USA > Pennsylvania > Bedford County > History of Bedford and Somerset Counties, Pennsylvania, with genealogical and personal history > Part 26
USA > Pennsylvania > Somerset County > History of Bedford and Somerset Counties, Pennsylvania, with genealogical and personal history > Part 26
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He married, February 19, 1860, Catherine Klinefelter, born September 7, 1834, died April 11, 1900, and they have chil- dren as follows: Seward H. Klinefelter, born July 25, 1861, died March 28, 1862; William H., September 16, 1864; John Albert, June 23, 1867, died July 18, 1867; Edward F., August 25, 1868, died February 16, 1892, was run over by an engine at Somerset and died an hour after the accident; James O., Octo- ber 4, 1869; Charles II., August 12, 1872; Catherine Elizabeth, April 7, 1874.
WILLIAM B. CONWAY.
William B. Conway, of Rockwood, was born March 21, 1871, in Somerset county, and is a son of Samuel Conway, who was born February 28, 1836, near Markleysburg, Pennsylvania, and follows the calling of a farmer. Samuel Conway married Lydia Close and their children were: Laura; Aniose, deceased; Mor- gan ; William B., of whom later; Anna, deceased; Minnie; Isaac; Dollie, deceased; Frank, and two who died in infancy.
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William B. Conway, son of Samuel and Lydia (Close) Con- way, received his education in the schools of his native county, finishing at the normal school. After completing his education he taught school for one term and then became a telegraplı op- erator for the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad Company. He is now the company's agent at Rockwood.
Mr. Conway married, November 15, 1896, Manuroil Rhoads, and they are the parents of one child, Agnes L., born February 23, 1900. Mrs. Conway is a daughter of Daniel Rhoads, who was born March 8, 1835, in Somerset county, where he passed his life as a farmer. He married Sarah Dumbauld, born Feb- ruary 9, 1840, and their children were: Albert, born July 28, 1861, died February 19, 1865; Mary E., born November 1, 1863, wife of a Mr. Coleman; George M., born July 22, 1866, died Feb- ruary 6, 1867; Anna E., born July 26, 1868, wife of a Mr. Wal- ters; Corelie B., born March 4, 1871, wife of a Mr. Hanna; Elto S., born February 23, 1873; H. Manuroil, born July 25, 1876, in Kingwood, Somerset county, wife of William B. Conway; Katie F., born January 10, 1880. wife of a Mr. Jennings. The death of Mr. Rhoads occurred October 8, 1899. He is survived by his widow, who is a native of Kingwood.
CHARLES I. METZLER.
Charles I. Metzler, an engineer in the employ of the Balti- more & Ohio Railroad Company, and a resident of Rockwood, Somerset county, Pennsylvania, was born July 7, 1875, in Upper Turkeyfoot township, Somerset county, a son of Samuel K. and Mary (Beisecker) Metzler. Jacob Metzler (great- grandfather) was born in Germany, and was a miller by occu- pation. He came to this country when a small boy. Isaac Metzler (grandfather) was born in Somerset county, and fol- lowed the occupation of a miller during his entire active work- ing life. Samuel K. Metzler (father) was born in Jenner town- ship, and following in the footsteps of his father and grand- father, took up the occupation of a miller. His wife was Mary Beisecker, and they were the parents of four children, namely : Anna Rose, Ida, John and Charles I.
Charles I. Metzler obtained his education in the common schools of Somerset county, and at the age of sixteen left school and engaged in farming for his father. After a short time spent at this occupation, he went into the sawmilling business, and in 1898 engaged as fireman on the Baltimore & Ohio rail- road. He was so engaged until 1905, when he was promoted to engineer. He is an industrious, energetic young man and a well qualified engineer, and renders valuable services to his employers.
Mr. Metzler married, in 1895, Ettie Brougher, born April
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26, 1880, in Upper Turkeyfoot township. Four children were born to them: Oscar Glen, deceased; Fay, deceased; Ruth L., born September 9, 1901; Charles Rayburn, deceased.
GEORGE F. GORMAN.
George F. Gorman, of Rockwood, was born May 4, 1869, in Black township, and is a son of Frederick Gorman, a native of Germany, who emigrated to the United States and settled in Somerset county.
George F. Gorman attended the common schools of Somer- set county until the age of eighteen, and was then for three years engaged in farming with his uncle. At twenty-one he was employed as a teamster by Penrose Wolf, and at the end of one year became a brakeman on the Baltimore & Ohio railroad. After serving in this capacity two years and a half he was made fireman and worked as such for six years. In 1898 he was promoted to the position of engineer. which he still re- tains. He belongs to the Brotherhood of Locomotive En- gineers and he and his family are members of the Lutheran church of Rockwood.
Mr. Gorman married, June 30, 1897, Mary Burk, and their children are: Raymond, born May 10, 1898; Nettie, February 1, 1900; Clarence, November 1, 1901; and Kenneth, May 8, 1904. Mrs. Gorman was born October 22, 1875, and is the only child of John and Mary (Fletcher) Burk, of Allegheny county, where Mr. Burk was employed in the gristmill.
JOHN G. PYLE.
John G. Pyle, a representative citizen of Rockwood, Som- erset county, Pennsylvania, was born in New Centerville, No- vember 29, 1865, a son of Peter and Sadie (Brandell) Pyle, and is of German descent. Peter Pyle was born in 1829 in Mil- ford township, and was a mason by trade. His wife, Sadie Brandell, was born in Westmoreland county, a daughter of John Brandell. They were the parents of four children, viz .: Mary Fletcher; William, deceased ; Maggie, married Dr. Gard- ner; and John G.
John G. Pyle obtained his education in the public schools of Somerset county, and at the age of sixteen left school, and for the succeeding five years was engaged in farming. He then embarked in the lumber business, which he followed for three years. Later he found employment as a fireman on the Balti- more & Ohio railroad, and his faithful and efficient work won for him a promotion, December 29, 1900, to engineer, and he has since been running on the Connellsville division.
Mr. Pyle married. October 19, 1893, Sadie (Hay) Holtz- houer, widow of John Holtzhouer, born May 14, 1866, daughter
& M. Grath
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of Andrew and Mary (Miller) Hay, and one of three children, as follows: Abraham, Annie and Sadie. One child, Alfreda, was born to Mr. and Mrs. Pyle, January 3, 1905.
WALTER J. GARDNER.
Walter J. Gardner, of Rockwood, was born January 27, 1848, in England, and is a son of Harry H. Gardner, a native of that country, who came to the United States and settled in Bellwood, Blair county. All his life he followed his trade, which was that of a miller. His political affiliations were with the Republicans. He died in 1899, in Cambria county.
Walter J. Gardner, son of Harry H. Gardner, was brought to this country by his parents as a boy, and received his educa- tion in the common schools of Blair county. At the age of six- teen he left school and learned the trade of milling, which he followed for eighteen years. He then became proprietor of a hotel in Johnstown, which he conducted for a number of years, finally selling out. In May, 1904, he entered into part- nership with D. B. Zimmerman and bought the mill at Rock- wood, which they remodeled completely, building a new mill. Like his father, he is a Republican in politics.
Mr. Gardner married Amanda (Detwiller) Rightenour, daughter of Henry and Sarah Rightenour, and two daughters were born to them, Hattie Meyers and Bertha. Mrs. Gardner died in 1877. In 1879 Mr. Gardner married Eva, daughter of Charles Dannaker. Five children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Gardner: Margaret, Harry, Julia, William and Catharine.
PATRICK JOSEPH MCGRATH.
Patrick J. McGrath, the genial proprietor of the National Hotel at Berlin, Somerset county, Pennsylvania, is a native of Ireland, born February 16, 1864, son of John and Mary ( Walsh) McGrath. John McGrath (father) was born in 1807, and was a well-to-do Irish farmer, owning one hundred and eighty acres of valuable land, well stocked with blooded horses, cows and sheep. He married Mary Walsh, who was born in 1821, and of this marriage ten children were born, six sons and four daugh- ters. John owns and tills the old farm in Ireland. Andrew Joseph was educated for the priesthood, and served a parish in Maitland, Australia, for ten years. He then came to Amer- ica, where he was in charge of a parish for sixteen years at Fairmont, West Virginia. He contracted a throat trouble at the latter piace, went to Europe for treatment, and there died. Rev. Dennis A., the eldest member of the family, was also of the clergy of the Roman Catholic church, and for forty-two years has been located at Bathhurst, New South Wales. Thomas, deceased, was a physician in Tyrone county, Ireland. Philip is
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a practicing physician in Scotland. The daughters are all mar- ried and live in Ireland. John McGrath (father) lived to the remarkable age of ninety-three years, passing away in 1900. The death of Mrs. McGrath occurred in 1898, when she was sixty-seven years old.
Patrick J. McGrath received his initial education in the best schools in his native land, and at the age of sixteen came to this country, landing in New York, where he attended the city schools for two years. He then went to Fairmont, West Virginia, to visit his brother, Rev. Andrew Joseph McGrath, and in 1886 returned to the old home in Ireland, remaining there a year and a half. Returning to Fairmont, he entered the service of P. H. Bennett, a railroad contractor, as time- keeper, continuing his connection with this firm for two years. Then for five years he worked in the same capacity for the firm of Bennett & Talbott. He again returned to Europe, spending a year in travel through Ireland, Scotland and Eng- land. He returned to America, and after three years took another trip across the sea. He returned by way of Canada and the Great Lakes to Connellsville in 1892, married and re- mained there two years. His next removal was to Wheeling, West Virginia, where he engaged in the hotel business for eighteen months. Selling his interest there, he moved to Mount Pleasant, Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania, bought and for five years conducted a hotel there. In 1901 he purchased the National Hotel at Berlin, Somerset county, Pennsylvania. This was an old property, which he rebuilt, installing electric light- ing, steam heat, etc., and converted it into one of the most handsome and modern hotels in the county. There is also a large barn and stable on the premises of Mr McGrath's build- ing. Mr. McGrath has other property interests in Berlin and owns a fine farm in the township, purchased in 1906 from Simon F. Hay.
Mr. McGrath is an ideal "mine host," extending a pleas- ant, cordial greeting to all who seek his hospitality. Under his management the new National Hotel is enjoying the pros- perity it deserves. Situated on a prominent corner in the highest part of the town, its porches are swept by the cool mountain breezes, and it is a most desirable abiding place dur- ing the heated summer months. In political relations Mr. Mc- Grath is a sound Democrat, and cast his first presidential vote for Grover Cleveland. In the spring of 1906 he was elected a member of the borough council of Berlin. In religious faith he is a Roman Catholic.
He married, August 11, 1892, Bridget Quinn, a daughter of James and Margaret Quinn, of Connellsville, Pennsylvania. She came to this country from Ireland with her parents when
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less than a year old. Her father, James Quinn, was superin- tendent of mines at Connellsville, whither he and his family removed from Pittsburg, the first place of their settling in America. Mr. and Mrs. McGrath have two children: Mary, aged thirteen, and John, aged eleven, both attending school in Berlin.
WILLARD HOMER MILLER.
Willard Homer Miller, an enterprising and progressive young business man of Berlin, Somerset county, Pennsylvania, was born March 28, 1881, in Coon Island, Washington county, Pennsylvania, son of Charles W. and Nancy E. (Holmes) Miller. Charles W. Miller is a son of Christopher Miller, a Washington county farmer. He was reared on the home farm and learned the trade of millwright. He subsequently became a traveling salesman, which business he now follows. Charles W. Miller is a Republican in politics, and in church connections a Baptist. He married Nancy E. Holmes, who was a daughter of George Y. Holmes, a native of Scotland, who came to this country at the age of ten years. He became a farmer and a minister in the Baptist church. Mrs. Miller was educated in Washington county, and lived on the home farm until her mar- riage, in 1860. The following named children were born of this marriage: Willard Homer, of whom later; Alice A., Lulu E. (both residing at home with their parents), and Edgar H., a druggist of Salisbury.
Willard H. Miller received his initial education in the township schools and at the age of ten years entered the high school of Claysville, Pennsylvania. Early in life he resolved to follow the drug business, and with this end in view (at the age of fourteen) entered the service of G. Y. Holmes, a drug- gist of Claysville, continuing there for two and a half years. For five years he was engaged in the drug store of W. C. Mar- tin, of Munhall, Pennsylvania. Mr. Miller studied for his pro- fession in the School of Pharmacy of the Western University of Pennsylvania, and was graduated from that institution in 1903. In March, 1905, he formed a partnership with his brother, Edgar H. Miller (who is in the drug business at Elk Lick), and established a drug store at Berlin, conducting the business under the firm name of Miller & Miller, but, under the management of Willard H. Although a young man, Mr. Miller is thoroughly familiar with all the details of his pro- fession, and brings to his own business the experience gained in other establishments. He is a firm believer in modern ad- vertising methods, which he extensively employs. His store is already well known in town and township, and the generous patronage he receives is the best proof of its popularity.
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In political affiliations Mr. Miller is a strong Republican. Fraternally he holds membership in Berlin lodge, I. O. O. F., Homestead Lodge, Eagles, and Knights of Pythias, Berlin Lodge. He is an admirer of athletic sports, and is specially fond of base-ball, which naturally brings him in close touch with the younger element, while his sterling business principles and genial social qualities commend him to all. He is un- married.
MAHLON S. RIEMAN.
The family of which Mahlon S. Rieman, of Berlin, is a rep- resentative. was founded in Somerset county, Pennsylvania, by Gottlieb Rieman, who was born in Germany in 1747. . Upon his arrival in this country he settled on what is now known as the Snyder farm in Stony Creek, Somerset county, Pennsyl- vania, where he followed his trade of tailor, and where his death occurred in the year 1804. He was the father of three sons and two daughters, among whom was George Rieman, born 1768, died in 1834. George Rieman was the father of a son, Jacob Rieman, born in 1813, married Susan Fike, and was a promi- nent farmer of Stony Creek township.
Rev. Samuel F. Rieman, son of Jacob and Susan (Fike) Rieman, and father of Mahlon S. Rieman, was born in Stony Creek township, Somerset county, Pennsylvania, March 28, 1841. He was educated in the township schools and thereafter fol- lowed the occupation of farming, being especially interested in the raising of cattle and improvement of their breeding, and owning a large amount of fine stock. In early life he was a Republican in politics, but later became a third party Prohibi- tionist. He was a member of the German Baptist church, in which body he held the offices of deacon, elder and preacher. He was also the incumbent of many of the township offices, in which he rendered capable and efficient service. He married Rebecca Schrock, born 1842, only daughter of George and Susan (Horner) Schrock, and a sister of the Rev. William G. Schrock. George Schrock was a son of Christian Schrock, of Germany, who founded the family in America. Susan (Horner) Schrock was a daughter of David and Elizabeth Horner, of Summit, Pennsylvania, born in 1818, died 1865. The children of Rev Samnel F. and Rebecca (Schrock) Rieman were as follows: Mahlon S., of whom later; Clara G., wife of the Rev. J. J. Shaffer; George S .. married Emma Walker; Elizabeth S., resides at home; Alvin H., died in infancy. The father of these children died February 17, 1897. His widow is living at the present time (1906) and makes her home with her son, George S. Rieman.
The educational advantages enjoyed by Mahlon S. Rieman
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during his boyhood were obtained in the township schools and the Berlin Normal school. He worked on the homestead farm until he was seventeen years old, and the following four years devoted his attention to the vocation of teaching. In 1891, the year of his marriage, he returned to the home farm and after- wards purchased the farm on which he now resides. The farm contains two hundred and twenty-five acres of highly cultivated land, well stocked, with an orchard of about four acres. Mr. Rieman is an intelligent and progressive farmer, and under his efficient management the farm is rapidly becoming one of the best in that section, he having many improvements thereon which are both modern and substantial. Mr. Rieman is a stock- holder in the First National Bank of Berlin. He has held the township offices of auditor and treasurer, discharging his duties in a highly satisfactory manner. Upon attaining his majority he cast his vote for the candidates of the Republican party, but later changed his allegiance to the Prohibition party. He holds membership in the German Baptist church, of which he is a deacon and teacher in the Sabbath school.
Mr. Rieman married, February 26, 1891, Dillie V. Walker, daughter of the Rev. Daniel H. and Mary Walker, the former named being a farmer and a minister of the German Baptist church. Dillie V. Rieman, who is one of a family of seven chil- dren, was educated in the township schools, resided on the farm with her parents until her marriage, and is a member of the German Baptist church. Two children were the issue of this union : Ralph W., born September 26, 1894, who is attending school; and Ruth, born December 1, 1900. Modest and unassum- ing, Mr. Rieman is a man of force and character, much es- teemed by all who know him. His wife has proved a help- mate in the truest sense of the word, and their home, a mod- ern, substantial dwelling, surrounded by a well kept lawn and attractive flowers and foliage, is ample evidence of their thrift and good management.
ELIAS COBER.
Elias Cober, a representative citizen and progressive farmer of Pinehill, Somerset county, Pennsylvania, was born in Brothers Valley township, July 14, 1845, a son of Peter P. and Elizabeth (Meyers) Cober, and grandson of Peter and Elizabeth (Landis) Cober, the former a farmer of Brothers Valley and a minister of the Brethren church. He is of Ger- man ancestry.
Peter P. Cober (father) was born in Brothers Valley town- ship. November 24, 1808. He was educated in the township schools and followed the occupation of a farmer during his en- tire active working life. He was a Whig in politics, but after
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the formation of the Republican party joined that organization. In religious faith he was a member of the Brethren church. He married Elizabeth Meyers, born in Brothers Valley, May 11, 1817, and educated in the schools of that township. Nine chil- dren were the issue of this marriage, six of whom died during an epidemic of diphtheria. The living are: Lydia, married Henry G. Hay, a farmer of Brothers Valley township and a veteran of the Civil war; Elias, of whom later; and Anna, mar- ried William P. Hay, a farmer of Jefferson township. Peter P. Cober died November 3, 1878, and his wife died October 11, 1889.
Elias Cober obtained his intellectual training in the com- mon schools of the township and assisted his father with the farmwork during the summer months. In 1875 he bought the farm that has been owned successively by his grandfather, his father and himself. It comprises one hundred and forty-nine acres of highly cultivated land, well stocked with horses and cattle of good breeding. It contains, also, a sugar camp of three hundred vessels. Mr. Cober is an excellent farmer and a use- ful, industrious citizen. In politics he affiliates with the Re- publican party and cast his first vote for Ulysses S. Grant. He has held several township offices, and in each of these has dis- charged his duties acceptably. He is interested in the Philson National Bank of Berlin and also the Farmers' Union Associa- tion and Fire Insurance Company, in which he has served as director. He is a member and deacon of the Brethren church.
He married, January 21, 1872, Mary M. Laub, born March 30, 1843, in Somerset county, a daughter of Jonathan and Eliza- beth Laub. Jonathan Laub was born in 1819, was a resident of Somerset county and also resided for some years in West Vir- ginia. He entered the Union army during the Civil war and contracted typhoid fever, from which he died. His wife, Eliza- beth Laub, was born in 1819 and died in 1884. Their daughter Elizabeth (Mrs. Cober) received her education in the schools of the county and is a member of the Lutheran church. Mr. and Mrs. Elias Cober are the parents of the following children :
1. Emanuel W., born February 7, 1873, educated in the public and normal schools of the county, Bucknell Academy and Bucknell University, from which he graduated in 1899. He
taught in the public and private schools of Somerset county and is now an instructor in the Friends' Central School at Fifteenth and Race streets, Philadelphia. He served in the Spanish-American war and was a corporal in Company A, Twelfth Regiment, Pennsylvania Volunteers. His wife was Miss Lettie Cook, of Meyersdale, and they have one son, Rob- ert. 2. William H., born March 9, 1875, acquired his education- in the public and normal schools of the county and graduated
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from the Southwestern State Normal, at California, Pennsylva- nia. He is principal in charge of all the schools of Somerset. He married Miss Hattie Nutt, of Fayette county, and they have two children, James and an infant. 3. Peter G., born Septem- ber 26, 1880, attended the public and normal schools and was graduated in 1901 from the Southwestern State Normal. He engaged for some time in teaching in the county schools, and is now in his junior year at Bucknell University. 4. Emma N., born January 18, 1884, passed through the public and normal county schools and is now a student in the Southwest- ern State Normal. 5. Albert M., born March 12, 1886, gradu- ated from the common and normal schools, and is now teach- ing in the public schools. These children are all members of the Brethren church, and the boys affiliate with the Republican party.
Mr. Cober is a most progressive and broad-minded man. Deprived himself of the educational advantages he craved, he has given his children superior advantages. He leads a sim- ple, upright Christian life, and is highly esteemed by all who know him.
ABRAHAM M. SEVITS.
Abraham M. Sevits, a veteran of the Civil war, and a ven- erable and esteemed citizen of Beachdale, where he is leading the life of a retired farmer, was born in Stony Creek township, Somerset county, Pennsylvania, October 18, 1838, is a de- scendant of the old revolutionary stock, his great-grandfather on the paternal side having served in that struggle, thereby losing his life, being killed in battle. Benjamin Sevits, grand- father of Abraham M. Sevits, was a stonemason by trade, and at an early date removed from Berks county to Somerset county, where the remainder of his life was spent. His wife, Catherine (Nve) Sevits, bore him ten children. Benjamin Sevits died at the age of sixty-five, and his wife at the age of eighty-five.
William Sevits, father of Abraham M. Sevits, was born in Stony Creek township, Somerset county, Pennsylvania, in 1810. He was educated in the common schools, after which he served an apprenticeship at the trade of stonemason, which he followed until middle age, when he purchased a farm in Brothers Valley, which is now the property of his son, John L. Sevits, and here he lived and farmed for the remainder of his life. He was a member of the German Baptist church, in which he was a deacon and elder, and he also preached in the churches of the township. He was a Republican in politics. He married Barbara Miller, born in 1814, a daughter of Chris- tian Miller, and fourteen children were the issue of this union,
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seven of whom are living at the present time: Abraham M., of whom later; John L., a resident of Brothers Valley town- ship, occupying the old homestead; William, a resident of Ohio; Jacob, also a resident of Ohio: Mrs. Susan Brant, a resi- dent of Berlin, Pennsylvania; Mrs. Israel Brant, a resident of Brothers Valley: Mrs. Edward Pugh, residing near Liste, Pennsylvania. William Sevits, father of these children, died in June, 1889, aged seventy-nine years, and his wife, who was an active member of the German Baptist church, died Septem- ber, 1889, aged seventy-five years.
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