USA > Pennsylvania > Cambria County > History of Cambria County, Pennsylvania, Volume III > Part 89
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that county. The children of Jacob W. and Sarah (Miller) Dietz were : 1. Mary, married J. E. Black, has children : Bertha. Clara and C'ora. 2. Annie, married Willim Suse, had children : Frank, Alma, Myra, Dorsey. Alonzo, Eloie and Ida. 3. John F .. see forward. 4. Ida, married John Fyock, has children : Leila, Myrom, Edna, Frank, John and Mary. 5. Martha, married David Weaver, has children : Cloyd, Vernon, Sadie, Bessie, Alonzo and two children, now deceased.
John F. Dietz. third child and eldest son of Jacob W. and Sarah ( Miller) Dietz, was born near Stanton Mills, Somerset county, Pennsyl- vania. September 26, 1863. He was educated in the public and normal schools of his native county, and was an apt and studious pupil. Upon the completion of his education he followed the profession of teaching in the public schools of Scalp Level and the adjacent towns. For a time he held the position of principal of the schools of Scalp Level, and later a similar position in the public schools of Roxbury, now (1906 the eighth ward of the city of Johnstown. While thus occupied he found time to acquire all the details of the carpenter's trade, and from this drifted into the lumber business, which he pursued very profitably. He came to Johnstown in the course of time, where he accepted a position in the lumber yard of Marshall & Weekland. as retail and correspond- ing elerk. This he held for some time, returning to Sealp Level in 1887, and there engaging with his brother-in-law, J. E. Blough, in the con- tracting and undertaking business. After some years of successful business. this partnership was dissolved. and Mr. Dietz returned to Johnstown. He immediately engaged in the contracting and building business. in which his remarkably enterprising and progressive ideas have enabled him to achieve a very gratifying measure of success. He has an enviable reputation for systematic methods and reliability, and his work earns much well-deserved commendation. He is a stanch supporter of the Republican party, and an active worker in the interests of that body. He is now filling the office of select councilman for the eighth ward of Johnstown. and is earnest in his endeavors to promote the welfare of the city by every means in his power.
He married Jemima E. Blough, daughter of Emanuel and Sarah (Barnt) Blough. of Stanton Mills, and they have children: Lottie, Vernon, Clive, Galen, Norma, Elma and Emmett.
MICHAEL KARL, proprietor of the Fountain Hotel, Roxbury, Johnstown, was born September 29, 1861, in Bavaria, Germany, son of Michael and Theresa (Schrot) Karl, the former by trade a blacksmith. Their son, Michael Karl, was educated in the schools of his native land, and learned his father's trade. On reaching the military age he was required to serve his three years in the army, and entered the Third Artillery, where he was assigned to the military blacksmith's shop in which he served until the completion of his term. After receiving his discharge he emigrated to the United States, landing in New York, December 1, 1884. He went immediately to Kansas, where he spent two years, and then returned east as far as Johnstown, deciding to make that place his home. He arrived in Johnstown, February 7, 1886, and was first employed by Jaeob Hawes, afterward entering the service of the Cambria Steel Company and remaining four years. After the flood he bought land in Richland township and carried on two farms, consisting in all of one hundred and fifty-two acres. In this occupation he was eminently successful, accumulating considerable money.
In 1892 he returned to Johnstown and went into the hotel business,
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settling in the eighth ward, or Roxbury. and buying out a hotel which had been conducted for many years under the name of Whiskey Spring. Mr. Karl changed the name to the Fountain Hotel and is still the sue- cessful proprietor of the establishment. In politics he is a Democrat, although believing in the doctrine of voting for the best man, ir- respective of party. He is a member of the German Roman Catholic church.
Mr. Karl married, April 13, 1885, in Kansas, Theresa, daughter of John and Eva (Erris) Rauh, of Bavaria. Germany, and eleven chil- dren have been born to them, four of whom are now living: Theresa, Annie, Carrie and John.
M. EARL LOHR holds a responsible position as foreman of the machine shop in one of the departments of the great works of Cambria Steel Company at Johnstown. When he was a boy it became necessary that he find some wage-earning employment. and for that purpose he left school at the age of thirteen and did such work as a child could do. A little later he secured a position in the draughting department of the Lorain Steel Company. remained there three years, and then left for the purpose of acquiring an education along special lines that would enable him to secure a higher position in business life. This incident in connection with his early experience is mentioned here because it shows a commendable ambition on his part and the necessary strength of character to work out his plans and carry them to a successful end.
Mr. Lohr was born in Johnstown, Angust 23, 1875, son of John M. and Sarah J. (Barnhardt) Lohr. That part of the present city in which Mr. Lohr lived when his son Earl was a boy, was known as Kernville, and he attended the school in what then was the borough of Roxbury. When thirteen years old he left school and went to work in the company store of Wood, Morrell & Company, now the Penn Traffic Company, and at fifteen he was a clerk. At seventeen he secured a minor position in the dranghting room of the Lorain Steel Company and remained there three years.
During this six or seven years of work in various capacities he saved some money, and was in a measure prepared to educate himself for a better position in life. When he left the draughting department of the company he entered as a student the Indiana State Normal school, and spent two terms there, taking a college preparatory course of study. He then returned to Johnstown and worked three years as an apprentice in the machine shops of the Gantier department of Cambria Steel Company. and afterward was draughtsman in the same department.
In 1900 Mr. Lohr left the company and matriculated at Pennsyl- vania State College for the three years' mechanical course, and when that was finished he readily secured a desirable position as mechanical draughtsman with the Lackawanna Steel Company at Buffalo, New York, where he worked three years, then returned to Johnstown, and was made assistant foreman of the disc shop of the Gautier department of Cambria Steel Company. Six months afterward he was appointed, foreman, and since that time has filled a responsible and paying position in the company's service.
Mr. Lohr is a little more than thirty years old, well schooled in his profession, and holds an excellent position in his employer's service ; and whatever he has accomplished in respect to his personal advance- ment is the result of his own determination and perseverance. He is
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well known in Johnstown social and fraternal circles, and a member of the Presbyterian church. He also is a member and at one time (July, 1894-January, 1895) was master at arms of Johnstown Lodge, No. 154, Knights of Pythias. In politics he is a Republican. On the 25th of October, 1905. Mr. Lohr married Marian Fearl, daughter of Thomas J. and Catherine ( Brubaker) Fearl, of Johnstown.
THE PIPER FAMILY. The progenitor of the Piper family who now reside at Johnstown, was William Piper, who died in the first ward of that city, January, 1872. He was one of a family of six chil- dren : Rachel, Sarah, Rebecca, James, John and William Piper, who were the sons and daughters of John Piper, who with his only brother served in the British Navy. They enlisted as cabin boys on the flag- ship in Bristol Harbor, England. They were there when Napoleon, the Great threatened the invasion of the coast of Cornwall. They were with the Bristol Squadron, under Admiral Horatio Nelson, when he destroyed Napoleon's fleet in the battle of the Nile, in 1798, thus cutting him off from France after his invasion of Egypt.
John Piper, one of the two Pipers who served in the British Navy died at Bristol, England, soon after which his son William was taken by his sister, Sarah Piper, to Momouthshire, twenty-five miles from Bristol, where he attended school. During his teens he was sent to work in the coal mines at the Vartig, where he remained until 1848, when he went to Liverpool, and from there crossed the Atlantic ocean on a sailing vessel, landing in New York city five weeks after leaving the British port. At that time his cousin, Thomas Piper, was operating a coal mine along the Old Portage Railroad in the Alleghenies, not far from the Summit, Cambria county, Pennsylvania. After working here a few years, he returned to England where he was married in 1853, to Mary A. Waters. Two years later they came to America and located in Johnstown, Pennsylvania, where William Piper worked in the Cam- bria mines, under the late James Morley, the superintendent. After a residence on "The Lock" a few years, they removed to Schuylkill coun- ty, Pennsylvania, where they lived during the early part of the Civil war, but owing to a scarcity of work in his line at that point, he went to Blair county, where he remained a short time before moving to Bennington, on the Alleghenies. From there the family moved to Broad Top, Huntingdon county, and in 1867 returned to Johnstown, where Mr. Piper became an employe in the Mill mine and there remained until the date of his death in January, 1872. He died from the effects of "Miners' Complaint." He was an industrious man, a good citizen, and his fellow-workmen relate that he was the most conscientious man they ever knew. He was the last of the children of John Piper to pass away. His wife, Mary A. (Waters) Piper, and her four children have ever since resided in the first ward, Johnstown. One daughter, Emma, married William T. Dawson. and lives at No. 3016 Carr street, Johns- town: Martha M., is the wife of Charles Uber Sleep, and they live at No. 320 Vine street, Johnstown; William is single and resides at the last named address, with his mother, who is now in her seventy-second year; James. married Edith L. Young, and resides at No. 353 Walnut street, Johnstown, and is engaged with the Johnstown Tribune. The grandchildren of William Piper are : Edith M. and Angie Piper Dawson ; William Herbert Dawson; Martha Elizabeth and James Young Piper.
William Piper, deceased, the father of this family, was a lifelong member of the Methodist Episcopal church, and during his residence
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at Johnstown. was a communieant at the Franklin Street Methodist Episcopal Church. of which his youngest son is at present one of the official members. while his widow, daughters, sons-in-law, daughter-in- law and granddaughters are among the present communicants. Will- iam Piper was also a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, having joined that fraternity in England. before embarking for America in 1848.
FREDERICK WILLIAM LEITENBERGER. machinist, of Johns- town, Pennsylvania, was born July 20, 1869, son of John F. and Eliza- Deth (Tausch) Leitenberger, and descended from the following ancestry : (I) Christian Frederick Leitenberger, Sr .. came from Germany in 1848, and settled at Johnstown, Pennsylvania. He was a hotel keeper both in Germany and at Johnstown. He also operated a grist mill. The hotel he conducted at Johnstown was later known as the Arcade; it stood on the triangle made by Clinton, Railroad and Canal streets. In politics he was a Demoerat, and in religious faith a Lutheran. He was twice married and had sons John and Christian Frederick, Jr.
(II) Christian Leitenberger, Jr., son of Christian Frederick. Sr., was born in 1800, and died in 1879, at Johnstown, in that portion known as Cambria City (16th ward), where he built the first house in the place. By trade he was a baker: his place of business was on Market street. In 1869 he retired, and his business was succeeded by his son, John F. He married twice: first to Johanna Wall, by whom was born : Louis F .. John F. and Rosa, who died soon after coming to this country. Politieally he was a Demoerat, and like all the family was a member of the Lutheran church. He had considerable real estate holdings both in Johnstown and Cambria City. By his second wife he had: Louis, of Stanton Mills, Somerset eounty: Gotlieb, of Johnstown; and Johanna, wife of George Wehn. a tailor by trade, and they were the parents of Charles Wehn, present treasurer of Johnstown.
(II) John Leitenberger, son of Christian Frederick, Sr., was born in America, married and had five children-four daughters and one son George. who is now an artist in New York city. The only living daughters is Mrs. Gabriel Fleek. of Johnstown: the other daughters, with their mother, perished in the great flood of May 31, 1889. The father had died a year previous : he was a shoemaker on Franklin street. (III) John F. Leitenberger, son of Christian, Jr., was born in 1840, in Germany, coming to this country when but thirteen years of age, and followed the bakery business until 1876, when he entered the Steel Mills at Johnstown. He died in 1896 ; he married Elizabeth Tausch, a German by birth. Their eleven children were: 1. Elizabeth, born in 1867, died young. 2. Frederick W .. born July 20. 1869. 3. John Henry, born Angust 19. 1871. married and resides at Lorain, Ohio, and is there employed with the Lorain Steel Company. 4. Johanna, deceased, born 1873. 5. Amelia, deceased. 6. Rose B., deceased. 7. Carl W., born Septem- ber 7, 1880, married and has one ehild. IIe resides in Johnstown, and is engineer-in-charge of the Goenner Brewing Company. 8. George, deceased. 9. John, born 1885. 10. Herman. born 1888. 11. Robert, born 1891. Mrs. Leitenberger married for her second husband Conrad Bingel, of Johnstown.
(III) Louis F. Leitenberger, son of Christian, Jr., was born in 1830, in Germany, and eame to this country in 1853. He was a baker by trade and followed it at Johnstown, being the leading baker of his day. He married Johanna Amsler, and reared a family of which three
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still survive -Charles F., Frank F .. Emma, wife of Thomas Kepple, of Johnstown. The father, Louis F. Leitenberger, died in April, 1889. (III) Catherine Johanna, daughter of Christian, Jr., was born in Brackenheim, Germany, about 1832. She still resides on a part of the old homestead in Johnstown, owned by her grandfather, Christian, Sr. She married Frederick W. Mayer, of Johnstown, who was a cabinet- maker up to within a few years of his death in August, 1896. Three children were born of this union-Hannah, wife of Mr. Ripple, of Alliance, Ohio; Dr. Louis H. Mayer, of Johnstown : and Amelia, de- ceased.
(IV) Frederick William Leitenberger. son of John F. Leiten- berger and wife. was born July 20. 1869, and forms the subject of this notice. He was educated in the public schools of Johnstown and at the Lutheran parcehial schools of that city. At the age of abont fif- teen years he commeneed to learn the machinist's trade, and worked with the Cambria Iron Company; Edgar Thompson Steel Company; West- inghouse Electric Manufacturing Company; and the Baldwin Loco- motive Works at Philadelphia.
In 1896 he engaged as engineer-in-charge of the Goenner Brewing Company. of Johnstown, but subsequently was with the Cambria Brew- ing Company, with whom he worked four years. He then opened a machine shop on Davis street which he conducted about two years, when he consolidated with the Johnstown Foundry and Machine Com- pany, and managed that until November. 1905. He then went to Chicago, where he took a thorough course in technical brewing. He re- ceived a diploma and took high honors in his class. It is his intention to follow the brewing business henceforth.
Politically Mr. Leitenberger is a Democrat, and in church faith a Lutheran. He belongs to the Mystic Chain ; Heptasoph: Ancient Order of Foresters: and Red Men of America.
Mr. Leitenberger was united in marriage. February 4, 1897, to Matilda Wagner, of Johnstown; she is the daughter of Gustav and Catherine (Gatter) Wagner.
SAMUEL A. SNOOK, proprietor of a well-known hardware store in Johnstown, Cambria county, Pennsylvania, is a representative of one of the old pioneer families of this country, being a member of the eighth generation of the Snook family in Ameriea.
William Snook, the great-great-grandfather of Samuel S. Snook, was the great-grandson of the pioneer ancestor of the Snook family, who emigrated to this country from Germany. He married and raised a family.
Matthias Snook, son of William Snook. married Christina Kleck- man, and had a number of children.
Levi Snook, son of Matthias and Christina (Kleekman) Snook, was a farmer in Center county, Pennsylvania, where his death occurred in 1877. He was a strong supporter of the Union party. He married Sophia Kleekmer, and raised a family of children : 1. Matilda, married John Frazin. 2. Rueben W., of whom later 3. Jacob W .. married a Miss Stover. 4. Elizabeth, married George Walford. 5. Kate, married John Rute. 6. Matthias, ummarried, was killed during the Civil war. 7. Elias W., married Rinda Reid. 8. Amelia. married Charles Bierly. 9. Barbara, married Nathaniel Conrter. 10. Levi W., married a Miss Berry.
Reuben W. Snook. eldest child of Levi and Sohnia (Kleckmer) Sncok, was born in Center eounty, 1833. He followed the occupation
THE NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY Astor, Lenox and Tildon Foundations, 1909
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of farming in Clinton county, Pennsylvania, for about ten years, then removed to Bellefonte. Center county, Pennsylvania, residing there for about five years, and is at present (1906) living in retirement in For- sythe, Rosebud county, Montana. He is a member of the German Re- formed church. He married Mary Walker, daughter of Daniel and Mary (Erhardt) Walker. Daniel Walker was a farmer and mill owner, and one of the largest landholders in Myles township. He had children : Samuel, Jerry, Jonathan and two daughters. The children of Mr. and Mrs. Reuben W. Snook were: 1. Samuel A .. of whom later 2. Emma, married Amos Fehl. 3. Ellen, married Ira Brungard. 4. Rebecca, married George Westaby. 5. Sadie, married James Kenealy. 6. Annie, married a Mr. Armstrong. 7. William. S. John. 9. Edward. 10. Howard. 11. Elizabeth. 12 Maggie.
Samuel A. Snooks, first son and eldest child of Reuben W. and Mary ( Walker) Snook, was born in Myles township, Center county, Pennsylvania, May 23, 1859. He was educated in the public schools of Bellefonte, where he was apt and studions. He then served a three years' apprenticeship to the wire drawing trade, and then held a posi- tion of clerk in the Cambria County Bank of Johnstown; was with Bantly Fronheiser for three years, and then in the hardware business with John Dibert until 1889, when the flood of May 31, of that year, destroyed the building. Mr. Snook established a hardware store at No. 514 Main street, in 1899, and has conducted this very successfully up to the present time (1906). He is highly respected and esteemed by a large circle of friends and business acquaintances. He is a member and trustee of the United Brethren church, and a stanch supporter of the Republican party. He is a member of Johnstown Council, No. 401, Royal Areanum.
He married. April 10, 1889, Annia G. Shaffer, daughter of Samuel and Mary ( Kantner) Shaffer, who had six children: Sarah, John E., Mary. Catherine, of Allentown. Annie and Margarett. Samuel Shaffer was a salesman. The children of Samuel A. and Annia G. (Shaffer) Snook are: Earl, born February 9, 1890. Clyde, October 11, 1892. Mary E .. November 27, 1894. Robert W., October 3, 1898. John S., February 5,1901.
SIMEON B. KING. of Barnesboro, was born March 5, 1855, in Clearfield county, and is a son of Edward King, and a grandson of Reader King, who was born in the eastern part of Pennsylvania, and about 1790 moved with his family to Clearfield county, where he passed the remainder of his life as a farmer. He was very active in the councils and enterprises of the Democratic party, and was a member of the Baptist church. Reader King married Mary McGreery, and the following children were born to them: George. John, Edward, of whom later; Nancy, wife of William Dunlap ; Mary Ann, married (first) Joseph Wetmore. (seeond) Thomas Crossman and ( third) John Mann- ion : Eliott. Charles, Newman and Elizabeth, who died at twenty years of age.
Edward King, son of Reader and Mary (MeGreery) King, was born October 14, 1821, and was all his life a farmer and lumberman in Clearfield county. Politically he was a Democrat, but neither held nor sought office. He married Jane, danghter of JJohn and Eliza Notley, of Indiana county, and their family consisted of the following children : Helen, died in childhood: Harriet Emma, wife of James Moore, of Clearfield county. Simeon B., of whom later; Samantha, died in child-
HISTORY OF CAMBRIA COUNTY.
hood. Naomi and Robert, also died in childhood. Amanda, wife of Harry Cramer, Mollie, wife of John Isensee .--- , died at the age of nine years. The death of Mr. King occurred in 1873.
Simeon B. King, son of, Edward and Jane ( Notley) King was edu- cated in the common schools, and though but seventeen years of age at the time of the death of his father, took charge of the farm and lumber business on behalf of his mother until he reached the age of thirty-one. He then moved to Burnside borough, where for eight years he was en- gaged in the hotel business, migrating at the end of that time to Fleming- ton, New Jersey, where he spent one year as a flour and feed merchant. In 1894 he returned to Cambria county and took charge of the Brandon Hotel, at Spangler, remaining five years as the proprietor. In 1899 he purchased the Commercial Hotel, of Barnesboro, which he conducted for three years and then leased, having sinee lived in retirement. He has been director of the Barnesboro Bank since its organization. In politics he is a stanch Democrat and was the first councilman ever elected by his party in Barnesboro. He is now serving on the council of Spangler. He is a member of Lodge No. 379, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, of Burnside, and Lodge No. 175, Benevolent Protective Order of Elks, of Johnstown.
Mr. King married Mary, daughter of Henry Buck, and they had four children : Eileene A., a student, at home: Edward D., Esther and Louise, died February 7, 1903, at the age of eighteen months.
WILLIAM C. HUBBARD, of Patton, was born September 3, 1866, and is a son of Joseph W. Hubbard, and a grandson of John Hubbard, a native of York county. Little is known of his history beyond the fact that he was a Democrat, and a member of the Methodist Episcopal church. He was the father of a large family, all of whom arrived at maturity. At the time of his death he had attained to the advanced age of eighty-nine years.
Joseph W. Hubbard, son of John Hubbard, was born September 5, 1824, in York county, and passed the active years of his life as a farmer in Clinton county. In 1879 he was elected commissioner of Clin- ton county, and for thirty years was school director in said county, having been always deeply interested in educational matters. He is still living. at the age of eighty-two, and has never missed an election since attaining his majority. He is a Democrat and a member of the Methodist Episcopal church. Mr. Hubbard married Harriet, daughter of John Weaver, and the following were their children: 1. Catherine, born in 1850, wife of Williams, of Bellefonte, has four children: Clair, Enlalia, Helen and Imcretia. 2. Fannie. deceased, wife of Eugene Sher- man, had two children: Harry, student at Dickinson seminary, and George, a missionary in China. 3. Anna, single, at home. 4. Percilia, wife of James A. Gunsallus, has four children : Mattie, Ellery, Clair and Annabel. 5. Liza, died at the age of two years. 6. Graffins H., married Fannie Denison, had one child. Sarah: by his second wife, Mrs. Venie Smith, no issue. 7. Eva, died in childhood. 8. Samuel, also died in childhood. 9. William C, of whom later. 10. Horace, single. 11. Marcella, drowned at seven years of age. 12. Joseph H., married Jennie Spangler, had three children: Ellen, Laura and Howard. The mother of this large family died in 1881. and Mr. Hubbard subsequently married Sarah Packer, the issue of the marriage being two children: Morris and Charlotte.
William C. Hubbard, son of Joseph W. and Harriet (Weaver)
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Hubbard, was born in Clinton county. and attended the public schools, whence he passed to Poughkeepsie Business College, graduating there- from in 1892. Ile learned the carpenter's trade, and in 1892 began con- tracting and building at Clearfield. In 1899 he moved to Patton, where he erected by contract many of the principal buildings, among them the public school edifices, the Patton Clay Works. Trinity Church, the Ro- man Catholic Church and various business blocks. He does all the con- struction work for the Beech Creek Coal & Coke Company, at Patton. He has served three years in the council of the borough and five years as secretary of the school board. In 1904 he was the Democratic candidate for the legislature, but failed of election. He was a candidate for general assembly on the Democratic ticket in the fall of 1906. He is not a member but attends the Methodist Episcopal church.
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