Twentieth century history of Altoona and Blair County, Pennsylvania, and representative citizens, Part 116

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 116

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Shirey, D. D., who was president of North Carolina College. Of the children born to William and Margaret (Shirey) McCauley, the second son, Rev. Victor McCauley, A. M., formerly was located at Guntar, India, where he was acting principal of Watts' Memorial College, and at present is a mis- sionary at Sarranapalli, India. The third son, Rev. J. W. McCauley, B. D., is at pres- ent pastor of the Church of the Incarna- tion, Baltimore, Md.

Ernest Roedel McCauley was reared in the town of his nativity and obtained his preliminary education in the local schools. For a period of four years he was deputy clerk of the county and circuit courts of Roanoke County. His early collegiate edu- cation was received at Roanoke College, from which he was graduated in June, 1892. During the fall term of 1892 he was enrolled in the Lutheran Theological Seminary, at Gettysburg, Pa. During the summer vaca- tion of 1893, his junior year, he had charge of the Lutheran Memorial Church at Blacksburg, Va., and during the summer of 1894, of the Oakland-Deer Park parish, Md. Upon his graduation from the seminary in 1895, he was tendered and accepted a call from the First Lutheran Church of Cedar Rapids, Ia. There he remained until Sep- tember,, 1897, when he received a call to a larger field of labor, and, although most suc- cessful with his first church, resigned and accepted a call from the Brushton Avenue Church of Pittsburg, Pa., where his minis- try was continued with gratifying results until December, 1899.

On February 1, 1900, he accepted a call from Grace Lutheran Church, Altoona, of which parish he is the present incumbent. Dr. McCauley is a pleasant and courteous gentleman, firm in his convictions and de- cided in the course of action he deems right upon any question or issue. He is a man of clear perception, good judgment, a fine scholar and a fluent speaker. In 1907 the degree of Master of Arts was conferred

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upon him by his Alma Mater, and June II, 1908, he was honored with the degree of Doctor of Divinity, from Susquehannah University, of Selinsgrove, Pa.

When Rev. McCauley came to Grace congregation, they were without a church building. During the first year of his pas- torate the church now owned and occupied, was erected. By a far-seeing policy the congregation acquired the valuable busi- ness corner at Tenth Avenue and Elev- enth Street, which is now valued at $65,- 000. There has been a steady growth in membership until at the present, 325 per- sons are enrolled. A wonderful growth in the Sunday-school is noted and the Fellow- ship Class, numbering 137 young men, en- joys the distinction of being the largest young men's class in Altoona. In 1909, this class furnished what is known as the Fellowship Rooms, occupying the second floor of the business building owned by the congregation at the rear of the church. The aim of the Fellowship Rooms is to af- ford a place for proper moral intellectual and spiritual entertainment of young men. It is open house and not restricted to class or church members.

In 1909 Rev. McCauley solicited the con- gregation to buy what was known as Union Chapel, at South Altoona, which had been in operation some years with a Sunday- school, the membership of which never had exceeded sixty-nine. It was encumbered and at Rev. McCauley's request, the Grace congregation bought the property for $500. It became known as Grace Chapel and im- mediately great advancement was made, the building having been enlarged to ac- commodate a Sunday-school of 366 mem- bers. $3,800 was spent in improvements and the property now has a value of more than $7,000. The wonderful work accom- plished by the pastor, both at the chapel and church, has met with hearty support and co-operation, and the present per cap- ita offering of $39, reveals the fact in un- mistakable terms.

Rev. Ernest Roedel McCauley was mar- ried September 7, 1897, to Miss Grace Beth Ford, a native of Cedar Rapids, Ia., and a daughter of Fred D. and Olive (Smith) Ford. Mr. Ford is deceased and his relict resides at the home of her daughter in Al- toona. A son, Harold Arthur Ford, who also lived at Altoona, was called to his final rest, March 29, 1909, at the age of twenty- three years.

Mrs. McCauley, known to the world of music as Grace Ford McCauley, is a wom- an of many accomplishments and of charm- ing personality. Kindly endowed by nature, with a bright mind and wonderful voice, her ambition has carried her along in the cultivation of her talents to a plane not fre- quently attained. She excels as a linguist, singing and speaking in a number of lan- guages with equal facility. Musically, Mrs. McCauley first perfected herself on the pipe organ, taking her first lessons under Mrs. Hobensack, of Pittsburg, and attending the Frederick Archer lectures and recitals in the Carnegie Music Hall. She received vocal training under Herr Buchler, of Bos- ton, prior to spending a year abroad as a student in the Sternes Conservatory at Berlin. Nicholas Rothmuhl, famed as head of the dramatic school of that institution, and decorated as the royal chamber singer by Emperor William, says of his pupil:

"She has the most wonderful quality and range of any singer I have ever taught."

Upon her return to the United States, Mrs. McCauley continued her studies under the great American teacher, Oscar Saenger, who, in speaking of her said: "Mrs. Mc- Cauley has the most remarkable voice in range and quality I have ever heard." Com- ing from these great masters, known al- most as well for their lack of sympathy and encouragement as for their ability as in- structors, these words are indeed generous and bespeak the surpassing quality of Mrs. McCauley's voice.

Rev. and Mrs. McCauley have two sons : William Ford, born January 30, 1900; and

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Frederick Dixon, born December 25, 1902. The family home-is at No. 1830 Twelfth Avenue, Altoona.

H. B. REPLOGLE, M. D., physician and surgeon at Altoona, Pa., with convenient of- fice quarters at No. 612 Fourth Street, was born at Woodbury, Bedford County, Pa., in 1881, and came to Altoona in July, 1907.

Dr. Replogle devotes his entire attention to his practice which is a large and substantial one. He was educated in the public schools and also by private tutors and pursued his med- ical studies in Hahnemann Medical College at Philadelphia, where he was graduated in 1906. He spent one year gaining most valuable prac- tical experience in the Metropolitan and Belle- vue Hospitals, in New York, and six months were devoted to the Opthalmic Hospital, after which the well prepared young physician came to Altoona. He engages in a general practice but makes something of a specialty of diseases of the eye, nose and throat and has been par- ticularly successful in this line. He is examin- ing physician for several fraternal organiza- tions. He is a member of the Blair County Homeopathic Society and the State organiza- tion and the North American Institute of Ho- meopathy and keeps thoroughly abreast with the times in his science.

Dr. Replogle was married October 15, 1907, to Miss Cora Lee, a daughter of W. S. Lee, of Altoona, and they have one daughter, Eliza- beth Marguerite. Dr. and Mrs. Replogle are members of the Baptist church. He is identi- fied with the Knights of Pythias.

JOHN FAY, M. D.,* deceased, once Blair County's acknowledged most eminent man of medicine, able as a physician and skilled as a surgeon, spent the greater part of his long, useful, beneficent life in the city of Altoona, Pa., where his death occurred December 6, 1907, he almost rounding out his seventy-seventh year. He was born at Williamsburg, Blair County, Pa., Decem- ber 14, 1830, and was one of a family of six sons born to his parents, who were Joseph and Catherine Fay.

John Fay obtained his early education in the local schools. Later he prepared for Jefferson Medical College at Philadelphia with a physician at Williamsburg, and in 1855, his name was inscribed as a graduate of that institution, on a list that reaches far back and includes many illustrious names in the practice of medicine. He had scarcely entered upon the physician's life ere the Civil War was precipitated, and with the instincts of the healer, he was anxious to enter into the great struggle which he fore- saw would not be of short duration. On August 16, 1862, he entered the army as assistant surgeon of the 125th Pa. Vol. Inf., and continued at the post of duty, whether on the field or in hospital or fever camp, until he was honorably discharged on ac- count of being prostrated by typhoid fever, in October, 1862. He continued his asso- ciation with old comrades as a member of the S. C. Potts Post, Grand Army of the Republic, at Altoona, and enjoyed their re- spect and esteem.

In 1870 Dr. Fay established himself in practice at Altoona, entering into partner- ship at that time with Dr. J. M. Gemmill, under the firm name of Gemmill & Fay. He then had fifteen years of successful med- ical practice behind him and was already looked upon as a leader in his profession. The above partnership lasted for a few years and after the retirement of Dr. Gem- mill, Dr. Fay continued alone, at this time being appointed physician and surgeon of the Pennsylvania Railroad, one he contin- ued to fill until the close of his life.

In every branch of medical science, Dr. Fay was at home, his natural abilities sup- plementing his knowledge and experience. His prominence was emphasized on many occasions by election to responsible admin- istrative offices' in medical organizations and in scientific bodies. He was greatly in- terested when the establishing of a city hos- pital became a public question and so ac- tive was he in all preliminary measures with this great charity in view, that when the

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hospital became a fact, his superior qualifi- cations were universally recognized and he was elected its chief of staff and remained in this responsible position during the con- tinuance of his life. On the wall of the main hall of this institution, the interested visitor may read this tablet :

"In grateful memory of Dr. John Fay, Chief of Staff."

This memorial tablet was erected in 1907 by the medical staff of the hospital with im- posing and impressive ceremonies which in- cluded the unveiling of the tablet of bronze by a daughter of the physician whose mem- ory was so honored.

Dr. Fay was a member of the following medical organizations :

Just one year prior to his decease he cele- brated the anniversary of his entrance into practice, he being almost the Nestor of the profession in Altoona at that time. For a number of years he maintained his office in the Pennsylvania Railroad Building.

Dr. Fay married Miss Catherine Royer, who, with their three children, Henry, Rob- ert H. and Ella, survives. He was a member of the First Presbyterian Church at Altoona.

JOHN F. NELSON, an extensive fruit grower and progressive citizen of Antis Township, Blair County, Pa., son of James M. C. Nelson, who was of Scotch-Irish an- cestry, is the owner of a highly improved farm of 183 acres, and was born December 20, 1858, in the upper school district of An- tis Township.

James Nelson, grandfather of our subject, came from the Cumberland Valley about 1818, and located at the foot of Brush Mountain, in what now is Blair County, Pa. Here he became the owner of 600 acres of land, part of it being now known as the old Long farm. He here operated a saw-mill and powder-mill, then sold out and moved to Ohio, returned to Pennsylvania and set- tled on Long farm, now owned by our sub- ject. His father was blown up but not killed in the powder-mill. About 1835 Mr.

Nelson removed with his family to Ohio, but a year or two later returned to Blair County, where he spent the remainder of his life. He was buried in the Asberry Ceme- tery.

James M. C. Nelson, father of our subject, was born in 1828, at the foot of Brush Mountain, in what is now Blair County, Pa., and died in February, 1910, at the advanced age of 82 years. He married Amanda By- ers, who was born in Cambria County, Pa., and died in Blair County, at the age of 62 years. Of their union were born ten chil- dren, namely: Ai Nelson, deceased, was a resident of Logan Township; Maggie, is the wife of Asbury Miller of Fairview; John Franklin, the subject of this record; George, deceased, was a resident of Juniata; Sadie, married Harrison Cherry of Westchester, Pa .; Edith, widow of Wilson Foust, re- sides in Juniata, Pa .; Carrie, married Harry Weaver of Altoona ; Emma, married Thomas Fouse of Juniata; Mary, deceased wife of Morris Fasic; and James B. Mr. Nelson was politically a Democrat.

John F. Nelson was reared in Blair County, Pa., and has lived here all his life, with the exception of eight years, during part of which time he was engaged in oper- ating a blacksmith shop for himself. He has specialized in fruit growing all his life, receiving his first lessons from his father, but for the past 25 or 30 years has made it a business for himself. Of his farm of 183 acres, he devotes between 80 and 90 acres to fruit growing, having about 5,000 apple trees, and altogether has between nine and ten thousand fruit trees. His first crop is rhubarb, the second, strawberries, and the third, raspberries, is followed by plums, pears, peaches, grapes and apples. He is thus engaged in marketing about eight months of the year, and runs one and two wagons daily. In connection with his fruit growing he also runs an hydraulic cider press, which is operated by steam.

Mr. Nelson is also the propagator as well as a producer of many choice fruits, thereby

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adding to fruit growing the nursery busi- ness, in which he is practically skilled. He is also the inventor of several useful devices for the farmer and fruit grower, thereby laying the foundation for the good and hap- piness of his fellow man in the present as well as in the coming generations.

On January 9, 1882, Mr. Nelson was united in marriage with Clara A. Reigh, who was born in Antis Township, a daughter of John and Rachel (Neream) Reigh. Mrs. Nelson's father was a native of Ger- many, and at the age of fourteen years came to this country with his father, Henry Reigh. John and Rachel Reigh were par- ents of the following children: Clara A., wife of subject; Lizzie, who is the widow of George Nelson, is a resident of Juniata ; Harry, died in Williamsburg, Pa., in 1908; Martin, a butcher, lives in Juniata; Frank, lives in Juniata and is employed by the Pennsylvania Railroad Company; Ella, married John Zeigler of Juniata; Maggie, married Harry Boyles of Juniata ; Edward, is in the meat business in Altoona, Pa .; and Mary, wife of Kyle Haggerty of Juniata. Ten children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Nelson: Ernest, died in in- fancy; Mary, is the wife of William Simp- . son, and has one son, James Dalbert ; John, died aged two years and nine months; Aaron F., who lives on the home farm, mar- ried Blanche Baney and they have one son, John Marshall; Cora Bell; James Edison ; Benjamin Franklin; George Dewey; Es- tella Clara; and Ai, who died aged eight months and eight days. Mr. Nelson and family are all members of the Baptist Brethren church. He is politically a Pro- hibitionist, but was formerly a Democrat for some time.

DAVID KAUFFMAN,* one of North Woodbury Township's most respected cit- izens, a township official and a surviving sol- dier of the great Civil War, has been a resi- dent of this section for forty-two years. He was born in Bedford County, Pa., February

29, 1840, and is a son of Frederick and An- nie Kauffman.

Frederick Kauffman was born in Lancas- ter County, Pa., and in 1833 came from there to Bedford County and settled in Mid- dle Woodbury Township when that section was a wilderness. Mr. Kauffman remem- bers his parents' stories of the hardships of those early days and of nights made sleep- less by the howling of wolves outside their log cabin. Frederick Kauffman became a man of local prominence and acceptably held numerous township offices and in the course of nature both he and wife passed away, a number of children surviving them.

David Kauffman was reared on the pio- neer farm of his father in Middle Woodbury Township and attended the district schools when opportunity offered. In August, 1862, he enlisted for service in the Civil War then in progress, entering Co. C, 133d Pa. Vol. Inf., in which he served faithfully for nine months, being attached to the Army of the Potomac, and during this period participat- ing in the battles of Antietam and Freder- icksburg, also Chancellorsville, together with numerous skirmishes, in many of which his life was endangered. After the end of his term of enlistment and his honorable discharge, he returned to Bedford County, but shortly afterward went to Hamilton County, Ind., where he married and lived for two years. In 1867 Mr. Kauffman re- turned to Bedford County, and in the fall of 1868 came to North Woodbury Town- ship, Blair County, where he has lived ever since. In politics he is a Republican and at present is serving in the office of road tax collector.

On December 22, 1863, Mr. Kauffman was married to Miss Elizabeth Gasho, who was born in Wayne County, Ind., a daugh- ter of Henry and Barbara (Kready) Gasho, who were natives of Lancaster County, Pa. When Mrs. Kauffman was three months old her parents moved to Hamilton County, Ind., where she was reared and married. Six children were born to Mr. and Mrs.

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Kauffman, namely: Mary, who is the wife of William Keith, residing in Blair County ; Barbara, who is the wife of James Morgan, residing in North Woodbury Township; Missouri, who is the wife of George F. Stonerook, living in North Woodbury Township; Irvin G., who also lives in North Woodbury Township; Andrew G., who lives in Taylor Township; and Harry, who is deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Kauffman are members of the Mennonite church.

DAVID ALLEN RIGGLE, who carries on general farming on the old home place in Antis Township, has been a life long resi- dent of Blair County, Pa., and was born January 15, 1837, on the place where he now lives, a son of Henry and Elizabeth (Smith) Riggle.

Henry Riggle and his father came from Maryland and were the first of the family to locate in Blair County, Pa. He pur- chased the farm on which our subject lives from Daniel Domer, who had not cleared any of the land, but had built a cabin upon it. This farm, which consisted of 122 acres, was cleared by Henry Riggle and placed in a state of cultivation. Henry Riggle first married a Miss Buttonburg, by whom he had three sons, all of whom died in infancy. His second marriage was with Elizabeth Smith, a daughter of John Smith, who lived in Logan Township on the farm where Frank Black now lives. Seven daughters and six sons were born to Henry and Eliza- beth Riggle: Matilda, deceased wife of Simpson Manley, also deceased; Mary Ann, the wife of David Manley of Antis Town- ship; John Amos, died aged four years ; David Allen; Sarah Jane, the widow of John Calvert of Altoona; Alexander, was residing in the brick house at, Asbury Church at the time of his death; Martin, died in the army during the Civil War; Lu- cinda, the wife of John C. Smith of Homer's Gap; Amanda, lives with her sister, Mrs. John Smith ; Joseph, lives in Fairview, Blair County; Luther, was a resident of Bell-

wood, died at the age of 35 years; and Sa- vannah, deceased wife of Lloyd Burkholder of Blair's Furnace.

David A. Riggle has always lived on his present farm and now sleeps in the room in which he was born. He spent about eight years on the upper farm, which is also on this place, and at the early age of 12 years began handling the team on the home work. Mr. Riggle subsequently sold the farm at a good price, to the Pennsylvania Railroad Company from whom he now rents the land, and also looks after the company's water rights. Mr. Riggle also owns a farm of 54 acres below Salem Church and has recently set out a young orchard. He has also oper- ated a saw-mill and threshing machine for the past six years, and is very hale and active for one of his years.

On January 25, 1858, Mr. Riggle married Louisa A. Myers, who was born on a farm near Birmingham, Huntingdon County, and is a daughter of Martin and Anna (Ganoe) Myers. Nine children were born of this un- ion, namely: Isa Dora is the wife of Joseph Glasgow of Blandburg, Cambria County, Pa .; Ida May, deceased wife of David Bur- kett, resided near Everett, Pa .; Ira Martin, died aged 20 years; Idella, married Joseph Conrad of Antis Township; Ina Kate, who married William Doyle, lives on the home place; Ithiel Henry, died aged four years ; Iberry Asa, died aged two and a half years ; Imer Josiah, lives in Kansas; and Iota, who lives at home. Although Mr. and Mrs. Rig- gle have been married for more than a half of a century, they did not celebrate their golden wedding, and the names of the nine children born to them all begin with an I. Mr. Riggle is politically a Republican, and has served in the various township offices. He is a member of the Patrons of Hus- bandry.

A. K. FIGART,* justice of the peace for over forty-five years in the town of Franks- town, Pa., who now lives more or less re- tired from all but official activity, is one of

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the leading and substantial citizens of this place. He was born in Sinking Valley, Pa., November 25, 1825, and is a son of William and Sarah (Kantner) Figart. He was the fifth born in his parents' family of eight chil- dren and is one of the two survivors, the other being a sister, Ellen, who is the wife of John Stiver.

Although educational advantages were not so easily secured when Mr. Figart was a boy, as at present, he obtained a fair knowledge of books before he was consid- ered too old to attend school. He worked for a time on his father's farm and then learned the blacksmith's trade, one which he followed for forty years. In the mean- while he acquired real estate and owns a blacksmith shop and two residence proper- ties.

In 1846 Mr. Figart was married to Miss Mary Cruse, who died March 10, 1903. She was a daughter of John and Mary Cruse, old settlers in Frankstown Township, whose other children were : Frederick, John, William and Sidney. Five daughters and three sons were born to Mr. and Mrs. Figart, namely: Mary Ellen, who is de- ceased, was the wife of William Ling; Eliz- abeth, who is deceased, was the wife of George W. Kemberling; Edward Forest; Lloyd; Alice, who is deceased; Woods Dorsey, who is deceased; Ora Ann, who lives with her father; and Mollie, who is the widow of William A. Crole. Judge Figart is a member of the Baptist church. In pol- itics he is a Republican and in earlier years was a Whig. He has served as school di- rector and as constable and has held the of- fice of justice of the peace probably as long a continuous period as any other justice in Blair County. His long life has been mainly spent amidst familiar surroundings and probably no other citizen of Blair County is better posted on local matters or can re- late more interesting stories pertaining to the events which actually make up the his- tory of a community. He is held in the highest esteem by his fellow citizens.

HENRY C. CRIDER, proprietor of a general store, and also postmaster at Sab- bath Rest post office, Blair County, has been a life long resident of this county. He was born June 23, 1861, in Tyrone, Pa., a son of Peter and Ruth (McFarland) Crider.

The first immigrant of the Crider family was Jacob Crider, who came to America in 1712, obtaining from William Penn 800 acres of land near Lancaster, Pa. He was followed by Martin Crider, who with three sons-Joseph, John Jacob, and Frederick- landed in Philadelphia September 16, 1736, Martin, who was a blacksmith by trade, set- tled near Conestoga, Lancaster County, Pa., and the family owned a considerable quantity of land in Lebanon Township, that county. Martin Crider had other children, for we find that his son Henry (born 1746, died November 15, 1779) married Barbara Yoder, who came from Switzerland. Among their children was Peter, great- grandfather of the subject of this sketch, who was born August 15, 1776, and died March 18, 1818, in Sinking Valley, which was then in Huntingdon, but is now in Blair County. The next in line of descent was Henry, grandfather of our subject, who came here from Lancaster County, and who married Maria Sellers. Their family, which was large, consisted mostly of girls, there being but one son, Peter.

Peter Crider, above mentioned, was born on a farm a short distance out of Tyrone, Pa., and became a farmer, which occupa- tion he followed until within a few years ago. He married Ruth McFarland, a daughter of John McFarland, and their family was as follows: Henry C., whose name appears at the head of this sketch; Leah, now deceased, who was the wife of James Wood; John, who is residing in Al- toona; Lizzie, wife of Harry Sutton, of Al- toona; George, who died at the age of twenty years; Myrtle, who died at the age of seven; C. W., who is now a resident of Altoona, Pa. Mrs. Ruth Crider, the mother

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Twentieth century history of Altoona and Blair County, Pennsylvania, and representative citizens, Part 116

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