Twentieth century history of Altoona and Blair County, Pennsylvania, and representative citizens, Part 80

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 80

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who was painstaking and conscientious in all his dealings as a man and an official, and in expressing our sorrow at the death of a brother official and an exemplary citizen we are not un- mindful of the deep grief of a sorrowing family and to whom this body extends sincere and heartfelt sympathy in this time of trial." He was identified with Altoona Conclave No. 102, Improved Order of Heptasophs.

Mr. Neuwahl was married January 6, 1869, to Miss Hettie Levy, of New York, who pre- ceded him to the grave on December 18, 1904. One daughter, Blanche, died in 1887, at the age of four years. The following children sur- vive : Mrs. Minnie Simon, Gus Neuwahl, Mal- colm H. and Rosalie Neuwahl of Altoona, and Julius W. Neuwahl, of New York. Mrs. Simon is the widow of August Simon, who for- merly was a prominent citizen of Altoona, and was at the head of the large shoe store at No. 1402 Eleventh Avenue, which is still conducted as a partnership by Mrs. Simon and her brother, Malcolm H. Neuwahl, under the firm name of A. Simon & Co.

August Simon was born in Germany, No- vember 4, 1863, a son of Solomon and Miriam (Fredlander) Simon, and died at Altoona, June 8, 1904. On June 27, 1889, he was mar- ried to Miss Minnie Neuwahl and one daugh- ter was born to them, Mabel, who is the wife of Harry Bing of Pittsburg. Mr. Simon was a very successful business man. The name of Simon in the shoe business means quality of a high order.

SAMUEL M. SHRIVER, a prominent and respected citizen of North Woodbury Town- ship, Blair County, Pa., residing on his finely cultivated farm of ninety-one acres, is a native of this township born here December 29, 1844, and is a son of Samuel and Nancy (Metzker ) Shriver.

The father of Mr. Shriver was born in Adams County, Pa., where he remained until he was fourteen years of age. The death of his father at that time made it necessary for him to provide for his own support and he came to what is now Morrison's Cove, in Blair

County, and started to learn the carpenter trade. After completing his apprenticeship he worked at his trade for many years at Martins- burg and became one of the borough's best known men and here his death occurred in the spring of 1880, when he was in his eighty- third year. He was a man with strong con- victions of right and was not afraid to make them known even when they were generally unpopular. He was identified with the Repub- lican party. In 1836 he united with the Luth- eran church. Although he never sought public office he was frequently made a school director and also served as a director of the Blair County Infirmary. He married Nancy Metz- ker, who was born in Blair County and died in 1885. Of their children four survive, namely: Elizabeth, who is the widow of Jon- athan Hoover, and lives in North Woodbury Township; Isaac M., who resides at Curry- ville; Christiana, who is the wife of Abraham Kauffman, of North Woodbury Township; and Samuel M.

Samuel M. Shriver grew to man's estate in North Woodbury Township and attended the country schools through boyhood, making such good use of his opportunities that he taught three winter terms of school to the sat- isfaction of the school directors. He carries on general farming, not entirely in the old way, for he is a very intelligent and well informed agriculturist and formerly was one of the act- ive members of the Grange, Patrons of Hus- bandry, at Curryville. In these days the chil- dren have the best of school advantages and it is because wise, broad-minded and intelligent men like Mr. Shriver consent to serve on the school board. He has served three years in North Woodbury Township, being president of the board for one year and also serving as its secretary.

On October 22, 1876, Mr. Shriver was mar- ried to Miss Mary A. Diehl, who was born in North Woodbury Township, August 27, 1853, a daughter of Daniel M. and Elizabeth (Zook) Diehl. Her father was born in York County, a son of John Diehl, an early settler in Bed- ford County, and her mother was born in

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Blair County, a daughter of Jacob Zook, who built one of the first houses, at Morrison's Cove. Mr. and Mrs. Shriver have had two children, Daniel T. and Mary B., the latter of whom is now deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Shri- ver are members of the Church of the Breth- ren.

HENRY C. LORENZ, J. P., one of Roar- ing Springs' best known citizens, who has served in the office of justice of the peace for the past fifteen years, is also the leading insur- ance man in the borough and controls a large business in fire risks. He was born in Free- dom Township, Blair County, Pa., November 15, 1841, and is a son of Bernard Lorenz. The latter was a pioneer furnace man in this sec- tion and built the first furnace at McKee's Gap, for Edward Shoenberger. He was in business for some time with Levi G. Leamer and the firm of Lorenz & Leamer operated the Rebecca Furnace, in Huston Township, for six years. His death occurred in 1866.

Henry C. Lorenz was ten years old when his parents moved to Petersburg, Huntingdon County, Pa., and he lived there untll he was nineteen years of age, and then returned to Blair County. He attended school in both counties and later was a student for one year in the Pennsylvania State College, located in Center County. After that he took charge of a store at Rebecca Furnace, for Lorenz & Lea- mer, and in the course of time became the as- sistant manager of that plant with his father. Later he became bookkeeper for Sarah Fur- nace and subsequently filled the same position for Essington Hammond, at Franklin Forge and at Maria Forge and still later was book- keeper for Charles Knapp & Co., at Rodman, Pa. Mr. Lorenz has been a resident of Roar- ing Spring for a quarter of a century and soon after locating here he became bookkeeper for Morrison, Bare & Cass, and afterward for D. M. Bare & Company. For several years he was also manager of the Roaring Spring Blank Book Company and the original plant was built under his supervision. Mr. Lorenz filled other positions of responsibility. For four

years he was secretary and treasurer of the Blair & Cambria Lumber Company, with headquarters at Altoona, and since then he has been engaged in the fire insurance business and is serving in his fourth term as justice of the peace, and for twelve consecutive years was au- ditor of Blair County. In local affairs he has been a very active citizen and his usefulness has been recognized by his fellow citizens. He was elected one of the first councilmen of the borough, and for nine years was a member of the school board and for a number of years its treasurer. In politics he is a Republican.

Mr. Lorenz married Miss Laura Leamer, a daughter of the late Samuel Leamer, of Lea- merville, Pa. They have four surviving chil- dren: Frank K., who resides at Roaring Spring; Walter M., who is a resident of Pitts- burg; Harold C., who is in business as a chem- ist at Bradford, Pa., graduated from the Penn- sylvania State College, in 1910; and Robert D., a student at Dickinson College, Class 1911, and Dickinson Law School, Carlisle, Pa., who resides at home. Mr. Lorenz and family are members of the Methodist Episcopal church and he has filled numerous church offices. He is a representative citizen of Blair County, and his different interests and public services have made him widely known.

LOUIS PLACK, deceased, was formerly the president of the Altoona Urban Mutual Fire In- surance Company and was also extensively in- terested in the real estate business and addition- ally concerned in other larger enterprises at Altoona, Pa. Mr. Plack was born in Germany April 22, 1829. His father was George Plack, who died when he was small, and his mother was left with two young sons tc whose rear- ing and education she devoted herself.

When fourteen years old, Louis Plack be- came apprenticed to a baker, and after serving with him for two years worked four years as a journeyman baker. Equipped with this excel- lent trade, he was not afraid to face the world, and in 1849 he came to America, and imme- diately found employment in the city of New York. In 1850 he went to Connecticut and

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continued work at the bakery trade until 1852, when chance led him to Hollidaysburg, Pa. He engaged there for a short time in the bakery and confectionery business and then came to Altoona, where he established himself as a baker and grocer. In 1862 he also opened up a tannery at Altoona. In 1863 his grocery store was destroyed by fire and he did not re- sume merchandising until 1871, and then con- tinued but one year, his other interests having accumulated and being of more importance. In 1863 he built a planing and steam saw mill and still later embarked in the real estate busi- ness, and this, in the course of years, became one of large volume. In 1904 he became presi- dent of the Altoona Urban Mutual Fire In- surance Company, with which he was identified continuously until his death, which occurred September 19, 1908.

In 1853 Mr. Plack was married to Miss Elizabeth Wehn, and ten children were born to them, all of whom were afforded educational and other advantages. One son, Bertram V. Plack, is a large coal dealer at Altoona, miner and shipper of the celebrated P black coal and a dealer in all grades of anthracite. His offices and yards are located at No. 1000 Twenty- fourth Avenue, and No. 816 Eighth Street, while his main office is at No. 1030 Green Ave- nue. Bertram V. Plack served as councilman for his ward in 1907 and 1908. After the death of David Koch, in 1909, he was elected the treasurer of the Altoona Urban Mutual Fire Insurance Company.

Bertram V. Plack was born at Altoona, Pa., in 1874, and was educated in the public schools and an institution at Lawrenceville, N. Y., of which he is a graduate. He married Miss Elizabeth Rigg, a daughter of George Rigg, and they have two children: Louise and Car- men. Another son of the late Louis Plack is Louis Plack, Jr., who is connected with the Altoona Motor Car Company, and resides at No. 1302 Tenth Avenue. Other sons are equally prominent, one being an architect of note, and another a minister in the Congrega- tional church. The sterling qualities which en- abled the father to honorably advance himself

from comparative obscurity to a place among the capitalists in the city in which he chose his home, have, in large measure, been reflected in his sons.

HARRY T. STIFFLER, who resides on a farm of thirty acres in Canoe Creek, Pa., is mail carrier for the Canoe Creek Post Office, and was born November 1, 1840, in Allegheny Township, Blair County, Pa., and is a son of Joseph and Mary (Leighty) Stiffler.

Joseph Stiffler was born in Blair County, Pa., a son of Henry and Nancy Stiffler, and fol- lowed farming here all his life. His union with Mary Leighty, who was a daughter of Jacob and Barbara Leighty, resulted in the fol- lowing issue: Nancy, who is the widow of Robert Curry; Jane, who is the widow of J. J. Noffsker ; Harry T., our subject ; William, who died in the army during the Civil War; Esther, who is the wife of Rev. James Sell, a United Brethren minister; George R .; Sarah, who is the wife of Isaac Metzker; and A. L. Stiffler, who is the postmaster at Canoe Creek, Pa. The parents of our subject were both members of the United Brethren church. They were buried in the Carson Valley Cemetery.

Harry T. Stiffler was reared in Blair County County, Pa., and after obtaining a common school education, learned the carpen- ter trade, which he followed for four years, "since when he has always followed farming and in connection with same has served about twenty years as postmaster of Canoe Creek, having been appointed during President Lin- coln's administration. In 1864 he enlisted for service in the Civil War, in Co. M., 9th. Vol. Cav., and served until the close of the war, be- ing honorably discharged in June 1865.

In October, 1867, Mr. Stiffler was united in marriage with Mrs. Clara (Brown) Harpter, whose first husband was killed in the war. She is a daughter of David and Anna ( Neid- rich) Brown, and has one sister, Catherine, who is the widow of Alvin Mckenzie. Mr. Stiffler is politically a Republican, but has never cared to hold office. He belongs to the United Brethren church. He is a member of

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the G. A. R. and has not missed one National Encampment for twenty-nine years.

SAMUEL COLCLESSER is a member of the well known firm of Colclesser Brothers of Eldorado, Pa., who are manufacturers of axes, picks, and other edge tools, and comes of one of the prominent early families of Blair County. He was born April 15, 1850, in Logan Township, at what is now Eldorado, and is a son of Daniel and Susanna ( Kissell) Colclesser.

Among those found to have located in Logan Township late in the eighteenth or early in the nineteenth century was Henry Colclesser, grandfather of our subject. Henry Colclesser was born in Washington County, Md., and about the beginning of the nineteenth century settled in the vicinity of McKee's Gap. A few years later he removed to Sugar Run, where he worked at his trade as a blacksmith, and also manufactured various kinds of edged tools. In 1824 he moved to Ohio and ten or twelve years later moved to Indiana, where he died. He was twice married and was father of ten children, of whom David, father of our sub- ject, was the fourth youngest by his first wife.

Daniel Colclesser was born in 1808 and re- mained with his father in Ohio until 1828, then came to that part of Huntingdon County which is now known as Blair County, and re- mained for a brief period at Duncansville. In 1832 he established the axe and pick factory on Burgoons Run, and carried on the business until 1878, when he was succeeded by his sons, John and Samuel. Daniel served as justice of the peace and also in other official capacities. He was married while a resident of Duncans- ville, to Susanna Kissell, who was a native of Dauphin County, and of the six sons and one daughter born of their union, the following survive: Mary; John, a resident of Eldorado; Samuel; Adie, a resident of Eldorado; and William, a resident of Cincinnati.

Samuel Colclesser was reared and educated in Eldorado, and since early manhood has been engaged in the manufacture of edge tools, as had his father and grandfather before him.

He formerly carried on the business in partner- ship with his brother, John Colclesser, who sold his interest in the business to their brother, Adie Colclesser, and the firm is known as Col- clesser Brothers. They for many years manu- factured picks for the Pennsylvania Railroad, and made marking tools for the United States Government Forestry department. They also manufacture hunters' tools and knives and solid steel chisels for car builders.

Mr. Colclesser was joined in marriage with Ellen Oves, a native of Altoona, Pa., and a daughter of John H. and Sarah J. Oves. She was for some years a teacher in the schools at Altoona. Mr. Colclesser is politically an inde- pendent Republican, and religiously, is a mem- ber of the First Regular Baptist church of Al- toona.

JOHN KAZMAIER, sole proprietor of the Germania Brewery, one of the old business plants of Altoona, Pa., is one of the city's most substantial citizens and the owner of one of the handsomest residences and private grounds in Blair County. He was born in Erie County, Pa., April 25, 1861, and is a son of Andrew and Barbara (Renz) Kazmaier.

Andrew Kazmaier was born in Germany and there learned the brewing business. In 1848 he came to America, landing at Castle Garden, New York City, and from there made his way to Erie, Pa. There he engaged in the brewery business and built up a large enter- prise and became a well known and respected business man. In 1860 he sold his brewery interests and then retired to a farm which he had previously acquired and there passed the remaining years of his life. He married Bar- bara Renz, also a native of Germany, who died in 1894. They had eleven children born to them.

John Kazmaier secured a good common school education in Erie County and when he decided to follow his father's vocation, the latter sent him to Europe that he might be thoroughly instructed according to the way in the old country. In 1879 he returned to Amer- ica, having served his apprenticeship under

JOHN KAZMAIER

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some old masters of the trade, and located at Baltimore, Md., where he served for three years as a brewery master and from there went to Philadelphia, and later to Johnstown, Pa., serving in different breweries as master, and then settled at Columbia, in Lancaster County, and established his own brewery. He re- mained in business there until 1896, when he came to Altoona and bought the Germania Brewery, which has been in existence since 1852. Under his management, however, the plant has been entirely reorganized. The improvements he made cost $200,000, and these included every modern equipment made use of in this industry. A very large force is kept constantly employed and the amount of business done annually is enormous.

Mr. Kazmaier was married first to Miss Barbara Buck, who died in November, 1904. She was survived by one daughter, Amelia L., who is the wife of Emil Hoerl, superintend- ent of the Kazmaier Brewery. Mr. Kazmaier was married a second time, to Miss Nellie Kemp, a daughter of John Kemp, of Clearfield County, Pa. Mr. Kazmaier and family are members of the German Lutheran church to which he gives liberal support. He is a man of large charity and contributes generously to all benevolent movements and public spirited enterprises that have for their object the bene- fiting of Altoona. He has established his home at Sylvan Hill, a beautiful suburb of Al- toona, where he has almost a palatial residence, surrounded by fifty-five acres of grounds im- proved by every device of the landscape art- ist's art. It is beautiful beyond description and visualizes to the beholder what pictures of beauty and dignity, combined with solid com- fort, can be produced by the exercise of the combined taste and skill of artist, architect and builder-supplemented by unlimited cap- ital

JAMES H. DAVIS, county treasurer of Blair County, Pa., is not only one of the most efficient and satisfactory but also one of the most popular men now serving in the county's official family. He was born in Clearfield

County, Pa., May 23, 1854, and is one of the four surviving children born to his parents, James E. and Rachel (McCammett) Davis, the former of whom died in 1883.

James H. Davis is in large degree a self- made man. He attended the district schools in his youth and then began the life of a railroad man, entering this service at the bottom and gaining promotion and for some years before he accepted his present office was a passenger conductor. In this capacity he became widely known. He was first elected county treasurer in 1907, and took charge of the office in 1908 and has continued.

Mr. Davis married Miss C. Dasher, a daugh- ter of John Dasher, and they have three daughters: Janetta P., who is the wife of Samuel Watts, of Altoona; and Eleanor L. and Geraldine, both of whom reside at home. Mr. Davis and family are members of the Presbyterian church. They reside at No. 808 Fifth Avenue, Altoona. He belongs to several fraternal organizations, and among these are the Knights of Pythias, the Knights of Malta and the Order of Railroad Conductors. -

FRANS ENGSTROM, city engineer of Al- toona, Pa., and a native of Stockholm, Sweden, was born in 1851, and was reared and edu- cated in his native city. In 1881 Mr. Eng- strom came to the United States and located in Pittsburg, Pa., where he was for many years connected with the Pa. Railroad lines west of Pittsburg, and also engaged in engineering work for Pittsburg, for which city he built the Highland Reservoir, capacity 125 million gal- lons. He then spent three years in the employ of the Carnegie Steel Company, for whom he built at West Homestead, the largest car axle plant in the world, and was afterward in the employ of the American Bridge Company three years. About three years ago, Mr. Engstrom came to Altoona to fill an unexpired term as city engineer, and at the end of that term was re-elected to that office. He is also engineer for the International Steel Tie Company.

In 1884 Mr. Engstrom was joined in mar- riage with Bertha Lindstrom, also a native of

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Stockholm, Sweden, and to them have been born nine children, of whom the following sur- vive: Thor A., a student at Carnegie Tech- nical Schools of Pittsburg; Dora M., who is the wife of Wayne E. Booher of Altoona; Birger W .; and Gertrude. Mr. Engstrom has been a member of the American Society of Civil En- gineers since 1892, and a past officer of Engin- eers' Society of W. Pennsylvania and is a member of the University Club, and also is affiliated with the Knights Templar and the Shrine of Pittsburg, and the Elks and Moose, of Altoona.

SIMON SHOEMAKER, a well known resident of Allegheny Township, Blair County, Pa., who resides in a comfortable home on the outskirts of Hollidaysburg, was born in Green- field Township, Blair County, September 14, 1849, and is a son of Andrew and Anna ( Kel- ler) Shoemaker.

· Andrew Shoemaker and wife were both born in Germany, natives of Baden, and in 1848 they came to American and located at what was known as Allegheny Furnace, in Blair County, Pa. The father was a soldier in the Civil War but lived to return, and died in Blair County. Of the children of Andrew and Anna Shoemaker, four sons survive; Simon; John, residing at Tipton, Blair County ; Joseph, residing in Allegheny Township; and Andrew, residing in Allegheny County.

Simon Shoemaker attended the district schools in his boyhood and the schools of Hol- lidaysburg. He engaged in farming for a num- ber of years and in 1889 located on his present place. For nearly thirty years he conducted a milk route through Hollidaysburg and had re- tained some families as customers during the entire period. He sold out his route in 1905 and has lived retired since then. He is a mem- bor of the board of directors of the Blair County Home.

Mr. Shoemaker married Miss Rachel Webb, a native of Chester County, and a daughter of William Webb, formerly of Hollidaysburg, and six children were born to them: John H., who is proprietor of the Franklin House, at

Gaysport, Pa .; Mary, who is the wife of B. C. Wilt, of Hollidaysburg; Stella, who is the wife of William Malligan, of Gaysport; Joseph Ir- vin, who lives at Hollidaysburg; Jesse R. and Charles C., both of whom live in Blair Town- ship; and William, now deceased, who was for- merly proprietor of the Logan House at Hol- lidaysburg. In politics, Mr. Shoemaker is a Republican. He is a member of the order of Elks, at Altoona, and of the Duncansville Grange, at Duncansville, Pa.

ANGUS B. STEWART, whose valuable farm of 185 acres is situated in Frankstown Township, Blair County, Pa., was born in this township, July 9, 1850, and is the only surviv- ing child of his parents, who were Harvey and Susan (Brua) Stewart.

Harvey Stewart was born also in Franks- town Township and was a son of Henry and Elizabeth (Moore) Stewart, early settlers in this section, and of Scotch extraction. Harvey Stewart engaged in farm pursuits until his death, at the age of forty-four years. He mar- ried Susan Brua, who survived to be eighty- seven years of age. Her parents were Daniel and Mary ( Buckwalter ) Brua.

Angus B. Stewart attended the district schools in his boyhood and then turned his at- tention to farming and has continued in this line, the cultivating of his land and the raising of stock bringing him contentment, together with ample financial results.

On November 28, 1871, Mr. Stewart was married to Miss Ruth E. Robinson, daughter of Joseph and Dorcas (Elliott) Robinson, and a granddaughter of Abraham and Mary ( Mc- Kewan) Robinson, and of Joseph and Ruth (Holliday) Elliott. The parents of Mrs. Stew- art are both deceased. Her father was a mem- ber of the Legislature for two years and a man of state prominence. She is the youngest of her parents' family, the others being: Marga- ret, now deceased, who was the wife of Elias Moore; John, who is deceased; and Joseph.

To Mr. and Mrs. Stewart seven children have been born, namely: Joseph H., who died at the age of eighteen years; Harry H., who

HARVEY STEWART

JOSEPH ROBINSON

ANGUS B. STEWART

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died, aged two years; Harry M., who is a prac- ticing physician in Cambria County, Pa .; Olive, who is the wife of Guy Smith; and Frank, Mary and Ethel, who reside at home. Mr. Stewart and family are members of the Presby- terian church at Hollidaysburg, to which his parents also belonged, and in the shadow of which their ashes rest. Politically Mr. Stew- art is a staunch Republican as was his father before him, but he has seldom found time to serve in public capacities. He is interested in educational matters, however, and has been a school director and for one year served as supervisor of Frankstown Township.

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Twentieth century history of Altoona and Blair County, Pennsylvania, and representative citizens, Part 80

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