History of Cambria County, Pennsylvania, Volume III, Part 49

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

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Mrs. Trefts is a daughter of Jacob Hoffman, son of Jacob and Sophia (Rope) Hoffman, the former of whom died in Somerset county, Pennsylvania. Jacob Hoffman, Junior, was born in that county and there began his career as farmer. Shortly after his marriage he sold his property and moved to Cambria county, where he purchased a farm near Geistown and there passed the remainder of his life. He and his wife were devout members of the Lutheran church. Jacob Hoffman, Junior, married Eva Good, and they were the parents of the following children : Rebecca, deceased, wife of John Paul; David, now ninety years old, living in Richland township; Joseph, deceased; Christina, de- ceased, wife of Jacob Noon; Elizabeth, widow of John J. Trefts; Sam- uel, deceased ; Susanna, wife of Daniel Noon, of Richland township; and Jacob, who resides in the neighborhood of Pittsburg.

MICHAEL P. BOYLE, of Johnstown, was born March 1, 1862, in county Donegal. Ireland, son of Patrick and Margaret (O'Hara) Boyle. The latter died in her native land while her son Michael P. was still a child, and the former came to the United States, where he was em- ployed in various places as a puddler. He died in Cumberland, Mary- land.

Michael P. Boyle. after the death of his mother, was received into the family of his grandparents and received his education at the na- tional schools. At the age of fourteen he came to the United States, landing in New York, whence he proceeded to Johnstown, and there for a time made his home with an unele, adding to his educational acquire- ments by attending school. His first employment was in the ore mines, in which he worked for a few years in different places. In 1889, after. the flood, he returned to Johnstown and opened a hotel in a small frame building that stood on the site of his present establishment. The hotel of which he is now proprietor was erected in 1896 by the heirs of Charles

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Boyle, and is conducted by Michael P. Boyle under the name of Boyle's Hotel. He has been very successful in its management and it is now one of the best establishments of the kind in Johnstown. In the sphere of politics Mr. Boyle is a stanch Democrat, the men and measures ad- vocated and endorsed by the organization always finding in him an uncompromising supporter. He is a member of St. Columba's church.

Mr. Boyle married, in 1894, in Johnstown, Margaret Dowling, of that city and they are the parents of the following children: Charles Joseph : Walter Vincent ; and Mary Catharine.

HON. ALVIN EVANS. deceased, of Ebensburg, of whom, orator though he was, it has been justly said that "the most eloquent speech he made was the life he lived," was of Welsh ancestry.

His grandfather. John Evans, was a native of Cardiganshire, Wales, and was by trade a carpenter. In 1832 he emigrated to the United States, settling in Cambria county, Pennsylvania, and making his home in Cambria township, where he followed his trade in connection with farming. About 1847 he purchased property in Ebensburg, where he passed the residue of his days. He was for some time engaged in manufacturing Inmber by the old-time whip-saw process. His creed was that of the Congregational church. He married Elizabeth Jones, also a native of Cardiganshire, and they were the parents of a large family, including a son, David J., father of Alvin Evans.

David J. Evans. son of John and Elizabeth (Jones) Evans, was born October 24, 1813, in Cardiganshire, and learned the tailor's trade, which he followed in South Wales. He accompanied his parents to this country and settled at Munster, Cambria county, working as a journey- man tailor. Later he worked at his trade in Pittsburg and various other places. In 1836 he took up his abode in Ebensburg, where he established himself in business as a tailor. In 1863 he enlisted in Company E, of the battalion of emergency men. He filled a number of local offices, and in politics was first an old-line Whig and later a Republican. In re- ligious belief he was a Congregationalist. David J. Evans, married, 1838, Jane Ann, born in Wales, daughter of David W. Jones, and brought by her parents to Cambria county in 1836. Ten children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Evans, of whom the fifth was Alvin, mentioned later. The mother of the family died at Ebensburg, in 1852, and the death of Mr. Evans. the father, occurred in the same place, October 25, 1890.

Alvin Evans, fifth child of David J. and Jane Ann (Jones) Evans, was born October 4, 1845, and received his preparatory education in the public schools, afterward taking a three months' course at the Iron City Business College. Pittsburg. In the memorable financial crash of 1857 his father failed in business, in consequence of which Alvin was thrown upon his own resources at the early age of sixteen. Until his twenty-third year he was employed in lumbering and in a novelty works in his native county. Having met with an accident while engaged in the lumber business, and realizing that he could no longer gain a livelihood by manual labor. in 1870 he entered the law office of the late George M. Reade. of Ebensburg, and in 1873 was admitted to the bar. Immediately thereafter he opened an office in his native town, where he continued in practice until the close of his life. He acquired a large, remunerative clientage and practiced in the supreme and superior courts of the state, also engaging in the trial of causes in the United States circuit court. For more than a dozen years he was solicitor for the Pennsylvania Rail-

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road Company in Cambria county. He was one of the incorporators of the First National Bank of Ebensburg, one of the most successful finan- eial institutions in the county. At the time of its organization he was made president of its board of directors, and was re-elected each suc- voeding year during the remainder of his life. April 1, 1896, he formed a law partnership with J. W. Leech, under the firm name of Evans & Leech, which was maintained until January 1, 1902, when Mr. Evans' son, John E. Evans, was admitted to partnership, the firm name becom- ing Evans, Leech & Evans. January 1, 1905, Mr. Leech retired to as- suine the duties of the office of district attorney, and the firm name be- came Evans & Evans.

Mr. Evans was always identified with the Republican party, ever manifesting much interest in politics. For six years he served on the school board and for twelve years was a member of the borough council. In 1896, at the hands of the party of his choice, he was unanimously endorsed by his county as the standard bearer for congressional honors for the Twentieth distriet. He was again endorsed in the Republican conventions of 1898 and 1900. The last-named year he was nominated by the district conference and was duly eleeted to congress. In 1902 he was nominated with no opposition, and again elected. He thus served in the fifty-seventh and fifty-eighth congresses as a respresentative from the Twentieth and Nineteenth districts, respectively. He was not an aspirant for a third term, and after his return from congress devoted his attention to the practice of his profession and his private business. While testimony as to the faithfulness with which he discharged his duties when in office is to his constituents superfluous, the faet is worth recording that it was stated by a fellow-member who sat near him in congress that Mr. Alvin Evans, of Ebensburg. was recognized as one of the most honorable and conscientious men who ever occupied a seat in the house.

Upon the outbreak of the Civil war, Mr. Evans, though not in rugged health and seareely more than a boy in years, offered his services to his country, but on account of his extreme youth his application was rejected. In the threatened invasion of Pennsylvania, when Governor Curtin called for volunteers, Mr. Evans enlisted in the emergency service organized to repel the Confederates under General Lee. Mr. Evans was a member of Captain John M. Jones Post, Grand Army of the Republic, and was also identified with Summit Lodge, No. 312. F. and A. M., in which he had held all the chairs, having been initiated in 1867. He belonged to the local lodge of the Heptasophs. He was a member and a liberal supporter of the First Congregational church of Ebensburg, serving on the board of trustees.

Mr. Evans married, November 17, 1875, at Wilmore, Pennsylvania, Kate E., daughter of Colonel J. K. Sehryoek. Miss Schryoek had been educated at the Ladies' Seminary, Hagerstown, Maryland. Mr. and Mrs. Evans were the parents of the following children: 1. John E., born September 12, 1876. 2. Charles S., born January 18, 1878, edu- cated at Diekinson College. Carlisle, Pennsylvania, now a law student. 3. Florence M., born April 4, 1880, educated at Oberlin and the National Park Seminary, married John W. Kephart, and has one child, Alvin E. 4. Alvin W., born May 6, 1882, graduate of Oberlin College, now at home.

John E. Evans, eldest child of Alvin and Kate E. (Sehryock) Evans, was educated at Oberlin College and Princeton University, and is now a member of the law firm of Evans & Evans. He married Fannie,

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daughter of J. A. Shoemaker, of Ebensburg, and their family consists of three children: Mercia, Albert and Katharine. While the four children of Mr. and Mrs. Evans were still almost in their infancy, they and their father suffered the irreparable loss of the wife and mother, who passed away June 29, 1886.

The death of Mr. Evans, which occurred June 19, 1906, left vaeant, in the household, in social and professional circles, and in the com- munity, a plaee which all felt it would be well-nigh impossible to fill. His funeral was said to be the largest ever held in Ebensburg, being attended, not only by the Cambria County Bar Association and the various other organizations with which he was identified, but by an immense coneourse of people, almost every town and distriet in the county being represented. The serviees were held at the First Congre- gational church and were conducted by the Rev. J. Twyson Jones as- sisted by the Rev. Samuel Craig. Mr. Jones, who was the pastor of the church, and a personal friend of Mr. Evans, paid a touching tribute to his memory as a man, a statesman and a eitizen. His eulogy as a lawyer has been pronouneed by a member of the legal fraternity who resides in a neighboring county: "I had known him for many years, and desire to say that I knew no lawyer anywhere. at home or abroad, for whom I had such profound respect. To know him as I did was to have a greater respeet for the noble profession of which he was an honorable member."

NEAL SHARKEY. Among those who lost not only their worldly possessions but also their loved ones in the disastrous flood that swept over the city of Johnstown in the year 1889 was Neal Sharkey, who lost the hotel of which he was the proprietor, also his daughter Mary, four years old. He was born in Mallaugh Duff, Donegal county. Ireland, November 15, 1846.

Neal Sharkey, grandfather of Neal Sharkey, was a farmer by oeeu- pation. He married (first) Mary Cannon: (seeond) Mary Devine ; (third) Mary MeGarvey. Philip Sharkey, father of Neal Sharkey, was the ehild of the first marriage. He was a native of Ireland, from whenee he brought his family to the United States in 1868, settling in Johns- town, Pennsylvania, and was employed as laborer with the Cambria Company up to his retirement from active pursuits. He and his wife were devout members of St. John Gaulbert's Roman Catholic church. He was a stanch adherent of the principles of Demoeraey. He married Ann Rogers, daughter of Murty and Grace (Sharkey) Rogers, the former of whom was a farmer by oeeupation, and died in county Don- egal, Ireland. Seven children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Sharkey, as follows: Mary, wife of Patriek MeColonge, of the Fourteenth ward of Johnstown : Murty, died at the age of thirty years; Neal, of whom later; Owen, died in infaney : Dennis, died at the age of nineteen ; Frank, died at the age of seventeen; Patriek, a resident of the Fourteenth ward of Johnstown. Philip Sharkey (father) died at his home in the Fourteenth ward of Johnstown, January 28, 1894, aged eighty-seven years. His wife, Ann (Rogers) Sharkey, preceded him in death, passing away September 22. 1885.

Neal Sharkey spent his boyhood days on the homestead farm in Ireland, and attended the national schools until he was fourteen years of age. In 1866 he left his native land and set sail for the United States, joining his brother Murty, who resided in the city of Johnstown, having previously emigrated. Neal Sharkey sailed from Liverpool, England,

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for New York, in the sailing vessel "Old America," was eight weeks crossing the ocean, and arrived in Johnstown, Pennsylvania. May 12, 1866. Two days later he secured work as a laborer for the Cambria Iron Company, and in the fall of the same year began work there as a pud- dler, which he followed in Johnstown and Pittsburg for thirteen years. In June, 1879, he returned to Johnstown and engaged in the hotel busi- ness at the corner of Market and Washington streets, that stood on the site of the Crystal Hotel, which was swept away in the flood of 1889. In the building at the time was Mr. Sharkey and his family, also two men-John Thoburn and Mr. Cronan. The building was carried to Morrell's Plot, now Main street. and there they remained until the water subsided. In 1901 Mr. Sharkey completed the present Crystal Hotel, which he conducted until April, 1902, when he leased it to the present management, and since then has led a retired life, enjoying to the full the ease and comfort of home life, which is a fitting sequel to a life of activity and toil. Mr. Sharkey casts his vote for the candidates of the Democratic party, but has never sought or held public office, preferring to devote his time to his business interests and his home.

Mr. Sharkey married, in Johnstown, Pennsylvania, January 15, 1881, Annie Gallagher, who was born in Mallaugh Duff, county Don- egal, Ireland, in 1861, daughter of Charles and Mary (McGuinley) Gallagher, whose deaths occurred in Ireland. Mrs. Sharkey came to the United States at the age of twenty years. Children of Mr. and Mrs. Sharkey are: Philip, Mary, drowned in flood; Ann, died in early life; Owen, Grace, Sarah, Margaret, Agnes and Josephine. Mr. and Mrs. Sharkey are members of St. John Gaulbert's church.

STEPHEN QUIRK, proprietor of a hotel at No. 324 Washington street, Johnstown, was born in Mount Savage, Maryland, December 26, 1854, son of John Quirk, who was born in county Galway, Ireland, about 1822. The father received a limited education in his native land and had but little opportunity to advance. He married Rose Cosgrove, and they came to America with one or two children. Upon his arrival here he worked in various blast furnaces, finally locating at Mount Savage, Maryland, where he was employed in the iron industry, and while there his wife died. In 1872 he, with his family, removed to Johnstown, Pennsylvania, where he found employment with the Cambria Iron Company, with whom he remained until his death, January 20, 1884. For his second wife he married Mrs. Mary Coughlin, who lost her life in the platform disaster at Johnstown soon after the close of the Civil war. For his third wife he married Catharine Broderick. now deceased. All of John Quirk's children were by his first wife and they

are as follows : 1. Michael, was connected with the Edgar Thompson works at Braddcek ; he married Lousia Champeno: he died in Braddock. January 18, 1902. 2. Richard. died in 1872 in Erie. 3. Stephen, of whom later. 4. Sarah Jane, died in 1864.

Stephen Quirk received a common school education and became self-supporting at the tender age of ten years. He came to Johnstown in 1856, and in 1873 went with Captain William Jones, erecting ma- chines in the Edgar Thompson works at Braddock, and was promoted to foreman of the erecting crew. He continued in this line of work for seven years, and in 1880 severed his connection with the Edgar Thomp- son Company and engaged in the saloon business in Johnstown, oppo- site the Baltimore & Ohio railroad depot. He was engaged in the furni- ture trade on Washington street from 1899 to 1903. He was engaged

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in the settlement of an estate in California, about four months, after which he engaged in the hotel business, which he still carries on.

He was united in marriage, March 2. 1878, to Bridget MeBride. of Johnstown, who was born in Cambria City. now a part of JJohnstown, the daughter of Roger and Margaret (Doherty) McBride. The chil- dren of Mr. and Mrs. Quirk were: 1. Rosemary, born February 17, 1879, died April 10, 1881. 2. Owen Patriek. born May 26, 1880, died September 10, 1901. 3. Mary, born March 21. 1882: died August 21, 1882. 4. Margaret E .. born August 31, 1883. 5. John F., born August 7, 1885. 6. Ilelen. born June 14, 1887. 7. Roger F., born January 21. 1889, died June 20. 1889. 8. Rose, born April 14. 1890. 9. Leo. born October 27. 1892. 10. Francis. born July 31. 1896, died February 8, 1897. 11. Thomas C .. born September 4. 1897. 12. Miriam, born No- vember 5. 1901.

JULIUS WILD, one of Johnstown's public-spirited citizens, was born May 12. 1849. in Bieden Kopf, Hesse Darmstadt. Germany. son of Caspar and Wilhelmina ( Unvercagt) Wild. The former was edu- cated in the public schools and learned the shoemaker's trade. He and his wife both died in Germany. where their two daughters still reside.

Julius Wild attended the public schools of his native place until the age of fourteen, and then learned the shoemaker's trade under the instruction of his father. In 1866, when but seventeen years old. he emigrated to the United States, sailing from Bremen on the steamship "Atlantic." and landing in New York after a voyage of twenty-one days. He wished to go to his uncle. Joseph Wild, in Johnstown, but found himself almost penniless in the great city. Through the kindness of a fellow-passenger who saw his plight. he was supplied with the means of completing his journey. He remained with his uncle one year, serving as clerk in the store and in various other capacities, and was

then for a time employed as a laborer in the old mechanical works. Times were hard and work difficult to obtain, and his next employment was as clerk in the clothing store of Michael Kronberg. He then went back to the mechanical works to learn the carpenter's trade, being paid fifty cents a day, but left at the end of four months, and on March 1, 1868. entered the service of the Cambria Foundry Company. For one year he worked as laborer and then rose to the position of foreman, re- maining with the company in all twenty-one years.

He was next employed for five years as foreman by the Johnson Company, and then established a foundry and machine-shop on Davis street, under the firm name of Wild & Anderson. During this time he went to Ansonia, Connecticut, and for four months experimented for the Ferrell Foundry and Machine Company, after which he returned to Johnstown, purchased his partner's interest, and conducted the Wild Foundry and Machine-shop until April, 1897, when he sold it to Charles Title. On May 17. 1897. he purchased the old "Senate," on Bedford street, and conducted it until the building was destroyed by fire. in 1900. after which he carried on a saloon on that site until 1902. when he bought the Commercial Hotel, on Washington street, which had been erected in 1894 by John Kirby. Of this establishment Mr. Wild has since been the successful proprietor. In addition to the management of his hotel he has interests in enameling works, and is a stockholder in two banks as well as in the Indiana Brewing Company and the Somer- set Distilling Company.

At the time of the flood his home was in Dale borough. but he and

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his wife were then in Johnstown, and barely escaped with their lives in the endeavor to save Mrs. Wild's parents. The first day of the flood Mr. Wild was appointed to a place on the police force, and on the second day was delegated to hire hands to clear away the debris. On the fifth day thereafter he received orders to go to the Cambria foundry and clear up the shop, with the result that this company was the first to resume business after the flood.

He served as school director in Stony Creek township, and after the township became a borough held the office of president of the council. He belongs to Johnstown Lodge, No, 785, F. and A. M .; Johnstown Lodge, No. 175, Benevolent Protective Order of Elks; Johnstown Turn- verein, Germania Singing Society; Frohsinn Singing Society and Har- mony Singing Society. fle has always been a stanch Democrat and is a member of the German Lutheran church.

Mr. Wild married, in Johnstown, January 2, 1871, Carolina, born in Witenheim, Hesse Darmstadt, Germany, and brought to the United States in 1868 by her parents, Christian and Margaret Peppler. Mr. and Mrs. Wild have been the parents of the following children : John, in business with his father, married Margaret Smith; Otilla, wife of Howard Geisel, of Dale borough; Mary, at home; Annie, also at home; Bertha, wife of Francis MI. MeKenney; Olga; and Edward, deceased. Mrs. Wild is a stockholder of the Conemaugh Brewery.

JAMES GAFFNEY, of Cambria City, Johnstown, was born there, March 28, 1863, son of John Gaffney, who was born about 1827, in county Donegal, Ireland. The father of the latter was a poor farmer who was able to give his son but few educational advantages.

About 1848, being then twenty-one years of age, John Gaffney came to the United States, sailing from Liverpool to New York, whence he proceeded immediately to Johnstown. He was for a short time em- ployed by the Pennsylvania Railroad Company in and about Tyrone, after which he became watchman for the company at Johnstown, being the first to fill that position. He served as such many years, and then entered the service of the Cambria Steel Company as a mill-worker, re- maining until about four years prior to his death. In politics he was a loyal Democrat, but never sought office. He was at one time a mem- ber of St. John Gaulbert's Roman Catholic church, and helped to or- ganize the congregation. At the close of his life he was identified with St. Columba's church.

John Gaffney married Catharine, born in Donegal, Ireland, dangh- ter of James McNeelis, and the following were their children: Cath- arine, of Johnstown, widow of Thomas Kelly. Maggie, also of Johns- town, widow of M. O'Donnell. William. John S., of Johnstown, roller boss for Cambria Steel Company, married Eliza Keating. James, of whom later. Frank, gold-seeker in Klondike. Bella, died 1899, wife of E. O. C. Kuhnel. Peter, deceased. William, the eldest son, was a resi- dent of Johnstown. where he was well known in the insurance business. He was twice married, his first wife being Ellen Keelan and his second Catharine Campbell, of New York city. His death occurred in 1904. John Gaffney, the father, died in 1884, and his widow passed away in 1891. Like her husband, she was a devout member of the Roman Cath- olie church.

James Gaffney, son of John and Catharine ( McNeelis) Gaffney, re- ceived his education in public and parochial schools. Leaving school at the age of thirteen, he began, at that early period of life, to be self-

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supporting. His first employment was in the mills of the Cambria Steel Company, where he worked until 1899. He then engaged in the shoe business in Cambria City, establishing himself in a small frame build- ing which adjoins his present commodious store. His capital was meagre, but by dint of wise management, fair dealing and strict applica- tion to business he built up an extensive trade. In 1899 he erected his present store and dwelling, a building three stories high, with a frontage of twenty-five feet and extending back one hundred feet. For three years he was a member of the board of health, and is now serving his third term as select councilman. He belongs to the Knights of Colum- bus, and is a stanch Demoerat, always exerting himself to the utmost of his power, to advance the interests of the organization. He is a mem- ber of St. Columba's church.

Mr. Gaffney married, June 20, 1900, Clara, daughter of John and Anna Lees, of Verona, Pennsylvania, and they are the parents of the following children: Helen Isabelle, James Lees and Martha.

WALTER DOWLING, Walter Dowling, actively and prominently identified with the varied interests of his native city, Johnstown, Penn- sylvania, where his birth occurred April 25, 1873, is a son of Patrick F. and Mary (Mitehell) Dowling, and grandson of Walter and Mary (MeAllister) Dowling, who came to the United States, July 4, 1831, resided for a few years in Mt. Savage, Maryland, and in 1839 took up his residence in Johnstown, Pennsylvania.

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History of Cambria County, Pennsylvania, Volume III, Part 49

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