Twentieth century history of Altoona and Blair County, Pennsylvania, and representative citizens, Part 104

Author: Sell, Jesse C 1872-
Publication date: 1911
Publisher: Chicago, Richmond-Arnold Publishing
Number of Pages: 1036

USA > Pennsylvania > Blair County > Altoona > Twentieth century history of Altoona and Blair County, Pennsylvania, and representative citizens > Part 104

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David L. Showalter was reared in Huston Township and attended the neighborhood schools through boyhood and then turned his attention to practical farming. In 1892 he re- moved from Huston Township to Taylor

THOMAS L. COLEMAN

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Township and here has built up a large dairy business and has fitted out his farm with com- modious buildings especially adapted to this enterprise. He keeps about twenty-eight milk cows of the Durham, Jersey, Swiss and Hol- stein breeds and carries on his operations ac- cording to modern methods. He operates a milk route through Roaring Spring.

Mr. Showalter married Miss Mary C. Sorick, who was born in Blair County, a daughter of the late Adam Sorick, of Huston Township, and they have had seven children, namely : Ida M., who is the wife of Walter Eastep; Elmer ; Ezra; Harry; Adam; Roy, who is deceased; and Andrew. Mr. Showalter and family are members of the Reformed church at Roaring Spring. He is a politician just to the extent of good citizenship and casts his vote with the Re- publican party.

THOMAS L. COLEMAN, one of Ty- rone's valued and useful citizens, a public of- ficial of Blair County and a veteran of the Civil War, is a worthy representative of one of the old Scotch-Irish families of Central Pennsylvania. He was born at Coleman's Mill, in Logan Township, Blair County, Pa., May 9, 1843, and is a son of James and Mar- garet (Louden) Coleman.

James Coleman was born in Pennsylvania, probably on the Juniata River. His parents were John and Elizabeth (Shaw) Coleman, and his grandfather was Thomas Coleman, who came to Pennsylvania from Scotland and later took a prominent part in the troubles with the Indians. To John Coleman and his wife the following children were born: James; John, who died when aged about eighty years; Jane, who married Mathias Smith; Nancy, who married Mathias Kestler; Elizabeth, who was the wife of John Hagerty, died near Bell- wood, when eighty years of age; Sarah, who died many years ago, was the wife of David McCartney; Rachel and Martha, both of whom died unmarried.

James Coleman was a carpenter by trade and his death was accidental, caused by a fall from a barn he was building, in 1869, when

he was aged fifty-five years. He married Mar- garet Louden, who was born at Allegheny Furnace, near Altoona, a daughter of William. and Sarah ( Matthews) Louden. William Louden owned a farm near this furnace and near the location of the culvert on Broad Street, Altoona, and the Pennsylvania Rail- road constructed lines through his orchard. The Matthews family owned a farm up Dry Gap. The children of James and Margaret Coleman were: Sarah Jane, now deceased, was the wife of David Smith; Thomas L .; Ann Elizabeth, died at the age of nineteen years; Rachel, the wife of Samuel Black, who is a farmer and tanner and president of the Loveland Township School Board; Elmina, now deceased, was the wife of John Noble, also deceased, who were survived by six chil- dren, one of the sons later serving as a soldier in the Philippine Islands, where he was killed; Mary, died at Altoona, unmarried; Blair, a resident of Juniata, employed in the railroad shops; and Luther and Martin, the former of whom died at the age of forty years and the latter when twenty-five years old.

Thomas L. Coleman attended the Logan Township schools in his boyhood and after he returned from the army completed his educa- tion in the academy at Bellwood. As a drum- mer boy in Co. B, 3d Pa. Vol. Inf., Mr. Cole- man served three months and then enlisted as a private in Co. F, 2d Pa. Reserves, in which his service covered three years and seven months, the entire period being four years and one day. He was subjected to many hardships and faced innumerable dangers. While team- ing up the Weldon Railroad, he was captured at one time and was incarcerated in Libby Prison, the old tobacco warehouse at Rich- mond, Va., and then spent two months on Belle Island and five months in the terrible prison pen at Salisbury, N. C., from which he was paroled in the spring of 1865. He was one of the 4,953 suffering prisoners that left that prison alive, out of the 10,000 who had been herded there. In 1910, Mr. Coleman re- visited the prison site and among the refuse still left there after forty-five years of peace,

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discovered one of the old kettles in which the by a devoted family and a wide circle of prisoners in 1865 cooked their scanty allow- ance of beans. Mr. Coleman not only suf- fered imprisonment but also had to endure the pain of a neglected wound in the leg, which he had received the day he was captured. He participated in the second battle of Bull Run, the seven days of fighting in front of Rich- mond, Gaines Mill, Mine Run, three different battles near Fredericksburg, Fair Oaks, Seven Pines, Gettysburg, Cold Harbor and practi- cally all of the important engagements of the Army of the Potomac up to the time of his capture, August 19, 1864. He had won pro- motion and at the time of capture was ser- geant of his company. His honorable dis- charge was given him in May, 1865.

After he returned from the army he at- tended the Bellwood Academy, as mentioned above, and was variously employed until 1870, when he settled on his farm on which he con- tinued to reside until 1903, engaged there in general farming and stock raising. He still retains this property which consists of 142 acres of valuable land in Sinking Valley, which was known as the old Alexander Disart home- stead. For the past seven years Mr. Coleman has resided in the borough of Tyrone, which has placed him in the township of the same name. Wherever he has lived he has always recognized his responsibilities as a citizen and has done his full share in bringing about bet- ter conditions of all kinds and has lent his influence to make his community prosperous and law abiding. For a period of thirty years he served on the township school board and for three sessions was president of the School Directors' Association of Blair County, a very useful and effective educational organization. In the fall of 1909, Mr. Coleman was elected a director of the poor for Blair County, and assumed the duties of office on January I, 1910, in the performance of them proving his excellent judgment and practical business ideas.

At Harrisburg, Pa., in September, 1869, Mr. Coleman was married to Miss Elizabeth Ake, who died in 1903, passing away mourned

friends. She was a daughter of Monroe Ake. Seven children were born to this marriage, namely : Roxie B., who is the wife of Charles Hossler, of Sinking Valley, and they have two children-Charles Thomas and Ella Grace ; James, unmarried, who is a resident of Al- toona and is a conductor in the employ of the Altoona Street Railway Company; Carrie M., who is the wife of Lloyd Fleck, who is in charge of the turn table at the Tyrone Round House of the railroad, and they have two children-Florine and Frank; Anna Viola, who is the wife of Harry Kephart, who is the farmer on Mr. Coleman's homestead in Sink- ing Valley, and they have two children- Henry and Myra; Elmina, who is the wife of Daniel Dickson, a resident of Sinking Valley, where he follows the trade of stone mason, and they have three children-Earle, Eliza- beth and Anna; Roy Martin, who resides on a farm, married Elizabeth Atlee; and William Decker, who died in 1895, aged one year. Mr. Coleman is a member of the Lutheran church.

In politics Mr. Coleman is identified with the Republican party and has been a conscien- · tious supporter of its cardinal principles. He has been a member of the Masonic fraternity since early manhood and in this connection is known in all parts of the state, his membership being with Tyrone Lodge, No. 484, F. &. A. M .; Chapter and Consistory of Harrisburg, and the Mystic Shrine, at Reading. He be- longs also to the Patrons of Husbandry and is connected with the local, the state and the national Grange. Mr. Coleman is an active member of Col. D. M. Jones Post, G. A. R., No. 172, of Tyrone; and of the Veteran Le- gion, No. 37, of Altoona, Pa.

ROLAND D. GINGERICH, an experienced farmer and representative citizen of Tyrone Township, who has followed agricultural pur- suits all his life, is the oldest son of John and Susan Gingerich, the former of whom was born in Center County and the latter in Snyder County. Both are deceased.

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Roland D. Gingerich is one of a family of eleven children, seven of whom died at an early age. The survivors are: Dora, who is the wife of J. C. Whitmer, of Huntingdon County, Pa .; Edward, who is in the employ of the Pennsylvania Railroad Company in their Juniata shops; John, who resides at Sunbury, Pa .; and Roland D.

Roland D. Gingerich obtained a public school education. Since 1905 he has resided on his present farm in Tyrone Township, Blair County, Pa., which he purchased at that time and which contains 115 acres. Having been acquainted with farm details since youth, he manages his property in a practical way and according to methods which bring him very satisfactory returns.

Mr. Gingerich was married December 14, 1882, to Miss Anna C. Gieswhite, a daughter of Henry and Margaret Gieswhite, of Center Hall, Center County, Pa., and they have five children : Robert Emery, William R., Emma May, Anna Mabel and Carl Lewis. They have been given educational advantages and are representative young Americans of the best type. They have been reared by their parents in the Presbyterian church. In politics, Mr. Gingerich is a Democrat.

ALBERT THOMAS McFARLAND, pro- prietor of an undertaking establishment at Bell- wood, Pa., has also served continuously as jus- tice of the peace since February, 1905, and is one of the leading business men of the borough. He was born September 13, 1846 in Allegheny township, Blair county, Pa., a son of Alexander and Jennie K. (McFarland) McFarland, and a grandson of John McFarland, who was a na- tive of Ireland.

Alexander McFarland, father of our subject, was a farmer by occupation. He was born in 1806 and died at the age of 79 years on a farm on which he located in 1848 in Huntingdon County, but now known as Antis township, Blair County, Pa. Mrs. McFarland, a native of York County, Pa., when young came to Blair County, Pa., with her father, Alexander K. McFarland, who was a native of Scotland

and died on the old homestead in her ninetieth year. Of the children born to the parents of our subject, the following survive: Agnes, widow of August Commesseer of Bellwood; Albert T .; Mary, residing on the old home- stead in Gospel Hollow; Anna, also living on the home place; and Maggie (Mrs. Cherry) whose husband operates the old home place.

Albert T. McFarland was about two years old when his parents moved to Antis township and located in Logan Valley or Gospel Hol- low, in 1848, where he was reared and lived continuously until 1888. In November of that year he came to Bellwood and engaged in the coal business in connection with teaming and draying until 1890. In 1889 he established his present undertaking establishment, and since February, 1905, has served as justice of the peace, having been re-elected to that office in February, 1910, his present term expiring in December, 1915. He has been a life-long Re- publican in state and national politics, and served as chief burgess of Bellwood from 1890 until 1893. Mr. MrFarland has been a mem- ber and deacon of the Presbyterian Church for the past forty years.

On February 3, 1870 Mr. McFarland mar- ried Adelaide Ebaugh of Antis township, a daughter of Jacob and Mary (Yingling) Ebaugh, and to them have been born three sons and four daughters, namely: Lillie B., deceased, was the wife of J. W. Price, and the mother of two children, Elizabeth and John; Frank, died aged 21 years; Joseph A., a res- ident of Bellwood, married Edith Smith of Ju- niata County, and has three sons, Robert, Ar- thur and Albert; Mary Alice, married J. W. Laird and they have two children, Helen A. and Walter R .; Jacob Charles, is a partner in the L. W. Irwin Company of Bellwood, and married Clara Sprangle; Jennie, is the wife of J. E. Hershberger of Altoona, and the mother of two children, James E., and Charles How- ard; Mae is the wife of A. J. Darrah, man- ager of the Electric Railway and Light Com- pany of Mt. Vernon, Ohio, and they have two sons, Carlin and John Richard.

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HOWARD WEBB POWNALL, M. D., physician and surgeon at Tyrone, Pa., medical examiner for the Pennsylvania Railroad Com- pany, at this point, has been a resident of this city for the past five years, during which time he has become thoroughly identified with its people and interests. He was born at Chris- tiana, Lancaster County, Pa., March 30, 1857, and is a son of Simeon B. and Esther M. (Webb) Pownall.

Simeon B. Pownall, father of Dr. Pownall, was born in Lancaster County, Pa., where he died in March, 1904, at the age of seventy- seven years. The Pownall family originated in England and its first representative to cross the Atlantic Ocean to America was George Pownall, a disciple of George Fox, the religious reformer. George Pownall accompanied Wil- liam Penn, on the ship Friends' Adventure, in 1682, and established himself in Pennsylvania. Other members of the family and of the Quaker faith, soon followed and at a later date one of them is found serving the great State of Mas- sachusetts, in the executive chair. The imme- diate ancestors of Dr. Pownall appear to have spent their lives in Pennsylvania, his great- grandfather, Levi Pownall, and his grand- father, Joseph Pownall, both having been born in Bucks County. Simeon B. Pownall followed an agricultural life. He married Esther M. Webb, who was born in Chester County, Pa., and died October 23, 1909, aged seventy-nine years. Her parents were Henry and Eliza (Griffith) Webb, natives of Chester County, who moved to Lancaster County after the birth of Mrs. Pownall. They were members of the Friends' church. Two sons and two daughters were born to Simeon B. Pownall and wife, namely: Howard Webb; Joseph Henry, who is connected with the Adams Express Company, at Harrisburg; Mary Elizabeth, who is the wife of M. Kelley Leard, of New Ken- sington, formerly a member of the Pa. House of Representatives; and Phebe Dickinson, who has been connected for some years with the firm of Dives, Pomeroy & Stewart, of Harris- burg.

Howard W. Pownall received his early edu-

cational training in the public schools of Chris- tiana and the Friends' School at Unionville, Chester County, graduating in the class of 1875. In 1879 he graduated in medicine from Jefferson Medical College, Philadelphia, and entered into practice at Atglen, Chester County, where he continued for seven years. In July, 1886, the great Pennsylvania system appointed him medical examiner for its road and has re- tained his efficient services until the present. On June 1, 1893, Dr. Pownall located at Al- toona, coming from there to Tyrone on May I, 1905. He confines himself closely to his profession. A Republican in politics, he per- forms every duty of good citizenship without any marked political activity.

On November 4, 1880, Dr. Pownall was married to Miss Hannah Louisa Walter, of Christiana, Pa., a daughter of George H. and Hannah B. Walter, and they have three chil- dren: Walter, Charles Alan and Catherine. Walter is a civil engineer with the West Vir- ginia Pulp and Paper Company. He was edu- cated in the Altoona High School, Mercersburg Academy and the Pennsylvania State College. Charles Alan is a passed midshipman in the U. S. Navy. He was educated at the Altoona High School at Mt. Herman, Mass .; and at the U. S. Naval Academy, at Annapolis, Md. Both sons are the finest types of young Amer- ican citizenship, reflecting credit on their an- cestry and their country.

CHARLES J. WHITE, owner and pro- prietor of a general store at Frankstown, Pa., where he is also postmaster, was born in Frankstown Township, Blair County, Pa., Au- gust 4, 1871, and is a son of Charles and Amanda ( Markey) White.

Charles White was formerly a well known farmer in Frankstown Township, he also oper- ated a saw mill at Snow Shoe, Centre County. During the last ten years of his life he lived retired and his death occurred March 28, 1909, at Hollidaysburg. He married Amanda Mar- key, who resides at Hollidaysburg. She is a member of the Baptist church there, as was also her husband. They had five children born to

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them: Samuel D., Charles J., Christian O., William M. and H. K.

Charles J. White obtained his education in the public schools and in 1892 became a clerk in a store at Hollidaysburg, where he remained for eleven years. He then went to clerk for the P. R. R. at Altoona and two years later purchased his store at Frankstown. On De- cember -19, 1905, he was appointed postmaster. He is a Republican in his political views al- though his father was a Democrat. Mr. White owns the homestead residence property at Hol- lidaysburg and also an interest in the homestead farm in Frankstown Township.

On April 23, 1902, Mr. White was married to Miss Charlotte M. Green, who for seven year's had been prominently engaged as an instructor in the Public Schools of Medina, N. Y., and later was commissioned instructor in the Indian Schools at St. Thomas Asylum on the Iroquois reservation. She died September 13, 1903. Her parents were Warren S. and Mary (O'Dell) Green, former residents of Medina, New York. Mrs. White had two sis- ters and one brother : Sylvia May, Sadie L. and Edward C. Mr. White is a member of the Baptist church at Hollidaysburg. He is iden- tified with the order of Maccabees at Hollidays- burg and is the oldest member of this organi- zation.

JOHN COLE, general farmer in Tyrone Township, Blair County, Pa., residing on a farm of 140 acres, was born at Bowlesburg, Center County, Pa., July 22, 1855, and is a son of William and Elizabeth Cole. The mother died in 1889 and the father in 1898 and their burial was in Centerline Cemetery, in Center County. They were quiet, respect- able, good people. The father was a wagon maker by trade. Of their seven children, John was the eldest and five survive.

John Cole is the only surviving son of the above family, his sisters being: Barbara, who married William Templeton, who conducts a dairy at Altoona; Alice, who married Daniel Irwin, lives at Baileyville, Pa .; Lora, who lives at Sinking Valley; and Lizzie, who is

the wife of Harry McCormack, of Tyrone, Blair County. Since his school days, Mr. Cole has been engaged in farming, renting land for a number of years prior to coming to Blair County in 1906. . He leased his present farm for five years from Mrs. D. C. Puterbaugh and has shown good judgment in its management and operation.

On February 14, 1894, Mr. Cole was mar- ried to Miss Maggie Taylor, a daughter of William and Eliza Taylor, of Centerline, Pa., and they have five children: Edith, William, Mary, Elva and Hannah, who have been reared carefully and sensibly and reflect credit on their parents. Mr. Cole and family attend the Pres- byterian church. He has always been identi- fied with the Republican party since he reached his majority.

ISAAC S. MOCK, one of Roaring Spring's leading business men, engaged in plumbing and heater work and dealing in all kinds of roofing, spouting and sheet metal, handling the Ideal steam and hot water heater and making a spe- cialty of lightning rods, has been established here since 1904. He was born in Woodbury Township, Bedford County, Pa., November 7, 1856, and is a son of Reuben and Elizabeth ( Hoffman) Mock.

Reuben Mock was born in Maryland and was young when he was brought to Bedford County by his parents being reared at Pleasant- ville where they lived for many years. After his marriage he removed to Woodbury Town- ship, in Bedford County, where he engaged in farming until his death, which occurred in 1884. In his earlier years he was something of a horseman and it was told how he success- fully drove a six-horse team all the way from Morrison's Grove to Baltimore, carrying grain and produce. This was before railroad days and, considering the difficulties, was considered something of a feat. He used the famous Conestoga wagon which was especially con- structed for long distances and heavy loads. It has been celebrated in story and poem. Reu- ben Mock was well known and was a welcome visitor at many a fireside and public gathering.

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He was of the pioneer type, brave, resourceful and efficient. He was a member of the Breth- ren church and was a stanch supporter of the Democratic party. He married Elizabeth Hoff- man, a daughter of Rev. Christian Hoffman who was a pioneer preacher of the River Brethren faith in Bedford County.

Isaac S. Mock was reared in Woodbury Township and obtained his early instruction in the public schools and later attended Juniata College, under the government of the Brethren church at Huntingdon, Pa., having had prev- ious instruction of excellent character at Wood- bury and at New Enterprise, under Profs. Clouse, Cotton, Saylor, Vaughn and others. After leaving school he taught for eight terms and then accepted a position as clerk in the freight office of the Pennsylvania Railroad Company at Altoona. Still later he became station agent at Ore Hill for the same road but resigned after three years of service in order to perfect his business education and took a course in the Spencerian Commercial College at Cleveland, O. He was graduated there as a stenographer and then accepted a position in the auditing department of the C. C. C. & I. Railroad Company, at Cleveland and accept- ably performed the duties of that position until he felt like returning to Bedford County about one year later.

On September 12, 1888, Mr. Mock was mar- ried to Miss Imelda Hair, who is a sister of Edward W., Scott, Horace G. and Clarence Hair, well known citizens of Roaring Spring. Mr. and Mrs. Mock have three children : Fran- ces W., Margaret E. and Palmer.

From 1888 until 1904, Mr. Mock was gen- eral manager of the landed estate of Peter S. Duncan, of Hollidaysburg, owner of the Ore Hill mines. He has been a very active and useful citizen since he came to Roaring Spring in 1904, not only serving as a councilman but exercising his rights as a citizen and using his influence for public improvements and in- creased morality. He is a Prohibitionist in his views on public matters and is president of the Anti-Saloon League of Roaring Spring. He is identified with Lodge No. 539, F. & A.

M., Roaring Spring and for ten years has served as its secretary .. He belongs to the Methodist Episcopal Church and is one of its trustees.

In 1904 and 1906 he was the choice of the Democratic and Prohibition parties for the state legislature, but in 1904 withdrew because of not having been a resident of the district the required time. In 1906, notwithstanding that the parties for which he was a candidate were far in the minority he ran far ahead of their party vote with the liquor men and saloon interests solidly against him.

JOHN LEONARD TROUTWINE, pro- prietor of the Pennsylvania House, at Tyrone, Pa., one of the oldest hostelries in this city, was born at Tyrone, October 28, 1861, and is a son of George and Catherine Troutwine.

The parents of Mr. Troutwine, natives of Germany, came to America in 1853, anl both are now deceased. By trade the father was a baker but was an iron worker for some years in America. Four sons and two daughters were born to George and Catherine Troutwine, as follows : Maggie, who is the wife of Charles M. Maple, proprietor of the. Ward House; John E., who resides on Fifteenth Street, Ty- rone, engaged in the meat business; William F., who resides on Blair Avenue, Tyrone; George, who died in 1890; Elizabeth, who is the wife of Harry Gardner, of the firm of Cryder & Gardner, clothiers; and John Leonard.

John Leonard Troutwine attended the public schools and then learned the baker's trade and has worked at it since he was eighteen years of age. In 1895 he purchased the Pennsylvania House, from McGowan Brothers, which he conducted for fifteen years under the firm name of Troutwine Bros., but since coming into possession of the property and the retirement of his brother, William F. Troutwine, he has operated the hotel under his own name. The Pennsylvania House is situated at No. 1207 Pennsylvania Avenue, an excellent location for business. In the fifty-two years that it has been a public house, its license has never been withdrawn except during a very short period

RESIDENCE OF JOHN BRUA

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when a local option law was in force. Mr. Troutwine is numbered with the successful business men of Tyrone and this success has come entirely through his own efforts.

In 1888 Mr. Troutwine was married to Miss Frances M. Grove, a daughter of William A. Grove, of Everett, Bedford County, where Mrs. Troutwine was reared. They have one son, Franklin K., a promising young man nineteen years of age, who is a student in college, at Lancaster, Pa. In politics, Mr. Troutwine is a Republican and while he is an active party worker, he has no political ambitions for him- self. He belongs to Logan Lodge, No. 79, Knights of Pythias, Altoona, and to Lodge No. 42, Junior Order American Mechanics.

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Twentieth century history of Altoona and Blair County, Pennsylvania, and representative citizens, Part 104

Author: Sell, Jesse C 1872- Publication date: 1911 Publisher: Chicago, Richmond-Arnold Publishing Number of Pages: 1036

Author: Sell, Jesse C 1872-
Publication date: 1911
Publisher: Chicago, Richmond-Arnold Publishing
Number of Pages: 1036