USA > Pennsylvania > Cambria County > History of Cambria County, Pennsylvania, Volume III > Part 48
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Mr. Moore married, October 4, 1888, Lulu M., daughter of Samuel E. and Louise (Dom) Weaver, of Johnstown, and they are the parents of the following children : Austin L., Walter W., and Christine G.
WILLIAM STREMEL, a well known and highly respected busi- ness man of Johnstown, Cambria county, Pennsylvania, who has been closely identified with the business interests of the city for many years, is a representative of the second generation of his family in this country, he tracing his ancestry to Germany, the excellent habits which charac- terize the natives of that land having been inherited by Mr. Stremel, and used to the best advantage.
Henry Stremel, father of William Stremel, was born in Bieden- kop, Hesse Darmstadt, Germany, December 24, 1813. He emigrated to the United States in the year 1835, settling in Philadelphia, Pennsyl- vania, where he resided for a short time, and then removed to Balti- more, Maryland, whence he removed at the end of one year, and settled in Johnstown, Cambria county, Pennsylvania, which he decided to make his permanent home. He had learned the trade of shoemaking in his native country, and followed this calling with profit for many years. In his later years, however, he turned his attention to agricultural mat- ters, making a specialty of grape growing, in which venture he was ex- ceedingly successful. He owned five farms in all, in Stonycreek, rang- ing in extent from five or six acres to thirty-seven acres, which was the size of his Moxham farm. He also owned ten acres of land where the Memorial Hospital is now (1907) located. He removed from Johns- town to his Stonycreek farm, but after a short time moved to his home at Hornerstown, where he died October 1, 1888. He was one of the pioneer business men of Johnstown, and one of the oldest residents. In politics he was a stanch Democrat, and in religion a German Lutheran. He married, March 17, 1839, Veronica Hasselberger, born in Faulbach
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Baiarn, Germany, July 9, 1815, now residing with her son William, and they had children: 1. August, served in the army during the Civil war. He married Bertha Reipert, both deceased, having had only one child, a son, Attorney Karl F. Stremel, located at Johnstown. 2. George, also as soldier during the Civil war, died shortly after his return home from service, as a result of the exposure and hardships he endured while a prisoner in Andersonville. 3. Louisa, deceased. 4. Caroline, deceased. 5. William, see forward. 6. Mary, married John P. Luft. 7. Veronica, married Samuel Closson. 8. Henry, Jr.
William Stremel, third son and fifth child of Henry and Veronica (Hasselberger) Stremel, was born in Johnstown, Cambria county, Pennsylvania, October 7, 1852. His early years were spent at. Scalp Level and at Johnstown, he coming to the latter place with his parents at the age of seven years. He was educated in the public schools of the latter town, and when a young man learned the barber's trade, which he followed for one year in Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, then re- turned to Johnstown and opened a barber shop in Main street, which he later removed to Clinton street, in both of these localities enjoying an excellent patronage. For reasons based upon the state of his health he determined to abandon this line of business, and engage in that of general merchandise. He accordingly opened a store on Iron street, where he met with immediate and marked success. During the disas- trous flood of May, 1889, his place was destroyed and his entire stock a total loss. Immediately upon the erection of the temporary struc- tures in the park, he reopened business and continued in this building until they were removed. He then removed his business to its present location, at the corner of South and Sherman streets, where he is enjoy- ing a large and constantly increasing patronage. His stock consists of all kinds of groceries, confectioneries, fruits, vegetables, toys, chinaware, etc. He has a most enviable reputation as a business man of thorough reliability and sterling qualities, and enjoys the respect of all who know him. In politics. he is an independent voter, giving his support to who- ever he considers the candidate best fitted for the office, regardless of political party. He is an earnest member of the English Lutheran church, taking an active interest in all matters connected with its wel- fare.
Mr. Stremel married, December 29, 1873, Catherine Datz, daugh- ter of Frederick and Catharine Datz, of Pittsburg, and they have had children : August Frederick, Harry Arthur, William Henry, and Alex- ander Warren, of whom only the one last named is now living.
ISAAC T. MILLER, who has been for twenty-two years in the em- ploy of the Cambria Steel Company, is a representative of a family which has been domiciled in the state of Pennsylvania for a number of gen- erations, and which probably came originally from Germany.
Tobias Miller, grandfather of Isaac T. Miller, was one of the pioneer farmers of Somerset county, Pennsylvania, where he spent the greater part of his life and was the owner of considerable property. He married and had many children, among them being: Solomon, Jefferson, John, Abraham, Tobias T., see forward; Susannah, Catherine, the only one of these children now (1907) living; and Lydia.
Tobias T. Miller, son of Tobias Miller, was born on the Miller homestead, April 7, 1825. His early years were spent there and he was educated in the public schools of the district. For a time he assisted in the cultivation of the home farm, and subsequently purchased a tract
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of land in what will be the basin of the new Quemahoning dam. This tract consisted of two hundred acres of land, on which he resided with his family until 1844, when he removed with his family to Cambria county, where his death occurred in 1895. He married Polly Kaufman, daughter of Isaac Kaufman, a well known farmer of Somerset county, who was at one time one of the directors of the First National Bank of Johnstown. Mr. and Mrs. Miller had children : Mary, married Peter Blough. Elizabeth, deceased, married Henry Faust. Isaac T., see forward. Josiah K., married Sarah Dunmire. Kate, married Will- iam Pebley. Pauline, deceased. John D., married Emma Potter. Silas C., married Maisie Arthur. Annie, deceased. Jacob W., married Minnie Shank.
Isaac T. Miller, third child and eldest son of Tobias T. and Polly (Kaufman) Miller, was born at Davidsville, Somerset county, Pennsyl- vania, March 20, 1858. His early years were spent on the old home- stead, and he was educated in the public schools of his native township. Until he had attained the age of sixteen years he assisted his father in the cultivation and management of the home farm, and was then ap- prenticed to learn the trade of tanning in Swank's tannery, in Davids- ville, in the same county. There he remained for four years, at the end of which time he took up the trade of carpentering and learned this thor- oughly. He then went to Ohio, where he spent one a and a half years, and in 1881 returned to Johnstown, intending to make that his perma- nent home, and established himself as a carpenter. Four years later he accepted a position with the Cambria Fron Company as a pattern maker, and has been in the employ of that company continuously up to the pres- ent time. His faithful and conscientious work is highly appreciated, and he has the esteem and respect of his fellow employes as well as that of the officers of the company. In politics he is a stanch supporter of the principles of the Republican party. He is a member of Cambria Lodge, No. 278, Free and Accepted Masons.
Mr. Miller married, October 11, 1883, Emma J. Gochnour, daughter of Daniel W. and Harriet (Lenhart) Gochnour, and they have had chil- dren: Vera G., married Edward Coleman, and has one child, Leroy. Elsie Claire. Leroy.
JAMES A. McCLAIN, who is one of the prime movers in all mat- ters which have tended to the improvement of Spangler and its vicinity for a great many years, and who is intimately connected with all affairs of commercial and financial importance in that community, is a represen- tative of a family which originally came to this country from Ireland.
Stephen McClain, grandfather of James A. McClain, and the pio- neer ancestor of the McClain family in this country, was born in the county of Derry, Ireland. emigrated to the United States, and settled in Blair county, Pennsylvania. He was a linen weaver by trade and fol- lowed this occupation throughout the active years of his life. He mar- ried Mary Phlesman, a native of Cambria county, who died in 1846, and had children : James, Richard, Augustine, David, Frank, Henry, Ber- nard, and Matilda, who died unmarried. All of these children are de- ceased with the exception of David, who is a resident of Altoona, Penn- sylvania.
Bernard McClain, seventh son of Stephen McClain, was born in Blair county, Pennsylvania, 1820. died at State College, Pennsylvania, 1858, at the early age of thirty-eight years. He married Nora Brew, daughter of Thaddeus and Mary . Brew, who is still living at Bellefonte,
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HISTORY OF CAMBRIA COUNTY.
Pennsylvania, having attained the advanced age of eighty-seven years, and they had children as follows: Austin M., died January 7, 1906; Thomas, deceased; Frank, a lumberman in Blair county, Pennsylvania ; James A., of whom later; Bernard, residing at home; Matilda, deceased; Ellen J., at home; and Nora, who was a sister of charity at Mount St. Vincent, died in 1889.
James A. McClain, third son of Bernard, and Nora (Brew) Mc- Clain, was born in Bellefonte, Pennsylvania, September 30, 1849. His education was acquired in the public schools of his town in very early boyhood, for, although but nine years of age, at the time of his father's death he was obliged to take up the battle of life for himself, and his success is due to an indomitable will and a high conception of right and justice, which has marked his character up to the present. He entered the service of the Pennsylvania Railroad Company as operator and agent at Julian Furnace, in 1841, remained there three years, and was then transferred to Milesburg, which position he retained until 1882, when he was advanced to the position of agent and dispatcher at Snowshoe, but remained there but a short time. In the autumn of that year he was elected by a handsome majority to the office of register of wills and clerk of the orphans' court of Centre county, and at the expiration of his term, in 1884, was re-elected. At the conclusion of his second term he estab- lished himself in the mercantile business in Bellefonte, in which he was personally active until 1891. In May, 1892, he removed to Cambria county and located at Spangler, which was then in its infancy. With his keen business acumen he saw a bright future for the place, and at once erected a building and stocked it with merchandise; he also opened stores at Hastings and Barnesboro, in all of which he did an extensive and profitable business. He opened and operated two coal mines, one at Spangler, the other at Bakerton, and in the development of the vast coal fields of North Cambria he was a leading factor.
As one of the organizers of the Spangler Water Company, he was largely instrumental in erecting a large reservoir and installing a water system, which supplies the towns of Barnesboro and Spangler, and he has continuously served as secretary of that corporation. He was the promo- ter of the Spangler Building and Loan Association, which was organized in 1893, and for many years occupied the position of secretary, and upon its reorganization was chosen president. He is also a member of the Spangler Improvement Company, a corporation which included such prominent men as Ex-Governor Beaver, of Hastings; Bigler Bros., of Clearfield : Colonel J. L. Spangler, ete., which has for its object the building up of the town, and all affairs of this company have been en- tirely under his control. The First National Bank of Spangler, which was incorporated March 1, 1904, and is one of the most flourishing banks in Cambria county, owes its existence to him, for it was through his personal and indefatigable efforts that his fellow townsmen were pre- vailed upon to invest their capital in such an institution, and as a mark of confidence in his integrity and ability, he was elected cashier and has practically charge of its affairs.
Aside from the above enterprises, Mr. McClain has been largely in- terested in many independent building operations, and he succeeded in stimulating others to erect substantial and handsome homes. adding to the beauty and stability of the town. In everything pertaining to the bet- terment of his home town he takes a leading part, and lends cordial sup- port to advancing its interests. In polities Mr. McClain is a pronounced Democrat, and although not an aspirant for office, is an influential
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member of that party. In his religious belief he is a Roman Catholic, and together with his family is a regular attendant and consistent mem- ber of the Holy Cross congregation of Spangler.
He is related to some of the best families of the state and is a close relative of Ex-Governor Curtin. In his personality Mr. McClain is affable and agreeable, easy of approach and of a most friendly manner, and stands in high repute with his friends and neighbors. He is a man of remark- able energy and enterprise, quick to see favorable opportunities and the necessary ability to handle them well. He is deliberate in considering the merits of any undertaking, but when he once has his plan deter- mined upon, he is tenacious of purpose and is sure to bring it to a suc- cessful ending.
In 1813 Mr. McClain was married to Mary A. Brown, daughter of Joseph and Nancy Brown, of Centre county, who died in 1902, and to them were born the following children: Thomas B., a graduate of the Bellefonte high school, now a coal operator; Richard, who died at the age of fourteen years; Mary B., who married Harvey S. Lingle, of Pat- ton; Nancy C., a graduate of Bellefonte Academy, and resides at home; James, a resident of South Dakota; Ralph, died in childhood; Joseph Curtin, died December 14, 1904.
NICHOLAS HUEBNER. The late Nicholas Huebner, of Johns- town, Pennsylvania, was born March 10, 1828, in Birkett, Hesse-Darm- stadt, Germany, son of Jacob and Elizabeth (Hoffman) Huebner, the former of whom was a farmer and emigrated to this country with his wife and children after the coming hither of his son Nicholas. They set- tled in Johnstown, Pennsylvania. The children of Jacob and Eliza- beth (Hoffman) Huebner were: John, died in 1864, in Johnstown, Pennsylvania. Jacob, died in the west. Nicholas, of whom later. Eliza- beth, died single.
Nicholas Huebner, son of Jacob and Elizabeth (Hoffman) Hueb- ner, attended school until the age of fourteen, when he learned the trade of blacksmith. After working at his trade in Germany for a few years he left his native land in January, 1849, being one of that large band of patriots who served as soldiers in the war of 1848, who fought for a republican form of government, but, being overpowered by the Crown of Prussia, migrated to England, where he remained for one year, then migrated to America; after a very stormy voyage lasting sixty-three days he finally landed in the land of Liberty, the form of government he had so valiantly fought for while in his native land. His thoughts were always for a free loving government, and his expectations were realized when he arrived in America. He lost no time in becoming a citizen of America. He and one brother went to Lancaster, where he worked at his trade for a short time, and then went to Fort Dearborn (now Chi- cago, Illinois), remaining there about six months, and about the year 1853 he came to Johnstown, Pennsylvania. His first work in Johns- town was for the old Portage railroad; later he worked at his trade for Fronheiser. He then opened a blacksmith shop where Turner Hall now stands, remaining there until about 1865. In the latter year he moved on some property he purchased in 1860, on Railroad street. and there he continued at his business until he retired in 1886. He was considered an expert at his trade. About the year 1870 he, in company with William Miller, erected the first foundry for the manufacture of cooking and heating stoves : many of these stoves are in use to this day, plain evidence of the quality and skilled workmanship in their manufacture. In the
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year 1860 he purchased a house built of logs which stood on the site of his present home on Main street; this he remodeled and extended, and subsequently erected a beautiful brick dwelling for his home and three other frame dwellings; these were finished in January, 1889. He made his home in the brick building, but he had only occupied this home four months when the flood came and swept this and the other buildings away. When the work of destruction had been completed, Mr. Huebner, with in- domitable courage and perseverance erected the house which was his home during the remainder of his life. Nicholas Huebner was a stanch Democrat, and a member of the Lutheran church.
Nicholas Huebner married, September 28, 1867, Elizabeth Renker, born May 4, 1838, in Londenhausen, Hesse-Darmstadt, Germany, who left her native land March 10, 1867, for America, and arrived in New York on April 13 (Palm Sunday), a voyage of fourteen days by steamer from Bremen, Germany. Mrs. Elizabeth (Renker) Huebner is a daughter of Johannes and Gertrude (Eichenauer) Renker, who died in their native land, Germany. Johannes Renker was a blacksmith by trade, and a soldier in the German army. The children of Nicholas and Elizabeth Huebner were: 1. Adam, proprietor of the Maple IIotel, Johnstown, married Louisa Ott, who died in January, 1906, leaving husband and six children: Walter, married Emma Gehart; Annie, mar- ried Henry Block, two children; Margaret, married A. Cuddy Stiver; Edward, married Lulu Carter; Tillie, married George Freidel ; Edna, at home. 2. Kate, wife of Louis Schmittberger, of Lorain, Ohio, and mother of three children: Meta, Freida and Gertrude Schmittberger. 3. Mary, who is at home with her mother. 4. George W., physician, grad- uated at the Jefferson College at Philadelphia, in 1894, serving one year at the Jefferson Hospital as resident physician; he returned to Johns- town, Pennsylvania, and practiced his profession for twelve years; he died December 21, 1906, aged forty years. 5. John J., a graduate of the Western University of Cleveland, Ohio, of the class of 1901; he is now the junior member of the firm of Ream & Huebner, real estate and general insurance ; married Margaret Potter, one child, Elizabeth Renker Huebner. The death of Nicholas IInebner, which occurred October 27, 1904, deprived Johnstown of a well known citizen, deservedly esteemcd for his many good qualities both as a man and a citizen.
JOHN W. JAMES, of Johnstown, is a representative of the Welsh element which has played so important a part in the upbuilding of Penn- sylvania, having been born July 28, 1827, in Monmouthshire, South Wales, son of William Arthur James and grandson of William James, who was born in Breckenshire, Wales, and after his marriage moved to the mining regions of South Wales. His wife was Margaret.
William Arthur James, son of William and Margaret James, was born in Breckenshire, and was a child when taken by his parents to the mining district. His educational opportunities were extremely limited, and on reaching manhood he went to work in the mines. In 1848 he came with his wife and three children to the United States, making the voyage from Liverpool to New York in a sailing vessel and passing thirty-three days at sea. He went to Erie by the way of Albany and thence to Pittsburg, where he made his home, he and his two sons find- ing work in the neighboring coal mines. The employment, however, was very irregular, and they were obliged to move from place to place, stop- ping wherever they could obtain work. For a time they lived at Brady's Bend, Armstrong county, Pennsylvania, whence in 1855 they removed
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to Johnstown, at which place the father of the family worked in the mines as much as was permitted by his advancing age. He and his wife were devont members of the Methodist Episcopal church. William Arthur James married Mary Manuel, and their children were: William; Cath- arine, married George Edmunds, and died in Wales; Margaret; Ann, wife of Thomas Lawrence, died at Sharpsburg, Allegheny county, Penn- sylvania ; Evan : John W. ; Emmanuel ; and Mary. Mr. James, the father, died in 1860 at his home in Main street, Johnstown, being then seventy years old. His widow long survived him and at the time of her death had almost attained to the dignity of a centenarian. Of their
children, William James married, and came to the United States in 1848, settling in Pittsburg, and finally in Johnstown; his death oc- curred in Irwin, Pennsylvania. A daughter of Mr. and Mrs. James, Margaret, became the wife of David Pugh, and emigrated to the United States later than 1848; she died at her home in Pittsburg. Evan James, son of William Arthur and Mary James, was the first of the family to emigrate, coming to this country with his wife prior to 1848. He settled in Johnstown, where he passed the remainder of his life.
John W. James, son of William Arthur and Mary (Manuel) James, received his education in the schools of his native land, learning to read in Welsh and English. At the early age of eight years he became his father's assistant in the mines and continued to labor as a miner after coming to this country with his parents in 1848. In 1854 he. with his brother Emanuel, came to Johnstown, preceding the other members of the family, and there worked in the coal mines in different parts of the town, receiving instruction meanwhile from a minister of his church, and thus supplying in some degree his educational deficencies. On his arrival in Johnstown he found the place still in the formative period. its growth and advancement being promoted by such men as Daniel J. Mor- rell, John Fritz and George Hamilton, and later by George Fritz, Will- iam R. Jones, Daniel Jones. James Williams, and James Morley. all of whom were prominently connected with the mills. Among the other well-known men of that day were John Lewis and his son.
Mr. James continued to work in the mines until about 1886, when he retired. He also engaged at different times in contracting, building and other occupations, his work as a builder being the construction of bridges. Like so many of his fellow-citizens, he sustained severe losses and bereavements at the time of the disastrous flood of 1889. He was then living on Main street, in the second ward, and his dwelling, with all the property contained therein, was utterly destroyed. A heavier calamity befell him in the loss of his wife and his son, eight years of age. His daughter, three years old, was saved.
Mr. James married, in Johnstown. Elizabeth Reese, who died four years later. His second wife was Ellen Keitely, who bore him four chil- dren : John, drowned in the flood: William, died in infancy ; another, also died in infancy: and Marian. at home. The mother of these chil- dren was drowned in the flood. The third wife of Mr. James was Mary Davis, of Johnstown, who was born in North Wales and brought at the age of three years to the United States.
Emanuel James, son of William Arthur and Mary (Manuel) James, was the builder and proprietor of the Grand Central Hotel. His death oeenrred in Johnstown. Mary James, daughter of William Arthur and Mary (Manuel) James, became the wife of James Biekerstaff, who was killed in the battle of the Wilderness. The death of Mrs. Bicker- staff occurred in Irwin, Pennsylvania.
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JOHN J. TREFTS, deceased, of Johnstown, was born in 1819, in Salla Noble, near Pittsburg, son of Adam Trefts, who is supposed to have been born in Germany, and on emigrating to this country settled in Johnstown, Pennsylvania, where he followed the occupation of a butcher. His wife was Sophia Raab. Adam Trefts died in Johnstown, and the death of his wife occurred in Iowa, whither she had gone, as a widow, to live with one of her sons.
John J. Trefts, son of Adam and Sophia (Raab) Trefts, was a child when brought by his parents to Johnstown. He received a good educa- tion, and as a young man took for his occupation that of a butcher. In after years, in consequence of failing health, he was obliged to aban- doned this occupation, and for some time was variously employed. In 1864 he was appointed justice of the peace, an office which he filled for ten years. He was a stanch Republican and a member of the First Luth- eran church. He married, January 29, 1854, Elizabeth Hoffman, and they went to housekeeping on the von Lunen place, in Moxham, later re- moving to the city. Their family consisted of the following children : Emma, wife of John Brady, of near Berlin. Pennsylvania: Albert, of Johnstown, married Mary Hoffman ; Jacob M., of Johnstown; William H., of Johnstown, married Martha Horner ; Amanda, died in Johnstown, 1903, wife of Enoch Baker; and George, of Johnstown, married Lizzie Webb. Mr. Trefts died March 15, 1874, leaving to his family, his friends, and his fellow-citizens, the memory of a useful, well-spent life. He is buried in Grand View cemetery, and his widow still survives at the advanced age of eighty-two.
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