History of Cambria County, Pennsylvania, Volume III, Part 93

Author: Storey, Henry Wilson
Publication date: 1907
Publisher: New York, Chicago, The Lewis Publishing Company
Number of Pages: 940

USA > Pennsylvania > Cambria County > History of Cambria County, Pennsylvania, Volume III > Part 93

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

THE NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY

Astor, Lenox and Tlidan Foundations. 1909

Charles Oswald

651

HISTORY OF CAMBRIA COUNTY.

Pennsylvania, January 11, 1829, daughter of Roland and Catherine (Roberts) Humphreys, a native of Wales, England, who came to this country when a young man. He was first a butcher and later a railroad man, and was accidentally killed in the old tunnel about 1851.

Mr. and Mrs. Wike had children: 1. Catherine, married Robert Kirtley, of McKeesport, Pennsylvania. 2. Hannah Jane, married (first) Alexander Wyant; (second) Martin L. Miller, who resides in East Conemaugh. 3. George C., an engineer in Mckeesport, married Belle Goehrauer.

CHARLES OSWALD, one of the many valued citizens of Johns- town, who were numbered among the victims of the flood, was born February 18, 1845, in Baden, Germany, son of Anthony Oswald, who was a nail-maker and died in Germany about 1855; leaving a widow, four sons and as many daughters.

These children, about two years after the death of their father, came with their mother to the United States, settling at Carrolltown, Cambria county. Charles went to Johnstown to learn the cabinet- maker's trade with JJacob Block, and later was employed by a Mr. Heard.

In 1866 he established himself in the cabinet-making and under- taking business, which he conducted successfully until his health failed in consequence of a sunstroke. Being obliged to relinquish his arduous labors. he became proprietor of the Areade Hotel, which he had eon- ducted for five years when the great flood of 1889 washed away the entire property, Mr. Oswald and three of his children losing their lives in the waters. He was a member of St. Joseph's Roman Catholic church, and his death was mourned as that of a truly worthy man. In financial matters he had been eminently successful, acquiring a con- siderable property, which has, since his death, been improved and in- ereased by his wife, whose assistance had ably supplemented the labors of her husband. Mr. Oswald married, May 2, 1865, Magdaline Freid- hoff, who bore him the following children: Frank, at time of his death in business as a butcher; Euphrasia, wife of Robert Riddle, of Johns- town, children : Eulalia, Robert B., Marie, Hetrick, William, Bernadine and Dorothea; Mamie, drowned in flood; Venantius, owner of Ameri- can brewery, Altoona. married, one child, Helen; Alphonse, deceased ; Epilonia, lost in flood; Eulalia, also lost in flood; Stanislaus, died in infancy; Andrew, also died in infancy; and Andrew Ralph, died in childhood. It was by the heroic efforts of her son Alphonse that Mrs. Oswald's life was saved at the time of the flood. Like her husband, she is a member of the Roman Catholic church.

Mrs. Oswald is a daughter of Nicholas and Veronica (Beiter) Freidhoff, of Munster township, Cambria county, both natives of Ger- many, the former a Ifessian, and the latter born in Wittenberg. Mr. and Mrs. Freidhoff were the parents of the following children: Magda- lina, born January 18, 1840, in Munster township, wife of Charles Os- wald; Mary, wife of Martin Campbell; Henry, deeeased; Veronica, Sister Stephana, of Sisters of Mercy, St. Francis Xavier's, Westmore- land county ; Margaret, wife of Michael Thomas; Ellen, Sister Regis, of Sisters of Charity, Baltimore; Susan, Sister Gertrude, of Sisters of Charity, Baltimore; Caroline, Sister Walberga, of Benedictine order, Carrolltown; Nicholas, lives on homestead, Munster township; and four died in infancy.

652

HISTORY OF CAMBRIA COUNTY.

CHARLES GRIFFITH, for many years engaged in the drug busi- ness in Main street, Johnstown, Cambria county, Pennsylvania, is a representative of an old and highly respected family of the state, whose ancestral history will be found in detail in the sketch of Norman B. Griffith, elsewhere in this work. Charles Griffith was born in Jenner township, Somerset county, Pennsylvania, October 14, 1855. His edu- cation was acquired in the public schools of his native town and those of Johnstown, to which latter city he removed with his parents when a very young boy. He was of a studious disposition, and at the age of seventeen years entered the drug store of J. F. Kinnery as a clerk, and after a time held a similar position with C. J. Frayer, also in the drug business. He then matriculated at the College of Pharmacy in Philadel- phia, Pennsylvania, in 1874, and was graduated in the class of 1876. He returned to Johnstown and obtained the position of prescription clerk with C. J. Fraver, and after some time established himself in the drug business in Main street. He conducted this for a period of four years and then bought out the business of his former employer, Mr. Frayer, and was actively engaged in the management of this until his retirement in June, 1905. He was eminently successful in his methods of doing business, and held a reputation for reliability and purity of the drugs used in compounding prescriptions which was sur- passed by none. His cheerful and courteous manner and readiness to advise in case of necessity gained for him a host of friends. He is now (1907) living at No. 306 Main street, Johnstown. He is a member and vestryman of the Episcopal church, and his political support is given to the Republican party. He is associated with the following organiza- tions: Free and Accepted Masons, Improved Order of Heptasophs and Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks. He married, in Queenstown, Armstrong county, Pennsylvania, August 3, 1882, Mary K. Jennings, daughter of Richard and Catherine (Evans) Jennings, the latter a native of Wales, the former coming to the United States from England, and dying in Armstrong county, Pennsylvania. Mr. and Mrs. Griffith have no children.

LOGAN M. KELLER, chief of the Johnstown Fire Department, was born September 20, 1869, in Belsona, Cambria county, Pennsyl- vania, and is descended from ancestors who came from Germany and settled in Berks county, Pennsylvania, where his grandfather was born, and whence, when a young man. he migrated to Indiana county in the same state, settling on a farm on which he ended his days.

William B. Keller, father of Logan M. Keller, was born in Indiana county, and grew up on his father's farm. During the Civil war he enlisted as a private in the Sixty-seventh Regiment, Pennsylvania Vol- unteer Infantry, which formed part of the Sixth Army Corps. He was promoted from the ranks through the various grades to the captain of his company, and proved himself a brave soldier and efficient officer. At the elose of the war he returned home, and married Mally Ferguson, of Jacksonville, Indiana county.

Logan M. Keller, son of William B. and Mally (Ferguson) Keller, was taken in his early boyhood to Strongstown, where his father was the proprietor of a store and hotel, and there his school days began at the early age of four years. When he was eight years old his father moved to Jacksonville, Indiana county, and there he continued his studies until the removal to Johnstown. which occurred in March, 1878. He attended the public schools until the age of sixteen, finishing his

653

HISTORY OF CAMBRIAA COUNTY.

studies under the preceptorship of O. R. Smith. His first employment was as a water boy in the brickyard of A. Z. Hows & Son, at a daily wage of forty or fifty cents, which then seemed to him a considerable sum. He was afterward made operator of a tuyere machine and re- mained with the company until 1891, when he became day baggage- master for the Pennsylvania Railroad Company at Johnstown station. This position he retained a little more than six years, and then, in eom- pany with his brother-in-law, E. F. Deeker, engaged in the laundry business, the partners becoming proprietors of the Ideal Laundry, which they conducted until July 17, 1906, when their place of business was destroyed by fire. Mr. Keller continued to carry on the laundry work by shipping it away until September 26, when he became acting lieu- tenant in the fire department of Johnstown. He was appointed eaptain and deputy chief October 15, and on November 21 was made chief of the fire department. For three years he served as a member of the board of revision of taxation, and later was chosen to fill the unexpired term of Thomas H. Watt from the Thirteenth ward. At the elose of the term he was elected for three years, but resigned before the expiration of the time, having moved into the First ward near his place of business. He belongs to the Modern Woodmen of the World, and in polities affiliates with the Republican party. He is a member of the Franklin street Methodist Episcopal church. Mr. Keller married, September 12, 1889, at South Fork, Lillian B., daughter of Frank S. and Jennie (Leslie) Deekert, and they have two children: Frank Leslie, born April 23, 1891; and Ruth, born May 24, 1900.

EDWARD OSWALD, one of Johnstown's progressive business men, was born February 21, 1862, at the old Riffle mill, Juniata town- ship, Bedford county, son of John R. Oswald, born in Germany, where he aequired a common school education and learned the mill business.

John R. Oswald emigrated to the United States in 1852, landing in New York, whence he proceeded to Johnstown, where he was for a time in the service of the Cambria Iron Company. He went to New Balti- more, Somerset county, about 1857, and there operated a flour mill for Wolf Hope, going next to the old Riffle mill, of which he was for a time the manager. This position he resigned, being engaged by a Mr. Fagan to operate the Juniata mill. three miles distant. In 1880 he removed to Johnstown, made his home in the Ninth ward, and obtained work with the Cambria Steel Company. It is worthy of note that he foresaw the breaking of Conemaugh dam, being enabled by his knowledge and experience of such matters to discern the threatening peril. Politically he was a Demoerat. He and his wife were members of St. Joseph's Ger- man Roman Catholic church. John R. Oswald married, at Riffle mill, Theresa, born in Germany in 1837, daughter of Caspar and Dorothy Seifert, and brought to the United States by her parents when less. then one year old. Caspar Seifert was a farmer, and settled in Bedford county, Pennsylvania, at what was then called Foot of the Ridge, and is now known as Mann's Choice, where he and his wife ended their days. Mr. and Mrs. Oswald were the parents of the following children : Anna Mary, wife of Peter Weimer, of New Baltimore, Somerset county; Ed- ward, of whom later; John R., of Johnstown, married Margaret Mullen ; Ida; William C., of Johnstown, married Emma Hartman; Josephine, died at the age of twenty-six; Angust, of East Conemaugh, married Mayme Hoy; Bernetta, died young; and Robert, of Johnstown, married

654

HISTORY OF CAMBRIA COUNTY.

Pearl Geiser. John R. Oswald, the father of this family, died in 1882, and the mother survived until 1903.

Edward Oswald, son of John R. and Theresa (Seifert) Oswald, at- tended the schools of Bedford county until the age of fourteen, and then for a time worked as a farm hand, being so occupied until the re- moval of his parents to Johnstown. Upon settling in this place he secured employment as a puddle helper in the plant of the Cambria Steel Company, later becoming a puddler. He left the service of the company in 1887, and became clerk for the Economy Clothing Com- pany, with whom he remained until the time of the flood. From 1890 to 1902 he was clerk in the store of John Thomas & Sons, serving them with a remarkable fidelity to duty. He established himself as the pro- prietor of a general store at Cambria City in 1902, where he remained for two years, removing at the end of that time to Railroad street, Johns- town, where he has since carried on a successful business. He has served six years as school director, and in politics is a stanch Demoerat. He and his wife are members of St. Joseph's German Roman Catholic church. Mr. Oswald married, December 3, 1889, in Johnstown, Jo- sephine, daughter of the late Peter and Josephine Sauer, of that city, and they have three children : Ida, Esther and Edward, Jr.

AMOS COVER, of Johnstown, one of the oldest residents of Cam- bria county, now living in retirement at Walnut Grove, was born No- vember 13, 1817, on the homestead on Cover Hill, Conemaugh township, son of Adam and Mary (Bashore) Cover. The personal history of Adam Cover will be found in the sketch of C. B. Cover, which appears elsewhere in this work. Amos Cover attended the earliest schools of Johnstown, which were the old-fashioned subseription schools, his first teacher being a Mr. Birry. The schools were held only during the win- ter months and from various causes he lost no less than half that short period. When only a boy he began to assist his father in the farm duties, helping to clear much of the land where Daisytown now stands, that forming part of the estate. He remained at home until the age of twenty-six, when he married and settled on a farm consisting of seventy- seven acres, situated in Taylor township, belonging to his father-in-law. This property he improved, erecting new buildings, and subsequently adding, at different times, tracts of fifty and fifty-seven acres re- spectively, both adjoining his own land. Throughout his long career as a farmer he was extremely successful, managing his estate with the most gratifying results until the autumn of 1906, when he retired to his present home in Walnut Grove. . While a resident of Taylor township in 1877 he became a member of the German Baptist church, with which he has ever since been prominently identified. He has attended every conference held by the church since 1894, when the session was held at Myersdale, Pennsylvania. He has since been present at conferences held at Carthage, Missouri : Frederick City, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania ; Bellefontaine, Ohio: Bristol Farm, Roanoke, Virginia, and Springfield, Illinois. On the last occasion and a few preceding it he was the oldest member present. Mr. Cover has been twice married. By his first wife he had one child: Lucinda, who became the wife of Levi Leidy, and died in Taylor township, January 30, 1888, leaving six sons: Harry, lives on his grandfather Cover's. farm, married Savilla Weissinger; Howard, at home: Amos, of Taylor township, married Abigail Rose; John, of the neighborhood of Pittsburg, married Mabel Stevens; Blair, at home; and George, teaching in the public schools. The mother of

655

HISTORY OF CAMBRIA COUNTY.

these children died September 24, 1881, and is buried in Singer grave- yard. Mr. Cover married (second) November 20, 1883, Sarah Varner, who is, like himself, a devout member of the German Baptist church, of which she became a member in 1861. Notwithstanding his advanced age, having now entered his nintieth year, Mr. Cover is active and en- ergetic both mentally and physically. He writes without glasses, and can partially dispense with their assistance in reading. His long record of integrity and usefulness, combined with his kind and charitable dis- position, has won for him the well-deserved veneration and love with which he is regarded by all. Mrs. Cover was born March 31, 1842, in Conemaugh township, and until her marriage lived there and in Taylor township, at the home of her grandfather Goode. She is a daughter of Samuel Varner, who was born in Conemangh township, son of George and Christina (Horner) Varner, both of German descent, and the former a well-known farmer. Samuel Varner married, and his children were : Sarah, wife of Amos Cover: Naney, wife of Abraham Fyock, of Walnut Grove; Caroline, wife of Samuel Knabel, of Adams township; Jacob C., of Adams township, married Susannah Knabel ; Lucinda, de- ceased, wife of Jacob Arthur; and Harriet Jane, died in childhood. Mr. and Mrs. Varner both died in Taylor township, at the home of their daughter, Mrs. Cover, the latter passing away in 1892, aged sixty-nine, and the death of the former occurring in 1893, he being then seventy- five years old.

SMILEY WILSON, of Johnstown, foreman in the Bessemer steel department of the Cambria Steel Works, was born April 20, 1845, in Brady's Bend, Armstrong county, his father and paternal grandfather having both borne the name of Andrey. The latter was a native of the north of Ireland. and when a young man emigrated to the United States, settling at Elizabeth, Allegheny county; on the banks of the Monongahela. He was among the early settlers, making his first home in the forest and becoming a very extensive landowner, the possessor of several fine farms, all underlaid with coal. In addition to this property he owned land in Pittsburg in the neighborhood of the Times building, · and also the site of that structure, beside other real estate in different parts of the very best business section of the city. He was a member of the Presbyterian church. Andrew Wilson married, in Allegheny county, Pennsylvania, Miss Elrod, a kinswoman of Henry Clay, and had a number of children. He died at his home in Elizabeth, leaving behind him the reputation of an honest, industrious man, respected by all who know him.

Andrew Wilson, son of Andrew Wilson and his wife, was born on the home farm at Elizabeth, and obtained the limited education which was usually the portion of the children of pioneers of that period, being trained at an early age to assist his father in the labor of clearing land. Soon after his marriage he removed to Brady's Bend, where, for a num- ber of years, he was employed in the salt mines. He went to Johns- town in 1856, making his home at the corner of Main and Union streets. He was employed in the Cambria Iron Works until five years before his death, when he had retired from active labor. In polities he was first a Whig and later a Republican. He was one of the founders of the Baptist church, of which he was a member until the close of his life. Andrew Wilson married Matilda, daughter of Hugh Sinelair West, a native of Baltimore, of English descent, and a pioneer in the making of earthenware in Clarion. Pennsylvania, whither he removed

656

HISTORY OF CAMBRIA COUNTY.

after a brief sojourn in Johnstown. He was a man of education and refinement and served with the rank of lieutenant in the war of 1812, participating in the campaign in and about Baltimore. Hugh Sinelair West married Axie Wright, also a native of Baltimore, and a member of an old Virginia family, and their children were: Thomas, succeeded his father in the pottery business and died in Clarion; Hugh Sinclair, lost at Pittsburg while his father was en route to Clarion ; and Matilda, born in Baltimore, 1808, wife of Andrew Wilson. Mrs. West died in 1811 in Baltimore, and Mr. West survived to the advanced age of eighty- seven, his death occurring at Clarion, he having been a resident of western Pennsylvania sinee 1823. Mr. and Mrs. Wilson became the parents of the following children: Josephus, of Neweastle, Pennsyl- ania, served during Civil war in Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, Army of the Potomac, married Margaret Eteheson; Smiley, of whom later: Constantine, married Lillie MeGarry, and died in Johnstown ; Henry, served during Civil war in Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry and died in 1865 at Harper's Ferry; and Henrietta, wife of Robert Phillips, of Johnstown. Mr. Wilson died in 1867. at the age of sixty- seven, and the death of the mother of the family occurred in Johns- town in 1893. Both are buried in Grand View cemetery.

Smiley Wilson, son of Andrew and Matilda (West) Wilson, spent the first six years of his life at Brady's Bend, and then lived for five years at Clarion, in the family of his uncle, Thomas West, who sent him to school. He returned to his parents in 1857, who were then living at Johnstown, and for six months attended school in that city. At the end of that time he began his business career as water boy in the works of the Cambria Iron Company, and later was employed in the nail mill; remaining until he exchanged the life of a citizen for that of a soldier. He enlisted August, 1862, for nine months in Company A, One Hundred and Thirty-third Regiment, Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, Captain Downey and Colonel Speakman commanding, and served under Gen- erals Porter, Burnside and Hooker, in the Fifth Army Corps, Army of the Potomac. He was present at the battles of Fredericksburg and Chancellorsville, the latter engagement being opened May 5, 1863, by the Fifth Army Corps. His term of service expired May 5, and he was mustered out and discharged at Harrisburg. He returned home and the same year went to Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, where he was employed in an iron mill until 1871, when he went to St. Louis, there finding em- ployment in the Vulcan Iron Works. In less than a year, however, he turned his face eastward, and for twelve months worked in the Thirty- third street Carnegie mill, Pittsburg. At the end of that time he re- turned to Johnstown, where he has since been employed in the Bessemer Steel Works, having filled his present position for twenty years. His political affiliations are with the Republicans. He is a member of no church, but inelines to the doctrines of the Methodist Episcopal de- nomination.

Mr. Smiley married, in 1868, in Bethlehem. Charlesanna, daughter of James and Sarah (Mahard) Beggs, of that place, and they have three daughters: Blanche. wife of Elmer Shaffer. of Wilkinsburg. Pennsyl- vania : Leonora, who lives in Johnstown ; and Stella, who resides with her sister in Wilkinsburg.

JOSEPH ALLEN, who has been for the last seven years sueeess- fully engaged in business in Johnstown, was born March 19, 1869, in Athens, Greece, son of James Allen, a elothing and silk merchant of

657

HISTORY OF CAMBRIA COUNTY.

that city. The latter was the father of three children, Joseph being the only one to emigrate to the United States. In his boyhood Joseph Allen acquired but little education, his dislike to study and to the restraint of school causing him to be a frequent truant, and while still a young lad he assisted his father in the store of the latter. He came to the United States in 1887, landing in New York on December 16 of that year, very slenderly supplied with capital. For six months he worked in New York as a laborer, making two dollars and a quarter a day, and then went to Reading, Pennsylvania, where he was employed on the Lehigh Valley railroad. His next removal was to Pottsville, Pennsylvania, where he worked in a rolling mill and also on the railroad. Thereafter he was employed on railroads at Altoona, Bolivar, Lillie and Scalp Level, in all these places holding the position of foreman. He after- ward served as foreman on railroad contract work in Chicago and many other prominent cities of the west. While working in the rolling mill at Pottsville he had the misfortune to lose his right arm. He took up his abode in Johnstown about 1900, where he engaged in the cigar and fruit business, in which he prospered, and in the course of time was able to purchase the property which he now occupies. On this site he opened the general store which he now conducts, making a specialty of fruit. So enterprising has he been as to have built and bought no fewer than seven single and double houses. He supports with his vote the principles advocated by the Republican party, and is a member of St. John Gaulbert's Roman Catholic church.

Mr. Allen married, and has one child : Eva.

WILLIAM BEEGLE, well and favorably known in the business circles of Johnstown, Cambria county, Pennsylvania, is a representative of the third generation of the Beegle family in this country, tracing his ancestry to an old family of Germany.

Frederick Beegle, grandfather of William Beegle, and the first of the Beegle family to come to America, was born in Germany, abont 1770, and was a farmer by occupation. He married, and had chil- dren : Charles, married twice : Daniel, married Miss De Armit; Henry ; Samuel, married Miller; John: Joseph; George, of whom later; William, married Eva Bowser; Mrs. Morgan ; Polly, married George Bortz.

George Beegle, seventh son and child of Frederick Beegle, was born at Friend's Cove, Bedford county, Pennsylvania, December 17, 1814, died March 12, 1902. He was a farmer by occupation, and held several important township offices, one of them being that of county commis- sioner. He married Jeannette Dunkle, born at Snake Spring Valley. Bedford county. Pennsylvania. April 21, 1821, died December 29, 1900. She was one of five children : John, Jacob, Simon, William and Jean- nette. The children of George and Jeannette (Dunkle) Beegle were : 1. Susan, married Jacob P. Barkley. 2. Joseph, married Elizabeth Wertz. 3. Charles, married Sarah Haulderbaum. 4. Sophia, married Isaae Hahn. 5. Sarah J., died in infancy. 6. Ella, married William Sleek. 7. William. see forward. 8. Loretta, married Samuel R. Bare- foot. 9. Melinda, married John F. Zerbe.

William Beegle, third son and seventh child of George and Jean- nette (Dunkle) Beegle, was born at St. Clairville, Bedford county, Pennsylvania, February 10. 1854. He enjoyed the advantages of a most excellent education. He at first attended the common schools of Bedford county, and then in succession, the Collegiate Institute of Mar-

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

History of Cambria County, Pennsylvania, Volume III, Part 93

Author: Storey, Henry Wilson Publication date: 1907 Publisher: New York, Chicago, The Lewis Publishing Company Number of Pages: 940

Author: Storey, Henry Wilson
Publication date: 1907
Publisher: New York, Chicago, The Lewis Publishing Company
Number of Pages: 940