USA > Pennsylvania > Bedford County > History of Bedford and Somerset Counties, Pennsylvania, with genealogical and personal history > Part 55
USA > Pennsylvania > Somerset County > History of Bedford and Somerset Counties, Pennsylvania, with genealogical and personal history > Part 55
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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
BEDFORD AND SOMERSET COUNTIES
Certain it is that the operation of the Listie Mining and Manufacturing Company at Listie, Pennsylvania, was the first company to develop extensive operations in the small vein coal and place it on the eastern markets. By reason of its steam producing, smithing and almost smokeless qualities it met with instant favor and had no superior in the market. The result of this was that capitalists turned their eyes toward Somerset county, bought large areas of coal, started operations, laid out new towns, and so numerous and extensive have these opera- tions become that Somerset county, formerly an exclusively agricultural community, has become one of the greatest bituminous coal producing counties of the state. This change in conditions and material advancement is due to the venture of Simon Krebs, who, though a stranger in the county, had the courage to stake his all to prove that his judgment was superior to those who had compiled the geological survey, and that the condemnation of the coal of Somerset county was un- warranted.
Mr. Simon Krebs is of German parentage and the following gives ancestral line :
(I) Simon Krebs, the paternal grandfather of Simon Krebs, was born in Germany and remained in the Fatherland during his life, having died at the age of seventy-two years. He was a cooper by trade. He married Elizabeth Von Hogh, and to this worthy couple eight children were born-four of each sex.
(II) John Krebs, third son of Simon (1) and Elizabeth (Hogh) Krebs, was born in Germany in 1809. His early career was spent in his native land as an agriculturist. In 1855 he and his family came to America and settled in Tamaqua, Schuyl- kill county, Pennsylvania, where he followed farming the re- mainder of his life, dying in 1873. He married Catharine Scheid. of Germany. to whom five children were born, of whom Charles and Simon are living. Catharine Scheid Krebs died in 1905 at the age of ninety-five years.
(III) Simon Krebs, son of John (2) and Catharine (Scheid) Krebs. was born April 10, 1839, being the third son in a family of five children. Having been born in Germany, he had the advantage of the common schools there until he became fifteen years of age, when he accompanied his parents to Penn- sylvania. In Tamaqua, where his parents located, he learned the carpenter trade and followed it for three years. In 1858 he went to California and engaged in mining and mercantile pursuits, with fair success, for six years. He returned to Tamaqua, Pennsylvania, and conducted a general merchandise store for four years, and in 1868 moved to Danville, Montour county. Pennsylvania, and was there regarded as one of the
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leading merchants during a period of over twenty years. Dur- ing this period at Danville he also was profitably engaged in the iron trade. In 1892 Mr. Krebs came to Somerset county for the purposes of investigation and exploration of the coal de- posits, and, satisfying himself of its quality and quantity, he organized the Listie Mining and Manufacturing Company, leased the property from the company and operated it until 1902, when he sold his interests in the company to the Somerset Coal Company. He is now living a retired life.
In the operation of the mining enterprise he has the co- operation and assistance of his two sons, George J. and Louis T. George J., a Cornell University man and a mining engineer, took active charge of the mining end of the company, while Louis T. looked after the office end as secretary and treasurer. Upon the sale to the Somerset Coal Company, George J. be- came superintendent of the Reading Iron Company's coal de- partment in Somerset county. He is not married. Louis T. is president of the Krebs Lumber Company of West Virginia and makes his home at Morgantown, West Virginia. He mar- ried Louise, daughter of Samuel Huston and wife, of Morgan- town, and they have one child, Louis T., Jr.
Simon Krebs is a good representative of a self-made man. He has rare business judgment and the courage of his con- victions. In religion he is connected with the Reformed church. Politically he is identified with the Republican party, but a pro- nounced independent voter. He married, July 18, 1866, Hen- rietta Schwartz, of Lehigh Valley, Pennsylvania, who was the sixth of the seven children of Jacob and Leah (Lechlieter) Schwartz. To Mr. and Mrs. Simon Krebs have been born eight children, five of whom are living: Ada L., wife of C. P. Han- cock, of Danville, Pennsylvania, and the mother of five children, viz: William, John, Robert, Charles and Walter; George J., single; Louis T., married Louise Huston, and they have one child, Louis T., Jr .; Clara M., intermarried with Clarence Wil- son Thomas, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and the mother of two children, George L. and Wilson K .; Leah K., wife of Charles F. Uhl, Jr., of Somerset, Pennsylvania, and mother of two chil- dren, viz, Simon K. and Henrietta.
WILLIAM HITECHEW.
William Hitechew, of Daley, is a great-grandson of Jacob Hiteshew (the original form of the family name), a native of Tawneytown, Maryland, where he was born about 1780. He subsequently became a farmer near Schellsburg, Bedford coun- ty, Pennsylvania. He was a soldier of the War of 1812, adhered to the Democratic party and was a member of the German Lutheran church. Mr. Hiteshew married, in 1813, Mary M.
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Zambram, and their family consisted of the following children: William, born in 1815; Elizabeth, born in 1817; John, born in 1818; Jacob, born in 1820; Julia A., born in 1821; Abraham, born in 1822; Mary, born in 1824; Gideon, born in 1825; David T., mentioned at length hereinafter; and Susanna, born in 1829. The father of the family died about 1840.
David T. Hitechew, son of Jacob and Mary M. (Zambram) Hitechew, was born in 1827 in Bedford county and learned the carpenter's trade, which he followed for some years. In 1861 he came to Shade township, where he has since engaged in farming and also in the lumber business. He affiliates with the Democratic party and is a member of the Evangelistic church. Mr. Hitechew married, June 10, 1848, Catharine Darr, who be- came the mother of the following children: Margaret, born April 27, 1849; William, born September 17, 1850; Ruth A., born April 9, 1852; John, born October 19, 1853; George, born October 6, 1855; Albert, mentioned at length hereinafter; Mary B., born November 15, 1858; Hester, born June 6, 1860; Sarah C., born January 9, 1862; and Jacob W., born June 9, 1865. After the death of Mrs. Hitechew, Mr. Hitechew married, on February 20, 1879, Sarah Fuller, the issue of the marriage being five children: Della, born December 23, 1881; Daisy; David H., born October 11, 1882; Thomas C., born February 28, 1886; and Levina G., born April 12, 1889.
Albert Hitechew, son of David T. and Catharine (Darr) Hitechew, was born March 10, 1857, and for three years was employed at the Cambria Iron Works. He was also engaged for some years in the agency business. In 1893 he moved to Shade township, where he has since given his attention to farm- ing and to the lumber business. He is a Republican and a mem- ber of the Evangelistic church. Mr. Hitechew married Adeline, daughter of William Small, and the following are their chil- dren: 1. Maggie, born March 15, 1877, wife of Abram Wise, has six children. 2. William, mentioned at length hereinafter. 3. Lowman, born January 27, 1888. 4. Effie, born February 1, 1892. 5. Arthur, born April 4, 1894. Mrs. Hitechew died De- cember 30, 1896, and Mr. Hitechew subsequently married Mar- tha, daughter of Harrison Custer. There are two children by this marriage: Blanche, born April 12, 1900; and Ida, born April 8, 1903.
William Hitechew, son of Albert and Adeline (Small) Hite- chew, was born at Daley, November 19, 1885, and graduated from the local normal school at New Bristol, Bedford county, also from the local normal school at Somerset. From these he passed to the Indiana State Normal School at Indiana, Penn- sylvania, and in due time will graduate therefrom and enter
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either Harvard University or the University of Maryland (medical department), Baltimore, Maryland.
For four years he has been numbered among the educators of his native county, being principal of Ashtola school, 1906-07. He is a member of the Christian church.
MOSES K. JOHNS.
The family of which Moses K. Johns, of Hillsboro, is a rep- resentative was founded in this country by Joseph Johns, who was born November 8, 1749, and when a young man emigrated to the American colonies, settling in Berks county, Pennsylva- nia. The country of his birth was Switzerland, and it was in 1768 that he left his native mountains to seek a home across the sea. In 1793 he sold the farm on which he had hitherto lived in Berks county, and September 13 of the same year pur- chased the tract of land on which Johnstown now stands. It was then a forest of three hundred acres. He used the land for farming until it was demanded by the city for building pur- poses, and then moved to what is known as the Johns home- stead, in Conemaugh township, where he passed the remainder of his life. Mr. Johns married Fannie Hally, of Berks county, and their children were: David; Joseph, mentioned at lengthi hereinafter; Barbara; Vronie; and Sarah. The death of Mr. Johns occurred January 14, 1810, on his farm in Conemaugh township.
Joseph Johns, son of Joseph and Fannie (Hally) Johns, was born January 19, 1792, in Berlin, Bedford county, and about 1817 married Anna Blough, by whom he was the father of the following children: 1. Daniel, born August 20, 1819, married Polly Yoder and has three children. 2. Catharine, born No- vember 1, 1820, wife of Samuel Shock, had three children. 3. Sarah, born November 22, 1822, married Joseph Thomas and had three children. 4. John, born in 1824, married Catharine Yoder and had seven children. 5. Joseph, mentioned at length hereinafter. 6. Annie, born May 13, 1831, wife of Samuel Yoder, had three children. 7. Christine, born February 11, 1834, married to Sem Kauffman, had seven children.
Joseph Johns, son of Joseph and Anna (Blough) Johns, was born June 14, 1826, and in 1850 settled on the homestead, to the cultivation of which he has since devoted his best ener- gies. He has served several terms as supervisor and school director. is a Republican and a member of the Amish church. Mr. Johns married. April 17, 1850, Lydia Kauffman, and they became the parents of the following children: 1. Samuel K., born in 1851. married Lucinda Weaver. 2. Moses K., men- tioned at length hereinafter. 3. David, born December 15, 1855. died October 29, 1872. 4. Lizzie, born December 13, 1858,
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wife of Aaron Swank, has six children. 5. Barbara, born Jan- uary 21, 1861, wife of Henry Rish, has five children. 6. Fannie, born December 31, 1864, married to Harry Custer, has three children. The mother of these children died November 9, 1869.
Moses K. Johns, son of Joseph and Lydia (Kauffman) Johns, was born July 22, 1852, and received a common school education. March 22, 1872, he settled in Hillsboro, then Shade Furnace, the place having received its present designation Sep- tember 9, 1879. He has since been engaged in the lumber busi- ness and has also operated a gristmill, a planing-mill, a shingle- mill and a blacksmith's shop. He was appointed postmaster of Shade Furnace, March 22, 1872, before the name was changed to Hillsboro, and has ever since held the office continuously. For twenty years he has been township auditor and has served four terms as supervisor and three years as school director. He is a Republican and a member of the German Baptist church.
Mr. Johns married, August 28, 1873, Anna, daughter of William D. Thomas, of Shade township, and the following are their children: 1. Ordie A., born February 20, 1874, married Ida M. Wechtenhiser, and has two children, Merlo S. and Zella B. 2. Elvie L., born April 4, 1875, wife of Leslie Holsopple, has six children; Roy, Chester, Alma, Erma, Cyrel and Meredith. 3. Joseph R., born January 24, 1877, married Emma Rummel. and has three children, Edithe, Josephine and Joseph M. 4. Mollie N., born April 21, 1879, wife of Harvey Emerick, has one child, Albert. 5. Cora E., born June 27, 1881, wife of William A. Reily. has one child, Albert. 6. Carrie M., born January 28, 1884. 7. Roxie E., born August 6, 1886. 8. Jessie Jeanetta, born June 4, 1888. 9. Anna B., born July 29, 1890. 10. Nellie E., born July 23, 1892. 11. Harvey A., born March 26, 1894. 12. William E., born November 12, 1900. To each of these chil- dren Mr. Johns has given the advantages of a good education, and two of the daughters are now teaching in the public schools.
LEVI A. BLOUGH.
The family of which Levi A. Blough, of Holsopple, is a representative, was founded in this country by Jacob Blough, a native of Germany, and one of the first settlers of Cone- maugh township. He purchased of Thomas Vickroy, of Bed- ford county, a farm about two miles from Davidsville. His children were: Christian; John; Jacob, mentioned at length hereinafter; Henry; David; Barbara, wife of Say- lor; Anna, wife of Keim; Fannie, wife of
Berkey; and Mary, wife of Henry Hershberger. The death of Jacob Blough occurred in 1811.
Jacob Blongh, son of Jacob Blough, the emigrant, was
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born in 1775, in Lancaster county, and early in life came to Somerset county, purchasing a tract of two hundred and twen- ty-five acres in the southern part of Conemaugh township. In 1827 he sold one hundred and twenty-five acres to Yost Blough, farming the remainder until his death. He was the founder and also the first preacher of the Mennonite church in Somer- set county. Mr. Blough married Catharine Saylor, of this county, and the following children were born to them: 1. John, married Christina Blough, had five children: Samuel, a min- ister; John, Levi, Catharine and Henry. 2. Jacob, a minister, he married, and his children were: Jonas and Henry, both ministers; Abram, Jacob, Joseph, and Rachel. Mr. Blough died about 1878. 3. Christian, married Polly Ream. 4. Henry, married Fannie Hershberger, had the following children: John, Jeremiah, Noah, Elizabeth, Esrom, Kate and Anna. 5. Barbara, wife of Peter Speicher, had four children: Abraham, Jacob, Kate and Sarah. 6. Mary, wife of John Kauffman, had four children: Harvey, Levi, Barbara and Mary. 7. Anna, wife of John Ream. 8. Catharine, wife of Jacob Alwine, had four children : John, Abraham, Samuel and Jacob. 9. Fannie; married Benjamin Hershberger, after whose death she became the wife of Jacob Alwine, husband of her deceased sister, Cath- Mr.
arine. 10. Abraham, mentioned at length hereinafter. Blough, the father, closed his long and beneficent life in 1850.
Abraham Blough, son of Jacob and Catharine (Saylor) Blough, was born JJune 21, 1815, and all his life followed agri- cultural pursuits on the farm which had been his birthplace. He served several terms as supervisor of Conemaugh town- ship, was a Republican and a member of the Mennonite church. Mr. Blough married, about 1842, Saralı, daughter of Peter Leh- man, and the following are their children: 1. Peter, born in 1843, married Catharine Baer, had six children, Amos, died in childhood; Herman, Emaniah, Albert, Minnie and Ira. 2. Catharine, born in 1846, wife of Joseph Sala. 3. Jacob, mar- ried Susan Baer, had eight children : Sadie, Lizzie, Mollie, Mahlon, Edward, Abram, Milton and Lemon. 4. Rachel, born in 1852, wife of John M. Thomas, had three children: Jemima, Norman and Barbara. 5. Levi A., mentioned at length here- inafter. 6. Abraham, born April 15, 1862, married Lydia Howard, had seven children: Maggie, Cadillia, Irvin, three who died in childhood, and Stephen. Mr. Blough died in 1891.
Levi A. Blough, son of Abraham and Sarah (Lehman) Blough, was born June 17, 1855, in Conemaugh township, and received his preparatory education in the public schools, after- ward attending the local normal schools at Stoystown and Ben's Creek. For sixteen winters he was a teacher in the public schools, farming during the summers. In 1881 he bought part
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of the Hostetler farm, near Holsopple. He is a Republican, and has been a preacher in the Mennonite church, continuing his agricultural labors during the week, and on Sunday devot- ing himself to his ministerial duties.
Mr. Blough married, December 31, 1876, Levina Thomas, and they were the parents of one child who died in infancy. Mrs. Blough died December 6, 1879, and Mr. Blough subsequent- ly married Anna, daughter of Jacob Wingard. By this mar- riage there were the following children: Wesley, born Jan- uary 18, 1882, died at the age of six years; Polly, born Feb- ruary 18, 1884, wife of Edward Thomas; Sallie, born June 20, 1886, died at the age of four years; Bertha, born February 1, 1889, died at two years of age; Susie, born June 9, 1891; Kate, born January 19, 1893; Maggie, born July 23, 1896; Elsie V., born August 31, 1899; Edith P., born April 20, 1902; and Annie R., born December 10, 1904.
GEORGE B. SOMERVILLE.
George B. Somerville, an attorney-at-law of Windber, Somerset county, Pennsylvania, and one of the representative citizens of the borough, was born March 24, 1875, a son of John L. and Grace (Ralston) Somerville.
John L. Somerville (father) was a native of Glasgow, Scot- land, born in 1832. He immigrated to this country in 1877, locating in Tioga county, Pennsylvania, where he was for a number of years occupied as a mine foreman. In politics he affiliated with the Republican party, and in church relations was a Presbyterian. He married, in 1851, in Scotland, Miss Grace Ralston, a daughter of James Ralston, and of this marriage children were born as follows: William, born 1854, resides in Tioga county, Pennsylvania ; James R., born 1856, is a resident of Osceola Mills, Pennsylvania; Mary, born 1865, the wife of Colonel E. G. Scheffelin, and lives in Wellsburg, Pennsylvania ; Duncan, born 1867, lives at Osceola Mills; George B., see for- ward. The death of John L. Somerville, the father of these children, occurred in August, 1904.
Early in life George B. Somerville decided upon a legal career, and prepared himelf for his chosen profession in Car- lisle College, from which institution he was graduated in 1897 with the degree of Bachelor of Laws. He immediately located in Athens, Pennsylvania, and was admitted to the Bradford county bar, September 6, 1897; to the supreme court of Iowa, May 15, 1900; to the United States district and circuit courts, October 15, 1900; to the Pennsylvania supreme court, Septem- ber 10, 1900; and to the Somerset county bar, September 12, 1900. August 14, 1900, Mr. Somerville removed to Windber, where he has since been located, and where he has established
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for himself an excellent clientele. He is thoroughly qualified for the work which he has chosen, and has already reached an eminent place in the ranks of the profession. In political con- nections Mr. Somerville accords allegiance to the Republican party, and is prominent in all community affairs. He was elected secretary of the school board in 1900, and in 1901 solicit- or for Windber borough. In religious faith Mr. Somerville is connected with the Presbyterian church.
He married, April 20, 1904, Miss Anna J. Brigham, a daughter of Peter S. Brigham, now deceased.
WILLIAM HENRY DEETER.
William Henry Deeter, president of the Kendall & Deeter Lumber Company, Meyersdale, Somerset county Pennsylvania, was born in Allegheny township. Somerset county. March 7, 1858, the son of Unus and Katharine (Boyer) Deeter.
Samnel Deeter, grandfather, was a native of Allegheny township, born at what is now known as Deeter's Gap. He was a farmer by occupation. Among his children was a son Unus.
Unu's Deeter (father) was also born in Allegheny township. He followed the quiet but useful occupation of a farmer. He married Miss Katharine. daughter of Boyer, of Stony Creek, and they had the following children: Sarah, Mary, Jane, Lina, William Henry and Jonathan.
William Henry Deeter attended the public schools of his native place until he was fifteen years of age. He then entered into his first. regular employment at the occupation of a farmer, working out by the month until 1882. The succeeding three years he was engaged in the sawmill business in Allegheny township, and in 1885 he embarked in the contracting business, being in the employ of the W. C. White Lumber Company of Bedford county. He remained there until 1889, when he es- tablished himself with the firm of Bondollar & Son, of Everett, Bedford county. He subsequently returned to the employ of the former company as superintendent of mills, continuing there in this capacity until 1893. Deciding to engage in business for him- self, he opened a livery establishment at Rockwood, Somerset county, and was thus occupied, being attended with good sue- cess until 1897. He then formed a partnership with Mr. S. A. Kendall, and they engaged in the lumber business, conducting the establishment under the firm name of Kendall & Deeter Lumber Company, with offices at Meyersdale. The proprietors of this establishment are both capable, reliable business men, and through their straightforward business methods and gen- eral fair dealing, have brought the business to an eminent de- gree of success.
Mr. Deeter is also interested in various other industrial
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enterprises, among them being numbered the following: The Meyersdale Planing Mill Company, of which he is vice-pres- ident; the Kendall & Deeter Lumber Company, of which he is president ; the West Salisbury Feed Company, in which he holds the office of vice-president. He is a stockholder in the Citizens' National Bank of Meyersdale; the Meyersdale Sheet Steel Company, the Livingood Coal and Coke Company of Pittsburg, and the Economy Telephone Company of Meyersdale. In polit- ical affiliations Mr. Deeter is a Republican, and is an earnest party worker. He has served his borough as councilman since 1900. In religious faith he is a member of the Reformed church. Fraternally he holds membership in the F. and A. M., No. 554, Meyersdale; B. P. O. E., No. 175, Johnstown; and Royal Ar- canum, of Meyersdale.
Mr. Deeter married, July 10, 1881, Miss Sadie, daughter of William Ware, of Allegheny township, and they have children as follows: Effie; Ollie, married, October 21, 1903, Ernest Boyer; Bertha, married William Apple, June 1, 1905; Carrie; William Bunn; Ida; Ware; and Gladys ..
WILLIAM CECIL APPEL.
William Cecil Appel, a member of the firm of Appel & Glessner, general merchants of Meyersdale, descends from a German ancestor, Nicholas Appel (grandfather), who was born in Hesse-Cassel, Germany, May 12, 1815. Nicholas was a tailor by trade. He married Elizabeth Hickory, also born in Germany. In 1840 Nicholas came to America with his wife and settled in Pennsylvania. He worked in several places in Somerset county at his trade, but finally settled in Jenner township, where he purchased a farm and devoted himself to its cultivation until after the death of his wife, when he sold his property, and there- after his home was with his children in their several homes, where he was a welcome guest. Nicholas was a member of the Reformed church, as were his wife and children. In politics he was a Democrat. The children of Nicholas and Elizabeth Appel were as follows: Anna Martha (deceased), wife of Hiram Boyts, of Davidsville, Pennsylvania; Catharine (Mrs. Jesse Walters), of Stoystown, Pennsylvania; Mary (Mrs. P. J. Cover), of Meyersdale; and William, hereinafter mentioned. Nicholas Appel died in 1895, at the residence of his daughter, Mrs. Cover, in Meyersdale.
William Appel, only son of Nicholas and Elizabeth Appel, was born in Quemahoning township, Somerset county Pennsyl- vania, March 29, 1827. He was educated in the public schools of the township, and until arriving at manhood was a worker. on the farm. At the age of twenty-three years he married, and for a time continued farming, but mercantile life attracted him,
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and his first business venture was a general store at Forward. His next was at Stoystown, where he only remained a year, after which he removed to Friedens, where for eleven years he was the leading merchant. In 1889 he came to Meyersdale, where he bought out the stock of the A. F. John general store, and with J. F. Naugle and E. D. Leonard formed the firm of William Appel & Company. This firm continued in successful business until 1897, when it was dissolved by the purchase of his partner's interest by Mr. Appel. For three years, until his death, Mr. Appel continued the business. He was an unusually good business man, and on the foundation he laid is built the present business of Appel & Glessner.
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