Twentieth century history of Altoona and Blair County, Pennsylvania, and representative citizens, Part 118

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 118

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surviving him; Laura, who is the wife of William H. Meese, a train dispatcher on the N. J. Central R. R .; Edgar E., who was a school teacher, resides near Tamerend and has charge of the air brakes and pumps for the Jersey City R. R., at that point.

Augustus E. Bachert started to school when he was only four years of age, early displaying that unusual alertness of mind that has been the means in large degree of enabling its possessor to reach his present advanced place in his profession while a comparatively young man. After a period spent in the State Normal School at Mil- lersville, he entered the Ohio Northern University in 1882 and was graduated in civil engineering in the class of 1885. He lost no time in looking about for some easy position, but within two weeks was hard at work along the line in which his advance- ment has been continuous. However, when only a boy, he had shown ability and a de- cided taste for engineering and had sur- prised his associates with his enthusiasm and accuracy. Thus, Mr. Bachert's engi- neering record, which is as follows, begins long before he had won any technical di- ploma : 1874-5, at the age of twelve years, began as chainman and on instrument work on property surveys in Schuylkill, Carbon and Luzerne Counties, Pa .; 1876, made property surveys and these settled disputed boundaries between Philadelphia & Read- R. R., H. A. Weldy & Co., and others; 1876-1885, made property surveys while at- tending college; 1885-6, chainman South Pennsylvania R. R., Div. III, under F. H. Clement and Gaylord Thompson, and en- gaged upon property surveys; 1886-90, as- sistant to Thomas S. McNair, Resident En- gineer, Lehigh Valley R. R., location and construction on railroad, hydraulic and mining (anthracite coal) engineering ; 1890- 95, resident engineer and land agent, East Broad Top R. R., Rockhill Iron & Coal Company, Broad Top Improvement Com- pany and Broad Top Semi-Anthracite Coal Company; 1895-6, architecture and con-

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tracting, Hazelton, MacAdoo, Pa .; 1896- 1900, assistant engineer to Thomas S. Mc- Nair, chief engineer, Cranberry Improve- ment Company, Union Improvement Com- pany, Black Creek Improvement Company, and Highland Coal Company, engaged upon railroad, mining, hydraulic and municipal engineering; 1900-1904, division engineer and division superintendent, H. C. Frick Coke Company, in charge of Leisenring Division, consisting of Leisenring Nos. I, 2, 3 and the Trotter, Adelaide, Rist, Henry Clay, Davidson, Youngstown and Bitner mines and over 3,000 coke ovens-Connells- ville, Pa .; 1904-5, chief engineer Ellsworth Coal Company, Ellsworth, Washington County, Pa .; 1905-09, general superintend- ent, Rockhill Iron & Coal Company, Broad Top Improvement Company, and Broad Top Semi-Anthracite Coal Company ; 1907, January I, appointed chief engineer, East Top R. R., in addition to above duties; 1909, May I, opened an engineering office at Tyrone, Pa .; 1910, August, locating a forty-five mile connecting steam railroad.

In October, 1885, Mr. Bachert was mar- ried to Miss Ada E. Weaver, a daughter of Charles F. and Catherine (Moyer) Weaver, of Delano, Schuylkill County, and they have three children: Olive Amy, Mabel and Helen. Olive Amy completed her musical education at Darlington Seminary. She is the wife of Jesse E. Bell, of Weatherly, Carbon County, Pa. The second daughter adopted the noble profession of a nurse, graduating from the Homeopathic Hospi- tal at Reading, Pa. She is now the wife of T. J. Hussion, who is foreman of the Big Four Railroad shops at Urbana, Ill. The youngest daughter is a student in the Ty- rone High School.

Mr. Bachert is a member of Hazle Lodge, No. 327, F. & A. M., (a life member) Hazelton, Pa .; Standing Stone Chapter, No. 201, R. A. M., Huntingdon, Pa .; Har- risburg Council, No. 7, R. & S M., Harris- burg; Huntingdon Commandery, No. 65, K. T., Huntingdon, Pa .; Harrisburg Lodge

of Perfection, No. 14, Harrisburg; Harris- burg Council, Princes of Jerusalem, 16th degree; Harrisburg Chapter, Rose Croix, 18th degree; Harrisburg Consistory, S. P. R. S., 32d degree, Harrisburg; Iran Tem- ple, A. A. O. N. M. S., Wilkesbarre; Correspondence Circle, Quatuor Coronati, Lodge 2076, London, Eng; Correspond- ence Circle, Lodge of Research, No. 2429, Leicester, Eng .; Huguenot Commandery, No. 405, A. & I. O., Knights of Malta, Rob- ertsdale, Pa .; William McKinley Lodge, No. 13, I. O. O. F., Connellsville, Pa .; De- lano Council, No. 958, Royal Arcanum, Delano, Schuylkill County, Pa .; Tyrone Lodge, No. 212, B. P. O. E., Tyrone ; Schuylkill County Historical Society, Potts- ville, Pa .; Pennsylvania German Society, and the National Geographic Society, Washington, D. C.

IRA RUSH BURNS, who was elected chief burgess of Bellwood, Pa., in March, 1909, is the present incumbent of that office, and has been a resident of this borough for the past 20 years. He was born May 18, 1866, in Lake City, Minn., and is a son of Capt. W. J. and Elizabeth (Bell) Burns.

Capt. W. J. Burns was born in Mifflin County, Pa., December 6, 1838, and worked at his trade here as a carpenter until the beginning of the war. He enlisted as a lieutenant in Co. M, 16th Pa. Cavalry, at a call of Andrew G. Curtin for 16,000 cavalry- men, and when his captain was killed was made captain of Griggs Cavalry. After the war he moved to Lake City, Minn., and re- turned some few years later to Huntingdon County, but is now a resident of Bellwood, Pa. He was first united in marriage with Elizabeth Bell, who died in December, 1869, leaving two children: Ira R .; and Helen (Mrs. Myton) of Altoona, Pa. Mr. Burns formed a second union with Maggie Bell, a sister of his former wife, and of this union were born four children : Lizzie (Collier) of Pittsburg, Pa .; Charles, a resi-

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dent of Huntingdon; Harry, living in Al- toona; and Ray, who lives in Pittsburg.

Ira R. Burns was reared in Huntingdon County, and taught there six years, teach- ing his home school at Saulsburg, Pa., at the age of 16 years, and also taught nine years in Bellwood and in Antis Township. He learned carpentering when 16 years of age, and followed that business during the summers and since has been engaged in the same. He is one of the leading funeral di- rectors of Bellwood and his father also fol- lowed that line of business after coming here. Mr. Burns served little over two years as postmaster at Bellwood-under President Mckinley one year-and was also appointed under President Roosevelt as an anti-Quay man in 1902, but the appoint- ment was not confirmed by the senate. He is politically a Republican and served some years on the county committee. Mr. Burns affiliates with the Maccabees of Altoona, and the F. O. E. of Bellwood.

In 1888 Mr. Burns was joined in marriage with Bessie Snyder, who was born in Hunt- ingdon County and educated in the McCal- listerville schools. She is a daughter of John Snyder, who was an old soldier, and at an early age was left on orphan. Seven children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Burns: Clarence, employed as a stenographer for the Pennsylvania Railroad Company; Earl, employed in a store in Bellwood; Warren, who works in the office of the Pennsylvania Railroad Company ; Daisy, attending school; Molly, who attends school; Agnes, also in school; and Ira Burns, Jr. The family holds membership with the Logan Valley Presbyterian Church.

many, on December 21, 1821. His parents were Joseph and Mary (Fohman) Wolf, the father being a cabinetmaker by trade. Mrs. Joseph Wolf was a daughter of Dr.' Carl Fohman, a prominent physician of Baden, Germany. All of Mr. Wolf's re- moter ancestors, so far as there is any rec- ord, were natives of Germany, in which country they passed their lives. Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Wolf raised a family of nine children-five sons and four daughters- all of whom were born in Germany. None of the daughters are now living. Of the sons the following is a brief record: Val- entine resides in his native land (the others all came to America). John settled at Dun- cansville, Pa., and resided there for many years, finally removing to Pittsburg, where the last years of his life were spent. Fran- cis also settled at Duncansville, which place he made his home until his death. Joseph removed to Texas, of which state he was a resident for a number of years. Adam, the remaining son, is the direct subject of this memoir.

Adam J. Wolf received his education in the excellent schools of his native land. In 1843, when twenty-two years of age, he emigrated to this country, first taking up his residence in Philadelphia, where he re- mained for two years. He then removed to Hollidaysburg, where he worked for a time as a journeyman carpenter. Not sat- isfied, however, with being merely a wage" earner, he husbanded his resources until he had sufficient capital to start in business for himself, when he began in a small way in the same line of trade. He was well adapted to succeed and soon found himself able to purchase property and to build the cabinet- making and undertaking rooms on Alle- gheny Street, where he for many years sub- sequently carried on a prosperous and ex- tensive business. Just across the street was his commodious residence, and adjoining it is Wolf's Hall, a large and handsome block which he built in 1879. He also showed his 1

ADAM J. WOLF,* deceased, for many years was one of the most highly respected citizens of Hollidaysburg, where he was en- gaged successfully in the cabinetmaking and undertaking business. He was a rep- resentative man among our foreign born citizens, his birth having occurred at As- samstadt, Baden, County of Boxberg, Ger- enterprise and good business foresight by

DANIEL D. WOOD

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erecting other buildings in the town, all of which are desirable property. After a long and successful career Mr. Wolf transferred the business to his son, William F., and passed the rest of his days in retirement, though often consulted by his sons in re- gard to business affairs. His death was an event deeply regretted by the people of Hol- lidaysburg generally, who had known him so long as one of the town's sterling citi- zens.

Mr. Wolf was married on January 7, 1850, to Mary Elizabeth Hurm, a daughter of Godfred Hurm of Weildorf, Germany. Their family numbered six sons-William F., Henry A., Salem Joseph, Adam Rich- ard, Charles E. and Frank X. The follow- ing is their record in brief :

William F. Wolf, who has been already mentioned as his father's business successor, is now successfully engaged in the furniture business in Hollidaysburg, being located at No. 118 Allegheny Street. His residence is next door to his store, at No. 116.

Henry A. Wolf, who is now deceased, was engaged in the hardware business at Al- toona for a number of years, and resided at No. IIIO Seventeenth Street, Altoona.

Salem J. Wolf, who is now engaged in the hardware business at Altoona, as pro- prietor of the S. J. Wolf Hardware Co., returned to Hollidaysburg in 1876 and established what was then the principal hardware business in the city, known as the Salem J. Wolf Hardware Co. From that date up to 1884 his father was associated with him in the business. He resides at present at No. 2430 Broad Street, Al- toona, Pa.

Adam R. Wolf, who is the second vice- president of the Blair County Title and Trust Co., entered in the hardware business in the year 1880, and for many years con- ducted the Altoona Hardware and Supply Co. He was later proprietor of the A. R. Wolf Hardware Co., of Altoona, and conducted the same until he retired. He is also a director in the Blair County

Title & Trust Co., and has large real estate interests in Altoona.

Charles E. Wolf, who was formerly in the hardware business at No. 1108 Eleventh Avenue, is now connected with the City Furniture Co., and resides at No. 1617 Thirteenth Street. Frank X. Wolf died in 1875 at the age of sixteen years. The sur- viving sons are all married and the descend- ants of the subject of this sketch include a number of grandchildren. The late Adam J. Wolf was a member of St. Mary's Cath- olic Church of Hollidaysburg for many years previous to his death. In politics he supported the Republican party.

DANIEL DEETER WOOD, one of Ty- rone's most respected and beloved citizens, who, in his eighty-third year looks out on life with a happy smile and kind intentions and thus gives many a man encouragement and cheer, from his own experience show- ing his wide circle of friends that the eve- ning of life has its full compensations if its early and middle parts have been wisely spent, was born in Center County, Pa., March 18, 1828, and is a son of Ebenezer and Elizabeth (Deeter) Wood.

Ebenezer Wood was of Scotch-Irish ex- traction and his wife of Pennsylvania Dutch descent and both were born in Pennsyl- vania. His work was connected with fur- naces and he was considered an expert iron worker. He married Elizabeth Deeter and five daughters and three sons were born to them, all of whom have passed away except the subject of this record.

Daniel Deeter Wood obtained his edu- cation in the subscription schools but as soon as he had acquired sufficient strength, he became an iron worker and continued as such until he was twenty-three years of age, when he became a clerk in a general store at Clearfield. In 1858 he entered the employ of the Pennsylvania Railroad Com- pany as freight brakeman and served as such for four months, when he was ap- pointed freight conductor on the main line.

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In 1862 he came to Tyrone, having been promoted to the position of passenger train conductor on the Tyrone branches, and in 1864 he was appointed train master of the Tyrone Division, which responsible position he held continuously until 1900, retiring af- ter forty years of service, at the age of sev- enty-two years. He has witnessed wonder- ful changes in railroading and has also seen Tyrone grow from a comparatively small railroad town in 1851, when he first came here, until the present, when it shows to the world a city of wealth, comfort and culture, of which its residents feel justly proud. Martin Burley, now of Williamsport, is the only surviving man who was a resident of the place when Mr. Wood came here. The town was laid out by John T. Mathias and was first known as Eagle City, later becom- ing Tyrone City, and simply Tyrone when it became a borough. None of the original settlers survive.

Mr. Wood was married January 8, 1852, to Miss Bedelia Maloy, who died January 24, 1905. She was a daughter of Patrick F. Maloy, then of Hollidaysburg. Three children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Wood: William, Charles A. and E. Frank. Will- iam Wood died at the age of sixteen months. Charles A. Wood, who is now a resident of Redlands, Cal., and was for twenty-seven years chief clerk in the office of the general superintendent of the Penn- sylvania Railroad at Altoona, moved to Cal- ifornia when he retired. He is a widower and has two children, Catherine M. and Charles Daniel. The former is the wife of A. J. Mullen, district attorney, residing at Woodstock, Ill. The latter, a young man

of twenty-two years, is a successful fruit grower and resides at Redlands with his father. E. Frank Wood, the youngest of the family, also adopted a railroad career and at the time of his accidental death, on July 20, 1891, was engineer of a passenger train running between Lock Haven and Ty- rone. He had married and was survived by one son, Charles Augustus, who later

died from the result of a fall, when aged nineteen years. Mr. Wood's eldest son has been a great traveler and is now a man of independent fortune, the owner of produc- tive orange groves along the Pacific coast. Mr. Wood owns a handsome modern resi- dence on Lincoln Avenue, Tyrone, and has other property.

MARTIN L. ACKER, a prominent cit- izen of Huston Township, Blair County, Pa., president of the township school board, is proprietor of Airy Farm, a valuable tract of 131 acres, which he devotes to farming and stock raising. He was born in Huston Township, Blair County, March 7, 1862, and is a son of John S. and Mary M. (Sor- rick) Acker.

John S. Acker was born in Huston Town- ship on the farm on which his father, Chris- tian Acker, had settled at an early time with his father, John Acker. The Acker family is of German descent and is one of the old- est in Huston Township. John S. Acker was a leading man in this township for many years, acceptably filling many public offices and setting an example of worthy cit- izenship. He was a useful member of the school board, was road supervisor and tax collector and served also in the responsible office of township treasurer. . He was a member and liberal supporter of the Lu- theran church at Martinsburg. He married Mary M. Sorrick, who was born in Wood- bury Township, Blair County, Pa. She sur- vived her husband for eleven years, passing away in 1906, his death having occurred in 1895. Of their children, eight survive.

Martin L. Acker was reared and edu- cated in Huston Township and has prac- tically passed his life here. Farming and stock raising have occupied his time and attention to a large degree but he has also found time to concern himself about public matters in his township and has served his fellow citizens in numerous public capaci- ties. The people of Huston Township are rather proud of their schools and good

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roads and credit for these conditions should be given the broad-minded and public-spir- ited officials who have labored to bring them about. Mr. Acker served eight years as road supervisor and several terms as a member of the school board. He has also been tax collector, while his judgment is generally consulted in all important town- ship movements. In politics he is a Demo- crat, as was his father.

Mr. Acker married Miss Elizabeth Fouse, who was born in Huston Township, a daughter of William Fouse, and six children have been born to them, namely: John A., Mervin C., William P., Roy E., Clara F. and Harry, the last named being deceased. Mr. Acker and family are members of the Lutheran Church at Martinsburg.

WILLIAM E. GRAFFIUS, who has been identified with the Pennsylvania Rail- road Company for thirty-two years and now fills the responsible position of general yardmaster of the Tyrone Division, at East Tyrone, Pa., was born in Half Moon Val- ley, Center County, Pa., January 5, 1857. His parents were Thomas W. and Jane E. (Stephens) Graffius.

Thomas W. Graffius was born at Birm- ingham, Huntingdon County, Pa., a son of John Graffius. He married Jane E. Steph- ens, who was born at Warrior's Mark, Huntingdon County, Pa., and died in 1890, aged sixty-two years. Her father was Abednego Stephens, of Scotch-Irish de- scent. Five children were born to this mar- riage, namely: John, who is a resident of Philadelphia; Irene, who is the wife of H. W. Anawalt, of Uniontown; Adda, who re- sides at Philadelphia; Esther, whose home is in Pittsburg; and William E. For twen- ty-five years, Thomas W. Graffius was a general merchant at Tyrone, a man who was respected and esteemed by all. He now is at home with his son John at Philadel- phia.

the High School course, entered into the mercantile business with his father with whom he was associated until 1876. In November, 1878, he entered the railroad service with the Pennsylvania Company, as a brakeman. In 1880 he was appointed as- sistant yardmaster in East Tyrone; in 1882 was made night yardmaster; in 1903, be- came day yardmaster, and in 1904 was ad- vanced to his present position, one that in- volves much responsibility. Faithfulness, fidelity and efficiency, in Mr. Graffius' case, have brought about the usual result-pro- motion and the increased confidence of the great company with which he has been so long connected.

On June 23, 1880, Mr. Graffius was mar- ried to Miss Rose E. Roughhead, daughter of Thomas Roughhead, of Jerseyshore, and six children have been born to them, three sons and three daughters, as follows: Thomas W., who is foreman of a candy fac- tory at Jacksonville, Fla; Thaddeus S., a machinist in the employ of the U. S. Gov- ernment, at Panama; Emma, who is the wife of James Dunlap, of East Liberty, Pa .; and Ruth E., Lillian and William, all of whom are at home. Mr. Graffius and wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal church. The family has occupied the pres- ent home at No. 1048 Logan Avenue, Ty- rone, for a number of years and Mr. Graf- fius has been a resident of the borough since 1862. He takes no very active part in pol- itics although he keeps well informed and is numbered with the reliable and level- headed citizens. He is identified with the Republican party.

ALBERT M. WERTZ,* a well known general farmer residing on a farm of 107 acres in Frankstown Township, Blair County, Pa., was born June 9, 1837, on a farm adjoining his present place and is a son of Jacob and Ruth (Baird) Wertz.

The paternal grandfather of our subject was Jacob Wertz, and the family origin-

William T. Graffius was educated in the Tyrone public schools and after completing ally came from Holland. The parents of

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our subject were farmers and came to this county from Lewiston, Huntingdon County, Pa. He was politically a Whig, but later a Republican. They were members of the Lutheran church and were buried at the Frankstown Cemetery. The following chil- dren were born to Jacob and Ruth Wertz: Sarah, the deceased wife of John Larson; Susan, married Abraham Robison; John, deceased; Charlotte, deceased wife of Levi Grove; Jacob; William; Mary, deceased; Albert M .; Luther, deceased; Abigail, de- ceased wife of Asbury Mountain.

Albert M. Wertz was reared in his native township and attended the local schools un- til sixteen years of age. He served nine months in the army without injury, enlist- ing in 1862 in Company I, 137th Reg. Pa. Inf., and was honorably discharged at the close of his term. He has resided on his present farm since 1864, when he purchased it from Martin Denlinger. The farm was without improvements of any kind, and Mr. Wertz has erected a fine home, a substan- tial barn, and all other necessary outbuild- ings. Here he has carried on general farm- ing, and is recognized as one of the most substantial and progressive farmers of the township, and is held in high esteem by his fellow citizens.

In October, 1858, Mr. Wertz was joined in marriage with Catherine Ritchey, a daughter of George and Sarah Ritchey, prominent farmers of Bedford County, Pa., and the parents of the following children : Mary, the wife of Samuel Wysong; Cath- erine, wife of our subject; Levi; Myria, the wife of Jerry Long; Sarah; David; Albert; Jane; Rebecca; Callie.

To Mr. and Mrs. Wertz were born the following offspring: Amon Boyd; Adrain Blair; Anna; Libby, married David Den- linger; Ruth, the wife of William Vipond; Sadie, deceased; Ida, married John Young ; Julia, the wife of James Graham; Albert; and Eugene. Mr. Wertz is politically a Re- publican, and has served one term as a school director, was assistant supervisor,

and is a member of the burial association. The religious connection of the family is with the Mennonite church.

CHARLES A. STRAESSER,* postmas- ter at Martinsburg, Pa., a progressive, pub- lic spirited and useful citizen, is also a very popular public official. He is a native of Martinsburg, born April 12, 1863, and is a son of John and Margaret (Schmaltz) Straesser. John Straesser is a well remem- bered citizen of Martinsburg where he was engaged in business for many years. He was born in Germany and came to America in 1840, locating shortly afterward at Mar- tinsburg, where he died in 1893.

Charles A. Straesser was educated in the Martinsburg schools. For some years he carried on a prosperous business in the line of gentlemen's furnishings, but since he as- sumed the duties of postmaster, he has de- voted himself entirely to matters pertaining to this office and to those connected with the city council, of which he has been a member for six years. He was appointed postmaster by the late President Mckinley, in 1898, and has been retained in office ever since. He is very active in political life and for several years was a member of the Blair County Republican Central Committee.

On January 26, 1901, Mr. Straesser was married to Miss Minnie C. Rhodes, a daugh- ter of the late Jacob D. Rhodes, of Martins- burg, and they have two children: Charles A. and Mary R. Mr. Straesser and family belong to the Lutheran Evangelical church and he has served for a number of years as one of the deacons. He is a member of the Order of Knights of the Golden Eagles, at Martinsburg, and belongs to both branches of the Odd Fellows at this place.

ORLANDO G. FLECK, a well known agriculturist of Tyrone Township, Blair County, Pa., where he is operating a farm of 130 acres, was born in Canoe Valley, Huntingdon County, Pa., May 13, 1855. His parents were George and Sarah Ann (Tussey) Fleck.

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Twentieth century history of Altoona and Blair County, Pennsylvania, and representative citizens, Part 118

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