Twentieth century history of Altoona and Blair County, Pennsylvania, and representative citizens, Part 127

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 127

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born at Pleasant Unity, Westmoreland County, Pa., May 8, 1860, and is a son of Joseph J. and Louisa (Craig) Johnston; the former of whom, who is now deceased, was a native of Virginia, and the latter of Pennsylvania.

John Kilgore Johnston was educated in both public and private schools and was twenty years of age when he entered the railway serv- ice as chainman of surveys for the Pennsyl- vania Railroad, a position he filled until 1882. From then until 1885 he served as rodman on the Pittsburg Division; from January, 1885, until January, 1887, he was on the Schuylkill Division; from then until October, 1888, he was assistant engineer of maintenance of way at Altoona; from October, 1888, to June, 1889, assistant supervisor of the Tyrone Division; from June to November, 1889, acting assistant engineer of the same division; from November to December, 1889, assistant supervisor Middle Division, at Mifflin, Pa .; from December, 1889, to February, 1891, supervisor of the Mononga- hela Divison; from February, 1891, to Decem- ber, 1894, supervisor of the Schuylkill Divi- sion; from December, 1894, to December, 1896, supervisor of the Philadelphia Division; from December, 1896, to January, 1900, assistant en- gineer Middle Division, Philadelphia and Erie Division, at Renova, Pa .; from January to August, 1900, assistant engineer Schuylkill Division; from August, 1900, to November, 1902, assistant engineer Middle Division at Harrisburg ; from November, 1902, to Novem- ber, 1903, principal assistant engineer of the Pennsylvania Division east of Pittsburgh and Erie, and from November, 1903 to date, su- perintendent of the Tyrone Division, his en- tire period of service being with the Pennsyl- vania Railroad Company. He has done much in a scientific way, in ascertaining the geologi- cal formation of the territory along the lines east of Pittsburg and Erie, which has been un- der his management. Enormous is the amount of business done on these lines and all records for the handling tonnage of freight on a single track of railroad for this or any other country, in a single year, have been broken during Mr. Johnston's management. He is not only popu-

lar with the 1500 men under his control, but has won the esteem of the people of Tyrone as few others have, by the genuine interest he has shown in all public spirited matters that he, as a railroad official could further. Immediately after coming to Tyrone to make the place his home, Mr. Johnston took an active interest in the Y. M. C. A., which, while known as the Pennsylvania Railroad Y. M. C. A., is open to all as to membership and advantages. The present enrollment is 700, a marked increase having been shown in the past two years. The Athletic park and grounds opened up by this road at Tyrone, is one of the finest in the state. In all these enterprises, Mr. Johnston has been deeply interested and helpful.

In December, 1886, Mr. Johnston was mar- ried to Miss Mattie R. Jones, a daughter of A. W. Jones, of Greensburg, Pa. They have three daughters and one son: Marjorie, Al- freda, Jessie and John Kilgore, Jr. All the daughters have enjoyed collegiate advantages. Mr. Johnston's family are members of the Pres- byterian church and he is a trustee of the First Presbyterian church at Tyrone. He is a mem- ber of the Sons of the American Revolution

WILLIAM DENNIS McDOWELL, a Civil War veteran and a much esteemed citizen of Logan Township, has been a resident of Blair County, Pa., for 39 years, and was born September 23, 1843, in Bolivar, Westmoreland County, Pa., and is a son of Barr and Martha (Austraw) McDowell. The McDowells are of Scotch-Irish descent and came here from Westmoreland County, Pa., which was the na- tive county of our subject's ancestors for sev- eral generations back.

Barr McDowell, father of our subject, was born in Westmoreland County, Pa., a son of William McDowell, who died at the advanced age of 84 years, and his mother when in her 83d year. Barr McDowell was a gunsmith by trade, and followed that line of business dur- ing his early life, but later bought his father's farm, which he operated until shortly after his wife's death. He then sold his farm and has since resided with his daughter in Rockwell,

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Iowa, being now almost 90 years of age, hav- ing been born June 1, 1821. His faculties are remarkably well preserved, his letters to his son being written in a good hand and well com- posed. He married Martha M. Austraw, a na- tive of Ligonier Valley, Westmoreland County, who during her girlhood came through this section of the country with her father. She at- tended the old singing schools and knew many of the pioneers of Blair County, although she never lived in the county. Her marriage with Barr McDowell resulted in the following issue : William Dennis; Hannah, is the widow of Samuel Peoples, and is a resident of Ligonier, Westmoreland County, Pa .; Susan, is the wife of Robert Gibson of Iowa; Jane married Alex- ander West of Westmoreland County, Pa .; Franklin is a resident of Bolivar, Westmore- land County, Pa .; Robert resides in Pasadena, Cal .; John is a resident of Chicago, Ill .; and Harry F., who lives in Pasadena, Cal. Mrs. Martha M. McDowell died January 19, 1890, at the age of 67 years, seven months.

William Dennis McDowell was reared in his native county and received but a limited amount of schooling. He served three years in the army, and during that time was mainly in Virginia with the Army of the Potomac. On February 28, 1862, when he was not 17 years of age, he enlisted with Company D, Fourth Penna. Cav., under Gen. S. B. Young, and with 30 others was taken prisoner at Sulphur Springs October 12, 1863. Eighteen of that number died at Andersonville Prison and one at Richmond, Va., and after thirteen months and eight days of imprisonment our subject was released. He was then given a furlough of thirty days after which he completed his term of enlistment. Mr. McDowell engaged in farming in his native county before and after his service in the army, and in the spring of 1871, with his wife and two chldren, came to Blair County. Here he and his uncle, Alexan- der McDowell, who had previously located in the county, purchased a tract of eleven acres from John B. Wesley. This land is all now in- cluded in the East End on Pottsgrove Avenue, and at that time there were but two houses be-

tween here and Altoona. This was cleared as well as nine additional acres, which were subse- quently bought, and placed in a state of cultiva- tion. In 1871 he built a crude little house,- the first built in the locality ; then in 1883 built a good frame building, and in June, 1903, he erected a fine brick residence. He has a very attractive home, with a well kept lawn, flowers, etc., and also owns three houses in Altoona which he rents. He at one time owned eight houses, but disposed of five of them.

On June 4, 1868, Mr. McDowell was joined in marriage with Mary H. Pollock, who was born in Baldwin Township, Alleghey County, Pa., and is a daughter of Silas and Priscilla (Hultz) Pollock. Her father was a native of Allegheny County, Pa., and a son of David Pollock, who was a dealer in real estate, and operated a grist mill about five miles out of Pittsburg. Fair Haven is now located on the old Pollock farm, and the old stone house is still standing. The maternal grandfather of Mrs. McDowell was John Preston Hultz, who lived about nine miles from Pittsburg and the borough of Bridgeville is located on his old farm. Five children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Pollock: Elizabeth, Mrs. Ambrose- died at Dewy, Westmoreland County, Pa., in June, 1883; Mary H., wife of our subject ; John, is a resident of Westmoreland County ; David, resides in Westmoreland County, Pa .; and James, who died aged 21 years.

Mr. and Mrs. McDowell have five children; Taylor, a resident of Altoona, married Saralı Wood and has two children, Mary Emma, and James Smith; Estella Mae, died aged two years; Edward Barr, who lives on part of the home place, married Mary Beck; Edith Emma, died aged ten years; and William, who resides at home. Mr. McDowell takes an active inter- est in politics and for two years served as chair- man of the Republican County Committee, and during his early life served as a jury commis- sioner. He is a member of the G. A. R. No. 468 at Altoona, and is religiously a member of the Third Presbyterian church of Altoona.

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D. SHELLY KLOSS, cashier of the First National Bank of Tyrone, Pa., and one of the organizers of the same, has been prominent in financial circles for a number of years. He was born in Juniata County, Pa., August 25, 1860, and is a son of Daniel and Margaret (Shelley) Kloss.

Both parents of Mr. Kloss came of sturdy Pennsylvania German ancestors. The father died in December, 1910, at the age of seventy- eight years. The mother survives and her home is with Mr. Kloss. There are three oth- ers, Charles F., who is a resident of Elmira, N. Y .; Nora, who is the wife of Rev. W. L. Leisher, of Wabasso, Fla .; and Isadore, who is the wife of Rev. R. F. Fitch, of Hang- Chow, China, who is president of a college there.

D. Shelly Kloss received his education in the public schools of his native county, where he also had academic advantages and subsequently graduated from the Eastman Business College, at Poughkeepsie, N. Y. He had a short ex- perience as a bookkeeper in a business house before he became identified with the banking business, in which he has been concerned since November, 1882, when he secured a position as a clerk in the West End Savings Bank of Pittsburg, where he remained until 1886. He then returned to Juniata County to become cashier of the private bank of Parker & Co. In 1889 he organized the same into the First National Bank of Mifflintown and was cash- ier of the bank for one year when he was called to Tyrone and aided in the organiza- tion of the First National Bank of Tyrone, which is one of the very strong financial insti- tutions of Blair County. This bank was or- ganized with a capital stock of $75,000, which was later increased to $100,000. Further evi- dence of the success of this institution is afforded by the fact that the surplus and undi- vided profits are more than the capital stock, reaching a grand total of $135,000, and the total net profits since its organization amount to $280,000. Few banks in cities of 100,000 population have a finer home than the First

National. The institution is ably officered and has a strong board of directors. It pays a dividend of five per cent semi-annually.

In addition to his banking record, Mr. Kloss is recognized as one of the most successful farmers and breeders of registered stock in Middle Pennsylvania. He owns a farm of 265 acres, 215 of which are in a high state of cultivation, its location being in Sinking Valley, where he has a fine summer home and the larg- est barn in Blair County. He has three tenant houses and other buildings, for the housing of his stock, poultry and the products of his farm. He keeps a fine herd of Brown Swiss cattle giving his attention exclusively to that breed. He has Shropshire sheep and Chester White hogs and also breeds Percheron horses. The greater part of his stock is disposed of for breeding purposes. Two ideas he adheres to : the first is good seed and the second is the in- tensive system of farming. He puts on the market a thousand dollars worth of apples an- nually. His farm and orchards are used by the State Department for demonstrating pur- poses. A recent very exhaustive article ap- peared in the National Stockman, under the title-Where Fertility is Coming Back, de- scriptive of Mr. Kloss' methods and property. To quote a small portion. "The barn was erected in 1851, when lumber was plentiful and of the best quality. The three tenant houses are occupied by three experienced farmers with their families. The dwelling is a spacious one of brick which the owner has remodeled with large verandas, surrounded by a lawn and shade trees. The laundry has station- ary tubs, supplied with running water, by gravitation from a spring. The buildings are all equipped with a complete water system. Wherever needed tile is used on the farm, but it is naturally well drained." Comment is made on the practical methods made use of by Mr. Kloss to bring his farm up to the highest stan- dard of productiveness and fertility, showing how, by rotation in crops, liberal fertilizing and proper manner of cultivation, a soil may be made wonderfully productive. Illustrations ac- company this article showing the rich harvest

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of red clover and fields literally covered with shocks of wheat.

In addition to all that has been mentioned, Mr. Kloss is otherwise active and prominent. He is a trustee of the Altoona Hospital; is treasurer of the Tyrone Club, a position he has filled ever since its organization ; is treasurer of the Tyrone borough school district; for twenty years has been treasurer of Tyrone Lodge, F. & A. M. He was one of the promoters and the first president of the Tyrone Electric Railway Company, which has since been merged with the Altoona & Logan Valley Electric Railway Company. He is a 32nd degree Mason, an Odd Fellow, a Knight of Pythias and belongs also to the Heptasophs and the Royal Arcanum, and the Modern Woodmen of America. For the past twelve years he has served as secre- tary of the Pennsylvania Bankers' Associa- tion. Few men in the state are better ac- quainted with financial conditions in every sec- tion.

Mr. Kloss was married first in 1886 to Miss Lizzie Esplen, of Pittsburg, Pa., and they had two children : Henry Esplen, who is connected with the engineering office of the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad, at Baltimore, Md .; and Mar- garet B., who is a highly educated lady, a teacher in the Tyrone public schools. The mother of these children died in 1892. Mr. Kloss was married second in July, 1894, to Miss Jennie Burley, a daughter of Jonathan Burley and they have five children. D. Shelly, Jr., Daniel D., Robert F., Fred H. and Eliz- abeth. Mr. Kloss is a member of the Presby- terian church. He is a man of exceptional business qualifications and ranks with the fore- most business men and financiers of Blair County.

W. FISK CONRAD, one of the leading men of Tyrone, formerly postmaster under President Cleveland, was born at Franklins- ville, Spruce Creek Valley, Huntingdon County, Pa., son of John and Mary Ann (Stonebreaker) Conrad. He is a descendant on the paternal side of Daniel Conrad, who cam'e to this country from Saxony, and who served in the Revolutionary War as a member

of the Lancaster County ( Pa.) militia. This early ancestor, who was the great-grandfather of our subject, died in 1781.

His son Daniel (2d), born 1774, accom- panied George Aushshultz, the iron master, from Lancaster to Huntingdon County, dying subsequently in 1824 at Huntingdon Furnace. He married Elizabeth Shank, a daughter of George Shank, who was a Revolutionary soldier. Of their children, John, father of W. Fisk Conrad, was born March II, 1809, and died May 10, 1855. He was a merchant of Franklinville for many years. His wife, Mary Ann Stonebreaker, was born in 1813, a daugh- ter of John and Jane ( Haskell) Stonebreaker, and was a granddaughter of Adam Stone- breaker, who came from Hagerstown, Md. to Colerain Forges, Huntingdon County, and who was also a Revolutionary soldier. Her mater- nal grandfather was Benjamin H. Haskell. The parents of our subject were married Feb- ruary 23, 1831. The father died May 10, 1855, and the mother May 31, 1853. Their re- mains rest in the Franklinville cemetery. They had eleven children, two of whom died in in- fancy.

W. Fisk Conrad attended the common schools until reaching the age of 14, and then learned the tinner's trade, which he followed for three years in Altoona as an employe of the Pennsylvania Railroad Company. He spent two years in the Venango oil region and (after a previous visit in 1857) came to Tyrone in 1865, and was engaged in the mercantile busi- ness here from 1881 to 1891. He is one of the largest real estate holders in Tyrone. He has been a very active Democrat in politics, serv- ing as a delegate to several national and many state conventions. He served fifteen years in all as a member of the Tyrone council. He was appointed postmaster in March, 1894, and held the position until September, 1898, mak- ing a very capable official. He has been promi- nently identified with various important inter- ests of Tyrone and has done his full share in the development of the place. Mr. Conrad was married in 1883 to Miss Joanna Shank,

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who was born at Warrior's Mark, Pa., a daughter of George Shank. Mr. and Mrs. Conrad attend the M. E. church.

IRA E. BRUMBAUGH,* president of the borough council at Martinsburg, Pa., and a substantial and representative citizen, was born in North Woodbury Township, Blair County, Pa., May 6, 1872, and is a son of William H. and Emma (Anderson) Brumbaugh.

William H. Brumbaugh was born also in North Woodbury Township, a son of George Brumbaugh, an early settler, and he has spent his entire life until the present in his native place. For twelve years he has been a member of the township school board. He is a leading member of the Church of the Brethren. He married Emma Anderson, also a native of Blair County, who is now deceased.

Ira E. Brumbaugh was educated in the pub- lic schools of North Woodbury Township, and since he reached manhood has been in business for himself, although he has been more or less interested in the livestock industry since he was fourteen years of age. For a number of years he has been very successful in handling stock and is one of the large buyers and shippers of this section, handling cattle, horses and sheep.

Mr. Brumbaugh married Miss Margaret Ford, a daughter of Simon Ford, a resident of East Freedom, Pa., and they have five chil- dren: Earl W., Jennie A., Roy, Carl and Dorothea. Mr. Brumbaugh and wife are mem- bers of the Church of the Brethren. As a citi- zen he is interested in public affairs and since establishing his home at Martinsburg, in Sep- tember, 1905, he has served on the borough council, of which he was made president in 1909. In politics he is a Republican. He is a director in the Morrison Cove Bank at Martins- ville and has other investments. Mr. Brum- baugh is a shrewd, able business man and con- ducts his affairs according to sound business principles.

THOMAS TOBIN, M. D., one of the lead- ing medical practitioners and a prominent citi- zen of Tyrone, was born in Jefferson County,

Pa., March 23, 1855. His parents were James and Margaret Jane (Graves) Tobin. The father, who died in 1904 at the age of 83 years, was a descendant of members of the clan Mackey of Scotland and came to America from that country when a young man. He was a farmer by occupation. His wife Margaret, who was born in Ireland and came to America when a young woman, is still living at the age of 83 years. They were the parents of five children, namely: Rebecca, who married Au- gustus Rudolph and died at Punxsutawney at the age of 59 years; James, a farmer residing at Brockwayville, Jefferson County, Pa .; Thomas, the subject of this sketch; John, a farmer and lumberman, and president for six years of the Brockwayville borough council ; and William, a farmer living near Brockway- ville, Pa.

Thomas Tobin, after attending the public schools, completed the Latin and scientific course at Alfred University, Allegheny County, N. Y., and was graduated in 1882 from the University of Buffalo. He located for medical practice first at Bigler, Clearfield County, Pa., removing thence to Center County, and coming to Tyrone in the spring of 1898. Since locat- ing here he has built up an excellent practice and is highly esteemed not only by the mem- bers of his own profession but also by the resi- dents of Tyrone generally.

Dr. Tobin married in 1878 Sarah Ann Mc- Cullough, a daughter of Hugh and Nancy Mccullough. Mrs. Tobin was reared within half a mile of the boyhood home of her hus- band. Dr. and Mrs. Tobin have one son, Hugh F., who is clerk in a jewelry store. He mar- ried Miss Leonora Elder, and has one child, . Sarah Ella Margaret Tobin.

Dr. Tobin is a member of the Tyrone Medi- cal Club, the West Branch Medical Association, and the Pennsylvania State Medical Society, and is a charter member of the Tyrone and West Branch Medical Society ; also a member of Bellefonte lodge, No. 268, F. & A. M .; R. A. Chapter No. 241, of Bellefonte ; Constans Com- mandery No. 33, K. T., at Bellefonte; also a member of Allegheny Gateway, I. O. O. F.,

MARION D. PATTERSON

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having been a member of the order since 1879. In politics he is a Republican, and he is a mem- ber of the Presbyterian church. He served on the borough council for four years-1907-8, and 1904-5. His residence and office are lo- cated at No. 1251 Pennsylvania Avenue.

FRANK KREAMER LUKENBACH, vice president of the Blair County National Bank of Tyrone, Pa., is a man of large experience in financial matters, his bank training beginning when he was only thirteen years old. He was born March 28, 1869, at Indianapolis, Ind., and is a son of A. and Amanda Lukenbach, who were natives of Center County, of German extraction. They moved in early life to In- diana, and there the father of Mr. Lukenbach engaged in business as a miller.

Frank K. Lukenbach lived in Indianapolis until he was eight years old and then came to Center County, Pa., and attended the public schools until he was in his thirteenth year, when he secured a humble position with W. F. Reynolds & Co., bankers at Bellefonte, which business under reorganization became the Belle- fonte Trust Company. The boy early dis- played business ability together with fidelity to his employers, and remained with that concern for nine consecutive years, advancing step by step in the meanwhile and thoroughly learning all the details of banking. In 1891 he went to the First National Bank of Philipsburg, Pa., where he was cashier until 1902, when he was called to Tyrone to become vice president of the Blair County National Bank, a position which he has continued to ably fill ever since. He has one brother and two sisters: Charles A., who is in the First National Bank at Bellefonte; Jennie S., who is the wife of Harry E. Jenkins, of Bellefonte; and E. Grace, who is the wife of M. B. Garman, also of Bellefonte. The vener- able parents also reside now at Bellefonte.

Mr. Lukenbach was married in 1894 to Miss Catherine Bullock, a daughter of the late Charles Bullock, formerly of Bellefonte, and they have two children: Catherine and Rich- ard, both of whom are pupils in the public school. The family residence is at No. 1039

Lincoln Avenue, Tyrone. Mr. Lukenbach is treasurer of the Central Building and Loan Association. With his family he belongs to Trinity Episcopal church, in which he is junior warden. He is a representative citizen and is looked on as a prudent and cautious business man.

MARION D. PATTERSON, an able at- torney and prominent citizen of Hollidays- burg, was born in Williamsburg, Blair County, Pennsylvania, in 1876. He is a son of Hon- orable George M. and Mary Roller Patterson. The subject of this sketch is of Scotch-Irish ancestry and a direct lineal descendant of Matthew and Rebecca Dean, who figured in one of the latest Indian Massacres of the Upper Juniata Valley.

Marion D. Patterson was reared on a farm in Woodbury Township, near Williamsburg, Pennsylvania, and after attending the public schools of Woodbury Township, he taught for six years in the Blair County Schools, until the year 1899, when he engaged in the mer- cantile business in Williamsburg; disposing of his interests there in 1900, to take up the study of the law in the office of W. Irvin Woodcock, Esq., of Hollidaysburg, Pennsylvania, where after spending four months at the Dickenson Law School, he completed the law course, and was admitted to the Blair County Bar on March 7th, 1904, and has since been actively engaged in the practice of his profession in Blair County, being a member of the Pennsyl- vania Supreme and Superior Courts.

Mr. Patterson is Referee in Bankruptcy for Blair County, and is Solicitor for several of the boroughs, including Hollidaysburg, Wil- liamsburg and Martinsburg. He has attained prominence in the county through his business integrity and a commendable public spirit, which he has never failed to manifest upon appropriate occasions. He is a member of the Williamsburg Presbyterian Church, of the Hollidaysburg Club, and the Masonic and oth- er fraternal organizations.

Mr. Patterson also owns and operates a 147 acre farm in Woodbury Township, which

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he devotes to general farming. Twenty acres of this property are in timber, the remainder being well improved and in a high state of cultivation. The farm is fully equipped with modern machinery and Mr. Patterson has de- voted considerable time to the study of agri- culture.

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Twentieth century history of Altoona and Blair County, Pennsylvania, and representative citizens, Part 127

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