USA > Pennsylvania > Cambria County > History of Cambria County, Pennsylvania, Volume III > Part 34
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In the meantime, having made an extended acquaintance in Johns- town and its vicinity, Mr. Lewis interested himself somewhat in public affairs, and indulged in local polities to the extent only of serving the best interests of the municipality. He served two years in the Johnstown council when it was a borough, and filled out an unexpired term as burgess when William MeKee was burgess, but went to the Civil war. In 1857 he was elected borough treasurer and served in that office fifteen years. He also served several years as secretary of the Johnstown Building and Loan Association. seven years as treasurer of the Johnstown Water and Gas Company, treasurer of Union Benevolent Association of Conemangh Val- ley from its organization up to the present, and treasurer and trustee of the Johnstown Young Men's Christian Association.
On September 12, 1870, the Johnstown Savings Bank was chartered, and in March, 1878, Mr. Lewis was elected treasurer of that institution, succeeding Mr. Frank Dibert, resigned, and has served in that capacity to the present time, for the trustees feel and know that under his wise and conservative management their own interests as well as the interests of thousands of depositors are faithfully guarded, and that notwithstanding his more than eighty-five years of life. After the terrible visitation of 1889 he was treasurer of the Johnstown Flood Finance Committee and took an carnest part in the work of providing relief for the distressed fam- ilies of the valley. His own home was swept away, but fortunately none of his family was lost. Mr. Lewis has been a member of the Methodist Epis- copal church more than seventy years, for more than half that time has been superintendent of the Sunday school, member of the Board of Stew-
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ards of the Society full fifty years, and for twenty-five years was leader of the church choir.
William C. Lewis married, September 23, 1847, Catherine Swegler, daughter of John Swegler, and sister of Captain John S. Swegler. Of this marriage one son has been born-William J. Lewis, cashier of The Farm- ers' and Producers' National Bank at Scio, Ohio.
JOHN K. BOLE, superintendent and manager of the Citizens' Coal Company of Johnstown, who stands high in the industrial history of Cambria county, is a typical representative of that sturdy American citi- zenship whose brain and brawn have made western Pennsylvania the most noted iron and coal producing section in the world. He was born in Jolinstown, Cambria county, Pennsylvania, July 15, 1871, a son of Isaac and Christina (Goughnour) Bole, and grandson of David and Elizabeth (Shaffer) Bole.
David Bole (grandfather) was born October 17, 1799, died 1872; his wife, Elizabeth (Shaffer) Bole. was born October 17, 1290, died 1883. They were the parents of ten children-seven sons and three daughters. The descendants of this couple now (1906) number eighty grandchildren and ninety-three great-grandchildren.
Isaac Bole (father), born July 24, 1835, has been actively engaged in business throughout his career. He married, September 23, 1856, Chris- tina Goughnour, born April 12, 1835. Their children were: Daniel J., married Mary Beck, deceased : David R., married Anna Allison ; Mar- garet, married Harry Dewitt; Catherine, married James Shear ; Benjamin F., married Annie McCartney ; Elizabeth, married William J. Kuntz; Mary, deceased; John K., see forward : Zona, deceased ; Newton, married Lena Bitzner: Hilda, deceased; and Harry, unmarried.
Among the Alps of Switzerland the progenitors of the American branch of the Goughnour family, of which Christina (Goughnour) Bole was a representative, were born and reared, and when they gave up the old republic for the new one about to come into being on this side of the At- lantic, they were endowed with a sturdiness and strength which was not too common even in that day. The first to come to this country were Ja- cob and Mary (Sheetz) Goughnour, who were natives of Canton Basil, in Switzerland, where they were married in the latter half of the eighteenth century. They arrived in America some years before the commencement of the Revolutionary war, and several children were born to them in this country previous to 1772. They were a deeply religious couple, and per- haps it was this bent of their minds which attracted them to a place called New Jerusalem, near Hagerstown, Maryland. Here many children were born to them. The names of their children were: Daniel. Christian, Jo- seph, David, Mary, Isaac. Jacob. Abraham, Elizabeth and Peter. Jacob Goughnour was a tailor by trade, and this he followed successfully. Ile was a member of the German Baptist or Dunkard sect of Christians.
Daniel Goughnour, son of Jacob and Mary (Sheetz) Goughnour, was born in 1773. He was brought up to a mechanical trade, but after settling in Cambria county, Pennsylvania, 1800, devoted his time principally to farming. He located on what is now known variously as Coshun's and Cover's hill, to the east and overlooking Johnstown. In 1818 he pur- chased from the state the whole of the summit of Green Hill, which up to that time had been considered worthless. This he cleared. and for ten years produced upon it fine crops of wheat and corn. Being a blacksmith by trade he invented the first hillside plow, upon which he was granted a patent, and the Goughnour plow held the estimation of the mountain
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farmer for many years. Subsequently he disposed of this property and purchased land in West Taylor township. He married Mary Benshoof, a sister of Paul Benshoof, who was also a Cambria county pioneer. For many months they resided under a roof of bark, fastened somehow or any- how to the bent bodies of young and pliant trees. Their children were: Benjamin, Josiah, William, Hiram, and Christina, aforementioned as the wife of Isaac Bole. Daniel Goughnour died in 1846, aged seventy-two years, and his remains lie on the Headrick farm in West Taylor township.
John K. Bole, fourth son of Isaac and Christina (Goughnour) Bole, received a common school education, and in 1887 went to Pittsburg and was employed by Parks Bros. Black Diamond Company for one year. He then took up brick laying, which line of work he followed for nine years ; the following two years he was engaged in the contracting business in Johnstown, and since 1902 has served in the capacity of superintend- ent and manager of the Citizens' Coal Company of Johnstown. He is a member of the Brethren church. He holds membership in Johnstown Lodge, No. 536, Free and Accepted Masons; and the Maccabees.
Mr. Bole married, June 28, 1893, Anna McColley, daughter of Will- iam and Martha (Katin) McColley.
EDWARD HUNTER SITER. The late Edward Hunter Siter, of Johnstown, was born March 29, 1831, in Chester county, Pennsylvania, son of Adam and Annie Siter, the former a small farmer of that county. Both he and his wife died during the childhood of their son, who grew up in a strict Baptist home, receiving a common school education.
As a young man he worked for a time in a blacksmith's shop in Phoenixville, Chester county, and there engaged for a considerable period in the puddling business. About March, 1856, he removed to Pittsburg, whence he migrated after a brief sojourn to Steubenville, Ohio, where he was for a short time employed as a puddler. In March, 1857, he went to Johnstown and entered the service of what is now the Cambria Steel Company, being employed in the capacity of puddler. He afterward had charge of the speedle furnace and later became foreman of the steel depart- ment under Robert Hunt, a position which he held during the remainder of his life. During the Civil war he enlisted three times, answering the first call in April, 1861, by enrolling himself as a member of Company G, Captain Thomas Lapsley commanding. Third Regiment Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, and after serving his term of three months was dis- charged July 30, 1861. August 21, 1862, he re-enlisted for nine months, in Company H, Captain Webster B. Lowman commanding, One Hundred and Thirty-sixth Regiment Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, and served with the rank of sergeant, receiving his discharge May 29, 1863. Febru- ary 10, 1865, he again enlisted, this time for one year, as sergeant of Com- pany G. Captain W. A. Mackin commanding, One Hundred and Ninety- second Regiment Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, and was discharged at Harper's Ferry, August 24, 1865. During his service as a soldier he took part in the battle of Fredericksburg and in many other noted engage- ments. During the Johnstown flood his home, in common with many others, suffered total destruction, and the exposure which he endured at that time was indirectly a partial cause of his death, which occurred one year later. ITis widow has since erected a new residence.
He was for many years a member of the local Grand Army Post, and while living in Phoenixville belonged to the American Mechanics. After coming to Johnstown he, in company with Charles Butland, organized the first lodge of the order ever founded at that place. The Bible of the lodge
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HISTORY OF CAMBRIA COUNTY.
was furnished by subscriptions collected by Mrs. Siter and Mrs. Butland. Mr. Siter was a life-long Republican. At the time of his death he was not identified with any church.
Mr. Siter married, May 6, 1854, at Phoenixville, Elizabeth Widener, and the following children were born to them: Clara, wife of Thomas Kerlin; Annie, died in girlhood; Sarah J., died young; Elmer Ellsworth ; Elizabeth, wife of James P. Thomas, of Johnstown; Jessie Mary; William Berlin; and Frank. The three last-named are deceased. Of these chil- dren, Elmer Ellsworth was born during the Civil war, and it was the wish of his mother that he should receive his father's name. Mr. Siter, how- ever, wrote from the front, requesting them to wait until his return, with the result that the infant was named in honor of the young hero who so bravely, if rashly, sacrificed his life in the early days of the conflict.
The death of Mr. Siter occurred June 8, 1890, and was mourned by all who knew him as that of a kind husband and father, a true friend, and a useful and worthy citizen.
Mrs. Siter, who was born in Reading, Berks county, Pennsylvania, is a daughter of Adam and Sarah ( Lotz) Widener. The latter was a daugh- ter of John Lotz, who was a hatter by trade, and at the time of the war of 1812 a wealthy man, loaning money to the government. He also served in the army with the rank of colonel. His death occurred in Reading, Penn- sylvania.
JAMES PHILIP THOMAS, second child and son of John and Mary Reighart (Griffith) Thomas, general manager for A. J. Haws & Sons, manufacturers of fire brick, and also a member of the business firm of John Thomas & Sons, was born at Johnstown, May 10, 1863.
He was educated in the public and high schools of that city and in Duff's Commercial College at Pittsburg. At an early age he entered his father's store, where he now is a member of the firm, although his personal attention is chiefly directed to the management of the extensive works of A. J. Haws & Sons, in which concern he holds a considerable interest. For about fifteen years Mr. Thomas was immediately connected with the de- partment store previously mentioned, and at the end of that period he be- came a member of the firm of M. L. Williams & Co., manufacturers of brick. In 1899 he acquired an interest in the brick manufacturing works of A. J. Haws & Sons, one of the old established industries of Johnstown, and became its general manager. In 1901 the Williams & Co. firm merged with the greater enterprise and since that time have been operated together, making one of the largest concerns in this country engaged in the manu- facture of silica and fire brick.
Besides his mercantile and manufacturing interests Mr. Thomas is prominently identified with various banking institutions and other local enterprises, and occupies an enviable position in the business and social life of Johnstown and Cambria county. He is a director of the Johnstown Telephone Company and the Johnstown Trust Company, member of and director of the Johnstown Young Men's Christian Association, and a Mason of high standing. He holds membership in Cambria Lodge, No. 278, F. and A. M .; Portage Chapter, No. 195, R. A. M .; Cambria Council, No. 32, R. and S. M., and Oriental Commandery, No. 61, K. T. He is a member of the United Brethren church, and in politics is a Re- publican. His home on Somerset street in Johnstown is a seat of comfort and one of the most attractive residences in the city.
Mr. Thomas married, October 27, 1886, Elizabeth Siter, daughter of
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Edward and Elizabeth (Widner) Siter, of Reading, Pennsylvania, and has one son-Philip Thomas. Mr. Siter for many years was one of the foremen of the Bessemer Steel Department.
MOORE FAMILY. John Moore of Westmoreland county, Penn- sylvania, was one of the pioneers of that region and was the American an- cestor of a numerous line of descendants in each generation from his time to the beginning of the Twentieth century.
John Moore was of Scotch birth and ancestry, and one of that vast colony of Scotch Presbyterians who were compelled to leave that country on account of religious persecution and seek temporary refuge in the north of Ireland. This much only is known of his early life and family history in the old country, and the names of his parents, the place of his birth and the family name of his wife are now lost to his descendants. It is known, however, that he was born in the year 1749 ; that he led the way of the family to America; that he took part in the defense of the frontier against Indian invasion ; that his own property was destroyed and his cat- tle run off by the savages, and that his death resulted from exposure and over-fatigue in the defense of family and home just before the burning of Hannastown by the Indians.
Such a man was John Moore of Westmoreland county, the progen- itor of that branch of the Moore family of Pennsylvania of whom this sketch is designed to treat. In Scotland, where he was born, and in the north of Ireland, where he lived for some time previous to his immigra- tion to America, he was a religious man, and while he lost none of that character after coming to Pennsylvania, stern necessity in defense of home and family made him take up arms and lead his fellow men against the troublesome Indians. He had two sons-William and James-and two- daughters-Sarah and Mary, each of whom married and had children. Beginning with the generation which included these children the records- of the family are clearly traced; and inasmuch as these sons and daugh- ters and their own children after them have been concerned with the early history of Pennsylvania it is appropriate that some mention of them be made in these annals.
William Moore, eldest son of John Moore, was born in 1773, and died in 1832. He married first. Polly Conway, who bore him five children. After her death he married Mary Guinn, and by her had one child. His children in the order of birth are as follows: Jane Moore, born in 1798; married John Barclay McConnell. Rebecca Moore, born 1799; married Thomas MeCurdy, and after his death married William Smith. John Moore, born 1801 : married Matilda McAfee. Hugh Moore, born 1803; married Fanny Shryock. James Moore, married first, Margaret McAfee: married second, Louisa Waddle. William Guinn Moore, son of William and Jane (Guinn) Moore; born in 1822; died in 1888; married Abigail Gibson.
Sarah Moore, second child and elder of the two daughters of John Moore, married John Ewing. She died in 1832. Their children were: Alexander Ewing. married Catherine McAfee. William Ewing. married a Miss Elder. Sarah Ewing, married John McCurdy. Rebecca Ewing, married Joseph Harbison. John Ewing. married, first, Miss Hart: mar- ried. second. Miss MeCurdy. Robert Ewing, married Elizabeth Walker.
James Moore. younger of the sons of John Moore, was born in 1774 and died in 1846. He married Catherine Chambers Scott, and by her had eleven children, viz: Sarah Moore, married Joseph Cook. Rebecca Moore, married John M. Laird. John Moore, married Miss Baty. Jane
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Moore, married first, William Cook; married second, Thomas Elder. James Moore, married Miss Clark. William Moore, married Jane Robin- son. Maxwell Moore, married Julia Seigler. Mary Moore, married, first, Justice Loomis; married, second, Hardy Sloan. Elizabeth Moore, mar- ried Alexander Moorhead. Chambers S. Moore, married a Miss Mat- thews. He is the only living representative of his generation of the de- scendants of Jolin Moore, and lives at Saltsburg, Pennsylvania, aged eighty-four years. Samuel S. Moore, married a Miss White.
Mary Moore, youngest of the children of John Moore, married Thom- as Dickey, and had seven children : George, Sally, William, Mary, Rebecca, John and Elizabeth Dickey. Of these children little is now known except their names and the fact that none of them are now living.
Jane Moore, daughter and eldest child of William and Polly (Con- way) Moore, married John Barclay McConnell, and had nine children, viz: William McConnell, now dead; married Catherine Emery. Samuel Porter McConnell, married Polly Mellvaine and is now dead. Abraham McConnell, died in infancy. Violet McConnell, married William Starr and now dead. Maria McConnell, now dead; married Porter Glenn. John McConnell, married Sarah Glenn and lives at Bradford, Mckean county, Pennsylvania. Rebecca McConnell, married Jeremiah Starr and is a widow living at Butler, Pennsylvania. James Harvey McConnell, mar- ried Mary Ann Ray and lives at Oil City, Pennsylvania. Tirzah McCon- nell, married John Ray and lives at Grove City, Pennsylvania.
Rebecca Moore, daughter and second child of William and Polly (Conway) Moore, married, first, Thomas MeCurdy, and by him had three children. After his death she married William Smith and had three chil- dren. Her children are as follows: Polly McCurdy, born in 1822 and died about 1838; unmarried. Robert McCurdy, born in 1824; killed in battle at Buena Vista, 1847; unmarried. Eliza Jane McCurdy, born in 1825, and lives at Freeport, Pennsylvania; unmarried. Matilda Smith, married Samuel P. Torrance, and is now dead. Sarah Ann Smith, mar- ried Amos Riggle, and is now dead. Violet, died unmarried. Rebecca Smith, married John Ray, and lives near Grove City, Pennsylvania.
John Moore, third child and first son of William and Polly (Con- way) Moore, married Matilda McAfee, and had sixteen children, viz. : A son, died in extreme infancy. William Porter Moore, born June 26, 1830 ; died May 4, 1894; married Rosa Fulton; Mr. Moore was a clergy- man of the Presbyterian church. Mary Jane Moore, born December 10, 1831; died April 24, 1832. John McAfee Moore, born May 19, 1833; died September 5, 1905 ; unmarried. James Hunter Moore, born July 3, 1835; died March 15, 1857. Mary Lucinda Moore, born December 4, 1837; died March 11, 1838. Ann Maria Moore, born August 23, 1839; died August 26, 1839. Joseph Harvey Moore, born August 14, 1840; died December 24, 1864. Sarah Elizabeth Moore, born November 18, 1842 ; died December 22, 1820. Hugh Thompson Moore, born November 15, 1844 ; died January 13, 1872 ; Thomas Ross Moore, born December 31, 1846 ; died May 7, 1881. Robert Smiley Moore, born November 26. 1848; died September 19, 1849. Campbell Stockton Moore, born October 11, 1850 : married Emily Leffingwell, and died in March, 1878. A son, died in infancy. Elder Denny Moore, born April 11, 1854; married Maggie Brown and lives in East Liverpool, Ohio. Fulton Plummer Moore, born February 2, 1857; died May 14, 1858.
Hugh Moore, fourth child and third son of William and Polly (Con- . way) Moore, married Fanny Shryock, and had ten children, viz .: John Shryock Moore, born August 25, 1826; married Elizabeth Gibson, and
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died August 19, 1870. William Moore, born February 24, 1828; mar- ried Elizabeth Conrad, and died December 25. 1864. James Moore, born March 3, 1830: a veteran of the Civil war, and for forty years an em- plove of Cambria Iron Company; married September 23, 1853, Ann Eliza Henry, who died December 10, 1893, having borne her husband six children. Lovina Moore, born December 8, 1832; married Barnard Heidrick. and died August 24, 1870. Thomas Harper Moore, born No- vember 9. 1834 ; married Nancy MeCleary and lives at Los Angeles, Cali- fornia. McConnell Moore, born November 9, 1836; married Elizabeth Meldren and lies at Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio. Sarah Jane Moore, born January 22. 1839 ; married Samuel Nicholson and lives at Indiana, Penn- sylvania. Margaret Ann Moore, born April 14, 1841; married John Adams and lives in Armstrong county, Pennsylvania. George Huey Moore, born November 3, 1843 ; married Annie Thomas and lives at Rimersburg, Pennsylvania. Samuel Curtis Moore, born March 8, 1846; died Feb- ruary 17, 1854.
James Moore, fifth child and fourth son of William and Polly (Con- way) Moore, married Margaret McAfee and had eight children. After the death of his wife Margaret. James Moore married Louisa Waddle. He died soon afterward and had no issue by his second marriage. His widow subsequently married John Shryock. The children of James and Margaret (McAfee) Moore are as follows: John Moore, died at the age of four years. Mary Jane Moore; married John Heibarger and lives at Greensburg, Pennsylvania. William Patterson Moore, died at the age of about fourteen years. Samuel Wallace Moore, died at the age of about twenty-one years. Thomas Ross Moore, died at the age of about twenty years. Lucinda Moore, died at the age of about sixteen years. Curtis Moore, died in infancy. Joseph Thompson Moore, married a Miss Moore and lives at Altoona, Pennsylvania.
William Guinn Moore, son and only child of William and Jane (Guinn) Moore, married Abigail Gibson and had seven children, viz .: Gideon Gibson Moore, born February 24, 1843; lives at Slippery Rock, Mercer county, Pennsylvania. Mary Jane Moore, born August 1, 1845; died September 1. 1852. Margaret Elizabeth Moore, born October 3, 1847; died September 1. 1852. John Harry Moore, born June 19, 1849: died September 21, 1855. William Alexander Moore, born March 18, 1852 : died June 18, 1904. Hugh James Moore, born November 28, 1853 : died February 9, 1858. Margaret Abigail Moore, born July 26, 1858.
JAMES MOORE. third son and child of Hugh and Fanny (Shryock) Moore, and great-grandson of John Moore, the ancestor of this branch of the Moore family in America, was born in Donegal town- ship, Butler county, Pennsylvania. on the 3d day of March, 1830. He received his education in public schools and afterward learned the trade of a blacksmith. On the 20th of March, 1853, he came to Johnstown and obtained work in the blacksmithing department of the Cambria Iron Company, remaining there until the outbreak of the Civil war.
On April 17. 1861. three days after President Lincoln's first call for volunteers, he enlisted and was mustered into service on April 20 as orderly sergeant of Company G. Third Regiment Pennsylvania Volunteer In- fantry, Captain Thomas H. Lapsley commanded Company G and Colonel Francis P. Minier commanded the regiment. The Third Regiment was composed of independent companies, many of which had previous existence under the military system of the commonwealth. and they responded to the call nobly and promptly. Mr. Moore himself had been a member of
lames moore
THE NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY Aster, Lenox and Tildon Foundations, 1909
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the Johnstown Light Infantry for four years before the beginning of the war. The regiment was organized at Camp Curtin, Harrisburg, on April 20, 1861, and on the same day was mustered into the service of the United States. The Third left Harrisburg on April 20, and went by rail to Baltimore. but owing to the destruction of the railroad bridge at Cockeys- ville, Maryland, was unable to proceed farther and therefore camped at that place until the ?? d, when it returned to York, Pennsylvania, and went into camp. While there the command was thoroughly drilled and disciplined in camp and army life, and as the commissary department was not fully organized the loyal inhabitants of the locality contributed food and rations for the men in camp. On May 27 the regiment moved to Camp Chambers, three miles from Chambersburg, and there was assigned to the Second Brigade, Second Division, Army of the Shenandoah. under command of General Patterson. On June Tth it proceeded to Hagers- town, Maryland, thence to Funkstown, thence to Williamsport, and on the 2d of July crossed the Potomac and engaged the enemy in a sharp skirmish at Falling Waters. From this place the army marched to Mar- tinsburg, Virginia, from which place the Third Regiment was sent back on detached service to guard the general supply depot which had been stationed at Williamsport, Maryland, where it remained until its term of enlistment expired. Then the regiment was ordered home for mus- ter out.
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