Twentieth century history of Altoona and Blair County, Pennsylvania, and representative citizens, Part 79

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 79

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On October 12, 1893, Mr. Small was united in marriage with Agnes B. Pousse, who was born in Saxony, Germany, and at the age of thirteen years came to this country with her parents. Of their union have been born the following children: Phyllis, Una, Edith, and Karl M. Mr. Small has been a lifelong Demo- crat and is now serving his ninth year as a member of the school board of Gaysport, and also is a justice of the peace. He was a can- - didate on the Democratic ticket, in 1910, for the state legislature from the Second Dis- trict. Mr. Small is fraternally a member of the K. of P., Logan Lodge, of Altoona, also of the Red Men and F. O. E., of Altoona, and is a member of the United Brethren church.

Z. T. LINGENFELTER, a prominent business man of Greenfield Township, Blair County, Pa., where he owns a one-half in- terest in a valuable farm of 400 acres, is a member of the lumber firm of Walter & Lingenfelter, at Claysburg. He was born in Greenfield Township, March 14, 1854, and is a son of George and Barbara (Claar) Lingenfelter.

George Lingenfelter was born in Green- field Township, where he spent his entire life, his death occurring October 27, 1892. His father was Jacob Lingenfelter, an early settler and probably a native of Germany. George Lingenfelter was a very honorable

J. B. SMALL

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and upright man and was one of the leading members of the German Baptist church. In politics he was a Republican but the only township offices he ever accepted were those of school director and road supervisor and he attended to the duties of these offices with the utmost efficiency. He married Barbara Claar, who was born in Bedford County, Pa., a daughter of Frederick Claar, who was a very early settler in Union Town- ship, Bedford County. They had eleven children born to them and the following survive : Eliza, who is the widow of William Gibson, of Bedford County; Chauncy F., who resides also in Bedford County; Mary A., who is the wife of William Eller, of Newry, Pa .; Christina, who is the wife of John Cashman, of Bedford County; Eliza- beth, who is the widow of Morgan Dively, of Greenfield Township; Rachel, who is the widow of Martin Dively, of Greenfield Township; Margaret, who is the wife of Daniel Sell, of Bedford County; Zachariah T .; Nancy K., who is the wife of Emanuel Walter, of Greenfield Township; and Moses C., who lives in Greenfield Township. The one member of the family who is deceased, was Thaddeus S.

Z. T. Lingenfelter obtained his education in the Greenfield Township schools and from . boyhood has been connected more or less with agricultural pursuits although he has not devoted his entire attention to them. For a number of years he has engaged in the lumber industry and the firm of Walter & Lingenfelter occupies a prominent place in commercial circles in this section.

Mr. Lingenfelter was married to Miss Julia A. Musselman, a daughter of the late Jacob Musselman, of Greenfield Township, and they have four children, namely : Ardie E., who lives in Greenfield Township; Re- becca, who is the wife of Thomas Lingen- felter, of Claysburg; Lucretia, who is the widow of Irvin Black ; and Stella, who lives at home. In politics, Mr. Lingenfelter is a Republican. For six years he served as school director in Greenfield Township, and

for two years was president and for two years was treasurer of the school board. He is a member of the Grange at Claysburg and is serving in the office of treasurer. Diligent in business and active in all that pertains to the best interests of his com- munity, Mr. Lingenfelter is a worthy, use- ful and representative citizen.

JAMES C. HUGHES, one of the repre- sentative business men of Altoona, Pa., is a member of the firm of James C. Hughes & Son and is president and general manager of the Altoona Brick and Tile Company, both important commercial enterprises of this section. Mr. Hughes bears an old Cen- tral Pennsylvania name and was born at Centerline, Center County, Pa., September 9, 1848, and is a son of John D. and Hannah (Hicks) Hughes.

The Hughes as well as the Hicks family originated in Wales. Great-grandfather Hughes came to America in early manhood and settled in Center County, Pa., where many of his descendants still live. John D. Hughes was born there, came to Altoona first in 1865 but later returned to Center County, coming back to Altoona in 1876, and he resided here until his death, in 1885.

James C. Hughes accompanied his par- ents to Altoona in 1865, and after a season learned the blacksmith trade. In 1873 he gave up blacksmith work and embarked in the grocery business and subsequently, as a direct result of industry, close attention and a large measure of capacity and enter- prise, became prominently identified with large concerns among them being the ones above mentioned. Mr. Hughes is num- bered with Altoona's capitalists. He is a director in the Central Trust Company.

Mr. Hughes was married in October, 1868, to Miss Elizabeth Walton,, a daugh- ter of Elias Walton of Altoona, and their children number ten, eight sons and two daughters. Mr. Hughes was reared in the faith of the Methodist Episcopal church. In his political views he is a Democrat. For

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many years he has been a Mason and be- longs to the higher branches of the frater- nity.

J. W. PLUMMER, one of the successful business men and highly esteemed citizens of Altoona, Pa., who for the past six years has been engaged in collecting delinquent school taxes, is also interested in buying and selling real estate, and for many years was engaged in general contracting. He was born in Blair County, Pa., in 1845, and is a son of Jesse Plummer, a native of Cambria County, Pa., who came to Blair County about 1850, where he worked at his trade.

J. W. Plummer was reared and educated in Blair County, and at the age of sixteen years enlisted for service in the Civil War, in Co. C, IIOth Pa. Vol. Inf., and served nearly five years, being mustered out June 25, 1865. He was in the Army of the Potomac, was wounded but once, and was promoted from a private to be sergeant of his company. Upon his return from the war, he spent one year in the employ of the Pa. R. R., as rail recorder in the rail- road shops, then went to Illinois, where he worked at carpentering for three years. He later returned to Altoona, where for thirty- two years he was successfully engaged in gen- eral contracting, then spent five years in the mercantile business, and for the past six years has been collecting delinquent school taxes in addition to carrying on his real estate business. Mr. Plummer has always taken an active in- terest in politics, and is now serving his third term as a member of the school board, and was elected to the first select council elected in Altoona. He holds membership with the First United Brethren Church, and is fraternally a Knight Templar Mason. Mr. Plummer was married in 1874 to Kate Kring, now deceased, and they had ten children, all of whom are living.

REV. JOHN E. FURRY, a representative citizen of North Woodbury Township, Blair County, Pa., where his well improved farm of fifty-six acres is situated, is the valued and es-

teemed pastor of the First Progressive Breth- ren Church at Martinsburg. He was born at New Enterprise, Bedford County, Pa., Feb- ruary 21, 1862, and is a son of Rev. S. B. and Mary A. (Shelley) Furry.

Rev. S. B. Furry was born February 17, 1836, in Bedford County, Pa., a son of Rev. Leonard and Hannah (Brown) Furry. Leon- ard Furry was only a boy when his parents moved from Lancaster County to Bedford County, settling at Morrison's Cove. The earlier ancestors came from Switzerland. Leonard Furry became a minister in the Church of the Brethren and both his son and grandson also have devoted themselves more or less entirely to religious work. As relig- ious teachers and directors this name has long been one held in honor through Bedford and Blair Counties. S. B. Furry was reared in Bedford County and was taught farm pursuits in youth, alternating farming with school at- tendance. He was a student in the public schools and also had private instruction under Prof. Coblentz, an efficient instructor at that time, after which he taught five terms of school at New Enterprise. He was about forty-five years of age when he accepted the responsibil- ities of a minister in the Progressive Brethren Church and has been actively identified with this work ever since. For a number of years he was a welcomed contributor to the Gospel Visitor, and also to the Family Companion, the latter journal being later merged into the Brethren Evangelist, and it has a wide circu- lation on account of its high class contents.

In 1869 Rev. S. B. Furry moved from Bed- ford County to North Woodbury Township, Blair County. He was married in this town- ship to Miss Mary A. Shelley, daughter of the late John Shelley, and three children were born to them: John E., who is a farmer and minister in North Woodbury Township; Jen- nie A., who is the wife of James Crofford, who is in business as jeweler and optician, at Martinsburg; and Annie F., who is now de- ceased. Rev. S. B. Furry and wife are valued residents of Martinsburg. For three years he served as a member of the borough school

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board, filling the office of secretary. During a long period he was a leader in Sunday-school work at New Enterprise and has never lost his interest in this branch of the church.

John E. Furry was eight years old when his parents moved from Bedford to Blair County and settled in North Woodbury Township, where he supplemented attendance in the pub- lic schools with private instruction at Martins- burg. Since 1896 he has been an acceptable minister in the Progressive Brethren Church, in 1902 being elected one of the elders. On October 9, 1883, he was married to Miss Emma J. Layman, who was born in Blair County, and is a daughter of the late Solomon S. Layman, of Martinsburg. They have two sons, Arthur E. and Samuel E. Rev. John E. Furry, like his father, is affiliated with the Republican party but merely as good and law abiding citizens. Rev. Furry is a man of un- ostentatious yet unflagging zeal and his influ- ence as a religious teacher extends far beyond the religious body with which his name is identified.

DAVID H. SPEALMAN, deceased, who was one of Frankstown Township's most respected citizens and a very successful farmer and stock raiser, was born in Franks- town Township, Blair County, Pa., April 16, 1862, and is a son of David and Susan (Maughmer) Spealman. They had three children, namely : George M., Sallie, wife of Winfield Keesey; and Catherine, wife of William Davis.

David H. Spealman grew to manhood on his father's farm and obtained a common school education. He was naturally bright in intellect and easily mastered his lessons at school and later just as easily compre- hended the practical details which served to make him more successful as a farmer and stock raiser than many others. He not only had the knowledge but knew how to apply it. For some time prior to 1900, when he came to the farm on which his fam- ily still reside, he lived on his father-in-law's farm.

Mr. Spealman was married April 9, 1884, to Miss Margaret Loudon, a daughter of Thomas and Jane (McCauley) Loudon, both of whom are now deceased, their bur- ial being in Fairview Cemetery at Altoona. They were good people, worthy members of the Lutheran church. The brothers and sisters of Mrs. Spealman were as follows : Lucinda, wife of John H. Lykens; James A .; William Marion; Ellen, wife of George M. Eichholtz; Sallie B., wife of George Spealman; Idella, a popular school teacher at Huntingdon, Pa .; and Grace A., wife of Harry A. Spahr. Of the above family, Mrs. Spealman is the sixth in order of birth.

To Mr. and Mrs. Spealman four children were born, namely : Bessie A .; Florence H., who is the wife of E. Reed Mentzer; Jean W., who is a student in a preparatory school for teachers; and Hazel E. The death of Mr. Spealman, which occurred March 16, 1909, was much regretted in the neighbor- hood where he had spent his life. In every relation of life he was a man to be honored and respected. He was a Republican in politics but, with the exception of serving as school director one term, had never held office. He was a member of the Lutheran church to which his family is also attached.

WILLIAM J. HEINSLING, president of the Union Bank of Altoona, Pa., and a general merchant of this city, has been a resident for almost forty-one years and is identified with many of the city's important business enterprises. He was born in Bed- ford County, Pa., in 1847 and was reared and educated there.

When Mr. Heinsling came to Altoona he embarked in the mercantile business and has continued in the same line ever since, enlarging his facilities and expanding the scope as trade demanded. In 1875-6 he erected his present buildings which are commodious and well adapted to his purpose, and his general store is one of the business landmarks. He was one of the organizers of the Union Bank of Altoona, some thirty

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years ago, and has been its president ever since with the exception of a few months. It was organized as the Fidelity Bank, the change to its present title being made some time later. He is president also of another of Altoona's large concerns and is treas- urer of the Citizens' Ice Company. In con- nection with civic matters, Mr. Heinsling has been a very useful citizen, has served for a number of years as a member of vari- ous public bodies and has been a member of the school board and of the board of water commisioners for a long time.

Mr. Heinsling was married, in 1875, to Miss Bettie McCreary, of Cumberland, who died about 1879, leaving two children: Ed- ward L. and Walter D., the latter of whom resides at home. The former is a graduate of Harvard College, a man of great scholar- ship, who is now filling the position of pro- fessor of languages in an institution at Nor- wich, Conn. Mr. Heinsling's second mar- riage was to Miss Nannie Settle, of Altoona, and three children were born to them : Har- old, who is a student at Gettysburg; and Mary, Martha and Edith, all residing with their parents. Mr. Heinsling and family are members of the Second Lutheran Church of Altoona; in which he has been a mem- ber of the official board for a number of years. He-is a-32nd degree Mason and be- longs to all the Masonic bodies at Altoona and to the Consistory at Harrisburg.

C. W. FOX, M. D., president of the bor- ough council of Roaring Spring, Pa., and a leading physician and surgeon of this place, which has been his home for twenty-three years, was born at Woodbury, Bedford County, Pa., September 10, 1859, and is a son of Michael Fox, who lived there into honor- able old age; having reached his eightieth year when his death occurred.

C. W. Fox was reared in the old home in Woodbury and attended school there and afterward taught school for a time in Taylor Township, Blair County. In 1879 he began the study of medicine, with Dr. John Oellig,

then a well known physician at Woodbury, and from his instruction he entered Jefferson Medical College, Philadelphia, and was grad- uated in 1882. His first field of medical prac- tice was at Argentine, Kans., from which place he moved in a short time back to Wood- bury, conditions in Kansas not being as favor- able as he had anticipated. He located at Buffalo Mills, Bedford County, in 1884, and remained there until March, 1887, when he came to Roaring Spring. Here Dr. Fox was cordially received as a medical practitioner and the favorable impression he made at the begin- ning has yearly been strengthened until now he not only has a large and lucrative private practice but he is also a member of the hospital staff of the Nason hospital, situated at Roaring Spring. He is numbered with the most skill- ful and successful members of his profession in Blair County.

Dr. Fox married Miss Catherine Mohr, a daughter of John Mohr, now of Roaring Spring, formerly of Baker's Summit, Pa., and they have two children : Henry N., who is sta- tion agent for the Pennsylvania Railroad Company at Ore Hill; and Emory W., who is holding a clerical position in the offices of the Pennsylvania Railroad at Hollidaysburg. Dr. Fox and his eldest son are both 32nd degree Masons. He is also identified with Model Lodge, No. 856, Odd Fellows, at Roaring Spring and belongs to its different branches and has served in the office of grand patriarch of the grand encampment. He is also a mem- ber of the order of Foresters at Roaring Spring. Dr. Fox was reared in the Methodist faith but now is a member of the Lutheran church and has been a church member since youth. In politics he is a Republican and has always been an active and what may be termed, a constructive citizen, his efforts ever having been public spirited and progressive. Since 1905 he has been a member of the borough council and during a large part of the time has served efficiently as its president.

JOSIAH F. ELLSWORTH, a retired farmer and millwright, and a much respected

JOSIAH F. ELLSWORTH

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citizen of Williamsburg, Pa., was born July 18, 1827, in Cumberland Valley, Cumberland County, Pa., and is a son of Thomas and Mar- garet (Gibson) Ellsworth. The family was founded in America in 1763, when Arthur Ellsworth and two brothers came from Wales and settled in the New England States. The paternal grandfather of our subject was a lin- eal descendant of this Arthur Ellsworth, and was a member of the celebrated Boston Tea Party of American history, which occurred December 16, 1773, in Boston Harbor, and he served through the Revolutionary War. Five children were born to Thomas and Margaret Ellsworth : Margaret E. Coan, John W., Charles B., Josiah F., and Harriet.

Josiah F. Ellsworth was reared in Cumber- land and Blair Counties, Pa., where he ob- tained his education in the common schools. At the age of seventeen years he was bound out for four years to J. S. Shull, of Blair County, with whom he learned the trade of a millwright, and has doubtless built more first-class flour mills than any other one man in the state, and built sixty roller mills within a period of thir- teen years. Mr. Ellsworth also followed farm- ing for many years and besides his town prop- erty is the owner of a fine farm of 213 acres on Clover Creek, and is one of the directors of the First National Bank of Williamsburg. Politically he is a Prohibitionist, although formerly a Republican. He is a member of the Presbyterian church, of which he has been ruling elder for twenty years. He belongs to Juniata Lodge No. 282, F. & A. M.

In March, 1851, Mr. Ellsworth married Miss Mary J. Irvin, who was a daughter of Thomas and Catherine Irvin of Williamsburg, and they had the following children: Elmer E .; Grier M .; and Carrie S., who is the wife of Charles Ramey. Mrs. Ellsworth died July 6, 1871, and Mr. Ellsworth was married, sec- ond, January 7, 1873, to Elizabeth P. Biddle, who passed out of this life, December 6, 1907.

JOSEPH P. WERTZBERGER, who, for the past three years has been residing on his present farm of eighty acres in Logan Town-

ship, Blair County, Pa., was for many years engaged in operating a hotel at Altoona, Pa. He was born June 21, 1849, in Woodbury Township, Bedford County, Pa., and is a son of Stephen Wertzberger, who was a native of Germany, was accidentally killed by a blast i11 a stone quarry, in Bedford County, Pa. Three sons and three daughters were born to the parents of our subject : Margaret (Mrs. Frank), who resides on Twenty-ninth Street, . Altoona, Pa .; John and Andrew, both of whom reside in Altoona; Joseph P .; Rosanne (Mrs. Foster), who lives near Rosehill Ceme- tery; and Mary (Mrs. McFarland), who lives in Philadelphia. . The mother is now a resi- dent of Altoona, being in her eighty-seventh year.

Joseph P. Wertzberger was about seventeen years old when he came from Bedford County to Altoona, Pa., with his widowed mother and the family, and after working about at various places, learned the carpenter's trade, which he followed seven or eight years in the West. After his return to Altoona, he continued working at his trade for about eighteen months, then leased the McCabe House on Ninth Avenue, and successfully managed that for one year and nine months. In 1886 he purchased a hotel on Tenth Avenue and suc- cessfully operated same until 1907, since which time he has been residing on his farm in Logan Township, which he had purchased some twenty years before.

Mr. Wertzberger was united in marriage with Mrs. Barbara Burgoon, who is a native of Blair County, Pa., and a daughter of Charles and Caroline (Sweigert) Baier. Her father was a native of Germany, and for some years lived in Altoona, but spent his later years on a farm in Logan Township, where he died. Mrs. Wertzberger was the youngest of five children born to her parents. She is the mother of two children by her marriage with Albert Burgoon : N. H. Burgoon, who is pro- prietor of a drug store located on the corner of Seventh and Twelfth Streets; and John T., who is a traveling salesman. Her marriage with Mr. Wertzberger resulted in the follow-

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ing issue: Harry Stephen, who is a machinist, at Altoona, married Alma Cunsman; Joseph L., who is employed as a stenographer, and Charles S., who was born on the farm in Logan Township. The three brothers, operat- ing under the name of Wertzberger Brothers, are raising chickens along scientific lines. Al- though they have been in the business but little more than two years, they are meeting with much success and have captured numer- ous prizes at the various shows, where they have exhibited. Mr. Wertzberger is a mem- ber of St. Mary's German Catholic Church. He belongs to the B. P. O. E.

SIMON NEUWAHL, deceased. It was with profound sorrow that the citizens of Altoona, Pa., learned of the death of a man of more than usual worth, Simon Neuwahl, who had been identified with the growth and development of this city for over forty years. Born in a foreign land, he, like sev- eral of his illustrious countrymen, became well qualified to lead men and masses of another land and language. His ideal was the uplifting of those with whom he be- came in any way associated and whether with tongue, pen or purse, he left an im- press that will not be forgotten.

Simon Neuwahl was born November 26, 1835, in the town of Neschede, province of Westphalia, Prussia, and died in his home at No. 2506 Bond Avenue, Altoona, Octo- ber 16, 1909. He was the second son of nine children born to Solomon and Miriam Neuwahl. He was well educated in the schools of Prussia and then learned the printing business at Brilon. In 1851 the father died and in September of that year, being thrown on his own resources, he took passage on the steamer Hansa, out from Bremen, and arived in the port of New York, October 6, 1851. He was ignorant of the English language and therefore found difficulty in securing work in a printing office at first, and while learning it worked as a clerk in a mercantile establishment. He later became the editor of the Volks-

freund, at New Berlin, Union County; Pa., and almost immediately through his talent and native ability became a leader in pub- lic affairs in that section and soon advanced into still greater prominence. He estab- lished several newspapers, first the Snyder County Journal and later the Selinsgrove Times; for one period was editor of the Sunbury Democrat and was the founder of the Ashland Advocate, of Schuylkill County, both still flourishing journals. He also edited and published the Altoona Sun. His activity in journalism continued until. after the close of the Civil War, about 1868, when he retired from newspaper work.

In September, 1868, he embarked in the mercantile business at Altoona and the re- mainder of his long and useful life was spent continuously here. He was one of the city's most respected citizens. It is said of him that his judgment on any question was es- pecially valuable on account of it being ever careful and deliberate. He was broad. minded and charitable to a fault and prob- ably his most noted characteristic was his rugged honesty. As a public official, how- ever, he was ever affable and courteous. When his death occurred he was serving in his second term as license tax officer. He was one of the leading members of the Hebrew Reformed congregation and was one of the organizers of the Beacon Light Club. In his political views he never swerved from the principles of Democracy but had accepted no other political office than the one mentioned above.

Mr. Neuwahl had not been in normal health since 1904 but immediate dissolution was not expected at the time of his peaceful passing away. His burial was in the beautiful Jewish Cemetery and a vast concourse of sorrowing friends were in attendance. Both branches of the Altoona City Council adopted resolutions testifying to the high regard in which Mr. Neuwahl had been held and closed with this telling tribute: "Resolved-That in the death of Simon Neuwahl, the city has lost a good and faithful servant and a worthy citizen, one

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Twentieth century history of Altoona and Blair County, Pennsylvania, and representative citizens, Part 79

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