History of Cambria County, Pennsylvania, Volume III, Part 35

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

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Having taken part in all the services of his company and regiment, Mr. Moore was discharged at Harrisburg, August 29, 1861 ; but one year later, on August 27. 1862, he re-enlisted for nine months' service as second sergeant of Company K, One Hundred and Thirty-sixth Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry. On the organization of the company Josiah K. Hite was elected captain of Company K. In the composition of the regiment four companies, E, F, G and H, were raised in Allegheny county ; D in Tioga county ; B in Luzerne and Tioga counties; I in Craw- ford. Centre and Columbia counties, and K in Cambria county. The regi- ment was organized at Camp Curtin, August 20, 1862, with field and staff officers as follows: Colonel. Thomas M. Bavne ; lieutenant-colonel, Isaac Wright, major. Charles Ryan. The regiment left the state for the de- fenses of Washington on August 29, and was assigned to duty in the line of forts surrounding the capital, Company K being stationed at Fort Thayer. Just at that time the Second Bull Run battle was being fought, and after it was ended the regiment was posted along the line of de- fenses north and west of the city, doing guard duty and strengthening the fortifications. On September 27th the companies of the regiment were brought together in camp near Chain Bridge, and two days later moved into the city, thence to Frederick, Maryland, and two weeks after- ward to Sharpsburg, where it was assigned to the Second Brigade, Sec- ond Division, First Corps, Army of the Potomac. While in Maryland the time was spent in drill and picket duty along the river, but more arduous service was awaiting it.

The regiment marched with the army on Burnside's Fredericksburg campaign and participated in the desperate battle from December 11 to 15, the main engagement taking place in the 13th. On that day the First Corps bore the heaviest of the fighting on the left of the line of battle. After Fredericksburg the army recrossed the Potomac and went into winter quarters. However, in January, 1863, the regiment took part in Burnside's "mud march" in the proposed winter campaign. This occu- pied from January 20 to 24, and resulted only in hardships, but it satis-

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fied the War Department at Washington that winter campaigning. at least in that part of the South, was impracticable.

On April 27, 1863, the One Hundred and Thirty-sixth marched with the army under Hooker on the Chancellorsville campaign, and took part in the preliminary battles at Fitzhugh's Crossing (Franklin) on April 29 and 30, and also in the general engagement at Chancellorsville which followed from May 1 to 5. After Chancellorsville the regiment returned to its former camp and remained there until ordered back to Harrisburg for muster out.

In all of the movements and battles of the regiments to which he be- longed during his two enlistments, Sergeant Moore did a soldier's full duty on every occasion. At Fredericksburg, on December 13, 1863. he was seriously wounded by a ball which passed through both of his legs, and being unable to retire with his regiment he fell into the hands of the enemy. He lay on the field without surgical attendance until mid- night of the 18th, then was sent to Libby Prison at Richmond, and held there until January 26, 1864. when he was released and sent to the Navy School Hospital at Annapolis. Maryland. While there. on the 20th of April of the same year, he was discharged on account of disabilities.

After leaving the hospital Sergeant Moore returned to Johnstown and home, but was not able to take his old place at the anvil in the black- smith department of the Cambria Iron Company, but the company con- siderately furnished him a better position as foreman in the shops of the old Cambria mill, under Superintendent Alexander Hamilton ; and there he remained in faithful service until May 16, 1893, when he retired from active work to enjoy a well-earned rest. He was in the company's employ in one capacity and another, except while in the army, for forty years, and at the time he quit the shops his position was that of assistant superin- tendent of his department.

Mr. Moore is a member and has been commander, chaplain and sur- geon of Emory Fisher Post, No. 30, G. A. R. ; member and vice grand sec- retary and past grand of Alma Lodge, No. 523, I. O. O. F .; member and ex-regent of the Royal Arcanum of Johnstown : member of the Knights of the Golden Eagle, and for fourteen years keeper of the exchequer of that body, and also member of the Chosen Friends. For six years he held the office of director of the poor of Cambria county.

At Brady's Bend, Armstrong county. Pennsylvania, on the 23d of September. 1853, James Moore married Ann Eliza Henry. She died De- cember 10, 1893. having borne her husband these children: William Cur- fis Moore, born June 25, 1854: died June 26. 1857. Cora Moore. born August 29, 1861 : died February 22. 1865. William Henry Moore, born February 11, 1859 ; married Louisa Frve and lives at Wilkinsburg, Penn- sylvania. John Landv Moore, born March 16, 1864: unmarried : lives in Johnstown. Carrie Jane Moore, born October 7. 1866; married Charles H. Alter and lives in Johnstown. George Fritz Moore, born March 11. 1871 : marrid Carrie Hamilton and lives in Johnstown.

Hugh Moore. son of William and grandson of John Moore, the an- cestor and father of Sergeant James Moore. married Fanny Shryoek. whose American ancestor was Leonard Shrvock, a Prussian bv birth and ancestry. He came to this country with two brothers some time between the years 1720 and 1730. and died in York county. in this state. in 1788 or 1989. His son. John Shryoek. born September 15, 1774. married Mary Teagarden, born April 13, 1774. They had children: Susan Shrvock, born August 1. 1770; married Henry Shrvock and died November 30, 1850. Maria Shryoek, born February 27, 1772 ; married Samuel Beeler.

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Elizabeth Shryock, born February 5, 1774; died February 3, 1835; mar- ried John Jameson. John Shryock, born March 24, 1776; died October 11, 1859. Ellen Shryock, born May 27, 1778; died March 1, 1861; mar- ried John King. Jacob Shryock, born September 4, 1780. George Shryock, born February 22, 1783; died May 21, 1872. William Shryock, born in 1785 and died in infancy. Daniel Shryock, born September 13, 1786; died June 21, 1872. David Shryock, born June 6, 1791; died in 1856. Samnel Shryock, born February 23, 1793; died July, 1878.

JONATHAN CHRISTOPHER GARDNER, of the borough of Westmont, Cambria county, Pennsylvania, was known as one of the most experienced and practical lumbermen of the state. Originally he was a farmer, later a lumber contractor in special lines, and finally became a general lumberman on a large scale. His knowledge of this particular branch of business has been gained by long experience in every detail of that pursuit, and he was regarded as one of the very best authorities on all subjects pertaining to lumber and lumbering that this part of the country can produce.

Mr. Gardner comes of an old Pennsylvania family, whose settlement in the state dates to the time of the province and antedates the period of the American revolution. His father, Frederick Gardner, was born in Somerset county, his grandfather, John Gardner, was a native probably of York county, was a pioneer settler in the vicinity of Hopewell, Jenner township, Somerset county, and his great-grandfather was of Scotch-Irish extraction. His grandfather, John Gardner, located there some time be- tween the years of 1790 and 1795, and was a farmer. He was a soldier and an officer in the American army during the war of 1812-1815, probably engaged chiefly on frontier service, for no hostile foot was set on Penn- sylvania soil during that eventful contest. The maiden name of the pio- neer's wife was Naney Horner, and she bore her husband eleven children, as follows: 1. Jacob, born January 16, 1804. 2. Mary, December 25, 1806. 3. Benjamin, May 24, 1808. 4. John, April 22, 1810. 5. Eliza, February 23, 1812. 6. Samuel, July 28. 1814. 7. Peter, February 7, 1816; married Polly Short and lived in Somerset county. S. Frederick, February 11, 1818; see forward. 9. Hetty, April 19, 1821. 10. Levina, March 16, 1823; married John Howard and settled on Ben's Creek in Somerset county. 11. Nancy, October 4, 1825; married Jonas Berkey and resides in Westmoreland county. The pioneer himself and the several members of his family were of the religious seet known as Dunkards, hence were of industrious habits, quiet, law abiding and led correct lives.

Frederick Gardner, eighth of the children above mentioned, was born on his father's farm near Hopewell, Somerset county, February 11, 1818. and died in Upper Yoder township, July 31, 1887. He lived with his parents until he was twenty-one, then married and soon began farming on his own account and getting out lumber for other farmers. Later on he began furnishing iron ore on contract with the proprietors of the Forwardstown Furnace and also took timber contracts. In 1857 he re- moved to Johnstown and entered into a contract to furnish the Cambria Iron Company with mine timber, props, ties, etc., and this was his occu- pation at the time of his death in 1887, then being seventy years old.

Mr. Gardner married Matilda McCauley, daughter of Patrick and Nellie (Penrod) McCauley, of Somerset county. Twelve children were born of this marriage: 1. Eliza, died in infancy. 2. Rachel, died in in- fancy. 3. Nancy, married Jonathan Eckles and lived at Cambria Furnace : both dead. 4. Samuel, married Mrs. Mary (Himes) Wolfert. In August,

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1861. Samuel Gardner enlisted in the Union service for nine months and served until the expiration of his term. He was wounded in the second Fredericksburg battle. Both he and his wife are now dead. 5. Susan, married Franklin Penrod. removed to Kansas and died near Johnstown at Upper Yoder. 6. Lena. married John Moore and died in Bedford county, Pennsylvania. 1. Sarah, married John Hana, and is now a widow living at West Fairfield. Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania. 8. Jonathan C., now of Westmont and Johnstown. retired. 9. William, married Mary White and is a farmer of Upper Yoder township. Cambria county. 10. Joseph, married Mary Gates and lives in Upper Yoder township, Cam- bria county. 11. David, died in infancy. Also an infant unnamed, and a son who died in 1861. The mother of these children died September 11, 1897

Jonathan Christopher Gardner, eighth in the order of birth of the children of Frederick and Matilda (McCauley) Gardner, was born near what is now the town of Jerome. Jenner township, Somerset county, March 11, 1850. As a boy he went to the school near his father's home, but when eleven years old went with his father into the lumber woods and worked with him there and on the farm until he was twenty-one. when the family moved to farm lands owned by the Cambria Iron Company, where now stands the pretty borough of Westmont. just beyond the city limits of Johnstown. These lands then included six hundred acres and were worked for a year by young Gardner under the direction of his father; but when he became of full age he worked them himself for the company for the next three years and then took charge of other company lands at Henrietta. Blair county. Two years later he bought and moved to a farm near Westmont and then began the contract lumber operations which have made his name known among lumbermen throughout southern Pennsyl- vania and in other states. In 1890 Mr. Gardner purchased the Cambria Iron Company's standing timber. cut and sawed it and put it in the market. This occupied much of his time during thirteen years, and about the time it was finished he became extensively interested in Inmbering operations in West Virginia. he having acquired large tracts there in 1903.

This brief sketch. however, does not give the entire sum of Mr. Gard- ner's business operations, for he has other considerable interests. and he is frequently called upon as an expert to estimate large tracts of timber in the interest of other proprietors and companies, and in that special work his services have been required on various occasions in the states of West Virginia. Tennessee, Ohio, Indiana, and in fact throughout the Middle West: and his long experience with and thorough knowledge of lumber- ing operations and the character of the markets in different parts of the country have made him an expert in that special line of work. He is so known and recognized among lumber men.

In 1904 Mr. Gardner moved from his farm to Westmont borough. where he has since lived in one of two commodious dwellings built by him at that place. Although at all times a busy man, he nevertheless has taken a commendable interest in local affairs. his political preference inclining strongly to the Republican side. In the township he served in various capacities, as supervisor two terms, assessor one term, school director five years and township auditor six years. He is a member of Somerset Street Brethren Church.

Jonathan Christopher Gardner married. August 29. 1873. Louisa Heiple, born January 27, 1854. daughter of Louis Perry and Elizabeth (Ankney) Heiple. of Johnstown. and formerly of. Somerset county. Of this marriage six children have been born: 1. Bertha May. born May 22.

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1824, wife of C. F. Livingstone, a dairyman of Upper Yoder township. 2. J. Robert, born April 5, 1828; unmarried, a bookkeeper. 3. Emma Rebecca, born February 13, 1880. 4. Eldorado Elizabeth, born Septem- ber 21, 1881. 5. Jenme Matilda, born January 10, 1890. C. H. Darling- ton, born July 19, 1892.

HARRY WILLIAM SCHERER, business man and theatre manager of Johnstown, is a native of that city, and a son of the late Henry Scherer, who for nearly fifty years was identified with the best interests and history of Cambria county.

Henry Scherer was born in Hesse Darmstadt, Germany, and by occu- pation was a shoemaker. He came to this country some time between 1840 and 1850, and with Casper Hager, Mr. Beilstein and perhaps others, carried on shoemaking in the then borough. Later on he engaged in busi -- ness on his own account and was proprietor of a shop so long as he fol- lowed his trade as a means of livelihood. When he gave up shoemaking Mr. Scherer became an employe of the Gautier department of the Cambria Steel Company, and worked there as long as he lived. He died in 1890, his death in a great measure having been hastened by the serious effects of the Johnstown flood, which cost him his wife and two eldest daughters. At the time the family lived on Portage street, opposite the wire mill. Mr. Scherer himself was not personally injured by the flood, but his home was wrecked, and the loss of his faithful companion and helpmeet of years and two of their children so affected him that he died nine months afterward. Mr. Scherer was one of the few older residents of Johnstown who began their married life in that place. Soon after coming to the bor- ough he became acquainted with Catherine Fox, who was born in Hesse Darmstadt and came to this country soon after Mr. Scherer. They mar- ried, and afterward lived in devoted companionship until the awful dis- aster of May 31, 1889. The following children were born to them: Emma Scherer, drowned May 31, 1889. Mary Scherer, drowned May 31, 1889. Lena Scherer, married Paul Kirschmann, a teacher in the German paro- chial school in Johnstown. Harry William Scherer, business man of Johnstown. Martin Scherer, died in infancy. Charles Scherer, died in infancy. August Scherer, died in infancy.

Harry W. Scherer was born in Johnstown, March 28, 1874, and ob- tained his education in the public schools. When twelve years old he began work in a grocery store owned by Joseph Young, and was clerk there until the latter part of 1889, when he secured a clerical position in the office of the Gautier department of the Cambria Steel Company. Later on he was a bookkeeper in the Citizens' National Bank of Johnstown, and dur- ing his three years of service in that capacity he also became business man- ager of the two theaters of the city, which then were owned by I. C. Mish- ler, of Altoona. As business manager of the theatres Mr. Scherer was successful in the beginning. and has been successful in that line of work even to the present day. But he no longer acts as manager for another owner, for now he is part owner of one of the playhouses which he for- merly managed, and as such has been the means of furnishing Johnstown theatre patrons with a better elass of entertainments than had been their fortune to attend in earlier years. His efforts have elevated the stage and the theatrical profession, and also have been the means of teaching the people of Johnstown the value of clean entertainments as an element of education as well as a source of pleasure. In June, 1904, in partnership with Joseph T. Kelly, he purchased Cambria Theatre, and since that time has given his attention to the management of what is regarded as one of

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the best and most popular places of entertainment in southern Pennsyl- vania. Mr. Scherer is a member of the German Lutheran church, Johns- town Lodge of Elks, Linton Lodge of Knights of Pythias, and in politics is a Republican.

JOHN HIGSON. of Johnstown. Cambria county, Pennsylvania, now almost eighty years old, is a remarkable specimen of splendid physical manhood and a man of high moral character. Notwithstanding his ad- vanced age and the fact that the free use of one arm is partly lost, the result of a bullet wound in the left shoulder at Antietam, during the Civil war, he goes to the shops every day and does a man's work.

Mr. Higson was born in the city of Paterson, New Jersey, on the 24th day of June, 1828, and comes of English and Scotch ancestors. His father. Benjamin Higson, was a native of Bolton, Lancashire, England, and his mother, whose name before marriage was Margaret Lyon, was a daughter of James Lyon. a Scotchman by birth, and by occupation mas- ter of a Presbyterian school at Bolton, England. James Lyon married Catherine Liptrot.

Benjamin Higson and his young wife left England and came to AAmerica about the year 1825. He was a cotton spinner by trade, and for a time worked in Paterson, and afterward removed to Philadelphia, where he came to an accidental death. Out of working hours his favorite amuse- ment was music, and he found rest and recreation in rowing out on the Delaware river in the quiet of evening and drifting about with the cur- rent while he played his flute. One night his light boat was in some manner caught between a large vessel and the dock at Red Bank, and he was crushed to death. This happened in 1832, and soon afterward his widow and her small children returned to England. Three children were born to Benjamin and Margaret Higson: James, who spent his life in England, and was engaged in the cotton trade: John, of Johnstown, who came back to America in 1857, and is the oldest representative of the family in the country ; and Catherine, who also spent her life in England.

As has been mentioned, John Higson was born in Paterson. New Jer- sey. and was six years old when his widowed mother returned with her children to her old home in England. He was sent to school, but was quite young when he began work in the cotton mills. Later he entered the rolling mill, or "forges." as they were sometimes called. and kept at work there until he was forehanded enough to again make the voyage to America. He returned in 1857 and settled first in Philadelphia, his father's old home, and there found work in the Fairmount Rolling Mill. However, during the next three years he visited and worked in various other cities, first in Columbus. Ohio, then in Cleveland in the same state, and afterward in Elmira. New York.

He was working in Elmira at the outbreak of the late Civil war. and from there he entered the service. On June 11. 1861, he enlisted in Com- pany I. Thirty-fifth New York Volunteer Infantry, and served with that regiment until March 24, 1863. when he was mustered out. In Novem- ber, 1861, he had been made color bearer, which position he prized greatly and which he retained throughout the entire period of his service. He was with the Thirty-fifth in all its movements and engagements. inelnding the Second Bull Run, Slaughter Mountain. South Mountain and others. At Antietam he received a severe wound in the left shoulder, and was sent to the Army Hospital at Washington. D. C., and later to Philadel- phia, where he was finally mustered out and discharged. The wound he received at Antietam resulted in a permanent disability and cost Mr.

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Iligson practically the use of his left arm. However, after the war he went back to Elmira and again worked in the rolling mill, performing such service as could be done with one arm. After a time he qualified as heater. and has since made that his occupation in life, but only for a short time in Elmira. In 1864 he married. and from that time until he settled permanently in Johnstown he lived and worked in Elmira. New York, Lochiel and Altoona, Pennsylvania. Baltimore, Maryland, Chatta- nooga, Tennessee, and Cumberland, Maryland. From the city last men- tioned he came to Johnstown, and worked first in the rail mill of the Cambria Iron Company. afterward in several other departments of the company's vast plant until he became permanently employed as heater in the Gautier department.

When young John Higson, at the age of twenty-nine years came back to this country from England it was with the determination to afterward live in the United States and enjoy all the rights of citizenship. His mother had taken him back to England when he was a little boy and bad educated him there, hence in 1856, when he crossed the Atlantic for the last time, he knew little of American institutions and politics; but he always had been an apt student and acquired knowledge from observation of and intercourse with men, which was worth as much to him as the education derived in the school room. As a matter of fact. John Higson began early to think and act for himself, but that which most perplexed him on coming back to the country was to determine and choose between the great political parties. Then as now the great parties. were the Demo- cratic and Republican, although the widespread agitation of the slavery question caused men to be classed either as Pro-Slavery advocates or as

Abolitionists. While uncertain as to the best way for him to choose, Mr. Higson happened on one occasion to hear Mr. Lincoln in a public dis- cussion of national issues, and at once allied himself with the Republican party. Mr. Higson was brought up under the influences of the Church of England. He is a communicating member of the Protestant Episcopal church of Johnstown and a member of its vestry. For more than twenty- five years he has been a member of Emory Fisher Post, Grand Army of the Republic, and has filled all the offices of that organization except that of commander, which lack of time has made it impossible for him to accept.

On March 25, 1864, John Higson married Anna Eliza Paxson, daugh- ter of Joseph and Catherine (Jacquette) Paxson, then of Elmira, Now York. Mr. Paxson was a Philadelphian, and had gone to Elmira to take charge as master mason of the brick construction of the Elmira Iron Works. He afterward became a permanent resident of that city, and is now retired from active pursuits. He was born of English parents, and his father, Samuel Paxson, possessed considerable means. Catherine Jacquette, who married Joseph Paxson. died about 1888. She was a granddaughter of Hazell Pierson Jacquette, a Frenchman who was closely associated with Lafayette, and who eventually settled at Wilmington. Delaware. A sister of Mrs. Higson married Alexander Hamilton, one of the prominent officials of Cambria Iron Company in his time.

Children of John and Ann Eliza (Paxson) Higson: Margaret Cath- erine Higson, born in Elmira. New York. December 28, 1865; now a teacher in the Hudson street school. Johnstown. Carrie Louise Higson, married C. B. Cover, of whom mention will be found elsewhere in this work. Joseph Paxson Higson, died in infancy. Hazell Pierson Higson. died in infancy. Mary Elizabeth Higson. born January 15, 1873; lives at home. Agnes Higson, born in Cumberland, Maryland, September 19.

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1877; married Harry Given, who is with the Penn Traffic Company, Johnstown. Alexander Hamilton Higson, born in Johnstown, April 20, 1884; a draughtsman living in Elmira, New York.

THE RIGHT REVEREND JOHN BOYLE, of Johnstown, Vicar General of the Diocese of Altoona and Domestic Prelate of the Pontifical household, was born October 22, 1846, in Court, near Milford, county Donegal, Ireland, and received his education in the schools of his birth- place.

At the age of eighteen he came to the United States and entered St. Michael's Seminary, Pittsburg, where he studied for the priesthood. February 2, 1872, he was ordained by the Right Reverend Michael Dom- inic, Bishop of the Diocese of Pittsburg, and for three years thereafter served as assistant at St. Paul's Cathedral. He was then sent to Ebens- burg, where he remained in charge for six years as pastor of the Church of the Holy Name, and in August, 1880, he was appointed to take charge of the congregation of St. Patrick's Church, Gallitzin, where he remained until March, 1891. During his residence at that place, chiefly through his instrumentality, a brick church was built at a cost of seventy-five thousand dollars, and a convent and school erected. He also, while at Gallitzin, caused a church to be built at Delaney, Pennsylvania.

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History of Cambria County, Pennsylvania, Volume III, Part 35

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