Twentieth century history of Altoona and Blair County, Pennsylvania, and representative citizens, Part 88

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 88

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(Hollar) Sherman, both natives of Virginia.

A. F. Sherman remained in his native county until he was eighteen years of age, after which he traveled in several states and shortly after the close of the Civil War, about 1866-7, he came to Blair County, Pa., where he has resided ever since. He en- gaged in farming and for twenty years was also connected with brick making, but since 1892 has devoted himself almost exclusively to his dairy interests.

Mr. Sherman was married February 6, 1868, to Miss Melinda Piper, who was born in Allegheny Township, Blair County, Feb- ruary 21, 1849, a daughter of Daniel and Catherine (Stiffler) Piper. The father of Mrs. Sherman was born in Maryland and the mother in Bedford County, Pa. After marriage, Mr. and Mrs. Piper settled in Allegheny Township some seventy-five years ago, and died here, and their burial was in the Carson Valley Cemetery, of which Mr. Sherman had been a trustee for several years. Six children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Sherman, namely: William A., who is a merchant at Cross Keyes: Franklin E .; Carrie V., who is the wife of Harvey S. Shaw, of Allegheny Township; and Anna M., who is the wife of Dayton Bowen, of this township. Mr. and Mrs. Sherman are charter members of Allegheny Grange, Patrons of Husbandry, at Duncans- ville. In politics he is a Democrat. In the accumulation of his property, Mr. Sherman has been greatly assisted by his wife, to whom he gives much credit. They are among the most highly esteemed people of this section.

MARTIN H. MUMMERT, a successful general farmer of Woodbury Township, Blair County, Pa., who has been operating his father's farm of 215 acres, for himself for the past fifteen years, was born in Blair County January 21, 1867. His parents are Martin and Esther (Holsinger) Mummert, and his grandfather was also Martin Mummert.

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Martin Mummert is a farmer residing in in the public schools. When little more Franklin County, Pa., of which he is a native. Formerly he engaged in agricultural pur- suits in Woodbury Township. His family

consisted of five children : George, Amanda, Esther, Annie and Martin H. George is deceased. Martin Mummert and wife are members of the Dunkard church.

Martin H. Mummert attended school through boyhood and then began to make himself useful on the farm. As he grew older, many of his school mates turned their attention to other pursuits, some of them endeavoring to gain a foothold in the neigh- boring cities, but Mr. Mummert has always found the cultivating of the land and the growing of stock sufficiently interesting to him, and he has become one of the town- ship's excellent farmers and leading citizens. He was married in 1895 to Anna K. Mat- tern, who has the following brothers and sisters: Mary, who is the wife of James Hackett; Eva, who is the widow of Ephraim Burger; George; Pearl, who is the wife of John Stewart; William; and Alice, who is the wife of Charles Smith. Mr. and Mrs. Mummert have two children: Martin and Mary Elizabeth, both of whom live at home. The family attend the United Breth- ren church. Mr. Mummert is a member of Juniata Lodge, F. & A. M. at Hollidays- burg.

ROBERT F. BANKERT, who is serving Blair County, Pa., as one of her board of commissioners, is a well known citizen of Altoona, and is an honored veteran of the Civil War. He was born in Westmoreland County, Pa., June 17, 1843, and is a son of Jacob and Susannah (Robinson) Bankert.

Jacob Bankert and wife were both natives of Pennsylvania, and lived into old age. The fathers of both had served in the War of 1812. For many years Jacob Bankert was a shoe merchant. His death occurred in 1891, he having survived his wife by one year. They had four children.

Robert F. Bankert obtained his education

than a boy he began his apprenticeship to the painter's trade and completed it in 1859 and followed the same for a year and then entered the Federal army as a soldier. He enlisted on April 18, 1861, for three months and then re-enlisted August 25, 1861, in Co. E, of the famous Roundhead Regiment, but after serving one month with that body was transferred to the no less distinguished regi- ment, the 105th Pa. Vol. Inf., known as the Wildcat Regiment, in which he served un- til December 28, 1863. When the call came for veterans he immediately re-enlisted and served in the same regiment until July II, 1865. He not only participated in many of the hardest fought battles of the great strug- gle, but he was twice wounded and suffered many of the hardships of war, but with the patience and courage which won him the admiration and esteem of his comrades. He was present at the surrender of General Lee to General Grant, and can never forget that impressive ceremony, nor can he ever fail to enjoy in memory the pageant of the great final review at Washington City. On Octo- ber 21, 1910, occurred the twenty-fifth re- union of the 105th Pa. Vol. Inf., at Punx- sutawney, Jefferson County. It was a joy- ful occasion, the living over the old dangers and triumphs, and the renewing of old friendships, marking a happy milestone in the lives of men who once faced death on every breeze in order that the country should be preserved for their children.

After his honorable discharge, Sergeant Bankert returned to Westmoreland County and shortly afterward became connected with the Pennsylvania Gas and Coal Com- pany, with which he remained until 1869, when he came to Altoona and resumed work at his trade. Mr. Bankert soon proved him- self a responsible and reliable citizen, in- vested in property and became interested in public affairs and in the fall of 1908 was elected a county commissioner of Blair County, with a majority of 1771. The duties of this office have claimed his time

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since then and his reputation is that of an honest and efficient official.

Mr. Bankert was married to Miss Ella Trotter, a daughter of Robert and Cather- ine Trotter, and they have a family of ten children. The family residence is at No. 1009 Eighth Avenue, Altoona. Mr. Bank- ert and family are members of the Presby- terian church. He is identified with the G. A. R. Post No. 62, and the Veteran Legion No. 17; is an Odd Fellow, a Knight of Pythias and is also a member of the Hep- tasophs, the Royal Order of Moose and ot the Volunteer Firemen of Altoona.

JOHN H. BRUMBAUGH, who carries on general farming on a tract of sixty acres in Woodbury Township, Blair County, Pa., was born at Henrietta, Pa., a son of John and Esther (Hoover) Brumbaugh, and a grandson of David Brumbaugh, who was a native of Germany. Both parents were natives of Huntingdon County, Pa., but later on came to Blair County, where they carried on general farming. They were members of the Brethren church. In pol- itics the father was identified with the Re- publican party. The following children were born to John and Margaret Brum- baugh: David: Susan, who married Isaac Burket ; Rachel; Elizabeth, who is deceased, was the wife of George Metzgar; Sarah, who is deceased, was the wife of Samuel Nicodemus ; John H .; and Mary, who is the wife of Christian Beach. The mother of these children died, and the father subse- quently married Catherine Dilling, and of the second union were born. Henry, and Harriet. The latter is the wife of Michael Detwiler.

John Brumbaugh was reared in Blair County and after obtaining a common school education engaged in agricultural pursuits, which he has made his life occu- pation. He also followed threshing in con- nection with farming for about eight years, and is one of the substantial and public spirited citizens of the township.

Mr. Brumbaugh was first married in 1884 to Nancy J. Acker, who was a daughter of Henry Acker, an agriculturist of Huston Township, and to them were born six chil- dren: Vance, who died aged nine months ; and Joyce, Viola, Howard, Ernest and Grace. Mrs. Brumbaugh died May 7, 1894, and our subject subsequently married Anna Snowberger, who is a daughter of John B. Snowberger. No children were born of the second union. Mr. Brumbaugh is politically an adherent of the Republican party. He attends the Lutheran church, of which his wife is a member.

JOHN S. WERTMAN, who has been employed as station agent and operator for the Pennsylvania Railway Company at Mc- Kee Station, Pa., since February, 1893, was born at Millerstown, Blair County, Pa., September 1, 1859, and is a son of Samuel and Susan (Smith) Wertman. Samuel Wertman was a native of Bedford County, Pa., and was a son of Jacob Wertman, who was one of the pioneer settlers of Bedford County. The mother of our subject was born in what is now known as Blair County, Pa.

John S. Wertman was reared in Blair County, Pa., and was educated in the schools of Blair and Bedford Counties, and during early manhood taught fourteen terms in the schools of these counties. In 1891 he entered the employ of the Pennsyl- vania Railroad Company at Henrietta, Pa., acting as telegraph operator and station agent for fourteen months, and since Feb- ruary, 1893, has served continuously in that capacity at McKee Station. Mr. Wertman is prominent in the ranks of the Republican party in this vicinity, and has served for the past nine years as a member of the school board at Freedom, and during eight years of this period he was treasurer of the school fund. He also served two terms as auditor of this township, and for two years was a member of the Republican Central Commit- tee from Freedom Township, which met at

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HISTORY OF BLAIR COUNTY

Hollidaysburg, Pa. Fraternally he is a member and is vice grand of the I. O. O. F., of which he was for nearly four years finan- cial secretary, and is also a member of the J. O. A. M., both of East Freedom, and also served as financial secretary of the lat- ter order a number of years.

Mr. Wertman was united in marriage with Miss Caroline Snyder, a daughter of Christopher Snyder, late of Roaring Spring, Blair County, Pa., and of their union were born nine children: George L., who re- sides at Roaring Spring, Pa .; Mary, who is the wife of B. D. Green of McKee; Harry G., who lives at McKee Station; Samuel E., who resides in McKee; William W., who is a resident of McKee; and Bessie, Charles, Arthur and Marie. Mrs. Wertman passed out of this life in January, 1906.

SAMUEL M. ROSS, M. D., deceased, for years was an eminent man of medicine at Al- toona, Pa., attending to a large private prac- tice, serving as a member of the staff of the city hospital and being special surgeon for the Pennsylvania Railroad Company. In every way he was a worthy and useful citizen, but he accepted no public offices nor engaged in any business enterprises which would claim the time and attention he felt should be given en- tirely to his beloved profession. Dr. Ross was born in Indiana County, Pa., November 9, 1821, and was a son of John and Eleanor (McKnight) Ross.

John Ross was born in Perry County, Pa. The family is of Scotch extraction. He moved from his native county to Indiana County in 1800, where he lived until 1846, dying when aged seventy years. He was twice married, his second wife being the mother of the late Dr. Samuel M. Ross and seven other children, all of whom have passed away.

Samuel M. Ross was afforded excellent edu- cational advantages for his day, being sent to the Indiana Academy and later the Canons- burg Academy, which was a noted institution at that time and was patronized by students from all over the state. He prepared for col-

lege with his half-brother, the late Dr. John D. Ross, and then entered Jefferson Medical College, Philadelphia, from which he was grad- uated March 9, 1850. He settled at Darling- ton, in Beaver County, in 1852, where he re- sided for sixteen years, after which he spent a few years at Greenville, in Mercer County, from which place he came to Altoona in the spring of 1875. His medical practice in this " city covered a period of twenty-two years. He was identified with the medical organiza- tions of the Nation, State and county and became one of the most thoroughly trusted and valued physicians and surgeons of this section, his skill being sought and his advice treasured over a wide territory. His death oc- curred at Altoona on September 13, 1897. He was a member and an elder in the Second Presbyterian Church. In his political views he was a Republican.

Dr. Samuel M. Ross was married December 23, 1852, to Miss Sarah C. Spear, a daughter of William Spear, a prominent citizen of Blair County, and four children were born to them, namely: William S., Margaret M., Fannie F. and John Louis. The last named died Sep- tember 20, 1874. Mrs. Ross died after a short illness on August 26, 1910, at her residence, No. 1218 Twelfth Avenue.

William Spear Ross, the eldest of the above family, became a physician and has built up a very large practice as a specialist on the eye, ear, nose and throat, maintaining his well equipped office in the family home residence. He read medicine with his father and then entered the medical department of the Uni- versity of Wooster, having previously attended Thiel College, and in March, 1876, was grad- uated with his medical degree. In the follow- ing year he took a post-graduate course at Jefferson Medical College, Philadelphia, and a supplementary course at the Wills' Eye and Ear Infirmary in that city. Like his late father, he is a member of the county and State Medi- cal Associations. He married Miss Emma Weir and they have two children. Dr. and Mrs. Ross reside at No. 1216 Twelfth Avenue, Altoona.

BELLWOOD BOROUGH RESERVOIR, BELLWOOD

NATURAL ARCH. ARCH SPRING

POINT VIEW, NEAR HOLLIDAYSBURG

PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH, SINKING VALLEY

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MICHAEL K. DETWILER, who is a manufacturer of various kinds of handles, re- sides on a tract of one acre in Woodbury Township, Blair County, Pa., and was born in this township, February 25, 1861, a son of Joseph and Nancy (Keifer) Detwiler. His paternal grandfather was Peter Detwiler, who came here from Lancaster County, and his maternal grandfather was Henry Keifer, who was of German descent.

Joseph Detwiler, father of our subject, was a farmer and mechanic, and both parents were members of the Dunkard church. The father was politically identified with the Democratic party. Joseph and Nancy Detwiler were parents of the following children: Elizabeth, who is the wife of William Hale; Andrew; William; John; Joseph; Michael K .; Samuel; Jacob; Sarah, who married Reuben Hetrick; Martha, who married Samuel Faust ; and Rose, who married Samuel Hoover.

Michael K. Detwiler was educated in the district schools of Woodbury Township, and at the age of thirteen years was engaged in making handles, and has followed that line of business in connection with farming or car- pentering all of his life. He makes a specialty of manufacturing quarry handles, and carries on the business on the one-acre tract in Wood- bury Township, where he lives. Mr. Detwiler is politically a Democrat, and attends the Dunkard church.

On January 26, 1899, Mr. Detwiler was united in marriage with Harriet Brumbaugh, a daughter of John and Catherine (Dilling) Brumbaugh, and a sister of John H. Brum- baugh. Four children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Detwiler : May, Paul, Anna, and Ray- mond.

LEWIS P. ROBERTS, who deals exten- sively in real estate and general insurance, is one of the representative and highly respected business men of Juniata, Pa., and was born . January 25, 1857, in Minersville, Schuylkill County, Pa., his parents being Lewis Roberts, Esq., and Catherine Roberts. Both parents were born in Wales and were brought to

America when they were quite young. L. P. Roberts was reared and educated in the pub- lic schools and at the age of sixteen learned the machinist trade under the firm of Gartley & Fox, in Minersville, at which he served at various places as a journeyman. In 1887 he was engaged as foreman of the Pennsylvania Diamond Drill Works at Birdsboro, Pa., where he remained for five years when he moved to Juniata, where he had secured employment as a gang foreman in the Juniata shops of the Pennsylvania Railroad Shops. Here he was employed in different departments until the first day of July, 1904, when he resigned from the service of the company, and he then bought out the fire insurance and steam ship business of the oldest agency in Altoona, Messrs. Keer and Barcley. One year later he disposed of this agency to locate in the real estate and gen- eral insurance business in Juniata, where he was the first to establish a real estate and in- surance business, and has been eminently suc- cessful in conducting the same. He deals largely in fire insurance, and has erected a large number of dwelling houses-a total of sixty-six to the end of 1910. Mr. Roberts was one of the first residents of Juniata and was elected as one of the first school directors, where he served for seven years; four years of this time he was president of the board. He also served on the borough, of which he was president for one term. He is fraternally a Mason and a member of Union Lodge, No. 479, Birdsboro, Berks County, Pa., and the I. O. O. F., Bellview Lodge, No. 497, of Juniata, Pa .; also Lodge No. 132, of Hepta- sophs, of Altoona, Pa. In 1880 Mr. Roberts married Amanda E. Crone, of Minersville, Pa., and to them have been born three children- Catherine, who is the wife of George Clayton Spurr, who is secretary of the Pennsylvania Railroad Y. M. C. A., of Sunbury, Pa .; Lewis D. Roberts, who is in partnership with his father (he married Elda Stuckey, of Roar- ing Springs, Pa.); and Bertha May, who is married to Charles Edward Smith, of Juniata, Pa., employed by the Pennsylvania Railroad Company, at Altoona as chief draughtsman of the Altoona Machine Shops. The religious

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connection of the family is with the Methodist Episcopal church.

ELINAS M. CLAPPER, president of the Allegheny Township School Board is one of the leading men of this section and is engaged in the blacksmith business in addition to farm- ing his forty-five acres of land and conducting a dairy. He was born in Allegheny Town- ship, Blair County, Pa., September 30, 1853, and is a son of Emanuel and Sarah ( Rhodes) Clapper.

Emanuel Clapper was born near Yellow Springs, Blair County, Pa., a son of Daniel Clapper, who was an early settler there, and moved to Allegheny Township when his son was seven years of age. The latter grew to manhood in Allegheny Township and became a man of public note in his neighborhood, serv- ing for a long period in the offices of school director and tax collector. He was one of the early members and liberal supporters of the Lutheran church. He married Sarah Rhodes, who was born in Indiana County, Pa .; and of their family of children there are six yet living, namely: Sylvester R., who lives in Logan Township; Elinas M .; Anna M., who is the wife of S. W. Piper, of Duncansville ; Melinda, who is the wife of B. F. Leighty, of Altoona; Laura, who is the wife of B. M. Mitchell, of Altoona; and Margaret K. and Nettie, both of whom live at Altoona.

Elinas M. Clapper has spent his life in Allegheny Township and in large measure has made his own way in the world. As soon as his school period was over he learned the black- smith trade and has continued work in that line while also interested in farming and dairying near Duncansville. Mr. Clapper married Miss Caroline E. Wyerman, a daughter of the late John Wyerman, of Allegheny Township, and they have had four children, namely: Elva G., Charles W., Della M. and Mary E. The eldest daughter is deceased. In politics, Mr. Clapper is a Democrat. He served twelve years as assessor in Allegheny Township, for thirty years has been a trustee of the Carson Valley Cemetery Association, and is serving in his

fourth term as president of the school board. He is a member of the Lutheran church at Duncansville and one of the elders. For a number of years he has been a member, and in fact is a charter member of the Duncansville Grange, Patrons of Husbandry.

DANIEL BOHN, M. D., a representative member of the medical profession of Altoona, Pa., with the interests of which city he has been identified for the past nine years, was born in Lebanon County, Pa., in 1874, and in 1891 was graduated from the Lebanon High School. His medical education was secured in Hahemann Medical College, at Philadelphia, where he was graduated in the class of 1894.

Dr. Bohn began the practice of medicine at Lickdale, Lebanon County, where he remained for six years and then came to Altoona where his field has been larger and here he has built up a very satisfactory general practice. He is the examination physician for the order of Modern Woodmen and is on the medical staff of Mercy Hospital. He is a member of the Blair County . Homeopathic Medical Society and also the State organization. His activities in the line of his profession at Altoona have frequently been given without hope or expecta- tion of reward, the indigent have been treated, drugs have been donated and medical advice freely offered when emergencies have arisen. He is an honored and valued citizen.

Dr. Bohn was married in 1895 to Miss Bertha Wentz, of Lebanon, Pa., and they have three children: Violet, Earl and Ralph. Dr. Bohn is a member of the First U. B. Church and is serving on its official board. His fraternal relations are with the P. O. S. of A., and with the Modern Woodmen.

JOHN K. LOOSE, who has been post- master of Larke, Pa., for the past twelve years, is also proprietor of a general store, and the owner of two tracts of farm land, besides his residence property, consisting of nine acres. He was born October 27, 1851, at Henrietta, Pa., and is a son of John B. and Mary (Ken-

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singer) Loose, and a grandson of William Loose, who came here from Germany. Both parents were born in Blair County, Pa., and the father followed shoemaking. He was politically a Democrat, and was religiously a member of the Church of God. John B. and Mary Loose reared the following children : Adam; Margaret, deceased; George; William; D. K .; Ludia, the wife of William Riley; and John K.

John K. Loose was educated in the common schools and at an early age began working at the carpenter's trade, which he followed for many years. He was for eighteen years pro- prietor of a general blacksmith shop here, and for the past nine years has carried on general farming in connection with his general store, and, as noted above, has also been postmaster. Mr. Loose owns two tracts of farm land, one of forty-seven acres and the other of fifty-two acres, and is also the owner of two dwellings at Martinsburg, Pa. In politics, Mr. Loose is identified with the Republican party, and has served three years as a school director of this township. He is a member of the Farmers' Grange, and attends the Church of God.

In 1875 Mr. Loose was joined in marriage with Hannah Jane Hoover, a daughter of Jonathan and Elizabeth Hoover, farmers and well known residents of Woodbury Township. Mrs. Loose is the eldest of the following chil- dren: Hannah Jane, David, George, Andrew, Samuel. Mr. and Mrs. Loose have reared the following children : Harvey, Elizabeth, Albert, Emory, Ross, Harry, Florence, and Margaret, who is the wife of William Lynn. Mr. and Mrs. Lynn have two children: Elizabeth and Margaret.

PROF. HENRY S. WERTZ, a prominent business man of Duncansville, Pa., senior member of the Duncansville Granite and Marble Works, is one of the best known edu- cators in Blair County, having been more or less identified with educational work since he was nineteen years of age. He was born in Greenfield Township, Blair County, Pa., March

4, 1849, and is a son of Henry and Catherine (Stephens) Wertz.

Henry Wertz was born at Dayton, O., and his wife in Blair County, Pa., and both died in Greenfield Township. Nicholas Stephens, the maternal great-grandfather, was a pioneer in Blair County and his son, also Nicholas, resided for many years in Blair Township. In his later years he moved to Benton County, Ia., where he died, an octogenarian.

When Henry S. Wertz was about four years old, his parents moved to Somerset County, Pa., but six years later returned to Blair County and the father resumed farming in Greenfield Township. Henry S. Wertz was ten years old at that time and he attended the local schools until prepared for higher courses and then entered Juniata College, at Martins- burg, and later became a student in Dickinson Seminary, at Williamsport. When nineteen years of age he became a teacher in Blair County and subsequently was principal of the Second Ward School at Altoona, for two years, and for four years was principal of the Third Ward School. He advanced rapidly in the confidence of the people and in May, 1891, he was elected county superintendent of Blair County and was thrice reelected, serving four consecutive terms in that important position. After becoming interested also in other busi- ness lines, Prof. Wertz continued to devote a part of his time to teaching, for some five years, during the summer seasons, giving in- struction in mathematics and languages at Juniata College. For twenty years he has been a resident of Duncansville and has ever been an active and interested citizen. He is serving as borough treasurer and has filled this office for a number of years and formerly was secretary of the council. Although nominally a Democrat he is inclined to entertain inde- pendent views on many questions, being progressive and broad-minded, as is indicated by his appearing as a candidate for county representative on the Prohibition ticket, for Blair County, to the state legislature.

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Twentieth century history of Altoona and Blair County, Pennsylvania, and representative citizens, Part 88

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