USA > Pennsylvania > Cambria County > History of Cambria County, Pennsylvania, Volume III > Part 61
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The death of Mr. Haynes, which occurred December 16, 1905, de- prived his family of an excellent husband and father, the community of one of its best citizens and the township of one of its leading farmers. The farm and the business have since been managed by his widow.
WILLIAM FENDER, of Johnstown, was born February 13, 1851, in Richland township, son of Frederick Fender, who was the only son in a family of three children, and at the age of fourteen cmigrated from Germany and settled in Cambria county. He married Elizabeth Keiper, likewise a native of the Fatherland, whence she came, at the age of thirteen, to the United States.
William Fender, son of Frederick and Elizabeth ( Keiper) Fender, was still a young child when his parents moved to Somerset county, settling near Thomas' Mills, where they purchased a farm known as the Wegans farm. He enjoyed but few advantages of education, at- tending a subscription school, where, owing to the large number of pupils, which amounted to eighty, he could receive but little of the teacher's attention. When he was fifteen years old his parents sold the farm on which they lived and bought a farm known as the John Walter estate, in Upper Yoder township. This farm, which originally consisted of one hundred and ninety-eight acres, is now owned by William Fender, who in 1903 sold thirty-three acres.
January 1, 1876. Mr. Fender set out for Illinois, where he remained seven years, and in 1883 moved to eastern Nebraska. There, for three years, he engaged in farming, and in 1886 went to western Nebraska, taking up a homestead claim and remaining sixteen years. At the end of that time, in 1902. he sold the property and returned to Upper Yoder
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township, where he purchased the homestead on which he has sinee lived. He cultivates the land with a view to general farming, disposing of his products in the Johnstown market. He is a Democrat and a member of the Baptist church.
Mr. Fender married, in Illinois, November 29, 1877, Mary Jane Dillon, and they are the parents of the following children: 1. James Frederick, born May 29, 1879, of Julesburg, Colorado, married, two children. 2. Mary Melissa, born October 10, 1881, teacher. 3. Carrie Provey, born September 8, 1883. 4. William Jacob, born May 29, 1885. 5. Hattie May, born December 21, 1888. 6. Bessie Jane, born March 5, 1891.
JOIIN WILLIAM KEPHART, one of the prominent attorneys-at- law of Ebensburg, as well as a leading factor in many of the business enterprises of the borough, was born in Wilmore. Cambria county, Pennsylvania, November 12, 1872. He is the son of Lieutenant Samuel A. and Henrietta B. (Wolfe) Kephart. He is one of five children born to his parents, four of whom survive. They are: Hon. Harmon M., ex-member of the legislature, retired at Connellsville, Pennsylvania. Captain Samuel A., captain of artillery in the United States army, commanding Fort Warren, at Boston, Massachusetts. Gertrude R., wife of Dudley Tate Esby, residing at Lockhaven, Pennsylvania. John William, see forward.
John Kephart, the great-great-grandfather of John W. Kephart, was one of six brothers-Nicholas, Adam, Jacob, Daniel, Caleb and John-of German-Swiss origin, who settled in Berks county, Pennsyl- vania, remaining from 1750 to 1760. Jacob and Caleb remained in Berks county ; Daniel moved to Maryland; Nicholas, Adam and John moved to Northampton county, Pennsylvania; Nicholas and Adam moved to Center and then to Clearfield county: John remained in Moore township, Northampton county. John Kephart was enrolled during the Revolutionary war, 1778 to 1783.
His son, John Kephart, great-grandfather of John W. Kephart, was born January 7, 1780, died July 26. 1847. He moved into what was then Huntingdon county, having first been married, along about 1811, the earliest record appearing in 1816 on the assessments of Hunt- ingdon county. A history of his life may be found in J. S. Africa's history of Huntingdon and Blair County, page 105. His wife, Nancy Kephart, was born September 18, 1789, died July 28, 1847. They set- tled in Frankstown township, Huntingdon county, now Blair county, on a tract of land of four hundred acres, obtaining a squatter's right. About that time Peter Shoenberg was operating the iron works at McKee's Gap, near East Freedom, and timber being needed by him for charcoal for his works, he prevailed upon Kephart and eaused him to believe that he (Shoenberg) had the lawful title to the land by warrant from the commonwealth. and after a sundry system of annoyances cal- culated to disturb the peace of mind of anyone, for a small sum of fifty eents a year Peter Shoenberg would rent the premises to him, provided he got the fire wood ; but he soon began to make demands on them contrary to the lease and finally came with a foree of men and tore the house in which they were living down. compelling them to move. They afterwards located near this four hundred acre tract and raised their family, and both great-grandparents died there. Kephart after- wards was a blacksmith by occupation and worked up to within a few days of his death. He was the father of twelve children: John, born
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March 12, 1807. Elizabeth, May 18, 1808. George, see forward. Mar- garet, August 12, 1812. Jacob. 1813. Samuel, June 21, 1815. Jane, May 19, 1817. Jonathan, October 25, 1818. Nancy, May 9, 1820. Christian, May 9, 1821. Mary Ann, June 6, 1823. Isaac, April 16, 1825.
George Kephart, grandfather of John W. Kephart, was born at East Freedom. Blair county, Pennsylvania, March 30, 1810, was an agrieulturist, and in polities an ardent Whig. He is known to have been a man of sterling traits of character. He married Rebecca Farber. Their children were: Harmon P., John B., Rachel C., Samuel A. (see forward), David Ake, Sarah A. and George W. George Kephart (father) died March 25. 1849.
Lieutenant Samuel A. Kephart, father of John W. Kephart, born in Blair county. May, 1842. was reared in Blair county, and at the breaking out of the war, at the age of nineteen, enlisted as a member of the One Hundred and Twenty-fifth Regiment of Pennsylvania Vol- unteeers. He was one of the organizers of Company C, and was chosen its lieutenant. He served in this capacity for nine months, during this time participating in several important engagements, among which was the battle of South Mountain Pass and Antietam. After his re- turn from the Civil war he married, and soon after located in Cam- bria county, engaging in the mercantile business at Wilmore, where he was identified as a merchant to the time of his death. He was a stanch Republican and held several appointive offices under the state government at Harrisburg. He was a candidate for different county offices. in the strong Democratic county. and was defeated by a small majority. He was a highly successful business man, and noted as being one of the best musicians and violin players in western Pennsyl- vania. He died at an early age, being only thirty-three years of age at the time of his death, in 1875. His wife, Henrietta (Wolfe) Kephart, whom he married in 1866, was the daughter of John and Mary Wolfe, and the granddaughter of a brother of the former governor of Pennsyl- vania. She is still living, resides in Cresson and is the present wife of Conrad Wenderoth. Five children were born to their union, Herman M., Schuyler C. (since deceased ), Samuel A .. Gertrude R., and John W. John William Kephart. from his fifth year of age was educated in the Soldiers' Orphans' School at McAllistersville, Pennsylvania, where he remained until his sixteenth year. Upon leaving the academy at McAllistersville, he took up telegraphy, in Wilmore, and followed it for two years. Through economy he saved enough money during that period to pay his tuition in the Allegheny College at Meadville, Penn- sylvania, which he entered and attended two terms. He returned home and soon entered Dickinson College, Carlisle, graduating from the law department in 1894, with the degree of LL. B. He then returned to Cambria county and engaged in the study of law in the office of Hon. W. Horace Rose. Johnstown. where he continued until he was admitted to the bar in 1895. He then practiced there a short time and moved to Ebensburg. opening a law office there. Upon his arrival at Ebensburg his professional career was beset with many difficulties, and for a few months his prospect looked gloomy. His particular efforts were directed in the line of corporation work, and his ability along this line were rewarded and snecess came to him rapidly. He has been the organizer of many corporations in Cambria county and elsewhere. He is president of the Ebensburg Light, Heat and Power Company and the Cresson Foundry. Machine and Car Company, and is identified with numerous other enterprises. Mr. Kephart is a member of Cambria
THE NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY
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Samuel A. Kephart
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Lodge, F. and A. M., at Johnstown, the Consistory at Williamsport, and the Syria Temple at Pittsburg; also Altoona Lodge, B. P. O. E. He is a stanch defender of Republican principles, and an influential factor in the work of the party in Cambria county.
Mr. Kephart married Florence M. Evans, daughter of Congress- man Alvin Evans, whose sketch appears in this work. The date of his marriage was December 1, 1904.
CAPTAIN SAMUEL A. KEPHART, a brother of John W. Kep- hart of Ebensburg, Pa., above mentioned, was born in Wilmore, Cam- bria county, Pennsylvania, October 30, 1868. At the age of eight years he with other members of his family was sent to McAlisterville Sol- diers' Orphan School, where he remained till he was sixteen years of age. After leaving this academy he studied telegraphy and accumu- lated sufficient money to enable him to enter the Highland Falls School for young men entering West Point Military Academy. In a competi- tive examination held at Somerset, Captain Kephart won the honors for the appointment as eadet in the United States Military Academy and after a short time at Highland Falls Academy, he entered that institu- tion, graduating from it in 1892 among the first of his class and with the rank of second lieutenant. He selected the artillery as the branch of the service of the United States army that he desired to enter and was detailed with the Fourth Regiment. He was with this regiment at the breaking out of the Spanish-American war when his battery was or- dered to Santiago and stationed with Gen. Lawton's division, Capt. Kephart partaking in the closing part of this memorable battle. At the close of the Spanish-American war, his battery was ordered to Montauk Point, from which place he was ordered to the Philippine Islands and saw service there for several months under General Lawton. Climatic conditions, however, forced his return to the United States, after several months' campaign on the Islands. He was finally appointed in com- mand of the Torpedo company at Fort Strong, Boston Harbor, at which place he is at this time located. During his career as an artillery officer he has held several important staff appointments and instructor at Fort Monroe, a post graduate school for officers graduating from West Point. He stands well up in the line of captains and is fifteenth in number from being made a major.
Captain Kephart is an accomplished musician and composer. He is a graduate of Fort Monroe Artillery School and Fort Totten Sub- marine Mine school.
LOUIS E. KAYLOR, editor and proprietor of the Cambria Tribune, which is noted for the fearless and independent attitude it takes in dealing with public affairs. and who is also owner of the old Kaylor farm, in Allegheny township, near Loretto, Cambria county, Pennsyl- vania. is a representative of one of the old families of the state, who settled in America prior to the war of the revolution.
Peter Kaylor, great-grandfather of Lonis E. Kaylor, and the pio- neer aneestor of the Kaylor family in this country, was born in Ger- many and emigrated to America about the time of the war of the revolu- tion. He enlisted as a soldier in the famous struggle for American in- dependence, and bore his part bravely on many battlefields in defense of the land of his adoption. At the conclusion of the war he settled on a farm in Adams county, Pennsylvania, where he spent the remainder of his life. He married, and among his children were two sons-Peter and Jacob.
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Jacob Kaylor, son of the above, and his brother Peter, migrated to Cambria county, Pennsylvania, about the time of the arrival of Father Gallitzin, and located with the colony he formed at Loretto. There he met, and married, April 23, 1816, Katie McConnell, by whom he had several children, among them being James J.
James J. Kaylor, one of the younger children of Jacob and Katie (McConnell) Kaylor, was born on the family homestead near Loretto, Cambria county, Pennsylvania, February 11, 1826, died July 26, 1894. His education was a liberal one for those early days, and he adopted the profession of teaching, which he followed for a number of years. He was steward of the County Home from 1858 until 1868, and during this time two of his children-Raymond J. and Harold G .- were born. Upon resigning his stewardship he returned to his farm, where he spent the remainder of his days. He was an ardent supporter of the Democratic party and had rendered good service to his community by holding at various periods all of the local offices. He was a consistent member of the Roman Catholic church. He married Cecelia Burke, and they were blessed with the following children: Mark, deceased. Cyrillis, deceased. Mary, deceased. Rose, a graduate of the Pennsyl- vania Hospital, is a professional nurse residing in Pittsburg, and re- taining as her summer home the old homestead. Raymond J. and Harold G., twins, editors of the Johnstown Journal. Irene, married William O'Neil, a resident of Cresson. Louis E., see forward.
Louis E. Kaylor, youngest son of James J. and Cecelia (Burke) Kaylor, was born on the Kaylor homestead in Allegheny township, Cam- bria county, Pennsylvania, August 7, 1870. His childhood and youthful days were passed upon the farm, and his education was acquired prin- cipally at home under the tuition of his parents and older sisters and brothers. He taught the distriet school in 1887, and in the fall of the following year entered Priekett's College of Commerce, in Philadelphia. The ill health of his father made it imperative for him to return to his home at the end of a few weeks, but one year later he entered St. Francis College at Loretto, where he was obliged to give up his studies at the end of three months on account of the serious illness of his brother. He was never again able to pursue his studies in an eduea- tional institution, and owes his diversified and liberal education to his ambition and home study. He took up the management of the home farm, which flourished under his careful cultivation, and which he continues to operate up to the present time, and was an active member of the Grange and other agricultural organizations. In addition to this, shortly after the death of his father, in July, 1893, he purchased the Cambria Tribune, of Ebensburg, Pennsylvania, which, under his vigorous leadership, has retained a high standing among the news- papers of Cambria county. ITis views are those of an intelligent, liberal-minded man, and he displays a lively interest in the general welfare of the town and county. His farm is one of the best and most fully equipped in every detail in Allegheny township, Cambria county. His religious affiliations are with the Catholic church, and he is a mem- ber of Ebensburg Council, No. 522, Knights of Columbus, the Loretto Council of the Catholic Mutual Benefit Association, and the Improved Order of Heptasophs.
He married, June 18, 1902, Margaret Louise Schneider, only daugh- ter of Charles J. and Eva Schneider, of St. Louis, Missouri, and their home in Ebensburg is an ideal one.
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DAVID J. HOUCK, of Hastings, was born in 1860, in Allegheny township, son of Joseph Houck, and grandson of George Houck, who was born at Germantown, Pennsylvania, and bore arms during the war of the revolution. He was one of those who endured the hardships and privations of Valley Forge and served until the close of the war. In religion he was a Lutheran. George Houck married Elizabeth Patterson, the issue of the marriage being two sons and a daughter: David; Joseph, of whom later; and Elizabeth.
Joseph Houck, son of George and Elizabeth (Patterson) Houck, was born in 1818, in Lebanon county, was a shoemaker, and in 1840 settled in Johnstown, where he opened a shop. Thence he moved to Carrolltown, and in 1852 to Gallitzin, where for three years he con- ducted a shop. His next migration was to Allegheny township, and in 1860 he settled in Carroll (now Barr) township, where he purchased of Fisher's heirs three hundred acres of land, which he cleared and on which he spent the remainder of his life as a farmer. He was called by his neighbors the old roadmaker. For many years he was supervisor of Barr township. In politics he was first a Whig and later a Republican, and in 1860 was the only man in the township who voted for Lincoln. He was bred a Lutheran, but before his death was converted to Roman Catholicism.
Mr. Houek married, January 26, 1841, Catharine, born in 1822, daughter of Peter Buser, who served seven years under Napoleon in the Spanish war. Mr. and Mrs. Houck were the parents of the follow- ing children : 1. Mary L., born December 25, 1841, wife of Peter Sois- son, had seven children': Mary, William, Catharine, Ida, Augustine, Gertrude and Teressa. 2. George, born November 26, 1843, married Rachel Wills. no issue. 3. Mary Ann, born February 23, 1845, wife of O. A. McKeen, had four children: Cora, Clara, Sadie and Elizabeth. 4. Margaret, born January 23, 1847, wife of Sylvester Byrne, had six children : William, Edward, Angeline, Eugene, Alvira and Cordelia. 5. Mary Helena, deceased, born February 23, 1849, wife of James Mc- Connell, had five children, who reside in Ohio. 6. John N., born April 1, 1853, married Mary Krug, had two children: James and Marie. 7. Jane. born September 17, 1855, wife of Henry Arble, had six children. 8 and 9. Peter and Barbara (twins), born May 6, 1857; the former mar- ried Mary McVichel, had one child, Etta, and died January 22, 1906; the latter died at nineteen. 10. David J., of whom later. The death of Mr. Houck occurred in 1900 and was followed two years later by that of his widow.
David J. Houck, son of Joseph and Catharine (Buser) Houck, was reared on a farm and learned the carpenter's trade, at which he worked for fifteen years during the summers, teaching in the public schools during the winters. In 1889 he established himself as a con- traetor and builder in Johnstown, remaining there two years. In 1891 he went to Hastings, where he engaged in the bottling business, buying out the firm of Gregory & Miller. He conducted the business until 1901, in which year he purchased of Jacob Krug the American House, of which he is still the proprietor. From 1898 to 1901 he held the office of postmaster at Nichtown. and he has served the borough of Hastings as councilman, for two years filling the president's chair. During his incumbency as councilman of Hastings borough he inaugurated a fight against the Independent water company, advocating municipal owner- ship. This fight he carried through successfully, and today the borough is enjoying the privilege of its own water supply. which is all through
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the untiring efforts of Mr. Houek. He is a Republican and a member of the Roman Catholic church.
Mr. Houck married Catharine, daughter of Everhart and Caroline (Sider) Gessler, and they are the parents of the following children : 1. Austin, born April 25, 1886, at home. 2. Carrie, born July 31, 1887. 3. Maggie, born July 29, 1889. 4. John, born March 17, 1892. 5. George, born September 4, 1895. 6. Viola, born July 17, 1898. 7. Helena, born November 30, 1900. 8. Loretto, born December 5, 1904.
JAMES WILSON LEECH, attorney-at-law, Ebensburg, Cambria county, Pennsylvania, and for many years superintendent of the public schools of his county, was born near Apollo, Pennsylvania, January 29, 1858.
The Leech family is one of the oldest in western Pennsylvania and is of Scotch-Irish origin. The ancestors of the branch of the Leech family to which James W. Leech belongs were three emigrants, Thomas, John and James Leech, who emigrated from county Down, Ireland, to western Pennsylvania, about five generations ago. When the old State Canal was open for traffic, between Philadelphia and Pittsburg, the descendants of these immigrants made the name of the Leeeh family a familiar one throughout the country, being organizers and operators of the famous Leech line of packets, so well remembered by the older eitizens.
John Leech, the grandfather of James W. Leeel, was a relative of David Leech, the owner of this packet line of early-day boats. John was a well-to-do miller and farmer of Kiskiminetas township, Arm- strong county, and there, on September 22, 1825, James Leeeh, the father of James Wilson Leech, was born. James Leech married Sarah E. Wilson, daughter of John Wilson, of Kiskiminetas township. The fruit of this union was four sons and three daughters: Sarah J .; Isa- bella, deceased; John F., of Round Prairie, Minnesota; James W .; Labanna P., a telegraph operator of Bertha, Minnesota; C. W., a rail- roader of Conemaugh, Pennsylvania; Alice, who was drowned in the great Johnstown flood. James Leech was a carpenter and carried on his business as contractor and builder in Armstrong county, Pitts- burg and Johnstown. He died in Conemangh. June 11, 1884. In re- ligion he was of the Presbyterian faith, and a consistent member of that. church. Mrs. Leech survived him until the never-to-be-forgotten May 29, 1889, when she, her daughter Alice and her brother, Dr. J. C. Wilson, and his household, all lost their lives in that terrible disaster of which all the world knows as the "Johnstown flood."
James Wilson Leech obtained his primary education in the public sehools of his native township, and at Apollo. Later he attended Elder's Ridge Academy, and completed his course at Normal Uni- versity, Lebanon, Ohio. From the time he was old enough, he was con- nected with the public sehools as pupil, teacher and superintendent. His boyhood was spent on the farm, and his vacations passed working on the farm and at the carpenter's bench with his father. For some time he worked in the fire brick works, then located at Apollo, and served his apprenticeship in the rolling mills at that place. He has frequently felt the pinch of poverty, and what of success has come to his later years is due to his own personal efforts and will power. Be- sides teaching in the rural districts, he was the principal of the schools at Johnstown, Conemaugh and Ebensburg. While principal at the last named place, he was appointed county superintendent to fill an un- expired term. He was twiee elected to succeed himself, filling the office
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until June, 1896, when, having declined to be a candidate, he retired from office, having served eight years and four months. His school metto was "As the teacher so the school." He raised the standard of education in Cambria county to a high grade. In 1883 Mr. Leech began the study of law with Hon. W. Horace Rose, of Johnstown, and continued until the siekness and death of his father prevented it, and he again resumed the profession of a teacher. Later, however, he studied law with Hon. Alvin Evans, and was admitted to the bar in 1896 and became a member of the firm of Evans & Leech.
In religions faith and profession Mr. Leeeh is a Presbyterian. Politically he is a Republican, whose untiring efforts in campaign work have been a power in the county and state. He was elected as prose- cuting attorney, November, 1904. He is a member of Summit Lodge, No. 312, F. and A. M., of Oriental Commandery. No. 61, and of High- land Lodge of I. O. O. F.
Mr. Leech married Gussie Davis, of Ebensburg. November 13, 1886. Their children are: James Russell. Robert Wilson, Sarah Gladys and John W.
CHARLES EDWARD TROXELL, the present prothonotary of Cambria county. Pennsylvania, is of German descent on both paternal and maternal sides. He was born in White township, Cambria county, Pennsylvania, Angust 9, 1860, the son of Alexander and Mathilda (Gates) Troxell, and is one of a family of eleven children: 1. Charles Edward, see forward. 2. Sarah, wife of S. H. Beers, of White town- ship, Cambria county, Pennsylvania. 3. Emma, wife of W. C. Flem- ming, of the same location as one just mentioned. 4. Benjamin Frank- lin, a farmer of Reade township. Cambria county. 5. Rebecca, wife of Albert Peterson, of Reade township. 6. Margaret, wife of W. F. Cor- nelius, of Bellwood, Blair county, Pennsylvania. 7. Christopher J., merchant of Glasgow, Cambria county. 8. Naney, wife of Arthur Thomas, of Reade townshin. 9. Calvin, a merchant of Reade township. 10. Clarence, of Bellwood, Blair county. Pennsylvania. 11. Mina, widow of L. N. Sneath, of Reade township.
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