Twentieth century history of Altoona and Blair County, Pennsylvania, and representative citizens, Part 82

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 82

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

In September, 1894, Mr. King was joined in marriage with Miss Vertie Sell, who is a daughter of Daniel Sell, of Salemville, Bed-

ford County, Pa., and they have had the fol- lowing children: Mary, Howard, Charles, Joseph, Harry, Florence, Byron W., and Grace, the last three being deceased.

JOHN K. SHOENFELT, justice of the peace and a leading citizen of Duncansville, Pa., is proprietor and manager of one of the largest industries of the place, the Shoenfelt Marble & Granite Company works, which manufactures and deals in monuments and headstones and does all kinds of cemetery work. Mr. Shoenfelt was born at Woodbury, Bedford County, Pa., January 13, 1852, and is a son of Joseph M. and Nancy ( Keagy ) Shoenfelt.

Joseph M. Shoenfelt and wife were both born in Blair County. The paternal great- grandfather of John K. Shoenfelt was Jacob Shoenfelt, a native of Germany, who came to what is now Blair County, Pa., in 1730, and settled near what is now Roaring Springs. He reared a family, and of his sons, Jacob Shoen- felt, father of Joseph M., continued to live in the same vicinity, where he owned farm land. When Joseph M. Shoenfelt went into business it was as a miller, and during the larger part of his life he operated the old style water mills with dam, in different parts of Blair and Bedford Counties.

John K. Shoenfelt attended school in South Woodbury Township, in Bedford County, and also the Bedford County Normal School, then situated at Bedford, and was graduated from that institution in 1872. For eight consecutive years afterward he taught school, being located' in Bedford, Blair and Huntingdon Counties, Pa., and was an interested and successful teacher. In 1882 he came to Duncansville and has resided here continuously ever since. He was one of the promoters of the Duncansville Building and Loan Association, of which he has been president for sixteen consecutive years, and for four years was treasurer of this very prosperous business enterprise. Since 1890 he has been identified with his granite and marble business, one that has been continu-

612

HISTORY OF BLAIR COUNTY

ously successful, one reason perhaps- being found in the motto of the firm: Courteous treatment and careful attention to orders. In politics he is a Republican and for several years he was president of the borough school board. For over a quarter of a century he has served in the office of justice of the peace.

Mr. Shoenfelt was married to Miss Jennie Hicks, of Williamsburg, Pa., and they have had eight children, namely : Nannie G., who is the widow of H. T. Boland, of Portage, Pa .: Carrie, who resides at Youngstown, O .; Ray- mond A. and Lloyd J., both of whom reside at home; Edith, who is the wife of W. V. Webb, of Duncansville ; and Emily, Nellie and Charles E., all of whom reside with their parents. Mr. Shoenfelt is one of the representative men of this section of Blair County.

ISAIAH SCHEELINE, a prominent. mem- ber of the Blair County Bar, and a native of Altoona, Pa., was born in 1878, and is one of the leading business men of the younger gener- ation of this city. His elementary education was obtained in the common schools of Al- toona, graduating from the High School with the class of 1894, and after spending one year at Lafayette College, he graduated in law from the Dickinson Law School with the class of 1899. Mr. Scheeline then spent some months in Pittsburg, Pa., since which time he has been located at Altoona, where he has at- tained considerable prominence in his profes- sion and practices in the various courts of the state as well as in the middle and western dis- tricts of the Federal Courts. In addition to his practice Mr. Scheeline is also interested in the Westfall Company of Altoona. He is politically an adherent of the Democratic party, but until 1910 never entered actively in politics. He is the present nominee of his party for congressman from this district. Mr. Schee- line is a member of the Hebrew Reformed con- gregation, is president of the United Hebrew Charities, is a member of the University Club, and the Beacon Light Club, and is fraternally a Mason, a Shriner and an Elk.

THOMAS CARSON O'NEILL, of the firm of Hickey & O'Neill, who are the leading embalmers and funeral directors of Altoona, Pa., was born March II, 1859, in Altoona, and is a son of William O'Neill. The father of our subject was a native of Ireland, and in 1849 came to Altoona, where he engaged in the grocery business during the remainder of his active life. He was a prominent figure in the business and political circles of Altoona, and died here in 1899.

Thomas C. O'Neill grew to maturity in Al- toona, and attended the common schools. Early in life he entered the Pa. Railroad shops as messenger boy, which position he held four months, then attended school another year, after which he worked one year in the black- smith shop of the Pa. R. R. Company. He was subsequently . transferred to their machine shops, where he operated a drill one year, then served 'an apprenticeship in cabinet-making with John Hickey, and the next eighteen years were spent in the cabinet-making department of the Pa. R. R. Shops On January 9, 1895, Mr. O'Neill entered into partnership with J. B. Hickey in the embalming and undertaking bus- iness, operating under the firm name of Hickey & O'Neill. They have been highly successful and are now the leading funeral directors of this section having an increase of from sixty to 380 funerals annually. Mr. O'Neill is a mem- ber of the Central Pennsylvania Funeral Di- rectors' Association, and is identified with various Building Associations.

Mr. O'Neill was married in 1891, to Miss Amelia Brennecke, a daughter of Christian Brennecke of Altoona, and to them have been born two children: Esther, who is a student at Wellesley College, and Thomas C. O'Neill, Jr. Mr. O'Neill is a member of the St. Luke's Episcopal church, of which he is a member of the Vestry and senior warden. He was bap- tized by the First Presbyterian minister of Al- toona, Rev. Clark. He is affiliated with the Knights of Pythias, the I. O. O. F., the Hepta- sophs, and is past master of Mountain Lodge No. 281, F. & A. M.

ISAIAH SCHEELINE

615

AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS

ROBERT S. FLUKE, one of the leading hardware merchants of Williamsburg, Pa., and a stockholder and director of the Farmers' and Merchants' Bank, has been a lifelong resident of this borough, born here January 13, 1855, a son of W. A. and Mary (Dean) Fluke, both of whom were born and reared in Blair County, Pa. They were the parents of the following children: Anna, who is the wife of Frank Schumaker; Robert S., our subject ; Calvin, who is cashier of the Farmer's and Merchants' Bank of Williamsburg; Patty, de- ceased, who was the wife of Homer Hewitt; William D., and Lilly, who is deceased.

Robert S. Fluke grew to maturity in Will- iamsburg, and after a common school educa- tion engaged in the hardware business with his father, after whose death he continued as pro- prietor of the business in the same location. The business was established about 100 years ago, and has always been the property of the Fluke family. Mr. Fluke is identified with the Democratic party in politics, and his religious connection is with the Presbyterian church.

Mr. Fluke was married in September, 1897, to Miss Rosabelle Ake, a daughter of William and Susan Ake, who were early settlers of Blair County. Mr. and Mrs. Ake had five children : Clara, who is the wife of Dr. T. H. White; Florence, who is Mrs. Fluke, and Sam- uel, Charles and William. Mr. and Mrs. Fluke are parents of two children: Edgar W. and Florence, who is the wife of Edward Spangler. Mr. and Mrs. Spangler have two children, Robert S. and Marie.

PETER COCHRAN, a farmer and leading citizen of Allegheny Township, Blair County, Pa., residing on his valuable farm of 160 acres, which he devotes to general agriculture, was born in this township, August 29, 1847, and is a son of Joseph and Elizabeth ( Hetrick) Coch- ran. The parents of Mr. Cochran were both born in Blair County, their parents having been among the early Scotch-Irish settlers in this section. Joseph Cochran was a farmer. Five of his family of children survive, and all live in Blair County. Jeremiah is a farmer in Alle-

gheny Township. Mary A. is the widow of Moses Crum and lives at Altoona. Martha M. is the widow of James McCoy and resides in Allegheny Township. Peter and Joseph are also residents of Allegheny Township.

Peter Cochran was reared in his native township, attended the district schools and then began the cultivation of the home farm. In June, 1863, he enlisted for service in the Civil War, entering Co. H, IIoth Pa. Vol. Inf., which became a part of the Army of the Poto- mac. Mr. Cochran proved a brave and efficient soldier, never hesitating in the face of certain danger and took part in some of the hardest contested battles of the great war. He was in the long struggle of the Wilderness, and was in all the engagements from there to Hatcher's Run, in which battle he was wounded in the right leg, on October 27, 1864. This was a se- rious injury, and on account of it he was con- fined in a hospital at Washington, D. C., until May, 1865, when he returned to his regiment and served until he was honorably discharged in the following month. He returned to Blair County and has remained here ever since, prov- ing himself a valuable citizen of his country in times of peace as well as in war. He is identi- fied with the G. A. R. Post at Duncansville, and is senior vice commander of the same.

On September 18, 1873, Mr. Cochran was married to Miss Margaret Ott, who was born in Greenfield Township, Blair County, a daughter of Joseph and Elizabeth Ott, the for- mer of whom is deceased. Mrs. Ott has passed her seventy-fifth birthday and still resides in Blair County. Nine children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Cochran, six of whom are living, as follows: Clara E., who is the wife of John Reep, of Allegheny Township; Sadie, who is the wife of John Krouse, of Altoona; Elinas W., who is a resident of Frankstown Town- ship; Joseph T., who lives at South Altoona; Peter A., who lives in Frankstown Township; and Stella, who is the wife of Blaine Bru- baker, of Allegheny Township. Those de- ceased were: David, William and Mary.

In politics Mr. Cochran is a Democrat. For twelve years he has been a member of the

616

HISTORY OF BLAIR COUNTY

township school board and for four years its treasurer. He is identified with the Grange, Patrons of Husbandry, at Duncansville.

HON. GEORGE W. PATTON, deceased, was born on his father's farm in Woodcock Valley, near McConnellstown, Huntingdon County, Pa., in 1817, a son of John and Re- becca (Simpson) Patton.

John Patton, father of Hon. George W. Pat- ton, emigrated from Cumberland County, Pa., after the close of the Revolutionary War, in which he served, and was elected sheriff of Huntingdon County no less than six terms, between 1788 and 1818. He married Rebecca Simpson, who was born in 1777 and died in 1845, and was a daughter of Lieutenant John Simpson and his wife, Margaret Murray, who was a daughter of Captain James Murray, of Lancaster County.

George W. Patton was manager of the Blair County Furnace property, which was located about three miles east of Altoona, and subse- quently managed the Union Furnace, which was erected at the station now known by that name in Huntingdon County during the time when the Pennsylvania Railroad was being constructed through the Juniata Valley. In 1853 he removed to Altoona, where he became engaged in mercantile pursuits and became one of the leading citizens of that prosperous rail- road town, having been elected as the first chief burgess of the borough of Altoona in 1854, and re-elected in 1855. He was appointed postmaster at Altoona by President Lincoln in 1861, which position he held for eight years. He was one of the organizers of the First Lutheran church and prominently identified with many of the institutions of that church. In 1871 he was elected an associate judge of Blair County for a term of five years.

Mr. Patton was married in 1845 to Mary Burket, who was born in 1825 and died in 1856, daughter of Peter Burket, a well known citizen of Sinking Valley, Blair County, to whom there were born three sons: T. Blair Patton, general superintendent of the Penn- sylvania Industrial Reformatory at Hunting-

don, Pa .; William A. Patton, assistant to the president of the Pennsylvania Railroad Com- pany; and J. Howard Patton, president of the Howard Gas Coal Company, of Greensburg, Pa. Mr. Patton married a second time, in 1861, Emma Jane Hawksworth, of Altoona, Pa., who was born in 1834 and died in 1898, to whom two children were born: Mary Vir- ginia, who married Harold A. Freeman, of Philadelphia, and Margaret Murray, who died in 1889 at the age of nineteen years. Mr. Patton moved to Philadelphia in 1876, where he died in 1882. He was buried in Fairview Cemetery, Altoona, Pa.

LOUIS C. KELLER, proprietor of the Al- dine Hotel, a first class hostelry at Altoona, Pa., where comfort, cleanliness, restful quiet, a fine cuisine and all modern conveniences are offered its guests, is a substantial citizen of this place. He was born at Chambersburg, Pa., November 21, 1869, and is a son of August and Catherine (Shallenberger) Keller, natives of Germany.

Louis C. Keller is the sixth in order of birth of a family of seven children, the others being : Christopher, Elizabeth, Adam, Louise and Mollie. He obtained his education in the pub- lic schools and during the larger part of his business life has been connected with hotels, and for sixteen years has been in business for himself, for eight years conducting the Colum- bia and the Commercial Hotels, and for the past eight years being proprietor of the Aldine. Mr. Keller has a fine paying property here. He has twenty-eight guest rooms and the whole house is equipped with steam, gas and electricity. He is a stockholder in the Moun- tain City Bank at Altoona.

In 1893 Mr. Keller was married to Miss Alice Geib, a daughter of Isaac Geib, and they have one daughter, Edna Regina. He is a member of the German Lutheran church. In politics he is a Republican and fraternally he is connected with the B. P. O. E. and the F. O. E., both at Altoona.

DAVID M. KLEPSER, a representative business man of Martinsburg, Pa., senior

617

AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS

member of the milling firm of Klepser Bros., proprietors of the White Lily Mills and manufacturers of Golden Dove flour and dealers in feed, grain, meal, hay and straw, was born at Martinsburg, April 28, 1850. His parents were Frederick and Christiana (Metzker) Klepser.

Frederick Klepser was born in Germany and was four years old when his parents brought him to America, settling in Hunt- ingdon County, Pa. In his ninth year the family came to Martinsburg where he had school advantages and later learned and followed the shoemaking trade. For about five years he operated a tannery at Putts- town, in Huntingdon County, and then moved on a farm in North Woodbury Town- ship, Blair County, where he engaged in farming for ten years and then went into the milling business. For five years he con- ducted what was known as Klepser's mill. He was a man of industry and enterprise and spent a useful life which was extended to eighty years. He married. Christiana Metzker, and of their children the follow- ing survive: Jeremiah, who lives at Mar- tinsburg; Frederick, who is a resident of Martinsburg; R. C., who is a practicing phy- sician at Altoona, Pa .; David M .; Harry M., who is in business at Altoona; Clara, who lives at Martinsburg; and Annie, who is the wife of Frank Stern, of Chicago, Ill.

David M. Klepser spent the greater part of his first eighteen years on his father's farm, attending school as occasion was offered, and then went to work for his father in Klepser's mill, where he continued until 1888, for several years before this date hav- ing leased and operated the mill for himself. In 1888 he went into the milling business at Martinsburg and since 1898 the firm of Klepser Bros .- David M. and Harry M .- have operated the White Lily Mills, doing a large business and having a warehouse located at Ninth Avenue and Nineteenth Street, Altoona. Their mills at Martins- burg are equipped with modern machinery. they have excellent shipping facilities and

are known to the trade in general as honor- able and reliable business men.

David M. Klepser married Miss Hannah Wineland, and they have three children: Lillie; Gertrude, who is the wife of Lee Hoover, residing at Connellsville; and Christie, who lives at home. Mr. Klepser and family are members of the Progressive Brethren church, of which he is a trustee. In politics he is a Republican and has been an active and useful citizen ever since com- ing to Martinsburg and investing here and is serving in his second term as a member of the borough council.

HENRY CLAY DERN, deceased, for- merly one of the proprietors of the Altoona Tribune and an active newspaper man throughout his entire business life, was an influential factor in Republican politics in Blair County for many years. He was born in a little hamlet caled Double Pipe Creek, in Carroll County, Md., and was a son of Isaac and Susan (Koons) Dern.

The founder of the Dern family in Mary- land came from Germany and his descend- ants have all been of a sturdy, thrifty, solid type, the class which America welcomes as citizens. The father of the late Henry Clay Dern was born in Maryland, in 1787, served in the War of 1812, and gave encourage- ment and financial support to the Federal Government early in the days of the Civil War, almost a half century later. For a number of years he was a justice of the peace in Carroll County and there his death occured in 1862, on his seventy-fifth birth- day. He married Susan Koons, who died in 1839, leaving six children.

Henry Clay Dern made himself useful during boyhood in his father's cooper shop and only occasionally had an opportunity to attend school. Later, however, he had the education of a printing-office, one by no means to be despised, and by the time he had completed his apprenticeship in the offices of the Carroll County Democrat, he had a fair knowledge of many more sub-

618

HISTORY OF BLAIR COUNTY

jects than he would have found in the cur- riculum of the country school. It was in 1858 that he came to Altoona but before that he had been engaged in different posi- tions in many of the leading newspaper offices of the country. He frequently recalled that veteran journalist, Col. Murat Halsted, as a reporter on the Cincinnati Commercial, when he was working in the composing room on the same journal.

After coming to Altoona Mr. Dern bought a half interest in the Altoona Trib- une and was associated in its publication for eighteen years with the late Ephraim B. McCrum, who retired in 1876. Mr. Dern then admitted his nephew, Dr. Hugh Pit- cairn, to partnership but this was more or less nominal for some years, as Dr. Pit- cairn removed to Harrisburg, Mr. Dern assuming both the editorial and business management. In the course of time a sub- stantial and appropriate building was erect- ed for the publishing business, the. news- paper having in the interim added a daily issue to the weekly edition. The Daily Trib- une is now one of the foremost morning papers of the city, there being few homes in which it is not a visitor. Mr. Dern contin- ued the active head of this business until his death which occurred September 8, 1903. As a business man he showed enterprise and caution, while as a journalist he was num- bered with the most able men of the pro- fession in Central Pennsylvania.

He was prominently identified with the Altoona Bank, now the Central Trust Com- pany, was a trustee of the Altoona Hospital, and formerly a director of the Altoona Gas Company. He was also one of the original stockholders and directors of the Altoona Street Car Company, later merged into the Altoona and Logan Valley Electric Railway Company. He was widely known and had he been more ambitious might have filled many high political positions. At times he consented to serve as a member of the city council and on the school board, but the greatest interest of his life, undoubtedly,

was the growth and development of the Tribune.

Mr. Dern was married August 14, 1856, to Miss Rebecca Witherow, of Perry County, Pa., who died September 24, 1908. Nine children were born to this marriage and one surviving son, Harry C. Dern, is one of the proprietors of the Tribune, is treasurer of the company, and is also inter- ested in the Central . Trust Company of Altoona. Henry Clay Dern was a Knight Templar Mason, and was deacon and trus- tee of the First Presbyterian Church at Altoona.

JOHN A. SPRANKLE, whose death oc- curred June 19, 1902, in Philadelphia, Pa., for many years was a leading merchant at Al- toona where he built up a great business from small beginnings, founding it on the rock of business integrity. For years he was recog- nized as one of Altoona's most enterprising merchants as well as representative citizens. He was unusually broad minded, was liberal in his charities and generous in his support of all movements that, in his judgment, would prove beneficial to his city. He was born in Morris Township, Huntingdon County, Pa., July 3, 1829, and was a son of Benjamin and Eliza- beth (Anderson) Sprankle.

John Sprankle, grandfather of the late John A. Sprankle, was born in Germany and came from there to Pennsylvania, being a very early settler in Huntingdon County. On his pioneer farm in Morris Township was born his son, Benjamin Sprankle, in 1806. The latter led an agricultural life, cleared the homestead and added to its dimensions and lived into extreme old age, at the time of his death being the most venerable resident of Morris Township. He and wife were among the very early supporters of the Reformed church at Alexander, Pa.

John A. Sprankle was one of a family of ten children and grew into youth on his father's farm. Other sons of the family carried on the necessary agricultural operations while he went to the little settlement gathered around Rock- hill Furnace and became a clerk in the general

JOHN A. SPRANKLE

621

AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS

store of Izett & Wigton, at that point. Find- ing this work congenial he decided upon a mer- cantile career and in 1853 came to Altoona, and for seven years afterward was a clerk in the employ of Alexander McCormick of this place. By 1861 he had accumulated and had at command sufficient capital to start a general mercantile business for himself, opening up a small stock at first and in its disposal making so many business friends and winning such substantial patronage, that by 1864 he found himself compelled to increase his accommoda- tions. He then erected a commodious build- ing on the corner of Ninth Street and Elev- enth Avenue, and there carried on a very large and prosperous business for many years. He acquired other valuable property at Altoona, and in 1872, a little less than twenty years af- ter coming to this city, practically without means, was able to erect what was considered the most palatial private residence on the line of the Pennsylvania Railroad between Pitts- - burg and Philadelphia. His widow resides alone in this beautiful residence, which is sit- uated at No. 1403 Ninth Street, her surround- ings being all that taste and wealth can supply.

. In 1857, Mr. Sprankle was married to Miss Eliza A. McKnight, whose father was the late Robert McKnight. For many years Mr. Sprankle was a member of the First Presbyte- rian Church in which connection he was highly valued. Mrs. Sprankle is also a member of this church and is likewise inter- ested in its various avenues of benevolence. In politics, Mr. Sprankle was a Republican and was a zealous worker for many candi- dates of his party although he invariably declined public office for himself.

JOHN A. BEEGLE, a veteran of the Civil War and a participant in many of the most conclusive battles of that period of strife, for a number of years has been engaged in the peaceful pursuits of agriculture, residing on his farm of fifty-three acres, situated in Alle- gheny Township, Blair County, Pa. He was born in Bedford County, Pa., February I, . 1840, and is a son of John and Rebecca

(McFern) Beegle, and a grandson of Fred- erick Beegle. His father was born in Bedford County and his mother in Franklin County, Pa.

John A. Beegle obtained his education in the district schools. He was seventeen years of age when he accompanied his parents to Juniata Township, Blair County, and there engaged in farm work until he enlisted for service in the Civil War. His first enlistment, for nine months, was in Co. E, 125th Pa. Vol. Inf., and his second included the two closing years of the war, in Co. C, IIoth Pa. Vol. Inf. He took part in the battles of Antietam, Chan- cellorsville, the. Wilderness, the siege of Petersburg and the capture of that city. He was one of the privileged soldiers who wit- nessed the surrender of General Lee at Appo- mattox, to General Grant. After his honor- able discharge he returned to Blair County and lived for a time in Juniata Township and then went back to Bedford County and resided there for a number of years, coming then to Allegheny Township, where he has lived ever since.

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

Twentieth century history of Altoona and Blair County, Pennsylvania, and representative citizens, Part 82

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