Twentieth century history of Altoona and Blair County, Pennsylvania, and representative citizens, Part 111

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 111

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WILLIAM ROBISON FINDLEY, M. D., deceased, one of the earliest and one of the most eminent physicians of Altoona, Pa., was born at Lewistown, Pa., October 12, 18II, and was a son of Joseph and Mar- tha (Robison) Findley. The family is of Scotch-Irish extraction and was founded in America as early as 1740.

William Robison Findley was given many educational advantages, receiving instruc- tion in the classics from Rev. James S. Woods, and in mathematics from Dr. James Telfer, both noted educators of that time. Later he read medicine with Dr. Edmund Burke Patterson, of Lewistown, and from under his care entered the University of Pennsylvania, where he received his degree. In 1831 he began his practice of medicine, selecting villages which seemed to offer good fields for professional work, his first choice being Manor Hill, in Huntingdon County, and later Williamsburg and Frankstown, Blair County.

When Dr. Findley came to Altoona in October, 1858, its business men boasted of its population of 4,000 and did not hesitate to predict that it would contain 7,000 in- dividuals at some time within the period covered by their natural lives. The present city, with its population of between 40,000 and 50,000, its teeming marts of trade, its magnificent business structures and almost palatial homes, its great transportation fa- cilities, its temples of religion and its beau- tiful school buildings-none of the optimists of 1858, even in their wildest dreams ever imagined it. In this promising little town Dr. Findley established himself permanently and he lived to see much of the growth above indicated and bore no small part in bringing about many of the conditions which now prevail. Particularly was he in- terested in the progress and development of medical knowledge and was one of the organizers and an officer in the Union Med- ical Society which drew its membership from Blair and adjacent counties. He was one of the promoters of the Altoona Hos-

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pital. In early days he was a Whig and aged eighty-four years, four months and later a Republican. For many years he was active in Masonry and attained a high degree in the fraternity. He was asso- ciated with the leading men of the city and county in many public ways.

Dr. Findley was married January 12, 1837, to Miss Elizabeth Fleming, and they reared a family of children, of which the following is a brief mention: Two of the sons-William M. and Thomas F .- became physicians. Another son, James Woods Findley, was for many years cashier of the Union Bank (as now named) and was also largely interested in building and loan as- sociations, being treasurer of several. He was also prominent in church work as a member of the Broad Avenue Presbyterian Church, serving many years therein as trustee. The two surviving children are Alexander T. and Mary E., the latter of whom resides at Hagarstown, Md.

Alexander T. Findley, above mentioned, was born at Frankstown, Pa., September 4, 1846, and after completing his school atten- dance learned the machinist's trade, at which he has worked since 1868, being con- nected with the Pennsylvania Railroad shops. His church relations are with the Second Presbyterian Church of Altoona, Pa. He married Miss Lavinia G. Wallace and their comfortable home is situated at No. 1223 Eighth Avenue, Altoona. In pol- itics Mr. Findley is a Republican.

WILLIAM HARRISON FLENNER, one of Tyrone's best known citizens, who has maintained his home here for twenty- eight years, has been in the fire insurance business since May, 1896, and is very active in Grand Army affairs, being a surviving officer of the great Civil War. He was born at Huntingdon, Huntingdon County, Pa., May II, 1839, and is a son of Capt. John and Eliza S. (Rettew) Flenner.

Captain John Flenner was born near Huntingdon, Pa., December 25, 1809, and died in Huntingdon County, May 2, 1894,

seven days. His father was a Revolution- ary soldier. Indians were still numerous in Huntingdon County that early in the cen- tury, and a brother of Captain Flenner, Samuel Flenner, was killed by a savage while stooping over a spring to drink. He owned 1,200 acres of valuable land in Texas. Captain Flenner was a shoemaker by trade. He became a man of wealth and public im- portance in Huntingdon and served as coun- cilman, burgess, assessor, street commis- sioner, - poor director and county com- missioner. On August 1, 1862, he enlisted as first lieutenant of Co. H, 5th Pa. Vol. Inf., for service in the Civil War, and in less than three weeks was commissioned cap- tain. He participated in the battles of An- tietam and Chancellorsville and received a thigh wound in the latter engagement, but served until the expiration of his term of enlistment, when he was honorably dis- charged.

Capt. John Flenner was married to Eliza Rettew, on April 10, 1831, who died May 28, 1885, aged sixty-nine years and five months. She was a useful member of the Baptist church, with which she had been connected from girlhood, and at the time of her death was president of the Ladies's Aid Society of that body. The following chil- dren were born to the parents of William H. Flenner, namely : Mrs. Mary C. Africa, who resides at Washington, D. C .; Mrs. Emma Thompson, who lives at Bristol; Farman, who was an apprentice in the office of the Monitor, at Huntingdon, and at the time of his accidental drowning in the Rays- town Dam, in 1871, was eighteen years of age; William H .; and John R., who is a resident of Huntingdon.

William Harrison Flenner was educated in Prof. Hall's private school at Huntingdon and later became a student in the Moores- ville Collegiate Institute. Through William Lewis and his estimable wife he became in- terested in printing offices and was con- nected with Mr. Lewis in this line for some

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years. He taught school for a considerable period, twenty-four terms in Huntingdon County, three terms in Oneida Township, three terms in Porter Township, four terms in Franklin Township, two terms in War- rior's Mark Township, four terms in Jack- son Township, nine terms at Birmingham and one at Huntingdon. During all this time he was accomplishing much in the way of literary composition, being correspond- ent for the following newspapers: the Shir- leysburg Herald, the Philadelphia Press and other journals and it was while en- gaged thus that he received a pass to an execution for a capital crime, the execution taking place at Huntingdon.

Mr. Flenner was recognized as a young man of brilliant parts at that time and the position of clerk to the board of county com- missioners was offered him; this he did not accept, but at the opening of the Civil War he was serving as tax collector. When Captain Miller, an old veteran of the Mex- ican War, started to raise a company in answer to the first call for troops, he offered Mr. Flenner the position of third sergeant in the organization, which became Co. D, 5th Pa. Vol. Inf. The other officers were Col. R. P. McDowell, Lieutenant Colonel Benjamin C. Christ and Major R. Bruce Petrikin. This company was discharged July 25, 1861, and Mr. Flenner then re- turned home and shortly afterward was ap- pointed recruiting officer for Co. H, 125 Pa. Vol. Inf., 12th Army Corps. Mr. Flenner and his father went out in the same com- pany, the latter as first lieutenant and later became captain. Mr. Flenner was ap- pointed sergeant-major of the regiment. He went to Washington and thence to Vir- ginia with recruits, afterward, until the close of the war, serving in every rank up to the captaincy. After he returned to Hunting- don County he practiced dentistry having learned the profession previous to enlisting in the army, and continued in the practice of that profession for thirty years. Shortly after the close of the Spanish-American

War he sold out his professional interests and by order of his physician, sought an occupation less strenuous than dental sur- gery.

- On August 20, 1861, Mr. Flenner was married to Miss Amanda Jane Mattern, who was born January 5, 1845. The father of Mrs. Flenner was George W. Mattern, who, for very many years was a prominent and useful citizen of Pennsylvania. He was a son of Jacob and Jane (Wareham) Mattern, and was born March 14, 1810, on the old Mattern homestead at Seven Stars, in Franklin Township, Huntingdon County, Pa., and whose death occurred when he was aged ninety years, three months and five days, on June 20, 1900. He was a prac- tical and successful farmer and owned large estates. He was a stanch Republican from the organization of that party and formerly had been a Whig and took a very active in- terest in both State and National affairs. His recollections of early days in Spruce Creek Valley, when game abounded and pioneer conditions prevailed, always claimed attentive listeners when his stories were told. He frequently spoke at the family reunions, which are a regular feature of the Mattern kindred, and his death was sin- cerely mourned by his many descendants although he had long passed the accorded years of the Psalmist. He was a member of the Lutheran church for seventy-two years and for fifty-three years was an officer in the same. He was thrice married, first to Miriam Stevens, second to Jane Mc- Pheran, and third to Nancy Haugh, and he was the father of a number of children. The survivors of the second marriage are : Mrs. Flenner and John S., who resides on the old homestead at Seven Stars. The mother of these chlidren died August 15, 1872. Other survivors of the Geo. W. Mat- tern family are: Mrs. Elizabeth Shoup, of Lorain, O .; Mrs. Alexander Bob, of Mar- tinsburg, Pa .; and Jeremiah C., of Holli- daysburg, Pa.

To William H. Flenner and wife the fol-

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lowing children have been born: Albert Wareham, married Carrie Fisher, in 1893, is a partner in the Flenner & Caldwell Shoe Store, Tyrone, and has five children-Rob- ert Wareham, Albert Lawrence, Miriam, Donald and Elizabeth; Clarence Lincoln, who was born March 8, 1865, died February 8, 1884; Harry Rettew is a machinist resid- ing at Bellwood; Lulu Lillian, who died July 30, 1909; Bertha Alberta, who is the widow of Frank Murphy, who was accident- ally killed on the railroad, has one daugh- ter, Florence; Jennie McPheran, who died September 28, 1891 ; Anna Mattern, who is the wife of Arnold R. Rhodes and they have two children-Lillian and Ruth; George Stewart, who is a train director with the Pennsylvania Railroad, married Verna Caldwell and they have three children- Madeline L., Helen B. and Gerald S .; Mary Orabel, who is the wife of P. D. Wilson, who is clerk to the trainmaster at Tyrone, of the Pennsylvania Railroad; Desina Ruth, who died September 16, 1905; and Arthur Raymond, is a student at Tyrone.

William H. Flenner is a Republican in his political sentiments and at present is serving in his fourth term as assessor. When he first came to Tyrone he was offered one of the public schools but he declined the honor as he had made up his mind to leave the educational field, in which, however, he had been unusually successful. He is identi- fied with the D. M. Jones Post, No. 172, G. A. R., at Tyrone and belongs also to the Sons of Veterans.

WILLIAM HENRY McGARVEY, who has been engaged in gardening and fruit growing on his present place in Logan Township, Blair County, Pa., for the past 26 years, was born January 10, 1844, on the farm adjoining his present place, and is a son of William and Mary (Grey) McGar- vey. William McGarvey, grandfather of subject, who came from Lancaster County to Blair County at an early period, was the first of the family to locate in this county.

William McGarvey, father of subject, was born in 1821 on what was known as the Christy farm, west of Altoona, Pa., and spent his entire life in this county. He fol- lowed the trade of a hatter and tailor in Hollidaysburg for many years, but subse- quently bought a farm of 130 acres in Lo- gan Township, where he engaged in agri- cultural pursuits until his death, which oc- cured April 8, 1901, when he was 83 years of age. He was an active Democrat, but later became a Lincoln Republican, and fin- ally a strong Prohibitionist. Mr. McGar- vey was united in marriage with Mary Grey, who was born and reared in Blair County, Pa., and was a daughter of James and Jane (Cuningham) Grey. Her father came from Lancaster County, Pa., and bought and located on the farm in Logan Township on which our subject was born. He subsequently located on a farm above and adjoining this farm, and there spent his declining years. There were six daugh- ters and three sons born to William and Mary McGarvey: Anna (Wicker), is a res- ident of Altoona; William Henry; Or- lando, is a resident of Eldorado; Jennie (Farley) resides in Logan Township ;. Nancy (Robertson) is a resident of Al- toona; John lives on the old home place ; Adda (Clapper), resides in Eldorado; Fan- nie (Brown), resides in Altoona; Louisa (Smull) is also a resident of Altoona, Pa. William McGarvey was a member of the Baptist church of Altoona.

William Henry McGarvey was reared and educated in Logan Township, and has always made a specialty of gardening and fruit growing, including a variety of vege- tables, celery, cherries, plums, apples, peaches and grapes. He both wholesales and retails his produce, making two trips a week and often daily trips to Altoona, where he finds a ready market for his goods. He has resided on his present place since 1884, and has made all of the improvements and erected all of the buildings, including his fine two-story brick residence.

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On December 25, 1873, Mr. McGarvey was married to Carrie Wilson, who was born in Frankstown Township, Blair County, Pa., and of their union were born three children : Mary, married Albert Rhodes, of Altoona, and is the mother of three sons, Charles, Walter, and Luther; Stella; and William, who married Ella Gotschal, and is a resident of Altoona. Mr. McGarvey holds membership with the Baptist Church of Altoona, and in politics, is identified with the Republican party.

ANDREW OBER, a well known citizen of Juniata Township, Blair County, Pa., and owner of a well improved farm of 100 acres, has resided here since 1892, and was born May 15, 1848, in Fayette County, Pa., a son of John and Julia A. (Zimmerman) Ober. John Ober was born in Bedford County, Pa., and was a son of Henry Ober, who was of German extraction. John Ober was a plasterer by trade and in early man- hood removed to Fayette County, where he followed his trade in connection with farm- ing the remainder of his life. The mother of our subject was also a native of Pennsyl- vania.

Andrew Ober grew to man's estate in Fayette County and obtained his education in the local schools of that county. When young he learned the plasterer's trade, which he followed successfully for many years, but since coming to Blair County, in 1892, has devoted his entire time to agricul- tural pursuits, and is the owner of a fine . farm of 100 acres.

On January 15, 1878, Mr. Ober was mar- ried to Jennie Francis, and of their union were born three children: Alice, married James C. Diehl, of Blair County, Pa .; Francis, and Nellie, both residing in Juniata Township, Blair County, Pa. Mr. Ober is a man of public spirit and enterprise, a friend to the public schools and education in general, and is ever ready to aid in the promotion of those measures which tend toward the advancement of the community

in which he lives. He is a member of the Poplar Run Grange, the P. of H., and in politics, is independent, although inclined towards prohibition.

WILLIAM L. LOWRIE, M. D., a prom- inent physician and surgeon at Tyrone, Pa., where he is also an active and interested citizen, was born at Warrior's Mark, Hunt- ingdon County, Pa., and is a son of Jona- than R. and Mary (Lyon) Lowrie, and a member of an old and distinguished family of this state.

The great-grandfather of Dr. Lowrie was Joseph Lowrie, a native of Scotland, who was a pioneer in Butler County, hav- ing settled for a brief period previously in Sinking Valley, Blair County. Among his sons was Walter Lowrie, who was born in Scotland and lived to attain great distinc- tion in his adopted land. He was eight years old when his parents came to Amer- ica and was reared in Butler County, Pa. He served as a member of the United States Senate and for eleven years after the termination of his term, served as sec- retary of the senate. The larger part of his life was passed in Butler County but some years before his death he removed to the city of New York and there filled the office of secretary of the Board of Foreign Missions.

Jonathan R. Lowrie, father of Dr. Low- rie, was born in Butler County but spent a large part of his life in Blair County, where he was one of the early and leading mem- bers of the bar. In 1848 he was married and in 1854 moved to Warrior's Mark. His death occurred in 1885, at the age of sixty-three years. William L. Lowrie pre- pared for college at Birmingham and then entered Williams College, in Massachu- setts. His medical education was pursued in the University of Pennsylvania, where he was graduated in the class of 1883. He located first at Mapleton Depot, in Hunt- ingdon County, and engaged in practice there from 1883 until January, 1887, when

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he came to Tyrone, where he enjoys a large and lucrative practice and occupies a foremost place in his profession. He is identified also with financial and other busi- ness interests here but his personal atten- tion is confined to his professional duties. He is a member of the Tyrone Medical Club, the Blair County Medical Society, the Pennsylvania State Medical Association, the American Medical Association, and the Railway Surgeons Medical Association.

In 1887 Dr. Lowrie was married to Miss Bertha G. Finney, at Potts Grove, Pa. Her father was the late Rev. H. G. Finney, a well known Presbyterian clergyman, who died in May, 1910. Dr. and Mrs. Lowrie have three children: Mary L., Sarah F. and William. The beautiful family resi- dence is situated at No. 861 Washington Street, Tyrone, Pa.

R. W. SHOENFELT, owner of a foun- dry and machine shop at Williamsburg, Pa., was born March 20, 1869, in Blair County, Pa., and is a son of John and Maria (Whittaker) Shoenfelt. John Shoenfelt followed milling during his early life, but later engaged in farming in Blair County. His marriage with Maria Whittaker re- sulted in the following issue: James; Sarah, who is the wife of H. D. Brum- baugh; Harry; R. W., subject of this rec- ord; Ellen; Margaret; Jennie, who is the wife of D. D. Detwiler; Charles; Irwin; Carrie; Homer; Susan; and Elmer, de- ceased. John Shoenfelt was politically a Republican, and was religiously a member of the Reformed church, his wife being a member of the Progressive Brethren

church.

R. W. Shoenfelt obtained his educational training in the common schools of the county, then learned pattern making in the shops at Hollidaysburg, Pa., and subse- quently followed his trade at various places until 1908. At that time he purchased a foundry and machine shop at Williamsburg from William Leisig. This was shortly af-

terward destroyed by fire, and replaced by a more modern shop, where Mr. Shoenfelt carries on a general foundry work in con- nection with the manufacturing of mine car castings. He employs about three men the entire year.

On March 6, 1895, Mr. Shoenfelt married Blanch Carney, who is a daughter of Sam- uel and Charlotte Carney, well known resi- dents of Hollidaysburg. She has four sis- ters : Anna, Delia, Rebecca, and Irene. Three children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Shoenfelt, namely: Lottie, J. Lee, and Ethel, the last mentioned being now deceased. Mr. Shoenfelt is politically a Re- publican, and the religious connection of the family is with the Baptist church.

CHARLES B. CLARK, a representative citizen of Altoona and a prominent member of the Blair County bar, was born in Trum- bull County, O., January 1, 1854, and is a son of Warren and Clarissa (Eno) Clark.

Warren Clark was born in Trumbull County, on the old Clark estate, in 1826. The family is of Scotch-Irish ancestry and of Pilgrim stock. The great-grandfather, Giles Clark, was a pioneer from Connecti- cut to Ohio in 1801, and secured large tracts of land in Trumbull County, on which his son, Henry Clark passed his life and his grandson and great-grandson were born. Warren Clark remained in Trumbull County until 1870, when he moved to Mich- igan, where he lived for four years and then returned east and took up his residence at Blairsville, in Indiana County, Pa. In 1887 failing health caused him to remove to Florida, where he resided until 1890, when he returned to Pennsylvania and became a resident of Altoona, where he died January I, 1909. On July 3, 1851, he married Clar- issa Eno, in Trumbull County, Ohio. She died in 1889 at Starke, Fla.

Charles B. Clark obtained his education in the public schools of Ohio and afterward, for some years, engaged in teaching, in Ohio, Indiana and Pennsylvania, and while

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so occupied, made use of his leisure time in studying law and with such success that he was admitted to the bar of Indiana County, Pa., on September 13, 1880. For one year he practiced law at Blairsville and then ac- cepted a clerical position with the Pennsyl- vania Railroad Company at Altoona and continued to perform its duties for the next four years. In the meanwhile he had made many friends in this city and decided to make it his home, and in October, 1885, was admitted to the bar of Blair County, and also to the Supreme Court of the state. In addition to attending to a large practice, giving special attention to Building and Loan Association law, Mr. Clark has been interested in publishing directories of dif- ferent sections, in 1886 and until 1895, issu- ing directories of Altoona and Johnstown, and in 1888, of Beaver Falls and the Lower Beaver Valley. In politics he is a Repub- lican and has always taken an interest in public affairs and not without reason has had some political aspirations. He has pos- sibly inherited some of the independent spirit of his old Puritan forefathers and oc- casions have arisen when he has refused to submit to the dictation of party managers, against his conscientious scruples, and thus has failed in securing party support for nom- ination to office. He was a delegate, how- ever, to the Pennsylvania Republican State Convention in 1908. In the swing of the circle the time may come when the ideals of Republicanism that he cherishes may be the main party issues.

Mr. Clark was married on December 13, 1877, to Miss Hallie I. Johnson, a daughter of Michael Johnson, of Westmoreland County, Pa. Two daughters were born to them, Nellie and Stella Mabel, the latter of whom died when aged four years. The former is the wife of Capt. W. G. Reed, of Blairsville, an officer in the Pa. N. G. Mr. Clark owns the valuable corner property on Fifteenth Street and Eleventh Avenue, on which his residence stands, in addition

to a number of houses and lots in other parts of the city and suburbs.

H. S. GURD, proprietor of a general store and one of the leading business men of Will- iamsburg, Pa., was born in 1865, at Jefferson- ville, N. Y., and is a son of Thomas and Han- nah Gurd. Thomas Gurd was born in England, and since coming to this country has been a res- ident of New York state. There were five children born to Thomas and Hannah Gurd, namely: Frances, who is the wife of Henry Stephenson; Elizabeth, who is the widow of a brother of Henry Stephenson; Mary and Guy.

H. S. Gurd obtained a common school edu- cation and at the age of seventeen years began learning the tanner's trade, which he followed until 1905, when he came to Williamsburg, Pa., and purchased his present store from the Eastep Norris Company. He has since been sole proprietor of the business and is recog- nized as one of the successful business men of the borough. He is affiliated with Lodge No. 29, F. & A. M., of Moorefield, W. Va., and in politics is identified with the Republican party, being now one of the school directors of the borough.

In 1891 Mr. Gurd was joined in marriage with Miss Carrie Weaver, who is a daughter of Ferdinand and Anna Weaver of Williamsburg. The following children were born to her par- ents: Charles; Orlando; James; Ferdinand; Maud, who is the wife of Henry Gurd, a cousin of our subject; Jesse; John; Leona, who mar- ried Henry Good; and Carrie. Three children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Gurd: Verna, Hazel and John.

HON. WILLIAM F. HILLER, for- merly burgess of Tyrone, Pa., and a repre- sentative citizen of the borough, was born here, May 28, 1856, and has been in busi- ness since boyhood. His parents were John A. and Margaret (Braun) Hiller.

John A. Hiller was born in Germany and came to America and located at Pittsburg, Pa., in 1848, coming from there to Tyrone, in 1855, where he followed his trade of har-

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Twentieth century history of Altoona and Blair County, Pennsylvania, and representative citizens, Part 111

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