USA > Pennsylvania > Cambria County > History of Cambria County, Pennsylvania, Volume III > Part 96
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ROCCO PIRO, proprietor of the Horseshoe Hotel, Johnstown, Penn- sylvania, was born September S. 1871. in Aprigliano, province of Cas- enza, Italy, son of Dominico Piro and grandson of Francesco Piro, who was a gardener and laborer and passed all his life in Aprigliano, surviving to an advanced age.
Dominico Piro, son of Francesco Piro, was born in Aprigliano, and has always lived there, working as a laborer. Being an only son he was exempt from military service. He is now seventy-eight years of age. He married Josephine Frederica. also a native of Aprigliano, and three sons were born to them. Francesco. who came to the United States three times, engaged in business in Johnstown and recently re- turned to Italy; Roceo, of whom later; and Antonio, who resides with Rocco.
Rocco Piro. son of Dominico and Josephine Frederica Piro, at- tended the schools of his native place until the age of fifteen, and was afterward employed by railroad contractors in tunnelling and similar work. About 1887 he emigrated to the United States, making the voyage from Naples to New York on the steamer "La Patria." After living for a short time in Philadelphia he went to Hazleton, Pennsylvania, finding there and in other mining towns employment in the coal mines. About 1900 he removed to Johnstown, where for a short time he worked for the Cambria Steel Company, after which he was employed in driving a wagon for the Emerling Brewing Com- pany. Three years ago he became proprietor of the Horseshoe Hotel, prospering in the enterprise to such an extent that in 1906 he was able to purchase the building. Politically he is a Democrat. He is one of the four trustees of St. Anthony's Italian Roman Catholic Church,
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of which he and his wife are members. Mr. Piro married, in 1898, in Hazleton. Rosie Ilenry. of that place, who was brought from Italy to the United States in her early youth. Mr. and Mrs. Piro have been the parents of six children, of whom the following are living: Jose- phine, Eugene and Frank. Those deceased were: Josephine, Frank . and Franceskina.
HARVEY E. KNUFF, the genial and popular proprietor of the Electric Hotel, at the corner of Main and Bridge streets, Franklin bor- ough, Johnstown, Cambria county, Pennsylvania. is a representative of a family which has been resident in the state for a number of years. He was born in Johnstown, on what was known as the Island, July , 1868, and is a son of Richard Knuff, who was born in Bedford county, Pennsylvania.
Harvey E. Knuff was educated in the public schools, which he at- tended until he was seventeen years of age. Hle then went to Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, and obtained employment in the open hearth department of the Homestead Steel Works, resigning this occupation in favor of a position with the Keystone Brewing Company, with which he was asso- ciated for a period of eleven and one-half years. He then established himself in the wholesale liquor business in Homestead, which he sold before the expiration of two years, and established a similar business in Johnstown, on the site of his present place of business. At the end of two and a half years he abandoned the liquor business and erected the present hotel. a two and one-half story structure of pleasing archi- tecture. He has been proprietor of this hotel since 1893, and has con- dueted it in a most satisfactory and profitable manner. The rooms are neatly and comfortably furnished, the entire place a model of neatness, and the cuisine unexceptionable. Mr. Knuff is an exemplary host, and has the happy faculty of making his guests feel perfectly at home. He gives his political support to the Democratic party, and is a member of the Sacred Heart Church. ITis fraternal associations are with the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks.
Mr. Knuff married, in Homestead. September 26, 1894. Mary Ward, daughter of Dennis and Annie (Brown) Ward, of Monongahela City, and they have one child: Ann Elizabeth, born in 1900.
NICHOLAS PRIEST, who has been for fifty-two years a resident of the Tenth ward of Johnstown, having there grown to manhood and made for himself a place in the ranks of its respected citizens, is the descendent of Irish ancestors whose chief occupation was farming, a few of them having followed the trades of carpenter and blacksmith.
John Priest. father of Nicholas, was a farmer, and on June 6, 1852. embarked for New York in a sailing vessel, accompanied by his family. After a voyage of seven weeks and three days they reached their destination whence they proceeded to Troy. New York, where they remained but a short time, going from there to Johnstown. They made the journey by rail in about six days and settled in the home now oeeupied in a remodeled condition by their son Nicholas. The father obtained employment in the works of the Cambria Iron Company, with whom he remained until a year or two prior to his death. He was a Democrat in politics, and he and his wife were members of St. John Gaulbert's Roman Catholic Church. John Priest married Mary Har- nan, and their children were: Julia, of Johnstown, widow of Patrick Quinn: Mary, wife of Patrick Farley, of Johnstown; James, died in
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infancy; and Nicholas, of whom later. Mrs. Priest died at the age of sixty-five, and Mr. Priest, at the time of his death, was in his eighty- second year.
Nicholas Priest, son of John and Mary ( Harnan) Priest, was born in 1838, on the homestead, near Kildalkey, county Meath. Ireland, and was six months old at the time of the occurrence of what is still re- membered in Ireland as the "big wind." He was sent to national schools until the age of fourteen, when the family emigrated to the United States, after which he attended the public schools of Johnstown for two years. At the age of fourteen years he began driving a team for railroad contractors at Hollidaysburg and continued to do so for a year and a half. He was next employed in a brick yard at Gal- litzin and in James Raab's brick yard, which was situated on the site now occupied by the steel works. He then worked as brakeman on the old Portage railroad, after which he was for a time a boatman on the canal. He next entered the Cambria mills, being employed first in running a buggy from the coal shears, and afterward working as a puddler, at intervals, for a period of thirty years. After leaving the puddling mills he was employed by the Cambria Company for four years as a switch tender and watchman, and then entered the Gautier works, where he was employed during the flood in the capacity of watchman and narrowly escaped with his life. He has built and pur- chased six or seven houses, and through industry, frugality and wise management has acquired a competence. In polities he is an independ- ent Democrat. He and his wife are members of St. John Gaulbert's Roman Catholic Church. Mr. Priest married, in Johnstown, April, 1868, Anna, born in 1844, in county Clare, Ireland, and in 1863 brought to the United States by her parents, William and Annie ( Wiley) Maley, who settled in Johnstown. Mr. and Mrs. Priest have been the par- ents of one child, who died in infancy, and have an adopted son, Ed- ward P., who resides at home.
PETER L. SWANK, M. D., a resident of Elklick, Somerset county, but formerly a resident of East Conemaugh, Cambria county, was born August 10, 1862, at Davidsville, Somerset county, Pennsylvania, son of Josiah Swank, brother of Herman Swank, a well known potter of East Conemangh.
Josiah Swank (father) was born on a farm near Freedons, Somerset county, located one mile from Hooversville. He received a common school education, and for a time after the completion of his studies en- gaged in the profession of teaching. He subsequently learned the trade of potter, also that of tanner, and later was a successful hotel proprietor. He conducted his business in an upright manner, and won and retained the confidence of a wide circle of friends.
Dr. Peter L. Swank attended the public schools of his native place from the age of six to fifteen, taking an additional term when in his eighteenth year. He served in the capacity of teacher one term, 1881- 82, at Five Hill school. Somerset county, and afterward gave his atten- tion to various occupations. At the age of twenty he began the study of medicine under the preceptorship of Dr. J. H. Gardner, of Stoyes- town, and in 1887 entered the College of Physicians and Surgeons, Balti- more, Maryland, graduating therefrom in 1889 with the degree of Doctor of Medicine. Subsequently he passed an examination at the. Medico-Chirurgieal College, Philadelphia, in obedience to the law of that time which required a graduate of a college outside the state in
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which he intended to practice to pass an examination at some college within the limits of that state. Dr. Swank began practice in his home town of Davidsville, remaining until October, 1899, when he removed to East Conemaugh, where he was actively engaged in the duties of his profession until his removal to Elklick.
In February, 1906, Dr. Swank was elected to the office of justice of the peace of East Conemaugh, an office which may alnost be said to be hereditary in his family, members of which have held it at Davidsville well-nigh continuously since 1853, his brother, Elwood L. Swank, being the present incumbent. Dr. Swank belongs to Corona Lodge, No. 999, Independent Order of Odd Fellows. of East Conemaugh, Woodmen of the World and the Protective Home Circle. He is a stanch Republican. Hle is a member of the Reformed church, in which, in his home in Somerset county, he held the office of deacon many years.
Dr. Swank married, at Lovett, Cambria county, January 8, 1895, Emma C., daughter of Lewis and Amanda (Koing) Orris, and their children were: Oscar Paul, born September 25, 1896: James L., born October 15, 1898: Herbert, born March 28, 1901, died April 15, 1902; Howard Henry, born February 28, 1904.
DAVID W. COULTER. a public-spirited, progressive and influen- tial citizen of Conemaugh, who is serving in the capacity of sheriff of Cambria county, Pennsylvania, is a descendant of an honorable an- «estry, and is highly respected and honored in the community in which he resides. He has discharged the duties of his office in a way that has reflected eredit upon himself and with entire satisfaction to those he represents.
The paternal grandfather of David W. Coulter was a native and lifelong resident of Centre county, Pennsylvania, and there his son, William Coulter, father of David W. Coulter, was born in the year 1821. His death occurred in Blair county, Pennsylvania, 1895. His wife, Mary ( Walters) Coulter, bore him four children, as follows: David W., see forward. William. who was a member of Battery B. First Penn- sylvania Artillery, and was killed in front of Petersburg, in June, 1863. Henry, who also gave his services in defense of his country during the Civil war, and later was engaged in the jewelry trade in New Orleans, Louisiana. Mary M., became the wife of James Simmons, a resident of South Fork, Cambria county, Pennsylvania.
David W. Coulter was born in Johnstown, Cambria county, Penn- sylvania, May 10, 1841. He was reared on his father's farm, and in the publie schools of his native county acquired a practical education. The early years of his life were devoted to agricultural pursuits, he having a thorough and practical knowledge of farming, but later he gave his attention to a mercantile business at Conemangh, which he conducted until November, 1894, achieving a large degree of success. At the time of his retirement from business pursuits he was elected sheriff of Cam- bria county, his incumbency of office being noted for efficiency and faithfulness to duties. Since attaining his majority he has evineed a deep interest in the affairs of the Republican party, and previous to his election to the shrievalty has held various local offices.
Mr. Coulter also displayed the same patriotic spirit that prompted his brothers to offer their services when their country was in peril, and in August, 1862, he enlisted in Company G, One Hundred and Forty- ninth Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry. popularly known as the Penn- sylvania "Bucktails," which originally belonged to the First Corps
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of the Army of the Potomac, but they became so cut up and de- moralized that they were finally, in 1863, consolidated with the Fifth Corps of the army. He participated in all the engagements of his regi- ment, from Gettysburg until the surrender of General Lee at Appomat- tox, and was seriously wounded in the knee at Hatcher's Run. Mr. Coulter is a member of Post No. 30, Grand Army of the Republic, Johnstown, in which he takes a keen interest. He is a member of the United Brethren church of Johnstown, to the maintenance of which he contributes liberally, both of time and money. He also holds member- ship in Cambria Lodge, No. 278. Free and Accepted Masons; Portage Chapter, No. 95, Royal Arch Masters; Oriental Commandery, No. 61, Knights Templar, of Johnstown; O'Cyrus Temple, Ancient Arabic Order, Nobles of the Mystic Shrine, of Pittsburg: Corona Lodge, No. 999, Independent Order of Odd Fellows; Castle No. 140, Knights of Pythias; and Council No. 137, Junior Order of United American Mechanics.
David W. Coulter married. December 3, 1857, Eliza J. Pringle, daughter of Daniel Pringle, of Cambria county, and their children are : 1. William P., engaged in general merchandising at Conemangh; mar- ried Blanche Fisher. 2. David P., conducts a meat market in Cone- maugh; married Leonora Thomas. 3. Annie, wife of George Parks, a resident of Rockwood, Somerset county, Pennsylvania. 4. Mary E., widow of Henry Fite, resides at Conemangh. 5. Izora, wife of James S. Gettemy, of Conemaugh.
CHARLES SPEIGELHALTER, proprietor of the Belvidere Hotel at East Conemaugh, was born October 1, 1868. on a farm near Loretto, Allegheny township. Cambria county, Pennsylvania, son of Conrad Speigelhalter, a native of Germany. Conrad Speigelhalter was married in the old country and came with his wife and three children to this country. They landed at New York and came on to Cambria county, Pennsylvania, settling near Loretto. where he followed the trade of shoemaker. He died there about 1881, aged forty-five years. His wife died there in 1894, aged fifty years. They had six children: Louis, Joseph, Augustine, Mary, Mrs. Samuel Berkey; Charles, of this sketeh, of whom later: Frank, resides on the old homestead. The first four children are residents of Gallitzin, Pennsylvania.
Charles Speigelhalter attended the public schools until sixteen years of age, when he found employment with the Pennsylvania Railroad Company and continned with that company for seventeen years. When he left the company he was holding the position of distributor of local freight. In March, 1902, he engaged in the hotel business at his present stand, where he has been successful. Mr. Speigelhalter married, at East Conemaugh, December 15, 1891. Bertha Fishel, of Johnstown. The children of this union are: Frank, aged fifteen years: Virginia, born in 1897; Hazel, born in 1898; Fanny, born in 1901. This family are all members of the Sacred Heart Catholic church. In politics Mr. Speigelhalter is an independent voter. He has been a member of the council for three years.
MICHAEL FITZHARRIS, who has at intervals been connected with the hotel business for some years, and is at present proprietor of the Belvedere Hotel in Johnstown, Cambria county, Pennsylvania, is a representative of the second generation of his family in this country, they tracing their ancestry to Ireland.
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Patrick Fitzharris, father of Michael Fitzharris, was born in Dub- lin, Ireland, in 1838, and came to the United States when he was thir- teen years of age. He settled in Frankstown, Blair county, Pennsyl- vania, where he followed the occupation of mining. Later he removed to Broad Top, Pennsylvania, and from thence to Hollidaysburg, Blair county, Pennsylvania, where he resided for many years. He died in Johnstown, Pennsylvania, where his widow is still residing. He married Rose Rourke, and they had children: Michael, see forward; Mary, married Joseph Canary, of Johnstown; Ellen, resides with her mother; Rose, a member of the order of Sisters of St. Joseph; James, a mechanic of Johnstown, married Agnes Dunn ; and Julia, at home.
Michael Fitzharris, eldest child of Patrick and Rose (Rourke) Fitzharris, was born in Broad Top, Huntingdon county, Pennsylvania, November 29, 1861. His early years were spent in Hollidaysburg, where he attended the public schools until he had attained the age of thirteen years, when he entered into business life. His first position was as clerk in a grocery store, and this he held for several years, then worked in a rolling mill for a time, and finally became clerk in the hotel of his uncle at Gallitzin, Cambria county, Pennsylvania. After a time he accepted the position of traveling salesman for the Gallitzin Bottling Company, and in 1889, soon after the terrible flood which devastated all that sec- tion of the country, engaged in the saloon business on the site of the St. Charles Hotel in Washington street, succeeding his uncle Chris- topher. Later he removed the business to the present site of the post- offiee. Hle held the position of head bookkeeper in the Goener brewery for a time, and conducted a saloon and restaurant in Main street. He bought his present place of business in the summer of 1906, and is carrying on the management in a most up-to-date manner. The rooms are comfortably furnished, the euisine is excellent, the wants of the guests receive prompt attention, and it ranks second to no hotel of its size in that section of the country.
Mr. Fitzharris married, July 7. 1898, Julia Horan, daughter of the late Patrick and Emma ( Saylor) Horan.
LOUIS H. OPPERMAN, one of the rising young business men of Johnstown, Cambria county, Pennsylvania, who is financially and otherwise interested in a number of business undertakings, is a repre- sentative of the second generation of his family in this country, they tracing their descent to that land of thrift and industry, Germany.
Charles Opperman, father of Louis H. Opperman, was a son of William Opperman and was born in the province of Hanover, Germany, April 1. 1842. IIe attended school until he was fourteen years of age, and then learned the trade of moulding, which he followed until about the year 1866, when he came to America. He escaped military service in Germany by the drawing of lots. The trip from Bremen to New York was made in a sailing vessel and oeeupied abont seven weeks, dur- ing which time he endured many hardships. From New York he went directly to Johnstown, Cambria county. Pennsylvania, where he se- enred employment. The next year his wife and infant son joined him in Johnstown, and they took up their residence on the present site of the old homestead on Potts Place, where his widow and one son and two daughters still reside. On coming to Johnstown, Mr. Opperman found employment with the Cambria Steel Company, at that time known as the Cambria Iron Company, and remained with them until 1891. when he entered the employ of the Lorain Steel
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Company, in whose service he was at the time of his death, July 20, 1901. He was a member of the German Lutheran church, and his children were trained with a due regard as to what is necessary to make good men and women. In his manner he was quiet and reserved, but he had strong and characteristic opinions on all the questions of the day, and had the courage of his convictions. He was a strong sup- porter of the principles of the Democratic party. He was also a member of the Barbaroso Branch of the German Odd Fellows.
He married, in Germany. in 1866, Christiana Ellerman, born in Hesse-Darmstadt, Germany, November 10, 1838, being the third of the seven daughters of Frederick Ellerman, a prominent farmer, who died in Germany, and she is the only one of her family to come to this country. The children of Charles and Christiana (Ellerman) Opper- man were: 1. Henry L., born September 24, 1865, married Minnie Brown, daughter of Charles Brown, of Johnstown, and they have three children : Emma, Margaret and an infant danghter. 2. Lena H., born April 5, 1868, married William H. Waters, of Johnstown, has one child : Christiana. 3. Mary L., born January 20, 1870, single at home. 4. William, born March 3, 1873, single at home. 5. Charles F., born April 1, 1875, married Minnie Schmiermund. They have two children : Clarenee and Marian. 6. Lonis H .. see forward. 7. Emma K., born September 30, 1883, married John H. Dyer of Johnstown.
Louis H. Opperman, fourth son and second youngest child of Charles and Christiana (Ellerman) Opperman, was born on Walnut street, Johnstown, Cambria county, Pennsylvania, September 26, 1877. He attended the public schools until he was thirteen years of age, when he entered the German Lutheran Parochial school, where he re- mained one year. After leaving school he entered the employ of the Wood-Morrell Company, now the Penn Traffic Company, where he remained for about seven and one-half years. While in the employ of the above named company, he entered the Morrell Institute, which he attended during the evening, and was graduated from the Com- mercial Department. He left the employ of the Penn Traffic Com- pany in 1897, and became engaged in the sale of bicycles, intending later to enter the hardware business. While engaged in the sale of bicycles, he carried a small line of tobacco and cigars, having had con- siderable experience in this line. For want of means he was forced to abandon the hardware business, but he still continued to sell tobaceo and cigars, and is now proprietor of one of the best tobacco and cigar stores in the city. He has been secretary of the Base Ball Association of Johns- town since August, 1906; is a member of the Johnstown Turnverein, which he joined when he was but a lad; member of Vestal Camp, Wood- men of the World, and is past president of the same; Ancient Order of United Workmen; Ameriean Insurance Union; Order of Americus; Johnstown Lodge, No 538. Free and Accepted Masons; secretary of the People's Garbage and Fertilizer Association; director of the Cone- maugh Kennel Club: Johnstown Hunting and Fishing Association. He is also a member of the German Lutheran church.
Mr. Opperman married, October 17, 1900, Elizabeth Mary Keene, only daughter of Henry and Mary (Frank) Keene, and they have one child: Jacob Earl, born in Johnstown, April 13, 1905. Mr. Opper- man has spent all his life in his native city, and with his wife and son lives in one of the prettiest homes in Johnstown, located on the corner of Cedar and Wood streets. Few if any young men are more widely
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known in Johnstown than Mr. Opperman, and to know him is to be his friend.
JOSIAH DANIEL LEVENTRY is a contractor and builder of Johnstown, and has been identified with the business life and growth of that city for twenty years. In his present capacity he aims to erect only first-class dwellings and other buildings, and in that line of work has an excellent reputation. He can point with just pride to some of the best residences in the city as the result of his endeavors.
Mr. Leventry was born at Fire Hill, Conemaugh township, Somer- set county, Pennsylvania, December 28, 1867, a son of Henry and Mary Catherine Elizabeth (Wulbrandt) Leventry, whose family life is made the subject of extended mention in these annals. He was six years old when his parents came to live in Johnstown, taking up their residence in the Eighth ward. His early education was obtained in the public schools. He lived at home and helped his father with the work of the farm until he was eighteen years old, then began to learn the trade of a carpenter with Peter Ott & Co., and afterward worked for his brothers, Henry F. and Louis Leventry, who also were carpenters and builders. After working at his trade about ten years Mr. Leventry was for two years an employe of the pattern shop of the Johnson Company at Moxham (now the Lorain Steel Company), and went with the com- pany on its removal to the state of Ohio, but remained there only a few months. On returning to Johnstown, having earned enough capital to start in business, he began contracting on his own account, gradually increasing his operations as circumstances would permit until he became one of the leading contracting builders of the city, a standing he has occupied in business circles to the present time. His shops employ from ten to twenty-five workmen, as occasion demands, and he aims as far as is consistent with good business methods to do only first-class work. His business career has been a success, and that success has been the result of his own personal effort and industry. Mr. Leventry is a Republican, but does not take an active part in political affairs. He is a member of Moxham Lodge, No. 1044, Independent Order of Odd Fel- lows, the Protected Home Circle, a social organization, and attends the services of the Lutheran church.
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