Twentieth century history of Altoona and Blair County, Pennsylvania, and representative citizens, Part 105

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 105

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JOHN BRUA, who carries on general farming on a tract of 112 acres in Frankstown Township, Blair County, Pa., was born Sep- tember 2, 1870, on his present farm and is a son of John and Amanda (Young) Brua, both of whom were natives of Blair County. The paternal grandfather of our subject was Dan- iel Brua, who came from Lancaster County, Pa., and the maternal grandfather was Curtis Young. The father of our subject was a farmer by occupation, a Republican in politics, and was religiously a member of the Lutheran church. Nine children were born to John and Amanda Brua: Elmer, who is living in re- tirement at Canoe Creek; Clara, the wife of Robert Elliott; Mary; Archibald; Nannie, wife of John Clare; John; Robert; Lillian, wife of James Young; and Elizabeth, who is the wife of Russell Kendal.

John Brua attended the local schools of Frankstown township and has always lived on the home farm, which he purchased from his father's heirs in 1898. Here he carries on general farming, and keeps just enough stock for his own use. He is one of the progressive and public spirited citizens of the township and is identified with the Republican party in politics. He affiliates with the Farmers' Grange, and is a member of the Lutheran church.

In October, 1905, Mr. Brua was married

to Mary A. Lingenfelter, who is a daughter of David and Louisa (Clauss) Lingenfelter. Her parents are both natives of Blair County, and were formerly engaged in farming, but the father has been working in the car shops at Altoona for the last few years. They are the parents of the following children: Ella, the wife of Alonzo Detwiler; George; Min- nie, wife of Stewart Potter; Elise, wife of Irwin Eicher; Blair, Frank, Lloyd, Carrie, Myrtle, Chester, and Dorothy. Mr. and Mrs. Lingenfelter are members of the Lutheran church. Two daughters have been born to our subject and wife: Naomi Isabel, and Blanch Marie.

PROF. JAMES B. BOWLES, principal of the Madison School in the Eighth Ward, Al- toona, Pa., is one of the veteran educators of Blair County and has been largely instrumental in bringing the schools of this section to their present state of efficiency. He has been a teacher for fifty-two years and has taught in Altoona for forty-seven of these. He was born at Concord, Franklin County, Pa., Oc- tober 13, 1837, and is a son of Robert and Jane (Ross) Bowles.

Robert Bowles was born in Franklin County in 1796 and died in 1856. He came of Scotch ancestry and his father was one of the early settlers of Franklin County. For the greater part of his life, Robert Bowles followed the saddler's trade and then became a farmer. In 1817 he married Jane Ross, who was born in Maryland and accompanied her father, who was a native of Ireland, to Franklin County. She survived until 1871, being then aged sev- enty-one years ; for a half century she had been a consistent member of the Methodist Episcopal church.

James B. Bowles has been engaged in edu- cational work since he was sixteen years of age, devoting himself almost continuously to teaching, and during the larger part of his use- ful life, has been a valued resident of Altoona: Although not in accord with the administration in his political views, during the Civil War, he was a loyal and law-abiding citizen, and in the

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fall of 1862 he testified to true patriotism by enlisting for service as a private in Co. A, 125th Pa. Inf., from which he was honorably discharged at the expiration of his term of en- listment, nine months later. He was twice drafted, obtaining exemption on the first call, as he was his mother's only dependence, and in answer to the second, he paid a substitute the sum of $300 in money, although he was still his mother's support.

Professor Bowles has been a continuous resident of Altoona since 1858 and a teacher here since 1863, beginning when the city had only sixteen public schools. Many educators have outside interests but Professor Bowles' fidelity to his chosen profession has been the

labor of his life. Perhaps his whole ambition has not been satisfied in the way of educational progress, but he must feel partially compensated when he remembers what wonderful strides forward have been taken in his times and when, on every hand, he sees his old pupils filling im- portant and respected stations in life, which they have unmistakably gained in large part through the instruction he so faithfully im- parted to them. Recognition of his efforts on their behalf has often come to sweeten his life.

Professor Bowles was married December 28, 1875, to Miss Mary L. Beeler, a daughter of Peter Beeler, of Sharpsburg, Md., and they have had four sons and one daughter born to them. Mr. Bowles and family are active mem- bers of the Methodist Episcopal church. He has been identified with the Odd Fellows for many years and he is a valued comrade of Fred C. Ward Post No. 468, G. A. R. He has also been interested in building and loan associations in Altoona for 30 years, and is at present president of the Eighth ward B. & L. Association, of Altoona, Pa.

ALFRED J. HENDERSON, who resides on his well cultivated farm of fifty-two acres, situated in Antis township, Blair county, Pa., was born in Woodward Township, Clearfield County, Pa., February 7, 1857, and is a son of Samuel and Sarah (Goss) Henderson.

Samuel Henderson was born in Ireland and

was six months old when his parents brought him to America. His father, Hugh Hender- son, was one of the early settlers in Clearfield County and for many years thereafter pioneer conditions prevailed in the section in which the family lived. Samuel Henderson grew up there, engaged in farming and lumbering and worked very hard, as was necessary at that time. The Bald Eagle and other present trans- portation lines had not been built and Mr. Hen- derson frequently told his children of the days when he was obliged to drive to Lyons for provisions, making a haul of thirty-eight miles. On many occasions he also walked the whole distance to Lock Haven and even to Marietta - and back. Samuel Henderson passed his act- ive years in Clearfield County and then retired and moved to Center County but his death oc- curred at Bellwood, Blair County, in Septem- ber, 1903, his age being seventy-seven years and six months. He married Sarah Goss, who survives and is a resident of Bellwood, being now in her seventy-sixth year. She was born in Clearfield County, a daughter of Isaac Goss, one of the well known early settlers of that county. There were nine children born to Samuel and Sarah Henderson, namely: Wil- liam J. and Albert J., both of whom are farm- ers and reside in Antis Township, on adjoining tracts; Oliver, who died in infancy; Mary A., who married Clyde Laird, and resides on the old homestead at Bellwood; Harriet, who died in infancy; Delilah, who is the widow of An- drew Van Zandt, and formerly of Alexander Gregory, and lives at Bellwood; Ai, who died in infancy; Effie, who is the wife of Andrew Barrett, of Altoona; and Alice, who is the wife of Edward Doughman.

Alfred J. Henderson was reared in Clearfield County and mainly followed lumbering as an occupation until his father moved to Center County, since which time he has been engaged in farming. He was about twenty-one years of age at that time and lived with his parents in Center County for four years and then moved to Bellwood, Blair County and in the following year, 1882, settled on his present farm. He follows general agriculture and his

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industry and good judgment have brought him a large measure of success.

Mr. Henderson was married December 22, 1881, to Miss Nora Bathurst, who was born in Boggs Township, Center County. Her parents were Lawrence and. Eliza ( Hinds) Bathurst, the latter of whom has been deceased for many years. The father of Mrs. Hender- son, although almost eighty-one years of age, is hale and hearty, owns a comfortable home within 400 yards of which he was born and occupies it during the summers but spends his winters with Mrs. Henderson. He was twice married and the children born to the first union were : Martha Jane, who died in infancy ; Jacob who lives at Braddock; Nora, who is the wife of Alfred J. Henderson; Mrs. Elizabeth A. Tierney, who lives in Marion Township, Cen- ter County ; Mrs. Amanda Wheatley, who lives in Chicago; John H., who lives at Pinecroft; Margaret, who died at the age of twelve years ; Mrs. Corinne Vaughn, who resides at Phil- lipsburg; Jasper L., who died at Braddock, Pa. The second marriage of Lawrence Bathurst was to Ella Rothrock, who died in 1900. They had nine children: Mrs. May Packer, who re- sides at Lock Haven; Harry, who resides at South Altoona; William and Mrs. Lida Var- ner, both of whom live at Altoona; James, who lives on the homestead in Center County ; Earl who resides at South Altoona; Mrs. Armona Garrett, who lives at Williamsport; and Queen and Lawrence, both of whom live at Altoona.

Mr. and Mrs. Henderson have three children all sons. The eldest, Charles Bush Hender- son lives in Bellwood. He married Lottie Galbraith of Altoona. Oscar Clair and Walter Andrew live at home and give their father assistance. Mr. Henderson takes only a good citizen's interest in public matters. He casts his vote with the Democratic party.

LUTHER F. CRAWFORD, M. D., a prominent and successful physician at Tyrone, Pa., and one of the foremost medical men of Blair County, is a member of old and honorable families of this section, which, for generations, have been noted for the honest virtues and sub-

stantial qualities which make good citizenship. Dr. Crawford was born in Sinking Valley, Blair County, Pa., January 1, 1859, and is a son of Robert and Mary (Fleck ) Crawford.

Robert Crawford, who spent his entire life in Blair County, Pa., was born at Newry and for many years was successfully engaged in agricultural pursuits in Sinking Valley. His death occurred in his sixty-fourth year. The maiden name of his mother was Fannie Moore, who was of Scotch-Irish extraction. Her parents settled in the vicinity of Duncansville, Blair County, when she was three weeks old. When he reached man's estate, Robert Craw- ford was united in marriage with Mary Fleck, who was born December 24, 1826, and died January 16, 1902.

George Fleck, the maternal great-grand- father of Dr. Luther F. Crawford, was born in Germany in 1748 and came to America a few years prior to the Revolutionary War. He was accompanied by three brothers, two of whom settled in Montgomery County, Pa., while George and Peter came to what is now known as Sinking Valley, Blair County. They erected here a log cabin and for years their only neighbors were Indians, who still claimed this section as one of their hunting grounds. When the colonies called for aid in the war with Great Britain, these brothers shouldered their flint-lock muskets and fought through the entire period of the Revolutionary War. It is said that their loyalty to their adopted country was so genuine and their devotion to General Washington so sincere, that long years after the issues of this war were no longer matters of general comment, a mention of either the cause or the great commander in their presence would bring tears to the eyes of these aged patriots. After the termination of his military service, George Fleck gave at- tention to agricultural pursuits and it is evident that he took an active part in promoting the early civilizing movements and was a man of wealth and importance. From John Penn, the elder and from John Penn, the younger, he secured 350 acres of land, for which he paid the sum of 295 pounds, three shillings and two

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pence. Nature had given him a powerful phy- sical frame and his strength endured into old age, it being recorded that after he was eighty- seven years old, he reaped in one season, sixty dozen wheat with his hand sickle.

George Fleck was twice married, first to Mollie Weeks and second to Catherine Ramey, all of his children being of the first marriage. Mollie Weeks, the great-grandmother of Dr. Crawford, was born in September, 1748, mar- ried George Fleck in 1773 and became the mother of the following children : George, born in 1774, died in 1815; Conrad, born in 1780, married Mary Moore, died in 1845; Margaret, born in 1782, married John Fleck, died in 1866; Jacob, born in 1783, married Nellie Mat- tay, died in 1862; Catherine, born in 1785, married Daniel F. Crissman, died in 1874; Elizabeth, married Abram Crissman and died at the age of eighty-two years; Henry, born in 179I, was the father of Rev. H. F. Fleck, a well known Lutheran minister, married first Catherine Ramey and second Mary Keller, died in 1859; David, born in 1793, died in 1870; Mollie, born in 1797, married Peter Burket, and died in 1817.

David Fleck, grandfather of Dr. Luther F. Crawford, grew to manhood amid pioneer sur- roundings and developed into a man of more or less prominence, serving in public offices and exerting a good influence in the community. His life was an agricultural one and that he made it profitable even under the great draw- backs of lack of machinery and of long dis- tances from suitable markets, but demonstrates that he possessed excellent and decisive qual- ities. He was married first to Mary Ramey, who was born in 1799 and died in 1863. He was married second to Keziah Shannon. His children were: Gabriel; Catherine, who mar- ried George Lotz; Francis, who died in child- hood; Mary, the mother of Dr. Crawford, who married Robert Crawford; Eliza, who married J. M. Carl; Jane, who married John Keasley; Martin Luther, who married Maggie Fox; and two who died young.

To Robert and Mary Crawford nine chil- dren were born, three of whom died in child-

hood. The following survived to maturity : David Wood, who was a farmer and died in Pleasant Valley, January 12, 1894; Eliza- beth, who was the wife of Samuel H. Smith, died January 10, 1884; Olivia A., who still resides in Sinking Valley; Luther Fleck, who is a resident of Tyrone, Pa .; John R., who is engaged in farming in Sinking Val- ley ; and Elmer, who is engaged in the prac- tice of dentistry at Tyrone. This family was carefully reared by parents who recog- nized their responsibilities and afforded every advantage that, in their loving judg- ment, was deemed beneficial.

Luther Fleck Crawford attended the public schools in Sinking Valley and later the State Normal School at Millersville. While pursu- ing his preliminary medical studies he also en- gaged in teaching school, nine terms of success- ful effort in this direction proving that the career of an educator might be an attractive no less than a beneficial one. In 1888 he entered the Eclectic Medical Institute at Cincinnati, where he was graduated in the class of 1890. Immediately afterward he settled permanently at Tyrone, where his professional ability soon won him recognition and his personal qualities and high ideals made him welcome as a citizen. He is a valued member of the State Eclectic Society, and is also a member of the examining board of this organization.

In 1877 Dr. Crawford was married to Miss Harriet Bryan, who is a daughter of the late James Bryan, formerly of Birmingham, Hunt- ingdon County, Pa., and three of their four children are living, namely : James Calvin, who is engaged in the practice of medicine at Ty- rone, married Miss Laura Beyer, of this city and they have four children : Mary Mabel, who married J. Howe Stevens, of Tyrone, has one son; and Virgil L., who is yet a student. Dr. Crawford and family are members of the Eng- lish Lutheran church.

Dr. Crawford has been prominently identi- fied with military affairs and for thirty-three years has been a member of the Sheridan Troop, N. G. P., and served five years as its captain, returning with this rank from the

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Spanish-American War, having served under Gen. Miles in the Porto Rican campaign dur- ing this war. He is associated fraternally and socially with various organizations, his con- nections in the former relation being with the Odd Fellows, the Modern Woodmen, the Royal Arcanum and the Woodmen of the World. From principle, Dr. Crawford is a Republican and he has been moderately active at times in local politics.

Dr. Crawford is a self-made man, his edu- cation having been acquired through his own efforts. Marrying young, he kept his family and educated himself at the same time-an achievement in which he can take a pardonable pride.

THADDEUS W. SMITH,* a leading citi- zen and president of the board of auditors of Taylor Township, Blair County, Pa., was born in this township, October 5, 1860, and is a son of Andrew and Emma ( Wilderson) Smith, who are aged and highly respected residents.

Andrew Smith was born in Huston Town- ship, Blair County, and is now in his eighty- sixth year. When he was thirteen years of age his parents moved into Taylor Township and he has resided here ever since, engaging in farming during his active years. He mar- ried Emma Wilderson, who was born in 1834, . Laura Green of Altoona. in Franklin County, Pa., and still is active in mind and body.

Thaddeus W. Smith was reared on a farm and has been more or less connected with farm life ever since. For twelve years he was em- ployed in the railroad shops of the Pennsyl- vania system, at Altoona. He has always taken múch interest in public matters, believing that the general welfare depends to a large de- gree on people being well informed as to the duties of citizenship and willing to assume responsibilities when called on to do so. He is a Republican in political sentiment and has been elected to numerous township offices, serv- ing two terms as road supervisor and also as auditor. He is recognized as one of the township's most progressive and well mean- ing men.

On February 16, 1888, Mr. Smith was married to Miss Susan R. Snowberger, a daughter of John B. Snowberger, of Taylor Township. Mr. and Mrs. Smith are mem- bers of the Lutheran church.

THOMAS M. MORROW, M. D.,* who has been a resident of Altoona for almost a quarter of a century and is numbered with the representative members of the medical profession in this city, was born at Martins- burg, Blair County, Pa., in 1867, and is a son of James C. Morrow, now deceased. The latter was engaged in the foundry busi- ness at Martinsburg for many years.

Thomas M. Morrow was educated in the common schools and Juniata Collegiate In- stitute, after which he prepared for and later entered the Baltimore Medical Col- lege, where he was graduated in 1898. He chose Altoona as his field of professional work and has here built up a substantial practice and has won a place among the leading medical men of this city. He is a member of the Blair County and the State Medical Societies and also of the American Medical Association. He is identified fra- ternally with the Masons and the For- resters. In 1902 he was married to Miss

R. J. HILLIS, M. D., who has been en- gaged in the practice of medicine and sur- gery at Altoona, Pa., for the last fifteen years, is a native of Philadelphia, this state. He received a good literary education, tak- ing a normal course with the idea of becom- ing a teacher. He subsequently applied himself to the study of medicine, however, and was later graduated from the College of Physicians and Surgeons, at Baltimore, Md. Since his graduation he has enlarged his knowledge of his profession by taking several post-graduate courses. Dr. Hillis first embarked in the practice of medicine at Ridgeway, Elk County, Pa., and from there came to Altoona, where he has since built up an extensive and lucrative practice.

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He is a member of the National, State and County Medical Associations.

When his future prospects were well assured, Dr. Hillis was united in marriage with Miss May Knox, a daughter of Alex- ander Knox, of Newry, this county. Their residence-a handsome brick house-is sur- rounded by tasteful, well-kept ' grounds, bordered by a magnificent hedge fence, and in the care of this ideal home the doctor finds agreeable recreation and pleasure.

HON. AUGUSTUS S. LANDIS, de- ceased, formerly judge of the Court of Com- mon Pleas in Blair County, Pa., literally died in harness, occupying that high judicial position at the time of decease, April 25, 1897. To the practice of law he had de- voted many years of his life, yet so versatile were his talents and so well regulated his mind that he was also successfully identified with almost all the leading business enter- prises of Hollidaysburg, which was his place of residence from the age of three years. He was born at Pennington, N. J., June 4, 1834, and was a son of Dr. Joseph A. and Maria L. (Holcombe) Landis.

The Landis family is of German extrac- tion and its founder in America came at an early day to the Atlantic seaboard and es- tablished himself in New Jersey. This was the great-grandfather of the late Judge Landis. Henry Landis, the grandfather, moved to Montgomery County, Pa., in early manhood, where he married a Scotch Quak- eress, who survived him twenty years, liv- ing to the unusual age of ninety-two years.

Joseph A. Landis, father of Judge Landis, was one of the original founders of the Blair County Medical Society, which he served as president. During the entire course of a long and useful life, Dr. Joseph A. Landis was prominently identified with medical organizations and movements and was frequently elected to positions of honor in different bodies. He was graduated from the University of Maryland in 1828 and be- gan practice at Pennington, N. J. He after-

ward spent one year in Louisiana. In 1837 he came to Hollidaysburg, where he re- mained until 1868, in the meanwhile, in 1861, serving as a volunteer surgeon in the Mt. Pleasant Hospital, at Washington, D. C. Two years after the close of the Civil War, Dr. Landis removed to Philadelphia, where he practiced medicine for six years and then returned and took up his perma- nent residence at Hollidaysburg. He con- tinued to practice medicine into advanced age, in his later years giving much of his time to charity. He also devoted some at- tention to business enterprises and served for several years as president of the Holli- daysburg Gas Company. Dr. Landis was married in October, 1831, to Miss Maria J. Holcomb, of Hunterdon County, N. J., and to them were born five children. Both Dr. Landis and wife lived into honored old age, his death occurring on November 20, 1886, at the age of eighty-two years, his wife hav- ing died in 1884, on her eighty-fourth birth- day. They left more than a good name to their children and their memory for good and kindly deeds in life, are preserved in many households.

The educational advantages afforded the late Judge Landis in his youth were those calculated to stimulate his intellect and to excite emulation. From the most advanced schools of Hollidaysburg, in 1851 he en- tered Jefferson College, at Canonsburg, and was there graduated a member of the class of 1853. Upon his return to Hollidaysburg he was appointed principal of the Hollidays- burg Academy, in which he had formerly been a pupil. In the meanwhile he had commenced the study of law, with Hon. Samuel Calvin, and in the spring of 1857, was admitted to the bar and immediately and enthusiastically entered upon the prac- tice of his profession. For a time he was also editorially associated with the Holli- daysburg Standard. Judging by the talent then displayed it may be asserted that he would doubtless have made a name in jour- nalism had he devoted himself entirely to

GEORGE G. PATTERSON

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this profession. He very soon became in- terested in politics and in the spring of 1860 permitted his friends to put forward his name as a candidate for the office of treas- urer and solicitor of Hollidaysburg, and his election and subsequent reelection followed for many succeeding years. He acceptably filled other local offices and was especially valued as a member of the school board. -

In October, 1872, high honor was paid Judge Landis in recognition of his ability and learning in the law, when he was elected a delegate to the Constitutional Convention which sat in Philadelphia in 1873, and framed the present Constitution of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. He was a prominent member of this august body. The Twenty-first Senatorial District, which he represented, was composed of the counties of Blair, Bedford, Somerset and Fulton.

In 1884 Judge Landis was sent as a dele- gate to the National Democratic Conven- tion at Cincinnati, O., that nominated Gen. W. S. Hancock for the office of President of the United States. Judge Landis was prominently mentioned for appointment to the Supreme Bench of Pennsylvania to fill the vacancy occasioned by the death of Judge Clark. During his period of service on the Bench of the Court of Common Pleas in Blair County, he upheld the dignity of the office and performed its duties with signal ability.

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Twentieth century history of Altoona and Blair County, Pennsylvania, and representative citizens, Part 105

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