USA > Pennsylvania > Bedford County > History of Bedford and Somerset Counties, Pennsylvania, with genealogical and personal history > Part 36
USA > Pennsylvania > Somerset County > History of Bedford and Somerset Counties, Pennsylvania, with genealogical and personal history > Part 36
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Mr. Flamm married, June 10, 1863, Lavinia Speicher, and their children were: Catharine, born November 4, 1863, died January 4, 1864; Nancy J., born October 31, 1864, died August 26, 1879; Elizabeth, born December 15, 1866, died August 17, 1879; Carrie, born November 4, 1868, died August 28, 1879; Charles, born October 1, 1870, died August 30, 1879; Mary E., born February 15, 1873, died August 28, 1879; John, born May 24, 1875, educated in common and normal schools of the county, taught in county schools six years; now employed by the Nevin Coal Company and lives at the shaft near Berlin; he married Cora Krissinger and has two children, Ira and Orpha; William, born April 13, 1877, died August 30, 1879; Ida, born April 23, 1879; Franklin P., born June 30, 1880, lives at home and works on the farm; both he and his brother John are Republicans, the former being a member of the Lutheran church and the latter of the United Brethren; Alice, born January 2, 1882, lives at home; George, born June 23, 1885; Sarah, born January 19, 1887; Cora M., born November 25, 1890. The three last named are at home.
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As may be seen from the above record, Mr. and Mrs. Flamm, in 1879, lost six of their children in thirteen days, by diphtheria, four dying in two days. They themselves were ly- ing very ill with the same disease and were unconscious of their loss until later. In November of the same year their six- months-old babe, Ida, was burned in her crib, which caught fire from the explosion of a lamp, and lived a week in great suffer- ing. These grievous afflictions, following each other in such quick succession, completely prostrated the parents, and it was a long time before they recovered from their great loss.
Mrs. Flamm is a daughter of John Speicher, who was born June 6, 1820, in Virginia, and was one of the early settlers of Shanksville, where he owned a large farm until his death. For about sixty years he operated a grist and sawmill in that place. He held several township offices and during the greater part of his life was a Republican, but eight years before his death became a Prohibitionist. He was a deacon and elder in the Lutheran church. Mr. Speicher was thrice married, and, at the time of his death was a widower. His first wife was Harriet Walker, who bore him three children, two of whom died in childhood. The survivor, Lavinia, was born April 20, 1845. was educated in the Shanksville schools and lived at home until her marriage to Nicholas Flamm. Her mother died when quite a young woman. The death of Mr. Speicher occurred July 11, 1902.
IRVIN P. WALKER.
Irvin P. Walker. of Berlin, is a representative of one of the oldest families in Somerset county, a full account of his ancestry being given in the sketch of E. G. Walker, which ap- pears elsewhere in this work.
Mr. Walker is a son of Jonathan G. and Matilda (Hay) Walker, and was born February 17, 1853, on the Walker home- stead, in Brothers Valley township, receiving his education in the common schools and at the Berlin Normal school. After teaching for one year in the township he became a farmer, and has since, with but slight interruptions, followed agricultural pursuits. He remained at home until the age of twenty-two, when he took a trip to the west, passing most of the time in Towa. Kansas and Minnesota. He returned to the east, and after residing there for a time again went west, remaining about eighteen months. In 1880 he bought his present farm of one hundred and forty-six acres, where he has since resided. This estate, which he has named the "Golden Rod Farm," is situated about two miles from Berlin and is well stocked with Shorthorn cattle and good horses. There is an abundance of fruit. principally apples, and also a sugar camp of eleven
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hundred vessels, producing about four thousand pounds of maple sugar annually. The coal underlying the farm is owned by Mr. Walker, and the improvements are large and substan- tial. In 1890 Mr. Walker erected a large barn, which he fur- nished with modern appliances, but in 1901 the structure was damaged by a tornado to such an extent that it had to be re- built. In 1898 he erected his present residence, one of the finest farm homes in the county. It is built of white pressed brick, with bay windows and an octagon L, while balconies and porches complete a tasteful exterior. It is surrounded by a well-kept lawn and a profusion of flowering plants. Mr. Walker is interested in the First National Bank of Berlin and in the Economy and Union Telephone Companies.
He has been for twenty-eight years a member of Berlin Lodge, No. 461, I. O. O. F., having passed all chairs and be- longing to the Grand Lodge of the order. His political affilia- tions were with the Republicans until 1900, when he allied him- self with the Prohibitionists, and is now (1905) the candidate of that party for the office of county poorhouse director. He and his wife are members of the Berlin congregation of the Lutheran church, which he has served as deacon and trustee and is now serving as elder. Mr. Walker was a lay delegate, representing Allegheny synod at the General synod at Balti- more in 1903.
Mr. Walker married, November 18, 1880, Lillie G. Dively, and their children are: Judd M., born November 27, 1881, educated in common and normal schools of the county, fore- man for Beeritz & Son, grain merchants of Somerset; Prohi- bitionist and member of the Lutheran church. Married, June 21, 1906, Lizzie Shaulis, a teacher, daughter of Amos J. Shau- lis, a Somerset county farmer. Earl L., born April 19, 1883, educated in public schools, farmer, lives at home; Prohibition- ist and member of Lutheran church. Howard A., born Janu- ary, 10, 1885, educated in public schools, lives at home, Pro- hibitionist, member of Lutheran church. Mamie N., born Sep- tember 6, 1886. Irma S., born January.31, 1889. Ralph W., born January 26, 1891. Herbert L., born February 3, 1893. Glenn E., born September 24, 1895. Clyde H., born May 28, 1897. Vernon P., born August 5, 1902. Mamie N., Irma S. and Ralph W. were educated in the public schools and are members of the Lutheran church. Mrs. Walker was born October 5, 1858, and was educated in the schools of Stony Creek township. She is a daughter of William M. and Susan (Allfather) Dively, the former a blacksmith at Roxbury. He and his wife are members of the Lutheran and Reformed churches.
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SAMUEL KUHNS.
Samuel Kuhns, of Berlin, is a great-grandson of John Kuhns, who was one of the early settlers of Brothers Valley township, where his son, Jacob Kuhns, was born May 10, 1799. Jacob Kuhns was a farmer in his native township, and in poli- tics was a Democrat. He was a member of the Reformed church, which he served as deacon and elder. He married, in 1824, Mary Brubaker, born January 1, 1806, and their children were : John, of whom, later; Eliza, wife of Samuel Musser, both deceased; and Mary, widow of Dr. Beachley, of Meyers- dale. The death of Jacob Kuhns occurred in Berlin in 1873.
John Kuhns, son of Jacob and Mary (Brubaker) Kuhns, was born November 22, 1824, on the Philson farm, in Brothers Valley township, and, like his father, passed his life in agri- cultural pursuits. He was a Democrat, and a member of the Reformed church, which he served as deacon and trustee, also as elder. He married, December 24, 1846, Mary Kimmel, born January 11, 1826, in Stony Creek township, and a member of the Lutheran church. Their children were: Rose A., born February 2, 1848, died September 12, 1850; William, born March 18, 1850, retired farmer, living in Berlin; married Mary Musser, and has one child, Nellie; Samuel, of whom later; Mary A., born September 13, 1855, wife of Samuel A. Landis, farmer of Stony Creek township; Sarah, born July 15, 1857, wife of the Rev. S. C. Stover, pastor of the Reformed church at Keim, Elk Lick township, has two children: John and El- wood.
Samuel Kuhns, son of John and Mary (Kimmel) Kuhns, was born January 11, 1853, in Stony Creek township, where he obtained his education in the public schools. Until he was of age he remained on the farm, assisting his father, and then, having married, settled on the farm which he purchased in 1874, and on which he still resides. This property consists of one hundred and fifty-five acres, all under cultivation with the exception of the sugar camp of seven hundred vessels, which produces annually about three thousand pounds of maple sugar. The orchards are principally of apples. The farm is well stocked with a good grade of horses and cattle, and in addition to the cattle raised Mr. Kuhns buys and feeds for the market. In 1878 he erected a convenient and tasteful residence. He is a Democrat and a member of the Reformed church. He mar- ried, November 27, 1873, Elizabeth Glessner, and their children were: Lydia, born May 16, 1878, educated in Stony Creek schools and Berlin Normal school, member of Reformed church; wife of Harry H., son of Henry Glessner, and has one son, Kuhn Glessner, born September 13, 1901. Mr. and Mrs. Gless-
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ner live on the Kuhns homestead, Mr. Glessner working the farm for his father-in-law. John and Henry (twins), born July 25, 1886, died September 8, 1886. Mr. Kuhns is a great sufferer from rheumatism and recently visited the baths at Mount Clemens, Michigan, where he was much benefited.
Mrs. Kuhns is a daughter of Henry Glessner and a grand- daughter of Jacob Glessner. The latter was a great-grandson of Elder Jacob Glessner, who was murdered in Berlin, in 1794, by the Rev. Cyriacus Spangenberg. Mrs. Kuhns was one of a family of ten children and was born November 22, 1852. She was educated in the public schools and is a member of the Re- formed church.
J. G. NEWMAN.
One of the highly cultivated and therefore productive farms of Somerset county, located in the town of Listie, is the property of J. G. Newman, who was born in Addison towu- ship, Somerset county, Pennsylvania, May 11, 1855, a descend- ant of an English and. Irish ancestry.
He attended the common schools in the vicinity of his home, completing his studies one month after attaining his majority. He began his active career as a farmer, which occu- pation he followed up to the year 1899, when he assumed the management of a general store at Listie, continuing the same for a period of two and a half years, and then disposing of the stock in order to purchase the farm on which he now resides in the town of Listie. He is a member of the Reformed church, and since attaining his majority has cast his vote for the can- didates of the Democratic party.
On February 8, 1877, Mr. Newman married Ellen J. Baker, born December 19, 1855, daughter of Levi and Mary Baker, and two children were the issue of this union: 1. George A., born August 20, 1878, in Addison township, Somerset county; he received his education in the common schools of his native county, and gained a lucrative livelihood by following the occu- pations of stonemason and farmer; in the fall of the year he devoted his attention to threshing. December 27, 1905, he started working for the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad Company as fireman, which position he still holds. He is a Democrat in politics. He married, October 31, 1899, Clara E. Walker, born June 22, 1882, in Milford, Somerset county, daughter of Bernard J. and Martha Ann Walker, and they are the parents of three chil- dren: Walter W., born September 6, 1901; Vinnie May, born November 16, 1903, and Deelda Fern, born September 17, 1905. 2. Vinnie M., born December 15, 1879, in Addison township, Somerset county. On March 8, 1898, she became the wife of John H. Schroek, a merchant of Baltimore, Maryland, in which
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city they reside, and they are the parents of two children: Dewey, born August 13, 1899, and George A., born September 5, 1901. Mrs. Ellen G. Newman, wife of J. G. Newman, died October 4, 1903.
JOSEPH M. MILLER.
Among the practical and progressive agriculturists of Bills, Somerset county, may be mentioned the name of Joseph M. Miller, who has recently purchased a fine property in Som- erset, to which he moved in the year 1906. He is a son of Christian and Mary ( Miller) Miller, and grandson on the pa- ternal side of Joseph Miller, who engaged in farming, and on the maternal side of Abraham H. Miller. Both grandparents were born in America. The one died at the age of eighty-seven and the other at the age of ninety-four. Abraham H. Miller was considered one of the strongest men in the county. He could throw a barrel of cider on a wagon having a double box. Christian Miller (father) was born in 1813, was a farmer by occupation, a Democrat in politics, and an active and influen- tial citizen.
Joseph M. Miller was born in Jefferson township, Somer- set county, Pennsylvania, March 26, 1853. After completing a common school education, he assisted his father with the du- ties of the home farm until he was twenty-six years old, after which he worked the farm for six years on shares, and in 1883 purchased the Elijah Bauman farm, whereon he is now con- ducting extensive operations and from which he receives a lucrative livelihood. His place is neat and attractive in appear- ance and indicates the supervision of a master hand. His po- litical allegiance is given to the Democratic party.
In 1876 Mr. Miller was united in marriage to Barbara Smith, who was born in Meyersdale, Somerset county, Penn- sylvania, September 21, 1852, daughter of Frederick Smith, formerly from Germany. Their children are: Frederick S., married Sadie Lentz, a daughter of William Lentz, of Water- loo, Towa, who was formerly of Meyersdale, this county. They are engaged in farming in Waterloo, Iowa. Anna B., married Ira Blaugh, of this county; they are engaged in farming. Law- rence, deceased; Webster W .; Harvey J., married Minerva Bittner, of Larimer township; Cleveland G., Mary and Ruth Miller.
HOSEA BLOOM.
Hosea Bloom, of Olanta, Clearfield county, formerly en- gaged in the hotel business in Listie, Somerset county, Penn- sylvania, was born March 29, 1866, in New Milport, Clearfield county, the son of Samuel and Jane (Curry) Bloom, and grand- son of William Bloom, a farmer.
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Hosea Bloom obtained his education in the common schools of his native county, and leaving school at the age of eighteen engaged in teaming, an occupation which he followed success- fully for fifteen years. He then removed to Listie, Somerset county, Pennsylvania, and there engaged in the hotel business, conducting the same for some time with good success. He is a Republican in politics, and a member of the Royal Arcanum. He married January 5, 1888, Electa Morrison, born January 5, 1869, a daughter of David and Louisa (Bauman) Morrison. Mr. and Mrs. Bloom have children, as follows: I. Zoe, born Sep- tember 16, 1889; Floyd D., May 8, 1891; Twyla M., August 12, 1895 : Russell, November 9, 1897; Violet L., September 22, 1900; and Hosea W., December 11, 1903.
JOHN F. SNYDER.
John F. Snyder, a resident and shoemaker of Somerset, Somerset county, Pennsylvania, was there born October 11, 1852, a son of George and Henrietta (Heyr) Snyder, and grand- son of John H. and Elizabeth (Shaffer) Snyder. His maternal grandparents were Charles F. and Mary Heyr.
John F. Snyder acquired a common school education, and has followed the occupation of a shoemaker the most of his life, being very prosperous in this line. He is a Republican in pol- itics, and a member of the Lutheran church.
Mr. Snyder married, in 1875, Mary Walker, who was born October 13, 1854, the daughter of Peter and Amy (Nedrow) Walker. They have two children, Cora and Leila.
ALEXANDER MARKEL.
Alexander Markel, a blacksmith of Somerset, Somerset county, Pennsylvania, was born August 6, 1850, the son of Leopold and Elizabeth (Wunch) Markel.
Leopold Markel (father) was a native of Germany, born 1800, who emigrated from the Fatherland in 1832, settling in Meyersdale, Pennsylvania. He and his wife, Elizabeth (Wunch) Markel, were the parents of the following named children: Ferdinand, Ringold, deceased; Caroline, deceased; Leopold, Frank, deceased; Samuel, deceased; William, deceased; Minna. Mary A., Samuel (2), deceased; Peter, deceased; and Alexander.
Alexander Markel acquired his education in the common schools of Somerset county, and leaving school at the age of fourteen years, turned his attention to the trade of boiler-maker. After he finished this he learned the trade of blacksmith, in which he is very proficient. He is now working at this occupa- tion, and makes a specialty of horse-shoeing. He is a stanch Republican in political relations, and served his township as assessor for seven years, constable three years and tax col-
Vol. III 22
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lector two years. He and his family are Lutherans in religion. Alexander Markel married, October 30, 1877, Lucinda Ank- ney, who was born in Somerset county, June 14, 1852. She is of German descent. the daughter of David and Charlotte (Young) Ankney, and granddaughter of Jacob Ankney, who was born and reared in Somerset county, and a farmer by occupa- tion. David Ankney (father) was born in 1807 in Somerset, was a farmer by occupation, and a Republican in politics. He and his wife, Charlotte (Young) Ankney, had children as fol- lows: Catherine. deceased; Mary E., George A., Lydia, Jacob, Lucinda, Cyrus B., Sarah, Anna S., Lincoln, William H., and Maggie. Mr. and Mrs. Alexander Markel are the parents of the following named children: Bertha E., lives at home; Ada L., Charles L., deceased; Clayton E., and Martin L., who is a stu- dent at Gettysburg College, Gettysburg, Pennsylvania.
JOHN WINTERS.
John Winters, a veteran of the Civil war, who is now leading a retired life, enjoying to the full the consciousness of duties and obligations well and faithfully performed, is a na- tive of Somerset county, Pennsylvania, born June 25, 1840. His parents were John and Margaret (Mull) Winters, natives of Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, and descendants of an honor- able ancestry.
John Winters obtained a common school education, and after completing his studies followed farming as a means of livelihood up to 1885, in which year he was elected sheriff of Somerset county, in which capacity he served three years. He then engaged in the hotel business, becoming the proprietor of the Commercial Hotel, at Somerset, which he conducted for two years. The following three years he served as clerk in the hotel, but is now leading a retired life, residing with his son in the Hotel Vannear, at Somerset, Pennsylvania. In September, 1861, at the outbreak of the Civil war, when the country was in sore need of the services of her faithful sons, Mr. Winters enlisted in the army, becoming a member of Company C, Fourth Penn- sylvania Volunteers. He served until General Lec's surrender at Appomattox Court House, a term of three years and nine months. He was a prisoner three days and three nights, but was then taken to the Parole Camp at Annapolis, Maryland, and there discharged.
In 1861 Mr. Winters was united in marriage to Jane Bow- man, who bore him children: Johanna R. married James Blongh; James L. married Susan Kimmell; Thomas G., Mag- gie, Jacob B. married Nora Sticer, and they are the parents of one child, Marie; Robert R. married Fanny Spangler; Grace married Ernest Kootz.
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WILLIAM HOSTETTER.
William Hostetter, a tailor of Somerset, Somerset county, Pennsylvania, was born in Meyersdale, August 21, 1845, the son of John and Barbara Hostetter.
William Hostetter entered the tailoring business when quite young, and has followed this occupation most of his life, attended with excellent success. During the Civil war he en- listed, in May, 1863, in Captain William Schrod's Independent Company of Volunteers, and served about seven months. Jan- uary, 1864, he re-enlisted at Harrisburg in Company K, Twen- tieth Pennsylvania Cavalry, and served under Captain Gross until the close of the war.
In 1876 he married Jennie Knee, daughter of Solomon and Margaret (Spangler) Knee. They have five children: Edward, Albert P., Harry Z., William D. and Paul S.
JOSEPH R. JOY.
Joseph R. Joy, a resident of Somerset, Somerset county, Pennsylvania, and a member of the police force of that town, is a native of Jefferson county, Ohio, born June 15, 1845, a son of John F. and Mary (Moore) Joy.
Joseph R. Joy obtained a common school education, and when but sixteen years of age entered the Union army, serving under Captain George Harrison, in the Second Maryland Regi- ment. He remained in the service from August, 1861, until the cessation of hostilities, handling government supplies. Upon his return to civil life Mr. Joy went to work on the Chesapeake and Ohio canal, being thus engaged for over twenty-two years. For the past twelve years he has been a valued member of the police force of Somerset, and is in every way well qualified for this line of work. In his political relations Mr. Joy is a Pro- hibitionist, and he and his family are members of the Meth- odist Episcopal church.
In 1873 Joseph R. Joy was united in marriage to Miss Anna Dhuse, a daughter of Henry and Sophia Dhuse. By this union seven children were born, all of whom are now deceased, two having died in infancy. After the death of his first wife Mr. Joy married Miss Annie Byroad, a daughter of John and Mary Byroad. The children born of this union are as follows: John, Joseph, Annie, Mary, George, Iva, Ernest, Daisy and Wilbur.
URIAH LANDIS.
Uriah Landis, one of the enterprising and successful busi- ness men of Somerset, a son of Jefferson and Isabel (Berkey) Landis, and grandson of Abraham Landis, was born in Som- erset county, Pennsylvania, January 3, 1858.
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Uriah Landis acquired a practical education by attending the common schools in the vicinity of his home. He followed farming as a means of livelihood until 1901, in which year he engaged in the livery business, which has steadily increased in volume and importance with each succeeding year, and at the present time (1905) has one of the finest establishments of its kind in that section of the county, and is also erecting one of the largest buildings in the town, which will be fully equipped with vehicles and horses suitable for all occasions. He is courteous and accommodating, and therefore well merits the large patronage which has been accorded him. He is a staunch adherent of the principles of Republicanism. He is a progres- sive, public-spirited man, and one whose honor, enterprise and social qualities give character to a community.
In 1879 Mr. Landis was united in marriage to Amanda Bearl, born January 19, 1860, daughter of Jonathan and Eva (Philippi) Bearl, and three children have been the issue; Edward S., born January 10, 1880; Eva, May 10, 1883; and Sally, May 31, 1885.
WILLIAM A. STAHL.
William A. Stahl. a resident of Somerset, Somerset county, Pennsylvania, was there born in 1856, the son of John and Mary (Baron) Stahl, and grandson of Godfrey and Elizabeth (Hess) Stahl, both natives of Somerset county. His maternal grandparents were Joseph and Eva (Friedline) Baron. He is one of eight children, as follows: William A., Elizabeth, Lydia, Franklin, Mary, Austin, John and Henry H.
William A. Stahl married (first), January 19, 1877, Esther Barkman, daughter of Jacob and Elizabeth Barkman, and they had the following children : Jacob A., Edwin F., married Sadie F. Haugher, and they have one child, Mildred; Mary N., wife of Milton N. Haugher, and mother of one child, George Will- iam. Mr. Stahl married (second), August 29, 1900, Edith Pile, who is of French descent. She was born April 28, 1865, a daughter of Josiah and Margaret (Kooser) Pile, and grand- daughter of George and Solon (Putnam) Pile. Her maternal grandparents were Jacob and Sarah (Knight) Kooser. She is one of eight children, as follows: Lucinda, Allen, Ernest, Laura, Edith, Sadie, Lyman and Clara.
GEORGE H. THOMPSON.
George H. Thompson. a well known citizen of Somerset, Som- erset county, Pennsylvania, and a descendant of an old and hon- orable English lineage, traces his ancestry on the paternal side to George Thompson, who resided in Bedford county, Pennsyl- vania, and there reared his family to manhood and womanhood.
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The line of descent is traced through his son, John Thompson, who married Elizabeth Snivley, and they reared a family of seven children, namely: George H., Jane, Elizabeth, Emma, Amanda, Edward and Jacob.
George H. Thompson, the eldest of the above named fam- ily, was born in Lavansville, Somerset county, Pennsylvania, July 1, 1846. He received a common school education, and began his active career by accepting a position as teacher, in which capacity he served for four terms. The following three years he conducted a general store, meeting with varying suc- cess, and from that time to the present (1905) has followed the occupation of blacksmithing. The regard in which he is held by his fellow-citizens is evidenced by the fact that he was chosen to fill the office of county auditor, serving one term, and also jury commissioner, which he filled for a similar period of time. His political affiliations are with the Democratic party.
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