USA > Pennsylvania > Cambria County > History of Cambria County, Pennsylvania, Volume III > Part 94
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tinsburg, Pennsylvania; the academy at Schellsburg, Pennsylvania; and then the Susquehanna University, Selin's Grove, Snyder county, Pennsylvania, from which latter institution he was graduated. He taught school in Bedford county for fifteen terms, and then decided to enter commercial life. He traveled for the Eastern Publishing Com- pany of Philadelphia for one year, then entered the retail sewing ma- chine business in Huntingdon and Bedford counties. Went to Johns- town, January 19, 1887, and was in the employ of the Singer Sewing Machine Company until 1897; then with J. M. Burnell, of Johnstown, for five years. He established himself in the musical instrument and sewing machine business, April 1, 1904, locating in the Lincoln building, in Johnstown, where he is at the present (1907) time. His business is in a very flourishing condition, and he is considered as one of the most prominent men in the commercial circles of the town. He is a member of the Lutheran church, and affiliates with the Democratic party. He is associated with the following organizations: A member of Johnstown Council No. 401, Royal Arcanum. and has been grand representative and council deputy for it; past grand of St. Clairsville Lodge No. 922, Independent Order of Odd Fellows. He married, October 5, 1883, Alice M. Amick, only child of William and Catherine (Wertz) Amick. William Amick, who was born in 1827, was by occupation a cabinet- maker, enlisted in the Union army during the Civil war, and was killed on the second day of the Battle of the Wilderness.
HENRY FREDERICK LEVENTRY. second son and child of Henry Leventry and Mary Catherine Elizabeth ( Wulbrandt) Leventry, was born near Forwardstown. Jenner township, Somerset county, Penn- sylvania, July 16, 1853, and lived at home with his parents until he was about fourteen years old. He received his early education in the common schools. At fourteen he went to Johnstown and found work in the puddling furnace, where he "ran the buggy." He then learned the carpenter's trade with Freidhoff Brothers, and worked the first year for ninety cents per day, the second year at one dollar and ten cents per day, and the third year at one dollar and seventy-five cents per day, a journeyman's wages. He worked for the Freidhoffs five years, spent one year in Indianapolis, Indiana, then returned to his former employers for three years more. Abont 1853 he moved on the home farm, lived there two years, then came back to Johnstown and worked at his trade about two years with J. J. Strayer. When the Johnstown Company (now the Loraine Steel Company) installed its plant in Johnstown, he began contract work and continued it with good success until about 1896. He also operated a large planing mill which gave employment to from thirty to forty men, bought and sold lumber on a large scale, erected houses and other buildings, and virtually built up that part of the city called Moxham, in the Seventeenth ward. However, when the Loraine Steel Company moved its work to Ohio his business operations gradually became less, upon which he discreetly sold out. Since that time his attention has been given to dealing in real estate and managing his various properties, for those years of active business life brought to Mr. Leventry considerable property in lands and buildings. During his business career Mr. Leventry took, and still takes, an active interest in municipal affairs in Johnstown and has always identified himself with the Republican party. He served two years as common council- man and one year as tax collector. He is a member of the German Lutheran church, and of Moxham Lodge, No. 1044, Independent Order
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HISTORY OF CAMBRIA COUNTY.
of Odd Fellows. He married, November 3, 1880, Amanda Henrietta Livingston, daughter of David J. and Charlotte (Hammers) Livingston of Paint township in Somerset county. David Livingston was a soldier of the Civil war, a private in Captain Grimm's Company D, One Hun- dred and Forty-second Pennsylania Volunteer Infantry, Colonel Cum- mings commanding. He was with the regiment through all its service until Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, where he was wounded. He was al- lowed to go home on sick leave, and later rejoined his regiment at Phila- delphia, where he was taken with a fever that resulted in his death, August 4, 1866. His wife, Charlotte Hammers, was a daughter of Solomon and Elizabeth (Barefoot) Hamers. Amanda Henrietta Liv- ingston, wife of Mr. Leventry, is a great-great-granddaughter of a sister of the husband of the world famous Betsey Ross, to whom is accorded the honor of having made the first American flag. A teapot once used by that notable dame is in the possession of the Livingston family. Children of Henry Frederick and Amanda Henrietta (Livingston) Leventry : Lottie, born April 21, 1881, married Clyde Mellinger, of .Johnstown; Dora Ella, born July 20, 1883, married F. A. Bostert, of Johnstown; Clara, born December 30, 1885; died March 25. 1887; George, born February 13, 1888: Arthur, born May 30, 1890; Lula, born March 26, 1892; James, born April 27, 1896.
CHARLES YOUNG, of Johnstown, for twenty-three years a resi- dent of that eity and only recently withdrawn from the ranks of its active business men, was born in Prussia, January 8, 1851, son of Jacob and Margurite (Riekabaugh) Young. Jacob Young combined the eall- ings of a farmer and carpenter. Both he and his wife died in their. native land. They were the parents of five children, of whom Charles was the third.
From the age of six years to that of fourteen Charles Young at- tended the schools of his native country, and then learned the car- penter's trade, which he has made the occupation of his life. He emi- grated to the United States in 1884, bringing with him his wife and three children, making the voyage from Antwerp to New York, and from that eity proceeding direet to Johnstown, making his home in the Sixteenth ward, where he has since erected four dwellings. After taking up his abode in Johnstown he was for a number of years em- ploved by different contractors, and in 1899 engaged in business for himself. The venture was followed by the most gratifying results, and in a few years he was in eireumstances to retire with a competeney. He adheres steadfastly to the principles of the Republican party, and is a member of the German Roman Catholic church. Mr. Young married, in 1878, Josephine, daughter of Franz Schmidt, a eigar-maker, and they became the parents of the following children, all of whom were born in Prussia: 1. Charles, Jr., born August, 1877, educated in Ger- man and publie schools, and now employed as mill-hand by the Cambria Steel Company. He married, April 19, 1898, Magdalina Bollinger, and their children are: Carl, Margaret, Catharine and Hilda. 2. Harry, lives with his father; he married Virginia Moody, and has one child : Ruth. 3. Philip. Mr. Young and his children have been bereaved by death of the wife and mother.
ELLSWORTH FREDERICK ARBLE, M. D., of Carrolltown, was born July 21, 1873, in Cambria county, and is a representative of a family which was founded in New England and subsequently trans-
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planted to Pennsylvania, as will be seen from its history as traced through the following generations :
(I) Henry Frederick Arble came to this country before the Revo- lutionary war, and was one of the sturdy pioneers of what was then the wilderness of Vermont. During the struggle for independence he was enrolled in the ranks of the patriot army and served under Ethan Allen in the latter's campaign in New York. He served until the close of the war and then migrated to Huntingdon county, Pennsylvania, whence he moved to Center county, where he died.
(II) Frederick Arble, son of Henry Frederiek Arble, was born in 1772, in Center county, and settled in Blair county, where he was in- terested in the burning of charcoal and owned a one-half interest in the Blair iron furnace. Mr. Arble married, in 1802, Elizabeth Wilt, born in 1782, and they were the parents of two sons and a daughter: Jacob, born 1804: Henry, of whom later; and Mary, born 1808. Mr. Arble died in Blair county at the extraordinary age of one hundred and four years.
(III) Henry Arble. son of Frederick and Elizabeth ( Wilt) Arble, was born January 31, 1806. in Huntingdon county, and helped to con- struct the old Portage road. After its completion he was given charge of Plane No. 4, over which he made the first trip. He remained in the service of the company until the road was abandoned, in 1853, when he bought a large tract of land in Cambria county and devoted himself to farming in connection with the lumber business until 1886. He then sold the property, and for the remainder of his life made his home with his son Frederick. In polities he was originally an old-line Whig, but later became a Republican. In religion he was a Roman Catholic. Mr. Arble married Ellen Gillespie, born in 1811, in Blair county, and the following were their children: 1. David, born November 13, 1836, lum- berman in West Virginia, married, in 1860, Elizabeth - -, who died August 25, 1904. 2. Frederick, of whom later. 3. Henry, born 1842, married Jane Houk. 4. Anastasia, born 1848, wife of Henry Bongher. 5. Agnes, born 1850. died at the age of twenty. The mother of these children died in 1871, and Mr. Arble survived until 1898, when he passed away at the age of ninety-two. His personal appearance was marked by a striking peculiarity, one half of his hair and beard being always white, while the other half was auburn.
(IV) Frederick Arble, son of Henry and Ellen (Gillespie) Arble, was born February 10, 1840, in Blair county, and in 1864 enlisted in the Union army, but saw no active service, the war coming to an end before his regiment was ordered to the front. April 26, 1871, he pur- chased the farm known as the MeCauley farm and became an agricul- turist and a dealer in thoroughbreds. In 1875 he bought of Henry Kirk another piece of land, and in 1882 a third, known as the Ott farm. To these acquisitions he added, January 6, 1890, still another tract, known as the William Bazley farm, thus completing the Arble home- stead which he now owns. February 27, 1901, he sold the coal in the original MeCauley tract to Rebrandt Peale, and in 1903 purchased seventeen and a half acres, lying partly in the borough of Carrolltown, of the Zaner heirs. On this land he ereeted a brick dwelling which he now occupies. His stock has been represented at all county fairs and at the state fair. He has served the borough of Carrolltown in all its offices. and it interested in all educational matters. He is one of the directors of the Cambria Agricultural Association, and is a Republican in politics. In religion he is a Roman Catholic, and in connection with
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HISTORY OF CAMBRIA COUNTY.
others has kept in repair St. Joseph's church at Hard Sleeping Place, where are interred the remains of his ancestors. Mr. Arble married Anna T., daughter of John and Terice ( Miller) MeCanley, and their children were: 1. Agnes, born 1869, wife of Joseph Switzler, had three children ; Walter, Frederick and Anna. 2. Ellsworth Frederick, of whom later. 3. Emma, born 1875, deecased. wife of Edward Wentz, had three children : , Laura and Edward. 4. Gertrude, born
1877, wife of Valentine Gruff, had one child: John. 5. Laura, born 1879, wife of Hiram C. Fritz, had one child: Gertrude. 6. Charlotte, born 1881, wife of William MeGonegal, no issue. 7. Rose, born 1883. 8. Martha, born 1885. 9. Amanda, born 1887. 10. Blanche, born 1889. 11. Alma, born 1890. 12. Loretto, born 1891. Rose, Martha and Amanda are teachers in the public schools and Blanche, Alma and Loretto are students.
(V) Elisworth Frederick Arble, son of Frederick and Anna T. (McCauley) Arbel, received his preparatory education in the public schools and at the local normal school of Ebensburg, graduating at Lock Haven in 1888. He taught in the public schools of Cambria county until 1891, when he entered Williamsport Commercial College, graduating the same year, and immediately matrienlated in Johns Hopkins Uni- versity, Baltimore, where he graduated in 1894 with the degree of Bachelor of Arts. He then entered Johns Hopkins Hospital Training School, from which institution he received in 1898 the degree of Doctor of Medicine. In January of the same year he passed the State Board of Pennsylvania, and in May was appointed resident physician of the Philadelphia General Hospital. May 22. 1898, he resigned the position, and on May 24 was appointed first assistant surgeon for the Fifth Regi- ment, Maryland Volunteers. He was detailed to Cuba and transferred to the Chester, serving until February 14, 1899. The same year he settled in Baltimore, having received an appointment in the surgical department of the dispensary of Johns Hopkins Hospital. This ap- pointment he held until August 2, 1899, when he moved to Nanty Glo, Cambria county, and thenceforth was engaged in general practice until February, 1902. He then took a post-graduate polvelinie course, after which he settled in Carrolltown, purchasing the homestead of D. A. Inther. In 1902 he opened a drug store in connection with his practice, and in 1903 established the Mountain Sanitarium, at Carrolltown, over which he still presides. He is a Republican in politics, and a Roman Catholic in' religion.
GEORGE W. SPEICE, of Barnesboro, was born June 22, 1854, in Curwensville. Clearfield county, Pennsylvania, and is a son of Levi Speice and a grandson of William Speice, a native of Germany, who cinigrated with his wife to the United States and settled in Belfont, where he engaged in milling.
Levi Speice, son of William Speice. was born in 1822 in Center county, Pennsylvania, and learned the tailor's trade, which he followed during the greater part of his life. For fifteen years he served as justice of the peace. He married (first) Miss Reams, who bore him three children : Ilarriet and Alford, both of whom died unmarried; and Henry R., of Reading, Pennsylvania. After the death of his wife Mr. Speice married (second) Elizabeth, daughter of Joseph Hoover, and the following children were born to them: Mary, deceased, wife of Isaac R. Williams; Milton, contractor in Pennsylvania ; Martha, wife of William W. Williams; George W., of whom later: Joseph H., bridge
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and trestle contractor in Pennsylvania; Harriet, wife of H. L. MeCoy; and Catharine, deceased.
George W. Speiee, son of Levi and Elizabeth (Hoover) Speice, was educated in the common schools, and for some sixteen years was a lum- berman on the Susquehanna river, beginning when but fifteen years old. He was also engaged in farming and other occupations. In 1876 he settled in what is now known as Raniey in 1876, where for two years he gave his attention to farming and also to the lumber business. He then established himself as a contractor and builder, and erected one of the first residenees, being one of the pioneer settlers of the town, and built the opera house in 1886. Two years later he went into the hard- ware business, which he conducted until September, 1893, when he closed his store in Ramey, having, in June of the same year, removed the business to Barnesboro, not then incorporated. He carried on this business until 1897, when he removed to Pittsburg, and there for one year worked as a carpenter, after which he returned to Barnesboro, con- ducted a grocery and confectionery business for two years, and has since put up several buildings for himself. He has held several minor offiees, in 1900 was elected justice of the peace for five years, and dur- ing his tenure of office never had a decision reversed by the higher courts. He is a charter member of the Patriotie Sons of America, which was organized May 25. 1889, affiliating with Washington Camp, No. 356, and for two terms served as president of the order. In 1890 he was appointed district deputy for the south district of the county and dur- ing his term of office organized five new camps, and was eleeted first commander. He was a delegate to three state conventions and one na- tional convention. He is also a charter member of Lodge No. 194, Knights of Malta, organized May 25, 1896, in which he has passed all chairs. The other organizations of which he is a charter member are the following: Barnesboro Castle, No. 73, Knights of the Golden Eagle, organized April 6, 1898, passed all chairs: Alfred Tucker Lodge, No. 27, Knights of Pythias, organized May 8, 1900, passed all ehairs, also secre- tary and treasurer of the endowment branch; and Cambria Council, No. 1682, Royal Arcanum, organized April 5, 1900, passed all chairs. April 23, 1898, he joined Cherry Tree Lodge, No. 417, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and on July 25, 1900. became a member of Tribe No. 399, Improved Order of Red Men, in which he has passed a number of chairs. He also belongs to the Junior Order of United American Me- chanies. His political affiliations are with the Democrats. Mr. Speiec married Mattie MeCullough, and the following children have been born to them : A child which died at the age of two years; Lizzie, died when five years old; Joseph M., at home; Robert L., also at home, was grad- nated from college, served two years in United States navy; and Lydia E., at home.
HENRY WIDDERSHEIM, deceased, late of Johnstown, for thirty years associated with the Cambria Iron Company, was born June 9, 1854, in IIessen-Darmstadt, Germany, son of John Peter and Mary Elizabeth (Huffman) Widdersheim, the former a well-to-do farmer and the keeper of a tavern in which he had a rathskeller. Mrs. Widdersheim died about 1879, and in 1881 Mr. Widdersheim came to the United States to visit his son Henry. He returned to his native land and died about 1883.
Henry Widdersheim was educated in the schools of his birthplace, and until the age of eighteen assisted his father in the labors of the
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farm. He then emigrated to the United States, sailing from Bremen and landing in New York. From that city he went to Johnstown, where he entered the service of the Cambria Iron Company, being first em- ployed for a few years in the gas house, whence he was transferred to the blooming mill. In the latter department he served until the close of his life, a period of thirty years, and for twenty-eight years of that time was employed as a heater. During the flood his home, which stood on the site of the house now occupied by his widow, was swept from its foundations, his wife and five children as well as himself being within the dwelling at the time. The house being thrown on its side and float- ing away, all got ont of the windows and drifted as far as Sandy Vale cemetery, and later managed to gain terra firma en floating back to the stone bridge. Soon after the flood Mr. Widdersheim began the erection of the house on Union street now occupied by his widow, and later built another dwelling in the rear. He belonged to the Maccabees, and the Knights of Honor, and in his political principles and opinions was a strong Democrat. He was a member of the German Lutheran church. He married, February 13, 1876, in Johnstown, Annie M. Heidingsfeller, and the following children were born to them: Mary, wife of Bert De- vaul, of Indianapolis; Anna, deceased ; John, also deceased; Elizabeth, wife of William Swigert, of Illinois; Henry, married Emma Stahl, re- sides in Johnstown: Edward, of JJohnstown, married Mayne Stahl ; William : Clarence ; and Carl, an adopted son. In the death of Mr. Widdersheim, which occurred November 15, 1905, it was felt that Johns- town had lost a good and worthy citizen, while his family were deprived of a kind and devoted husband and father. Mrs. Widdersheim is a daughter of John and Mary Barbara ( Kirshbaum) Heidingsfeller, and was born April 1, 1859, in Johnstown, where she has thus far passed her whole life. John Heidingsfeller was born in Germany, and was trained to farm life. At the age of twenty-eight he came to the United States accompanied by his wife and obtained work in the coal mines at Johns- town. Both he and his wife still reside in that city.
JOHN R. PFARR, proprietor of the Pfarr Hotel, 319 Broad street, Cambria City, Pennsylvania, one of the leading hostelries, was born in the Sixteenth ward of that city, June 24, 1873, a son of John Adam Pfarr, who was born in Bavaria, Germany, 1835, and came to the United States in 1855, landing in New York city. He came direct to Johnstown, Pennsylvania, and secured work as a roller in the mills, an occupation he followed until his retirement from active pursuits. John Adam Pfarr married, in Johnstown, Pennsylvania, Anna Marie Greena- walt, born in Bavaria, Germany, came to the United States in girlhood. Nine children were born to them, of whom John R. was the youngest.
John R. Pfarr attended the public and parochial schools until the age of fourteen years. He then learned the trade of barber and worked at same for a period of eleven years, during four of which he was pro- prietor of a shop. He then engaged in the hotel business at No. 421 Broad street, and for four years successfully condneted what was known as the West End Hotel. He then purchased the property on which he later built his present brick building, known as the Pfarr Hotel, which he has since conducted in a manner to make it profitable to himself and a pleasant place for his permanent and transient guests. The rooms are comfortably furnished, equipped with everything necessary for the welfare of the guests, the cuisine is excellent. the host genial and hos- pitable, which all tend to make it an attractive and ideal resting place.
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Mr. Pfarr is a member of St. Columba's Roman Catholic Church. He is a stanch Democrat in politics, and was chosen by the members of that party in the Sixteenth ward to represent them as councilman, in which capacity he served one term. He married, in Johnstown, Pennsylvania, November 3, 1896, Catherine Minahan, of Johnstown, daughter of Will- iam and Mary (Dowling) Minahan. Their children are: Anna Marie, Ruth, Marguerite and William.
HENRY SALY, proprietor of Saly's Hotel, Chestnut street, Johns- town, was born October 1, 1861, in the street where he now resides. which is now ineluded in the Fifteen ward of the city. He is a son of Peter Saly, who was born in Alsace-Lorraine, and was the only member of his family to emigrate to the United States.
Peter Saly and one sister were the only children of their parents, and the former received a good education. His father destined him for the church, but the youth's inclinations were for another sphere of action, and at the age of eighteen he came to this country, landing in New York with some means. After spending some time at Hollidays- burg, Pennsylvania, where he was employed in a brewery, he went to Johnstown and there established himself in mereantile business.
Henry Saly, son of Peter Saly, was educated in the public schools of Johnstown, and at the age of twelve began to learn the business of barbering, which he followed ten years, being in business for himself during a portion of that time. He engaged in the saloon business in the Fifteenth ward in 1885, three years later moved his business to the corner of Chestnut street and Fourth avenue, and in 1889. was washed out by the flood. The same year he purchased the land, on which, in 1890, ho erected the hotel of which he is now the proprietor, the build- ing expenses amounting to nine thousand dollars. In addition to these enterprises Mr. Saly was. from 1894 to 1904, associated with Emmet J. Lucas in contract work, and he is now secretary and general manager of the Johnstown dry grain business. He is one of the directors of the Cambria Morrell Water Company, and a stockholder in the Dollar De- posit Bank and the Citizens' Light Company. His adherence to the Democratie party has been absolutely unwavering. He is a member of St. Mary's German Roman Catholic church. He married, May 21, 1884, in Johnstown, Catharine, daughter of the late Joseph Stibieh, of that city. and the following children have been born to them: Mary, wife of James McGarvey : Emma : Carl; Armella ; William ; Margaret; Susanna ; and Francis.
JAMES A. SMITH, who has been closely identified with the busi- ness interests of the city of Johnstown, Cambria county, Pennsylvania, in various directions for a number of years, and who is now engaged in the wholesale liquor business at No. 143 Connelly avenue, in that city, is a representative of the second generation of his family in this eountry, his ancestors having lived in Ireland.
Patrick Smith, father of James A. Smith, was born in Belfast, county Down, Ireland, in 1831. At the age of seventeen years, upon the death of his parents, he determined to come to America, and landed in New York. He soon obtained a position to assist in constructing a railroad in West Virginia, and when the Pennsylvania Railroad Com- pany commenced building its tunnel at Gallitzin. Pennsylvania, he went there, was one of the first to be employed on that piece of work, and left just before its completion. He engaged in the grocery business at
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