Twentieth century history of Altoona and Blair County, Pennsylvania, and representative citizens, Part 119

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 119

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George Fleck was born in Sinking Val- ley, Pa., where he married. He followed farming all his active life. In politics he was a Republican. Both he and wife were members of the Presbyterian church. They had the following children born to them: Hugh Alton, residing in Sinking Valley; Orlando G .; David Tussey, residing in Sinking Valley; Emma, wife of William McCormick, of Sinking Valley; George, also living in Sinking Valley; and Dean, who died in infancy.

Orlando G. Fleck was reared on the home farm and was educated in the public schools. Farming has been his chosen life work and he has been very successful in his agricul- tural undertakings. He carries on general farming, stock raising and home dairying.

Mr. Fleck was married February 20, 1877, to Miss Charlotte Ramey, a daughter of Frank and Sarah Ann Ramey, of Indiana County, the ceremony being performed at the Presbyterian parsonage at Sinking Val- ley. Mr. and Mrs. Fleck have the follow- ing children: Herbert F., who is married to Miss Annie Tipton of Bellefonte, Pa., is an engineer on the Pennsylvania Railroad, and retains his home at Altoona; Anna L., who resides with her parents; Mary C., who is the wife of George Fleck, who is em- ployed in the railroad shops at Altoona; L. Ernest, who is employed by the Pennsyl- vania Railroad at Altoona; and Jennie M., A. Roller and Clara B., all residing at home. Mr. Fleck and family attend the Presbyterian church. He is a Republican in politics but has never desired public office. He is identified with the Moose, No. 25, and with the Grange at Sinking Valley. He is one of the represent- ative men of Tyrone Township.

JOSEPH K. CASS, president of the First National Bank of Tyrone, Pa., and largely interested in the business of paper manu- facturing at this place, was born October IO, 1848, at Coshocton, O., and is a son of Dr. Abner L. and Margaret (Kerr) Cass.

Dr. Abner L. Cass was born in Muskin-

gum County, O., in 1816. He was a son of George W. Cass, a native of New Hampshire, and a grandson of Major Jona- than Cass, who served under General Wash- ington, in the Revolutionary War. He won such distinction in military life that in 1791 he was commissioned captain of the 2d U. S. troops and appointed to Fort Duquesne. He never took command there, however, possibly having already seen enough of war; instead, he took up a military section of five thousand acres of land in Ohio and lived there until death. He was the father of a notable family. One son, Hon. Lewis Cass, occupied positions of the greatest prominence in public life, serving his coun- try as a soldier and diplomat. He took part in the War of 1812; was governor of the Territory of Michigan from 1813-1831; was secretary of war from 1831-1836; was minister to France from 1836-1842; United States senator from 1845-1848 and from 1849 to 1857, and was secretary of state from 1857 until 1860. George Cass, the grandfather of Joseph K. Cass of Ty- rone, died in Muskingum County, O., hav- ing accompanied his father from New Hampshire.

Dr. Abner L. Cass was a prominent phy- sician in Coshocton, O., for the greater part of his life and after retiring from practice, moved to Chicago, Ill., where both he and wife died, in 1886. He married Margaret Kerr, who was a daughter of Joseph Kerr. The latter was born in the north of Ireland and came to Washington County, Pa., among the early Scotch-Irish settlers. Later he moved to Allegheny County and became actively engaged in religious work as a minister in the United Presbyterian church and organized the United Presbyte- rian Theological Seminary at Allegheny. Several of his sons became ministers in this religious faith, notably Rev. David R. Kerr, D. D., who was connected with this educa- tional institution at Allegheny for a num- ber of years. Both he and his father died at Pittsburg. Five children were born to Dr.

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Abner L. Cass and wife, as follows: Jo- seph K .; George W., who resides at Doug- las, Ariz .; John J., who died at the age of eight years; Agnes, who resides with her eldest brother, at Tyrone; and Abner L., who died in infancy.

Joseph K. Cass attended the public schools in Coshocton in boyhood and then became a student at Kenyon College, where he was graduated in 1868, as a civil engi- neer and subsequently spent several years in railroad construction work in Michigan. Mr. Cass then became interested in the manufacturing of paper, at Roaring Spring, Pa., and in 1875 entered into this business at that point, under the firm name of Mor- rison, Bare & Cass. In 1880 the company built a paper mill at Tyrone and after sell- ing his Roaring Spring interest to Mr. Bare, Mr. Cass continued in the business at Ty- rone, under the firm style of Morrison & Cass, until 1910, when this concern was merged with others which now continues paper manufacturing under the corporation name of the West Virginia Pulp and Paper Company, Mr. Cass being president of its board of directors. For thirty-five years he has been engaged in paper manufacturing and has been an official in every company with which he has been identified. He was president of the Morrison & Cass Company and also of the Williamsburg Paper Manu- facturing Company after the purchase of the same from Charles Schwab.

Shortly after the death of Mr. Morrison, in January, 1901, Mr. Cass was elected presi- dent of the First National Bank of Tyrone and has continued the head of this financial institution ever since. He is looked upon as a man of exceptional business ability and his name and services are sought by many large concerns for the public confidence they would command for any enterprise.

Mr. Cass was married in 1879, to Miss Sarah M. Anderson, a daughter of Dr. John and Ann (Stevenson) Anderson, both of whom died at Coshocton, O. Mr. and Mrs. Cass have had four children: Charles,

Margaret Kerr, Joseph K., Jr., and Ann Stevenson, the last named residing at home. Joseph K., Jr., died when aged eight years. Charles Cass, who is secretary of the West Virginia Pulp and Paper Company, mar- ried Mrs. Mary Stoddard, a daughter of Col. J. P. Barry, who was a member of the English army, located for many years at Bombay, India. They have one daughter, Patricia. Margaret Kerr Cass is the wife of Charles T. Lipscomb, who is a cotton broker residing at Columbus, S. C. They have one son, Charles Joseph. Mr. Cass and family are members of the Presbyte- rian church. For the past eighteen years they have been residents of Tyrone, com- ing from Pittsburg. About 1892, Mr. Cass erected his handsome residence here, which is probably one of the most elegant of the many stately edifices in Tyrone. Polit- ically, Mr. Cass is a Republican. He is a man of pleasing manner, is broad minded in his attitude on many questions, uses his wealth unselfishly and commands the re- spect and enjoys the personal esteem of his fellow citizens.

TREVAN BUCK, who has been living in retirement at Eldorado, Blair County, Pa., since 1893, was for many years engaged in agricultural pursuits on the old home place in Logan Township, and was born February 21, 1843, in Center County, Pa., a son of Jacob and Nancy ( Woolheater) Buck.

Jacob Buck at an early period came from Huntingdon County, Pa., to Center County, but subsequently returned to his native county for a time, but in the spring of 1853 came to Blair County and purchased about 169 acres of farm land in Logan Township, which partly forms what is now known as Eldorado. Here he spent the remainder of his life en- gaged in agricultural pursuits. He married Nancy Woolheater, who was also a native of Huntingdon County, Pa., and of their family three sons and seven daughters are living. One son, William Harrison, who served in the Civil War, was killed in the battle of the

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Wilderness; Ira, who served in the same regi- ment, died shortly after the war as a result of exposure; Samuel David, who lives in Mis- souri, served in an Ohio regiment. John Adam Buck, who lives in Missouri, was the only one of the five sons who did not serve in the war, being but an infant at the time.

Trevan Buck was two or three years old when his parents removed to Huntingdon County, where they resided for about eight years, and then came to Blair County. Here he was reared to maturity and subsequently engaged in farming the home place until 1893, since which time he has lived in retire- ment on a tract of three acres, which is a part of the homestead, and is located in the bor- ough of Eldorado. His education was ob- tained in the common schools. On August 27, 1861, he enlisted in Co. F., 76th Pa. Inf., and was mustered out August 27, 1864, from the 10th Army Corps. He was twice wounded, first at Pocotaligo Creek, when his right thigh was injured, and in July, 1863, was wounded through the right arm at the second assault on Ft. Wagner. On July 23, 1863, he was detailed as recruiting officer at Pittsburg to enlist and forward men to the front, and after spending thirteen months on that detail was mustered out. He is a mem- ber of the U. V. L., No. 17, of Altoona.

Mr. Buck is a Republican in politics, and has served in the various township offices, having served nine years as school director, nine years as auditor, and eleven years as su- pervisor. He is a member of the First Luth- eran Church of Altoona.

On December 26, 1869, Mr. Buck was joined in marriage with Miss Martha E. Lind- . sey, who was born in Frankstown Township, and is a daughter of Davis and Martha (Clay- baugh ) Lindsey. Mr. and Mrs. Buck had the following children : Samuel Ira, who married Emma Fluke, is a resident of Altoona; Jacob Hays, who is also a resident of Altoona, mar- ried Ella Feather, and they have two children, Pearl and Verne; Mary, who married Blair A. Feather, who lives on a farm adjoining that of our subject; and one who died in in- fancy.

DAVID CHALMER STONE,* who is proprietor of a barber ship at Williamsburg, Pa., and also the owner of two residence properties in the borough, was born April 7, 1875, in Huntingdon County, Pa. He is a son of William and Elizabeth (Myers) Stone, who are retired residents of Will- iamsburg.

David C. Stone attended the local schools of Huntingdon and Blair Counties, and af- ter completing his education engaged in agricultural pursuits for a short time. He then learned the barber's trade and since August 10, 1897, has been proprietor of his present shop, where he employs one man and assistant. Mr. Stone is a Republican in politics, and has served on the town coun- cil. He is fraternally a member of the Hep- tasophs of Williamsburg. On August 29, 1901, Mr. Stone married Anna Ake, who is a daughter of P. W. and Marion Ake, well known farmers of Blair County, and of their union has been born one daughter, Eliza- beth, who was born April 28, 1906. The re- ligious connection of the family is with the Methodist church.

SAMUEL S. RHODES,* a representa- tive agriculturist, stock buyer and shipper residing near Curry Station, Blair County, Pa., on a valuable farm of 130 acres, which he purchased in 1894, was born January 14, 1857, in North Woodbury Township, Blair County, and is a son of Daniel G. and Annie (Shriver) Rhodes.

Daniel G. Rhodes was a lifelong resident of North Woodbury Township, in which his father, Frederick Rhodes, was a very early settler. Daniel G. Rhodes pursued agricul- tural activities successfully and so ordered his life that he was looked upon by his fel- low citizens with respect and esteem. His death occurred in 1889. In politics he was a Democrat, while in his religious connec- tion he was an earnest member of the Church of the Brethren.

Samuel S. Rhodes grew to manhood on his father's farm and attended the public

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schools of North Woodbury Township and later the Martinsburg High School, after which he taught four terms of school very acceptably, in his native township. He has always taken a deep interest in educational matters and has served three years as a member of the township school board. He devotes his fine farm to crop raising, stock raising and dairying, all these activities being carried on in a careful, intelligent way that insures satisfactory results. He numbered with the best farmers of his town- ship.

Mr. Rhodes married Miss Martha Brown, who was born also in North Woodbury Township, a daughter of the late Daniel Brown. Eight children were born to this marriage, namely: Clarence B., Milton B., Harry B., Melvin B., Samie B., Mary B., Martha and Daniel. Of these Daniel is de- ceased. Samie B. is the wife of Andrew Brumbaugh and they reside near Martins- burg, Pa., Mary B. is the wife of Hiram Replogle and they live in Bedford County. Mr. and Mrs. Rhodes are members of the Church of the Brethren. They are well known people in the township and are noted for their hospitality. In politics, Mr. Rhodes is a Democrat but occasionally follows the dictates of his own judgment and votes in- dependently.

HOWARD L. ORR, a prosperous and representative business man of Tyrone, Pa., wholesale and retail dealer in agricultural implements and supplies, with business quarters on East Tenth Street, was born at Sinking Valley, Blair County, Pa., Decem- ber 25, 1864. His parents were George W. and Rachel (Stalker) Orr.

George W. Orr was born and spent his life in Sinking Valley, where he died in 1894, at the age of sixty-six years. He was a son of John Orr (born July 11, 1787), who came to America from Scotland in com- pany with six brothers. John settled first in Big Valley, Blair County, Pa., and then moved to Sinking Valley, where he died in

1868, at the age of eighty-one years. He married Annie Kyle, who was born June 18, 1789, and died in Sinking Valley, Sep- tember 28, 1845. They were survived by a large family whose names, with dates of birth are as follows. Joseph K., born April 19, "1810; - Samuel K., February 14, 1812; Oliver P., December 16, 1813; Annie C., September 24, 1815; Jane E., May 4, 1817; William H., May 2, 1819; Matilda, Decem- ber 17, 1822; Catherine, September 14, 1826; George W., April 7, 1829; Mary M., Oct. 16, 1831 ; John K., March 12, 1837.

George W. Orr married Rachel Stalker, who was born at Warrior's Mark, Hunting- don County, Pa., in 1833, a daughter of John and Elizabeth Stalker, they being of Scotch-Irish descent. John Stalker was a blacksmith by trade and followed the same at different places, dying at Spruce Creek, Pa., in 1865, aged fifty-eight years. His widow survived him forty-two years. She was born in 1800 and died at Williamsburg, Pa., in February, 1907, being then in her 107th year. George W. Orr and wife were members of the Presbyterian church. Of their seven children there are three sur- vivors, namely : Elizabeth, who is the widow of Zachariah Jeffery, resides with her brother, Howard L., at Tyrone; Martha, who is the wife of Frank E. Fleck, resides at No. 214 Crawford Avenue, Altoona ; and Howard L.

Howard L. Orr attended the public schools of Sinking Valley and was reared on the home farm on which he remained until he was thirty-six years of age. In 1902 he moved to Tyrone and purchased the busi- ness then conducted by Harvey M. Gray, dealer in agricultural implements. Mr. Orr greatly enlarged the scope of the business and now conducts the largest establishment of its kind in the city. He is agent for the Conklin and Kramer wagons and carries a complete stock of buggies, spring wagons, sulky cultivators, spring-tooth harrows, fer- tilizers, etc., as well as heavy and light har- ness, being a manufacturer of the same,

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blankets, robes, saddlery goods and whips. Mr. Orr is not only an enterprising and suc- cessful business man but he is a useful and constructive citizen. He has been a life- long Republican and on the ticket of that party has been frequently elected to office but his performance of public duties has been in no wise influenced by political bias. While a resident of Sinking Valley he served on the school board and was twice elected township supervisor. For the past five years he has been a member of the town council, of which he is presiding officer. As a member of the Tyrone Board of Trade and of the Business Men's Association, he assists in advancing the commercial inter- ests of Tyrone and is valued in these con- nections. He is a director of the Blair County National Bank.

On December 22, 1899, Mr. Orr was mar- ried to Miss Cora Bridenbaugh, a daughter of Phillip and Annie (Bodley) Bridenbaugh, and they have one daughter, Thelma, who was born April 14, 1906. Mr. and Mrs. Orr are members of the First Presbyterian Church. He is identified with Allegheny Gateway Lodge, No. 187, I. O. O. F., at Tyrone. Misses Martha and Mary Stalker, aunts of Mr. Orr, reside at Williamsburg.

JOHN M. KEASEY,* who resides on a farm of 190 acres in Frankstown township, is one of the leading and substantial farmers of Blair County, Pa., and was born July 26, 1853, at Williamsburg, Pa., a son of Joseph and Elizabeth (Gibson) Keasey. The father, who was a blacksmith by trade, was buried at Williamsport, and the mother was buried at Geeseytown. They were mem- bers of the Lutheran Church, and he was politically a Republican. Five children were born to the parents of our subject: William, deceased; Margaret, the wife of George Curry; Hannah, the wife of Wil- liam Eckard; Winfield, and John M.

John M. Keasey attended the common schools of Williamsburg until 15 years of age, and was then engaged in various lines

of business until about 1893, when he pur- chased his farm in Frankstown township from Kuhn and Branam. The farm was en- tirely without improvements, having but a log house and log barn in the way of build- ings, but Mr. Keasey has erected a fine barn and residence, and otherwise improved the place.

November 2, 1882, he married Mary E. Merritts, a daughter of Peter and Eliza (Gibson) Merritts, who were among the early settlers of the county, and the parents of the following children : Samuel, deceased ; Woods, deceased; John; Jane, who is the wife of Sampson Walls; Mary, James, Clar- ence, and Elmer. Four children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Keasey: Maud, is the wife of Frank Schalenberger, and the mother of two daughters, Hazel and Madeline; Myrtle is the wife of Paul Recke, and has one child, Francis; Orland, who assists his father with the farm work; Maggie, and Clyde. In politics Mr. Keasey is identified with the Republican party, and has served for two years as supervisor of the township. The religious connection of the family is with the Lutheran Church.

L. R. OVER,* postmaster at Curryville, Pa., agent for the Adams Express Company at Curry Station and for the Pennsylvania Railroad and also owning a warehouse at Curry Station, is a general merchant at Curryville, dealing in grain, feed, coal, ve- hicles, farm implements, phosphates and general merchandise, and, with his many interests, is a leading man in this section. He was born in Bedford County, Pa., Sep- tember 29, 1871, and is a son of David H. and Elizabeth (Replogle) Over.

David H. Over and wife were both natives of Bedford County, both being of old families of that section. During the Civil War, David H. Over was a soldier in the Union army and later successfully followed farm- ing near New Enterprise, Bedford County, where his death occurred in 1904.

L. R. Over was reared and educated in

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Bedford County and when nineteen years of age became a clerk for H. B. Aaron, a merchant at Loysburg, Pa., and for five years occupied a similar position with that and other mercantile houses, for one year being with L. Z. Replogle at Altoona and one year with the Penn Traffic Company, at Johnstown. He then embarked in a general merchandise business for himself at New Enterprise, Bedford County and came from there to Curry Station and Cur- ryville, in 1909, assuming at that time the different interests he is now successfully carrying on. In politics, Mr. Over is a Re- publican but outside of his present office, he has accepted no political position. He is a member of the Church of the Brethren, in which he is a deacon.

ROBERT TIPPLE GARMAN, one of Tyrone's representative business men and public spirited citizens, has been established here in the jewelry line since 1898. He was born at Bellefonte, Center County, Pa., January 14, 1875, and is a son of Daniel and Louisa (Schroyer) Garman.

Daniel Garman was born in Dauphin County, Pa., in 1820 and died in 1908, hav- ing reached his eighty-eighth year. He was widely known, having been in the hotel and livery business during the whole of his active life. He married Louisa Schroyer, who was born at Milton, in Northumberland County, Pa., and died in 1892, in Center County. They had nine children born to them, Robert T. being the youngest in or- der of birth.

Robert T. Garman was educated in the Bellefonte public schools and the Bellefonte Academy, leaving his books when fifteen years of age in order to learn a trade for which he had shown a natural aptitude from boyhood. He entered the jewelry store of W. T. Achenbach, at Bellefonte, where he remained for two years, after which he was with a cousin, H. Garman, in the same line, for five years. On April 10, 1898, he came to Tyrone, where he purchased the jewelry

department which had been conducted by George H. Garner, and continued in the jewelry business there until 1906, when he purchased the First National Bank Building, on the corner of Pennsylvania Avenue and Tenth Streets, where he may be found at present, having one of the largest stocks of fine jewelry in all this section, these quarters enabling him to make a beautiful and elab- orate display. His stock includes gold and silver articles, together with precious stones, clocks, watches and porcelaines, many of these being of exclusive design and rare or- namentation.

Mr. Garman was married May 18, 1904, to Miss Virginia Bouse, a daughter of W. A. Bouse, who is trainmaster for the Pennsyl- vania Railroad, at Tyrone. They have three children : Robert, Rebecca West and Vir- ginia Schroyer. Mr. and Mrs. Garman are members of Trinity Episcopal Church at Tyrone, in which Mr. Garman is a vestry- man. He is a member of the Business Men's Association and of the Tyrone Coun- try Club. Mr. Garman is a Democrat.

HOWARD BLACK CALDERWOOD, Postmaster of Tyrone and a representative business man of that place, a leader in the insurance line, a notary public and secretary of the Improvement Building and Loan As- sociation, was born in this city, July 24, 1859, and is a son of James Monroe and Matilda (Hunter) Calderwood.

James Monroe Calderwood was reared at Birmingham, Huntingdon County and came to Tyrone a young man as a school teacher. Later he served as agent of the Adams Ex- press Company and as a notary public and as a justice of the peace and was secretary of the Tyrone Building and Loan Associa- tion when it was first organized. His was about the sixth or seventh house erected in the place. He died in 1887 at the age of sixty-six years. He married Matilda Hun- ter, who died in 1870. They were parents of the following children : William Lowrie, who was born in 1849, for many years was

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special claim agent with the Pennsylvania Railroad Company and died in Philadelphia, where he has long resided; Howard Black ; Mary Ella, now deceased, who was a resi- dent of Tyrone; and three who died in in- fancy.

Until he was about eighteen years of age, Howard B. Calderwood attended school at Tyrone, after which he accepted a position as express manager on the Tyrone & Clear- field branch of the Pennsylvania Railroad, with the Adams Company, and continued one year and then became a clerk in the mercantile house of Van Valzah & Wilson, where he was employed for eleven years. In 1887 he purchased an insurance agency, first handling fire risks only but later taking life insurance also, together with building and loan work, his combined interests mak- ing him one of the city's busiest men. How- ever he has found time to take an active part in public matters, has served both as burgess and as assistant burgess and as a member of the council, borough auditor and in other positions.

On August 14, 1888, Mr. Calderwood was married to Miss Anna Irene Dixon, a daugh- ter of Elwood and Frances Dixon, formerly of Tyrone, but later of Newburg, N. Y. Four children were born to them: Bessie, Virginia Dixon, Howard B. and Dixon. Of these all survive except Virginia Dixon, who died in 1907. Mr. Calderwood and family attend the Methodist Episcopal church. He is secretary of the Tyrone Club and is a member of Tyrone Lodge, No. 152, Odd Fellows.

J. C. MOCK,* who is engaged in agri- cultural pursuits in Woodbury township, Blair County, Pa., has with the exception of five years, always resided on his present farm, and was born here August 15, 1865, a son of Andrew and Mary (Snively) Mock, who were prominent farmers of this town- ship. His father always followed farming, was a Republican in politics, and a member of the Church of Brethren. Andrew and

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Twentieth century history of Altoona and Blair County, Pennsylvania, and representative citizens, Part 119

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