Twentieth century history of Altoona and Blair County, Pennsylvania, and representative citizens, Part 83

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 83

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Mr. Beegle married Miss Mary Wertz, a native of Bedford County, and a daughter of William Wertz, a former resident there, and seven children were born to them, the only survivor being a daughter, Annie M., who is the wife of James Spidle, of Cambria County, Pa. Mr. and Mrs. Beegle are members of the Lutheran church at Newry. He is identified with the G. A. R. Post at Duncansville. In politics he is a Democrat and has served three years as school director in Allegheny Town- ship.

FREDERICK RAMEY,* one of Altoona's substantial retired citizens, for many years was connected with the lumber industry and the material upbuilding of the city. He was born in Huntingdon County, Pa., December 2, 1844, and is the eldest son of the late David K. and Anna R. (Knight) Ramey.

The ancestors of Mr. Ramey came to Amer- ica from Alsace-Loraine as early as 1788 and settled in Pennsylvania. His grandfather, whose name he perpetuates, was a soldier in

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the War of 1812. His father, whose death occurred in 1904, was, for many years, one of Blair County's men of financial power.

Frederick Ramey obtained his education in the public schools. He then learned the car- penter's trade as had his father before him and later he became identified with his father in the many enterprises which he so successfully founded and carried on. Subsequently he re- tired from active participation in business. During the Civil War, Mr. Ramey served one year in the Federal army. He has always been an interested and earnest citizen but has never sought political honors. Mr. Ramey and his family reside in a handsome home which is situated at No. 1109 Twelfth Avenue, Altoona.

W. H. CLOUSE was elected a justice of the peace in Taylor Township, Blair County, Pa., in February, 1910, was born across the line in Bedford County, in what is now known as Bloomfield Township, August 7, 1849. He was a son of George Clouse, who was a native of Saxony, Germany. The latter was a gun- smith and locksmith by trade and resided in Bloomfield Township when his death occurred in 1879, at the age of seventy-five years.

W., H. Clouse was reared in Bloomfield Township and was educated in the schools of Bedford County and at Alliance, O., graduat- ing from Mount Union College, at the latter place, in 1874. For eight consecutive years thereafter he taught school at Woodbury, be- ing principal of the schools a large part of the time and during 1874-5 he was principal of the schools of Roaring Spring, and still later taught again in Bedford County. After resid- ing for thirty-six years at Woodbury, in the spring of 1909, Mr. Clouse came to Taylor Township. He was part owner and for a short time was a member of the editorial staff of the Bedford Enquirer, this being in 1887-8, at which time he was also a member of the school board and served also as a justice of the peace at Woodbury. After severing his con- nection with the Enquirer Mr. Clouse en- gaged in the woolen manufacturing business,

purchasing what were known as the Keagy Woolen Mills, in Woodbury Township, and conducted them for fourteen years, as sole proprietor, under the style of Morrison's Cove Woolen Mills. His numerous activities and his honorable business relations made him a well known citizen and at one time he acceded to the wish of his friends and became a candi- date for the state legislature. He was post- master at Woodbury during President Harri- son's administration. Otherwise he has never been very active in politics but has been a stanch Republican ever since he cast his vote in 1872, for General Grant for President of the United States. He is a charter member of Woodbury Lodge, No. 539, F. & A. M., at Roaring Spring, and he belongs to the Odd Fellows at Woodbury, and to the Knights of Pythias and the P. O. S. of A. at Bedford.

A. W. BECKMAN, one of Altoona's representative business men, who has charge of the entire Baker estate and its many interests, is one of the enterprising and progressive young men that education and travel are developing into a type of manhood that is sure to find rich oppor- tunity for effort, no matter what may be the change in their native environment. Mr. Beckman was born in the city of Stock- holm, Sweden, in 1880, and came to America in 1901.

Ernst Beckman, father of Mr. Beckman, is one of Sweden's prominent public men and has made several visits of an official nature, to different parts of America. In 1904 he was president of the Swedish dele- gation to the Inter-Parliamentary Union that met at St. Louis, Missouri. He married a daughter of D. Woods Baker, who was killed in a steamboat accident when the daughter was only two weeks old.

Mr. Beckman was reared and educated in his native land. After reaching America he spent two years in the city of Philadelphia acquiring a knowledge of American business methods and then came to Altoona, where he was associated with the late S. C. Baker,

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his great-uncle, until the death of the latter in June, 1907, since which time Mr. Beck- man has had charge of the large family interests involved. He is interested in local enterprises being a director in the Suburban Home Company and secretary and treas- urer of the Home Water Supply Company. Mr. Beckman was married June 16, 1909, to Miss Margaret Leet, the only daughter of W. C. Leet, of Altoona. Mr. Beckman is a member of the University and Altoona Cricket Clubs.

SAMUEL S. BOTTENFIELD, who passed out of this life in 1905, was one of the foremost and highly esteemed citizens of Williamsburg, Pa., and besides his residence property in this borough was the owner of a farm of 150 acres, located on the outskirts of the borough of Williamsburg. He was born in March, 1834, in Bedford County, Pa., and was a son of John and Barbara (Snowberger) Bottenfield, who previous to their marriage were residents of Chambers- burg, Pa. His father was a carpet weaver by trade, but later in life engaged in agri- cultural pursuits. John and Barbara Bot- tenfield had three children: Nancy, who was the wife of Simon Ditch; Elizabeth, who was the wife of John Dell; and Samuel S., our subject.

Samuel S. Bottenfield obtained a com- mon school education and then engaged in farming, which he followed successfully during the greater part of his life. He was the owner of fine fruit orchards and vine- yards, but spent his declining years in retire- ment at Williamsburg, where he owned a fine residence, which is still occupied by his widow and daughter .. Besides his farm and residence property he also owned what is known as the "big spring" at Williamsburg, which is 140 feet in length with a breadth of thirty-eight feet and has a flow of 2,700 gallons per minute. This spring contains 83,000 gallons of water in length, and could be opened to twice its present size. The water never changes color, regardless of

hard rains, etc., and has been piped to the fine brick residence occupied by the widow of our subject. Mr. Bottenfield was identified with the Republican party in politics, and served as a member of the school board and of the borough council of Williamsburg. He was a director of the Paper Mills of this borough and was also a director of the First National Bank.

In the fall of 1872 Mr. Bottenfield was joined in marriage with Miss Mary Cowen, a daughter of John and Barbara (Hoover) Cowen, who were residents of Blair County and the parents of the following children : George and David, who were killed in the Civil War; Jacob; Harry; Catherine, who is the wife of George Shiffler; Louisa, who is the wife of D. S. Brumbaugh; Sarah, deceased ; Mary; Nancy, who married H. D. Smith ; and Edward H. One child was born to Mr. and Mrs. Bottenfield, Nora B., who lives with her widowed mother in Williams- burg. Mr. Bottenfield was a member of the Dunkard church, but his widow and daugh- ter are members of the Presbyterian church.

CLYDE E. BROWN,* a prominent mem- ber of the Blair County Bar, and one of the leading citizens of Altoona, Pa., was born June 28, 1867, in Bellefonte, Center County, Pa., but has been a resident of Blair County for about thirty-five years. He came to Al- toona, when a lad, attended the public schools and the Williamsburg Normal, after which he studied law in the office of W. S. Hammond, and was admitted to the bar in December, 1894. He has since been located at Altoona, where he has established an extensive and profitable practice, and also practices largely in all of the courts of the state and the Federal courts. Mr. Brown also represents several of the old corporations and is actively interested in other enterprises outside of his profession. He has always taken an active interest in pol- itics, and served on the Republican County Committee, of which he was secretary two years; he also served two terms as solicitor for the city school board. He is a member of

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the Blair County Bar Association, the Eagles, Royal Arcanum, and the Knights of Pythias. On November 30, 1904, Mr. Brown was united in marriage with Rachel A. Schmittle, of Huntington, Pa. They attend the Eighth Avenue M. E. Church of Altoona.

FREDERICK STIFFLER, a leading cit- izen of Allegheny Township, Blair County, Pa., is one of the veteran dairymen of this sec- tion, having been identified with this industry for over a quarter of a century. His dairy farm comprises thirty-five acres and the busi- ness is conducted according to modern meth- ods and sanitary regulations. He was born in Blair County, Pa., February 5, 1857, and is a son of James M. and Elizabeth W. (Weaver) Stiffler.

James M. Stiffler was born in Bedford County, Pa., a son of Frederick Stiffler, also of Bedford County, but probably of German parentage. James M. Stiffler became a man of public importance in Blair County and in 1876 was elected sheriff and served in that office for three years, and he was also a member of the board of directors of the Blair County Home. Agriculture was his business but he was fre- quently called upon to serve in office and was best known to township and county in some public capacity. His death occurred January 31, 1908. He married Elizabeth W. Weaver, who was born in Blair County and died in 1887. Of their family of children there are five survivors, as follows: Frederick; Lavina, who is the wife of W. H. Good, of Logan Township; Martha M., who is the wife of Frederick Maxfield, of Omaha, Neb .; and George W. and Mary F., both of whom live in Allegheny Township.

When Frederick Stiffler was twelve years old, his parents moved from Newry to Alle- gheny Township, where he completed his edu- cation in the public schools and has continued to reside. He devotes his attention almost en- tirely to his dairy interests and operates a milk route through Altoona. In politics he is a stanch Republican and has frequently been chosen by his fellow citizens for public posi-

tions in which intelligence, tact and good judgment were required. For three years he served as road supervisor of his township and during one year of this period was president of the board, and he is now serving in his third term as a member of the school board, of which he is treasurer.

Mr. Stiffler married Miss Mary C. Delozier a daughter of the late John Delozier, of Frankstown Township, and eight of their eleven children still survive, as follows : John D., William G., Joseph O., Lois L., Ross C., Lee C., Mary F. and Winnifred M. Mr. Stiffler is a member of the Royal Order of Moose, at Altoona.

EMIL T. CHERRY, M. D., who stands foremost among the many able physicians and skillful surgeons in active practice at Altoona, was born in Logan Township, Blair County, Pa., January 13, 1863, and is a son of John , W. and Henrietta (Brotherton) Cherry.

John W. Cherry, father of Dr. Cherry, was born in Logan Township, about 1840, where his parents, Anthony and Susanna (Kantner) Cherry, had been early settlers and became people of ample means. A number of their sons turned to agricultural pursuits but John W. learned the trade of cabinetmaking and conducted a shop and was one of the oldest undertakers at Altoona for many years. He married Henrietta Brotherton, a daughter of John and Mary Brotherton, and they had the following children born to them: Blair, An- nie, Laura M., Jennie, Emil T., Ella, Oscar and Roy. Annie married J. S. Leisenring, vice president of the Second National Bank of Altoona and a prominent attorney. Laura M., now deceased, was the wife of Dr. Charles B. Elliott.

Emil T. Cherry attended school in Logan Township and later the Altoona High School, after which he studied dentistry with the late Dr. John W. Isenberg. After two years of study of dental surgery, the young man de- cided to turn his attention to materia medica, and then placed himself as a student under the direction of his brother-in-law, Dr. C. B. El-

EMIL T. CHERRY, M. D.

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liott. When fully prepared, he entered the Indiana Medical College at Indianapolis, and there was graduated in 1884. He practiced for two years in that city and also served in the college dispensary for a time, after which he returned to his native state and for two years was established at Madera, in Clearfield County, following which he came to Altoona. This beautiful mountain city has been his field of effort ever since. He has been identified with many movements looking to the improve- ment of general health conditions and has often contributed large portions of his valuable time to these public-spirited efforts. His profes- sional connection is with the medical organiza- tions of county, state and country, while he is fraternally affiliated with several bene- ficiary bodies.

Dr. Cherry was married April 30, 1889, to Miss Lucetta T. Isett, a daughter of John D. and Margaret S. Isett, of Huntingdon County, Pa., and they have one daughter, Lucetta M., who is the wife of Charles M. Rhoades. Dr. Cherry's residence and office are situated at No. 1623 Eighth Avenue, Altoona.

CAPT. JAMES S. SHOLLAR, who served with credit in the Civil War, is now living in retirement at Williamsburg, Pa., where for many years he followed carpen- tering and contracting, and has been a resi- dent of this borough since 1857. He was born April II, 1842, in Blair County, Pa., and is a son of Jacob N. and Julia (White) Shollar. The father was a native of Lan- caster County, Pa., and the mother of Hunt- ingdon County. He was the youngest of six children born to his parents, namely ; Christopher, Margaret, Martin, Nancy, Thomas and James S.

James S. Shollar was educated in the common schools of the county and then learned the carpenter's trade, which he has followed in connection with contracting ever since. At the beginning of the Civil War he enlisted for three months' service with the 3rd Pa., Vol. Inf., then enlisted for nine months with the 125th Infantry, and

his third enlistment was with the 208th Pa. Inf., being advanced from the ranks to the captaincy of his company and serving in that capacity one year. He is politically identified with the Republican party and has served three years in the town council. He is a member of the G. A. R. Post No. 474 of Williamsburg. Religiously he is a member of the Presbyterian church.

On December 27, 1863, Capt. Shollar married Miss Isabel Cooper, a daughter of Samuel Cooper, who was a carpenter by trade and a well known resident of Will- iamsburg. She is one of the following children born to her parents: James; Isabel; Louis; Thaddeus, who died during the Civil War; Samuel and Harry. Mr. and Mrs. Shollar have reared the following children: Guy, who is engaged in carpentering at Altoona ; Juniata, who is the wife of Aaron Snyder ; Archie and Charles, twins; Frederick, who is an architect at Altoona; and Bessie, who is the wife of Floyd Koble.

THOMAS C. PARSONS,* one of the leading business men and representative citizens of Altoona, Pa., who carries on an extensive real estate, loan and investment business, was born in Center County, Pa., in 1854. He was reared and educated in that county, and after coming to Blair County clerked in a general store at Altoona for five years. He then embarked in busi- ness for himself, conducting a general store with well merited success for 25 years. Later he engaged in his present line of busi- ness, in which he has been highly success- ful. He handles his own real estate, and deals largely in loans and investments. Mr. Parsons was joined in marriage with Frances T. McGlathery (now deceased) and of their union was born one son, T. Chester Parsons, who is employed as time keeper for the Pennsylvania Railroad Company. Mr. Parsons holds membership with the First Presbyterian Church, and is now serving as a member of its board of trustees.

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FRANK J. MOLLOY, owner and proprie- tor of the Hotel Franklin, which is located at No. 904 Seventeenth Street, Altoona, Pa., has been in the hotel business for himself for the past twelve years, and previous to that time was engaged in the business with his father. He was born October II, 1872, at Altoona, Pa., a son of Francis P. and Margaret (Murphy) Molloy, the former a native of Ireland and the latter of Cambria County, Pa. The father was politically a Democrat ,and served in all the branches of the Altoona Coun- cil, and was the last fire chief of the volunteer fire department. Both parents are now de- ceased and buried at Altoona. They were parents of the following children: Ella R., who is the wife of John E. Purcell; Harry J., who is deceased; John E .; Margaret; Edna ; and William Donnick, who is deceased.

Frank J. Molloy attended the parochial schools of Altoona, then graduated from St. Vincent's College, which was conducted by the Benedictine Fathers, at Latrobe, Pa. After finishing his schooling he was employed as a clerk at the Logan House for two years, then bought out Jacob Lusch and engaged in the bottling business, operating under the firm name of Molloy and Dunphy. He later as- sisted his father in managing the Hotel Frank- lin, and since the death of his father, has been sole proprietor of same. In politics Mr. Mol- loy is independent, and is fraternally a mem- ber of the B. P. O. E. and the F. O. E. I11 June, 1902, Mr. Molloy married Mollie Dunphy, who is a daughter of Francis and Johanna (Carroll) Dunphy, who were resi- dents of this city. Both Mr. and Mrs. Molloy are members of the Sacred Heart Catholic Church.

WILLIAM A. PATTON was born at Union Furnace, Huntingdon County, Pa., on October 21, 1849, a son of George W. and Mary (Burket) Patton, the former of whom was born in 1817 and died in 1882 and was a prominent citizen of Blair County. His mother was born in 1825 and died in 1856. Mr. Patton received his education in the

schools of Altoona, finishing with a course in the High School. He entered the service of the Pennsylvania Railroad Company in the General Superintendent's office, Altoona, Jan- uary II, 1865, was transferred to Philadel- phia in December, 1871, and was appointed chief clerk in the office of Mr. A. J. Cassatt, General Manager, on August 1, 1872, and re- mained with him in that capacity while Mr. Cassatt filled the positions of General Man- ager, Third vice-president and First vice- president.

Upon Mr. Cassatt's resignation as First vice-president of the Pennsylvania Railroad Company, Mr. Patton was transferred to the president's department, and on April 1, 1884, appointed by the board of directors, general assistant. On February 10, 1897, he was ap- pointed assistant to the president of the Penn- sylvania Railroad Company, acting in the same capacity with the Philadelphia, Wil- mington & Baltimore Railroad, West Jersey & Seashore Railroad and Northern Central Railway Companies. On May 24, 1884, he was elected vice-president of the New York, Philadelphia & Norfolk Railroad Company, and upon the resignation of Mr. A. J. Cassatt to accept the presidency of the Pennsylvania Railroad Company, Mr. Patton was, on June 14, 1899, elected president, which position he fills in addition to his official connection with the Pennsylvania Railroad Company. On August 30, 1899, he was elected general chair- man of the Pennsylvania Railroad Depart- ment, Young Men's Christian Association of Philadelphia. He is also a director of The Real Estate Trust Company of Philadelphia, a trustee of the Presbyterian Hospital, a mem- ber of the board of trustees of the Bryn Mawr Presbyterian Church, president Board of Trustees St. John's Orphanage, which was founded by the late John Edgar Thomson for the care and education of daughters of em- ployes of the Pennsylvania R. R. Co. killed in the service, director of the Young Men's Christian Association of Philadelphia and a member of the International Committee of Young Men's Christian Associations of North

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America, as well as a member of the Valley Forge Park Commission of Pennsylvania, the Pennsylvania Society Sons of the Revolution and other organizations.

Mr. Patton married in Philadelphia on De- cember 13, 1876, Katharine Jane Linn, a daughter of John Atcheson Linn, a native of Perry County, Pa., and afterwards a well known citizen of Philadelphia. They had one child, John Linn Patton, born October 13, 1883, died October 6, 1900, who at the time of his death was a member of the Sophomore Class (1903), Princeton University.

Mr. Patton resides at Radnor, Delaware County, Pa. He has two brothers, T. Blair Patton, of Huntingdon, Pa., and J. Howard Patton, of Greensburg, Pa., and one sister, Mrs. Harold A. Freeman, of St. David's, Pa.

H. G. HAIR, manager of the mercantile business of D. M. Bare & Company, at Roaring Spring, Pa., and a citizen of high personal standing and public importance, was born at Woodbury, Bedford County, Pa., December 20, 1859, and is a son of Samuel R. and Margaret (Smith) Hair, both of old settled families of this section of Pennsylvania.

H. G. Hair attended the schools of Wood- bury until he was about seventeen years of age and then came to Roaring Spring and here entered the mercantile house of Morri- son, Bare & Cass, as a clerk, and has prac- tically been identified with the same ever since, having continued when the old firm was merged into the present one of D. M. Bare & Company. Growing up, as it were, in this house, Mr. Hair has made its interests his own and has the satisfaction of know- ing that his fidelity is appreciated. D. M. Bare & Company are interested in many of the leading enterprises of Roaring Spring and their department store, under Mr. Hair's able management, is one of the most satisfactory. It is a large concern and carries an immense stock of first class goods, including carpets, linoleum, oil cloth, wall paper, hardware, queensware, wood and

willow ware, groceries, dry goods, notions, shoes, rubbers, gents' furnishing goods and clothing for men and boys. Mr. Hair requires the assistance of about ten people. He is interested in the Roaring Spring Bank as one of its directors. He is identified with the Republican party and has frequently served in civic offices with credit to the borough, having been a member of its first council and subsequently serving in the same body. His interest in schools and churches is that of an upright and honor- able citizen, broad minded and intelligent in his outlook on life.

Mr. Hair was married to Miss Fannie C. Lorenz, of Leamersville, Pa., and they have five children : Gerald B., Edward C., Mary, Wilfred and Helen. Mr. and Mrs. Hair are members of the Methodist Episcopal church and he is a member of the board of trustees.

JACOB S. CARPER, one of North Woodbury Township's respected citizens, who has resided near Martinsburg since the spring of 1905, is a member of an old Bed- ford County family. He was born in Middle Woodbury Township, Bedford County, Pa., December 4, 1837. His father, Jacob Carper, was born in the East, but his mother, Eliza- beth (Smith) Carper, belonged to an old settled Bedford family.

Jacob Carper died in Bedford County in 1890 and his children were as follows : Mar- garet and Elizabeth, both residing in Bed- ford County; Philip and Jacob S., both residing in Blair County; Samuel, living in Bedford County ; William and David, both residing in Blair County; Mary, widow of Isaac Kauffman, living in Bedford County ; Elias, living in Blair County ; John, making his home in Nebraska; and Daniel and Fannie, both of whom are deceased.

When Jacob S. Carper was a boy it was not so easy to acquire a good education, there being no excellent school system as at present and country boys, as a rule, hav- ing to help on the farm at an early age. As opportunity was afforded him Mr. Carper

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went to school and later in life did all he could as president of the Taylor Township School Board, to bring an education within the reach of every child. He continued to reside in Bedford County until in the seven- ties, when he moved into Blair County and settled in Taylor Township. There he became a leading citizen and successfully carried on farming and stock raising until 1905, when he retired and located on his place near Martinsburg.

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Twentieth century history of Altoona and Blair County, Pennsylvania, and representative citizens, Part 83

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