USA > Pennsylvania > Cambria County > History of Cambria County, Pennsylvania, Volume III > Part 76
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HISTORY OF CAMBRIA COUNTY.
of the Royal Arcanum. Knights of Malta, Mountain Echo Commandery, and a past officer of the Knights of Pythias.
Mr. Wood married, in 1889, Nanney Crago, a native of England, and they are the parents of two children: Beatrice, a student at the high school; and Rena. at home. Mr. Wood recently made a visit to old Eng- land, but was well satisfied to return to his adopted home. He owns his residence on Philadelphia avenue.
FREDERICK C. STRAUB, owner of a saw mill in Upper Yoder township. Cambria county, Pennsylvania, and of a farm in an excellent state of cultivation, is considered one of the most prosperous farmers of that section, and has attained that position by untiring industry, energy and thrift. He is of the first generation of his family to have been born in this country, his ancestors being natives of Germany.
Christian Jacob Straub, father of Frederick C. Straub, was born in Germany and emigrated to the United States in 1854. He settled in Johnstown, Pennsylvania, remained there but a short time and then re- moved to Louisville, Kentucky. During the early part of the Civil war be removed with his wife and family to Johnstown, and in 1822 pur- chased one hundred and forty acres of land, which were a part of the Palmer place in Upper Yoder township, and this is the family home- stead at the present time (1906). There were but fifteen acres of this tract under cultivation at the time of purchase and the remainder was heavily wooded. There was a log house on the place and this is still standing in a good state of preservation and is used as a dwelling by the present generation. One hundred acres of the timber land is still in the possession of the family. and there is a saw mill erected upon it. Mr. Stranb was a member of the German Lutheran church. and gave his sup- port to the Democratic party. He married, in Lonisville, Barbara Myer, who was born and educated in Germany, came to the United States in 1854, went to Louisville, where she formed the acquaintance of her fu- ture husband. They had children : Frederick C .. of whom later. Mary, born 1864, married, December, 1889, William Christ, and has children : Lillie, Barbara, Walter, George, Helen, Julia and Robert. Julia. born May 3, 1884, on the old homestead, where she now resides, with her mother and brother.
Frederick C. Straub, son of Christian Jacob and Barbara (Myer) Straub, was born in the state of Indiana, September 26, 1861. IIe re- ceived his education in the public schools of Johnstown, and at an early age commenced to assist his father actively. He has been energetic, de- termined and persevering throughout his life, and he is now enjoying the results of these sterling qualities in his present prosperity. He is a devoted son and brother, and has the respect and esteem of all in the community. Like his father he is a Democrat, and also a member of the German Lutheran church. He is unmarried.
THE YOUNG FAMILY, having a number of representatives in Johnstown, Cambria county, Pennsylvania, has been prominent in finan- cial, political and social circles for some generations. This family came from Germany, originally, and settled ultimately in Pennsylvania, where they have added not a little to the welfare and improvement of the com- munity.
William Young, father of Mayor Charles and George E. Young, was born in Biedenkopf, Germany. January 22. 1836, and died October 1, 1904. He was the son of Casper Young, and his brothers and sisters
THE NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY
Astor, Lenox and Tliden Foundations, 1909
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HISTORY OF CAMBRIA COUNTY.
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were: August, Louis, Emil, Philip and Caroline. He emigrated to America in 1853, arriving in New York. Hle went to Baltimore, Mary- land, and later to Washington, District of Columbia, in each of which places he spent some time, finally in 1856 settling in Johnstown, Penn- sylvania, where he spent the remainder of his life. He was by occupation a moulder, and was in the employ of the Cambria Steel Company for about twenty-five years, being considered one of their most trustworthy and reliable workers. He married, in the year 1860, Mary Muehlhaueser, daughter of Johannes and Katherine Muchlhaueser. Mr. and Mrs. Muelhauser had ten children : Johannes ; Michael : Leonhart ; Friedrich ; George ; Andreas : Katherine; Anna ; Barbara ; and Mary. Mr. and Mrs. William Young had six children: Three daughters who died in child- hood; August, who was drowned in the great flood of May, 1889; Charles and George E., of whom later.
Mayor Charles Young, son of William and Mary ( Muhelhaueser) Young, was born in Johnstown, Cambria county, Pennsylvania, January 7, 1867. He received a good common school education in the public schools of his native city, and then attended the Philadelphia School of Pharmacy for two years, being graduated with honor in the class of 1889. After leaving school and before taking the course at the School of Pharmacy he was in the employ of Jacob Fend for about two years, and then accepted a position as clerk in the drug store of Charles Griffith, where he remained for seven years. After the flood in Johns- town in 1889, he, in connection with Charles Griffith, opened the Bed- ford Street Hospital, and was on duty with the local physicians until July. He established himself in the drug business in 1890, opening a store in Franklin street, where he is still located and doing a thriving trade. He is a thorough man of business, yet, without neglecting his business interests, he found time to take an active part in the political affairs of the town. He was elected mayor of Johnstown, February. 1905, for a term of three years, by a majority of eight hundred and sixty-four votes, and was the only Democrat elected on the ticket. His rule has been eminently satisfactory to the city, and also to the party which he represents. He is ever ready to seize any opportunity which presents itself for the improvement and advantage of the city. He is a man of liberal, broad-minded views. and has many friends in all classes of society. He is a member of the following organizations : Johnstown Lodge, No. 538, Free and Accepted Masons: Cambria Coun- cil, No. 32, R. and S. M .; Oriental Commandery, No. 61. K. T .: Pitts-, burg Consistory. S. P. R. S. : Pittsburg Shrine; Johnstown Turn Verein ; organizer and charter member of Johnstown Lodge, No. 115. Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, in which he is a life member and past exalted ruler, and is also a member of the Grand Lodge. Ile is president of the Consumers Ice Company, and a director in the Dollar Deposit Bank. He married, November 28. 1894, Katherine D. Lane, daughter of Charles and Katherine Lane, who were the parents of the following children : Henry, Katherine, Amelia, Louisa, Elizabeth, Charles and George.
George E. Young, son of William and Mary ( Muehlhaneser) Young, was born in Johnstown, Cambria county, Pennsylvania, June 28, 1874. He also received a good common school education, and was then employed by the Cambria Steel Company for one year. He entered into a business engagement with his brother Charles in 1900, and remained with him until 1903, when he took a course in the Philadelphia College of Phar- macy, from which he was graduated in 1905. Ile bought out the C.
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HISTORY OF CAMBRIA COUNTY.
(r. Campbell drug store on Main street, May 1, 1905, and has since then conducted this business very successfully. He is a member of the German Lutheran church, and has been active in the affairs of the Democratic party, of which he is a member. He has served as a member of the common council for a term of two years, and is a member of the follow- ing organizations: Cambria Lodge, No. 218, F. and A. M .; Portage Chapter, No. 195, R. A. M .; Oriental Commandery, No. 61, K. T., of Altoona; Jaffa Temple. Mystic Shrine; past exalted ruler and life mem- ber of Johnstown Lodge, No. 115, B. P. O. E .; Linton Lodge, K. P .; and Johnstown Turn Verein.
COLEMAN FAMILY. In Johnstown this numerous family is ably represented by William H. Coleman, for many years connected with the mail service, and his brother, Harry L. Coleman, who has been for a long period identified with the Lorain Steel Company. They are sons of Herman Coleman, and grandsons of John Coleman, who was born in the state of New York, and learned the blacksmith's trade. There is a tradition that the Colemans were among the first manufacturers of iron in America.
John Coleman later moved to Somerset county, Pennsylvania, where he followed his trade. This was in the days of the famous Conestoga wagons, which preceded the canal and Portage railway in the transportation of merchandise between the east, Pittsburg and the western part of Pennsylvania. Much of his work was in the shoeing of the numerous horses employed in this traffic. He purchased a tract of land at what is now Listie, which he cleared of timber and cultivated in con- nection with his trade. He served in the war of 1812. As a compensa- tion for his military services he received from the government a grant for a tract of land situated in Westmoreland county, which, however, he never took up and which was thus lost to the family.
John Coleman married Catherine Schroyer, of York, Pennsylvania. who became the mother of these children: George, served in Civil war, married and lived in Westmoreland county. John, also served in the Civil war, married and reared a family. Jacob, likewise a soldier in the Civil war, married Mary Stutzman, and had children. Sarah, wife of Alexander Hunter. Herman, of whom later.
Herman Coleman, son of John and Catharine (Schroyer) Coleman, was born February 24, 1834, and passed his boyhood on the farm at Listie, receiving his education in the common schools. He assisted his father in the management of the estate until 1853, and in May of that vear moved to Johnstown. He began his business career there in the service of Aaron Frew, a carpenter, by whom he was employed in build- ing the first structure for the Cambria Iron Company. After this he went to work on the canal, returning in the course of time to the Cam- bria Iron Company, by whom he was employed for a number of years as a heater. Subsequently he filled various positions in the steel works, and in 1902 retired from active labor. He now resides in Johnstown. In politics he is an active worker for the Democratic party.
Herman Coleman married, November 18. 1854. Sarah, daughter of George and Lydia Trent, of Johnstown. Mr. Trent died in that city, April 23. 1902, and his widow is now a member of the household of her son-in-law, Herman Coleman, five generations being represented in the family. Mr. and Mrs. Coleman have had the following children : 1. William H., of whom later. 2. Millard Fillmore, deceased, married Mary Gardner, children : William H., deceased ; Amelia. Jennie, John, August, Robert
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HISTORY OF CAMBRIA COUNTY.
and Louella. 3. John, died in infancy. 4. George, also died in infancy. 5. Emma Kate, likewise died in infancy. 6. Lydia Jane, wife of John W. Michaels, of Beaversdale, Pennsylvania, children : Margaret, Mary, Thomas, Ellis, John, Talmage, Blanche, Martha and Helen. 7. Mary Edith, wife of Edward Ream, children: Richard and Marian. S. Harry L., of whom later. 9. Isaac Ralph, married Jennie Iskis, children : Ethel and Martha. 10. Charles Irwin, born March 4, 1880, served in hospital corps of United States army during Spanish-American war, enlisting in Philadelphia, July 8, 1898. and serving at United States army barracks, Washington, District of Columbia, and at Fort McPherson, Georgia, being honorably discharged at the latter place December 23, 1898. The same year he en- tered the service of the Cambria Steel Company and is now a clerk in the steel mill office. 11. Sarah G., wife of William Swank, children : Gladys May, deceased; and Clarence, deceased.
William H. Coleman, son of Herman and Sarah (Trent) Coleman, was born April 11, 1856, at what is now known as No. 622 Franklin street, Johnstown, and was educated in the public schools of his native city, afterward attending the Johnstown night school at the old Union school house. He was for a time employed at James Robb's brickyard and for a year worked in Swank's Pottery. He then found employment at the Cambria Iron Works, remaining with the company until 1890, when he was appointed letter carrier by Postmaster J. Earle Ogle. In 1893, when President Harrison extended civil service to all free delivery offices, Mr. Coleman was appointed chairman of the examining board for the Johnstown office, which was composed of three members. June 27; 1904, the board reduced to two, he was re-appointed. When the city of Johnstown was incorporated he was elected to the common council and served in that body until his appointment as letter carrier, when he resigned in order to take up his new duties. He is a Republican, and a member of the Lutheran church.
Mr. Coleman married, August 28, 1879, Rachel, daughter of Will- iam and Julia (Dively) Strauss, and the following children have been born to them: Edward H., married Vera Miller, one child, Leroy M. David W., Catharine M., William H., Helen I., Herbert K., Ruth E., all at home.
Harry L. Coleman. son of Herman and Sarah (Trent) Coleman, was born September 1, 1844, in Johnstown, where he attended the pub- lie schools until the age of thirteen. He then found employment with the Johnson Company, with whom he learned the moulder's trade, and remained with the company (now the Lorain Steel Company) to the present time, being now the holder of a lucrative and responsible position. Like his brother, he adheres to and advocates the principles of the Republican party, giving to the organization the aid of his vote and influence. He is a member of the Presbyterian church.
Mr. Coleman married Louvora Lomison, by whom he has had the following children : Mildred L., Jean T., and Miriam St. Claire, de- ceased.
ABRAHAM FYOCK, a retired farmer of Johnstown, Cambria coun- ty, Pennsylvania, who has achieved prominence and veneration for his work in the interests of the Dunkard church of Walnut Grove, is a de- seendant of German ancestry.
Jacob Fyock. father of Abraham Fyock, was born about the year 1812. He purchased a large tract of land in Conemaugh township. near the Frankstown road, and this he cleared of timber, proceeded to
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cultivate, and it is at the present day the Frock family homestead, and in the possession of his son David. The greater part of his life was spent on this homestead, and he was very successful in its cultivation. He married Barbara Reichard, and had children: 1. Samuel, married Mary Lehman, had nine children. all now deceased, eight of them being carried off in early youth by diphtheria. 2. Jacob, married Susannah Berkebeil, and had children: John, George, Richard, Ida. Clara and Mary. 3. Abraham. see forward. 4. Daniel, married Annie Wissinger, and had children : Ezra. George. Jerome, Henry, Cyrus. Andrew, Harvey. James, Rose and Sevilla. 5. David, married Lizzie Williams, and had children : Frank. Ephraim, Ella and Pearl. 6. Barbara, married John Keiper. and had children: Elmer, Emery, John, Ettie. Annie, Gertrude, Bertha and Ida. ^. Annie, married George Keiper, and had children: Sevilla and Emma.
Abraham Fyock, third son and child of Jacob and Barbara (Reich- ard) Fyock, was born on the Fyock homestead. November 30, 1844. His early years were spent on the farm of his father, assisting the latter in its management and thus acquiring a practical working knowledge of the details of farm life. Upon the death of his father he resided with his brother, who had assumed the management of affairs, until he had attained his eighteenth year, when he removed to Johnstown and obtained a position with the Cambria Steel Company in the rolling mill. He enlisted in- Company F. One Hundred and Ninety-eighth Pennsyl- vania Volunteers, in 1864. Captain Stackhouse commanding. He served in all ten months, taking an active part in the battles of Petersburg, Five Points, and several others. He was present with his regiment at the surrender of Lee. At the close of the war he was honorably discharged, and returned to Johnstown, where he found employment with John Tieter, a farmer. Later he married and went with his wife to live on the Fyock homestead, remaining there until 1869, when he purchased a farm in that vicinity. He cultivated this successfully until 1892, when he sold it to advantage and retired from active work. He removed to Walnut Grove, where he purchased a comfortable dwelling, with some adjoining land, and devoted all his time and attention to the Dunkard church of Walnut Grove, to which he had been elected minister in 1889. Ten years later the congregation elected him an elder, and at the present time (1906) he is filling both these offices in an eminently satisfactory manner. He has also charge of the Bolivar Dunkard church, at Bolivar, Pennsyl- vania, where he preaches twice each month. His long and faithful services in the interests of this church have been fully appreciated.
Mr. Fyock married, November 23, 1865, Nancy Varner, daughter of Samuel and Catherine (Good) Varner. Samuel Varner was a son of George and Christina (Horner) Varner, was a farmer by occupation, and proprietor of a farm of sixty-nine acres. George Varner was a son of Nicholas Varner, who emigrated from Germany to this country in the early part of the nineteenth century. Abraham and Nancy (Varner) Fyock had children: 1. Samuel H .. born October 21. 1866. 2. Clarissa J., born February 15, 1868, married, May 26, 1889. Scott Wil- son. 3. Sarah A .. born September 13, 1870, married, November 10, 1895. Benjamin Straver. 4. Rachel E., born September 15, 1813. married. October 3. 1893, John Mills. 5. Emma C., born October 10. 1875, died May 28. 1880. 6. James W., born August 10, 1879. ^. Lucy E., born February 9, 1883, died November 16, 1882. 8. John C., born June 29, 1885.
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HISTORY OF CAMBRIA COUNTY.
SAMUEL H. FYOCK, closely identified with the coal interests of Dale borough, Cambria county, Pennsylvania, was born on the old Fyoek homestead, in Conemangh township, October 21. 1866, and is the son of AAbraham and Nancy (Varner) Fyock. (See sketch of Abraham Fyock.) His early years were spent on the farm in Conemaugh town- ship, and he acquired his education in the public schools of the county. The first position he held in his business career was that of helper in the coal mines at South Fork and Mineral Point, and he worked in the mines during the winter and on the farm during the summer for some years. He came to Johnstown, Cambria county, Pennsylvania, in 1893. and found employment in the Horner mine. Soon afterward he purchased the Harrison mineral estate and began operating mines on his own re- sponsibility. In these enterprises he was very successful, and he is now (1906) the leading spirit in the operation of the Fyock mines. He pur- chased a mine from W. L. Horner, in July, 1906, and is also operating this successfully. He is a man who keeps well abreast of the times in all directions, and has taken a great interest in educational matters, serving as school director in Stony Creek township. He has devoted much time and attention to religious matters, and was at one time a preacher in the German Baptist church. At present he preaches in the Progressive Brethren church, besides being superintendent of the home department of the Sunday school of the Somerset Street Brethren church.
Mr. Fyock married, June 28, 1893, Catherine Gillman, born January 15, 1872, daughter of Jacob and Susannah (Custer) Gillman, who were the parents of : Jacob, born March 16, 1852; Sarah, May 3, 1853; Will- iam, December 3, 1854; John, April 12, 1856; Frederick, January 15, 1858 ; Sophia, July 17, 1859; Peter, March 22, 1861; Philip C., Decem- ber 21, 1863; Anna. March 21, 1865: Lewis, April 18, -: Susannah, May 15, 1868; Harry, October 16, 1870; Catherine, January 15, 1872; George Washington, October 17, 1873. Mr. and Mrs. Fyock had children : Verna, born November 1, 1894: Elma, February 1, 1897; Cloyd, April 9, 1899, died April 11, of the same year; Dwight A., born January 29, 1904; Esther, born November 13, 1906.
JAMES W. FYOCK, one of the well known business men of Wal- . nut Grove, Cambria county, Pennsylvania, proprietor of a general store. is the son of Abraham and Nancy (Varner) Fyock. (See sketch of Abraham Fyock.) He was born in Conemangh township, on the Fvock homestead, August 10, 1879.
His early years were spent partly in the township of his birth and partly in Walnut Grove, where he received an excellent education in the public schools. Upon the completion of his school life, at the age of fifteen years. he sought and found employment in the coal mines owned by his brother Samuel H., and remained in his employ for a period of seven years. He then accepted a position with the Johnstown Passenger Rail- way Company, and at the expiration of two years entered the employ of the Singer Sewing Machine Company as salesman, retaining this posi- tion until January 1, 1906, when he established himself in business in Walnut Grove, in the general mercantile line, and has been very success- ful in this undertaking. His place of business is located at No. 101? Bedford street, where he bought ont E. E. Simmons. His stock is a varied one, embracing groceries, feed. dry goods, boots and shoes, and all the numberless articles which make up a well conducted general store in a suburban district. In the short time that he has been thus engaged, he has largely increased the receipts of the business and it is on a most
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flourishing basis. Though but a young man, Mr. Fyock has been actively identified with many measures which were for the public good and im- provement. This has been appreciated by his fellow citizens, and he has been elected to and served as auditor for a period of three years, and was later elected to fill the office of tax collector for Walnut Grove. He has also been prominent in the religious affairs of the community, being one of the most earnest workers among the younger members of the con- gregation of the German Baptist Brethren church, and one of the teachers in the Sunday school. He was elected superintendent of the Sunday school in 1905.
Ile married, August 28, 1898, Annie Strayer, daughter of John and Susan (Dickey) Strayer, and they have two children: Kathryn A. and Erma de Roy.
ECKHART PFEIL, for nearly forty years prior to his deatlı a well-known citizen of Johnstown, was born April 21, 1844, at Bensfort, Greismelsmyer, Hesse Cassel, Germany, son of John Pfeil, a well-to-do farmer. He married Catharine Deffler, and their children were: John, George, Gertrude, Eckhart, of whom later; and Catharine. The father and mother both died in Germany, and the children, with the exception of Eckhart, remained in their native land.
Eckhart Pfeil, son of John and Catharine (Deffler) Pfeil, attended the schools of his birthplace until the age of fourteen, and then learned the trades of cooper and maltster, or brewer, which he followed until his (migration to the United States. He served in the German Army and participated in the war of 1866. In 1868 he came to this country, sail- ing from Bremen for New York, whence he proceeded direct to Johns- town, Pennsylvania, where he found employment in Hausman's brewery. Later he worked in the brewery of Lambert & Kress until 1881, when he became the proprietor of a saloon in Bedford street. He afterward pur- chased the property and continued the business there during the re- mainder of his life. He was a life-long Democrat, and a well-known and popular member of Zion German Lutheran church.
Mr. Pfeil married, November 14, 1868, in .Johnstown, Alice Eliza- beth Heckrode, who bore him the following children: 1. John Conrad, of Johnstown, married. (first) Kate Hecker. (second) Amanda Annawalt; children by first marriage: William S., Ann E. and Freda Laura. 2. Lizzie, married, (first) Charles Keene, (second) Andrew J. Stewart, one child by each marriage, Elsie and Chester. 3. Katie, died at the age of five years. 4. Louisa, wife of John Emenel. Jr., of Johnstown, children : Loretto, deceased: John and Walter. 5. August, died in infancy. 6. William F. 2. Otto E. 8. Elsie. The death of Mr. Pfeil occurred January 21, 1896. at his home in Johnstown, where he was sincerely regretted as a worthy man and a good citizen.
Mrs. Pfeil is a daughter of Johan Justice Heckrode, a native of the same place as Eckhart Pfeil. and by trade a blacksmith. He served several terms as mayor of his city and died there in 1856, aged forty- nine years. He was twice married. His first wife bore him one child, Martha, who emigrated to New Orleans, and is now the wife of-Ehrbock. His second wife was Ann Elizabeth Borg, a native of the same place as himself, by whom he became the father of three children: Adam, on old homestead, in Germany. Alice Elizabeth, who until the age of fourteen attended school with her future husband. Conrad, who came in 1864 to the United States. worked in the blacksmith's shop of the Cambria Com- pany, Johnstown, and died unmarried, in 1876, aged twenty-seven. In
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