History of Cambria County, Pennsylvania, Volume III, Part 12

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

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HISTORY OF CAMBRIA COUNTY.

gregational church at Ebensburg, in 1797, and a member until his death. He was blind during the last ten years of his life. In Wales his trade was that of a tailor, but in Pennsylvania he always was a farmer. He lived to attain the ripe old age of eighty-nine years, and died at his home near Ebensburg. August 13. 1842. Soon after eom- ing to America Hugh Roberts married Elizabeth Roderick, who with her brother Robert was of the Welsh colonists who founded the settle- ment at Ebensburg and who came over in the same ship. The children of this marriage were Robert, born 1798: David H., born 1800; and Mary, Elizabeth, Prudence, Evan H., the latter the father of John D. Roberts, of Johnstown.

Evan H. Roberts was born near Ebensburg, Pennsylvania, 1810, and spent his whole life on the old home farm. For many years he managed the farm for his parents, and at their death the property was devised to him : he died there August 7. 1851. His wife was Marga- ret Hughes, daughter of Hugh and Margaret Hughes, whose farm ad- joined that of the Roberts family.

John D. Roberts. the banker of Johnstown, was born on the old home farm where his grandfather had settled more than a century ago He was brought up to farm work, and attended the common sehools of that neighborhood until he was about nineteen years old, when he went to Pittsburg and took a business eourse at a eommereial college in that eity. His first business employment began September 1, 1864, as bookkeeper in the stores of Wood, Morrell & Co., and continued until August 1, 1865, when he was appointed to a similar position in the First National Bank of Johnstown, where he remained four years. On August 2. 1869, the banking house of John Dibert & Co., was organized with Mr. Roberts as an active partner in the coneern. The business was continned with good sueeess until the flood of May 31, 1889, at which time the head of the institution-John Dibert-was drowned. Soon after this unfortunate event the firm went into voluntary liquida- tion. However, about that time Mr. Roberts was elected eashier of the First National Bank of Johnstown and served in that capacity until January, 1902, when he became vice-president of Johnstown Trust Company, his present office.

Besides the responsibilities of personal interests Mr. Roberts has taken a commendable part in public affairs, and for eleven years, 1879-90, represented the First ward of Johnstown in the borough council. He also has served as director of various corporations in which he has been finaneially interested. In 1862, during the progress of the Civil war, he served two enlistments in the state inilitia in the defense of the Commonwealth against Confederate invasion, and in June and July, 1863, he served in the emergeney militia in the Gettysburg campaign. For more than forty years he has been a member of the Presbyterian ehureh, frequently one of its officiary and for several years was superintendent of the Sunday school. Since 1871 he has been a member of Cambria Lodge No. 278, F. and A. M., and sinee 1875 a member of Portage Chapter, No. 195, R. A. M., having held the princi- pal offiees in each and now is treasurer of both bodies.

At Johnstown. October 5. 1869, John D. Roberts married Mary C. Kinter, daughter of Samuel and Mary Ann Kinter, both of whom were of old Johnstown families. Mr. Kinter for many years was a mechanie in the employ of the Cambria Iron Company. Children of John D., and Mary C ( Kinter) Roberts: 1. Frank H., born June S. 1871. educated in the publie schools of Johnstown and Duff's Com-

HISTORY OF CAMBRIA COUNTY.

mercial College, Pittsburg, employed in the First National Bank of Johnstown from June, 1889, to January, 1902, and then resigned on account of impaired health. Since that time he has travelled exten- sively ; 2. Ella Fritz, born August 29. 1875, graduated from Johnstown public school in 1892 and from Wells College, Aurora, New York, in 1897; married, November, 1903, Harrison W. Latta and now lives in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania: 3. John Kinter, born July 8, 1878, edu- cated in the Johnstown public schools and Kiskeminetas Springs school at Saltsburg, Pennsylvania: was employed for several years in the First National Bank of Johnstown, and now is connected with an engineering corps at Annapolis, Maryland.

DR. GEORGE E. CONRAD. Among the many eminent medical practitioners of the city of Johnstown, Cambria county, Pennsylvania, the name of Dr. George E. Conrad deserves a conspicuous place. He traces his descent to German and Irish ancestry, members of his family having come from Germany and Ireland a few generations previously.

Henry Conrad, the grandfather of Dr. George E. Conrad, and the founder of the Conrad family in America, was born in Hesse-Darm- stadt, Germany, and emigrated to this country about 1826, accompanied by his family, and settled in Indiana county, Pennsylvania. He married Anna Gertrude Fobel. and had children: 1. Henry; 2. George, of whom later: 3. Catherine, married Adam Shrader : 4. Ann, married Dr. Ferdinand Bingle; 5. Caroline, married George Englebaugh; 6. John, a prominent attorney in Brookville, Pennsylvania.

George Conrad, second child of Henry and Anna G., (Fobel) Conrad, was born in Hesse-Darmstadt, Germany, about 1818. He was about eight years of age when his parents came to the United States, and grew to manhood in Indiana county, Pennsylvania. He moved to Somerset county, Pennsylvania, in 1847, and soon after to Scalp Level, where he was a prosperous merchant for nearly half a century. He married, Jane Gahegan, who had sisters and brothers, as follows: Sarah, Crockett (girl), Jacob. Thomas and John. Mrs. Conrad was the granddaughter of Thomas Gahegan, who was a native of Ireland, emi- grated to America, and settled in Carlisle, Pennsylvania, but later moved to Somerset county, where he purchased a furnace and began the manufacture of charcoal for the iron works in the district. He operated this successfully until 1837, when the great panic of that year ruined the iron industry for the time being. He was a prominent member of the order of Free and Accepted Masons. The children of Mr. and Mrs. George Conrad are: George E .. see forward; Henry W., deceased, married Amanda Oster. Ida L., married Edward L. Owens. Carrie, married Charles Foust. Alice, deceased. married Dr. H. M. Griffith, Jennie, married Albert Straub, Henry and Alice, deceased.

George E. Conrad, M. D., son of George and Jane (Gahegan) Con- rad, was born at Sealp Level, seven miles southeast of Johnstown, Cam- bria county. Pennsylvania. January 3. 1854. His preliminary education was acquired in the public schools of his district, but when still very young he was sent to St. Vincent's College, Westmoreland county, Penn- sylvania. From there he went to the Millerville normal school and then taught school for eight years. He then commenced the study of law in the office of his uncle. John Conrad. a prominent lawyer in Brook- ville, Pennsylvania. The legal profession, however, did not appeal to him, and he began the study of medicine in 1873 under the preceptor- ship of Drs. Yeagly, of Johnstown. He then attended lectures at the

HISTORY OF CAMBRIA COUNTY.

Eclectic Medical College of Cincinnati, Ohio. and graduated from that institution in the class of 1877. He immediately began the practice of his profession in New Baltimore, Pennsylvania. He removed to Johnstown in 1883, where he has since resided and where he has ob- tained a large and lucrative practice. Although his practice makes great demands upon his time. Dr. Conrad manages to keep well in- formed as to the literature of his profession and his opinion is highly valued by his brother practitioners. His political affiliations are Dem- oeratic, and he has been an influential member in the councils of his party. He has recently built and now occupies one of the finest resi- dences in the city, located on Franklin street, in the Fifth ward. He is a member of the following organizations: Portage Chapter, R. A. M .: Oriental Commandery. K. T., of Williamsport : Syria Temple, An- eient Arabic Order Nobles of the Mystic Shrine.

He married, 1879, Kate S. Keyser, daughter of William and Sarah Keyser, and they have eight children: 1. George W., a graduate of the class of 1905 of the Eclectic Medical College, of Cincinnati, Ohio; mar- ried Minnie Schwing. 2. Earl K., graduate of the class of 1906 of the Eclectic Medical College, Cincinnati, Ohio; married Amelia Lewis, daughter of W. C. Lewis, of Johnstown. 3. Lee F. Graduate in class of 1906, in School of Pharmacy. 4. John H., graduate of class of 1906, in School of Dentistry. in Pittsburg. 5. Nellie, at home. 6. Marion, at home. 7. Jennie, at home. 8. Florence, at home. Mrs. Con- rad is one of a family of eight sisters and brothers: 1. Silas. married Jennie Colvin. 2. Maggie, married Thomas Beegle. 3. Minnie, mar- ried John Cessna. 4. Susan, married William Boor. 5. Elmira, mar- ried J. C. Barnhart. 6. Lovina married Solomon Richey. 7. Marcy. married Mamie Chrissman. 8. Kate, married Dr. George E. Conrad, as above stated.

JOSEPH MORGAN. Among the able, energetic and skilful ar- tisans of Johnstown is Joseph Morgan, whose business and official ca- reer has been more than ordinary. For more than a quarter of a cen- tury he has been connected with the great Cambria Iron Works of Johnstown. Pennsylvania, where he has ever been counted among the best and most praiseworthy of citizens and enterprising business fac- tors. 1Te was born July 27, 1842, on Eighth street, above Green street. in the city of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. the son of Joseph and Sarah (Phipps) Morgan. The genealogical line through which he has de- scended is as follows :

(I) James Morgan and his wife Jane emigrated to this country from Radnorshire, Wales, in 1691. He died November 14. 1691, and his wife died on board ship. September 9. 1691, and was buried at the head of Bohemia Bay. Chesapeake. Maryland. The husband was a Welsh Quaker, from Nantmeal parish, Radnorshire, Wales. Richard Davis. of Cledion Cochion. a celebrated minister among the Quakers, was a patentee of five thousand acres of land from William Penn. This large tract was divided among the Welsh emigrants, among whom were John and James Morgan, who had five hundred acres.

(II) John Morgan, son of the Welsh emigrant James Morgan, was born November 22. 1669. and died September 12, 1744, at Radnor, Pennsylvania. He emigrated with his father and the other children. He owned three estates. Bryn Sion. now the site of Villa Nova College. Nantmeal and Vainor. all near Radnor. Vainor is still in the hands of a deseendant, Miss Martha Brown. John Morgan married Sarah Jones,

THE NE TORK PUELI CITARY

Astor , and allden F Bunu

HISTORY OF CAMBRIA COUNTY.

daughter of John Evans, gentleman of Nantmeal, Radnorshire, Wales, born 1640, died November 1707, at Radnor, Pennsylvania : emigrated to this country about 1683; he was also one of the purchasers in the Welsh Tract. (See "Merion in the Welsh Tract.")

(III) Mordecai Morgan, son of John and Sarah (Jones Evans) Morgan, was born at Radnor, Pennsylvania. July 12, 1713, and died December 29, 1782. He married, June 17, '49, Mary Pugh, daughter of David and Catherine Pugh, of Great Valley, Tredyffrin township, Ches- ter county, Pennsylvania.

(IV) Mordecai Morgan, Jr., son of Mordecai and Mary (Pugh) Morgan, was born at Radnor, Pennsylvania, June 19, 1750, and died August 9, 1794. at the home of his son John, near Phoenixville, Penn- sylvania. Mordecai, Jr., was an officer in the Pennsylvania militia, appointed July 15. 1776. in the Revolutionary army; he served at the battle of Brandywine. The following letter was written by him to his sister :

"Mud Fort On the Delaware, "Headquarters, Billingsport, August 15, 1777.

"Dear Sister: I expected to have met you in Philadelphia tomor- row morning, but I am Captain of the Guard today, which will stop me from being up in time to see you. I shant be relieved until nine o'clock tomorrow. The tide dont make till ten and I cant be up till twelve and am not certain whether I can come at all or not.

"There are various reports about our destination. The row-gal- lies are up today. some say to take us down the river, others say up to Fort Island, but no certainty. but orders to be ready to march at a minute's warning. There has been firing down the river this day or two, but we have no account what the occasion of it is. The enemy can not be far off our capes and the wind is fair. And it is expected by the best politicans among us, that we shall have a fight shortly. Order for no more work to be done. Our small fleet has sailed down the river. The English plumbed the mouth of the river and set up buoys whereas it is suitable for their shipping to enter, and guard them with frigates, which the fleet has gone to destroy if possible. No more, only my love to you all. God bless you. I am in middling good health, not very hearty, but mending, I hope every day. Our men are in high spirits.

"Your affectionate brother till death, "MORDECAI MORGAN.

"P. S. If possible I will be up to Philadelphia about twelve or one o'clock."

He married Mary Davis, daughter of James Davis. Jr., born No- vember 15, 1718, died March S, 1802. Among the children born to them was John Morgan, the grandfather of the subject of this sketch.

Mordecai Morgan, the third son of Mordecai, Jr., was a surgeon in the United States navy in December, 1818, and died while in the service at Pensacola, Florida.

(V) John Morgan, son of Mordecai Morgan, Jr., and his wife Mary Davis, was born at Radnor, Pennsylvania, November 26, 1784, and died at Phoenixville, Pennsylvania, September 5, 1871. In 1808 he removed to Charleston, Chester county, Pennsylvania, and built the General Pike hotel. In 1818 he bought a farm including a large part of the present town of Phoenixville. He was a man of standing; and Vol. III-6

HISTORY OF CAMBRIA COUNTY.

served as a member of the Pennsylvania legislature. May 9, 1811, he married Mary Buckwalter, daughter of Jacob and Mary M. (Aker) Buckwalter; the former born June 4, 1754, died February 9, 1818; the latter, born March 6, 1760, died November 1, 1853. The Buckwalters descended from Francis Buckwalter, who was a Protestant refugee from Germany. He bought six hundred and fifty acres at Manavon, now Phoenixville, in 1713, from David Lloyd. (See Pennypacker's "History of Phoenixville.")

(VI) Joseph Morgan, son of John and Mary (Buckwalter) Mor- gan, was born at Phoenixville, Pennsylvania, February 25, 1813, died at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, March 19, 1895. He was a dry goods merchant. He was a Republican after the war. He was married Oc- tober 13, 1841, by Mayor Swift, of Philadelphia, to Sarah Phipps, born in Philadelphia, July 14, 1821, and died in the same city, January 20, 1901. She was the daughter of Thomas Phipps, born November 17, 1771, died July 17, 1832. The mother was Rebecca (Robinson ) Phipps, born April 3, 1777. died October 23, 1830. The parents of Thomas Phipps were Stephen and Deborah Phipps. Thomas Phipps was treas- urer of the city of Philadelphia in 1830.

(VII) Joseph Morgan, Jr., son of Joseph and Sarah (Phipps) Morgan, was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, July 27, 1842. He was educated at Central High School, Philadelphia, standing at all times among the first three in the class, which ranged in numbers from one hundred the first year to thirty in the fourth year. He paid special attention to mathematies, physics, chemistry and drawing, so far as taught in the course. He was thereby enabled, with additional home study in specialties, to pass examination and enter the steam engineer- ing corps of the United States navy in the fourth year of his course. He entered active service as third assistant engineer in October, 1861, at nineteen years of age. He was mentioned in official reports for having done faithful serviee, on the sloop-of-war "Brooklyn," in the New Orleans engagements under Farragut, in April, 1862. He received the degree of Master of Arts, and had previously been made (1862) Bachelor of Arts by vote of the Philadelphia High School faculty. In 1863 he was examined and promoted to second assistant engineer. He resigned from the United States navy in January, 1866, when the Civil War was over, after having served four years. He then entered the service of the Phoenix Iron Company, at Phoenixville, Pennsylvania, as draftsman; was chief draftsman there in 1868; was ten years with the Edgemoor Iron Company as their chief engineer. As such he served on a board of engineering experts to report to the board of directors of what is now the Manhattan Elevated Railroad, upon the character of structures to be built in accordance with their charter; associated with civil engineers J. Linville, T. C. Clarke and others. March 1, 1879, Mr. Morgan went to the Cambria Iron Works at Johnstown, Pennsylvania, as draftsman, and was made chief engineer in 1881. No- vember 1, 1906, he was made consulting engineer of the Cambria Steel Company, and was relieved of the more active duties of chief engineer, after twenty-five years' service in that eapacity. He has designed and superintended the building of various parts of these works, including six blast furnaces, new Bessemer works of largest class; new blooming mill, open hearth plant, rail mills, and various large mills of the Gau- tier plant, involving the expenditure of millions of dollars and quad- rupling the productive capacity of the works.

Mr. Morgan went abroad in 1884 to examine gun and armor forg-

HISTORY OF CAMBRIA COUNTY.

ing, and visited the principal eities of England and the continent, where such works were located. Possibly, in consequence of this ex- amination, he was appointed a member of the Endicott, or United States Fortification Board, in 1887, and aided in making reports. Other members were Secretary of War Endicott, Generals Newton, Benet and Abbott, and Captain Smith, of the army; Captains Samp- son and Goodrich, of the navy, and Erastus Corning of New York. Mr. Morgan has written several valuable papers to aid in forming correct pub- lie opinion on the subject as well as for the information of Congress, and upon them was based great confidence for the future development of steel guns and armor manufacture then in their infancy, and which has been amply verified by the results sinee obtained. He has now had forty-six years of professional experience in engineering, and has been connected with iron works forty-two years and with large plants for over a quarter of a century, where has been produced finished ma- terial, from the ore up, and has been in charge of responsible depart- ments in these works. He is familiar with the art of steel-making, its progress and history, from the date of the ineeption of the Bessemer process to the present time. Aside from his professional duties, he is interested in various financial enterprises, înehiding the Consumers' Gas Company of Johnstown, the Johnstown Water Company, and the City Electric Light Company, of which he is a stockholder and mem- ber of the board of directors.

He is a member of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers, American Institute of Mining Engineers, United States Naval Insti- tute, the Military Order of the Loyal Legion, and the Grand Army of the Republic.

Politieally, Mr. Morgan is a stanch supporter of the Republican party. In religious faith he and family are Unitarians, but usually attend the Episcopal church, as the church of their choice is not rep- resented in Johnstown. He is identified with the Masonic fraternity, being a member of Phoenix Lodge No. 75, of Phoenixville; F. and A. M., of which he is past master; and also belongs to the Knights Temp- lar Commandery at Johnstown.

Since he began his active career, the country has met with vast political and civic changes. He entered its military service before the abolition of slavery, and has kept pace with all of the material changes and strides of development. As a family relic and unique memento of the days of the Rebellion, the following letter written by him in 1862 is here reproduced :

"Mississippi River, Natchez, May 14, 1862.

"Dear Father :

"My last letter was from the head of the passes. We lay there until April 16, when the bomb flotilla and the gunboats having gone up. we aseended with rather anxious feelings as to our success.

"The first morning that broke on us in our new position we were startled by the cry of 'fire ships coming down"' and as we scrambled on deck to see the monster, it appeared rather alarming. Far up the river, coming around the point, we could see a dark mass from which shot up tongues of fire like the fangs of a thousand serpents coming to de- stroy. Finally, finding it was more horrible in appearance than in reality, all the boats were ealled away, and they grappled hold of the fiery mass and managed to tow it ashore, where Mississippi water was applied in sufficient quantities to put it out.

HISTORY OF CAMBRIA COUNTY.

"April 18 we commenced the bombardment of Forts Jackson and St. Philip. In the morning, the mortar fleet being so under cover of the woods on the point below Fort Jackson that they could not be seen, although they were in range as shot fell beyond them; the bombers during the firing of their pieces stood on their tiptoe, arms thrown above their heads and mouths wide open, to prevent injury from the shock. The gunboats banged away in turn, their duty being to pro- tect the bombers and prevent Secesh steamers from officiously peering around the point.

"April 24, at two o'clock in the morning, we got under way in obedience to signals from the flag officer to make the grand attack. Some of the fastest steamers were selected to go first, their duty being to run by the forts as quickly as possible and cut off what vessels they could. The Varuna and Oneida were among these. The intention was that the Hartford, Brooklyn and Richmond were to fight Fort Jackson; the Mississippi, Pensacola and Iroquois were to fight Fort St. Phillip. Grape and canister at close quarters was the order of the day. We soon cleared the point and experienced being fired at. Still we stood in expectation at our posts. Silence reigned, nothing to be heard but the rustling of the waters as they were parted by our prow, and the murmuring of the signals far below. Our decks were wet and sanded. Lockstrings in hand the gunners stood fast. Again the distant ram- bling, more whistling messengers, and now I could hear the shot strike around us in the water, one throwing the spray over me. At last we opened at the lines of fire which we knew were the batteries of the forts. The thunder of our own guns drowned from my ears that of the enemy. One shot came crashing in a port, killing and woun ling nine of the gun crew. The roar of our own cannon inspired us with a feeling of indifference, and the howling of the grape through the air was sweet music. While we were under fire, and not returning, I felt very inneh as if I had rather have been anywhere else. I am thankful I was able to do my duty without flinching from it. Soon after we passed the forts we encountered the celebrated ram Manassas, which true to her old propensity, butted into us, making a little hole. Back- ing off she came into us again, breaking or only fracturing several of our ribs to a serious extent. She finally got off from us, got a good helping from the Hartford, ran at the Mississippi, but was put to her stumps when the latter also exhibited butting propensities. On thun- dered the Mississippi, and on came the ram-a mountain and a mole hill. The ram began to think it was time for them to back out. Either she would be run down, or the Mississippi, and taking everything into consideration, it would most probably be she; so nose into the mud she stuck, out poured her crew from the hatch, and away they ran. She was boarded by the Mississippi's crew, but was found on fire and sinking. She floated down the river burning, and finally blew up.

"We lost seven killed and twenty-one wounded. One young mid- shipman named Anderson, a fine fellow, was carried overboard by the shot which killed him. As we came to anchor, eight Confederate steamers were burning in sight. One of our vessels was run down by two Secesh vessels and sunk.

"On the 25th, at two P. M., we anchored off New Orleans. We passed on our way up seven or eight ships loaded with cotton in flames. At Chalmette, just below New Orleans, we had a brisk engagement with the rebels, but whipped them in fifteen minutes. Some dozen thirty-two pound guns, quantities of shot, shell, powder, etc., were taken.

HISTORY OF CAMBRIA COUNTY.

At New Orleans a new ram was found sunk, another nearly done was burned, and there were several gunboats in various stages of comple- tion, when our appearance stopped progression. The destruction of property by the Secesh was immense. I think the plantations on the river below New Orleans are the most manificent estates I ever saw. Sugar is the crop, and the darkies could be seen dropping their hoes and saluting us as we passed; they bowed respectfully. I believe the whole lot of them had an idea they were to be freed by us, for they evinced such frantic joy. Nearly all the large plantations have beau- tiful residences on them, well shaded by large trees. Some distance off are the negro quarters, several rows of nice looking whitewashed build- ings. A big sugar mill with stabling completes the buildings." " (Signed) JOSEPH MORGAN, JR."

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History of Cambria County, Pennsylvania, Volume III, Part 12

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