USA > Pennsylvania > Cambria County > History of Cambria County, Pennsylvania, Volume III > Part 53
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Mrs. Horner is a daughter of William Burkholder, a native of Lan- caster county, Pennsylvania, who, when a boy, was taken by his widowed mother to Michigan, and on reaching manhood went to Canada, where he lived many years. His next removal was to Missouri, where he be- came a farmer and stock-raiser. While in Canada he married Barbara Gochnean, who was born near Paris, France, of French and German parentage, and while still a young child was taken to Canada. Mr. and Mrs. Burkholder were the parents of a daughter, Emma, who was born March 31, 1854, in Zurich, Huron county, Canada, and was fifteen years old when the family moved to Missouri, where she became the wife of Watson Horner.
PATCH FAMILY. Among the many representatives of this fam- ily who are favorably known in the different walks of life must be num- bered William Findley Patch, a successful merchant of Morreliville, Johnstown. Mr. Patch is a son of Isaac Marion Patch, and a grandson of Alvah Patch, who died in Indiana county more than sixty years ago.
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After his death his widow moved to Johnstown, where for many years she was employed as lock-keeper on the canal, and later as toll-keeper at Cambria City bridge. She was a woman whose many estimable qualities commanded the respect of all. and is still remembered as one of Johns- town's historie characters. Mrs. Patch was the mother of six children, one of whom, Findley, was killed in the Civil war in 1864. She died at her home on Franklin street, at the age of seventy-three.
Isaac Marion Patch, son of Alvah and Catherine (Stitt) Patch. was born September 20, 1835, in Indiana county, and spent part of his boy- hood in the neighborhood of Blairsville. He was eight years old at the time of his father's death, and for several years thereafter lived with his widowed mother. He began his industrial life by learning the black- smith's trade, which he followed for a short time. At the age of twen- ty-one he came to Johnstown and entered the service of the Cambria Iron Company, with whom he remained for the long period of forty-one years, having an assistant. William Murray, who worked with him for twenty-two years. Mr. Patch was greatly esteemed by his employers, possessing deservedly the highest reputation for ability and faithfulness in the discharge of his duty. He was first burgess of the borough of Morrellville and for ten years held the office of justice of the peace. He was a life-long Republican, and a life-long member of the Methodist Episcopal church, to the support of which he liberally contributed. He was one of the organizers of the Methodist Episcopal church in Morrell- ville.
Mr. Patch married. July 3. 1862, in Johnstown, the Rev. Mr. Host- soek, preacher of the United Brethren church. officiating. Mary Ann Leadbeater, born November 10, 1843, in Danville, Pennsylvania. After spending the first ten years of her life in Pittsburg she was taken by her parents to Johnstown, which has ever since been her home. Her father, Leonard Leadbeater, was born in Wales. where he worked as a heater in the mills. After some years he came with his wife and two children to the United States, making his home in Johnstown on a portion of the ground on which the steel works now stand. For many years he was em- ployed in the works as a heater. When fifty years old he enlisted in the Silver Grays Company, Fifty-fourth Regiment, Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, and was killed, June 18, 1863, in the battle of Newmarket. He and his wife were the parents of the following children: Thomas. of Morrellville, served in cavalry during Civil war; married Mary Fowler, of Ligonier. Mary Ann, wife of Isaac Marion Pateh. John, of Morrell- ville, married (first) Mary Shoop, (second) Mary Mock. The follow- ing children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Patch : Alvah Leonard, of Turtle Creek, married Belle M. Reed, one son, Charles, living and one who died in infancy. William Findley, of whom later. Evan L., of Morrellville, assistant foreman in foundry of Cambria Steel Company ; married Anna Clites; children, Lonanna, Ralph, Frank, James. Lewis and Wilbert. James G., of Morrellville, succeeded to his father's place with Cambria Steel Company ; married Lizzie Hill, no issue. Marion P., wife of Will- iam J. Berkey, mail carrier of Morrellville. children, Leroy C. and Mary Ruth. Isaac Campbell, of Morrellville, in general office of Cambria Steel Company ; married Mamie Miller, one child, Miller. Thomas J .. died at the age of two years. Harry Ehmer. of Coopersdale, in general office of Cambria Steel Company : married Maud Galbraith, two children, Garnet and Ruby. Mr. Patch, the father, died May 30. 1896, in a house in which he had lived thirty-three years, having erected it when there
THE NE YORK PUEL. BRARY Astor Lenny and Tildes Foundations. 1909
PH Dan's
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were but three houses in the borough of Morrellville. He was a good man and a worthy citizen.
William Findley Patch, son of Isaac Marion and Mary Ann ( Lead- beater) Patch, was born April 26. 1866, in Kernville, now the Fifth ward of Johnstown, and obtained his education in the public schools. At the age of fourteen he left school and secured employment in the foundry department of the Cambria Steel Company, and then the open- hearth department, and remained there until forty years of age. Since April 1. 1906. he has been engaged in mercantile business in partner- ship with Nathan B. Messersmith, the style of the firm being Patch & Messersmith. He affiliates with the Masonic fraternity and the Royal Arcanum. and is an active member of the F Street Methodist Episcopal church. For six years he served as steward, for ten years as leader of the choir, while for the last ten years he has been superintendent of the Sunday school.
Mr. Patch married. April 30. 1894, Emma. daughter of John E. and Julia (Kleinfelter) Strayer, of Morrellville. Mr. and Mrs. Strayer are both deceased.
COLONEL SAMUEL W. DAVIS, deceased. of Ebensburg, who for more than a quarter of a century faithfully served his native county in various offices of trust and responsibility. was of Welsh extraction.
His father, William Davis, was born in 1802, in Wales, and in 1818 emigrated to the United States, landing in Baltimore, and thence pro- ceeding to central Pennsylvania. He settled first at Ebensburg, but ยท shortly after moved to Cambria township whence he returned to Ebens- burg. He was engaged in general merchandising, Iumbering and stock- dealing. Politically he was a Whig. and when the Republican party was founded took great interest in that organization. He was a Con- gregationalist and a devont Christian man. carrying his religion into his daily life. He married Elizabeth, born at Morrison Cove, Hunting- don county, Pennsylvania, daughter of John Davis, a native of Wales. Of this marriage were born four children who died in infancy, and the following who reached maturity: Mary, deceased, wife of the late Thomas Griffith. Catharine, deceased, widow of Evan Griffith. Lydia, widow of John O. Evans. Lemuel, real estate agent and justice of the peace of Kane, Pennsylvania. Samnel W., of whom later. The parents of these children both died in Ebensburg, Mrs. Davis in 1863, and Mr. Davis in 1878.
Samuel W. Davis, son of William and Elizabeth (Davis) Davis, was born February 13, 1841, in Cambria township, and received his edu- cation in the public schools. For a number of years he assisted his father in the conduct of a mercantile and lumbering business, in which he was subsequently received as a partner. and this association continued until the partnership was dissolved by the departure of the son for the seat of war.
In August, 1862, Samuel W. Davis, with a number of other young men of this vicinity, went to Harrisburg and enlisted in Company F, One Hundred and Thirty-third Regiment Pennsylvania Volunteers, under Captain John M. Jones, being mustered in at Camp Curtin, August 15, 1862. His service was with the Army of the Potomac. His company arrived at Antietam September 17. 1862, and in the evening of that day the battle came to a close. From that point the company was marehed to Fredericksburg, and fought in the desperate battle there. December 13, 1862. Among the Ebensburg soldiers who were
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killed were Captain John M. Jones, Lieutenant W. A. Scott and Ad- jutant J. C. Noon. The greater part of the following winter was passed at Falmouth. Virginia. The company next saw service at Chancellors- ville, May 5, 1863. After this battle the term of enlistment expired, and the company was mustered out at Harrisburg in May, 1863, and returned home.
In September, 1864, Colonel Davis enlisted in Company C, Two . Hundred and Ninth Regiment Pennsylvania Volunteers, under Captain Robert Litzinger. In this company Colonel Davis was first lieutenant and Hugh Jones second lieutenant, the latter being killed at Fort Stead- man, March 25, 1865. The company served at Bermuda Hundred, under General Benjamin Butler, Eighteenth Corps, Army of the James. Later it was transferred to the Ninth Corps, Army of the Potomac, and lay in the rear of Richmond until the taking of that city. The company was mustered out June 7, 1865, at Harrisburg. After his return home Samuel W. Davis was elected colonel of the Fifth Regiment Pennsyl- yania National Guard, and from that time until his death was familiarly known as "Colonel."
Immediately after the war Colonel Davis, in partnership with his brother Lemuel, engaged in the livery business in Ebensburg, and for a number of years conducted a very successful establishment. When the present court house was erected Colonel Davis was one of the county commissioners, and to him is due much of the credit for this handsome temple of justice, which is largely the result of his interest and efforts. In after years, when Colonel Davis held office, it was frequently spoken of as "'the Colonel's house." When the First National Bank of Ebens- burg was organized, in September, 1897, Colonel Davis was one of the incorporators, and served upon the executive committee of the board of directors up to the time of his death, which event caused the first vacancy in the board which has occurred since the organization of the bank. The handsome three-story Davis office building on Centre street, Ebensburg, was the last enterprise in which Colonel Davis took an active part, he. in company with T. Stanton Davis, of this place, being the owner of this modern business block, which was completed in May, 1905.
Politically Colonel Davis was a stanch and uncompromising Re- publican and was ever active in the service of the organization. Even up to the last election before he died, as chairman of his party in this county, he labored unceasingly for its success. In 1878 he was elected to the office of county commissioner, and in 1881 was re-elected. At the expiration of his term as commissioner he became clerk to County Treas- urer Alexander Stackhouse, and in 1889 was appointed deputy sheriff by Sheriff J. C. Stineman. At the end of three years, when Sheriff Stineman's term expired, and James M. Shumaker was elected in his place, Colonel Davis was continued in the office as deputy. When David W. Coulter was elected to succeed Sheriff Shumaker, Colonel Davis was again reappointed and served in that capacity under Sheriff Coulter for one year. In 1895 Colonel Davis was elected to the office of prothonotary of Cambria county, which position he held for two terms, a period of six years. During his long political career Colonel Davis was never known to shrink from duty, but was as upright and honest as he was fearless. He was prominently connected with John M. Jones Post. No. 566. Grand Army of the Republic, and belonged to Summit Lodge, No. 312. Free and Accepted Masons, Portage Chapter, No. 195, and Oriental Commandery, No. 61 .. He was a devout member of the First Con- gregational church of Ebensburg.
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Colonel Davis married, November 3, 1870, Sarah Jane Evans, who survives him. Their children were: Emory Hubert, Mary Elizabeth (wife of B. F. James). Elmer Clarkson, Lylvan June, Ralph Hunter, Willis Everett, Nannie Marguerite, Parke Meade and Reginald Samuel. There was also a child named Orin, who died twenty-six years ago, at the age of four years.
In the death of Colonel Davis, which occurred June 1, 1905. from Bright's disease, his family sustained a severe blow in the loss of a kind husband and loving father, and the community lost one of its best citizens, broad-minded, public-spirited, conservative and yet enterpris- ing. He was a man of strong personality and of the most kindly and charitable disposition, leaving behind him a name and memory which will be cherished with respect and affection by all with whom he was in any way associated. Many a poor and unfortunate one will miss his generous yearly benefactions, and the wants which he supplied are left to the charity of others.
ELMER C. DAVIS, clerk in the prothonotary's office of Cambria county, at Ebensburg, Pennsylvania, was born in that borough Jan- nary 13, 1880, a son of Colonel Samuel W. and Sarah J. (Evans) Davis.
Elmer C. Davis received his education at the public schools of Ebensburg, and in the spring of 1891 after leaving school, was appointed deputy prothonotary, under his father. serving to January, 1902. Upon the election of C. E. Troxell as prothonotary he was retained by him as his clerk, in which capacity he still serves. Politically he is a hearty supporter of the Republican party. He is a member of the Congrega- tional church.
HENRY H. HOFFMAN, who is a prosperous merchant at No. 209 Horner street, Johnstown, Pennsylvania, was born at Sipesville, Somer- set county, Pennsylvania, July 29. 1849. His great-grandfather canie from Germany to America, settled in Somerset county, Pennsylvania, and was by occupation a farmer. His son Philip, who was the grand- father of Henry H. Hoffman, was born in Somerset county, reared on the farm, but later learned the trade of blacksmith, which he followed the greater part of his life. He married Elizabeth Kimmel, of the same county, and they both died in Somerset county, the former about 1850 and the latter about 1868, aged over eighty years. They were of the Lutheran church faith. He was a Whig in politics.
Their children were: Reuben; Nancy, married a Mr. Umbarger. who was murdered by Joseph and David Niceley on his farm in Somerset county : Philip, died in Westmoreland county; Susannah Wyand. died in Somerset county : Magdalena Sipe, died in Somerset county : Elizabeth Belle, of Des Moines, Iowa: Solomon, died in Andersonville prison ; Abraham, of Allen county, Kansas : Levi, died at Des Moines, Iowa.
Reuben Hoffman, father of Henry H. Hoffman, was born on the old homestead, near Sipesville. in 1822. He grew to manhood there and learned the trade of blacksmith with his father, whose farm he also succeeded to. He bought and sold farms, in which he made considerable profit. He farmed and followed blacksmithing all his life. He pur- chased a farm of two hundred and twenty aeres in Jenner township, Somerset county; he died there in 1878, aged fifty-six years. The wife moved to Johnstown after the death of her husband and survived him until 1904.
Reuben Hoffman married Susanna Ankeny. daughter of David and
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Catherine (Spahr) Ankeny. They were both members of the Reformed church, and in politics he was a Whig and later a Republican. Their children were: 1. Henry H., of whom later. 2. Matilda, wife of H. Miller, of Johnstown. 3. Freeman, of Somerset, Pennsylvania, married Mary E. Coleman. 4. Saralda, married John Watson Barnett, of Jenner, Pennsylvania. 5. Cinderella, died, aged eighteen years. 6. Catherine, died, aged twenty-one years. 7. Ida (Mrs. Michael Brubaker), died in Altoona, 1902. 8. Adella M. (Mrs. S. J. Fitt), died in 1903. 9. Jennie, wife of Robert F. Witt, of Johnstown, Pennsylvania.
Henry H. Hoffman received all of his schooling at the old Cover school in Jenner township, Somerset county, under Stephen Griffith, Emanuel Cover and a Miss Brubaker. When thirteen years old he left school and clerked for his uncle, John A. Sipes, in his general store at Jenners, Somerset county, Pennsylvania. He remained with him until he en- listed in the Union army, in 1865, for one year, in Company K, Sixty- first Pennsylvania Infantry Regiment, under Captain Seribby. After remaining in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, for a time, he was sent to Berks- ville Junction, Virginia. General Johnston being at Raleigh, North Carolina, the corps to which Mr. Hoffman belonged was sent on a forced march for that point, but on reaching Danville, Virginia, news was re- ceived that Johnston had surrendered. General Wright, commander of the Sixth Army Corps. and his staff with twenty men, including Mr. Hoffman, went to Raleigh, North Carolina, and returned to Danville. Later they were ordered to Washington, D. C., at the close of the war, and there discharged.
Mr. Hoffman arrived in Johnstown, July 3, 1865, and at once en- tered his unele's store in Jenners as elerk again, remaining until the spring of 1866, when he went to Greenville, Ohio, where he worked for his unele, Abraham Hoffman, on his farm. He contracted fever and ague, and about the last of September, the same year, returned to his old Somerset county home, where he remained until December 6, when he came to Johnstown and enlisted in the regular army. He was assigned to Company A, Second United States Artillery, stationed at Presidio, California. He remained there until March, 1869. While there his old commander of the Civil war days (General Wright) was drowned in the bay while out rowing. In the month of March, 1869, his command was ordered to Fort Riley, Kansas. The Union Pacific railroad was not completed until May of that year, and so they went via the Isthmus to New York, and back by rail to Kansas. After remaining a short time at Fort Riley, the Indian troubles begun in the west and the command was sent out on an expedition to White Rock, Kansas, in July of that year. They returned from that expedition and were sent with a survey- ing party, working along the Fort Scott & Galveston railroad. In No- vember, 1869. they returned to Fort Riley, Kansas, and Mr. Hoffman did guard duty until December 6, when his enlistment ended and he was discharged. He returned to his old home again, remained with his father the following year and then learned the trade of carpenter, which he followed until 1872, when he married and bought a farm in Jenner township, which he carried on, at the same time following his trade, until the flood of 1889, when he came to Johnstown and worked constantly at his trade for four years. He then spent five years on his farm and re- turned to Johnstown, where he huckstered about two years. He then purchased his present store from A. J. Lohr.
Mr. Hoffman was married at Sipesville, Pennsylvania, by Rev. Keener, pastor of Mt. Tabor Reformed church, to Elizabeth Coleman,
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HISTORY OF CAMBRIA COUNTY.
of Jenner township, Somerset county. She was the daughter of William Coleman. Mrs. Hoffman died December, 1899; she was a devout member of the Lutheran church. By this union were born: 1. Ira M., now of Johnstown, married Leona Molsie. 2. Clara F., wife of Martin S. Lam- bert, of Johnstown. 3. Eugene, married Etta Penrod, and they reside at Johnstown. 4. Arthur C., married Gertrude Smith, and they reside- in Johnstown. After being a widower for four years, Mr. Hoffman married Mrs. Clara A. Reed, daughter of John Watters, of Altoona, Pennsylvania.
JOHN C. WALKINSHAW, of Johnstown, who for many years and at different places served as yardmaster for the Pennsylvania Railroad Company, was born January 9, 1840, on a farm in Derry township, Westmoreland county, son of James Walkinshaw and grandson of William Walkinshaw.
William Walkinshaw was born in county Derry, Ireland, and was by trade a weaver. In 1810, with his wife and two children, he emigrated to America, settling at one of the Canadian ports, and after about two years sailing for Baltimore. The war of 1812 was then in progress, and the ship was captured by a British man-o'-war's-man and detained for some time. After reaching Baltimore he worked at his trade in that city, and then went to New Jersey, where he remained but four or five years before migrating to Ligonier, Westmoreland county, which was then included in the phrase, "the West." In this region, albeit a com- parative wilderness, he yet found employment at his trade, moving after a time to Derry township, in the same county, where, in addition to fol- lowing his trade, he developed a small farm, on which, in the course of time, he established an inn. situated a mile and a half north of the town of New Derry. About 1854, being then about ninety-three years old, he left the farm and spent the remainder of his days at Blairsville, Pennsylvania. He was a "roekribbed" Democrat, but no politician. He and his wife were members of the Presbyterian church.
William Walkinshaw married Margaret Robinson, and their chil- dren were: 1. John, cooper and farmer in Indiana county, married Rachel Doty. 2. James, of whom later. 3. Nancy, wife of John Sloan, farmer of Derry township, both deceased. 4. Hugh, worked on boats running to New Orleans, then lived for a time in Derry township, after- ward settled in Latrobe and engaged in training, and finally died on his farm in New Derry. He married Mary Cummins. 5. Hettie, married Isaac MeLeester, farmer at Salem, Westmoreland county, who sold his farm and worked on the public roads. When the Pennsylvania railroad was building he moved to East Conemaugh and died there. His widow is still living in Franklin borough. 6. Margaret, died unmarried. 7. Sarah, also died unmarried. 8. Robert, conductor on Pennsylvania rail- road, ran the first train into Blairsville on the branch, and in 1860 en- gaged in mercantile business at Blairsville, whence, at the end of two years, he migrated to Lebanon, Missouri, where he followed the same line of business and is now living in retirement. He married Mary Devinney, who died ten years ago. 9. Margaret, married John McCurdy. of Jacksonville. Indiana county, Pennsylvania, and died at their home in Blairsville. 10. Andrew Jackson, employed on Toledo & Wabash rail- road, died. unmarried, from the effects of an accident. William Walk- inshaw, the father of this family, died shortly after his retirement to Blairsville, having survived his wife four years.
James Walkinshaw, son of William and Margaret ( Robinson ) Walk- Vol. III-24
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inshaw, was born in 1810. in county Derry, Ireland, and was three months old when brought by his parents to the United States. He was educated in the common schools of. Westmoreland county, and remained on the homestead until placed by his father in charge of a train on the pike between Baltimore, Philadelphia and Pittsburg. He afterward engaged in farming in Derry township, abandoning his agricultural pur- suits after a time in order to take a position as locktender on the canal, half a mile west of Bolivar. He followed this calling for a number of years, and during the winters had charge of a gang of men employed in cleaning out the canal. About 1853 he left the canal and went to work for the Pennsylvania Railroad Company at Blairsville, loading and un- loading cars. He was appointed section foreman on the railroad at Blairsville, and later filled a similar position at Livermore, where he remained until the close of his life. He was a Democrat in politics, and he and his wife were members of the Lutheran church.
James Walkinshaw married Mary, daughter of John and Susan (Shultz) Cressinger, of Derry township, and the following children were born to them : Margaret. died young. John C .. of whom later. Nancy. Susan. died unmarried in 1904. Robinson, of Blairsville, railroad man for years, severely injured in collision near Chattanooga between his train and one carrying United States troops to Cuban war. Kate. Mary. William. The mother of these children died in 1857, at Cokeville, Penn- sylvania, and the death of the father occurred at Livermore in 1884. He is buried in Blairsville.
John C. Walkinshaw, son of James and Mary ( Cressinger) Walkin- shaw, was a boy when his father moved to the locks near Bolivar, and it was there that his school life began. When the family removed to Blairsville he attended the schools of that place until the age of fifteen, and then became a clerk under a Mr. Zimmerman, in the freight office of the Pennsylvania Railroad Company. In 1857 he became brakeman on the Pennsylvania railroad. between Blairsville and East Conemaugh, and three years later was made brakeman on passenger trains, where he served one year. After that he was for a time an extra brakeman on freight trains and also ran a freight train. In 1861 he went to Pitts- burg as yardmaster, and in 1862 was transferred in the same eapacity to Derry, where he served until 1865. During this period he was often a witness, while in the exercise of his duty. to the departure of troops for the seat of war. In the spring of 1865 he was for a short time again made yardmaster in Pittsburg, and was thence transferred to Altoona, running a freight train between that place and Conemaugh until June, 1866, when he was made yardmaster at East Conemaugh, retaining the position until 1889. After the Hood he was for five months stationed as vardmaster at Johnstown, and when the yards at Morrellville were finished he took charge of them. continuing to do so until Deeember. 1905. when he retired. having been for over forty-nine years uninterruptedly in the service of the Pennsylvania Railroad Company, on the Pittsburg Division. During that long period his record was unblemished, and he was distinguished alike for fidelity to his emplovers and for justice and kindliness toward those under his command. While living in East Cone- maugh he served in the borough council and also filled the office of as- sessor. He is a Democrat in politics. After his marriage he adopted the Roman Catholic faith. and is now a member of St. John Gaulbert's church. Johnstown.
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