Twentieth century history of Altoona and Blair County, Pennsylvania, and representative citizens, Part 73

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 73

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Harry S. Brown grew to manhood on the home farm and during the winter months attended the district schools. He then learned the plastering trade and after work- ing for a time became a contractor in the same. Later he embarked in the furniture and undertaking business at Martinsburg, where, for many years afterwards he was a prosperous and reputable business man. For some years Mr. Brown has lived re- tired from business but is still actively inter- ested in matters pertaining to good citizen- ship, fraternal organizations and the bor- ough's pleasant social life.

On January 20, 1871, Mr. Brown was married to Miss Lucy Mentzer, who was born in Middle Woodbury Township, Bed- ford County, Pa., a daughter of Ephraim and Susan (Imler) Mentzer, and a grand- daughter of David Mentzer, who, for years, was a well known resident of Franklin County. Of the children born to Ephraim Mentzer and wife, the following are living : David I., of Altoona; Missouri, wife of James Croft, of Bedford County; Lucy, wife of Harry S. Brown; Margaret, wife of L. A. Hay, of Blair County; Naomi, wife of B. D. Martin, of Baden, Blair County ; Mary C., wife of George Brown, of Martinsburg; John T., of Altoona ; and Abraham L. and Joseph W.

To Harry S. Brown and wife five chil- dren were born, two of whom survive, Viola and Ella M. Viola is the wife of George W. Davis, who is employed in the Pennsyl- vania railroad shops at Altoona. Mr. and Mrs. Davis have one daughter, Dorothy L. Ella M. is the wife of Frank J. Mock, who is also employed in the Pennsylvania Rail- road shops at Altoona. Mr. and Mrs. Mock have two sons, Harry J. and Cletus G. Mr. and Mrs. Brown are members of the Lu- theran church, in which he has been an offi- cial, and Mrs. Brown is an active and useful member of the Ladies' Aid Society. In pol- itics Mr. Brown is a Democrat. He is a member of the Odd Fellows and the Knights of the Golden Eagle, both lodges being at Martinsburg.

D. E. ALLEN, M. D., a prominent physi- cian and surgeon at Altoona, Pa., who has been engaged in the practice of his profes- sion here for the past thirteen years, was born in 1867, in Canada, where he spent the early part of his life and obtained his ele- mentary schooling. He was prepared for the medical profession at Jefferson Medical College, Philadelphia, where he was gradu- ated with the class of 1895, and was first lo- cated at Winchester, Mass., where he en- gaged in the practice of his profession and was eminently successful. About 1897 he

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came to Altoona, Pa., where he has been equally successful and has established an enviable reputation as a physician and sur- geon. Dr. Allen is a member of the Blair County, the Pennsylvania State and the American Medical Associations, and is a member of the medical staff of the Mercy Hospital of Altoona. He is fraternally a member of the Maccabees and the Mystic Circle, and his religious connection is with the Baptist church. Dr. Allen was married in 1897 to Clara Elder of Altoona, Pa.

JOSEPH BLAIR SLIPPEY, a well known farmer of Frankstown Township, Blair County, Pa., who resides on and operates a farm of fifty-two acres, was born in this township, October 24, 1859, and is a son of Joseph and Nancy (Shade) Slippey, members of old town- ship families. They had five children: Wil- liam, Clarence, Isaac, Catherine and Joseph Blair. Catherine married William Ritz.

Joseph Blair Slippey attended the township schools in boyhood. His whole subsequent life has been devoted to farm pursuits. He rents his present farm from Samuel Rhodus and through his careful methods makes it a very productive property.

Mr. Slippey was married in September, 1886, to Miss Ella McKindry, a daughter of Joseph and Susan (Scott) McKindry. They are among the old settlers of the township. Mrs. Slippey is the youngest of their children, the others being: Thomas, Mary, Alexander, Catherine, William, Jennie and Warren. T Mr. and Mrs. Slippey seven children have been born, namely: Chester, Irvin, Roy, Mabel, Clair, Ernest and Lola. Mr. Slippey and family belong to the Lutheran church. He is a Republican in politics and has served as township supervisor.

S. CLAYTON MARTZ, an enterprising and progressive business man of Altoona, Pa., has for the past nineteen years conducted a blacksmith shop in this city, and was born in Centre County, Pa., September 27, 1868, and is a son of John Adam and Catherine (Boal)

Martz. The parents of our subject were both natives of Centre County, Pa., and reside on Willow Avenue, Altoona.

S. Clayton Martz came to Blair County, Pa., in 1880, with his parents, and attended school at Altoona, where he grew to manhood. He learned the blacksmith trade, which he has always followed since, renting a shop previous to coming to his present location, since when he has maintained one of his own. He is politically a Republican and has always taken an active interest in the affairs of that party. His religious connection is with the Methodist Episcopal church of Fairview. He is affiliated with the J. O. U. A. M. and the Patriotic Sons of America.

On July 15, 1890, Mr. Martz was united in marriage with Miss Ida Carothers, who is a native of Blair County and a daughter of Wil- liam Carothers, and of their union were born four sons: Claude, Chester, William, and Edgar, who married Mary Bush and they have a son and daughter-Merle and Catherine.

ADAM HARE, sheriff of Blair County, Pa., was born on Mill Creek, in Huntingdon County, Pa., March 9, 1847, and is a son of William and Matilda (Goodman) Hare.

William Hare, who was formerly an ex- tensive farmer and reputable citizen of Cath- arine Township, Blair County, was born in Mifflin County, Pa., where he struggled through a parentless boyhood and developed himself into a man who won the honor and esteem of those with whom his lot in life was cast. Dependent entirely upon his own efforts, he had but a meager book education but he learned many lessons through experience. He first learned the tailor's trade and later opened a shop in the village of Mill Creek and con- tinued in business there until 1850, when he bought a farm in Catharine Township, Blair County, where his subsequent life was spent. From the age of twenty years he had been connected with the Evangelical Lutheran church and when his death occurred on October 16, 1881, this body felt his loss. He was a man noted for his great kindness of heart and

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there were many outside his own family who sincerely mourned the passing of one so worthy. He married Matilda Goodman, who was of an old Lancaster County family, and she sur- vived her husband for but two years. Their descendants are prominent people in Blair County.

Adam Hare attended the public schools in boyhood and then turned his attention to farm- ing and later to dealing in cattle in which he was concerned extensively. From early man- hood he has been interested in public affairs and is an influential Republican in Blair County. He was first elected sheriff of this county in 1897, for a term of three years, and has been subsequently reelected, his majority increasing on every occasion. In the admin- istration of the office of sheriff he has been fearless and persevering and is one of the most popular public officials in the county ex- cept to the breakers of the law. Sheriff Hare is a veteran of the Civil War. He enlisted first on April 12, 1862, in Co. D, First Pa. Vol. Inf. ; and second in Co. A, First Regular Cav., and later served in Co. C, and in Co. E, 3rd U. S. Artillery, participating in many hard fought battles before he received his final dis- charge on April 12, 1865. He was then but eighteen years of age, having enlisted when but fifteen years old.

In January, 1869, Mr. Hare was married to Miss Martha Mateer, a daughter of Prof. Cyrus Mateer, Blair County. Sheriff and Mrs. Hare have had six children, three of whom survive, namely : Octavia G., Eugene C. and Roberta. The family holds membership in the Lutheran church. Sheriff Hare is identi- fied with the Masonic fraternity and with the Grand Army of the Republic.

MICHAEL ALVIN YOUNG, a prominent member of the legal profession of Hollidays- burg, Pa., has been a resident of this borough since 1879, and was born November 18, 1854, at East Sharpsburg, Pa., a son of George B. and Mary Young.

Balser Young, grandfather of our subject, was born on the Atlantic Ocean, while his

parents were crossing from Holland. He was reared in what is now known as North Wood- bury Township, Blair County, Pa., and there followed farming during his later life. His son, George B. Young, was one of the younger children born to Balser Young, and was a na- tive of Blair County, where he spent his entire life, and died in 1905, at East Freedom, at the age of seventy-seven years. Early in life he learned the carpenter trade, and with the ex- ception of the time spent in the army, followed the same throughout his entire active career. He was a member of Co. I, 137th Pa. Vol. Inf. His wife, Mary Young, also came of one of the pioneer families of Blair County, her parents having come here from Holland. She died in 1900, aged seventy years. To George B. Young and his wife three children were born; Michael A .; Lillian, who married Will- iam Dickey; and Lincoln.

Michael A. Young was fifteen years of age when his parents removed from Sharpsburg, Pa., to Freedom, Blair County, Pa. He at- tended the Juniata Collegiate Institute at Mar- tinsburg, and the Cumberland Valley State Normal, afterwards teaching for five winters. During his early manhood he learned the car- penter's trade with his father, but later spent two years reading law in the office of W. I. Woodcock of Hollidaysburg, and was admitted to the Blair County Bar in 1880. He has since been continuously and successfully engaged in the practice of his profession at Hollidaysburg, and is one of the leading business men of that borough.

Mr. Young was married to Miss Anna M. Good, a daughter of Peter Good, deceased, and of their union have been born the following children : Chester W., who is a student at the Hahnneman Medical College at Philadelphia, Pa .; and Marilla, Mary, Norman G., and Ralph A. In politics Mr. Young is a Republican.

GEORGE W. THOMAS, a representative business man of Gaysport, Pa., a dealer in groceries, flour, feed, shoes and notions, with well arranged store on Broad Street, right in the shopping district, has been established in

MICHAEL A. YOUNG

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this town since the spring of 1881. He was born December 17, 1844, at Evansburg, Pa., and is a son of Thomas R. and Margaret ( Evans) Thomas.

Thomas R. Thomas was born in Cambria County, Pa., a son of Robert R. Thomas, who was born in Wales. Robert Thomas was a farmer in his native land and when he emi- grated to America he was accompanied by his wife and two children, settling in Cambria County, Pa., where land was then secured at a low figure. He acquired enough land to later give each son a farm. He was a man of enter- prise and carried on farming and stock raising and for fifteen years carried the mail between Evansburg and Clearfield. His eight children bore the following names: Edward, Richard, Thomas, Eliza, Jane, Ann, Harriet and Robert.

Thomas R. Thomas, father of George W., was the first child of the family born in America and he grew to manhood in Cambria County and there married Margaret Evans. In 1877 he and all of his family with the ex- ception of George W., moved to Iowa, where the survivors still live. Thomas R. Thomas died in 1882, aged sixty-three years. His widow survived until 1910, dying at the age of eighty-eight years. They had ten children born to them, namely: George Washington; Ed- win; John; Howard, who died when two years old; Howard (2), who was accidentally killed on the railroad in 1888; Alexander; Elizabeth, who is the wife of Spencer Pate; Theophilus; Lincoln and William.

George W. Thomas was seven years old when his parents moved from Evansburg to the farm and he lived there until he was seven- teen, in the meanwhile attending the country schools during the winter seasons. He then was in the lumber business for seven years, but when civil war convulsed the land he showed that loyalty to his country was more to him than his personal interests, on Septem- ber 3, 1864, enlisting as one of her defenders. He was a member of the 5th Pa. Heavy Artil- lery and served until the close of the war, receiving his honorable discharge in Virginia. He is a member of the G. A. R. Post at

Johnstown, Pa. After his marriage, Mr. Thomas spent five years at work in the Butler oil fields, after which he moved to Johnstown and there was employed in the steel mills until 1881, when he moved to Gaysport, buying out Mrs. Alexander Dobbins, at his present loca- tion. He immediately started improvements and rented the enlarged building for twelve years and then purchased it and still further enlarged and improved it. He now has fine accommodations and is doing a prosperous business.

Mr. Thomas was married March 20, 1877, to Miss Catherine Shaw, a daughter of Samuel K. Shaw, and they have six children, namely : Edna; Ora, who married Frank Rohrback, who is employed in the government shops at Wash- ington, D. C., and they have one son, Boyde; Clifton, who has been an engineer with the Pennsylvania Railroad Company since he was twenty-one years of age, is a resident of Gays- port, married Inez Riling and they have one son, Donald; Eva, who married Edmond Brua ; Mary Goldie, who is the wife of James Win- naugle; and George Alton. Mr. Thomas and family are members of the First Lutheran Church and he is treasurer of the Sunday- school. He and sons are Republicans and he has been an active citizen ever since choosing Gaysport as his place of residence. He has served acceptably in the town council and as school director and for fifteen years has been secretary of the school board. For over forty years he has been identified with the Masonic fraternity and belongs also to the Odd Fel- lows, the Artisans and the Heptasophs.

EUGENE A. SIPES, justice of the peace at Martinsburg, Pa., is also a representative business man of the borough, being a member of the firm of Sipes Bros., proprietor of the Sipes' Monumental Works, a large business enterprise here. He was born at Martinsburg, September 24, 1872, a son of Uriah and Re- becca A. (Williams) Sipes.

Uriah Sipes was born in Fulton County, Pa., a son of Emanuel Sipes, who resided at Sipes' Mills, Fulton County. When Uriah

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HISTORY OF BLAIR COUNTY

Sipes reached manhood he went to Williams- burg and there learned the marble cutting trade and while there married Rebecca Williams of that place. . Several years later he moved to Hollidaysburg and some years afterward, to Martinsburg, and early in the fifties engaged in the monument business in which he con- tinued until he retired, when he was succeeded by his two sons, Robert H. and Eugene A. Uriah Sipes was a man of excellent business faculty and was also a valued citizen, a Demo- crat in politics and for a number of years a justice of the peace. His death occurred April I, 1907, his widow surviving until April 25, 1910.

Eugene A. Sipes was reared and educated at Martinsburg and after leaving school en- tered his father's shop and learned the monu- ment making business. When the father re- tired, with his brother he succeeded to a busi- ness which has been continuously carried on for over sixty years. All through Blair County may be found beautiful and appro- priate specimens of the work done by this firm, both its age and reliability bringing custom.

Mr. Sipes married Miss Justina Zook, a daughter of Frederick A. Zook, residing on Yellow Creek, in Bedford County, and they have one son, Clifford E. Mr. and Mrs. Sipes are members of the Methodist Episcopal church. In his political views he is a Demo- crat. In February, 1907, he was elected a justice of the peace, for a term of five years, assuming his duties in May, following, and has proved an admirable and satisfying public official.

KIRK WALTER, a well known merchant and popular citizen of Claysburg, Pa., junior partner in the mercantile and manufacturing · firm of Walter and Walter, was born in Green- field Township, Blair County, Pa., September 17, 1876, and is a son of Calvin and Eliza- beth Walter.

Calvin Walter was also born in Greenfield Township and for a quarter of a century has been a prominent resident of Claysburg. In

politics he is a Democrat and is serving as a member of the board of county commissioners of Blair County. Formerly he conducted a furniture and undertaking business and later was a member of the mercantile firm of Walter and Walter, in 1900 being succeeded in the same by his son, Kirk Walter. His wife is deceased.

Kirk Walter received his early educational training in the public schools of Claysburg, after which he entered the State Normal School at Lock Haven, where he was graduated in 1898. He then became an educator and taught school very acceptably for five continuous years, mainly in Logan and Greenfield Townships, Blair County. In 1900, upon the retirement of his father from the firm of Walter and Walter, he succeeded to his father's interest, the firm name continuing as before. A general mer- cantile business is carried on and the firm is interested also in the lumber industry and in the manufacture of several special lines, in- cluding treenails, which are used in the manu- facture of wooden vessels, and police sticks, which are supplied particularly to the police force in the city of New York. Both these articles are necessarily of locust lumber and their manufacture is limited to a few plants. On September 5, 1896, Mr. Walter was mar- ried to Miss Jennie D. Johnston, who is a daughter of Dr. J. W. Johnston, of Claysburg, and they have four children: Oliver J., Cor- nelia E., Carlotta E. and Jean M. Politically, Mr. Walter is a Democrat.

JAMES A. SELL. The subject of this sketch was born in Freedom Township, Blair County, November 23, 1845, and has resided in the county all his life. His ancestors came from Germany in 1729 and settled in Adams County. His grandfather, Abraham Sell, lo- cated at what is now Blair Township, near Brookes Mills. At this place his father, Daniel, was born and he spent his entire life in the community. He was joined in marriage with Rachel Detwiler in 1832. To them were born eight sons and a daughter, the latter dying in infancy, while the sons are still living, six in

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Blair County and two in Missouri. Daniel Sell died in 1901 at the age of 91 and his wife a few years later at the age of 90. She was a woman of remarkable force of will and strength of character.

James A. was the sixth of the family and continued at home on the farm until he became of age. He united with the Church of the Brethren, March 6, 1863, and was elected to the ministry, October 24, 1865, when less than 20 years old. At this time he engaged in teach- ing school and when he attained his majority he accepted a position as associate editor of the "Companion," a church paper published at Tyrone, Pa., by H. R. Holsinger. His services in this capacity were highly acceptable, but this relation by force of circumstances was brief, lasting but a year. Confinement in an office was impairing his health and he was obliged to take up out-door work. He turned his atten- tion to the carpenter trade and soon became an efficient workman.

He was called to the ministry at a time when it was not common to advance very young men to this office. He gave immediate promise of efficiency and his services were in great de- mand. He was called the "boy preacher," and traveled extensively in the central part of his own state and in Maryland, speaking with power and attracting by his vigor and youth, as well as by his clear thought and eloquence, the young both in and out of the church. Or- dained to the office of bishop at the age of 24, it was said that he was the youngest elder in his church.

He had a scholarly cast of mind. He was denied the advantage of a college education, but he was a close student and an inveterate reader, and many of his discourses and much of his writing bear proof of high imaginative and poetic quality. He had and still possesses a keen appreciation of the beautiful, as many of his descriptive sketches indicate. The poetic element was very strong in his nature and some of his productions are worthy of recog- nition for their literary merit. He composed the song to which music was specially written to celebrate the bi-centennial services of his

church. He is also the author of quite a num- ber of other hymns. The most remarkable thing is the inexhaustible store of fitting senti- ment he possessed, suited to all occasions. He possessed a wonderful power of fittingly weav- ing into his discourses the choicest gems of standard literature, and his addresses have al- ways been the delight of the cultured.

It has been a matter of much regret to him- self and no less to those who appreciate native ability, that he did not enjoy in his youth the opportunity for a liberal literary training. His educational advantages were limited to the common schools, which in those days were in- ferior in methods and deficient in books. His father's library consisted of the Bible, Nead's Theology, a Lancaster Almanac and a few school books. He had a natural love of study and while other young people were amusing themselves in games and social pleasures, he devoted his time to study. The dearth of books led him to read the Bible closely. The simple theology of Nead interested him in the study of the doctrines of the church in which he became deeply grounded. As a preacher his more studied discourses were of the doctrinal type and he was always in great demand where such presentation was needed.

After serving his congregation continuously for forty years, he was relieved of the charge at his own personal request. His words in making this request were: "I feel that the church has bestowed upon me honors and opened up opportunities for culture and de- velopment, and now I desire to afford the same privilege to others." His zeal was not abated and his mental and physical powers are well preserved and he does considerable preaching.

On the 19th day of October, 1867, he was joined in marriage with Esther B. Stiffler, of Canoe Creek. To them were born four sons, Matthew W., now deputy prothonotary of Blair County ; Jesse C., associate editor of the Al- toona Gazette; D. Elmer, a teacher and justice of the peace, at McKee's, and Howard M., en- gaged in newspaper work at Hollidaysburg.

In 1870, he located at Leamersville, where he has lived continuously to the present time.

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In 1882 he purchased a tract of land and en- gaged in fruit culture, in 1890 having the largest peach orchard in Central Pennsylvania. He was in great demand as a speaker to dis- cuss fruit culture at farmers' institutes. His success as a fruit grower gave force to what he said and there followed a wonderful revival of this important branch of husbandry in the county. Thousands of trees were planted as the result, and to him rightfully belongs the credit of reviving an industry that has made for many others a profitable industry.

Had he given more attention to his me- chanical work he would doubtless have made a master builder. He could design large build- ings and construct the finest cabinet work. He was indeed self-made and many sided. Al- though he was always engaged and often thronged with pressing demands, he still found time to read and write. He contributed to the church paper on religious, and to the secular papers on moral and industrial subjects. He was at once minister, carpenter, fruit grower, and author, but he will perhaps be remembered best as the author of the booklet, "The Lost Brothers of the Alleghenies," which will be found reprinted in the present volume.

He is now feeling the weight of the years of his simple yet strenuous life, and with a par- donable pride in his pioneer work, he lays no claim to leadership, leading a quiet life sur- rounded by his books, of which he has accu- mulated a great number, extending far and wide into the field of literature. He is modest and conservative, wise in his judgment and untiring in his devotion to peace.

SAMUEL L. HAFFLY, a well known agriculturist and dairyman of North Wood- bury Township, Blair County, Pa., residing on his farm of seventy acres, came to this place in the spring of 1905, since when many improvements have given indication of his careful and well directed energies. He was born October 29, 1855, in Middle Woodbury Township, Bedford County, Pa., and is a son of Joseph and Rebecca (Simonton) Haffly.

Joseph Haffly was born in Bedford County, a son of Samuel Haffly, who was a native of Mifflin County, Pa., and one of the first set- tlers at Morrison's Cove, in Bedford County. Joseph Haffly spent his entire life in Bedford County, where he died in 1881. He married Rebecca Simonton, who was born in Hunting- don County. They were excellent people who were respected and esteemed in their neighbor- hood.

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Twentieth century history of Altoona and Blair County, Pennsylvania, and representative citizens, Part 73

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