History of Cambria County, Pennsylvania, Volume III, Part 11

Author: Storey, Henry Wilson
Publication date: 1907
Publisher: New York, Chicago, The Lewis Publishing Company
Number of Pages: 940

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John Lowman, son of Andrew Lowman, was born in Greencastle, Pennsylvania, February 13, 1817, and received his early education in his native village. He was seventeen years old when his parents re- moved to Indiana county, where he was apprenticed to a carpenter. He had an inclination, however, for a more distinguished career, and in order to prepare himself therefor he entered an academy at Indiana, and after completing a liberal academical course engaged in the study of medicine under the office preceptorship of Dr. Stewart, of that village. In 1844 he entered Jefferson Medical College, Philadelphia, and after completing a course was graduated in 1847 with the doctor's degree. He at once located in Johnstown, and for the unusual period of forty- seven years, ending with his death, June 16, 1894, practiced his pro- fession with such ability and success as to earn well deserved fame. He made a specialty of surgery, being for a number of years the only surgeon in the Valley, and was the first surgeon ever appointed by the Pennsylvania Railroad Company, and discharged his duties so credit- ably that he was retained in the position until his death. From 1864 to 1872 he was United States pension examining surgeon for the city of Johnstown. He was a member of the American Medical Association, Pennsylvania State Medical Society, and the Cambria County Medical Society, of which he was the first president. While industriously ce- cupied in his profession, he was at the same time active in promoting local interests. He was one of the incorporators of the Johnstown Water Company and the Johnstown Gas Company, and at the time of his death was a director in the former and president of the latter. He was also one of the organizers and charter members of the Johnstown Savings Bank, of which he was vice-president for several years and until his death. He was a communicant of the Protestant Episcopal church, and one of its most active supporters. In politics he was originally a Whig, but his antipathy to slavery led him to connect himself with the Republican party at its organization, and he supported its principles with all the vigor of his nature ever thereafter. He was affiliated with various Masonic bodies. He married Margaret Ann Bodine, a native of New Jersey, whose ancestors were French Hugue- nots, and of this union was born one child, Webster B. Lowman.

Webster Bodine Lowman inherited the paternal tastes and abilities, and proved his most worthy successor. After beginning his education in the common schools, he pursued preparatory studies in Burlington (New Jersey) College, and in 1865 entered upon a course of medical reading under his father, subsequently taking lecture courses in Jefferson Medical College. his father's alma mater, and from which institution he was graduated in 1867. He at once entered upon practice, and was engaged therein until his death, December 6, 1904, a period of thirty-seven years, excepting the time covered by his military service during the Civil war. In April, 1861, under the very first call of Presi- dent Lincoln for troops to suppress the rebellion, he patriotically of- fered his services, and enlisted as a private in Company K, Third Regiment Pennsylvania Volunteers, from which position he was hon- orably discharged in June, by reason of physicial disability. Having

HISTORY OF CAMBRIA COUNTY.

recovered his health, in 1862 he re-enlisted, and was mustered into service as first sergeant of Company K. One Hundred and Thirty- sixth Regiment Pennsylvania Volunteers, in December of same year was promoted to first lieutenant, and subsequently to captain. honorably mustered out of service at the expiration of his term, on September 10, 1864. he re-entered the army as captain commanding Battery D, Fifth Regiment Pennsylvania Artillery, and remained therewith until the end of the war. He participated in the most momentous campaigns and many of the most desperate battles which mark the splendid annals of the Army of the Potomac, and made a most ereditable record. Re- turning to civil life, Dr. Lowman applied himself industriously to his profession, and in addition to a large personal practice discharged the onerous duties of surgeon of the Cambria Iron Company, of the Penn- syivania Railroad Company and of the Johnson Steel Company. From 1873 to 1893 he was United States pension examining surgeon. His monumental work. and one which will ever preserve his name, was the origination, organization and building of the Cambria Hospital-the first industrial hospital in the United States, and of which, after he had fully established it, he was surgeon in charge from 1884 until his death. His success in this great humanitarian enterprise was so marked that he was called upon to design and oversee the construction of several similiar institutions in various parts of the country. He was senior surgeon on the staff of the Conemaugh Valley Memorial Hospital from 1891 until his death. He was a member of the American Medical Association ; the Pennsylvania State Medical Society, of which he was vice-president in 1866 and later president : and the Cambria County Medieal Society, of which he was president in 1893. He was a frequent contributor to medical journals. and an acknowledged authority on industrial hospital establishment and management.

His personal career was as honorable and useful as was his pro- fessional. He was actively identified with many of the most important interests of the city of Johnstown, serving as director in the Citizen's National Bank, trustee of the Johnstown Savings Bank since 1886; director in the Johnstown Water Company and the Johnstown Gas Company from 1893 until his death: director of the Johnstown Tele- phone Company. and trustee of the Grandview Cemetery Association. He was an honored companion in the Military Order of the Loval Legion, an association of commissioned officers who saw service during the Civil war. He was a man of great kindness of heart, intense human sympathy, liberal but unostentatious charity, and a ready aider of every purpose looking to the welfare of his fellow-man and of the community. He died full of honors, held in admiration for his pro- fessional abilities and labors. and in genuine affection for those qual- ities of head and heart which endear one to his fellows and marks him as well serving God by serving well His creatures.

Dr. Lowman married, in 1870. Susan Morrell Staekhouse, of Edge- mont, Delaware, and to them was born one child, John B., who, like his sire and grandsire, has taken up medicine as his life work.

DR. JOHN BODINE LOWMAN, who has practiced medicine and surgery in Johnstown, Pennsylvania, for more than ten years and whose practice, while general, inclines strongly to cases in surgery, is a native of Johnstown, and was born November 19, 1874, son of Dr. William and Susan Morrell (Stackhouse) Bodine. His earlier education was acquired in a private school and his academie education at Chelten-

HISTORY OF CAMBRIA COUNTY.

ham Military Academy. Ogontz, Pennsylvania. He was educated in medicine at the Jefferson Medical College of Philadelphia, where he matriculated in 1892 and was graduated with the degree of M. D., in 1895. Since he came to the degree in medicine Dr. Lowman has practiced in Johnstown, and while his practice is general to the pro- fession he has attained an excellent standing as a surgeon. In eonnec- tion with his practice Dr. Lowman is professionally identified with several important institutions of Johnstown: Surgeon in charge to Cambria Steel Company Hospital : surgeon to Cambria Steel Company and Lorain Steel Company : surgeon, trustee and member of the execu- tive committee of the Memorial Hospital ; Medical Director of Windber Hospital. He is a member of the American Medical Association. American Laryngological, Rhinological and Otological Association, Pennsylvania State Medical Society and member and ex-president of the Cambria County Medical Society. In 1900 he was a delegate to the International Medical Congress held at Paris, France.

That his interests and associations are not entirely confined to those of a strictly professional character it may be mentioned that Dr. Lowman is a member of the Johnstown Park Commission, a director of the Citizens' National Bank, Johnstown Telephone Company and the Consumers Gas Company. He also is a Mason, member of Cambria Lodge No. 278, F. and A. M .. and of Johnstown Lodge of Elks. In politics he is a Republican, but has not yet found time or inclination to indulge in that particular field of action. During the Spanish-American war he was regimental surgeon to the hospital train of the Ninth Pennsylvania Volunteers, accompanying that command from Pittsburg to Wilkes-Barre, and also of the Fifth Regiment hospital train from Pittsburg to Johnstown.

LEVI JAMISON FOUST. the present postmaster at Johnstown, was born in West Wheatfield township, Indiana county, Pennsylvania. March 25, 1872, son of William and Lovinia (Lehman) Foust. The Foust family are of German origin. The subject's great-grandfather. on the paternal side, was Frederick Foust.

Frederick Foust was born in 1794, in York county, Pennsylvania. His father was born in the same section of the state, but his father was born in Germany. Frederick Foust was a miller by trade and operated mills in York, Somerset and Cambria counties, Pennsylvania. He died in Indiana county on one of the farms which he owned; the date of his death was 1860. when he was sixty-six years of age. In politics he was a Republican. and in church faith a Lutheran. He was twice married : The first marriage resulted in the birth of three children : John, Henry and Tena, all of whom lived to maturity but now deceased. For his second wife he married Mary Klinefelter, of York county. Pennsylvania. by whom were born the following children: 1. Jesse, 2. Jacob, 3. Elizabeth, 4. Anna, 5. Frederick, 6. Susanna, 7. Levi, 8. Daniel, 9. Bolsom, who died in infancy. The mother of this family survived her husband about eight years and died in York county, Pennsylvania. The only members of this family now living are Levi (subject's grandfather). and Daniel, who lives at Blairs- ville, Pennsylvania, with his children, his wife being deceased. Daniel followed brick making and coal mining for many years. He served seventeen months during the Civil war, from Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania, as a member of the One Hundred and Eighty-sixth Pennsylvania Regiment Infantry Volunteers.

HISTORY OF CAMBRIA COUNTY.

Levi Foust, seventh son of Frederick and Mary (Klinefelter) Foust, was born January 21, 1826. in Somerset county, Pennsylvania, at Foust's Mills. When but a small child his parents removed to Kring's Mill, on Stony creek, four miles from Johnstown. He attended the public schools and learned the trade of miller under his father. His entire life up to within a few years has been devoted to milling. ex- cept the eighteen years during which time he followed farming, beginning in 1858 and continuing until 1876. He operated Foust's Mill on Black Lick creek for twenty-seven years, besides mills at other points. He owned a good farm in Indiana county and was successful in the same. Mr. Foust is a member of the Methodist Episco- pal church, and in his political views was a Republican up to a few years ago, since which time he has affiliated with the Prohibition party. Aside from having served as supervisor, he has never held public office. He was united in marriage in September, 1849, to Catherine St. Clair, of Indiana county, Pennsylvania, who was born February 6, 1832. and died July 19. 1902, in Indiana county. The children born of this union were fourteen, five of whom died in childhood. Their names are as follows: 1. William, born June 26, 1850: 2. Polly Jane, born November 25, 1851; 3. Rebecca, born July 12, 1853, died October 24, 1853 ; 4. Frederick F., born September 18, 1854, deceased; 5. Cather- ine Ann, born August 24, 1855, died February 28, 1857; 6. Isaiah, born November 9, 1857 : 7. Samuel A., born July 2, 1860; 8. James Taylor, born August 11, 1862; 9. Amanda Alice, born November 2, 1864: 10. Susan Elizabeth, born November 17, 1867; 11. Laura Sylvina, born September 19, 1869; 12. Ella May, born July 30, 1871, died September 14, 1871; 13. John Riley, born June 30, 1873. died March 12, 1874; 14. Milton Levi. born February 25, 1875. Levi Foust, the father, enlisted in Company D, One Hundred and Eighty-sixth Regiment Pennsylvania Volunteers, in February, 1864, serving as a soldier in the Civil war, and continued until the war closed. He was on provost duty most of the time, looking after reeruits and prisoners, and stationed some time at Philadelphia, from which a large portion of the regiment was made up. He however went from Indiana county, and served under Captain Moran. His term of service was nineteen months.

William Foust, the subject's father, and the eldest child of Levi Foust and wife, was born June 26, 1850, in West Wheatfield township, Indiana county, Pennsylvania. He was educated in the common schools of Indiana and Somerset counties, after which he learned the car- penter's trade, which he followed in Ohio for a time. Upon his return from the west he engaged in the milling business, and later followed the butchering business at Johnstown, and still later engaged in the laundry business, at the same city. At present, he is engaged at the car repair shops at Jolmstown. Politically he is a supporter of the Republican party, and is one of the present members of the select council of Sixth ward of Johnstown. In church faith he is a Metho- dist Episcopal. July 4, 1871, he married Lovina Lehman, of Somer- set county. By this union were born the following children: 1. Levi Jamison, the subject of this notice, born March 25, 1872; 2. Susanna, born March 5, 1874, married H. L. Wagner; 3. Junietta, born February 28, 1879. married Clair R. Craig; 4. Katie May, born May 15, 1881; married F. F. Miller.

Levi J. Foust, the subject, was educated in the public schools of Johnstown, having accompanied his parents from Indiana county when

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HISTORY OF CAMBRIA COUNTY.

he was but six months of age. He first engaged in the butchering busi- ness, conducting a market until 1896, when he changed to the laundry business, operating the Palace laundry, on Franklin street until De- cember 7, 1904, when he was commissioned postmaster at Johnstown by President Roosevelt for a term of four years. Mr. Foust is an active Republican, and resigned the position of member on the select conneil when appointed postmaster. He is one of four generations of the Fonst family residing in the Sixth ward of his city at this time. In church relations he is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church. He is a thirty-second degree Mason, belonging to Johnstown Loage, No. 538. Free and Accepted Masons and is past master of his lodge; belongs to Portage Chapter No. 195, Royal Arch Masons; Cambria Council : past eminent commander of Oriental Commandery. No. 61; Syria Temple of Mystic Shrine; Pittsburg Consistory. He is also con- nected with Lodge No. 175, Benevolent and Proteetive Order of Elky; and Knights of Pythias Lodge No. 157.

He was married October 15, 1891, to Aliee C. Henderson, daughter of Robert and Rebecca (Ennis) Henderson: the mother died in 1880 and the father in 1904. Mrs. Foust was educated at the Johnstown public schools. Mr. and Mrs. Foust are the parents of the following children : W. Ralph, born November 27. 1892. died January 25, 1899; George Henderson, born May 3. 1901: Dwight L., born September 8, 1903; Richard James, who died May 6, 1906.

IION. FRANCIS JOSEPH O'CONNOR, one of the best known and most prominent of the many able attorneys at the bar of Cambria county. Pennsylvania, whose commodious offices in Franklin street, Johnstown, are frequently the scene of some of the most important conferences held in this section of the country, owes the greater part of his success to his natural force of character, ambition and per- severance. He traces his paternal aneestry to Ireland, the first mem- ber of this family having come to this country in the early part of the nineteenth century. Some of his maternal ancestors were of either Scotch or German origin.

Francis O'Connor, grandfather of Judge Francis Joseph O'Connor, was born in Ireland, and emigrated to the United States about the year 1812. He was a man of great determination and business acu- men, and succeeded in obtaining a contract for the construction of a large section of the Harrisburg and Pittsburg pike. His work was per- formed in a most satisfactory manner, and upon its completion he was awarded a further contraet for the purpose of keeping a large part of the pike in constant repair. He was a resident of Jenner township, Somerset eounty, Pennsylvania, until his death, which ocenrred in 1847. He married. shortly after his arrival in this country, Margaret Josephine MeNulty, and among his children was a son named James.

James O'Connor. son of Francis and Margaret Josephine (Mc- Nulty) O'Connor, was born in Jenner township, Somerset county, Penn- sylvania, November 5, 1820. His education, which was good for those days, was acquired in the publie schools of the township. When the "gold fever" became epidemic in this land. young O'Connor was not exempt. He made what was at that time (1850) a long and perilous journey to California, remaining but a short time, however, and re- turned to Somerset county. He there began the study of law under the preeeptorship, of Hon. Edward Seull, of the town of Somerset, and was admitted to the bar in 1854. For a number of years he practiced

HISTORY OF CAMBRIL COUNTY.

law at Somerset, but later removed to Jenner township and associated himself in partnership with Samuel Gaither, Esq., this partnership being later dissolved, and he entered into another with General Coffroth, for the general practice of law. While thus busily engaged he never- theless found time to attend to the cultivation of his fine farm in Jenner township. and also dealt considerably in real estate and live stock. During the later years of his life he retired from the active praetiee of his profession and lived in retirement with his wife on the old homestead in Somerset county, where, surrounded by his wife . and children, he died October 5. 1896. It had been his request. that his body should be laid to rest in the little country graveyard near his early home, and this request was complied with. He married, August 7, 1851. Elizabeth Croyle, born July 27. 1833, daughter of John and Catherine (Miltenberger) Croyle, the former dying at the age of seven- ty-four years, the latter. who was of Scotch or German descent, dying aged sixty-one years. John Croyle was the son of Philip and Mary (French) Croyle. The children of James and Elizabeth (Croyle) O'Connor were: 1. John A .. deceased; 2. Margaret, deceased : 3. James B .. attorney at law. in Johnstown. Pennsylvania: 4. Hon. Francis Joseph, eoneerning whom see forward: 5. Peter J., principal in the Pittsburg sehools .: 6. Philip. a prominent and successful resident of Hartford, Connecticut; 7. Bertha M., married P. J. Little, a leading attorney of Cambria county.

Hon. Francis Joseph O'Connor, third son and fourth child of James and Elizabeth (Croyle) O'Connor, was born at what was then called For- wardstown, Somerset county, Pennsylvania, August 11, 1860. His preliminary education was acquired at the publie schools of Somerset county. and at the special schools known as "normal schools." these being subscription schools for the preparation of teachers. and usually the instructors were those whose education and experience had fitted them for a professorship in the state normal sehools. He was still a mere boy in years when he commenced teaching. and he taught several terms in the common sehools and five terms in the normal school of his nstive county. In this field of labor he was very successful, but this was 101 the end and aim of his ambition. He sought a wider scope for the excellent talents he possessed. and accordingly entered the law de- partment of the University of Michigan and made such good use of his time in that institution that he was graduated in the spring of 1884 with the degree of Bachelor of Laws, and was admitted to practice before the supreme and circuit courts of the state of Michigan. He then returned to Somerset county, Pennsylvania, taught school for another year, and having passed the examination for admission to the bar of his native county on May 8. 1884, he commenced the practice of law at Somerset on May 4, 1885. He was admitted to practice at the bar of Cambria county. Pennsylvania, November 9. 1886, came to Johnstown, and opened a law office in Franklin street, opposite the old post office building. Later he formed a partnership with his brother, James B. O'Connor, and the firm of O'Connor Brothers had more than a merely loeal reputation and enjoyed a most Inerative practice This continued until 1889, when Hon. Francis Joseph was elected to the office of district attorney of the county. He was elected in 1894 to the office of city solicitor by the councils of the city of Johnstown, and faith- fully and efficiently performed the duties of that office for the term of two years. In polities Judge O'Connor is a stanch Democrat, and is one of the acknowledged leaders of the party in that seetion of the

HISTORY OF CAMBRIA COUNTY.

country. During the campaign of 1894 he became involved in a con- troversy with General Hastings, then a candidate for the office of gov- ernor of the state. This grew out of the administration of affairs of General Hastings after the great flood in Johnstown, May 31. 1889, and was commented upon by the press throughout the United States. It finally resulted in a suit at law, which was settled by an agreement in the court of common pleas at Ebensburg, June 20. 1895. which in a way was eminently satisfactory to Judge O 'Connor and his friends. Subsequently Judge O'Connor received the unanimous endorsement of the Democratie county convention for member of congress, but when he was tendered the office by the district Congressional conference, he declined in favor of R. C. MeNamara of Bedford county. He was elected president judge of the several courts of Cambria county, No- vember 3. 1901. to hold office for a term of ten years, taking his seat the first Monday of January, 1902. In this election he defeated Judge A. V. Barker, of Ebensburg. the Republican nominee, in a county which is strongly Republican, by overcoming three thousand votes, having received a majority of seventy-four votes. This testifies eloquently both as to his popularity and the respect and esteem in which he is held by the community. The manner in which he is executing the duties which this high office entails reflects the greatest credit upon the holder. He is deeply interested in everything tending to the develop- ment and welfare of Johnstown and Cambria county, and notwithstand- ing the demands upon his time caused by his official position he visits his early home in Somerset county, where his aged mother still resides and with whom he spends much of his spare time. He is a great believer in the benefits of an outdoor life, and every fall spends a few weeks in the wilds of Maine or Canada, hunting deer. The religious affilia- tions of Judge O'Connor are with St. John's Catholic church, and he is a member of the Knights of Columbus. He has the happy faculty of being able to adapt himself to his surroundings. and wins the friend- ship and respect of those with whom he associates. He is a genial. kind-hearted man. and his friends are to be found in all classes of society. He is a fluent. eloquent speaker, presenting his arguments in a clear, convineing manner, and his earnest words and fine presence always make a strong impression. His personality is pleasing, and he has a strong, robust physique.

He married, October 28. 1891, Margaret Bailey, daughter of S. C. and Annie (Gleason) Bailey, of Johnstown.

JOHN D. ROBERTS, viee-president of Johnstown Trust Com- pany and a well known figure in banking circles in that city for the last forty years, was born near Ebensburg, Pennsylvania, July 13, 18-45. son of Evan H. and Margaret (Hughes) Roberts, and is of pure Welsh descent.

Hugh Roberts. the American ancestor of that branch of the family here considered. was born in Wales. 1753, and came to this country in 1796-97, with the first Welsh colony that settled at Ebensburg. The second house within the limits of that town was built by him. Later on he moved to a farm about two miles east of the settlement and there passed the remaining years of his life. He was a man of good principle and enjoyed a local reputation by reason of his poetical abilities. Several of his effusions in the Welsh language lived long after he had passed from life's stage. and were noticeable for purity and sweet- ness of sentiment. He was one of the organizers of the Welsh Con-

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History of Cambria County, Pennsylvania, Volume III, Part 11

Author: Storey, Henry Wilson Publication date: 1907 Publisher: New York, Chicago, The Lewis Publishing Company Number of Pages: 940

Author: Storey, Henry Wilson
Publication date: 1907
Publisher: New York, Chicago, The Lewis Publishing Company
Number of Pages: 940