at Harrisburg in the fall of 1865. He is a Republican in politics, and was elected burgess in 1889, but being appointed post- master, resigned the former office. Fraternally he holds mem- bership in F. and A. M. No. 554, Hebron No. 272 and Odd Fel- lows of Meyersdale. In religious faith he is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church.
He married, February 5, 1873, Alma J. Walter, daughter of John and Phebe Walter, of Centerville, and their children were: Charles H., born November 24, 1873; William H., April 4, 1875, married, in 1890, Leila Slicer, daughter of John H. Slicer, of Meyersdale; Nellie May, May 12, 1877, married, June 30, 1904, Samuel H. Agnew, of Monessen; Edna Grace, October 26, 1880, married, October 5, 1905, Daniel C. Keller, of Newark, Ohio; Walter R., July 12, 1883; and Maude, 1886, died January 5, 1890.
AUSTIN ROY KERN.
Austin Roy Kern, a grocer of Meyersdale, Somerset coun- ty, Pennsylvania, was born in Blain, Perry county, August 28, 1874, son of Simon P. and Olivia (Shaeffer) Kern, and grand- son of David Kern. Simon P. Kern was born in 1846 in Du- boyne township, Perry county, and was for eight or nine years engaged as a school teacher, but subsequently occupied him- self in the mercantile business. He was justice of the peace of Perry county for twenty years, and also served as school director and councilman. He married, in 1872, Olivia, the daughter of Daniel Schaeffer, who was county commissioner of Perry county. The following named were the children born of this union: Austin Roy, of whom later; Fred Alvin, born 1876; Clyde Campbell, Frank Shaeffer, and Grace Viola.
Austin Roy Kern received his initial education in the pub- lic schools, which he attended until he was twenty-one years of age, and later attended the normal school at Millersville for two terms, and one term at Lock Haven. He then engaged in school teaching for three years, spending two terms in Blain and one term in Duboyne township. Mr. Kern then entered
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into the mercantile business in Dawson, Fayette county, and in 1899 located in Meyersdale, where he opened the "Racket Store," on Center street. In 1902 he sold out this business and engaged in the grocery business, having his store on the south side, but now in the center of town. Mr. Kern is a thor- ough-going, capable business man, and has met with good suc- cess in his business career.
He married, August 16, 1899, Sarah Florence Rickard, a daughter of J. C. Rickard, of Blain, Pennsylvania, and they have two children, viz .: Emil Rickard, born January 12, 1901; and James Simon, June 30, 1902.
HORACE GREELEY WILL.
Horace Greeley Will, a representative business man of Somerset county, Pennsylvania, was there born in Milford township, July 9, 1865, son of Allen S. and Ann R. (Walter) Will, and grandson of John Will, who was a farmer and one of the pioneer settlers of Milford township, coming there from Berks county, Pennsylvania. He married Nancy Scott, and among their children was a son, Allen S.
Allen S. Will (father) was also a native of Milford town- ship, born March 4, 1828. In his younger days he was a mer- chant. but he subsequently engaged in agricultural pursuits. He received his early education in the public schools and at Millersville Academy. He was for some time a student at Washington and Jefferson College, and for several years taught in the public schools. When the California gold fever was rag- ing, in company with two of his neighbors, he went to that state via the Isthmus of Panama, and for two years joined in the mad search for gold. He met with only moderate success and, his health failing, he returned to Pennsylvania. He was a Repub- lican, and in 1876-1877 was a member of the state legislature of Pennsylvania. He also served in many of the township offices. He was a member of the Lutheran church. His wife, Ann R. Walter, was a daughter of John Walter, of New Centerville. Their children : San Francisco, born July 9, 1854, married W. J. Kimmel, of Milford township; John A., born December 27, 1856, died in 1883; he was principal of the Ursina schools; Viola M., born March 4, 1858, died in January, 1896; Martha A., born May 5, 1860, married M. M. Saylor, of Milford town- ship; Nina V., born June 12, 1862, married I. G. Miller, of Mil- ford; Horace Greeley, of whom later; Harriet B. S., born March 31. 1870, married George B. Saylor, of Meyersdale; Alice C., born October 5, 1871, wife of John L. Moore, of New Centerville; and Clifford A., born July 6, 1873, married Idella Saylor, daughter of Urias M. Saylor, of Middle Creek town- ship, and they live in Milford township on the old homestead.
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Horace Greeley Will obtained his early intellectual train- ing in the common schools of his native place, remaining in school until he was sixteen years of age. He then engaged in farming during the summer months and teaching school during the winter months until 1889. He then entered Bethany Col- lege, remaining there from 1889 to 1891, inclusive, after which he engaged in teaching one year in the public school, and a number of years in the county normal. He then spent a year in traveling, going over the territory east of the Mississippi, and also Texas, Indian Territory and Oklahoma. He returned home in 1894, and engaged in farming until February, 1896, when he located in Meyersdale, where he established himself in the furniture business with Martin A. Rutter, under the firm name of Rutter & Will. Their business is a highly suc- cessful one, and they are accorded a generous trade. The firm is now Will & Saylor, Mr. Rutter retiring.
Mr. Will is interested in various other enterprises, among them being the Meyersdale Manufacturing Company, of which he is secretary and treasurer, and the Second National Bank, in which he is a stockholder. Fraternally, he holds membership in the Knights of Pythias, Knights of Malta, I. O. O. F., Modern Woodmen of America, and A. O. U. W. Politically he accords allegiance to the Republican party, and in religion is a member of the Christian church.
He was united in marriage in August, 1895, to Sadie E. Moore, daughter of Cyrus P. Moore, merchant of New Lexing- ton, Somerset county, and of this marriage four children were born: Howard R., May, 1896; Mary, December, 1898; Lenore, February, 1901; Rebekah, July, 1903, and Louise, April, 1906.
THE HAY FAMILY.
The Hay family of Salisbury is of German origin and has been for at least a century and a half resident in Pennsylvania, being today one of the most numerous and best known in Som- erset county.
(I) Simon Hay, who was born in Germany, emigrated thence in 1763. in company with his brother, John Francis Hay. Simon settled in the eastern part of Pennsylvania, where he followed his trade of weaver. While temporarily engaged in threshing he made the acquaintance of a man named Countryman, who as- sisted him in his labors. Countryman possessed a large tract of land in Brothers Valley township and offered such inducements to Mr. Hay as to cause him to migrate there and purchase a tract of three hundred acres. On this land he erected a grist- mill, which he operated to his own advantage and that of his neighbors. He and his wife were the parents of the following children: Mary, Elizabeth, Catharine, Susan, Valentine, Jacob,
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George, Peter S., see forward; and Michael. Mr. Hay died in 1842, at the extraordinary age of one hundred and three.
(II) Peter S. Hay, son of Simon Hay, was born in 1789, in Brothers Valley township, and succeeded his father in the possession of the farm. After the death of his brother, Valen- tine, who operated the gristmill, this also came into his posses- sion by purchase. He and his wife were members of the Re- formed church. Mr. Hay married Elizabeth Walker, and their children were: David, see forward; Michael, Philip, Peter, Valentine, Mary, wife of Moses Young; Susan, wife of George Walker; Elizabeth, wife of John Rink; Catharine, wife of Fred Weller, and Caroline, wife of Samuel Saylor. Mr. Hay, the father, died in 1845.
(III) David Hay, son of Peter and Elizabeth (Walker) Hay, was born September 3, 1814, in Brothers Valley township, and purchased of his father the gristmill, which he operated until about 1850, when he disposed of it and moved to South- ampton township, where he purchased a farm. Owing to the death of his wife shortly after, Mr. Hay abandoned farming and passed two years in teaching school and in other occupa- tions. After his second marriage Mr. Hay moved to a farm in Elk Lick township, which he greatly improved, erecting a house and outbuildings. He operated extensively in real estate, deal- ing in farms, not only in his. native state, but also in the west. He was a successful financier and settled numerous estates in a satisfactory manner. In 1857 he was elected to the state legis- lature on the Democratic ticket. He was a member of the Re- formed church and contributed two thousand dollars toward the erection of the present edifice. He also gave one thousand dol- lars to the church, in trust, the proceeds to be devoted to alle- viating the sufferings of the poor in the neighborhood. Mr. Hay was twice married. His first wife was Polly Cook, by whom he was the father of two sons: William H., and Calvin Theodore, see forward. After the death of his wife Mr. Hay married Mrs. Mary A. (Rauch) Boose, the issue of this mar- riage being one son, Norman D. The death of Mr. Hay occurred April 14, 1878.
(IV) Calvin Theodore Hay, son of David and Polly (Cook) Hay, was born June 18, 1847, at Hay's Mill, Brothers Valley, and acquired a common school education. He began life as a farmer and after a few years moved to Ottawa, Frank- lin county, Kansas, where he also engaged in agricultural pur- suits. Thence he moved to Falls City, Richardson county, Ne- braska, where for three years he engaged successfully in pur- chasing and shipping grain. In 1878, in response to the urgent requests of his father, he returned home and once more became a farmer. In 1882 he moved to Salisbury and built his present
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fine residence. He also erected Hay's block, in Salisbury. In December, 1904, he opened and has since operated a general department store in Salisbury. He has served as school direc- tor, councilman and tax collector. He affiliates with the I. O. O. F., and is a Democrat in polities. He and his wife are mem- bers of the Reformed church.
Mr. Hay married, February 27, 1867, Duseilla, daughter of Samuel Devore, of Bedford county, and they were the parents of the following children: David Irving, see forward; Alice, wife of Lewis Keim, of Salisbury; Ora, wife of Charles May, barber of Salisbury; William, of Cumberland, Maryland, mar- ried Alice -; Edward lives in Idaho; Ira, at home; Grace, at home; Harriet, at home; Emma, deceased; Frances (Mrs. Dr. Hunter Perry) ; Ruth, at home; and Edna, at home.
(V) David Irving Hay, son of Calvin Theodore and Dus- scilla (Devore) Hay, was born February 8, 1869, in Elk Liek township, and until the age of fifteen attended the public schools of his native place. He worked in the mines until 1888, when he opened a candy and cigar store in Salisbury, which he con- ducted until 1891. He was then clerk and bartender in the Hay House until July, 1904, when he became proprietor of the hotel. He has served two ternis as councilman and one term as a mem- ber of the borough committee. He belongs to the Knights of Pythias and the Improved Order of Red Men, and is a Repub- lican. He and his family attend the Reformed church.
Mr. Hay married, March 23, 1890, Edith Catharine, daugh- ter of Alfred Wagner, of Salisbury, and their children are: Harry, Lewis, Edith, Esther, Anna, George, and Imogene.
LEVI LICHLITER.
The paternal great-grandfather of Levi Lichliter, of Salis- bury, was a native of Germany, whence he emigrated to this country, settling in Bedford county, Pennsylvania, and after- ward moving to Somerset county, where his son, Jacob Lich- liter, was born about 1792. Jacob Liehliter was a farmer and married Jemima Campbell, who bore him the following chil- dren: John C., see forward; Levi, Samuel, Elizabeth, Mary, and Catharine. After the death of his wife Mr. Lichliter mar- ried a Miss Williams, by whom he became the father of ten or twelve children.
John C. Lichliter, son of Jacob and Jemima (Campbell) Lichliter, was born in 1815, in Upper Turkey Foot township, and was a farmer and also one of the first public school teachers in Somerset county. Mr. Lichliter married, about 1840, Susan, daughter of Henry and Elizabeth Younkin, of Upper Turkey Foot township, and their children were: Henry H. born in 1841, farmer of Murphysburg, Illinois; Harriet, died in child-
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hood; Levi, see forward; and Almira, born December 8, 1847, wife of Walter Boucher, of Salisbury. John C. Lichliter died in 1853, at the early age of thirty-eight. His wife, Susan, died in 1890.
Levi Lichliter, son of John C. and Susan (Younkin) Lich- liter, was born November 16, 1845, in Upper Turkey Foot town- ship, where he attended the public schools until 1862. He then began to teach at Walker's Mills, Addison township, and the fol- lowing year went back to Upper Turkeyfoot township, where he taught for another year, the next year teaching in Middle Creek township. In 1866 he went to Monona county, Iowa, where he taught during the summer in a school afterward presided over by Dwight Hillis, of New York. On returning home he taught in 1867-68 at Salisbury, there being then only one school in the town. He then became clerk in a general store in Salis- bury, remaining until 1876, when he taught one term at Elk Lick. During the ensuing twelve years he taught at Salisbury, with the exception of one term, in 1884-85 in Grantsville. In 1888 he established himself in the grocery and feed business with a capital of only five hundred dollars. His sales now amount to sixty thousand dollars yearly. In 1871-72 he held the office of burgess, and from 1880 to 1883 served as school di- rector. From 1902 to 1905 he was president of the town coun- cil and since 1876 has held the office of justice of the peace. He is a charter member of Lodge No. 554, F. and A. M., and a Pro- hibitionist in politics. He is a member of the United Evangel- ical church.
Mr. Lichliter married, July 11, 1869, Sarah A., daughter of John Smith, of Salisbury, and their family consists of the following children: Christian Stutzman, born May 8, 1870, is and has been for many years with the Merchants' Coal Com- pany of Salisbury; he married Minnie, daughter of David Enos, of Cumberland; their children are: May, Lucille, Florede, Effie, Levi J., Wilbur, and David. Adeline, born May 30, 1871. Emily Katherine, born November 10, 1872, wife of Frank Far- ner, of Salisbury; their children are: Glen, Mabel and Jean Farner. Edith, born February 26, 1874, teacher. John, born October 13, 1875, married Mary J., daughter of John Reese, of Salisbury; their children are: George and Reese. Elmira, born May 8, 1879, clerk. Francis J., born in 1877, died in 1879. William Cleveland, born April 2, 1884.
WILLIAM WATSON STIVER.
William Watson Stiver is a son of David Casper and Mary (Shartzer) Stiver. David C. Stiver was a native of Centre county, Pennsylvania, but came to Bedford when quite young. Here he learned the trade of a cooper, which occupation he fol-
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lowed all his life. For forty years he made all the barrels used by the Anderson Ayres Company in shipping from Bedford Springs the famous mineral waters of that noted resort. David C. was a Democrat and an active member and class leader of the Methodist church. He married Mary Shartzer, and to them were born twelve children, five of whom are living: William Watson, of whom later; Louise, widow of J. Frank Deal, of Bedford; Samuel F., chief of police of Bedford; Margaret (Mrs. John Williamson), of Bedford; Ross A., liveryman of Bedford. David C. Stiver died in 1889; his widow, Mary, survived him until 1896.
William Watson Stiver, of Meyersdale, was born October 4, 1865, at Bedford Springs, Pennsylvania, where he attended the public schools until the age of fifteen. He learned telegraphy with the Western Union Telegraph Company and for six years was manager of the Bankers' & Merchants' Telegraph Company, of Newburg, Cumberland county. In 1885 he entered the service of the Western Union Telegraph Company at Fannettsburg, re- maining two years, and in 1887 went to Pittsburg, where he be- came shipping clerk for A. M. Byers & Company, tile and pipe manufacturers. This position he held until 1893, when he re- turned to Newburg, and after a few months moved to Newport, Perry county, where he entered the cigar and tobacco business. In 1896 he sold out and moved to Greensburg, where he carried on the same business until 1898. He then returned to Bedford and temporarily retired. In 1899 he went to Meyersdale and. purchased the Keystone Hotel, of which he has since been the successful proprietor. He is a stockholder in the Sheet Steel Company of Meyersdale, and is a member of Lodge No. 503, Benevolent Protective Order of Elks, of Cumberland. In poli- tics he is a Democrat.
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