History of Cambria County, Pennsylvania, Volume III, Part 5

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

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HISTORY OF CAMBRIA COUNTY.

which devastated Johnstown in May of the same year he lost all his pos- sessions with the exception of a shaving mug, which he prizes highly as a relic of that terrible disaster. After the flood he again took up his practice, which has since developed into a very lucrative one. He was appointed state medieal inspector for Cambria county in 1889, by the health commission of the state, and has filled this office very acceptably since that period.

Aside from his profession he is very prominent in many other fields of activity and usefulness. He is one of the directors of the First Na- tional Bank of Johnstown, which institution is the successor of the Cam- bria National Bank. Dr. Matthews was a director of the last named in- stitution, and upon its merger into the present First National Bank of Johnstown, was re-elected as director. He is vice-president and a di- reetor of the Johnstown Sanitary Dairy: director of the Johnstown Ice and Cold Storage Company : president of the Johnstown and Cramer Turnpike Company, which controls a highway running through the mountains into Indiana county, a distance of six miles, and is of great practical value to the citizens and farmers of this section of the state of Pennsylvania : and a director of the Johnstown Young Men's Christian Association. He has been for a number of years one of the ruling elders of the First Presbyterian church of Johnstown. Although he is classed as a Democrat he has not voted the straight ticket for that party for a number of years, believing, as he once remarked in a public address, "Men should be above party politics, and vote for principle."

He has money invested in many business enterprises in the city of Johnstown. He is greatly interested in the raising of blooded stock, and upon his farm of two hundred acres (the old Matthews homestead), in Indiana county, Pennsylvania, which is located ten miles from Johns- town, may be seen the finest herd of Holstein Frisian cattle in the coun- ty, many of them being registered and of great value. During the past season he brought a carload of blooded cattle from the state of New York. The farm is known as "Oakhill farm." and Dr. Matthews has in- vested much money there in various directions. He has a summer home built there where his family may enjoy in quiet the beanties of the sur- rounding country, and where he frequently goes to obtain a much needed rest from the multifarious duties which his extensive practice entails. He has also had a sanitary barn erected on this place, which is a model of its kind and is equipped with every improvement and labor saving de- vice. The Johnstown and Cramer turnpike, mentioned above, connects this farm with the city of Johnstown. Dr. Matthews has beautiful and commodious offices on Lincoln street, and is one of the most enterprising, progressive and respected citizens of that busy town. He is indefatigable in his labors : ever ready to respond to the call of the sick and suffering, and is well known for his many acts of charity, the needs of the poor al- ways receiving his prompt attention. In spite of the manifold demands mpon his time. he is well read in all the best literature of the day, and especially in that pertaining to his profession, to which he is devoted. He is a member of the following fraternal and other organizations: Johns- town Lodge No. 538. Free and Accepted Masons; Portage Chapter No. 195: Oriental Commandery No. 61: Williamsport Consistory ; Jaffa Temple. Altoona : Johnstown Lodge No. 157, Knights of Pythias: Cam- bria County Medical Society: Pennsylvania State Medical Society ; American Medical Association : American Public Health Association.

He married, April 9. 1891. Cora B. Green, daughter of Wesley and Elizabeth (Rogers) Green, a sketch of whom appears elsewhere in this

HISTORY OF CAMBRIA COUNTY.

work, and their children are: Elizabeth R., born February 15, 1892; Ruth M., December S. 1894; Edgar W. and Mary H. (twins), December 3. 1896 : and Robert A., March 31, 1903.

CHARLES ARCHIBALD MATTHEWS, D. D. S., whose dental parlors are in the Cohen block. in Johnstown, was born in Cramer, In- diana county, Pennsylvania, January 22, 1871, son of Archibald and Ma- tilda J. (Mitchell) Matthews. (See sketch of family elsewhere in this work. )

Charles A. Matthews resided in Indiana county until sixteen years of age, when he came to Johnstown, where he entered the Normal Insti- tute and for two years pursued a course of study in chemistry. At the age of eighteen he became connected with the chemical laboratory of the Cambria Steel Company, and retained his connection therewith for two years. He then entered the dental department of the University of Maryland, graduating therefrom with the class of 1894, and immediate- ly began the practice of dentistry at Johnstown, where he now has one of the largest practices in the city. He is proficient in all branches of his profession, but makes a specialty of crown and bridge work. For the past eleven years his office has been in the Cohen Block on Main street. Dr. Matthews holds membership in Lodge No. 538, Free and Accepted Masons : Portage Chapter No. 195, Royal Arch Masons; Cambria Coun- cil No. 32; Oriental Commandery, No. 61, Knights Templar, in which he is eminent commander; Penn. Consistory, thirty-second degree, Scot- tish Rite, of Pittsburg, Pennsylvania; Syria Temple, Ancient Arabic Or- der of Nobles of the Mystic Shrine; Johnstown Lodge, No. 175, Benevo- lent and Protective Order of Elks: Linton Lodge, No. 451, Knights of Pythias, in which he is past chancellor. He is a member of the Presby- terian church. He comes from old Democratic stock, but is an independ- ent voter himself.

Dr. Matthews married. June 9, 1897, at New Florence, Pennsyl- vania, Mary L., daughter of Rev. J. M. Hamilton, of New Florence. The children of this union are: Donald, Julia and Kenneth.

Mrs. Dr. Matthews is a direct descendant of John and Priscilla (Mullen) Alden. the former a "Mayflower" pilgrim, and for fifty years magistrate of Plymouth, and through them of Joseph and Mary (Sim- mons) Alden, Benjamin and Elizabeth (Alden) Snow, Joseph and Eliz- abeth (Snow) Carver, Luke and Experience (Carver) Loomis, Simeon and Elizabeth (Foster) Loomis. Robert and Jane (McCurdy) Loomis, Rev. John Milton and Julia (Loomis) Hamilton, her parents. The great-grandfather of Mrs. Dr. Matthews was William Hamilton, a de- scendant of a Scotch-Irish ancestry, who came from Ireland. accom- panied by his wife. Their son, Hanson Hamilton, a resident of Wash- ington county, Pennsylvania, married Sarah Davis, of same county. They moved to Ohio in 1817 and settled in the woods six miles from any habitation, in Ashland county. His death occurred in 1871. and his wife passed away in 1889, aged ninety-six years. Their son, Rev. John Milton Hamilton, father of Mrs. Dr. Matthews, was born in Ashland county, Ohio, May 16, 1842. He resided on the farm until eighteen years of age, in the meantime attending the district schools. He then entered the Hayesville Academy at Havesville, and in 1865 entered Washington and Jefferson College, graduating therefrom with the class of 1866. In the fall of that year he entered the Western Theological College at Allegheny City, graduating therefrom in the spring of 1869. He settled in his first charge at Corsica, Jefferson county, Pennsylvania,

Q. a. Matthias

THE NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY Aster, Leno> and Tliden Foundations. 1909

HISTORY OF CAMBRIA COUNTY.

Presbyterian denomination, and was ordained and installed in that place by the church, June, 1869, remaining three years. He then went to Plum Creek, Blairsville Presbytery (district), where he remained for sixteen years. He then settled in New Florence, Westmoreland county, where he was pastor of the Presbyterian church until 1896, when he retired from the ministry, and is now leading a retired life. Rev. John Milton Hamilton married, September 30, 1869, Julia A. Loomis, of Allegheny City, daughter of Robert C. and Jane (McCurdy) Loomis, and four children were the issue of this marriage, namely: Mary Loomis, wife of Dr. Charles A. Matthews, as aforestated; Robert Loomis, of New Flor- ence, Pennsylvania ; Sarah Jane, married Rev. Henry D. Ewing and re- sides at West Elizabeth, Pennsylvania : Estelle, married J. Craig Craw- ford, of Norristown, Pennsylvania. The mother of these children died April 24, 1904. Robert C. Loomis, father of Julia A. (Loomis) Ham- ilton, is a direct descendant of Joseph Loomis, who left Braintree, Eng- land, and settled in Windsor, Connecticut, with the early emigrants, erecting a building in 1640, which still stands, the oldest homestead in America.

COLONEL JOHN PARK LINTON. Any work dealing with the history of Cambria county, Pennsylvania, would be incomplete were men- tion omitted of the name which heads this sketch. Colonel John P. Linton, a descendant of Scotch-Irish ancestry, has a record which is in- deed an enviable one. Brave as a soldier, brilliant at the bar, promi- nent in politics, the story of his life is a supremely interesting one.

John Linton, paternal grandfather of Colonel John P. Linton, and founder of the Linton family in America, was born in county Derry, Ireland, in 1773. His father, William Linton, was a farmer, and of Scotch-Irish descent. He was educated in McGilligan College, and while a student there became involved in the revolutionary plots which led to the outbreak of 1798. He was obliged to leave his native land, and embarked for America, probably in 1795. He landed at Baltimore, Maryland, where his first employment was in the capacity of clerk. Aft- er a short time he removed to Greencastle, Franklin county, Pennsyl- vania, and opened a general store, removing this, in 1806, to Franks- town. He again removed, this time to Johnstown, in 1809, and here he spent the remainder of his life. He opened the first hotel in the town, an old-fashioned country inn, but spent the greater part of his time in surveying and conveyancing. He was the postmaster of Johnstown for a short time, also served as county commissioner of Cambria county, from 1811 to 1814, and from 1815 to July 25, 1818, the day of his decease. He was a man of considerable prominence in his day, and a most valua- ble citizen. He was a consistent Christian and a member of the Presby- terian church.

In 1801 he married Ann Park, born in Belfast, Ireland, in 1780-81, daughter of Robert and Jane (Bailey) Park, the former of Scotch de- scent, the latter a native of Ireland. Robert Park emigrated to America in 1794, bringing his family with him, landing and locating in Phila- delphia, Pennsylvania, where he became a teacher of mathematics. He died shortly after his arrival in this country, and his widow married Colonel James Johnston, who resided near Greencastle. It was at the home of Colonel Johnston that John Linton and Ann Park were mar- ried. Ann (Park) Linton was a charter member of the First Presby- terian church of Johnstown, and was actively concerned in its organiza- tion. After the death of her husband, she continued to conduct the ho-

HISTORY OF CAMBRIA COUNTY.

tel at the corner of Main and Franklin streets, and subsequently pur- chased property at the corner of Main and Market streets, where she per- sonally conducted the business until a short time prior to her demise, April 2, 1835. The children of John and Ann (Park) Linton were: Mary, married John Mathews; Robert Park, of whom later; Jane, mar- ried Joseph Chamberlain; John; Eliza, married Dr. Charles G. Pythian ; and Louisa, married S. Moylan Fox.

Robert Park Linton, first son and second child of John and Ann (Park) Linton, was born in Greencastle, Pennsylvania, July 8, 1804. He received a good education in the local "pay schools" of the day, and at an early age commenced to assist his mother in the conduct and man- agement of the hotel business. Later he was engaged in the iron busi- ness for a number of years, being a member of the firm of Linton & Gal- braith, who operated a furnace which was located near the present site of the Pennsylvania railroad depot. He opened a store at East Cone- maugh, and later owned and managed the "Mountain House" at Ebens- burg, for a number of years. In politics he was a prominent and active member of the Democratic party, serving as sheriff three terms-1831- 37-58. Was a member of the Presbyterian church.

He married (first) Phebe Levergood, born 1812, daughter of Peter Levergood. She was of German descent and a Lutheran. (See sketch of Edward E. Levergood.) Their children were: 1. Colonel John P., of whom later. ?. William, who was captain in Company M, Twelfth Cavalry, Pennsylvania Volunteers. Served one term as deputy sheriff and one term as county treasurer. Married Eliza Meyers. Died in 1890. 3. Susan. married John H. Clark, died in 1893. She had two children : Charles, who died in infancy, and Jessie, who married John Williard Gore, deceased, and has one child, Susan Clark Gore. 4. Peter, married Elizabeth Hutchinson, and died many years ago. His children were: Charles C., assistant district attorney of Cambria county; Minnie, who was drowned in the great flood of May 31, 1889; and Edward, who is a practicing physician in Ohio. Robert Park Linton married (second) Ruth Buchanan, and had children: Charlotte, married Charles B. Moore, and was drowned in the flood of May 31, 1889; Clara, died in in- fancy; and Gussie A., assistant librarian in Cambria Library. Mr. Lin- ton died in March, 1819.

Colonel John P. Linton, eldest child of Robert Park and Phebe (Levergood) Linton, was born in Johnstown, Cambria county, Penn- sylvania, January, 26, 1833. His early education was acquired in the local schools of Johnstown and Ebensburg, and his close application to his studies was the subject of comment among his instructors. He then attended Jefferson College at Canonsburg for one term. His legal stud- ies were commenced at the age of eighteen years, when he entered the law office of Cyrus L. Pershing, later judge of the courts of Schuylkill county. He was admitted to the bar June 6. 1854, shortly after he was twenty-one years of age, and a few months later he associated himself in partnership with Mr. Pershing, a relation which existed for some years. More than forty-five years ago, he opened an office for himself in a building situated on what is now known as "the bank corner," in rooms in which he transacted all his business during the remainder of his life. He immediately attracted attention as a reliable and brilliant pleader, and acquired an extensive practice, which he retained until he was no longer capable of giving it attention. During his long years of practice he never missed attendance at a regular term of court. He was engaged, either on one side or the other, in all the most important cases

HISTORY OF CAMBRIA COUNTY.

which came up in the county during his thirty-eight years of practice. His services were also frequently in demand in the supreme court and in the courts of the adjoining counties. He was an active member of the Bar Association, serving it in various officials capacities. He was con- tinnously engaged in the practice of his profession from the time of his admission to the bar until his death, with the exception of the time he served in the Union army during the progress of the Civil war.

At the first hint of the trouble between the north and the south, Colonel Linton at once forsook his practice for the profession of arms. His military record covers the entire period of the war. He entered the service for three months, April 20, 1861. as captain of Company F. Third Regiment, Pennsylvania Volunteers. This company and nine volunteer organizations had existed prior to the breaking out of the war, and were joined to form the Third Regiment at Camp Curtin, Harrisburg. The company was among the first to arrive at Camp Curtin, and left it on the evening of April 20, 1861, for Baltimore. At Cockeysville, Maryland, they were halted by a destroyed bridge, and after two days the regiment returned to York and went into camp. They went to Chambers- burg, May 21, and encamped there, and on June }, proceeded by rail to Hagerstown, and the same day marched to Funkstown, where three weeks were spent. July 1, 1861, they proceeded to Williamsport, Maryland, and the following day crossed the Potomac. The regiment arrived in Mar- tinsburg. July 3, and after a few days in camp was ordered back to Williamsport to guard the wagon trains. There it remained until July 26, when, the time of enlistment having expired, it was ordered back to Harrisburg and mustered out of service July 29. Colonel Linton assist- ed, in August and September. 1861, in forming the Fifty-fourth Regi- ment, Pennsylvania Volunteers, at Camp Curtin, of which organization he was major. This regiment was ordered to Washington, February 27, 1862, and there went into camp. It departed for Harper's Ferry, March 29, and reported to Colonel Miles, the various companies being assigned to guard duty along fifty-six miles of the Baltimore & Ohio railroad. The country was full of guerrillas, and almost daily conflicts were the out- come. Colonel Campbell received orders on the night of May 25 to con- centrate his command and to prepare for the advance of "Stonewall" Jackson, at Martinsburg. and this was done with considerable difficulty. There was but one bridge left by the rebels after their occupancy of this district the previous summer, a substantial iron bridge, and this was guarded by two companies under command of Major Linton. The com- panies returned to their old posts on June 1. Jackson having been driven from the valley, but his roving bands continued to wander about the country, pillaging friend and foe alike, and the Fifty-fourth was kept continually in action. When Colonel Campbell proceeded to North Mountain, Major Linton was left with a small detachment at Back Creek. Two days later the enemy made a second attack on Back Creek, and Colonel Campbell with several companies came to the assist- ance of Major Linton. The skirmishing was kept up until the 21st, when an overwhelming force obliged Major Linton to withdraw with his com- mand. After the battle of Antietam the Fifty-fourth was attached to the command of General Franklin, and later to that of General Morrell, and was placed in defence of the Upper Potomac. Upon the organization of the Eighth Corps it was assigned to the command of General Kelly.

On October 10, 1862, it was the vigilance and promptness of Colonel Linton which gave the first information to the war department at Wash- ington and to General MeClellan, near Antietam, on the north side of Vol. III-3

HISTORY OF CAMBRIA COUNTY.

the Potomac. of the sudden crossing of General J. E. B. Stuart's cavalry at McCoy's Ford, on that river. in his invasion of Pennsylvania.

The command was removed to Romney, January 6, 1863, where it remained until spring. Lieutenant-Colonel McDermitt resigned on July 29. and Major Linton was appointed to succeed him. The Fifty-fourth was now attached to the Fourth Brigade. First Division, Department of West Virginia, Colonel Campbell in command of the brigade, and Lieu- tenant-Colonel Linton. of the regiment. Another reorganization took place on November 6, the Fifty-fourth being assigned to the First Bri- gade, Second Division. Colonel Campbell in command. The battle of New Market was fought May 15, 1864, and Lieutenant-Colonel Linton was among the severely wounded. Colonel Campbell reported to the war department that notwithstanding the wound, he remained on the "field rallying and encouraging the men until the battle elosed, rendering most valuable and effective service." On account of the injury he was absent from his regiment until July 14. At Staunton the Fifty-fourth was transferred to Crook's command. Third Brigade. Second Division. and on the 14th of July the command moved to Martinsburg, where Lieutenant-Colonel Linton resumed command of the regiment. At Snicker's Gap, July 18, he was again wounded.

In the battle of Kearnstown. near Winchester. on July 24. he com- manded the Second Brigade of the Third Division (commanded by Gen- eral J. A. Mulligan, who was killed ) in the Army of the Kanawha, un- der the command of General George Crook. He was again injured while in action. his horse falling, causing the breaking of his collar bone

He was also in the engagement at Berryville. Virginia. September 3. when he commanded the same brigade, the commander then being Major- General P. H. Sheridan. Again he was seriously wounded in the arm.

In the battle on the Opequon. Winchester. September 19, 1864. he was again seriously wounded. and was still in the hospital, as a result of this last wound, when his term of enlistment expired. He was mus- tered out February 3, 1865. Colonel Linton's record of service in the army was highly honorable. His bravery was attested in every battle in which he participated. and they were many and important. He was once heard to remark that he had been struck in every engagement in which he took part, but only three of his wounds were serious.

After his return from the army and his recovery from the effects of his wound, Colonel Linton resumed his practice of the law. and also his in- terest in political affairs. He rendered valuable service to the Democrat- je party, being a most effective and enthusiastic stump speaker. He served his party and his country in various political capacities. among which may be mentioned the following: Clerk of the council : member of the council : secretary of the Agricultural Society: vice-president of the Citizens' National Bank: member of the board of trustees and one of the prime movers in the Citizens' Cemetery Association; after the great flood of May. 1889, member of the local relief committee of the Masons. Knights of Pythias, Odd Fellows, and Knights of the Mystic Chain : can- didate for surveyor general of Pennsylvania in 1865: candidate for con- gress in 1868; delegate to numberless national and state conventions ; and in 1884 an elector on the presidential ticket for Grover Cleveland; candidate for president-judge of Cambria county in 1891: and member of the Legislature in 1866 and 1864. Colonel Linton was also promi- nently identified with several secret societies, being a member of the Masons, Knight Templars, Odd Fellows. Knights of Pythias. Knights of the Mystic Chain. Grand Army of the Republic. Union Veteran Legion.

HISTORY OF CAMBRIA COUNTY.

From 1882 to 1884 he served as supreme chancellor of the Knights of Pythias: in 1885 as supreme commander of the Knights of the Mystic Chain.

At the time of the flood. Colonel Linton and his family were living in a handsome brick dwelling at the corner of Main and Union streets. The waters drove them to the roof of the house, and though the building was partially ruined, the roof did not fall, and they were afterward as- sisted to the high school building by Warren C. Potts, and there spent the night. Shortly afterward Colonel Linton built the house at Osborne street. and there he resided at the time of his death. In his family rela- tions he was very affectionate and kind, and he was greatly beloved and highly respected by all with whom he came in contact. whether socially or in business affairs.

Colonel Linton married. April 16, 1857. Annie E. King, born Feb- ruary 3, 1834, daughter of George S. and Eliza (MeDowell) King. (See sketch of George S. King.) The marriage was solemnized at the King home by Rev. David Swope. pastor of the First Lutheran church, of which Mrs. Linton was a member. Their children: Phebe. George King, married Lizzie Fahenstock, and had children: Margie and Ruth. Reuben McDowell. deceased. Elva. deceased. Robert Park, married Laura Barley, and had children: Florence and John Park. Finetta, de- ceased. Ivan R. Daisy, deceased. Annie, married John E. MeLain, and had children: Katherine, John Linton and Will McLain MeLain. Kate. Selah Loy. Colonel Linton died August 30. 1892, at Johnstown.

HAY FAMILY. The Hay family is one of the oldest of Johnstown, and descended from an old Scotch ancestry who received the name of Hay with an earldom and as much land in the Carse of Gowrie as a fal- con should fly over before it settled, for timely assistance rendered the Scotch king in a battle with the Danish invaders. The land thus granted was afterward called Erroll.

(I) The first John Hay to locate in America was a son of John Hay, a Scotch soldier and a lineal descendant of William Hay, Earl of Erroll. He left Scotland on account of religious perseentions and fled to the province of Alsace (then in Germany), subsequently coming to America in 1750, and with his four sons settled in Virginia. Later three sons, John and his two brothers, settled in York, Northampton, and Philadelphia counties respectively. Adam remained in Virginia, he was the great-grandfather of the late Hon. John Hay, secretary of state.

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History of Cambria County, Pennsylvania, Volume III, Part 5

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