USA > Pennsylvania > Cambria County > History of Cambria County, Pennsylvania, Volume III > Part 54
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Mr. Walkinshaw married. September 6, 1864. in Altoona. Ruth E., born in Cambria county, daughter of John and Mary ( Holliday) Mat-
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HISTORY OF CAMBRIA COUNTY.
thews, the latter a member of the family by whom Hollidaysburg was founded. Mr. and Mrs. Walkinshaw became the parents of the follow- ing children : James Leslie, died at the age of two years. Vincent V., of Lorain. Ohio. William. resides in the west. Mary. Joseph R., died in infancy. Harry, also died in infancy. Frank, of Lorain, Ohio, mar- ried Dorothy Kelly. Mrs. Walkinshaw, the mother of these children, died April 18, 1876, and is buried in Geistown cemetery.
ADAM ROLAND, deceased, was a man of rare nobility of char- acter, of kindly, helpful disposition, combined with exceptional ability as a man of business. Ilis death was deeply regretted by a loving family as well as a large eirele of sincere friends.
He was born in Reburn. Bavaria, Germany. January 8, 1827, and was a bright and industrious pupil at two schools in his native city until he had attained the age of fourteen years. He then commenced to assist his father in the cultivation and management of the home farm, con- tinuing until he emigrated to the United States in 1851. He landed in New York and proceeded directly to Johnstown, Cambria county, Penn- sylvania, where he obtained a position as elerk with Jacob Fronheiser, at the corner of Clinton and Railroad streets. Later he held a similar position with a Mr. Viekroy in Clinton street. His next oeeupation was that of timekeeper at Rhey's Furnace, and from thenee he went to the grocery department of the Pennsylvania Traffic Company's store. He remained in the latter position until 1878, a period of eighteen years, when he established himself in the flour and feed business in the Fron- heiser building in Clinton street. He erected a brick bloek in Railroad street in 1885, and he and his son Louis carried on the business there until the disastrous flood of May, 1889. Upon that occasion they re- mained in the store until the roar of the rushing waters was almost upon them, when Mr. Roland set out for his residence at the corner of Adam and Peter streets. He reached it just in time to take his two grand- children and the other members of the family out of the house, and he fled with them to safety in the hills. His son. Louis, hastened to the resi- dence of his mother-in-law. Mrs. Hager, where he expected to find his wife and youngest child, but all these had already been carried off by the flood. The nervous shock caused by the loss of these various members of his family undermined the health of Mr. Roland, and he gradually deelined until his death. September 25, 1891. He was a devout member of the German Lutheran church, and a lifelong Demoerat. He was a man of the most liberal views on all subjects, and took the greatest interest and was an active worker in educational matters. He was a school director for many years in the borough of Conemaugh, and it is due to his influenee that many much-needed reforms were introduced. He was decidediy a home-loving man, a devoted husband and a loving father, spending all his leisure time with his family, and contributing all that lay in his power to their happiness and welfare. He was es- teemed by all who knew him for his many sterling qualities. He was of a most kindly nature, always ready to extend a helping hand to those in need of assistance, and his charities were always given in an un- ostentatious manner.
Mr. Roland married, in Johnstown, Pennsylvania, March 16, 1854. Eliza Dipple, who was born in Baden, Germany. November 22, 1831, daughter of Louis Dipple, who died in Germany when Mrs. Roland was but eight years of age. When she was twenty-two years old she came
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HISTORY OF CAMBRIA COUNTY.
to the United States, landed in New York, and then traveled directly to Johnstown. Mr. and Mrs. Adam Roland bad children: 1. Bertha, mar- ried William Pfeffercorn, of Moxham, two children, Alma and Meta. 2. Emma, died in infancy. 3. Louis, who was associated in business with his father, married Lizzie Hager, who was lost with other members of her family in the great flood ; two children, Olga and Georgia. 4. Julius, died in infancy. 5. Norma, married Albert Wuensch, now deceased, and she resides with her mother. She has two children : Carl and Louis.
ALBERT DENY, one of the foremost business men of the city of Johnstown, Cambria county, Pennsylvania, who is the head of the pros- perous firm of Deny & Company, bankers, brokers, foreign exchange and steamship agents, and who is personally an Italian interpreter and notary public, is a representative of one of the oldest families of Italy. They trace their descent back to the Romans, and the name was formerly spelled Deni, from the Latin Doan. Many of them held positions of prominence and importance in the affairs of church and state, and others served their king and country in the army.
Dominico Deny, grandfather of Albert Deny, was a resident of S. Stefano, Rogliano Provincia. Cosenza, Italy, and owed allegiance to the king of Naples before the provinces were united under one form of government. He was a contractor of note in his time, and carried out many important and difficult orders. Among his children was a son, Paolo.
Paolo Deny, son of Dominico Deny, was born in S. Stefano, Rogliano Provincia, Cosenza, Italy, and followed in the footsteps of his father as contractor, succeeding to the business of the latter. He was fully as efficient and thorough in his work as his predecessor, and enjoyed the highest respect of all in the community. His death occurred June 7, 1904, at the age of fifty-six years. He married, in 1870, Maria Ortale, born in Belsito, a small village near Cosenza, died about January, 1883, at the age of thirty years. She was the daughter of Giovanni Ortale, who was a farmer, and had a brother who was renowned as a surveyor, two others who were well known contractors, and a sister who is in a con- vent in Cosenza. Paolo and Maria (Ortale) Deny had three children, one of them being Albert, of whom later.
Albert Deny, eldest child of Paolo and Maria (Ortale) Deny, was born in S. Stefano, Rogliano Provincia, Cosenza, Italy, July 21, 1877. He enjoyed the advantages of an excellent education in the public schools of his native city until he was nineteen years of age. The following year he entered the army and served for a period of three years. At the expiration of this time, in 1900, he emigrated to America, where he landed in New York city, but immediately continued his journey to Johnstown, Cambria county, Pennsylvania. He had no difficulty in ob- taining employment in a wholesale house in the latter city, a position he retained until 1904, when he established his present business, which is in a most flourishing condition. Mr. Deny is a man of progressive and enterprising methods, and is possessed of great executive ability. His reliability, probity and many sterling qualities have gained for him the respect of all who have had any business dealings with him or the firm of which he is the head and the leading spirit, while his courteous bear- ing and kindly disposition have won for him many friends. He takes a deep and active interest in religious affairs, is a member of the Catholic Church of San Antonio, and is secretary of the building committee. His
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political affiliations are with the Independent party, and he holds strong opinions of his own upon all the important questions of the day. Mr. Deny is unmarried.
ANDREW VERES. Beginning in active business life with little to call his own, save habits of industry, energy and perseverance, Andrew Veres, proprietor of the Veres Carriage and Wagon Works, located on Davis street, Johnstown, has conquered adverse circumstances and has acquired an enviable reputation among his business associates and patrons. His success through life has been the result entirely of his own exertions, and he deserves and receives a dne measure of praise.
George Veres, father of Andrew Veres, is a son of Michael Veres, who was the proprietor of a tavern for many years, thereby gaining a comfortable livelihood for his family. George Veres is a native of Aus- tria, Hungary, where he is living at the present time (1906) aged sixty- seven years, and the active years of his life have been devoted to mer- cantile pursuits, in which he has achieved a marked degree of success. He married Mary Rutz, who is also living in Austria, aged sixty-six years, and their children are as follows: Andrew, see forward. Joseph, was a railroad official, death occurred in Austria-Hungary. George, resides in Austria-Hungary. Stephen, resides in Austria-Hungary, a railroad official. Mary, resides at home. Evsebeth. died in childhood.
Andrew Veres was born in Bordos, Seven Hill, Austria-Hungary, November 30, 1863. When almost sixteen years of age, after completing his educational advantages, he began an apprenticeship at the trade of blacksmith and carriage maker in the city of Maros Vasarhely, serving for a period of two years, after which he followed his trade for a number of years in his native country. December 4, 1887, he sailed from Ham- burg on steamship "Bohemia" and landed in New York city, Decem- ber 23. He came direct to Johnstown. Pennsylvania, where his wife's parents, John and Veronica (Horvath) Getzi, were living. Mr. and Mrs. Getzi were the proprietors of a boarding house in the Fifteenth ward of the city, and at the time of the great flood, 1889, they and their daughter and three sons, August, William and Stephen, perished.
Shortly after locating in Johnstown. Andrew Veres secured em- ployment in the smith shop of the Cambria Steel Works. Later he was employed in wire mill department of Cambria Works, retaining his con- nection therewith until it was washed away by the flood. He then re- turned to his old position, in the smith shop of the Cambria Iron Com- pany, remaining for a short period of time. After being employed in different manufacturies and carriage shops in the city, he established his present business, February 1, 1895. He began in a very modest way, with only five dollars capital, locating at No. 710 Center street, in the stable owned by Sebastian Boxler. His first month's business amounted to sixteen dollars. The first horse he shod was for Joseph Gerber, who asked him to charge it, and so meagre was his facilities that he had neither pencil or paper to mark it down on. At the expiration of ten months the business had so increased as to necessitate larger quarters, which he accordingly sought and found. His next move was to purchase the Fritz shop on Matthew street. and when the C. A. Young Company purchased the ground, he moved to his present quarters, having pur- chased the building from A. M. Masters.
Since Mr. Veres engaged in business on his own account, he has built more than four hundred vehicles, of all descriptions, including all. the large brewing wagons of the city. He has just completed the largest.
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transfer wagon, for the Hoffman Transfer Company, ever constructed in the United States. One of the wagons he built for the Emerlings Brew- ing Company was for three horses. almost the only one of its kind in this city. He has built wagons for various purposes for parties in Altoona. Philadelphia. Pittsburg. Cleveland and other large cities, and for a party in Conemaugh he turned out a carnival wagon twenty feet long, ten feet high, completing the same in three and a half days. In his business he has met with success. his perseverance, industry and good management gaining for him a handsome competence. While he has devoted his at- tention mainly to his business interests, he has not been unmindful of his duties as a citizen, and has maintained a deep interest in all matters of local and national importance. He is independent in politics, casting his vote for the candidates who in his opinion are best qualified for office. He is a member of St. Joseph's German Catholic church, St. Jo- seph's Society, Austrian Musical Society. and Verhovay, the oldest Hun- garian society in the United States.
Mr. Veres married (first), in Kisvarda, Austria-Hungary, August 2, 1887, Helena Getzi, daughter of John and Veronica (Horvath) Getzi, mentioned above. Mrs. Veres died November 4, 1896. The children born of this union are: Helena, wife of John Drotovies, of Johnstown. An- drew, resides in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Andrew, deceased. Mary, resides at home. Emil and Annie. Mr. Veres married (second), August 20, 1897, Vilma Horvath, of Hungary, a first cousin of his first wife. Their children are: Wilhelm, deceased: George, Margaret, Frank, Charles. Mr. Veres and his family reside in a comfortable home at No. 1106 College place. Johnstown. and enjoy the acquaintance of a wide circle of friends.
ROBERT SCANLAN, cashier of the American National Bank of Ebensburg, Pennsylvania, was born March 7, 1867, at Ebensburg, the son of John E. and Josephine ( Johnston ) Scanlan. He is one of a family of five children. three of whom survive: John; Mary, wife of P. F. Fogerty, of Greensburg. Pennsylvania ; and the subject.
John E. Scanlan, the father, was born in Ebensburg. April 15, 1839, son of John and Susan (Myers) Scanlan. John Scanlan, the grand- father, was also a native of Cambria county, born July 19, 1812. as well as his father, who was also named John, but of whose birth there is no record. The subject's great-great-grandfather was Lawrence Scanlan, a native of Ireland, who came into Cambria county from Maryland at an early day. He was a soldier in the Revolution. The subject's maternal great-great-grandfather, Peter Kohler, was in the Revolution, being an officer in the Hessian army, but later joined the Colonial army in the Jersey campaign. Two great-great-uncles on the mother's side, named Roderigue. were officers in the French army during the Revolution. Mr. Scanlan's grandfather, his great-grandfather Scanlan, and his great- great-grandfather Lawrence, were all farmers. His great-grandfather Scanlan was in the war of 1812, and commissioned an ensign by Gov- ernor Simon Snyder in the rifle company attached to the First Battalion, One Hundred and Forty-second Regiment of Pennsylvania troops.
John E. Scanlan (father) was reared on a farm and went to Ebens- burg to study law when a young man, but soon after enlisted in the Eleventh Pennsylvania Reserves, and was wounded and captured in the engagement at Gaines Mills, but was exchanged soon after and returned to Ebensburg, where he resumed the study of law. and was later ad- mitted to the bar. He married the only daughter of Hon. R. L. John-
Robert Scanlan
THEE NEW YORK PUTLI LERAGY
Astor en a w iliden 1 & 15,
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ston, and soon after he entered into a law practice partnership with him. This partnership existed to the time of Mr. Johnston's elevation to the bench. Mr. Scanlan continued in practice until his death in 1886. Politically he was a Democrat, but never an office seeker. He was a member of the Catholic church, and one of Ebensburg's most highly re- spected citizens.
Robert Scanlan, the subject, remained at home until he was eighteen years of age. He was educated in the common schools and at the age just named he associated himself with the newspaper business, with which he was connected for a number of years. In 1887 he entered the private banking house of Johnston, Buck & Company, of Ebensburg, as a clerk, and remained with them until 1897, when he was made nrst assistant cashier of the First National Bank of Ebensburg. He served there until 1902, when the American National Bank was organized, and he was made its cashier and a director of the new financial institution, with which he is still connected. Mr. Scanlan is a supporter of the Democratic party, and is of the Catholic faith.
He has been twice married, first to Miss Caroline Gompers, of In- diana, Pennsylvania. By this union were born Mary E. and Richard G. Mrs. Scanlan died in 1893, and Mr. Scanlan married Mrs. May Gibbons, of Johnstown, June 12, 1900, by whom he has one daughter, Margaret Louise, born June 2, 1906.
OTTO HUEBNER, of the firm of Bader & Company, contractors in stone and street pavements, of Johnstown, was born November 4, 1857, in Langd, Hesse-Darmstadt, Germany, son of John Huebner, who was born at the same place, in 1834, and learned the trade of a stone mason, which he followed all his life. In 1870'John Huebner emigrated with his wife and family to the United States, landing in New York from the steamer "Germania" and proceeding thence direct to Johnstown, Penn- sylvania, where he obtained employment at his trade. He afterward engaged in contract work, assisting in the erection of Alma Hall, Louther & Green's block, the old library building, which was destroyed by the flood, the Kimple block, on Clinton street, and others. He established his home in Pine street, now in the Seventh ward of the city, living there to the close of his life. During his residence in Johnstown he made many friends, and was highly esteemed by all who knew him for his excellent traits of character. In polities he always voted with the Demo- cratic party. He was a member of the German Lutheran church. He married, in Germany, Elizabeth Shelt, and they were the parents of the following children: Otto, of whom later: Louis; Henry; Emma; Au- gusta, wife of August Koch, of Johnstown; John, and George, of Johns- town. Of these children, Otto, Augusta and George are the sole sur- vivors. The father died in 1886, at the age of fifty-two, and the mother is still living, being now ( 1907) seventy years old.
Otto Huebner, son of John and Elizabeth (Shelt) Huebner, at- tended school in Germany until the age of thirteen years, when he ac- companied his parents to the United States. At fourteen he began his apprenticeship to his father's trade of stone-masonry, and at twenty-one went into business with his brother Louis, and began taking contracts. The partnership was dissolved by the death of Louis in 1894, after which the firm of Bader & Company was formed, consisting of Charles Bader, John Kammer and Otto Huebner. The organization has remained un- changed to the present day and has carried on an extensive business. They furnished the stone-work for the Brownstown overhead bridge,
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HISTORY OF CAMBRIA COUNTY.
and have paved many streets for the city, taking contracts for these every year. They have also laid the foundations of the following structures: The large brick building on the corner of Franklin and Somerset streets. owned by John Thomas: the Johnstown Irradiator Company's plant: the Johnstown Paper Mill: the Ellis building on Washington street, and the German Lutheran school building. The house now occupied by Mr. Huebner was built by him in 1885. He be- longs to the Johnstown Turnverein, and, like his father, is in politics a stanch Democrat. He and his wife are members of the German Lu- theran Zion's church.
Mr. Huebner married. in 1880, Katharine Kuckuck, and their family consists of the following children: Clara. wife of George Os- theim, of Johnstown. Albert W., of Johnstown, married Lilian Bar- rick. Frank L. Mrs. Huebner is a daughter of Christopher and Kath- arine Kuckuck. of Johnstown, to whom have been born several children.
RAAB FAMILY. For more than thirty years the name of the firm of John Raab & Sons, wholesale liquor dealers, has been familiar to the citizens of Johnstown. the distinction earned by the late John Raah, founder of the business, having been maintained by his sons, Henry J. Raab and Charles Vomhof Raab.
Conrad Raab, founder of the American branch of the family, was born at, Inheiden. Hesse-Darmstadt. Germany, where he engaged in farming. being in moderately prosperous circumstances. In 1853 he emigrated with his wife and family to the United States, settling at Ben's Creek, Cambria county, where he was employed at the furnace and obtained a contract for delivering ore to the furnace. After a short time he moved to Johnstown, making his home on Singer street, and finding employment in the old Cambria coke yard. Several years before his death he retired from active labor. He was an active member of the German Lutheran church. Conrad Raab married Susannah Reitz, who bore him the following children : Sophia, deceased, was wife of George Kniss. farmer of Mill Creek. John. of whom later. Henry, de- ceased, of Johnstown, married Catharine Hahn. George, married Kate Iledrick, both drowned in flood with several of their children. Tina. died soon after her marriage to Conrad Hahn. Conrad Raab, the father, died in 1872, aged seventy-two years. and is buried in Sandyvale ceme- tery. He was survived many years by his widow, whose death occurred in Johnstown, in 1893, when she had attained the advanced age of eighty- three. She was widely known as a mid-wife. and until late in life prac- tised extensively among the best families of Johnstown and the vicinity. having. it is estimated, brought into the world as many as two thousand persons. To the end of her days she was hearty, vigorous and bright- minded.
John Raab. son of Conrad and Susannah (Reitz) Raab, was born January 9. 1837, in Inheiden. Hesse-Darmstadt. Germany. and attended school until the age of fourteen. At sixteen he came with his parents to the United States and worked with his father at the furnace at Ben's Creek. also driving a team in the coke vards of the Cambria Iron Com- pany. Later he drove a team in the metal yard. and was afterward en- gaged for ten years in puddling. At the end of that time, in 1870. he established himself in the saloon business on Clinton street, on land ad- joining St. John's parsonage. and later purchased the site now occupied by the Clinton House. In 1872 he engaged in the wholesale liquor busi- ness in Washington street. beginning in a small way, and gradually en-
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larging the scope of his transactions as trade inereased. His prosperous course was temporarily interrupted by the flood, which washed away the building in which he had then conducted business for nearly twenty years, but in 1890, with undaunted courage, he erected his present estab- lishment on the site of the former structure. This building, the dimen- sions of which are thirty-three by sixty feet, has three stories and is equipped with all modern improvements. In 1893, in consequence of failing health, he took as a partner his son, Henry J. Raab, and in 1895 admitted another son, Charles Vomhof Raab, the name of the firm then becoming John Raab & Sons, as it still continues. He affiliated with the Democratie party until ten years before his death, when he identified himself with the Republicans. He and his wife were among the earliest members of the Johnstown German Lutheran church.
Mr. Raab married, in 1860, in Johnstown, Elizabeth, born in 1843, in Biedenkopf, Hesse-Darmstadt, Germany, only child of George and Catherine (Unverzagt) Vomhof, by whom, at the age of seven years, she was brought to the United States. Mr. and Mrs. Raab were the parents of the following children: 1. George, born September 6, 1861, deceased. 2. Henry J., of whom later. 3. John, born September 15, 1865, carpenter of Johnstown ; was married twice ; his first wife, Justina (Unverzagt) Raab, born in Biedenkopf, Hesse-Darmstadt, Germany, died June 1, ---; to this union two children were born: George, and Anna, died in infancy. The second time he married Jennie Yutzie ; children, Mabel, Hazel, John Theodore, and others. 4. Cathrine, born May 29. 1868, deceased. 5. Amelia S., born March 3, 1871, married Frederick W. Speck, May 27, 1890; Mr. Speck died April 13, 1900; to this union four children were born: John H., Frederick V., Ralph C., James E. 6. Charles Vomhof, of whom later. 7. Anna E., born May 6, 1875. wife of Professor Fritz John, who was born in Breslau, Silesia. Germany, and in 1885 came to the United States. He resided in various places, attending school in Milwaukee in 1893-94. At the outbreak of the Spanish-American war he enlisted, April 26, 1898. in the Illinois Volunteer Infantry, and served in Cuba and Porto Rico. At the close of the war he was discharged and took up his abode in Johnstown, in October, 1899, sinee which time he has been physical instructor at the Johnstown Turnverein. Mr. and Mrs. John have no children. 8. Jus- tina, born June 25, 1879, wife of Lewis Wolf, of Westmont: children. Earl and Theodore. 9. James Otto, born February 9, 1882, attended public schools until 1899, since which time he has been employed in the store of his brothers.
The death of Mr. Raab, the father of this large family, occurred December 18. 1898, and was deeply and sincerely mourned by the large circle of his friends and by many more who knew and respected him as a man and a citizen. His entire course was characterized by the strictest business integrity, and. although of a reserved disposition, he was a man of kind and generous feelings. Mrs. Raab died December 4, 1896, at the comparatively early age of fifty-three.
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