Twentieth century history of Altoona and Blair County, Pennsylvania, and representative citizens, Part 109

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 109

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After completing his public school course at Altoona, Pa., he registered as a law stu- dent under Thomas H. Greevy and Frank G. Patterson, then composing the law firm of Greevy & Patterson, and was admitted to the practice of his chosen profession in 1894. A short time thereafterwards, viz., in October, 1894, Frank G. Patterson re- tired from the firm of Greevy & Patterson and Harry F. Walters associated himself in the practice of law with Thomas H. Greevy, one of the best known lawyers of the Blair County bar, under the firm name of Greevy & Walters. He continued in part- nership with Mr. Greevy until 1902, and continued to practice alone until 1904, when he formed a law partnership with Jacob Shindel Leisenring, one of the lead- ing members of the Blair County bar, which continued until the death of Jacob S. Leisenring, which occurred in January,

I910. Mr. Walters continued the large practice of the firm as successor to the business and has a large and growing prac- tice in all of the courts of the state and ap- pellate courts, and makes a specialty of commercial law and has established a repu- tation in that branch and is well known throughout the entire United States as a leading commercial lawyer. He is a mem- ber of the Commercial Law League of America, composed of the leading commer- cial lawyers of the United States and is also

the member from Blair County of the Pennsylvania Law Alliance, an organiza- tion of leading lawyers of the state, who have banded together for the betterment of the legal profession and to establish a higher code of ethics. Mr. Walters organ- ized the Economy Building & Loan Asso- ciation, one of the leading loan associations of this city, and has been its solicitor since its incorporation in 1895. Politically Mr. Walters is a Republican, but has never sought office and does not take an active part in politics, his large practice requiring all his time and attention.

Mr. Walters was united in marriage on September 8, 1897, to Mary Alice Shafer, of the city of Altoona, a daughter of John N. and Ellen Shafer, of this city, who are well known residents of the city. He is a member of the fraternal order of Hepta- sophs and stands very high both person- ally and professionally in the esteem of his fellow members of the bar and his fellow citizens.

JOSEPH M. LUPFER, member of the firm of Lupfer & Bower, well known gen- eral merchants of Bellwood, Pa., who on April 1, 1905, succeeded the firm of Ira Wentzell & Company, has been identified with the business interests of this borough since 1889. He was born September 13, 1869, in Huntingdon County, Pa., a son of Joseph M. and Lydia A. (Wentz) Lupfer, the former of whom, a tanner by trade, died in 1875. Seven children were born to the parents of our subject: Maria M., who married C. G. Minick of Ridgeway, Pa .; Daniel A., a resident of Reading, Pa .; Ja- cob W., deceased, who was a resident of Lewiston, Pa .; Ruth E., the wife of W. M. Bower of Bellwood; Frances J., who married N. F. Evans of Loysville, Pa .; Jo- seph M .; and Israel, a resident of Blaine, Pa.

Joseph M. Lupfer was reared and edu- cated in Perry County, Pa., where his par- ents located when he was about six years

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old. After finishing his schooling he taught one term and worked on the farm until 1889. He then came to Bellwood, where he began driving a delivery wagon for Ira Wentzell, and in 1901, after having taken a business course at the Bryant-Strat- ton Business College at Buffalo, N. Y., be- came a member of the firm, which was af- terwards known as Ira Wentzell & Com- pany. On April 1, 1905, Mr. Lupfer formed a partnership his brother-in-law, William M. Bower, who at that time came from Perry County, and they became suc- cessors to the firm of Ira Wentzell & Com- pany. Lupfer & Bower have met with uninterrupted success, and carry a full line of groceries, dry goods, and general mer- chandise. Mr. Lupfer is a member of the I. O. O. F. and holds membership with the Lutheran church. ' He has served on the borough school board, and was a member of the board of health five or six years.

On June 26, 1895, Mr. Lupfer was joined in marriage with Margaret E. Glasgow, youngest daughter of James P. and Eliza- beth M. (Esterline) Glasgow, and they have one son, James Robert, aged fourteen years, who attends the schools of Bellwood.

MORGAN DIVELY, deceased, for many years was one of the representative men of Greenfield Township, Blair County, Pa., a man of sterling character, honest and upright in all his dealings with his fel- low men, a kind and obliging neighbor and a devoted and considerate husband and father. Mr. Dively was born in Greenfield Township, Blair County, Pa., March 9, 1839, and died on his farm in the same township, July 5, 1906. His parents were Frederick and Barbara (Duncan) Dively.

Frederick Dively was born in Greenfield Township, a son of George Dively, who was one of the early settlers in this region and was the founder of a large and highly respected family, one that is connected with much that is important in Greenfield Township.

Morgan Dively attended the district schools in boyhood but as soon as he was old enough and strong enough, he took his place among the family wage earners and worked on the farm and also in the woods. For a number of years he was engaged in the lumber business and at one time con- ducted a saw-mill on his farm. He owned eighty-four acres of valuable land, which his widow retains and occupies. He was a man of peaceful. inclinations but when he felt it to be his duty, he enlisted for service in the Civil War, and faced the dangers and endured the hardships of a soldier's life for almost a year. He cast his vote with the Republican party but it was from principle, not with any desire for office. He was a man of Christian life, a member of the Re- formed church and his example was bene- ficial to his community.

On May 6, 1861, Mr. Dively was married to Miss Elizabeth Lingenfelter, who was born in Greenfield Township, July 18, 1842, and is a daughter of George and Barbara (Claar) Lingenfelter, and a granddaughter of Jacob Lingenfelter, who came to Green- field Township from Germany. The Lin- genfelter family is a large and very sub- stantial one of this section. Seven children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Dively, namely : Mary C., who is the widow of Jacob M. Bowser, resides at Hollidaysburg; Stephen S., who lives in Greenfield Township; Lucy, who is the wife of H. E. Stine, of Altoona; Laura, who resides in Greenfield Township; Charles T., who is a resident of Altoona, is a survivor of the Spanish- American War and saw service in the Phil- ippine Islands; and Alton L. and Logan G., who reside with their mother on the homestead. Mrs. Dively is well known in the township and has a wide circle of friends. She is a member of the Church of the Brethren.

THE FIRST NATIONAL BANK of Bellwood, Pa., was organized and began business September 22, 1904, and has made

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wonderful strides during its five years of existence, having become firmly established high in the opinion of the public. The first president of the institution was Fred Bland, who still continues in that capacity. The - vice president originally was Capt. W. H. Jeffries, who was succeeded by W. F. Wag- ner of Coalport, the present incumbent. The first cashier was C. A. Patterson, who soon after was succeeded by C. A. Cunning- ham, who remained but a short time. He was in turn succeeded by Robert L. Scott, who entered upon his duties as cashier of this institution in 1905. He is a man of recognized ability, and previous to taking his present position resided in Philipsburg, Pa., where he received a thorough banking training with the First National Bank. He was subsequently engaged in the coal busi- ness at that place. The First National Bank of Bellwood has prospered greatly during Mr. Scott's tenure and in 1909 a fine brick building was erected and properly fitted for the conduct of a banking business. The excellent condition of the bank at the close of business September 1, 1910 is shown by the appended statement :

Resources :

Loans & Investments $89,662.21

Overdrafts

241.36

U. S. Bonds & Premiums 20,600.00

Banking House, Furniture and Fixtures

15,633.84

Due from Reserve Banks 38,811.72

Cash

12,073.46

Redemption Fund with U. S.

Treasurer

1,000.00

$178,022.59

Liabilities :

Capital Stock $ 25,000.00

Surplus & Profits

9,451.48

Circulation

20,000.00

Deposits

123,571.II

$178,022.59

JAMES CALVIN CRAWFORD, M. D., physician and surgeon at Tyrone, Pa., where he has been in successful practice since 1905, was born in Sinking Valley, Blair County, Pa., May 26, 1878, and is a son of Dr. Luther F. and Harriet (Bryan) Crawford, and a grandson of Robert and Mary (Fleck) Crawford.

Tames Calvin Crawford attended the pub- lic schools of Sinking Valley until he was twelve years of age, when his parents moved to Tyrone but he remained several years longer with his grandmother in Sink- ing Valley. With the class of 1897 he grad- uated from the Tyrone High School and then entered the Millersville Normal School but shortly afterward, when the call came for troops for service in the Spanish-Amer- ican War, he joined the Sheridan Troop, in 1898, and served until the close of hos- tilities. Dr. Crawford's father has been prominently identified with the N. G. P., for a number of years and his own connec- tion dates from 1897, and has continued un- til the present. During active service his rank was first sergeant of the troop. In 1899, Dr. Crawford entered Jefferson Med- ical College, Philadelphia, where he was a student until 1904, and was graduated in medicine at the University of the South, at Swansea, Tenn., in 1905, and has been in active practice ever since. He is a member of the Blair County Medical Society and of the Pennsylvania State Medical Associa- tion. His fraternal connections are nu- merous, including membership in Tyrone Lodge, No. 494, F. & A. M. and the Mod- ern Woodmen of America and others.

Dr. Crawford was married to Miss Laura K. Beyer, a daughter of the late F. D. and Elizabeth (Blake) Beyer, the former of whom was interested for many years in a planing mill and lumber business, which, since his death in 1907, has been continued by his sons. The mother of Mrs. Crawford died in the fall of 1902. Dr. and Mrs. Craw- ford have four children: James C., born August 28, 1905; Margaret, born May 30,

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HISTORY OF BLAIR COUNTY

1907; Robert Luther, born July 19, 1908, and Elizabeth Blake, born October 27, 1910. Dr. Crawford maintains his office in his handsome residence which is situ- ated on the corner of Fifteenth Street and Lincoln Avenue, Tyrone. In politics he is a Republican but takes only the interest of a good citizen in political affairs. With his wife he belongs to the First Lutheran Church at Tyrone.

FREDERICK S. WILT,* one of Blair Township's well known and highly regarded citizens, residing near Newry, Blair County, Pa., where he administers as a justice of the peace, was born in Juniata Township, Blair County, February 16, 1841, and is a son of David Y., and Elizabeth (Stiffler) Wilt.

David Y. Wilt spent his whole life in Juniata Township and was a son of Peter Wilt, an early settler. He married Eliza- beth Stiffler, and they had twelve children of whom there are but two survivors : Fred- erick S. and Simon G., the latter of Juniata Township. Four sons were soldiers in the Civil War: Frederick S., Joseph J., Henry M. and John, a notably patriotic family.

Frederick S. Wilt enjoyed no other edu- cational advantages than those offered by the district schools. He was reared on a farm but when the time came that he could choose his own career, he learned the car- penter trade and followed it for a number of years and also was in the timber industry, working over great tracts from the cutting of the trees on through their manufacture into lumber and the final sale of the same. Later he engaged in farming in Juniata Township and continued until 1893, when he located in his present home not far from Newry. For ten months of the Civil War he served in the army, enlisting in August, 1862, in Co. I, 137th Pa. Vol. Inf., which be- came a part of the Army of the Potomac. He participated in the momentous battles of South Mountain, Antietam, Fredericks- burg and the Wilderness, vivid memories of which he can recall and wonder again

and again how he ever escaped to return from such fields of carnage. He has always been something of a leader in public affairs in his neighborhood, wherever he has lived and in Juniata Township served also as a justice of the peace, as a school director, constable and tax collector. At present he is a member of the school board of the borough of Newry and has been president of this body.

Mr. Wilt was married first to Miss Cathe- rine Kunsman, who left children as follows : James O., of Duncansville, Pa .; Harry Howard, residing in Juniata Township; Nora, wife of Michael Moyer, living at Newry ; and Homer, who is deceased. Judge Wilt was married the second time, in 1877, to Mrs. Sarah J. Weaver, widow of John Weaver, a former resident of Cambria County, and who died while serving as a soldier in the Civil War. Her parents were Peter Burtnett and wife, former residents of Cambria County. They are members of Pine Grove United Brethren Church at Poplar Run and formerly he was a steward in this church.

A. J. NORRIS, who is engaged in gen- eral farming on a tract of 92 acres in Wood- bury township, Blair County, Pa., is also the owner of a farm of 193 acres in Hunt- ingdon County, Pa., and has been a resident of Blair County since 1888. He was born June 9, 1856 in Huntingdon County, Pa., a son of Isaac and Mary (Showalter) Nor- ris, both of whom were born and died in Huntingdon County, Pa. His father fol- lowed farming all his life in Huntingdon County. He was politically a Democrat and was religiously a member of the Dun- kard Church, as was also his wife. They were parents of the following children: Ellen, deceased wife of Alexander McCall; Nancy. married Samuel Greenwalt, now de- ceased; Elizabeth, married Matthew Mc- Call; and A. J., the subject of this record. * The paternal grandfather of our subject

RALPH R. WHITTAKER, M. D.

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was Joseph Norris, and the maternal grand- father was Abraham Showalter.

A. J. Norris was reared and educated in Huntingdon County, Pa., and after finishing his schooling, which he obtained in the dis- trict schools, embarked in agricultural pur- suits, first renting the Samuel Royer farm, which is located on Clover Creek in Blair County. He came to his present farm in 1901, when he bought it from Mr. Hoover, and also owns a fine farm of 193 acres in Huntingdon County. Mr. Norris takes an active interest in the affairs of the Demo- cratic party, and has served as a member of the school board, and is at present a school director of this township.

On September 9, 1880, Mr. Norris mar- ried Catherine Saylor, a daughter of John and Elizabeth Saylor, who were agricultur- ists of Huntingdon County, Pa., and parents of the following children: Miles, James, Bell, Jane, Samuel, George and Thomas. The following children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Norris; Florence, who mar- ried John Meech, has three children, Mary, Norman and Roland; Emory O .; Isaac B .; Elizabeth, wife of Charles Mench; Elda, married William Isenberg; and Irvin M. The religious connection of the family is with the Dunkard Church.

RALPH R. WHITTAKER, M. D., a well known physician and surgeon of Williams- burg, Pa., has been identified with the medical profession of this borough since March, 1909, and was born November 25, 1879, in Hunt- ingdon County, Pa., a son of William and Caroline (Huyett) Whittaker, and a grandson of Thomas Whittaker.

William Whittaker was a native of Hunt- ingdon County, Pa., and a farmer by occupa- tion. His religious connection was with the Presbyterian church, while in politics he was identified with the Republican party. Four children were born to William and Caroline Whittaker: Frederick A., Wilbur H., Mabel Clare, and Ralph R. Mrs. Whittaker was the mother of two children by a former marriage

with Reuben Oaks, namely: William, and Mary, who is the wife of G. A. Beckley.

Dr. Ralph R. Whittaker was reared in his native county, and after a common school edu- cation, attended the Juniata Academy one year, then spent two years at Mercersburg, where he graduated with the class of 1903. His knowledge of the medical profession was obtained at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, and he graduated from same with the class of 1907. He spent one year at the Allegheny General Hospital, at Allegheny, Pa., in general hospital work, then was assist- ant surgeon for the Carnegie steel plant at Homestead, Pa., and since March, 1909, has been located at Williamsburg, Pa., where he is successfully engaged in the general practice of medicine and surgery.

On February 24, 1909, Dr. Whittaker was married to Miss Helen Winnifred Ullery, who is a daughter of John C. and Catherine ( Pais- ley) Ullery, of Altoona, Pa., and is one of three children born to her parents: John, James, and Helen W. John C. Ullery was a moulder by trade. Dr. Whittaker is a mem- ber of the I. O. O. F., of Williamsburg; the Heptasophs, of Huntingdon; and Juniata Lodge, F. & A. M., of Hollidaysburg. He and his wife are both members of the Presbyte- rian church.

WILLIAM L. HICKS, attorney at law, who has been identified with the Blair County bar for twenty-nine continuous years was born at Williamsburg, Blair County. Pa., November 14, 1856, and is a son of John and Nancy (Jones) Hicks.

His father for a number of years was en- gaged in building and contracting but later retired to a farm, where his death occurred in 1894, at the age of seventy-one years. His mother passed away in 1904 at the age of seventy-six years.

William L. Hicks was educated in the public schools of Williamsburg and Will- iamsburg Academy and later became a stu- dent in the private school of Prof. J. A. Stewart, where he gave special attention to

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HISTORY OF BLAIR COUNTY

mathematics and languages. Mr. Hicks then taught school for five years, in Blair and Cambria Counties. In 1878 he entered the office of Attorney H. M. Baldrige and began the study of law and later passed two years under the preceptorship of Hon. J. D. Hicks, of Tyrone, and at the March term of court, in 1882, was admitted to the Blair County bar. He immediately located at Tyrone and with the exception of one year spent at Altoona, has been in continuous practice there ever since. He is a member also of the Superior and Supreme Courts of the state. Mr. Hicks is a valued member of the Blair County and also of the State Bar Associations, his ability and high pro- fessional standing being recognized in both bodies. For twenty-five consecutive years he has been borough attorney of Tyrone. In addition to a large practice he is inter- ested otherwise, being a member of several industrial concerns and is a director of the Blair County National Bank, of which he was one of the organizers. He has taken a very active part in the political affairs of Blair County and in 1899 was elected dis- trict attorney and served in that important office until 1905. He has been identified also with building and loan organizations and was instrumental in the laying out of Northwood, now a part of Tyrone and also of Beaverdale, in Cambria County. Since 1902, Mr. Hicks has maintained his office in the Blair County National Bank Building at Tyrone.

In 1881 Mr. Hicks was married to Miss Clara M. Snowden, a daughter of James M. and Mary (Blake) Snowden, the former of whom died recently at Tacoma, Wash. Mr. and Mrs. Hicks have two children : Howard Snowden, who is interested in fruit growing in the State of Washington; and Margaret Blake, who resides at home. Mr. Hicks and family attend the Presbyterian church.

MARTIN H. MACKEY*, vice president of the Union Bank of Altoona, Pa., has been

identified with many of the important busi- ness interests of this city for thirty-seven years and is an honored survivor of the great Civil War to which he gave three years of his young manhood. He was born at Milesburg, Center County, Pa., March 17, 1832, and is a son of John and Annie (Fleck) Mackey.

The Mackey family originated in Scot- land and from the Scottish Highlands came William Mackey, the grandfather, to the United States and found a home among the early settlers in Path Valley, Franklin County, Pa. With a brother who had ac- companied him from Scotland he served as a soldier in the War of 1812, establishing an honorable military record that was sus- tained by both his son and grandson.

John Mackey, father of Martin H., was born in 1802 and survived until 1886, dying at Altoona where he had lived in retirement for some years previously. During the Civil War he served in a regiment of Pennsyl- vania Infantry which participated in the battle of Gettysburg, where he was captured bv the enemy and was subsequently con- fined for three months in a Confederate prison. He married Annie Fleck, who was born in 1813, in Center County, Pa., and died in 1846. Two sons and three daughters were born to them.

Martin H. Mackey was reared and at- tended school in Center County and there he learned his father's trade of carpenter. In 1856 he entered into the planing mill and contracting business at Milesburg where he continued until 1862. Civil War was then raging and Mr. Mackey was not lacking in that true love of country, that noble patriot- ism that swept aside all personal considera- tions and made of the peaceable artisan a determined soldier. He enlisted in the Fed- eral army, becoming a member of Co. F, 148th Pa. Vol. Inf., with the rank of ser- geant and performed every soldierly duty that fell to his lot until the close of the war, when he was honorably discharged. He re- sumed his former pursuits and remained in

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Center County until 1872 when he came to Altoona and has been a valued and useful citizen here ever since. His interests have mainly been connected, with lumber, al- though not exclusively. He is vice presi- dent of the Union Bank of Altoona, one of the soundest and most conservative finan- cial institutions of Blair County. In his political views he is a Republican as was his father before him. Grand Army affairs interest him and he is a member of the Fred. C. Ward Post, G. A. R., No. 468, at Al- toona. Mr. Mackey was reared in the Pres- byterian faith.

On October 6, 1857, Mr. Mackey was married to Miss Sarah Swanger, a native of Mifflin County, Pa., and their seven children bore the following names: John A., Harry L., Leroy B., Willis E., Edmund M., Edith G. and Maud M. Of the above family Harry L. is deceased and is survived by a widow who resides with Mr. and Mrs. Mackey at No. 805 Eighth Avenue, Al- toona. The surviving sons are all prom- inent business men of Altoona. Leroy B. is a large contractor. Willis E. is an able member of the Altoona bar, with offices in the Central Trust Building. He was born August 26, 1872, was educated in the common and High schools and the Pennsylvania State College and in 1897 was graduated in law at Carlisle, Pa., and in the same year was admitted to the bar. He is a Republican in politics.

THOMAS MCCAULEY,* deceased, for many years a sterling citizen of Altoona, a man of great force of character and for- merly identified with large business enter- prises, came of pioneer ancestry; his father having settled in Blair County when it was little more than a wilderness. Thomas Mc- Cauley was born in 1824, a son of Henry McCauley, and a grandson of an early im- migrant probably from Scotland.

The life story of the late Thomas Mc- Cauley was that of a poor boy, with abso- lutely no advantages, who, through sheer

force of character pushed himself upward until he gained recognition as an equal and even a superior of men who had been given opportunities that he had to fight to secure. In 1854 he came first to Altoona, accepting at that time a position of foreman in the shops of the Pennsylvania Railroad at this point, and continued there until 1860, when he embarked in business for himself. For several years he owned and operated a planing mill and later was in the steam saw mill business in Clearfield County, and sub- sequently was the moving spirit in other large enterprises. His business faculty was excellent and his judgment usually faultless, but neither were able to cope with the great financial panic of 1873, and he, with thousands of other men in the business world, was forced to see his ample fortune swept away. He was ever held in the highest esteem at Altoona and many of the present prospering business enterprises as well as public utilities of the city had his early and practical support.

Mr. McCaulev married Miss Ann Ramey, who died in 1886. She was a daughter of Frederick and Martha (Keller) Ramey. Of their children. one son, Herman K. Mc- Cauley is one of the leading citizens of Altoona. He is secretary and treasurer of the Altoona Iron Company, which conducts one of the largest manufacturing plants of the city, and is a stockholder and otherwise is connected with a number of successful business concerns of this section.

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Twentieth century history of Altoona and Blair County, Pennsylvania, and representative citizens, Part 109

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