Twentieth century history of Altoona and Blair County, Pennsylvania, and representative citizens, Part 91

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 91

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The H. S. Kerbaugh Company is one of the largest contracting firms in the country. Its main office is at No. 922 Arcade Building, Market and Twelfth Streets, Philadelphia, and they have shops located at different points, those at Bellwood being one of the most im- portant. The business is general contracting for every kind of railroad construction, barge work, aqueduct and bridge building, in fact

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every kind of similar work. The Bellwood shops are the company's general repair shops but additional repair and construction work is accepted. The company maintained a tempo- rary shop just outside of Harrisburg before coming to Bellwood and for two years Mr. Irvin had charge there. The Bellwood plant started building in December, 1904, and started operating, May 1, 1905. An average of eighty- five men are given employment and at times 240 men are required. The successful manage- ment and satisfactory work of so large a plant, indicates that Mr. Irvin possesses unusual ex- ecutive ability together with thorough tech- nical knowledge.

Mr. Irvin was married first, on December 16, 1890, to Miss Emma Gardner, a native of Marion County, O. Her death occurred at Toledo, O., October 31, 1902, and her burial was at Marion. She is survived by three sons : James A., Earl H. and Raymond D. Mr. Irvin was married second, to Miss Nina F. Wottring, a native of Prospect, O., and they have one daughter, Mary Margaret. Mr. and Mrs. Irvin attend the Presbyterian church at Bellwood. A Republican in politics, he con- sistently supports the candidates of that party but in the performance of his duties as a member of the borough council, he only favors those measures which promise civic advance- ment, irrespective of politics. He is identified with the Masonic fraternity both at Tyrone and Harrisburg.

PROF. J. K. RITCHEY, principal of the - Roaring Spring High School, at Roaring Spring, Pa., has devoted his life to educational work and in his field of endeavor is one of the best known men in Blair County. He was born at Everett, Bedford County, Pa., January 3, 1866, and is a son of Isaac W. Ritchey, who is a resident of Yellow Creek, Bedford County, Pa.

J. K. Ritchey was in his ninth year when his parents removed to New Enterprise, Bed- ford County, and there he was reared, secur- ing his early educational training in the public schools of that place. Subsequently he attended

the Pennsylvania State Normal School at Mil- lersville, where he was graduated in 1892, hav- ing practically paid his own way without as- sistance, having commenced to teach school when only eighteen years of age, with this end in view. Having decided to devote himself to educational work, Mr. Ritchey entered upon his career with an enthusiasm which has never departed. He has met with cordial recogni- tion and has filled many important positions. For a time he was principal of the public schools of Loysburg, Pa., for three years was principal of the Woodbury schools and then came to the Roaring Spring High School in 1896. He takes a very active interest in all educational institute work and for eighteen years has conducted summer Normal schools of his own and during this time has had over 400 successful teachers among his students. These instructive summer courses have been held at Roaring Spring, Woodbury and Loys- burg, Pa., and have been largely attended. He has ably filled public positions on numerous oc- casions. He served several terms as a member of the permanent certificate examining board, under appointment of Hon. Nathan C. Schaf- fer, superintendent of public instruction, in Blair County, and for a time was chairman of the board. Prof. Ritchey keeps in touch with his old college comrades by his membership and interest in the Millersville Alumni Association, and is chairman of the Blair County board. He has a host of personal friends and admirers and possesses every qualification for the office of county superintendent of schools, for which he is a candidate.

Prof. Ritchey was married to Miss Ida M. Wright, who was born at Pleasantville, Bed- ford County, Pa., a daughter of Penrose Wright, a resident of Roaring Spring. They reside in this borough, but Prof. Ritchey owns and manages a valuable farm of 146 acres, which lies in Taylor Township. He is a mem- ber of the Lutheran church and for a number of years has been superintendent of the Sun- day-school.

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EDGAR B. GREENE, superintendent of the Edison Electric Illuminating Company, at Altoona, Pa., with business office at No. 1108 Twelfth Street, has been identified with elec- tric lighting for a number of years, this ex- perience making him almost invaluable to con- cerns that have large capital invested and ex- pensive works and equipments for the carrying on of large business enterprises. Mr. Greene is not only well qualified but he possesses also the energy and executive ability demanded in a position like the one he so capably fills. He was born long before the days in which the use of electricity became a necessity of daily life, on September II, 1859, on the old Greene homestead in Huntingdon County, Pa.

The Greene family traces its ancestry to Scotland from which country the grandfather came to America in boyhood. His death oc- curred in Huntingdon County at the age of seventy years. Of his family of children, one son, Frank P., who later became the father of Edgar B. Greene, was born in 1835.

In 1861 Frank P. Greene entered the Federal army and subsequently became a veteran soldier, participating in many of the most serious battles of the war. He was honorably discharged after more than three years service, after suffering great hardships. Although able to return to his family it was with impaired health and from this exposure he contracted disease which probably shortened his life. He married Lavina Burrows, whose father came from England and settled in Pennsylvania. Four children were born to them.

Edgar B. Greene attended school in Hunt- ingdon and in Center Counties and graduated from the Bellefonte High School. He then learned the carpenter's trade with his father and followed it for about seven years, in the meanwhile becoming much interested in elec- tricity which was becoming more and more recognized as a useful agent as its nature be- came better understood. In 1883, Mr. Greene became the manager of the Edison Construc- tion Company at Bellefonte, and three years later came from there to Altoona to become

superintendent of the Edison Electric Light Company.

While residing at Bellefonte, Mr. Greene was married to Miss Inez Minerva O'Bryan, of that city, and they have four children : James A., Frank L., Nannie and Bessie. Mr. Greene and family are members of the First Methodist Episcopal Church. The comfortable family home is situated at No. 2213 Second Avenue, Altoona. In politics, Mr. Greene is a Republican. Fraternally he is connected with the Masons, the Odd Fellows, the Elks and the Knights of Pythias.

AARON G. GARBER, whose farm of 100 acres of well improved land is situated near Newry, in Blair Township, Blair County, Pa., is a well known, reliable and representative citizen of this section. He was born in the northern part of Bedford County, Pa., August 4, 1858, and is a son of John B. and Catherine (Guntz) Garber.

John B. Garber was born in Taylor Town-, ship, Blair County, Pa., a son of John Garber, who was one of the early settlers in that region. John B. Garber was a blacksmith by trade and followed the same in Taylor Township for some years and then engaged in farming. His death occurred in June, 1890. He married Catherine Guntz, who was born at Conemaugh, Pa., and survived her husband but six months. Of their children the following survive : Charles, who lives in Bedford County, Pa .; Alexander, who resides near Williamsburg; George, who is a farmer in Taylor Township; Isaac, who moved to Wood County; James N., who is a physician in practice at Detroit, Mich .; Harry, who lives in Wood County; Edward, who resides near Tyrone, Pa .; Aaron G .; Susan, who is the wife of Daniel Dick, of Taylor Township; Almira, who is the wife of George C. Albright, of Roaring Springs, Pa .; and Annie, who is the wife of Lafayette Sell, of Roaring Springs. The late John B. Garber was a soldier in the Civil War.

Aaron G. Garber grew to manhood in Taylor Township, where he attended school. Later he moved to Freedom Township, where he

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lived for eight years and then moved into Frankstown Township and lived there until 1904, when he came to his present farm near Newry, in Blair Township. He devotes his land to agricultural purposes, raising grain and other products and growing excellent stock.

Mr. Garber was married to Miss Almira Shaw, who was born in Freedom Township, Blair County, a daughter of William Shaw, a former well known citizen, and seven children have been born to them: Elmer P., John S., Frank S., Ralph R., Aaron, Mary E. and Martha. Mary E. is the wife of Clarence Long, of Blair Township. Mr. Garber and family belong to the Church of God at Roar- ing Springs. He is a Republican in politics. Like the majority of the successful and pro- gressive agriculturists of this section, Mr. Garber is a member of Allegheny Grange, Patrons of Husbandry, at Duncansville ..

JACOB L. CONFER, a representative citizen of Frankstown Township, Blair County, Pa., owns property in Frankstown village and also forty-two acres of valuable land near it. He was born in this township, December 6, 1859, and is a son of Jacob and Eliza (Baker) Confer.

Jacob Confer was born in Bedford County, Pa. He was a farmer and owned property in Frankstown Township, where he died and his burial was in the Geeseytown Cemetery. He married Eliza Baker, a native of Blair County, who is also deceased. They were members of the Methodist Episcopal church. They had nine children, as follows: James S., William, George W., Samuel C., Angus L., Sarah M., Jacob L., Catherine S. and Elmer E. Sarah M. married Joseph Robison. Catherine S. . married E. W .. Bingenheimer.

Jacob L. Confer had but a small amount of schooling, attending a few months in the winter time when there was no work on the farm. After he was twenty years old he gave his entire time to helping his father. When twenty-five years of age he went to Minne- sota. His brothers, George W. and Angus L., were in the wholesale meat business and for

three years he acted as a salesman for them. For five years afterward he was interested in a sheep ranch and then sold his interest to his brother, George W. Two more years were spent on a neighboring ranch and then he became second foreman on a third ranch and in this position had 32,000 head of sheep to look after. He led a strenuous life, his day beginning at about five o'clock in the morning and extending to from nine to ten o'clock at night. After leaving the sheep country he oc- cupied himself in various ways, while seeing different parts of the country, for about eighteen months and then returned to Penn- sylvania. He is a leading citizen of Franks- town Township as noted above, having con- cerned himself with its important affairs and through travel and experience possessing quali- fications that others have not had the same chance to obtain. He has been particularly interested in school matters and is serving in his eighth year on the township school board, of which he is treasurer, for two years was secretary and for three years was president. He also served six months as secretary of the board of supervisors, having been appointed by Judge Bell.

On May 25, 1893, Mr. Confer was married to Miss Cora May Merritts, a daughter of Capt. Andrew J. and Catherine (Kephart) Merritts. Captain Merritts earned his title by serving four years in the Civil War. By trade he was a furnace blower. Mrs. Confer has four brothers and one sister, namely: Harry, Wilbur, Charles, Calvin, and Dessie, who is the wife of Howard Shope.

Mr. and Mrs. Confer have the following family: Madeline Baker, who attends school in Minnesota; and Gladys Belle, Lafayette Chalmer, Muzeta M., Mylo Cushman, Cath- erine M., T. DeWitt Talmadge, Ronald, J. Layton, and Angus Lloyd. Mr. Confer is a member of the Lutheran church, while Mrs. Confer belongs to the Methodist Episcopal church. In politics he is a Republican. He is a member of the Forresters and of the Grange. Mr. Confer is one of the enterprising men of this section who are making an effort to or-

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ganize an independent telephone company through Scotch Valley, from Hollidaysburg to Beaver Dam. If energy and perseverance will accomplish it, this public spirited enterprise will succeed.

S. A. GAILEY, superintendent of the Water Works of Altoona, Pa., has been a resi- dent of this city since December, 1874, and is a native of Juniata Township, Blair County, Pa., where he was born in 1856, a son of Wil- liam and Martha Gailey.

William Gailey, father of our subject, was born in County Donegal, Ireland, and came to America in 1844, locating first in Philadelphia, where he resided ten years. In 1854 he came to Blair County, Pa., where he was employed for ten or twelve years by the Penna. R. R. Company, after which he followed farming for a number of years.

S. A. Gailey came to Altoona in 1874 and early in life learned the plumber's trade, and was employed by the Pennsylvania Railroad Company until 1886. In April of that year he became superintendent of the Water Works of Altoona and has served continuously in that capacity since. Mr. Gailey is also identified with various business enterprises of this city, being secretary of the board of directors of the Altoona Times Company, director of the Union Building and Loan Association, and president of the Home Purchasing Company.

On May 12, 1880, Mr. Gailey was united in marriage with Frances M. Campbell of Clearfield, Pa., and of their union was born two sons, William Hugh, deceased, and Samuel A., who is in the employ of Charles McAleer, plumber, as an apprentice. The religious con- nection of the family is with the First Pres- byterian Church, of which Mr. Gailey is a member of the official board. Mr. Gailey is fraternally affiliated with the Masons, being a Knight Templar, and with the Modern Wood- men.

JAMES W. CHARLES, proprietor of the Hotel Carlton. one of the most modern and best equipped hostelries of Altoona, Pa., was born at Hollidaysburg, Pa., July 16, 1873,

and is a son of Thomas J. and Margaret (Esty) Charles.

Thomas J. Charles is a well known retired resident of Altoona, who for forty-nine years and nine months was passenger car builder for the Pennsylvania Railroad. He is active in Democratic politics. He married Margaret Esty and they have the following children : William H., Mamie, James W., Marshall, Pearl and Susan. With his family he belongs to the Methodist Episcopal church.

James W. Charles obtained his education in the public schools. On June 21, 1909, he took charge of the Hotel Carlton, having had twelve years of previous experience in hotel keeping. The Hotel Carlton offers both comforts and luxuries to its guests and is able to accommodate a large number, having twen- ty-seven rooms and twenty-two fitted up for sleeping apartments. Mr. Charles is a genial, careful host and a large amount of patronage is given this excellent hotel by both transient and permanent custom.

In 1906, Mr. Charles was married to Miss Ella Matthews, a daughter of James Matthews of Altoona. Mrs. Charles is a member of the Catholic church. Politically he is a Re- publican. He belongs to the fraternal order of Eagles and to the Altoona Gun Club, and is an all around popular citizen.

ANDREW TYBOUT STONE, the sub- ject of this article, was born in Hollidays- burg, Pa., on February 22, 1848. He is the son . of Colonel William and Martha (Thomas) Stone, both deceased.

Mr. Stone attended the public schools of Hollidaysburg until the age of twelve years, when he entered the iron foundry of Mc- Lanahan and Stone Co., as an apprentice.

On June 3, 1863, Mr. Stone enlisted in Co. F, Independent Battalion Pa. Militia, Capt. Dan J. Travis, and served for sixty days, being discharged August 8, 1863.

After being discharged from the army Mr. Stone returned to the McLanahan-Stone Foundry in Hollidaysburg, and completed his trade as a moulder.

JAMES W. CHARLES

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In August, 1867, Mr. Stone left McLana- han-Stone for whom he had worked after completing his apprenticeship, and went to Providence, R. I., where he was employed by Fuller's Iron Foundry.

In April, 1868, during a depression in business and consequent scarcity of work, Mr. Stone shipped on the brig "Hays" as a common seaman, and sailed from Boston to Mobile and Pensacola, returning to Boston in two months' time. He next went to Johnstown, where he was employed by the Cambria Iron Company of that place.

In March, 1873, Mr. Stone entered the employment of Barney and Smith Manufac- turing Co. in Dayton, Ohio, as assistant foreman of the foundry. After eighteen months with this firm he left them to be- come foreman of the foundry of /Stillwell and Bierce./

During the panic of 1876 Mr. Stone re- turned East and secured employment with the Pennsylvania Railroad Company in A! toona, where he remained until 1881.

In this year Mr. Stone moved to Holli- daysburg and became a partner in the Mc- Lanahan and Stone Machine Company, and after the death of his father in 1902, suc- ceeded him as vice president of the com- pany, which position he now holds.

Mr. Stone was married December 25, 1873, to Mary Holliday Kean of Hollidays- burg, Pa., a daughter of Charles and Mary (Holliday) Kean, and of this union five chil- dren were born, of whom the two oldest, Walter and Charles, died in early childhood. The surviving children are Elizabeth, wife of Dr. Webster Calvin of Hollidaysburg; Ralph H., of Pittsburg; and Andrew T. Stone, Jr., of Hollidaysburg, Pa.

Politically Mr. Stone is a Democrat, but an independent voter. Fraternally he is a Mason, being a member of the Blue Lodge and Chapter of Hollidaysburg, and of the Commandery and Shrine of Altoona. He is also a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and the Heptasophs of Hol- .

lidaysburg, Pa., and of the Hollidaysburg Club.

WILMER E. TAYLOR, vice president of the Brooks Milling Company, Incorpor- ated, at Brooks Mills, Blair County, Pa., has been identified with this large and im- portant business concern since 1907. He was born in Huntingdon County, Pa., De- cember 16, 1872, and is a son of James W. and Sarah Taylor, the former of whom was a native of Huntingdon, and the latter of Bedford County, Pa.

After his own period of school attendance was over, Wilmer E. Taylor taught. school in his native county for three years and in the meanwhile learned the milling business, and was engaged in the same at Saxton, Bedford County, from 1897 until 1900, where he was also interested for a time as a merchant. In 1907 he came to Blair Town- ship and for two years operated the present plant, of which he has been manager since 1909, as well as vice president of the Brooks Milling Company, Incorporated. The presi- dent of the company is R. E. Bell and the secretary and treasurer is J. W. Baisor, all three officials being practical mill men and of reliable financial standing. The mill in Blair Township is well equipped and does a general milling business and is prospering. This company in addition to manufacturing several first class brands of its own, of winter wheat flour, notably the Per- fection brand, and having a capacity of fifty barrels every twenty-four hours, manufac- ture also buckwheat flour, corn meal and poultry foods and deal in grain, feed, hay and straw. A large amount of business abil- ity is required to regulate a business of this kind, with fluctuating markets, but Mr. Tay- lor has abundantly proved his capacity. He is a self-made man, never having had the ad- vantages which attend and smooth the way for many young business men, and what he has gained in material possessions and in public esteem as an honorable man, he has won for himself.

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Mr. Taylor married Miss Blanche Stine, of Muncy, Pa., and they have one daughter, Ruth. In his views on public questions he is intelligent and liberal minded, but when he casts his vote for a candidate for office, he permits no party tie to control his judg- ment.

C. H. MORGAN, who is prominently identified with the real estate and insurance interests at Altoona, Pa., has been a resi- dent of this city for the last six years, he having taken up his abode here November I, 1904. His boyhood and youth were spent in Lehigh County, of which also he is a native. Mr. Morgan was given the advan- tage of a collegiate education, in 1891 enter- ing the preparatory school at Bethlehem, Pa., and in the following year becoming a student at Lehigh University, South Bethle- hem, from which he was graduated with the degree of electrical engineer in 1896. He then worked for the Southern Bell Tele- phone Company until 1898, when he re- signed his position to take that of assistant examiner in the United States Patent office.

During his residence in Washington he improved the time by taking a three years' course at the National University Law School, and was graduated with the degree of LL. M. in 1901. After holding the posi- tion of assistant examiner in the Patent of- fice for six years and three months, he gave it up in order to come to Altoona, when he entered his present line of work. In this he has achieved a pronounced success, his busi- ness including not only real estate and fire insurance, but also loans and investments, and he is connected directly or indirectly with various important local interests. In his own particuar line of work, indeed, he holds no second place. He has financial in- terests in three building and loan associa- tions of Altoona, and is also president of the Pennsylvania Pressed Brick Company of Grazierville, Pa.

In 1898 Mr. Morgan was married to Miss Ruth E. Taylor, a daughter of an old Vir-

ginia family, and they are the parents of five children, namely: J. Williard, Harold W., Beatrice M., Helen T. and Cyril M. Mr. and Mrs. Morgan are members of the Sec- ond Presbyterian church. The former is identified with the Masons and Elks, and is also a member of the Spruce Creek Rod and Gun Club.

WILLIAM J. BRADLEY, one of Blair Township's well known and reliable citi- zens, owning a farm of 409 acres, is a vet- eran of the Civil War and a man whose life for many years was one of hard work with more or less of danger and adventure. He was born in what is now Blair County, Pa., near Tyrone, November II, 1840, a son of John and Elizabeth (McClelland) Bradley, and a grandson, on the maternal side, of a daughter of Captain John Boyles, a noted patriot in the Revolutionary War. The father of Mr. Bradley died at Baltimore in 1841 of yellow fever, and his mother died when he was fourteen years of age.

When five years old, William J. Bradley was taken to a farm in Allegheny Township and lived there with his mother until 1855, at which time he began work in the boiler shops of the Pa. Railroad Company, at Al- toona, and from there enlisted for service in the Civil War. He became a member of Co. H, 3rd Pa. Vol. Inf., and served out his first contract and then re-enlisted in Co. K, 125th Pa. Vol. Inf., for nine months. He participated in the battles of Antietam and Chancellorsville. His third enlistment was in the United States Navy and as third as- sistant engineer on the U. S. Steamer Sau- gus took part in the siege of Fort Fisher and in all the campaign down the James River, serving first under Admiral Lee and later under Admiral Porter. He was in the navy for two years and after this service returned to Blair County: In July, 1865, he secured the position of locomotive engineer on the Mid- dle Division of the Pennsylvania Railroad and remained there continuously until De- cember, 1909, since when he has been re-

CHARLES H. MORGAN

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tired. For a number of years he resided at No. 1606 Eighth Avenue, Altoona, but now lives on his farm in Blair Township, sur- rounded with all the comforts of life. Mr. Bradley is a self made man. The death of his parents threw him on his own resources at an age when his judgment was still im- mature and that he should have so wisely and successfully worked himself to honor- able independence, marks him as a man of inherited character.

Mr. Bradley was married to Miss Mary A. DeRush, who was born at Bellwood, Blair County, and four children were born to them: John J., residing in the city of Altoona; William M., a farmer in Blair Township; Viola, wife of George H. How- ard, of Altoona; and Blanche, wife of Charles G. McCormick, of Altoona. Mr. Bradley and family are members of the Roman Catholic church. In politics he is independent, but his temperance principles incline him toward the Prohibition party. He is a member of the Brotherhood of Lo- comotive Engineers, J. C. Burley Division No. 287, at Altoona, and he was formerly treasurer of the same.

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Twentieth century history of Altoona and Blair County, Pennsylvania, and representative citizens, Part 91

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