USA > Pennsylvania > Cambria County > History of Cambria County, Pennsylvania, Volume III > Part 58
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HISTORY OF CAMBRIA COUNTY.
Elizabeth Leidy; Harrison, married Mattie Jones; Edwin, married (first ) Mollie Coolbaugh, married (second) Lonisa Snyder: David, married Ellen Shaffer: and Philip, married Polly Shoemaker. The children of Timothy and Lydia (Burkhart ) Davis were: 1. Josephine, married Daniel Kerr. 2. Susan Jane, married W. W. Dunmire. 3. Esther, married John Gray. 4. Flora, married Daniel Custer. 5. Howard, see forward. 6. Thomas B., deceased. 7. Harry, un- married. 8. D. Webster, see forward.
Howard Davis, third child and eldest son of Timothy and Lydia (Burkhart) Davis. was born in Jackson township, Pennsylvania, Oc- tober 18, 1860. His education was obtained in the common schools of the township, and he then engaged in the lumber business, which he followed for a number of years. Later he removed to Conemaugh, where he established himself in the butcher business. At the expiration of four years his place of business was totally destroyed by the great flood of May 31, 1889, and he with difficulty saved the lives of himself and his family. He was postmaster at the time of the great flood, and filled that office very acceptably until the accession of Cleveland to the presidency. He then devoted his attention to the undertaking busi- ness and also to dealing in real estate. His time is chiefly given to the latter interests; his son Osear is looking after the undertaking business. In addition to his private business affairs, Mr. Davis is director and was one of the organizers of the First National Bank of Conemaugh. His political faith is pinned to the Republican party, in whose councils his voice is of decided influence. He was for a time constable of Jack- son township, and in February, 1894, the office of burgess of Cone- maugh was tendered him. He married. October 3, 1879, Martha Jane ' Long, daughter of John E. and Sarah E. (McGaughey) Long. John E. Long was born in Bedford county, Pennsylvania, in 1814, and died in Jackson township, February 9, 1886. He was the son of William and Martha J. Long, the former of whom was born in Ger- many and came to this country in the early part of the seventeenth century and settled in Bedford county. They had ten children: John E., mentioned above, Francis, Christopher, Jacob, Benjamin, Jeremiah. William, Mary, Sarah and Fanny. John Long, at the age of four years, removed with his parents to Indiana county, and lived on a farm, on the site of which Greenville is now located. Later he moved to the north of Indiana county, where he lived until 1878, when he purchased the Brallier farm in Cambria county, and where he died. He followed the profession of teaching for twelve years, but the largest part of his active life was devoted to agriculture and stock raising. He was a con- sistent member of the Baptist church for fifty years, and for many years was deacon in that institution. He was a man of importance and influence in the community and held a number of the township offices. He married, in 1847, Sarah E. McGaughey, born January 31, 1826, daughter of James and Mary Ann (Dodson) MeGaughey. James McGaughey was a son of John and Jane (Latimer) McGaughey, the former born in the eastern part of Pennsylvania, 1771, a son of Thomas and Margaret (Marshall) MeGaughey. and by occupation a farmer. James McGaughey, born in Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania, Sep- tember 27, 1798, lived in Mahoning township, Indiana county, until 1863, when he removed to Cherry Hill township, in the same county, and resided there until his death, which occurred May 26, 1876. The children of John E. and Sarah E. (MeGanghey) Long were: 1. Mollie, married D. W. Brallier. 2. Martha Jane, mentioned above. 3. Carrie
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M., married John P. Hipple. 4. Jessie, married George K. Angus. 5. Emma, deceased, married Joshua Donahue. 6. Richard S .. mar- ried Sarah J. Hazlet. 7. James ., married Alice Anderson. 8. John. deceased, married Sadie Boreing. The children of Howard and Martha Jane (Long) Davis were: 1. Oscar M., who served with distinction during the Spanish-American war, born JJune 2. 1881. 2. Selden C., July 17. 1883, deceased. 3. Mabel, March 21, 1885. 4. Carl, May 25, 1891. 5. Edna J., November 29. 1898.
(III) D. Webster Davis, fourth son and youngest child of Tim- othy (2) and Lydia (Burkhart) Davis, was born in Jackson township, July 9, 1872. He received a good common school education and then entered the Western University of Pittsburg, from which he was gradu- ated in 1897. His first business venture was as a telegraph operator for the Pennsylvania Railroad Company, between Cresson and South Fork, principally at South Fork. This he abandoned at the end of two years. At this he worked eight hours per day, and in the evenings he was employed in a drug store in Conemangh, where his earliest experi- ence of the drug business was obtained. He then established himself in the drug business in Conemangh, and was the proprietor of a well- appointed and most modern store, meeting public requirements in every particular. He was one of the most highly respected business men of Conemangh, and was the president and one of the organizers of the First National Bank of Conemangh; secretary of the Conemangh Improvement Company ; and director of the Building and Loan Associa- tion. His political support was given to the Republican party, and he held several borongh offices. He was school director for three years and borough committeeman for some time. He was a member of the following organizations: Johnstown Lodge, No. 538, Free and Accepted Masons: Oriental Commandery: Jaffa Shrine, of Altoona; Protective Home Circle; Junior Order of American Mechanics; and the Order of Telegraph Operators.
He married, November 3, 1897, Elda O. Dunmire, daughter of Amos and Anna (Bumgarden) Dunmire. Amos Dunmire, born 1846, in Adams township, Cambria county, Pennsylvania, was foreman of the car inspectors of the Pennsylvania Railroad Company for many years and also held the offices of school director and treasurer of the borough for a considerable length of time. The children of D. Webster and Elda O. (Dunmire) Davis were: Annie, born August 31, 1898; and Weldo, born July 22, 1900, deceased. Mr. D. Webster Davis died March 6, 1906.
CAPTAIN THOMAS DAVIS, one of the most notable figures in Cambria county. residing in Ebensburg, Pennsylvania, and who greatly distinguished himself during the Civil war, is a descendant of a good Welsh family.
Richard Davis, father of Captain Thomas Davis, was born in North Wales, 1791, died in June, 1863. He came to America about 1812, located in Ebensburg, Cambria county, Pennsylvania, where he remained for a number of years, removing then to Cambria township and estab- lishing what is now the old Davis homestead. He removed to a point near Ebensburg. in 1833, residing there for about eight years, going then into Jackson township, where he cleared another farm, built a house, and resided there until his death, his active life being entirely devoted to farming pursuits. He was an old line Whig, one of the foremost citizens of the county, and held various township offices. He
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HISTORY OF CAMBRIA COUNTY.
was a consistent and exemplary member of the Congregational church. Ile married Elizabeth Roberts, born in Cambria county, Pennsylvania, daughter of William Roberts. William Roberts emigrated to America from Wales about 1805, landing in New York city. He married a Welsh lady, and shortly afterward migrated to Cambria county, settling in the wilderness about two miles southeast of Ebensburg, Pennsylvania. He lived here for a number of years and then removed two miles farther out on the Pittsburg and Philadelphia pike, where he built a house and engaged in the mercantile business, with which he was associated during the remaining years of his life. In religion he was a Baptist, and in polities, probably an old line Whig. He died about 1835. The children of Richard and Elizabeth ( Roberts) Davis were: 1. Elizabeth. married David W. Jones, deceased. 2. William, de- ceased. 3. Hannah, deceased. 4. Catherine, married Edward Davis. deceased. 5. Timothy R., formerly a prosperous lumberman, died at Conemangh. 6. Captain Thomas, of whom later. 7. Jane, married Milton Jones, of Ebensburg. 8. Martha, married Jackson Ross, of Reynoldsville, Pennsylvania. 9. Mary, widow of Luther Stiles, resides in Ebensburg. 10. David, a retired merchant and insurance broker of Johnstown, Pennsylvania.
Captain Thomas Davis, third son and sixth child of Richard and Elizabeth (Roberts) Davis, was born about two miles southeast of Ebensburg, Cambria county, Pennsylvania, October 7, 1831. He was educated in the common schools of his township and began his business life as a farmer, but while still quite a young man engaged in lumber- ing in Cambria county, with which he was identified from 1854 until the breaking ont of the Civil war. Fired with enthusiasm and patriot- ism, Thomas Davis, in common with other brave men, enlisted in the service of his country. His first work for the great canse was recruiting one hundred and twenty men for the United States Regulars, Nineteenth Regiment, which had its headquarters in Indianapolis, In- diana. When the company-Company C-was organized, he was made first sergeant, and served as such until after the battle of Chickamauga, when he was promoted. being commissioned second lieutenant; abont four months later he was promoted to the rank of first lientenant, and served in this rank until the elose of the war. In many of the import- ant engagements of the war he was the acting captain of his company. He commanded his company during the battle of Stone River, in which the company entered the engagement with thirty-two men, and emerged with one-half that number, the other half being either killed, wounded, or taken prisoner. Again, at Chickamanga, he commanded his com- pany (Company C) and of the regiment of three hundred and sixty- five enlisted men and nine commissioned officers, but sixty-nine enlisted men and three commissioned officers returned from the fray, the others having been killed, wounded, or captured-the regiment being literally ent to pieces. Captain Davis served in all three years, seven months. and seventeen days, during that time taking part in thirty-two engage- ments. He was in the battles of Pittsburg Landing, Stone River, Resaca. Chickamauga, Lookout Mountain, and Missionary Ridge, lead- ing the charge up the hill. These were the hardest fought battles of the war. From Missionary Ridge, covering a distance of one hundred and twenty-two miles from Chattanooga to Atlanta and fall of latter, he participated in all the engagements of that campaign. He was with Sherman at Atlanta and saw the city burned. After Atlanta, the regular brigade was ordered baek to reinforce Thomas at Nashville,
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and was in the big fight when Hood's army was destroyed. Captain Davis resigned from the service because of ill health.
For one year following the close of the war he was engaged in farming, and then entered upon a mercantile and lumber-dealing busi- ness, with his brothers, in Ebensburg, under the firm name of Davis Brothers. In 1887 he retired from business and went to South Dakota. remaining there for three years, in order to try to rid himself of a severe asthmatic trouble. Upon his return to Ebensburg he engaged in the real estate business, with which he was prominently and success- fully identified until his recent retirement from active business life. He has been a conspicuous figure in Cambria county for many years. In politics he is an independent Republican, and has always been a dominant factor in the conventions of his party in Cambria county. He has repeatedly served as a member of the borough council, and is at present (1906) president of that body. In 1876 he accepted the nomination for sheriff, and notwithstanding the fact that the county was Democratie by one thousand two hundred and sixty-eight votes, he was defeated by only two hundred and eleven votes, his showing being a very creditable one. He was chosen by his party, in 1900, to represent them in the legislature, and in 1902 was re-elected, serving on the railroad committee both terms: also served as chairman of the local judiciary, corporations, public health and sanitation. At both elections he was given a handsome majority. He has been a very successful business man, and is the owner of the beautiful Fenwick Hall Hotel property and many other valuable properties in Ebens- burg, as well as a good deal of coal property. His life has been a strenuous, clean and upright one, and his friends are legion. Captain Davis is member of G. A. R., John M. Jones Post, also member of Congregational church. He is a stockholder in the American National Bank of Ebensburg, Pennsylvania. He is president and one of the organizers of the Ebensburg and Blacklick Electric Railroad Company.
He married, December 20, 1864, Susan Burkhart, daughter of Joseph Burkhart, and they have had four children: 1. Frederick W., deceased. 2. Schuyler C .. married Minnie Stough, resides in Ebens- burg. 3. Izora, married Lester Larimer, of Ebensburg, a sketch of whom appears elsewhere in this work. 4. Thomas Stanton, for six years private secretary to Congressman J. D. Hicks, now in the real estate business and owner of extensive coal lands and Ebensburg properties.
M. C. WESTOVER, of Barnesboro, was born October 7. 1862, and is a representative of a family long resident in the county. His grandfather, John Westover. was born in 1804, in Blair county, and when about twenty years of age moved to Susquehanna township, Cambria county, where he passed the active years of his life in farm- ing and in the lumber business. He was active in the Republican party and in the Baptist church. John Westover married Nancy Sechler, and their children were: Oliver, David, Joseph, of whom later: Walker, Isaac, Elizabeth, wife of Joseph Bolbin; Jane, wife of John Myers: Mary, wife of Benjamin McKee: Lavinia, wife of John Smith ; and two who died in infancy. After the death of the mother of these children Mr. Westover married Mrs. Sarah Nugent, the issue of the marriage being one child. John G. The death of Mr. West- over occurred in 1886.
Joseph Westover, son of John and Naney (Sechler) Westover,
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HISTORY OF CAMBRIA COUNTY.
was born in 1835, on the homestead in Susquehanna township, and like his father he engaged in farming in connection with the lumber business. The site of his farm is now occupied by the town of Amy. He affiliated with the Republicans, and for many years was a deacon in the Baptist church. He married Mary, daughter of Abraham and Elizabeth Bartlebaugh, and they were the parents of the following children: Willis, born 1859, lives on the homestead; M. C., of whom later: John L., born 1865; Abraham, born 1868, farmer on his grand- father's homestead: Thersey, born 1870, died 1876; and Jane, born 1872. died 1877. Mr. Westover died September 30, 1876.
M. C. Westover, son of Joseph and Mary ( Bartlebaugh) West- over, attended the common schools until the age of fourteen, when the death of his father obliged him to assume the responsibility of the family, and he accordingly engaged in the lumber business, to which he has given his attention ever since. In 1893 he engaged in mer- cantile business in Spangler, and in 1900 took as a partner Franklin MeAnulty, the business being continued until October 1. 1905, under the firm name of Westover & McAnulty. During this period the partners were also humbermen and likewise contractors and builders. In 1905 they sold out the business and organized the M. C. Westover Lumber Company. They now carry on one of the largest wholesale and retail lumber enterprises in the county, and are also extensive contractors and builders. Mr. Westover is a director of the First National Bank of Barnesboro and president of the Building & Loan Association. For seven years he has held the office of councilman. He is a stanch Republican and a deacon and trustee in the Baptist church of Barnesboro.
Mr. Westover married Sarah, daughter of Walker and Annie Westover, of Clearfield county, and four children have been born to them: Paul, born March 17, 1898: Ruth, born August 17, 1902, and two who died in infancy.
DAVID J. BOUGHER. of Barnesboro, was born June 8, 1859, in Cambria county, and is a son of David Bougher, a native of Berks county, who came as a young man to the northern part of Cambria county, where he lived as a farmer until about two years before his death, when he moved to Blair county and there passed the residue of his days. He was a Democrat and a member of the Baptist church. He married Susanna Anderson, and their children were: Henry, of Altoona : Lizzie. wife of Hiram Edmiston ; John, deceased; David J., of whom later; Anderson, deceased; Andrew, of Altoona; Abram, of Barneshoro; Emma, wife of Henry Wilt, of Blair county; and two who died in infancy.
David J. Bougher, son of David and Susanna ( Anderson ) Bougher, received his education in the common schools, and at the age of twenty- one began working for himself. In 1897 he established the Central Hotel in Barnesboro, of which he was for two years the proprietor, and in 1901 went into the wholesale liquor business, which he carried 'on for eighteen months. In 1903 he purchased the furniture and undertaking business of C. A. Buck and conducted it for a short time : under the firm name of Bougher & Bearer. He then bought out his partner's interest and associated with himself Harry B. MeMillin. since which time the business has been conducted under the firm name of Bougher & MeMillin, the establishment being the largest of its kind in Cambria county. He is president of the Rodkey Label Com-
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pany, which has recently been organized in Spangler borough, and he is also a director in the Building & Loan Association of Barnesboro. For five years he was a member of the first council of the town. He affiliates with the Heptasophs of Carrolltown, and is a Republican in politics.
Mr. Bougher married Annie, daughter of Daniel and Martha Long, old residents of Cambria county, and the following children have been born to them: Mollie, at home; Grant, graduate of high school; Lelah, at home; Oshia, Vallie, Marlon, Ioa, Mabel, Lydia, Edgar, and Hilda.
WILLIAM M. SMITH, general manager of the Commercial Coal Mining Company of Pennsylvania, director and vice-president of the Cresson Foundry, Machine & Car Company at Cresson, and one of the organizers of the Auld Run Coal Company, of which he is treas- urer, is one of the most progressive and enterprising men in Cambria county, Pennsylvania. He is a descendant of the early settlers of the state.
Daniel Smith, father of William M. Smith, was born on Chestnut Hill, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 1814, where he was reared. Soon after his marriage he removed to Luzerne county, Pennsylvania. where he engaged in the lumber trade and later in farming. He resided there until his death, which occurred in 1876. Politically he was a Repub- lican, and in religion a Presbyterian. He married Sarah Brutzman, and they had twelve children, of whom four are now living: Adam, resides in Twin Rocks, Cambria county, Pennsylvania; Charles, lives in Luzerne county, Pennsylvania; Melvina, married Lawrence Rogers and lives in Hastings, Cambria county, Pennsylvania ; and William M., of whom later.
William M. Smith, son of Daniel and Sarah (Brutzman) Smith, was born in Luzerne county, Pennsylvania, November 4, 1850. He was reared at home and acquired his education in the public schools. As early as his eleventh year he went to work as a breaker boy in the mines at Plainsville, which was his home at the time. One year later, however, he went to work on the canal and followed this calling up to the fall of 1865, when he again took up work in the mines in Lu- zerne county. He now worked in the capacity of driver, and from this position he passed upward through the various grades, learning in detail and practically the different branches of the mining industry. In June, 1886, he went to the mountains as the superintendent of the Gallitzin Coal & Coke Company, which is located in Gallitzin, Cambria county, Pennsylvania. Two years later this company was absorbed by the Mitchell Coal & Coke Company, and Mr. Smith was made general superintendent of the new company, as well as of the Chest Creek Coal & Coke Company, he remaining in this capacity until the spring of 1901, when this company was absorbed by the Webster Coal & Coke Company, with whom Mr. Smith remained for three months as general superintendent. He resigned this position and came to Ebens- burg to act as general superintendent of the Pennsylvania Coal & Coke Company, which company had been formed by Mr. Mitchell, Mr. Smith's former employer. Mr. Smith continued in this position until the beginning of 1903, resigning it to become one of the organizers . of the Commercial Coal Mining Company, operating in Cambria and Bedford counties, one of the most successful organizations of its kind. He was made general manager of this company, which office he is still holding, being one of the best known coal operators in western Penn-
Om Mr. Smith
THE NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY Aster, Lenox and Tilden Foundations, 1909
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sylvania. He also has charge of the Big Ben Coal Mining Company at Twin Roeks, Cambria county. He has been one of the most promi- nent men in the development of the coal industry in this section of Pennsylvania, and has had charge of the construction and development of the following: The Chest Creek properties, at Hastings; the two properties at Bens Creek, Cambria ; the sinking of the shaft at Beaver- dale, on the South Fork; the shaft at Sonman, Cambria county; the Prospect shaft, at Houtzdale; the Beulah shaft in Clearfield county ; the three openings at Moss creek, Cambria county; three openings at Black Liek, Cambria county; and the Slope Mines at the east end of the Gallitzin tunnel. He was one of the pioneers in the field of coal development in this county. In polities he is a Republican, and is a member of Valley Lodge, No. 499, Free and Accepted Masons, of Pitts- ton, Pennsylvania.
Mr. Smith married, in 1870, Alice Dixon, daughter of John Dixon, at the time a resident of Luzerne county, Pennsylvania, but a native of England, as were his wife and daughter. Mr. and Mrs. Smith had nine children, of whom six are now living: 1. May, married Harry Greist, of Ebensburg, Pennsylvania. 2. William, lives at home. 3. John, at home. 4. Frank, at home. 5. Ethel, at home. 6. Ruth, at home. The family are attendants of the Presbyterian church.
CHARLES V. FLICK, deceased, formerly of Spangler, was born June 9, 1873, in Allegheny township, son of Peter C. Flick, and grandson of Charles Flick, who was born in Germany, whenee he emigrated to the United States, settling in the western part of Penn- sylvania, where he engaged in farming. Charles Flick married Terresa Herdsoch, and their children were: Philip, Peter C., of whom later; Jerome, William, deceased: Rachel, widow of Jacob Sherry; Ella, deceased ; Rosie, also deceased; Mary Ann, widow of John Bender; and Matilda, wife of Thomas Bishop.
Peter C. Flick, son of Charles and Terresa ( Herdtoch) Fliek, was born, 1849, in Cambria county, and learned the trade of carpenter, which he followed for some years. Later he turned his attention to farming, from which he has recently retired. He has held several township offices, among them those of assessor and tax collector. In politics he is a Democrat. He and his family are members of the Roman Catholic church. Mr. Flick married Rose Ann, daughter of Valentine Bishop, and they have been the parents of the following children : Charles V., of whom later; Edward M., hotel proprietor of Benediek, Pennsylvania: William F., farmer on homestead: Terresa, wife of Richard MeKensie; Cordelia, single: Clement C., blacksmith of Spangler: Callistus M., died in childhood; Walter, at home; and Osear. also at home.
Charles V. Flick, son of Peter ft. and Rose Ann (Bishop) Flick, was edueated in the common schools, and at the age of twenty went into business as a buteher with his brother Edward M., having stores both in Spangler and Barnesboro. These were conducted four or five years under the firm name of Fliek Brothers, after which Mr. Flick purchased his brother's interest and for about three years continued the business alone. He then purchased of the Hopple estate the Cen- tral Hotel, of which he was the proprietor until his death, March 14. 1906. He was one of the organizers of the Building & Loan Asso- eiation of Spangler and served as one of the directors up to the time of his death. For three years he held the office of borough auditor
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and for the same length of time served on the school board. He was treasurer of Lodge No. 32, C. M. B. A .. of Spangler, Lodge No. 399, Improved Order of Red Men, of Barnesboro, in which he passed all chairs, Lodge No. 639, Heptasophs, of Carrolltown, in which he also passed chairs, and the National Protective Legion, No. 1144. In poi- ities he was a staneh Democrat. His family are members of the Roman Catholic church.
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