USA > Pennsylvania > Bedford County > History of Bedford and Somerset Counties, Pennsylvania, with genealogical and personal history > Part 8
USA > Pennsylvania > Somerset County > History of Bedford and Somerset Counties, Pennsylvania, with genealogical and personal history > Part 8
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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
WILLIAM HENRY RUPPEL.
William H. Ruppel, whose career as a lawyer has been distinguished by sterling character, a display of comprehensive knowledge of the law and a steady devotion to the best inter- ests of his clients, and who has achieved the highest success at the bar of Somerset county, was born at Frostburg, Maryland, May 13, 1849, a son of Christian and Mary (Holtsieder) Rup- pel. Christian Ruppel was a native of Germany, from whence he came to the United States about the year 1841. The family resided in Somerset county, Pennsylvania, but was temporarily living in Maryland when William Henry was born. His mother, who was a daughter of Frederick Holtsieder, died when her baby was three months old and the child was then taken to Somerset county and bronght up at Wellersburg.
William H. Ruppel first attended the common schools, and later was a student in normal schools and was under private tutors. For thirteen terms he served in the capacity of teacher, spending the time in Mineral county, West Virginia, and in Somerset county, Pennsylvania, his last school having been located in Berlin. Somerset county. He then became a student in the law office of General Coffroth and was admitted to prac-
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tice November 26, 1872. He at once formed a partnership with Mr. Coffroth, which has continued until the present time. The firm occupies two large offices on the main street in the town of Somerset, which are heated with hot water, lighted by gas machines operated on the premises, and a large vault is con- nected with the rear room. Since he has been in partnership with Mr. Coffroth he has, to a great extent, been the working member of the firm, as his partner's political interests have necessarily absorbed a large portion of his time. His practice has covered almost every department of the profession, and he has won many important cases. He was one of the counsel for the de- fense of the Nicely brothers, and has participated in various civil cases and criminal trials with marked success, being noted for the clearness of his presentation and the force of his ar- guments.
Mr. Ruppel has been a follower of the Democratic stand- ard, and, although he has never held any political office, has been quite active in party work during presidential campaigns. He served as delegate to the Pennsylvania Democratic state convention which nominated Mr. Singerly for governor, and in 1881 his name was mentioned as a candidate for president judge, but Mr. Ruppel declined to press his candidacy, pre- ferring to devote his entire time and attention to his private practice. In 1901 he was the Democratic nominee for presi- dent judge of the county. At the election the Republican state ticket carried the county by a majority of 3,825, and Mr. Rup- pel was defeated by only 295 votes. He is a member of the Lutheran church and for many years was superintendent of the Sunday school at Somerset. For thirty-two years he was leader of the church choir and orchestra, and has always taken a deep interest in everything pertaining to musical advancement. For many years he has been president of the Lutheran Sunday School Association of Somerset county, has served as a mem- ber of the board of directors of the Theological Seminary at Gettysburg and is now a director of Susquehanna University at Selinsgrove, Pennsylvania. Formerly he was active as a Good Templar, participating in the transactions of the state and other conventions, and at one time was grand worthy coun- selor of the grand lodge. Mr. Ruppel has traveled extensively throughout the United States and is thoroughly conversant with the places of note and interest in his adopted state, and well informed on current topics and general news.
Mr. Ruppel married, December 19, 1872, Clara Heffley, daughter of John and Elizabeth Heffley, and one child was born to them, Ella Mildred, who died at the age of three years. Mrs. Ruppel died April 14, 1891. On October 25, 1898, Mr. Ruppel married Minerva Covode, daughter of Dr. Joseph and Lydia
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(Griffith) Covode. Mr. Ruppel and his wife occupy a hand- some and commodious residence on Main street, Somerset, which he completed in 1883.
HENRY IRVING MARSDEN, M. D.
(I) This family of Marsdens is English, and the grand- father of Dr. Henry I. Marsden was John Marsden, born 1814, at Huddersfield, England; came to the United States in 1835, settling in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, where he established himself in the woolen business, which grew and branched out to goodly proportions until the Civil war broke out, when general depression caused him to retire from business in 1862, having disposed of his mills for over $100,000. He was an ardent Universalist in church faith. He came from one of the oldest families in England and traced his family line back to the time of William the Conqueror. At the present time the fam- ily is very prominent in English circles. John Marsden died in 1874.
He married Sophia Crellen, born in Queenstown, England, 1816. She came to America on the same vessel on which Johr Marsden sailed and was married to him in the city of Phila- delphia, Pennsylvania, in 1838. She, too, traced her ancestry back to a time before the Reformation. She became a great church worker and spent most of her time in charitable work. At the age of seventy years she became blind and the last twenty years of her life were spent in total darkness. She died in 1894, aged ninety-one years.
The issue of John and Sophia (Crellen) Marsden was :
1. Hannah, only daughter, born in Philadelphia in 1839. She studied medicine in the city of her birth, but did not prac- tice her profession, as she shortly married David Geisler. Two children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Geisler-the eldest, John, in 1862, and Biddle, in 1864. The marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Geisler did not prove a happy union, and the wife obtained a divorce and then took the name Marsden again, as did also her sons. The mother is still living in Philadelphia, as well as the sons. The former is a merchant and the latter a physi- cian. 2. William C., the father of our subject.
(II) William C. Marsden, son of John and Sophia (Crel- len) Marsden, was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in 1841. He was educated in the common schools and finished at a pri- vate school near that city. He was averse to city life and de- termined upon being a farmer. His father started him out in such an occupation in Sullivan county, Pennsylvania, where he conducted a large dairy farm until 1873, when he removed to Towanda, Pennsylvania, and there engaged in the produce business. He accumulated considerable means, and when his
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mother died, in 1893, he retired from business and has since led a quiet, retired life.
He married Hannah E. Whiteley, of an old English fam- ily. She was born in Sullivan county, Pennsylvania, in 1843, and in 1863 married Mr. Marsden, by whom seven children were born, and all of whom still survive, as are also the parents.
(III) Dr. Henry I. Marsden, son of William C. and Han- nah (Whiteley) Marsden(2), was born in Sullivan county, Penn- sylvania, March 20, 1871. His parents removed to Towanda, Pennsylvania, two years later, and he spent his boyhood days in and about his favorite city, receiving a common school edu- cation. At the age of fifteen years he entered the high schools and graduated with the class of June, 1890. He at once entered the drug firm of Clark B. Porter, where he spent five years. In the autumn of 1895 he entered the medical department of Medico-Chirurgical College of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and graduated from the same, May, 1898. Immediately after his leaving college he located in the practice of medicine at Som- erset, Pennsylvania, and has built up a high class business in his chosen profession. Dr. Marsden, although doing a general practice of medicine and surgery, makes a specialty of the eye, nose, throat and ear.
Politically Dr. Marsden has always supported the Repub- lican party. Among the various societies with which he is connected are the Somerset County Medical Society and Amer- ican Medical Association. He is the surgeon for the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad Company; inspector of health for State of Pennsylvania; examiner for the New York Life, Mutual Life of New York, Equitable Security, Metropolitan, Manhattan, Pennsylvania Mutual, and the Phoenix Mutual Life Insurance Companies, etc .; also official examiner for United States ma- rine corps, Navy Department.
Dr. Marsden was married in 1902 at Somerset, Pennsyl- vania, to Nell Cunningham, daughter of Elias and Louisa Cun- ningham, of Somerset, Pennsylvania. She was educated in the public schools of her native county, and after graduating finished her education at Bethany College, Bethany, West Vir- ginia. She descends from an old Somerset family. Her grand- father conducted a tannery at Somerset for many years. Her father was educated for the law and was admitted to the Som- erset county bar, before which he practiced for some time in partnership with General A. H. Coffroth. Later he entered the government service in the revenue department, which engaged his time several years. Subsequently he embarked in the him- ber business, in which he is operating under the name of E. Cunningham & Son.
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ELMER E. PRITTS.
Elmer E. Pritts, assistant cashier of the Farmers' Na- tional Bank of Somerset. Pennsylvania, born December 26, 1861, comes through the following genealogical line :
(I) His grandfather on the paternal side was George Pritts, born about 1781, and he descended from one of two brothers who emigrated from Germany at an early date and settled in Virginia. Later one of the two brothers came to Pennsylvania, and from him came the Somerset county Pritts families.
George, the grandfather, died June, 1856, near Somerset. He farmed all his days in his native township. In religious belief he was a Baptist. He married Catherine Weimer, born about 1786, and died February 2, 1856. Her father's people came from Germany. George and Catherine (Weimer) Pritts had eleven children: Nellie, born 1806, married a Mr. Longs- baugh; John, 1808; Rebecca, 1810, married a Huston; Sally, 1813, married a Shaffer; Mary, 1815, married an Atchison ; Samuel, 1818; Magdelen, 1821, married a Zarefoss; George, 1823; Henry, 1826; Joseph, 1828, and Peter, 1832. The only two now surviving are George and Henry Pritts. Samuel died aged twenty-one years; Henry married a Miss Zarefoss; Jo- seph married a Knepper; Peter married Mary Frank.
(II) Peter Pritts, son of George Pritts (1), born in 1832, was a native of Somerset county, Pennsylvania, and by trade a carpenter. He obtained a common school education, was a Lutheran in religious faith and a Republican in politics. He was a soldier during the Civil war, being a member of Com- pany G, Sixty-fourth Pennsylvania Regiment. Aside from having served as constable, he never held local office. He mar- ried Mary Frank in 1859. She was the daughter of Henry and Elizabeth (Will) Frank, by whom Mr. Pritts had the follow- ing issue :
Elmer E. (subject), born December 26, 1861; Lizzie, mar- ried W. H. Saylor; Ross, married Lucy Saylor and died aged about twenty-eight years; Sue, married W. H. Stutzman; Frank, married a Miss Domer; Verdie, Samuel and John died in infancy; Mame, married J. H. Seibert; Nannie, married Dr. C. L. Friedline.
(III) Of Elmer E. Pritts it may be stated that he is in- debted to the public and local normal schools of Somerset county for the educational advantages he enjoyed during his boyhood. The first twelve years of his active career he followed the vo- cation of teaching, the next seven years he served in the ca- pacity of principal of the Somerset borough schools, the follow- ing six years he held the responsible position of county super- intendent of schools, and since then has been the incumbent of
g . g. Welch,
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his present position, assistant cashier of the Farmers' National Bank, the duties of which he is discharging with credit to him- self and acceptably to the officials of the institution. He casts his vote for the candidates of the Republican party, to which he has always given his allegiance, and was chairman of the Republican county committee in 1902. He is active in busi- ness and political circles and stands high in the community in which he has spent his life.
December 25, 1887, he married Minnie Sipe, born Septem- ber 16, 1868, daughter of Peter and Elizabeth Sipe. By this union the issue was Mary Elizabeth, born October 8, 1890. Mr. Pritts and family are members of the Lutheran church. (For sketch of Sipe family see elsewhere.)
THE WELCH FAMILY.
This memoir is concerning the family to which belonged the late venerable Rev. Joel J. Welch, who served as pastor of the Evangelical Lutheran church in various places from 1861 to 1902, twenty-seven years of which period was spent in Frie- dens, Somerset county, Pennsylvania. His son, Everett C. Welch, is the ex-recorder of Somerset county.
Rev. Joel J. Welch, son of Vachel W. and Elizabeth Welch, was born September 10, 1831, near Middletown, Frederick county, Maryland. He was catechised and confirmed in the Lutheran church by David J. Bittle, D. D., attended Witten- berg College of Springfield, Ohio. After leaving college he taught six years with much success. Drs. Conrad, Spencer and others urged him to prepare for the ministry. He studied theology privately under Rev. S. Wells and J. H. Baird; was licensed to preach in 1861 and ordained in 1862 by the Miami synod. He faithfully served the following pastorates: Liberty, Ohio, 1861-64; Vandalia, Ohio, 1864-66; Tippecanoe City, Ohio, 1866-72; Osborn, Ohio, 1872-74; Friedens, Pennsylvania, 1874- 1902. He died in the ministry at Friedens, Pennsylvania, Jan- uary 3, 1902, aged seventy years, three months and twenty-four days. While in decline he still served his flock until November preceding his death. He suffered the bodily afflictions of being almost entirely deaf for a few years prior to his death, but continued to serve his people with great devotion and efficiency. He was possessed of many lovable traits of character, amiable, sympathetic, guileless. Possessing more than ordinary intel- lectual endowments, deep piety and strong convictions, he be- came a clear, forceful preacher. His parishioners were one and all greatly attached to him for his manly, Christian vir- tues.
The Young Lutheran, a church paper for whose columns Rev. Welch was a regular correspondent, in the first issue sub-
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sequent to his death published the following concerning his life and character :
" Rev. Father J. J. Welch has gone home to rest. The faithful shepherd laid down his crook. The Lord whom he served has enfolded him. His good works follow him. Mourned by a saddened flock. a bereaved family and the community in which he resided for over twenty-seven years, as a man he was highly esteemed, as a gentleman he was a model, as a Christian he followed Christ closely, as a pastor he was fatherly, as a priest he ministered faithfully, as a preacher he preached Christ crucified, as a writer he was clear, able, vigorous. He was a man of many parts, not given to place, self or honor seeking."
Perhaps no better conception can be had of the charac- ter of Rev. Welch than the following tribute of respect paid him for publication in this work by Rev. J. F. Shearer, of the same denomination to which he belonged, which reads as follows:
" He was the settled pastor of Friedens' charge for twenty- seven years. the longest pastorate of any Lutheran minister in Somerset county, Pennsylvania. He was a man of exceptionally pleasing and impressive characteristics. 'He was truly a burn- ing and shining light.' He had fine gifts and special graces given him, showing at all times, both publiely and privately, a nature that is born of a thorough consecration of God.
"He was a preacher of more than the ordinary ability. His style was first of all clear and his utterances full of unetion. He said what he had to say to his people in such a way as not to be misunderstood. The earnestness and sincerity with which he spoke made him one of the most effective preachers of the gospel. Hle left a record to be envied by many of his brethren in the ministry. His Christian character was so transparent, so pure, so kind and tender to all with whom he came in con- tact, to know him was almost to envy the loveliness of his dis- position and character. It is not strange, therefore, that he has such a place in the affections of his people that nothing but death could sever. Of him it must be said that 'he, being dead, vet speaks,' and will continue to speak for many a year to come. While his spirit is with his Saviour, whom he loved supremely, and his body sleeps sweetly with the graves of his own people around him. And now, since he is in the presence of God, from them will shine another star to guide them on their way to him, and, like Paul, he will be able to say, 'There are my joy and crown of rejoicing.' By his saered dust a beautiful monument stands, which his only living son, Everett C., has erected to his memory."
Rev. Joel J. Welch was united in marriage in 1854 to Luenza M. Appleton, of Liberty, Indiana. Of the six children
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born by their union, three survive: Lallah, wife of William Symmes, of Hamilton, Ohio; Everett C., ex-recorder of Somer- set county, Pennsylvania ; and Clara E., wife of E. J. Dickey, of Meyersdale, Pennsylvania.
Of Father Welch's wife, Lnenza M. (Appleton) Welch, it may be stated that she was the daughter of William and Mari- anna Appleton. Her father was the founder and publisher of Liberty (Indiana) Herald. Mrs. Welchi was born October 16, 1832, at Cumberland, Maryland, and educated at Covington, Kentucky, and Cincinnati, Ohio. She subsequently removed to Liberty, Indiana. She was a successful music teacher.
Everett C. Welch, son of Reverend Joel J. and Luenza M. (Appleton) Welch, was born October 14, 1859, at Liberty, Union county, Indiana. He received a good common school educa- tion at the public schools of Vandalia, Tippecanoe City and Os- born, Ohio. From 1877 to 1882 he served as assistant post- master at Liberty, Indiana. From 1882 to 1902 was chiefly em- ployed in the musical instrument business as salesman of pi- anos and organs, also carried on farming to some extent.
Politically Mr. Welch is a Republican. He cast his first vote for President James A. Garfield, and has supported all of his successors. In 1902 he was elected to the office of re- corder of deeds for Somerset county, Pennsylvania. His term of office expired January 1, 1906. In the role of an official, none has made a cleaner record for well kept books and his obliging conduct to his constituency has been more marked than few, if any, of his predecessors.
Mr. Welch is a member of the Evangelical Lutheran church, of the General Synod. He was married in Somerset county, Pennsylvania, March 12, 1884, to Louisa H., second from the youngest danghter of ex-Judge Josiah Mowry and wife. By this union have been born two sons: Claude A. M., born April 8, 1893: Joel Jacobs, born May 12, 1897. Both were born near Friedens, Pennsylvania.
Of Mrs. Welch's ancestry it may be stated that she descends from Michael Mowry (1), a native of Germany, who settled in Hagerstown, Maryland, in 1775. Some years later he removed to Bedford county, Pennsylvania, and located on a farm in what is now known as Somerset township. He was engaged in farming and milling until his death in 1833. He married Mary Baker and their children were: Peter, Michael, George, Henry, Nancy, Christina, Mary, Susan, Eve, Elizabeth and Sarah.
(II) George Mowry became a prominent resident of the county and served as a soldier in the war of 1812-14. Septem- ber 16, 1828, he founded the Somerset Herald and published both German and English editions under that title for many years. He also officiated as county treasurer and sheriff, and
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was a member of the state legislature. His brother, Michael Mowry (2), born in Somerset county in 1789, died near the place of his birth in 1872. He followed both farming and car- pentering. He married Rose Mostoller and their children were: Josiah, Louisa and Lavina.
(III) Josiah Mowry, son of Michael and Rose (Mostol- ler) Mowry (2), was elected associate judge of Somerset coun- ty, October, 1871, and served until 1876. He engaged in farm- ing upon the old family homestead, the place of his birth. He married Harriet Long and reared a family including a daugh- ter, Louisa H., who became the wife of Everett C. Welch above named.
THE SIPE FAMILY.
The Sipe family is an old one in Somerset county, as well as in Maryland. This sketch begins with the American founder. (I) Peter Sipe is a native of Germany, who came to Amer- ica in 1783 and settled in what is now Somerset county, Penn- sylvania, and in Summit township, as the county is now divided. He was a farmer of the good-fashioned, true and sturdy type. He married Barbara Troyer, by whom were born these chil- dren: Christian, Peter, Jacob, Michael, Andrew, Catharine, Marie, Martha and Fanny.
(II) Michael Sipe son of the founder, Peter (1), was born in Meyersdale, Pennsylvania, March 28, 1795, died October 22, 1885, aged ninety years, six months and twenty-five days. He became a carpenter, and was also an extensive farmer. In 1816 he located in Somerset township, Somerset county, Penn- sylvania, and from 1843 to 1853 was engaged in merchandising. He married Susannah Betz, born June 25, 1796, died February 20, 1885, aged eighty-eight years, seven months and twenty- three days. The children born of this union were: Lavina, wife of Mr. Kring; Henry, Christian, Michael, Moses, John A., Lydia, Peter, see forward; Susan, Mary A., Diana, wife of Mr. Mason; and Harriet.
(III) Peter Sipe, son of Michael and Susanna (Betz) Sipe (2), was born January 12, 1831, at Sipesville, Somerset county, Pennsylvania, and died October 11, 1904. He was a general merchant from 1853 to 1SSS, when he sold his store to his two sons, H. L. and W. P. Sipe, having been in trade over thirty-five years. He also had several farms, which had mostly been disposed of before his death. Politically he was of the Democratic party, and was a devout member of the German Reformed church. He held numerous township offices, and was appointed county auditor. He held membership with the Knights of the Golden Eagle at Sipesville. He married Eliz- abeth Bell, daughter of David and Sarah (Mickey) Bell, by whom were born seven children: Tilla J., born July 11, 1855,
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married S. M. Wendal; Mary A., May 11, 1857, married John W. Shaffer; Harry L., February 10, 1859, married Martha B. Spangle; Lydia O., July 23, 1861, married L. H. Stern; Will- iam Peter, August 25, 1863, married Lilly Shaffer; Sadie B., August 16, 1866, married J. E. Gasteiger; Minnie M., Septem- ber 16, 1868, married E. E. Pritts. The mother of these chil- dren was born October 6, 1832, and died April 24, 1904.
(IV) Harry L. Sipe, son of Peter and Elizabeth (Bell) Sipe (3), born February 10, 1859, had the advantage of but a limited common school education, was put to work when very young, never attending school after thirteen years of age. He assisted his father and when old enough sought employment in the Somerset dairy, where he worked for eight years, when he with his brother, William P., purchased their father's general store at Sipesville. He continued there for five years and came to Somerset borough, where he opened a general merchandise store, which he operated from 1893 to 1905. He then opened a wholesale tobacco and cigar store in Somerset.
In September, 1900, Mr. Sipe organized the Farmers' Na- tional Bank of Somerset, and has served as its president ever since. The bank building they now occupy was purchased in 1902. In addition to his home business operations, Mr. Sipe is a stockholder in the Federal National Bank of Pittsburg, Pennsylvania ; also in the Iron City Trust Company of the same city. He served for many years, and is still serving, as an auctioneer for large public sales. Up to the William Jennings Bryan free silver campaign, Mr. Sipe always voted the Dem- ocratic ticket, but since that date has supported the Repub- lican party. In his church relations, he is a member of the Ger- man Reformed church at Somerset. He is at present the pres- ident of the town council of Somerset. He is a member of the Modern Woodmen of America, Lodge No. 458, and is their "Banker." He is also treasurer of the Somerset Door & Col- umn Company, being one of the original stockholders and or- ganizers.
Mr. Sipe was married, December 6, 1877, to Martha B. Spangler, daughter of George and Rosa Spangler, of Friedens, Pennsylvania. George Spangler was born September 11, 1831, and served the Union army in the Civil war days as a member of the One Hundred Thirty-third Pennsylvania Volunteers. He died January 29, 1905. Mrs. Spangler was born September 27, 1836, and is still living. The children born to Mr. and Mrs. Harry L. Sipe are: Lawrence E., born September 14, 1878, married Alice Cook; Tra Preston, November 30, 1879; Nellie A., March 22, 1881, married Robert S. Meyers, of Berlin, Penn- sylvania; Alpha S., August 16, 1886, married Lola P. McGeary, November 2, 1905; Walter V., October 11, 1888. Mr. Sipe's two
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