USA > Pennsylvania > Cambria County > History of Cambria County, Pennsylvania, Volume III > Part 78
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John Lewis, son of Albert Lewis, was born in Adamsburg, West- moreland county, Pennsylvania, and his education was obtained there. He was apprenticed to learn the trade of painting, and located first at Greensburg, and later in New Alexandria, being very successful in busi- ness in both of these places. His death oceurred in the latter town
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about 1867. He married Susan M. Maurer, daughter of John Maurer, who was a captain in the United States army. The children of Mr. and Mrs. Lewis were: Harry. now a resident of Kansas, who married Martha Craig. John, resides at Pond Creek, Oklahoma. Anna, married James Walters, of Johnstown. Frank S., of whom later.
Frank S. Lewis, youngest child of John and Susan M. (Maurer) Lewis. was born in New Alexandria, Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania, October 18, 1864. Some of his early years were spent in New Alexandria, some in Saltsburg, Indiana county, Pennsylvania, whither he had re- moved with his parents, and some in Johnstown. He was educated in the public schools of New Alexandria, and the academy at Saltsburg. His first business occupation was in Johnstown, in the grocery business of John Miller, and he was then the Johnstown agent for F. Border's Sons. grocers of Baltimore, Maryland, until 1895. In this year he established himself in business, opening a store for the sale of groceries, etc., at No. 500 Franklin street, having bought out the interests of G. W. Maple- doram. Two years later he moved his business across the street to No. 451, and at the end of another two years he removed to his present loca- tion at No. 425, also on the same street. This business is in a very flourishing and satisfactory condition, and the stock consists of fancy groceries, confectioneries and ice cream. In the latter article he is con- sidered the largest dealer in the city, having as his customers the elite of the city, and the quality of his wares is with justice celebrated. He is enterprising and progressive in his business methods, and keeps well abreast of the times in improvement in every direction. This is the more creditable to him. as he is in the true sense of the word a self-made man. owing his entire success to his own unaided efforts. He commenced business without any money, and without financial backing, and his management and industry are the foundations upon which it has been built up. In political matters he entertains entirely independent opinions. and is a member and ardent worker in the interest of the English Lutheran church.
Mr. Lewis married, July 10, 1887. Ella Bell, daughter of Charles and Mary E. (DeFrehn) Bell, of Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania, and they have children: Roxie, Anna and Greta. deceased.
REAM FAMILY. This notable family, representated in Johnstown by the brothers, William and Jacob Ream, was planted in Cambria county by Garret Ream, who was born at Bloody Run, Bedford county, and migrated to Bens Creek, Cambria county, where he owned a tract of two hundred acres. During many years he was engaged in rafting timber on Stonycreek river. The children of Garret Ream were as follows : Betsey, wife of John Alwing, moved to Elkhart county, Indiana. and died there. Jacob. of whom later. James. died in Elkhart county,
Indiana. John, married Blough, and died at Red Bridge. Cam- bria county. Samuel. Sarah, married Hamson Pearod, and died at Braddock. Pennsylvania. Mary, married Crissley Blough, and died in Elkhart county, Indiana. Mary, married Kauffman, and died near Roxbury, Cambria county. Garret Ream, the father, died at Bens Creek.
Jacob Ream, son of Garret Ream, and father of William and Jacob Ream, was born at Bloody Run, near Bedford, and when eight years old was taken by his parents to . Bens Creek. He grew up on his father's farm, receiving but a limited education, and when quite a young man engaged in wagoning between Pittsburg, Philadelphia and Baltimore.
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HISTORY OF CAMBRIA COUNTY.
driving a six-horse team and making trips of six weeks in duration. Upon the death of his father he inherited part of the old farm at Bens Creek, and passed the remainder of his life in cultivating this land. He was a man of powerful physique and figured in a personal encounter with Peter Gates, which is matter of local history, the conflict taking place on the ice, at Levergood's tannery. He held the office of constable, and in politics was first identified with the Whigs and later with the Repub- licans. Five years before his death he became a member of the Dunkard church.
Jacob Ream, married, at Bens Creek, Mary, daughter of Joseph Berkey, and they were the parents of the following children: Betsey, wife of Joseph Sheetz, both deceased. Sarah, wife of Daniel Ream, of Johnstown. Jacob, of whom later. William, of whom later. The mother of these children died at Bens Creek, in 1874, aged sixty-seven. The last eight years in the life of Mr. Ream were passed in the home of his son Jacob, at Morrellville, where he expired March 15, 1888, at the advanced age of eighty-eight years and thirteen days. He is buried on the home farm at Bens Creek. Mrs. Ream was a member of the Lutheran church.
Jacob Ream, son of Jacob and Mary (Berkey) Ream, was born Au- gust 20, 1841, in the old home at Bens Creek, and there grew to manhood. He obtained his education in the subscription schools, his first teacher being Isaac Yetter. At eleven years old he left school and began to work on the farm with his father, with whom he remained until his twenty- fourth year. During the Civil war he enlisted in Company G, Third Regiment, Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, Captain Lapsbey and Col- onel Jacob Campbell commanding, for three month's service, and was mustered out at Chambersburg, Pennsylvania, having been three weeks in the hospital. At the time of his marriage he settled on part of the home farm at Bens Creek, and in 1868 moved to Goshen, Indiana, where he passed four years as a farmer. In 1872 he returned to Bens Creek, and after remaining two years went for a short time to Grubbtown. He then again became a resident of Johnstown, where he ultimately secured employment in the machine shop and foundry of the Cambria Steel Company, with whom he remained twenty-eight years. During the flood he resided in Morrellville.
Mr. Ream married, in 1862, Henrietta, born in Perry county, daughter of Benjamin Swisher, of Bens Creek, and the following chil- dren were born to them: Annie, Edward, deceased; Ira, Willis, of Rose- dale, married Annie Beatty : Frank. Charles, Howard, Kate and William. Mrs. Ream. the- mother, died in Johnstown, in 1893, aged fifty, and is buried in Grand View cemetery. She was a member of the Methodist Episcopal church.
William Ream, son of Jacob and Mary (Berkey) Ream, was born May 20. 1844, on the homestead, and until the age of eleven or twelve attended school for three months of each year, the schoolhouse being three miles distant from his home. In 1862 he enlisted. for three years, in Company M, Twelfth Regiment, Pennsylvania Volunteer Cavalry, and after serving over two years re-enlisted for another two years, or during the war. His first fight was near Winchester, and being taken prisoner at that place he was sent to Libby prison and Belle Island. In 1865 he settled in Johnstown and entered the service of the Cambria Steel Company, being employed many years in the axle department. About 1902 he resigned his position, and since then has avoided the ae- tivities of business and lived in retirement. Like his father, he is an advocate and upholder of the principles of the Republican party.
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HISTORY OF CAMBRIA COUNTY.
JOHN PENDRY. ex-mayor of Johnstown, Cambria county, Penn- sylvania, prominently identified with the business and political inter- ests of that town, and who owns and personally conducts one of the best known undertaking and embalming establishments in the county, comes from an old and honored family of Wales.
John Pendry, grandfather of ex-mayor John Pendry, was a native of Wales, where his entire life was passed. He married and had three children : John, of whom later; Betsey ; and Mary.
John Pendry, son of John Pendry, was born at Breckham, South Wales, May 20, 1818. He was by occupation a cabinetmaker, and think- ing that the new world offered a better field for his trade and industry he emigrated to America with his family, landing at Philadelphia, Penn- sylvania. July 4, 1854. From thence they went to Mount Savage. He walked across the mountains from Mount Savage to Johnstown, taking two days for the trip, and obtained a position as cabinetmaker with Will- iam Orr. He died in that city, September 10, 1900. He married Mar- garet Llewellyn, who was one of seven children : Llewellyn, Thomas, William. Mary, Catherine, Dinah, Margaret. He died in 1887. Their children were: John, of whom later: Thomas L .; Margaret, married Thomas Brown; Mary, married George Gocher; Elizabeth, married John J. Brown; and Dinah, married George Woods.
Ex-mayor John Pendry. eldest child of John and Margaret (Llew- ellyn) Pendry, was born at Merthyr Tydvil, South Wales, January 13, 1848. He received what was considered a good common school educa- tion in those days, and commenced the working years of his life at the age of thirteen. His first occupation was driving a mule in the coal mines of the Cambria Iron Company, and he then spent a short period in the employment of Jacob Levergood, grinding bark. A few months were spent working for Jacob Fend, and he then learned the chair making business and was with Holmes Mcclellan for some time. After four years in the employ of William Hatton in the same line of business, he went to Mineral Point and worked in a saw mill, where he was promoted to be foreman of the shop. He abandoned this to enter into a business arrangement with his father, but after two years he accepted a position as fireman with the Pennsylvania Railroad Company, which he held for two years. He then engaged with the Cambria Steel Company to fire boilers, and had charge of the boilers and engines in the rod room at night. Later he had charge of the sawing of rails and of the hod beds and remained with this company until 1893. At this time he bought the undertaking establishment of Henry Muller, in Main street, and conducted this on the same premises until 1896, when he opened a new. more elegant and commodious place of business on the other side of Main street, where the capacities of the establishment were largely increased. Mr. Pendry was graduated from the Massachusetts College of Embalm- ing in 1895, and his excellent and reliable work has gained for him a wide-spread reputation. He is a member of the Congregational church, and an able and valued counsellor in the Republican party. He keeps well abreast of the times in every respect ; and spends time and money in the interest and improvement of the community in which he lives. He has been honored with a number of positions of trust. among them being: membership in the common council; tax collector of the old borough : controller of the city schools, one term: city controller, one term; and elected mayor of Johnstown in 1901. He enjoys a well-deserved popu- Jarity, and his luxurious home is the scene of much hospitality. He is a member of the following named associations: Cambria Lodge, No. 278,
THE NEW YORK LIBRARY
Aster, Lonox and Tilden Foundations, 1909
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Free and Accepted Masons; Portage Chapter, No. 195, R. A. M .; Orien- tal Commandery, No. 61, K. T .; Altoona Consistory; Altoona Shrine, Jaffa Temple ; Alma Lodge, No. 528, Independent Order of Odd Fel- lows; Mineral Lodge, No. 196, Knights of Pythias: Woodmen of the World; and Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, No. 175, of Johns- town.
lle married, September, 1894, Mary Dangues, daughter of August and Amelia (Shearer) Dangues, and sister of Henry; Elizabeth, Emma (Mrs. Fielder), and Amelia (Mrs. Charles Grebeck). Ex-mayor and Mary (Dangues) Pendry had two children, Mary and Margaret, both de- ceased.
THOMAS A. CLINGER, of Johnstown, who has been for nearly forty years associated with the Cambria Steel Company, was born Feb- ruary 3, 1855, in what is now Millville, Johnstown, son of John Clinger, Jr., and grandson of John Clinger, Sr., the latter a native of Germany.
John Clinger, Jr., was born in 1824, in Johnstown, and for many years was employed as a heater by the Cambria Iron Company. He also followed the calling of a teamster, and it is related of him that he hauled with his own team to the basin where it was to be shipped the first iron rail manufactured by the Cambria Iron Company. John Clinger mar- ried Rebecca Lege, and their children were: Margaret, deceased. Syd- ney, also deceased, was wife of Aaron Horner, children: Sadie, Alona, Edward, deceased; John, James and Elizabeth. James, deceased, mar- ried (first) Susan MacKeely, (second) Elizabeth Stull; children by first marriage: John and Thomas, by second, William, John, Mary, and Bella, deceased. Thomas A., of whom later. Mary, wife of Franklin Speicher, children : Margaret, deceased; Edward, Frank, George and Viola. George, died young. Sarah, married (first) Lincoln Skeil, (second) G. A. MeCune; children by first marriage, Lottie and John. Bella, wife of William Rhoads, children; Edward, Sadie, William, Ralph and an infant.
Thomas A. Clinger, son of John and Rebecca (Lege) Clinger, re- ceived his education in the public schools of Johnstown, and in 1868 began his business career by carrying water for the men at the old rail mill at the Cambria steel works. He has served in all capacities, and now holds the position of stockman in the plate department. The year after his marriage he moved to Dale borough and purchased the land on which he erected the residence which has since been his home. He is a member of the German Baptist church.
Mr. Clinger married, June 25, 1876, Annie L., daughter of Samnel J. and Hannah (Varner) Horner. (The genealogy of the Horner family is given elsewhere in this work.) Mr. and Mrs. Clinger have had the following children: Laura G., born April 21, 1879, wife of J. F. Dull, children, Maurice, Walter and Ruth. Edith, born March 13, 1881. Cora H. C., born April 7, 1883, wife of Ira Musser, children; Hayden and Martha. Aurilla A., born August 22, 1885, deceased. Lemon W., born August 23, 1887, also deceased. Jessie June, born June 25, 1889. Eliza- beth Rebecca, born September 14, 1891. Leah Corrella, born Septem- ber 27, 1893. Annie Ethel, born September 12, 1896.
PATRICK CONNELLY, the leading merchant of the fourteenth ward in Johnstown, Cambria county, Pennsylvania, and who has been closely identified with the interests of the city in many ways, owes his present important position in the commercial world entirely to his own
HISTORY OF CAMBRIA COUNTY.
ambition and indomitable energy. He is a descendant of a highly re- spected family of Ireland, and possesses some of the best characteristics of the natives of that country.
Patrick Connelly (father) was born in Limerick, Ireland, and emi- grated to America in 1849, in order to make a home for his wife and family whom he left in his native country. He went to Norwich, Con- necticut, for a short time, and from thence to the western part of Penn- sylvania, where he had friends. He joined these at Brady's Bend, where he found employment in the iron works, and was able to send for his family the following year. They landed in New York, went from there to Norwich, Connecticut, and after a short stay in that place joined Mr. Connelly at Brady's Bend. He went to Johnstown, in 1853, thinking to find more profitable work, and sent for his family the following spring. He was employed in the Cambria Iron Works, and at the request of Superintendent John Merley, made the first coke successfully out of slack coal. He remained in the employe of this company up to within a few years of his death, which occurred in 1878. He was a member of St. John Gaulbert's Catholic church, and a stanch supporter of the Demo- cratic party. He was for a time member of the council for Millville bor- ough. Patrick Connelly married, in Ireland, Ellen O'Neil, who died in 1887, and they are both buried in the Lower Yoder cemetery. They had children: 1. William H., born in Limerick, Ireland; he came to the United States at the same time as his mother, and received an ex- cellent education. He held the position of bookkeeper for a large whole- sale firm in Boston, Massachusetts, but returned to Johnstown a short time before the outbreak of the Civil war. Upon the first call sent out for volunteers he enlisted in Company C, Captain O'Connell, Fifty-fifth Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, under the command of Colonel Dick White. He was in active service in the campaign in South Carolina, was taken prisoner, sent to Andersonville, where he died from exposure and starvation. 2. James, married Mary Lyshot, and died in Johnstown in December, 1883. 3. Mary, married Patrick Whalen, of Johnstown. 4. Patrick. see forward. 5. Ellen, married (first) William Baker, (second) Joseph Sweeney. 6. Michael J .. married and resides in Oregon.
Patrick Connelly, third son and fourth child of Patrick and Ellen (O'Neil) Connelly, was born in Limerick, Ireland, March 13, 1848. He was about two years of age when he came to the United States with his father. and his earlier education was obtained in the public schools of Millville, now the fourteenth ward of Johnstown, under the supervision of Mr. Ely, Mr. H. Babeock Davis and Mr. Taylor. Subsequently he at- tended the parochial schools for a time, where his studies were under the direction of Miss Ellen Quinn, who was drowned in the flood of May 31. 1889. and a Miss Mclaughlin. who married a Mr. McCann and is now deceased. Young Patrick left school finally at the age of fourteen years, and began to work for his support. He commenced his business career as a driver of mules in the mines, receiving seventy-five cents a day for this hard labor. and then obtained a position in the coke yards of the Cambria Company to set coal for furnaces Nos. 1 to 4. He went to Pittston, Pennsylvania. in May, 1869, and there worked in the mines until 1878, when he returned to Johnstown and accepted a position on the repair gang in the Cambria works. Later he acted in the capacity of assistant to George Habercorn, in the setting up of machinery, etc. He resigned his position in the works October 31, 1881, in order to estab- lish himself in the grocery business on the old Connelly homestead. and in 1884 erected the present store and dwelling, into which he moved the
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following year. Here he has conducted the business up to the present time, and has been eminently successful in his undertaking. His cheer- ful. courteous demeanor, reliability and sterling integrity have gained for him an enviable reputation in the business world of this section of the city. For many years he has been an ardent adherent of the Demo- cratic party, and was a member of the counsel for Millville in 1881, serving one year and then resigning. He has taken a great and bene- ficial interest in educational matters, serving as director of the school board for the past twenty-three years. He was president of the borough board for three years, was its treasurer for two years, and was president of the board for the first three years after the city of Johnstown was incorporated. In 1884 he was chairman of Democratic county commit- tee. He is a member of St. Columba's Catholic church, and has been a member of the church committee for many years.
Mr. Connelly married. September 19, 1882. Rev. Father O'Connell officiating, Mary Ryan, born in Connelly avenne, fourteenth ward, JJohns- town, daughter of Patrick and Johanna Ryan, and they had children : William P., died in infancy. James F., studying for admission to the priesthood in Mount St. Mary's College, in Maryland. Mary Ellen, grad- uated from the Lock Haven Normal School and is now teaching in the schools of Johnstown. Lenore, died at the age of three years. A son who died in infancy. John Paul, died July, 1889. Angela Regina. Josephine. Raphael M. Catherine. Cornelia. Adrian. Aloysius.
HENRY MICHEL, who for many years prior to his death was a resident of Johnstown and in the service of the Cambria Steel Com- pany, was born March 24, 1840, in the town of Bayern, Schwarzenbach, Germany, son of Adam Michel, a small farmer. The latter was twice married, but the names of his wives have not been preserved. Among his children were the following: Johan, died in Germany. George, also died in Germany. Henry, known as "big Henry," to distinguish him from his younger brother, who was called "little Henry." Barbara, mar- ried Henry Rogleman, came to United States and settled in Missouri, near Jefferson City. Henry, of whom later.
Henry Michel, son of Adam Michel, attended school until his four- teenth year, after which he worked on the farm for his father, with whom he was also associated in cattle-dealing. In August, 1870, he sailed with his wife from Bremen, landing in Baltimore after a two weeks' voyage on a steamer, and proceeding without delay to Johnstown, Pennsylvania, where his wife had two brothers, with one of whom they lived for a short time, afterward going to housekeeping on what was known as the Island. Some time after they moved to Cambria City, re- turning thence to the Island for one year, and then purchasing land on Bedford street, which is now the site of their dwelling. Mr. Michel's first employment was with the Cambria Steel Company, in whose service he remained until the close of his life, working in the blast furnaces. He was a stanch Democrat, and a member of the German Lutheran church.
Mr. Michel married, in 1865, in his native place, Eva Zimmerman, who bore him the following children: 1. Andrew, died in Germany. 2. Regina Francesca, born in Cambria City, attended German and public schools until the age of twelve, and married, January 21, 1897. William Will, a well-known barber of Johnstown. They have four children: Carl Frederick, born October 8, 1898: Henrietta E., born January 7, 1901 ; Marie Sophia, born May 24, 1903; and Helen, born June 20, 1905. 3. Elizabeth, died at the age of two years. 4. Annie, died in infancy. Mrs.
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Michel is a daughter of George and Marguerite ( Radel) Zimmerman, the former proprietor of a bakery in Bayern, Germany, where Mrs. Michel was born May 7, 1844. Both her parents died in their native land.
In the death of Mr. Michel, which occurred March 21, 1883, his friends, and above all, his family, sustained a severe loss. Despite his industry he had accumulated but little property, and the support of the family devolved upon his widow. To this demand she nobly responded, her efforts being crowned with success, and in 1896 erected the sub- stantial brick dwelling which is now the home of the family.
SAMUEL J. SMITH, an old veteran of the Civil war, and a well known and highly respected citizen of the borough of Franklin, near Johnstown, Pennsylvania, was born in Bradford, Yorkshire, England, November 14, 1837, son of Joseph and Hannah (Jewett) Smith, and grandson of Samuel Smith, a native of Bradford, England, who was a day laborer, and died at Bradford, England.
Joseph Smith (father), as a boy and young man, followed farming and later became a teamster. In 1847 he came to America with his wife and five children. They sailed from Liverpool, England, for New York on a sailing vessel, the "Arlington." After arriving at Dale borough, Cambria county, Pennsylvania, he established his home in an old log house, on the Peckworth farm. Mr. Peckworth owned boats on the old canal, and Mr. Smith worked for him, as a bowsman, until he met with an accident which disabled him one whole winter. The following spring he farmed for a Mr. Peckworth. Subsequently he removed to the keich- ard farm, where he remained two years, then moved to Indiana county, Pennsylvania, where he purchased a farm in Wheatfield township and there remained until after the Civil war. He then sold and moved to Harrison county, Missouri, where he bought a farm on which he died at an advanced age. His wife died there several years before his death. He was a Republican, and both were members of the Methodist Episcopal church. Their children were as follows: 1. Skirow, of Harrison county, Missouri, served in the Civil war. 2. Abraham, a farmer in Harrison county, Missouri, also a soldier in the same war. 3. Samuel J., of whom later. 4. George, a farmer of Harrison county, Missouri. 5. John, a farmer in the same county. 6. Mary. 7. Martha, deceased.
Samuel J. Smith attended school in his native place until ten years of age, when his parents brought him to the United States. Here he at- tended the Van Lunen school, between Moxham and Dale boroughs. His last school days were spent in Indiana county, Pennsylvania, after which he worked on his father's farm until twenty-one years of age, when he went at the carpenter's trade with David Wissinger, with whom he re- mained four years, at eight dollars a month. He next worked with Jacob Fyock; they were partners and were contractors for several years. July 6, 1863, Mr. Smith enlisted as a private in Company F (Captain Reck- man), Twenty-first Pennsylvania Cavalry, under Colonel Boyd. This regiment was detached and Company F was sent to Stoyes Ferry, thence to Chambersburg. Mr. Smith took part in a number of engagements. and was honorably discharged February 3, 1864. He then re-enlisted at Chambersburg to serve three years, or during the war, as a private under Captain P. D. Black and Colonel Boyd, of the Twenty-first Regiment of Pennsylvania Cavalry, and participated in all the engagements his regi- ment took part in, including Cold Harbor, Petersburg, Plank Road, Weldon Railroad, Boydtown, Stony Creek, Bellfield, Hatchers Run, Two Forks, Sailors Creek, Appomattox Court House. He was promoted to
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