History of Cambria County, Pennsylvania, Volume III, Part 26

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

USA > Pennsylvania > Cambria County > History of Cambria County, Pennsylvania, Volume III > Part 26

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Mr. Stineman married, December 20, 1866, Ellen Varner, and the following children have been born to them: Albert Meade; Washington Irving; Harvey Cameron; Nettie May; Oliver Morton; Nora Lucretia, deceased ; Jacob Wilbur; and one who died in extreme infancy.

HON. EDWARD THOMAS McNEELIS, one of the sueeessful at- torneys of the city of Johnstown, Pennsylvania, was born on Iron street, near the Stone Bridge in Johnstown, April 23, 1863, son of Edward and Ann (McCole) McNeelis. The father, Edward McNeelis, was born in the town of Ardara, county Donegal, Ireland, January 6, 1825, and died October 4, 1892. He emigrated to America in 1852, settling at Tyrone, Pennsylvania, and came to Johnstown in 1860. He was employed in the works of the Cambria Iron Company, and resided in Moxham at the date of his death. He married Ann MeCole, born in Locust Point, near Ar- dara, county Donegal, Ireland, October 23, 1839, died January 15, 1900. She came to Tyrone in 1857 and was married the same year to Mr. Mc- Neelis. They were members of the Catholic church, belonging to St. John's church at the time of their death. They are buried in Geistown cemetery. In her young womanhood the mother was an accomplished school teacher and a fine Irish scholar, talking the language fluently.

Edward T. McNeelis obtained his common school education at St. John's parochial school and at the publie schools of Millville borough, now a part of the city of Johnstown, until he was fourteen years of age, when he entered the works of the Cambria Iron Company and soon after became an apprentice to the machinists' trade. He followed this at

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Johnstown and Homestead until the spring of 1887. He then went to the Indiana Normal school and passed the preliminary examination on August 8, 188%, entered the law office of H. G. Rose, then district attor- ney, as a student. He was admitted to the bar, September 5, 1889, and at once opened a law office in his native city and has been in constant practice ever since. In the month of October, 1892, he was admitted to practice before the supreme court of Pennsylvania. Aside from the fact of having to practice his chosen profession at a point thirty-five miles by rail distant from the county seat, his work has been pleasant and profit- able.

Politically Mr. McNeelis is an ardent Democrat, was state's repre- sentative in the session of 1891, and was a candidate for the office of dis- triet attorney in the Roosevelt campaign, but went down with the re- mainder of the ticket. He is a member of St. John's Catholic Church at Johnstown. In civic society matters he is connected with the Elks. the Eagles. Knights of St. George, Knights of Columbus and the Hepta- sophs, one of the safest insurance companies in existence.

Mr. McNeelis was married, October 8, 1889, by Rev. James P. Ta- haney at St. John's Church, to Margaret Cooney, of East Conemaugh, Cambria county. daughter of John T. and Catherine (Bracken) Cooney. She was educated at the East Conemangh public schools. Mr. and Mrs. McNeelis are the parents of the following children: Annie Clare, born August 30. 1890. Catherine Helen, born March 1, 1892, died January 22, 1898. Edward T., born May 26, 1900, died October 26, 1900.

PHILIP C. WALTERS, son of Dr. W. W. and Eliza Walters, born in Johnstown, March S. 1868, attended the public schools, and learned the plumbing trade with the firm of J. H. Waters & Bro. In 1897 he formed a partnership with Frank Updegrave in the plumbing business. In 1899 Mr. Updegrave retired and he became associated with Edward G. Decker under the firm name of Walters & Decker.

SAMUEL BLACKBURN WATERS, president of the National Radiator Company of Johnstown, Pennsylvania, is the son of Josiah and Margaret (Lambert) Waters. He was born March 25, 1866, at Stoyes- town, Somerset county, Pennsylvania. The record of his father's family will be found in the sketch of John H. Waters.

The family moved to Johnstown when Samuel B. was a small child, and there he received his education at the public schools, which he at- tended until sixteen years old. While yet in school, at the age of four- teen, he served as a route-boy for the Johnstown Daily and Weekly Trib- une, for the first ward, under the supervision of H. W. Story, the editor of this history. At the age of sixteen he was employed as an apprentice to the plumbing trade, under McMillan & Waters, with whom he re- mained until 1888, when the firm dissolved partnership. While with them he acted in the capacity of manager of their branch store in In- diana, Indiana county, for about one year. After the firm dissolved and the branch had closed operations, Mr. Waters entered into partnership with his brother. John H. Waters, under the name of John H. Waters & Brother. This firm continued in the heating and plumbing business until 1896. In 1895 both brothers became interested in the Fowler Radiator Company, a corporation doing business at Norristown, Penn- sylvania. In 1896, the eastern interests of the company having been acquired, the plant was removed to Johnstown and later incorporated as the National Radiator Co. and the Waters brothers, in order to devote all

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of their time to the manufacture of radiators, closed out their interests in the heating business to a firm composed of James M. Shumaker and John R. Flinn. The National Radiator Co. now ranks among the largest in the whole country. Samuel B. Waters, who is its president, devotes his whole time and energy to the manufacturing end of the business. He is also a member of the board of directors in the Century Stove & Man- ufacturing Company, and the Savage Fire Brick Company, both Johns- town concerns of no small importance.

Politically Mr. Waters is a Democrat, but never an office holder. IIe is a member of Johnstown Lodge, No. 538, F. and A. M .; Portage Chapter, No. 195, R. A. M .; Oriental Commandery, No. 61, K. T., hav- ing served as presiding officer in each. Also a member of Syria Temple, A. A. O. N. M. S. ; Johnstown Lodge, B. P. O. E .; Amicus and Johnstown Country Club.

Mr. Waters married, January 10, 1895, Susan, daughter of Valen- tine and Susan (Horner) Louther, of Johnstown, the ceremony being performed by Rev. Allan Wilson. Their first child, who died in infancy, was born April 15, 1896. Catherine Margaret, their only living child. born December 27, 1898.

HORNER FAMILY. This highly respected family, which counts among its representatives of today Emmett Horner, of Johnstown, was planted in this country by John Horner, who came from England about the middle of the eighteenth century and settled in what is now Wash- ington township, Franklin county, where he owned a farm, grist mill and distillery and carried on a general store, also acting as banker for the community in which he dwelt. During the revolutionary struggle he was actively engaged in the cause of the colonies, as appears from an en- try in his old ledger, now in possession of his great-grandson, Emmett Horner, which states that he received, at one time, five hundred and fifty dollars for sitting in the Continental congress. About 1796 he moved to Somerset county, where he purchased a large tract of land which had previously been granted by John Penn and John Penn, Junior, propri- etaries of the Province of Pennsylvania, to Peter Snyder. This land was situated on the east side of Stony Creek, about a mile above the mouth of the Little Conemaugh, and included, besides a large run, what was known as Solomon Adams' Improvement, in Quemahoning township, then be- longing to Bedford county and now constituting the seventh ward of Johnstown, as well as all of Dale borough. The original deed, on parch- ment, is now held by Mr. Horner, of Dale, and bears the date of May 25, 1276. Emmett Horner still owns twelve lots situated on this land.

Before moving to Somerset county, John Horner, the emigrant, married Susan , and their children were: Jonas, of whom later; John, Jacob, Adam, Frederick, Christian, Eli, Solomon, Elizabeth, wife of Michael Reade; and another daughter, wife of Jacob Hess. John Horner died in what is now the Seventh ward of Johnstown, Pennsyi- vania, about 1824.

Jonas Horner, son of John and Susan Horner, was his father's ad- ministrator. He owned all that part of Meadowvale now lying east of Messenger street and also a large portion of Dale borough. After his father's death he occupied the homestead, situated on what is now Von Lunen's Road, then the state road from Somerset to the Frankstown road. He operated a grist mill, fulling mill and saw mill, and also cul- tivated a considerable farm. His house was the first brick building erect-

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ed in Johnstown, being constructed of bricks made on the premises. He and all his sons were renowned hunters. His death occurred in 1854.

Jonas Horner married Martha Fox. who bore him the following children : 1. Jacob C., of whom later. 2. Samuel, born 1817, married Hannah Varner; children: Nathaniel, Aaron, deceased; Henry S., An- nie, William Lemon and Erastus, deceased. 3. Elizabeth, wife of Da- vid Ferner. 4. Susan, second wife of David Ferner, children by two mar- riages, Jeremiah, Lucinda, Martha Jane, Austin, David, William and twins. 5. Martha, wife of Airwine Metz; children: Christianna, Jane, de- ceased ; Lucretia ; Ceylon H .. deceased ; Martha, Reuhanna, Lizzic, Ells- worth and Fremont J .. deceased. 6. Christina, wife of Adam Koontz; chil- dren : Chauncey, Frank Martin, Emma, deceased ; and Mary. 7. Jonas B., married Christina Singer; children; Levina, William, David. Benjamin, deceased ; Dennis, deceased ; Elmira and Mary. 8. Catharine, married Christ Horner.

Jacob C. Horner, son of Jonas and Martha (Fox) Horner. was born May 30, 1812. on the old homestead, where he grew up, obtaining his ed- ucation. or as much education as was possible under the circumstances, at a school held in a mill situated on the property, the means of tuition being chiefly the New Testament and some foolscap paper. He assisted his father on the farm and in other enterprises, and with his brothers helped to clear the timber from the land, which was then almost a wil- derness. He afterward engaged in the lumber business, furnishing lum- ber for the construction of the old canal and also for the Cambria Iron Works. He owned twenty-nine acres of farming land in Meadowvale, in addition to a tract at what is now Parkstown, Conemaugh township. At different times he served as constable and held other county offices, among them those of school director and supervisor. Like his father, he was administrator of the estate.

Jacob C. Horner was twice married, his first wife being Caroline Cover, who bore him the following children: Samuel, Sylvester, Will- iam. Mary, Harriet, Sarah. Annie, and two others deceased. His second wife was Mary Ann Garland by whom he became the father of five chil- dren: Emmett, of whom later: Ida. deceased : Jonas, deceased; Jane, wife of Charles P. Cobangh ; and Harry H., married Lydia Menser; chil- dren : Charles, deceased : Lncy, Ralph, Viola, Harry, Eva and Irene.

Emmett Horner, son of Jacob C. and Mary Ann (Garland) Horner, was born November 25. 1859. on the home farm, and received his educa- tion in the common schools of his township. He learned the tinner's trade and went into business for himself. After the great flood of 1889, in which nearly all the business interests of Johnstown were destroyed, he found himself the only tinsmith able, at that time, to continue in the exercises of his calling. He is still engaged in the same line of business, having his shop in Bedford street. Dale. and is the owner of considerable property in that borough, which he acquired through his own unaided ef- forts, In 1892 he was elected justice of the peace, holding the office until 1891. He has also served at different times as auditor. Although own- ing strict allegiance to no political party. he votes, generally speaking, with the Republicans. He is one of the charter members of the United Brethren church, in the work of which he takes a very active part, having served several terms on the board of trustees.

He married. May 15. 1888. Salina Hillegass, of Bedford county, daughter of Fred J. and Ellen ( Hart) Hillegass. She was born March 22. 1866. They have one child. Edna J., born June 23, 1889. She grad-

Emmett Blower

THE NEW YORK PUBLIC _ BRARY

Astor, Lenox and Tildon Foundations. 1909

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nated in Dale public schools and at Salix Academy. Adam township. Cambria county : now (1906) a teacher in the graded schools at Daisy- town borough.

McKEE FAMILY. During the period of early history of the Prov- ince of Pennsylvania, William Penn, the proprietor, made a grant of land to six brothers who then had recently immigrated to America from Ireland. These brothers were James, Hugh, Thomas, William, Andrew and Samuel McKee, and from them have descended probably all who Lear that surname in Pennsylvania at the present time and nearly all now living ou this side of the Atlantic.

Among the numerous descendants of these brothers was James Mc- Kee, who was a pioneer settler in the vicinity of what is now Saltsburg, Indiana county, where he located some time previous to the Revolution. lle married and had children, and among his sons was James.

James McKee was born in 1810, a carpenter by trade and contractor by subsequent occupation, although the later years of his life were spent on a farm. While working as a carpenter he also acted as undertaker in the locality of his home, a custom which was quite common in early days. When quite an old man he removed to Jacksonville, Indiana county, and spent his remaining days at that place. James McKee married three times. The family name of his first wife was MeFarland. and she borc him two children, John, who died unmarried, and Anna, who became the wife of Barney Skelley. Both are now dead. His second wife was Bar- bara Ramsey, by which he had seven children. She was a daughter of James Ramsey, who was a substantial farmer of Indiana county and the descendant of an early family in that part of the state. Mr. McKee's third wife was Nancy McComb. She bore him no children. Mr. McKee died about the year 1894, then being about eighty-four years old. He was a man of determined character and sterling worth, and was much respected in the community in which he lived. During the Civil war he raised a company of volunteers and would have led his men to the front had the regulations of the war department permitted one of his age to en- ter the service. In polities he was originally a Whig and later a strong Republican. He was also a strong Presbyterian, for many years a mem- ber and elder of the church. He donated the land in Jacksonville on which the church edifice was built, and it was mainly through his ef- forts that that structure was created.

Children of James and Barbara (Ramsey) McKee: 1. Jane, mar- ried Scott Lowman : she is now a widow living in Jacksonville, Indiana county. 2. Ellen, married Henry Christman and now lives in Indiana county. 3. Hannah, married H. B. MeIntyre and now lives in Jack- sonville, Pennsylvania. 4. Harriet, married William Adair and is now dead. 5. Maggie, married Alexander Gilmore: both are dead. 6. Mary, married Richard Adair and lives in Washington county, Iowa. 2. Thom- as, married Lucinda Henderson and lives in Alledo, Merced county, Illi- nois. Thomas MeKee served in the Seventh-sixth Pennsylvania Volun- teers during the civil war. S. William, married Jennie Ferguson and lives in Indiana county. 9. Hugh Calvin. see forward.

Hugh Calvin MeKce, second son of James and Barbara ( Ramsey ) McKee, was born near Jacksonville. Indiana county, July 13, 1845, and was brought up on his father's farm. He was educated in the common schools, and at the age of sixteen years enlisted as a private in Company G. Seventy-sixth Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, for service during the Civil war. The regiment was mustered into the service of the United

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States at Harrisburg, and from there was sent to South Carolina. He followed the fortunes of his company and the regiment in their subse- quent arduous duty. and was at the capture of Fort Royal and Fort Wag- ner. where the command lost more than two hundred men. From the C'arolinas he went with the regiment into Virginia, and was engaged at Deep Bottom. the Wilderness. the several operations at and near Peters- burg and was present at the mine explosion. He also was at Dutch Gap. where General Butler was engaged in cutting the canal through the James river : at Bermuda Hundred. James Island, Addistow Island, John's Island, and at Wilmington, North Carolina, just as the Confed- erate troops were evacuating that city on the opposite side. In fact, Mr. McKee was in every engagement in which his regiment participated, and never was sick, never in the hospital and never absent from duty for a single day. He was wounded in the side, but refused to go to the hos- pital. With several of his comrades he was captured while on scouting duty near Facing's Depot. North Carolina, just before the fall of Rich- mond. but was soon afterward released.

After the final muster out Mr. McKee returned home and remained on the farm until 1868, when he went to Mercer county, Illinois, and for three years engaged in farming. He then returned to Pennsylvania, lo- cated in Allegheny City and there learned the trade of moulder, which was his principal occupation for the next twenty-five years. In 1896. when the Cambria Paint and Color Company began operations at Johns- town, he came to that city and since that time has been connected with . the company's business. He is a member of the Presbyterian church, Camp No. 1 of Pittsburg. Union Veteran's Union, and in politics is a Republican.

Hugh Calvin McKee married. October 2. 1866. Mary Lowman, daughter of Samuel Lowman, of whom mention is made elsewhere in these annals. Of this marriage four children were born : 1. William MeLain, married Annie Connors and lives at Turtle Creek. Pennsylvan- ia. 2. Elizabeth Blanch, married Rev. E. C. Paxton and lives at Irwin, Pennsylvania. 3. Frank, married May Raynor and lives in Allegheny City. 4. James Newton, see forward.

James Newton MeKee, known as one of the most enterprising and successful young business men of the city of Johnstown, was born in Al- legheny City, Pennsylvania, April 11, 1875, and is the youngest of the children of Hugh Calvin and Mary (Lowman) McKee. He was educated in the public schools of Allegheny City, and at the age of fifteen years be- gan work as an office boy in a paint factory. He worked in that factory about five years, and during that time learned something more than the simple duties of office boy. for when he came to Johnstown. in 1896. he possessed a thorough knowledge of the business and put it to practical use in starting a paint factory in Johnstown in company with his uncle, Herman Bantly. This was the beginning of a business which has con- tinued to the present time and is now counted among the important in- dustries of Johnstown. Mr. McKee was its principal founder and prac- tical manager. and has been connected with its operation from the outset. In August, 1902, a reorganization was effected and the Cambria Paint and Color Company, a limited partnership. succeeded the former part- nership arrangement. The officers of the company are Herman Bantly, president ; H. M. Lowman. vice-president. and James N. McKee, secre- tary and treasurer. The product of the company's factory includes mor- tar colors, mineral paints, venetian reds. paper colors, fillers, pulp col-

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ors, graphite paints, asphaltum paints, oil colors, stove polish, etc. The output is sold throughout the United States and the Canadas.

Besides his interest in the paint and color company, the manage- ment of which occupies nearly his entire time, Mr. McKee is engaged in several other business enterprises in Johnstown. Until recently he was head of the James N. McKee Company, manufacturers of blueing and stove polish, but now that business is merged with the Paint and Color Company. He is treasurer of the Johnstown Vehicle Company, senior member of the insurance firm of James N. McKee & Co., secretary and treasurer of the Pennsylvania Black Filler Company, whose works were

recently moved from Williamsport to Johnstown. In addition to these interests he is owner of considerable real estate in the city and also has invested interests in other business enterprises than those here men- tioned. He is a member of Johnstown Lodge, No. 538, F. and A. M .; Portage Chapter, No. 195, R. A. M. ; Cambria Council, No. 32, R. and S. M. : Oriental Commandery, No. 61. K. T., and of Syria Temple, A. A. O. N. M. S. He is a member of the United Presbyterian church, in which he is an elder, and in politics is a Republican.

James Newton McKee married. April 12, 1901, Edith Jane Lever- good, and has one daughter, Louise McKee, born October 12, 1902.

HARSHBERGER FAMILY. The Harshberger family of Penn- sylvania is of German ancestry and its representatives have lived in the state through many generations. One of the substantial representatives of that surname, the period of whose active life covered the first quarter of the last century, was Joseph Harshberger, of Somerset county, whose place of abode was near the Maryland line, and from which he removed in 1818 to a farm of four hundred acres in Cambria county, at the place long known as Moxham, now the seventeenth ward of the city of Johns- iown.

Joseph Harshberger was a native of Berks county. Pennsylvania, and it is believed that his father and mother were born in Germany. Jo- seph married and had a large family of children, viz: 1. Rebecca, mar- ried Joel Yoder and lived first in Somerset county, then in Ohio and aft- erward went to the west. 2. Martha, married George Thomas and lived in the north part of Somerset county. 3. Fannie, married Jacob Miller and settled in Somerset county. 4. Elizabeth, married John Eash. moved first to Ohio and afterward to Indiana. 5. Henry. married Ger- trude Yoder and settled at Fleming. Cambria county. 6. Moses. see for- ward. 7. Susan. married David Eash and lived in Somerset county. 8. Christina. married Daniel Eash and lived in Cambria county. 9. Ja- cob, married a Miss Wingert, settled in Ohio and later in Indiana. 10. Joseph. died unmarried. 11. Sarah, died unmarried. 12. Katherine, married Yost Stutsman and removed to Iowa. 13. Mary, married To- nas Kauffman, lived in Cambria county. 14. John, married Eliza Phinecy and lived in Somerset county. 15. Dorothy, married Isaac Or- ris and lived in Cambria county.

Moses Harshberger. second son and sixth child of Joseph Harsh- berger. the pioneer of the family in Cambria county, was born in Decem- ber. 1804, and was a boy of fourteen when his father settled at Moxham. Like his father, he was a farmer and when he came of age purchased. with his brother Jacob. the old Wissinger farm near Walnut Grove, just outside of the limits of the present city of Johnstown. The brothers aft- erward divided these lands. Jacob taking that part known as the Eli Grif- fith place. while Moses took the Abner Griffith farm. However, in 1857.

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he bought the Costlow farm in Adams township and lived there until his death, in October, 1885. He was a successful farmer and acquired a fair property in lands and stock. He married Catherine Schrock, daughter of John and Martha (Blouch) Schrock, of Shanksville, Somerset county. John Schrock's father was born in Switzerland and was an early settler in the vicinity of Berlin, Somerset county. Moses and Catherine Harsh- berger had one son-John M .. and one daughter-Mary, who became the wife of Christian Shetler and now, lives in Adams township, on a farm.

John M. Harshberger was born on the Wissinger farm, near Johns- town, August 13, 1835, and then moved to the Costlow farm with his father in 1857 and still resides there. IIe was given a good common school education, afterward taught school two terms. but he preferred farming to teaching and soon settled down to that occupation, in which his efforts in life have been rewarded with good success. He also is a minister of the German Baptist or Dunkard church and a faithful, con- scientious worked in that field. Since boyhood he has led a Christian life and it is comforting to him now in his declining years. for he has reached the allotted three score and ten years of life's span, to know that he has been instrumental in teaching others and directing them in right paths.

So far as he has indulged in politics Mr. Harshberger is a Repub- lican, although his first vote in 1856 was cast for James Buchanan, but' Mr. Buchanan was a Pennsylvanian and a feeling of state pride prompt- ed many voters of the Commonwealth to rally to his support regardless of the principles he represented.

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History of Cambria County, Pennsylvania, Volume III, Part 26

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