USA > Pennsylvania > Cambria County > History of Cambria County, Pennsylvania, Volume III > Part 41
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John Mullen, grandfather of Hugh P. Mullen, married Margaret (Fagen) Mullen, and had children : John, married Mary Delaney ; Thomas, married Susan Collins: Edward, married Jennie Yenger; Pat- rick, of whom later; Mary, married Daniel McPike: Stachey, married Philip Corcoran ; Nancy, married Patrick Crilley; Bettie, married Frank McCullogh : Margaret, married Silas Donohue.
Patrick Mullen, fourth son and child of John and Margaret (Fa- gen) Mullen, was born in Allegheny township, Cambria county, in 1829. He was a carpenter by trade, and later took up the business of general contracting on the old Portage Road. He married Mary McCoy, who was one of a family of five children: James. Frank, Andrew, Mary, and Susan. The children of Patrick and Mary (McCoy) Mullen were: Cor- nelius, deceased : Edward. unmarried : John, unmarried ; Michael, de- ceased ; Hugh P .. of whom later : Clara J., unmarried; Mary, deceased ; Annie, deceased : and Celia, deceased.
Hugh P. Mullen. fifth son and child of Patrick and Mary (Mc- Cov) Mullen, was born in Allegheny township, Cambria county, Penn- sylvania, February 25, 1868. He was educated in the public schools of his district, and proved himself an apt and studious pupil. He is by occupation a turner, and was employed for a number of years by the Cambria Steel Company. He took an active and intelligent interest in all the public affairs of the community. more especially in those per- taining to the upholding of law and order, and in 1905 was appointed chief of police of Johnstown by Mayor Young. This position he is fill- ing in a very acceptable manner. and he has introduced many practical ideas and improvements which have been for the benefit of the com- munity. He is deservedly popular among all the respected classes of society in the town. He is a member of Johnstown Lodge, No. 175. Benevolent Protective Order of Elks.
Mr. Mullen married, November 1, 1895. Sarah Blouch, daughter of Abraham and Hannah (Stuttsman) Blouch. The former was a son of Jacob and Sarah Blough, and married Hannah Stuttsman, daughter of Abraham and Sarah (Schrock) Stuttsman, granddaughter of Jacob and Susan (Ulrich) Stuttsman, and one of a family of eight children: Susan, married Washington Christman : Jacob, married Jane Hildebrant : Catherine, deceased : Tobias, deceased ; Lydia, married Daniel Miller ; Sarah. married David Berkeybile: Hannah, married Abraham Blough. as before mentioned : Abraham, married Maria Frazier. Sarah (Blough)
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HISTORY OF CAMBRIA COUNTY.
Mullen was one of nine children: Sarah; Bertha, married Harry Cooper ; Texas, married Charles A. Byers; Hazel E .; Edgar; Curtis; Webster, deceased ; Rufus, unmarried; Russell, unmarried.
GEORGE M. ERVIN, foreman of the pattern shop of the Lorain Steel Company, of Johnstown, Cambria county, Pennsylvania, is an ex- ample of what industry and faithful performance of duty will attain, having been in the employ of this company for the past nineteen years, and risen step by step to his present position. He is an excellent repre- sentative of a family which settled in this country a number of years ago.
James Ervin, great-grandfather of George M. Ervin, when about eighteen years of age, while plowing in a field near Harrisburg, was pressed into the service of the Revolutionary army, which came along. The following is a copy of his discharge:
State of Maryland S. C. T.
I hereby certify, That by the list returned by the commissioners ap- pointed to distribute Bounties of land to the officers and soldiers of the late Maryland line of the Continental Army, it appears that lot No. 1304 Westward of Fort Cumberland, in Allegheny County, containing fifty Acres, was duly awarded to James Ervine-A private recruiter in the year 1781, 8th Regiment of the Maryland line.
George G. Brewer, Regr. Land off W. S. Md.
July 19th, 1842. Act of 1788 chp. 44.
He was the father of five children, as follows: John. Alford. Will- iam, Polly and Jane Ervin.
John Ervin, grandfather of George M. Ervin, married Elizabeth Boyd, and had children: William, married twice: Ellen. married Judge William Mahoney; John, married Rebecca McCaffrey; Jane, unmarried ; and Washington B., of whom sketch follows.
Washington B. Ervin, son of John and Elizabeth (Boyd) Ervin, was born at Jefferson, Frederick county, Maryland, 1831, died in 1876. He followed the occupation of carpentering for many years. He was a member of the Methodist church. He married Elizabeth Fink, and their children were: George M., of whom later; Annie, married E. O. Blair : and William, married Catherine Shryock.
George MI. Ervin, eldest child of Washington B. and Elizabeth (Fink) Ervin, was born at Middletown, Maryland, December 25, 1863. He received a good education in the common schools, and then turned his attention to farming. working at this occupation for four years. He gave this up in favor of cabinet making. and this, in turn. for the study of pattern making. This seemed to him to be a suitable employment. and he accepted a position with the Lorain Steel Company, and has now been in their employ for the past nineteen years. and, as above stated. has risen to the position of foreman of the pattern shop. IIe is highly esteemed by the company as a master workman, and a faithful. con- scientious emplove. He is a member of the Lutheran church, and of Johnstown Lodge. No. 157, Knights of Pythias.
He married. September 2S, 1SS?, Zelda Keckler. daughter of Will- iam and Mathilda (Hepfer) Keckler, who had two children: Zelda. and Alice Cary. who married (first) Richard Harley, and (second) John Riley. William Keckler was a son of Valentine and Elizabeth (Noel)
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HISTORY OF CAMBRIA COUNTY.
Keckler, and had five brothers and sisters: Elizabeth, married Samuel Omwake; Peter, married Sarah Gantz; Maria, married Jacob Wingert; Nancy, unmarried; Susanna, married John Baxter. Mathilda (Hepfer) Keekler was a daughter of Daniel and Rebecca (Fox) Hepfer, and was one of twelve children. The children of George M. and Zelda (Keckler) Ervin are: Bessie, born September 27, 1889; Mary, June 7, 1891; Frank, April 20, 1895; Herbert, June 3, 1897; Edwin, June 18, 1899; Anna, August 20, 1901; Robert, October 28, 1903; and Richard, March 15, 1906.
WILLIAM H. LEVERGOOD, who has been prominently identified with the business interests and public affairs of Johnstown, Cambria county, Pennsylvania, is a descendant of an honored family of this state. Jacob Levergood, son of Peter Levergood, was born in Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, October 7, 1807, died in Johnstown, Cambria coun- ty, Pennsylvania, February 1, 1885. He was one of the most useful citi- zens and prominent business men of Johnstown, and his loss was deeply deplored by the community. He married Jane Hayes, and they had chil- dren : Susan ; Agnes; Peter H .; Martin Luther; Mary; William H., of whom later; Lney; Jacob C .; and Emma C.
William H. Levergood, third son and sixth child of Jacob and Jane (Hayes) Levergood, was born in Johnstown, Cambria county, Pennsyl- vania, April 2, 1843. His education was obtained in the common schools of the district, then attended Elder's Ridge College, in Indiana county, later Duff's College of Pittsburg, from which he was graduated in 1860. He came to Johnstown the same year and engaged with F. W. Hay in or- der to learn the trade of tinsmithing. He had worked at this but one year when he enlisted, August, 1862, in Company A, One Hundred and Thirty-third Light Infantry, Pennsylvania Volunteers, for nine months, and was mustered ont in May, 1863. He returned to his home and finished his apprenticeship, and in 1865 established himself in busi- liess on Main street, where Cohn's store is at present, and conducted this business very successfully until his place was wiped out by the great flood of May 31, 1889. After that disaster he built a shop in the old Lever- good mansion on Bedford street and remained there about two years. He retired from active business in 1893, and is now (1906) living at 635 Sherman street, Johnstown. He is respected by all who have had any business dealings with him, for integrity, reliability, and promptitude in meeting all obligations. He has always taken an active and intelligent in- terest in the affairs of the town, serving as seleet councilman for one term. and as assessor of the fourth ward, for one term. His political affiliations are Republican, and he is a member of the First Lutheran Church. He is treasurer of Johnstown Conclave, No. 140, Order of Heptasophs.
He married, May 22, 1866, Mary Trent, born September 16, 1844. died February 9, 1906, daughter of George and Lydia (Long) Trent. The children of Mr. and Mrs. Levergood are: Cora, born September 1, 1867; Bertha and Edith (twins), born October 17, 1869.
PETER S. FISHER, who holds many positions of responsibility and trust in Johnstown, Cambria county. Pennsylvania, is a descendant of an old and honored family of Germany, which has numbered many professional men among its members.
Daniel Fisher, father of Peter S. Fisher, was born in Germany in 1814. and was a member of a prominent family in that country. A number of his ancestors had been engaged in the profession of teaching.
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HISTORY OF CAMBRIA COUNTY.
He was apprenticed to a tailor and learned this trade thoroughly. He came to America in 1843, locating in Somerset county, Pennsylvania, where he resided until 1886, when he came to Johnstown. He aban- doned the trade of tailoring when he came to America and took up farm- ing, in which he was very successful in Somerset county. He was a member of the Lutheran church. He married, 1842, Dinah Margenthal, and had children: Elizabeth, Charles C., Peter S., Henry J., and James W.
Peter S. Fisher, son of Daniel and Dinah (Margenthal) Fisher, was born in Berlin, Somerset county, Pennsylvania, June 2, 1851. He received an excellent education, first in the public schools of Somerset county, then in the high schools of Berlin and Jenner's Cross Roads. He taught school for a time, and in 1872 came to Johnstown and worked from April to September of that year in the bakery and confectionery business of Jacob Fend. In October he accepted a position with Voro- nickel & Company, wholesale liquor dealers. Two years and a half later he succeeded them in the business and has continued it up to the pres- ent time. He is one of the most progressive and substantial business men of Johnstown, and his opinion is highly valued in commercial cireles. His store is located in Clinton street, near Main street. He is a direc- tor in the Johnstown Board of Trade; director of the Johnstown Tele- phone company; and director of the Johnstown Wall Paper Company and the United States National Bank.
He married (first), January. 1875, Emma Butler, daughter of Eli- jah and Sarah Butler, of Cambria county. They had three children : Carl, Grace and Curtis. Mrs. Fisher died in 1884, and Mr. Fisher mar- ried (second), May, 1889, Laurena Wentroth, daughter of J. D. Went- roth. of Vintondale, Cambria county, Pennsylvania.
DENNIS GEORGE LA FRANCE, a prominent real estate broker and well known citizen of Johnstown, Cambria county. Pennsylvania, is a representative of a family which came to the United States from Canada, and which had its origin in France.
Joseph La France, father of Dennis George La France, was born in Montreal, Canada, November 9, 1847. He was sixteen years of age when he came to the United States with his parents, the family settling at South Shaftsbury, Vermont. There he was educated in the public schools and learned the trade of machinist in the Eagle Square shops. He became an expert in his line of work, and was employed by this firm for a period of about fifteen years, when he removed with his family to Johnstown, Cam- bria county, Pennsylvania. He found employment with the Gautier Steel Company, and when this became merged into the Cambria Steel Company Mr. La France worked for the latter concern. With the exception of one year in the employ of the Johnson Company (now the Lorain Steel Com- pany), he was in all twenty years in the employ of the Cambria Steel Company. He was possessed of a remarkable aptitude for grasping and solving any problem connected with mechanical work, and it was this ability that made his work of so high a value. He was an excellent schol- ar, and studied the theories as well as the practice of his particular line of work. His political affiliations were with the Republican party, in whose affairs he took an active and intelligent interest.
He married, August 16, 1866, Edna R. Turner, born in South Shaftsbury. Vermont, daughter of Charles and Sarah ( Mattison) Turner, and they had children: 1. Frederick A., who now resides in Oil City, married Mrs. Elizabeth Daniels. 2. Rosa May, a trained nurse. 3.
THE NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY Aster, Lenox and Tilden Foundations, 1909
John J Honich
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HISTORY OF CAMBRIA COUNTY.
Dennis George, of whom later. Joseph La France died November 17, 1898, in Johnstown, Pennsylvania.
Dennis George La France, second son and third and youngest child of Joseph and Edna R. (Turner) La France, was born in Sonth Shaftsbury, Vermont. October 13, 18:3. He was five years of age when he came to Johnstown with his parents, and may be said to have practically spent his life in that city. He was educated in the public schools, but was not satisfied with the ordinary school course, and became an earnest attend- ant at the evening schools and spent much of his spare time in study. He followed in the footsteps of his father and learned the trade of machinist, at the Gautier works of the Cambria Steel Company, and worked nine years for that company. He was then offered and accepted the position of assistant superintendent at the motor works of the Lorain Steel Com- pany, at Moxham, and at the expiration of two and a half years became assistant superintendent of the enamel works of the American Specialty Stamping Company, remaining with them for one year. He then accept- ed the position of traveling salesman for Love & Sunshine, wholesale grocers. . At the end of three years of this occupation he resigned his po- sition in order to associate himself as a partner with the firm of W. E. Johnson & Company, wholesale dealers in candy and confectionery, in which he secured a third interest, which he sold on January 3, 1906, and engaged in the coal, lumber and real estate business, in which he has been very successful up to the present time. Recently he has spent a large part of his time in West Virginia, being occupied in locating coal lands. He is also interested in several other profitable business enterprises, among which is the National Investment and Realty Company of Washington, D. C., in which he holds the office of assistant secretary of the coal and mining department at Johnstown, Pennsylvania. Altogether, he is an excellent example of the progressive and enterprising young business man of the times. His political support is given to the Republican party, and he is a member of the Methodist church, taking an active and beneficial interest in the work of the Sunday school connected with that institution. He is a member of the following organizations: Cam- bria Lodge, No. 278. Free and Accepted Masons : Portage Chapter, No. 195, Knights Templars: Oriental Commandery. No. 61; Syria Temple ; Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks; Protected Travelers: Protected Home Circle : and a number of others.
Mr. La France married, May 17, 1894, Jennie C. Dunham, daughter of Samuel and Huldah ( Richardson) Dunham. formerly of Somerset county, Pennsylvania, now residing in Moxham, Johnstown, and they have had children : 1. Samuel Joseph, born October 13, 1896, died at the age of two days. 2. Robert Dunham, born July 12, 1903. 3. Anna May, born January 31, 1905.
JOHN J. HORNICK, the genial and popular proprietor of the Key- stone Hotel, located on Main street, Johnstown, Cambria county, Penn- sylvania, one of the finest and most modern hotels of its size in the state. owes much of his prosperity to the habits of thrift and industry which he inherited from his German ancestors.
Christopher Hornick. father of John J. Hornick, was a native of Ba- varia, and emigrated to the United States about 1844. He settled in Rich- land township. Cambria county, Pennsylvania, and followed the occupa- tion of farming until his death, which occurred in August, 1888. He was one of five children: Christopher (himself) : Christopher (second) : John ; Catherine, married Adam Imgrund; and Eva, married Bartholomew
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HISTORY OF CAMBRIA COUNTY.
Pharr. Christopher was a member of the Catholic church. He married Barbara Fleckenstein, who was one of three children: Barbara ; Gertrude, married Andrew Kunkle; and Catherine. The children of Christopher and Barbara (Fleckenstein) Hornick are: 1. Gertrude, married John Stenger. 2. George, married Lena Sharbaugh. 3. Catherine, married John Spenger. 4. Christopher, married Elizabeth Vilsack. 5. Conrad, married Elizabeth Seng. 6. Barbara, married Julius Keiser. 7. John J., see forward.
John J. Hornick, fourth son and youngest child of Christopher and Barbara (Fleckenstein) Hornick, was born in Richland township, Cam- bria county, Pennsylvania, March 8, 1847. His education was acquired in the common schools of his native township, and he assisted his father ou the latter's farm until he had attained the age of twenty-one years. He then learned the trade of carpentering and followed that occupation for four years. He next spent one year in the rolling mills in Pittsburg, then six years as salesman for a retail furniture store in the same city. He re- moved to Johnstown in 1876 and opened a hotel in Railroad street, in which venture he met with immediate success. He was located in the same line of business in Clinton street at the time of the disastrous flood of May 31, 1889. After the flood he bought the property in Main street on which his present hotel is situated. It is well furnished throughont and equipped with all modern labor and time saving improvements. Every- thing that a hotel of the present day has to offer in the way of comfort for its guests is here supplied, and the cuisine is unexceptional. Mr. Hor- niek has the happy faculty of making his guests feel perfectly at home and his business is in a most flourishing and satisfactory state. He is a member of St. Joseph's Catholic church, and his political support is given to the Democratic party. He is a member of Johnstown Lodge, No. 175, Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks; and the Knights of St. George.
He married, June 3, 1876, Margaret Fisher, daughter of Eulich and Margaret (Gilman) Fisher, who were the parents of seven children: Eliz- abeth ; John, married Elizabeth Rockie; Jacob, married Caroline Link : Margaret, mentioned above : George; Joseph ; and Ulrich. The children of John J. and Margaret (Fisher) Hornick are: 1. Leander G., born March 6, 1877, is one of the foremost photographers in Johnstown; he married, August 8. 1905, Mary Ferner, daughter of Abraham and Mar- garet (Patterson) Ferner. 2. Margaret, born May, 1878. 3. Albert G., born November 6, 1881, has charge of the Standard oil plant at Johns- town. 4. Angela, born November, 1882.
LEANDER G. HORNICK, one of the best known and most pro- gressive of the photographers of Johnstown, Cambria county, Pennsyl- vania, is a son of John J. and Margaret (Fisher) Hornick, and was born in Johnstown, March 6, 1877.
His early education was acquired in the common schools of his na- tive city, and he later attended Bennett & Greer's Institute. He com- menced the study of photography in 1892, and seven years later opened a studio in Johnstown. He has been entirely self-instructed as far as pho- tography is concerned, and his present success is due wholly to his unaid- cd efforts. He has one of the finest studios to be found in the city, and his patrons come from far and near. Although heart and soul a business man. Mr. Hornick did not allow these interests to interfere when he thought his country had need of his services. He enlisted, June 28. 1898. in Company HI, Fifth Regiment Infantry, Pennsylvania Volunteers, and served in the Spanish-American war with honor and bravery. He is a
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HISTORY OF CAMBRIA COUNTY.
life member of Johnstown Lodge, No. 115, Benevolent and Protective Or- der of Elks.
He married, August 8, 1905, Mary Ferner, daughter of Abraham and Margaret ( Patterson) Ferner, and one of ten children: Gertrude; Mar- garet, deceased; Myra, married John Rhodes; Edith; Mary, mentioned above; Robert, deceased; Joseph; Stuart; Maude; Helen. One child has been born to Mr. and Mrs. Hornick-Mary Margaret, July 26, 1906.
WILLIAM CALDWELL, M. D., for many years prominently iden- tified with the commercial interests of the city of Johnstown, Cambria county, Pennsylvania, and an old and respected citizen of that town, is a representative of a well known family of Pennsylvania which has been settled in the state for a number of generations.
William W. Caldwell, the father of Dr. William Caldwell, was born in Franklin county, Pennsylvaina. His father, living in the vicinity of old Fort Derry, in Westmoreland county, about 179?, where he followed the occupations of blacksmithing and farming. William W. was reared in Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania, and removed to Armstrong coun- ty, about 1814, and removed to Indiana, Indiana county, Pennsylvania, in- 1816. He was a farmer and a blacksmith, and manufactured the nails used in building the first county jail in the county. He was of Scotch- Irish descent and was a Presbyterian. His political affiliations were with the Whig party, of which he was a prominent and active member. He was twice elected treasurer of Indiana county, 1838 and 1843, and was a man of considerable importance in his time. He married Martha George, and they had four sons and four daughters who grew to maturity, and two children who died in infancy. Mr. Caldwell died in Indiana county in 1856.
William Caldwell, M. D., son of William W. and Martha (George) Caldwell, was born in Indiana, Indiana county, Pennsylvania, June 28, 1828. He was educated in the common schools and in the Indiana Acad- emy, and was then apprenticed to learn the trade of printing. For two years he edited the Appalachian of Blairsville. He then took up the study of medicine under the preceptorship of Drs. Jackson and M.cKim, promi- nent physicians of Blairsville; Dr. Jackson was the founder of Cresson, Pennsylvania. He then matriculated at Jefferson Medical College of Philadelphia, and was graduated in the year 1853. Ile immediately commenced the practice of his profession in New Florence, whence he re- moved to Blairsville, Pennsylvania, and in 1854 returned to Johnstown, where he has since that time resided. Business life appealing more to his tastes than a professional career, he engaged in the mercantile business in Johnstown in 1857, and pursued this successfully until 1889. He and his family were all in the great flood which devastated Johnstown in May, 1889, and made their escape with difficulty. His wife lost her mother, two sisters, a nephew, a niece, and the child of a niece in the flood. Dr. Cald- well was active in the Whig party prior to the Civil war, was prominent in the campaign of 1840, and later became a Republican at an organiza- tion in 1856. He has always taken an active part in local polities, and was a member of the common council of Johnstown for twenty-five years; was president of the first Republican convention in Cambria county, which sent Colonel J. M. Campbell as a delegate to the national convention in Philadelphia which nominated Fremont for president; served for a year after the flood as treasurer of Johnstown ; when it was a borough, the last years as a borough and was assessor of the Fourth ward about ten years. He has been a member of Cambria Lodge, No. 278, Free and Accepted
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HISTORY OF CAMBRIA COUNTY.
Masons, of Johnstown, since 1857, and is the oldest active member of the lodge; and probably the oldest Mason in this section of the state; is a member of Johnstown Council No. 401, Royal Arcanum. His religious faith is that of the Presbyterian church.
He married, December 21, 1853, Susan Levergood, born June ?? , 1832, daughter of Jacob and Jane ( Hayes) Levergood. The children of Dr. William and Susan (Levergood) Caldwell were: 1. Martha Jane, born October 9, 1856; married Rev. Charles James God-man. for ten vears a missionary of the Presbyterian church, now located at Seattle, Washington. 2. Lucy, born October 25, 1858; married William E. White, of Johnstown, Pennsylvania. 3. Jacob L., born June 25, 1861, married Elizabeth Freed, of Armagh. Pennsylvania. 4. Bertha, born April 15, 1867. Was graduated from Johnstown high school and attended Indiana State Normal School, and taught school one year in Johnstown, when she went to Idaho as a missionary teacher for three years. She studied medicine in the Woman's Medical College in Philadelphia. being grad- uated in 1893, then took a post-graduate course in the Polyclinic College and University of Pennsylvania in the same city, went to India in 1894, locating for one year at Lodiana, and then settling at Allahabad, where she had charge of a hospital for women and children in connection with her missionary work. She remained in India seven years, returning home in 1902. While still pursuing her studies she had charge of the medical department of the Indian school at Hampton, Virginia. She is now en- gaged in the practice of her profession in Johnstown. She arrived in Johnstown from Idaho five days before the flood, and narrowly escaped drowning. 5. Agnes Belle, born March 25, 1871, a graduate of Johnstown high school ; married J. Frank Dunleavy, and now resides in Boston, Massachusetts.
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