USA > Pennsylvania > Cambria County > History of Cambria County, Pennsylvania, Volume III > Part 42
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JOHN WIDMANN, although not a native of this country, has grown up with it and is one of the most public-spirited, enterprising and pro- gressive citizens in the town of Johnstown, Cambria county, Pennsylvania. He has thoroughly identified himself with his adopted country and has served her in various capacities. He is a repreesntative of an honored fam- ily of Germany.
Jacob Widmann, father of John Widmann, was born in Germany, July 25, 18.17, died March 21, 1892. He was one of two children, his brother John marrying Crescentia Folz. He had learned the trade of stone mas- onry, and came to the United States in 1855, locating at Johnstown, where he worked at his trade for a number of years. He was later en- gaged in the grocery business for fifteen years and in the brewing business for three years, retiring to enjoy the fruits. of his industry in 1883. He married, in Germany, Mary Melcher. born March, 1818, and still (1906) living. Their children were: Joseph, deceased; Teresa, married Felix Kurtz; Mary, deceased; and John, of whom mention below.
John Widmann, son of Jacob and Mary (Melcher) Widmann, was born in Germany, October 3, 1850. He came to America with his parents when he was but five years of age, and attended the public schools of his district, where he acquired a good education. He was then apprenticed to a painter, and upon the completion of his apprenticeship he worked at his trade for about twenty years, abandoning it in favor of the grocery business, in which he established himself in Railroad street in Johnstown, and later opened a general merchandise store. He formed a partnership with Mr. Schuler, in 1896, and they were associated for eight and one- half years, when in 1904 Mr. Widmann took the entire business responsi-
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bility and has since conducted affairs under his own name. He has a large general store on Railroad street, in the Ninth ward, and is one of the most enterprising of the business men of Johnstown. He devoted much time, thought and attention to the public affairs of the town and to the improvement of many existing conditions, and has filled very accept- ably the following offices: Borough clerk of Conemaugh borough, fifteen years ; common couneil, Conemangh, six years; borough assessor ; common council of Johnstown, two terms. He also holds the following positions of trust and responsibility: Director of the First National Bank of Johnstown : vice-president of the Consumers' Ice Company; president of the Johnstown Grocery Company; vice-president of the Cambria Con- crete Construction Company. He is a member of St. Joseph's Society and of the German Catholic church. His political affiliations are with the Democratic party.
He married, January 19, 1879, Magdalena Graf, born May 15, 1855, daughter of Henry and Anna (Durach), Graf, and one of six children : Henry, Robert. John, Anna. Barbara, Magdalena. The children of John and Magdalena (Graf) Widmann, all but one of whom are at home, are: Mary ; Emma, married in 1906 to William Raymond Jelly and resides at Detroit, Michigan : John R. : Jacob H .; Herman J .; Florence R. : Carl, died in infancy; Bernard; Roman; Albert; Magdalena; Edward, and Aloysius.
JOHN MCDERMOTT, prominently identified with the commercial and banking interests of Johnstown, Cambria county, Pennsylvania, is a native of Ireland, and a descendant of an honored and respected family of that country.
Andrew McDermott, father of John McDermott, born in Ireland, was a farmer by occupation there and emigrated to this country with his fam- ily in 1851. The greater part of his working years in this country were spent in blast furnaces. By his wife, Bridget, he had a family of nine children : Bridget, wife of Henry McCloskey; Peter, deceased ; Celia, wife of Robert Sagerson : John ; Michael, deceased ; Thomas; Mary, deceased ; Kate, wife of Dr. James Taylor, of East Liverpool, Ohio; and Andrew, deceased. The father died December 29, 1871, and the mother died De- cember 23, 1891.
John McDermott, son of Andrew and Bridget (McDermott) McDer- mott, was born in County Galway, Ireland, May 5, 1850. He came to America with his parents in 1851, and received a common school educa- tion. At the early age of eleven years he began the active work of life as an employe in a store in Conshohocken, Montgomery county, Pennsylvan- ia, where he remained for two years. He then. in April. 1863, came to Johnstown, Cambria county, Pennsylvania, obtained a position in a store in that city, and has been engaged in commercial. life since that time. He gradually drifted into the milling business, and in 1890 succeeded the Johnstown Milling Company and operated the mill under the firm name of MeDermott, Wertz & Company. He is also actively engaged in other business enterprises : is a director of the First National Bank of Johns- town, and is one of the most prominent and enterprising citizens of that town.
He married (first), July 9, 1878, Julia Cox, daughter of John and Jane (Horan) Cox, and had children : Mary, at home; John, deceased : Catherine, deceased. He married (second), November 11, 1902, Rose Sharbaugh, daughter of Jacob and Mary (Noel) Sharbaugh. He and family are members of St. John's Catholic church of Johnstown.
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JOHN W. GOCHER, chief engineer of the Cambria Steel Company in Johnstown, Cambria county, Pennsylvania, is descended from a family which came originally from England.
John Gocher, grandfather of John W. Gocher, was born in England about 1818. He emigrated to this country about 1840 and settled in But- ler county, Pennsylvania. In England he had been engaged in the milling business, but took up farming in this country. He came to Johnstown in 1856 and entered the employ of the Cambria Steel Company, in which he continued until 1868. He died in Johnstown in 1872. He married Sarah Chaplin, and raised a family.
George Gocher, son of John and Sarah (Chaplin) Gocher, was born in Butler county, Pennsylvania, February 15, 1846. He received what was considered a good common school education in those early days, and then worked for the Cambria Steel Company for five years. After that he learned the carpenter trade, and in 1886 entered the employ of the John- son Company as superintendent of the construction department. This po- sition he held until 1897, and then established himself in the grocery busi- ness and is now located in Bedford street, Johnstown. He married Mary Pendry, and had children.
John W. Gocher, son of George and Mary (Pendry) Gocher, was born in Johnstown, Cambria county, Pennsylvania, August 2, 1860. He was educated in the public schools of Johnstown, and his first business po- sition was as timekeeper in the bricklaying department of the Cambria Steel Company. He was then transferred to the drafting department and was eventually made head of that department. Later he was made assist- ant chief engineer, held that position for several years, and was advanced in 1906 to the position of chief engineer of the Cambria Steel Company. He enjoys the confidence and esteem of his employers and co-workers, is ambitious, faithful and conscientious in the discharge of his duties, and possessed of great executive ability, and a brilliant business career is pre- dicted for him.
He married, June 6, 1894, Elsena Menoher, born February 2, 1869, daughter of Samuel and Sarah J. (Young) Menoher, and they have three children.
WILLIAM B. TICE, a highly respected citizen of Johnstown, Cam- bria county, Pennsylvania, and prominently identified with the drug busi- ness in that section of the country for many years, is a member of an old and honored family of the state of Pennsylvania.
William Tice, father of William B. Tice, was born at Myerstown, Lebanon county, Pennsylania, in 1818. He was by occupation a veterinary surgeon, and from the effects of a wound received in the Civil war died September 15, 1870. He was a man of influence and prominence in the community, and during the Civil war showed his patriotism and heroism in many instances. He was captain of Company E, Seventeenth Cavalry, Pennsylvania Volunteers, and in the Ninety-third Pennsylvania Volun- teers. He was also honored with the position of county treasurer, which he filled very acceptably. His sisters and brothers were: Mrs. Lerch, Mrs. Miller, Mrs. Spangler and Andrew. He married Sarah Becker, who was one of four children: John, Adam, Mrs. Ibach and Sarah. The chil- dren of William and Sarah (Becker) Tice were: Mary, deceased; Emma ; John. deceased ; Agnes; and William B., see forward.
William B. Tice, youngest child of William and Sarah (Becker) Tice, was born in Myerstown, Lebanon county, Pennsylvania, December 28, 1856. His early education was acquired in the common schools of his
THE NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY Asier, Lenox and Tliden TourdeMins. 1909
Mahlon Walter Kein.
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Lative county, and he then attended the Platanate College of Myerstown, from which he was graduted in 1870 as a druggist. He was engaged in the drug business at Myerstown from 1876 until 1881, and the following four years in Stoyestown, Somerset county, Pennsylvania. He came to Johnstown, Cambria county, Pennsylvania, in 1885, and was conducting a flourishing drug business in Portage street, when it was wiped out by the flood of May 31, 1889. For about two years his business was then conducted in the Park building, and he then opened his present store at Clinton and Railroad streets, where he has a commodiously and elegantly fitted up place of business, which is constantly increasing. He is a mem- ber of St. John's Reformed Church, and in politics he is a Republican. He is a member of Camp Speer Orr of Johnstown, Sons of Veterans.
He married, December 4, 1880, Sarah Sallada, daughter of John M. and Mary (Schenfelder) Sallada, and they had one child, which died in infancy.
JUDGE MAHLON W. KEIM, highly respected as a citizen of Johnstown, Cambria county, Pennsylvania, is a representative of the Keim family in this country in the fifth generation. He has been promi- nently identified with the political, financial, real estate and general com- mercial interests of his district for many years.
(1) John Keim, the earliest ancestor of the Keim family in the United States, came to this country from Germany in 1692, and settled near Reading, Pennsylvania, where he owned considerable land. Later he returned to Germany and there married Elizabeth, and among his chil- dren was a son, Peter.
(II) Peter Keim, son of John (1) and Elizabeth Keim, was a farm- er in Berks county, Pennsylvania. But little of note is known of him ex- cept that he married and among his children was a son, Nicholas.
(III) Nicholas Keim, son of Peter Keim (2), made his first set- tlement at Bens Creek, Cambria county, Pennsylvania, later removing to Davidsville, and from thenee to Elk Lick, where he purchased a consider- able tract of land which he cultivated to great advantage until his death in 1832. He married (first) Mary Stutzman, by whom he had children : John. Jacob, Jonas, see forward; David, Solomon and Jeremiah. He mar- ried (second) a Miss Miller ; and (third) Susan Eash. In early days he was associated with old man Johns, of Johnstown, and later purchased a farm at Bens Creek, Somerset county, and in 1800 his eldest son boarded with Mr. Johns and attended school.
(IV) Jonas Keim, third son and child of Nicholas (3) and Mary (Stutzman) Keim, was born within six miles of Johnstown, Cambria county, Pennsylvania, in 1803, and died in 1865. He was a prominent and influential citizen of Somerset county, Pennsylvania, which he repre- sented in the state legislature at Harrisburg for three years, being the nominee of the Whig party. He also served his county in the offices of as- sociate judge, and as county commissioner. He married Sarah Liven- good and had children: 1. Christian, deceased, married Corda Will. 2. Lewis, married (first) a Miss Essex; (second) a Miss Bickley; and (third) name unknown. 3. Elizabeth, married Balthazar Welfley, now deceased. 4. Mahlon W., concerning whom see forward. 5. Silas, married Emma Arnold. 6. Sarah, married Henry Grable, deceased. 7. Esther, married J. M. Hay. 8. Harriet, deceased, married William Hay. 9. Noah G., married a Miss Stutzman. 10. Samuel, married a Miss Harshberger, and is a resident of Kansas. 11. Albert G., married a Miss Lichty. 12. Anna. married Peter Little, of New York.
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(V) Judge Mahlon W. Keim, third son and fourth child of Jonas (4) and Sarah (Livengood) Keim, was born in Elk Liek township, Somer- set county, Pennsylvania, October 29, 1833. His early years were spent in Salisbury and his education acquired in the public schools of Somerset county. Later he pursued his studies at Somerset College, under the pre- ceptorship of Charles Louis Loos. His first business venture was at Stoys- town Station, where, in association with his brother Christian, he culti- vated a farm with a great measure of success, at the same time personally managing and operating a tannery and grist mill. He remained there for five years and then transferred the field of his activities to Johnstown, Cambria county, Pennsylvania, where he embarked in the mercantile busi- ness. He opened a store in the fifth ward in that city, and this he con- ducted very successfully until 1867. He was elected associate judge dur- ing the seventies, remained in office for one year, when, by an amendment to the constitution, the court was abolished. His next venture was in the banking line of business, with which he was connected, but rather disas- trously, for about twelve years. At the end of this period he commenced operations in the real estate field, and so successful was he along this line that he extended his operations to the buying and selling of coal lands, and by this amassed a considerable fortune. He is a man of liberal views on all subjects, and has done much to advance projects for the improvement and benefit of the city in many instances. It is also owing to his interest in their welfare and his efforts in their behalf that the Mennonites were brought to this country through Canada from Russia and permitted to lo- cate in Kansas. He is a man of generous impulses and has many friends.
He married, December 25, 1861, Elizabeth Dibert, daughter of John and Rachael (Blough) Dibert, both of Johnstown, and they have had children : 1. Sarah, deceased. married W. D. Langdon, and had one child, Elizabeth. 2. Anna, married W. M. Thompson, of Topeka, Kansas, and is the mother of: Edward, William, Charles and Elizabeth. 3. George C., unmarried, is assistant to the superintendent of public grounds and buildings of the capitol at Harrisburg. 4. Olive, married D. R. Mc- Clain, and has one child, Mahlon Keim McClain. 5. Mahlon W., Jr., married Clara Forshay, of Johnstown. The family are members of the Progressive branch, Dunker church.
THOMAS J. ITELL. The Itell family, of which Thomas J. Itell, an eminent lawyer of the city of Johnstown, is a worthy representative, has long been resident in Switzerland, in which country the name was spelled Eitel. The family is noted for longevity.
The first of the name of the branch we are now tracing to come to this country was John Itell, who emigrated in 1816, led an active and useful life, and died at Morrison's Cove, Blair county, Pennsylvania, at the advanced age of ninety-six years. His son, Joseph Itell, born in the canton of Aargan, Switzerland, December 9, 1804, emigrated to this coun- try with his father when a lad of twelve years, resided for a number of years in southwestern Pennsylvania and in Delaware, and in 1827 settled in Cambria county, Pennsylvania, where he followed agricultural pur- suits. In 1830 he married Catherine Eberly, a native of Loretto, Cam- bria county, and of French parentage. Their son, John Itell, born August 20, 1831, in Allegheny township, Cambria county, was by occupation a farmer, and owned in Portage township two farms, upon one of which he resided for forty-two years until his death, August 18, 1905. He was a member of the Catholic church. He married, June 18, 1861, Lucinda Eckenrod, a daughter of Peter Eckenrod, a native of Berks county, Penn-
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sylvania, who in early life came to Allegheny township, Cambria county, where he died in January, 1870, in the seventy-first year of his age. Lu- cinda (Eckenrod) Itell, who was of German descent and a member of the Catholic church, died August 15, 1875, aged thirty-seven years, in the very prime of young womanhood.
Thomas J. Itell, son of John and Lucinda (Eckenrod) Itell, was born in that part of Washington township which is now Portage township, Cambria county, Pennsylvania, July 4, 1862. He was reared on a farm, attended the common schools, and after teaching three years entered the state normal school at Indiana, Pennsylvania, from which he was grad- uated in the class of 1885. The following year he became principal of the Millville high school, which position he resigned in 1888 to assume the principalship of the Concmaugh borough public schools. In connection with these positions he made use of part of his vacations for conducting teachers' normal classes. He accepted the position of special reporter on the Johnstown Daily Democrat, October 20, 1889. After the city of Johnstown was organized on April 1, 1890, he served for two years as principal of the Iron street school, rendering efficient and valuable serv- ice. He became a student in the law office of James M. Walters, at that time solicitor for the city of Johnstown, June 1, 1892, and was admitted to the Cambria county bar on August 20, 1894. He at once opened an office for the practice of his profession in Johnstown, and by energy, per- severance and hard labor has won an extensive and lucrative clientele. His offices, which are finely equipped in every respect, are located in the Suppes building, Franklin street, Johnstown. He upholds by his vote and influence the principles and candidates of the Democratie party, and in 1896 was one of the nominees of his party for the legislature.
Mr. Itell married, May 16, 1889, at St. John's Roman Catholic Church, Johnstown, Mary C. MeMullen, a daughter of H. A. McMullen, of Johnstown. She was a school teacher by occupation. Their children are: John Bryant, Marie C., and Florence L. Itell, the two former now students in the Johnstown high school.
JACOB JACOBY. In every community there always seem to be a few who are ready to shoulder the burdens of progress and enterprise for all the rest, and who are peculiarly fitted for these responsibilities. To this class belongs in the first rank the man whose name heads this sketch. Jacob Jacoby, prominent mill owner and contractor, and at present super- intendent of Maple Grove Park, represents a family which has been set- tled in Pennsylvania for some generations.
Peter Jacoby, father of Jacob Jacoby, was born in Lehigh county, Pennsylvania, in 1791, and lived to be eighty years of age, his death oc- curring in 1879. He received his education in the common schools of his district, and then perfected himself as a shoemaker and a stone mason. He contracted for and built several houses in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, then settled in Locust Grove, where he followed the occupation of shoe- making for several years. He purchased a farm at Locust Grove, which by successive additions grew to be four hundred acres in extent and well cultivated. In politics he was an old line Whig, and a member of the Intheran church. He married Mary Loup, born 1792, died 1886, and their children were: Jonas; John; Levi; Ephraim; Jacob, of whom lat- er ; Sarah; Elizabeth ; Rebecca; Jennie ; Susanna ; and two who died in in- fancy.
Jacob Jacoby, fifth son and child of Peter and Mary (Loup) Jacoby, was born on the old homestead at Locust Grove, Pennsylvania, March 20,
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1836. His early years were spent on the homestead, and he attended the common schools of the district, obtaining a very good education. At the early age of sixteen years he built a saw and grist mill, and the following year erected a house which is in his possession at the present time (1906). He removed to Johnstown and built the flour mill now operated by Me- Dermott, Wertz & Company. His residence in Johnstown dates from 1857, when he commenced the general contracting business, which he fol- lowed with unvaried success until 1880. At this time he removed to his present home at Walnut Grove. He superintends Maple Grove Park in this place, and his excellent management makes this a resort of great pop- ularity. In it is located a modern merry-go-round and a panorama, con- sidered to be one of the finest in the state. He is a member of the Luth- eran church; a stanch adherent of the Republican party ; and a member of Conemaugh Lodge, No. 17, Independent Order of Odd Fellows. Mr. Jacoby is a man of great enterprise and executive ability, as is evidenced by the successful issue of the business affairs in which he has been en- gaged at various times. He is highly respected for his integrity and busi- ness acumen, and for many other sterling qualities.
He married (first), August 5, 1859, Julia Horner, daughter of Eli B. and Sarah (Horner) Horner, and their children were: Sarah, de- ceased ; John H., deceased ; Margaret, married George A. Markeley ; Will- iam, married Amanda. Bitner, Harry, married Florence Claycomb ; Jacob W. ; Karl Edward, married Florence B. Berket ; one child died in infancy. Mr. Jacoby married (second), October 26, 1899, Louise McConnell.
Mrs. Jacoby comes from an old and highly respected family which has been identified with the state of Pennsylvania from colonial times. Her parents were Francis S. and M. Catherine (Burkett) McConnell. Francis S. McConnell was a son of Cornelius and Rosanna (Christy) Mc- Connell. Cornelius McConnell came from county Cork, Ireland. The father of Rosanna Christy came from Scotland. He was a boilermaker and machinist by occupation, and was killed in a street car accident in Johnstown, in 1904. His wife was a daughter of Henry and Esther (Diek) Burkett. Her father was a native of Claysburg, Blair county, Pennsylvania, and was owner of a large distillery at that place. Francis S. and M. Catherine (Burkett) McConnell were the parents of seven children : 1. Alice, married Martin Graybill. 2. Louisa, who became the wife of Jacob Jacoby, as hereinbefore narrated. 3. Bertha, married Fred Griffith. 4. James. 5. Earl, deceased. 6. Pearl. 7. Robert.
JACOB M. MURDOCK, one of the most enterprising and pro- gressive business men of the city of Johnstown, Cambria county, Penn- sylvania, engaged in the lumber business at the corner of Franklin and Main streets, is a representative of a family which has been closely iden- tified with business and agricultural interests in Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania, where a number of generations of this family resided.
Daniel Murdock, grandfather of Jacob M. Murdock, was a large land owner and farmer in Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania, where his entire life was spent. He married Anna Catherine Hartman, and had children : Mary, John, see forward; Samuel, Jacob, Solomon, Ross, Henry, David, Lida and Dillon.
John Murdock, second child and eldest son of Daniel and Anna Catharine (Hartman) Murdock. was born in Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania, May 15, 1837. He was for many years a well known and highly respected merchant of Ligonier, in that county, and was also ex- tensively engaged in the lumber business. He removed to Johnstown,
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Cambria county, Pennsylvania, with his family in 1889, and there be- came the manager of the Johnstown Lumber Company. He held this position until the company went out of business two years later, when he retired from all active business interests. He married, June 2, 1858, Mary Schlater, and had children: 1. Kate, married E. B. McCauley. 2. Malvina, married Harry E. Woodward. 3. Jacob M., see forward. 4. Wilbert F., married Margaret Schwing. 5. Slater, died January 15, 1876. 6. Agnes, married J. C. Duncan. 7. Elwood, married Pearl Young. S. Henry, married Ellen Junkin. 9. Myrtle, died November 12, 1876.
Jacob M. Murdock, third child and eldest son of John and Mary (Schlater) Murdock, was born in Ligonier, Westmoreland county, Penn- sylvania, September 25, 1863. His early years were spent in Ligonier, where he acquired his education in the public schools and later attended a business college. His first real work in his business career was at the very foot of the ladder, and consisted of carrying slabs from the saw mill. His application and diligence soon enabled him to rise in the ranks, but by beginning in this manner he mastered every detail of this line of business and this contributed not a little to his success in later life. He finally attained the position of inspector of the Latrobe Lumber Com- pany; his next advancement was to the position of secretary and book- keeper and then salesman, and he ultimately became manager in this company. He started in business for himself in February, 1889, locat- ing in Johnstown, with offices at the corner of Franklin and Lincoln streets. Not long afterward he formed a partnership with his brother, Wilbert F., and they conducted business under the firm name of J. M. Murdock & Brother. They removed to their present offices at the corner of Main and Franklin streets, in 1893, where they are carrying on an ex- tensive business confined to lumber cut to order, an entirely unique branching out in the lumber industry. They are very successful in the conduct of their business and have a number of portable saw mills scat- tered throughout the state. Mr. Murdock married, January 25, 1887. Anna D. Young, daughter of Emanuel and Sarah (Layton) Young, and they have had children: Sarah Ella, deceased; Florence Lillian ; Alice; and Jacob M., Jr.
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