Twentieth century history of Altoona and Blair County, Pennsylvania, and representative citizens, Part 95

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 95

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County, Pa .; Mollie, who married William George, of Greenfield Township; Ida, who is the wife of George Barkhimer, of Greenfield Township; and Harry E. His business was farming. He was a member of the German Reformed church.

Harry E. Bowser was reared and educated in Greenfield Township, and attended what is known as the Barkhimer school of this town- ship. He subsequently engaged in agricul- tural pursuits in Greenfield Township, until March 1, 1905, when he entered the mercan- tile business at Butlerville, and has also served continuously during that time as postmaster of 'Blue Knob, being appointed to that office in 1905.

Mr. Bowser was married March 31, 1898, to Miss Celestia Earnest, who was born in Freedom Township, Blair County, Pa., a daughter of Benjamin Earnest, who was a resident of Juniata Township, and the follow- ing children have been born of their union: Elsie Irene, Stanley E., Mabel C., Esther E., and Edwin E. In politics Mr. Bowser is in- dependent, and has served one term as judge of elections in Greenfield Township, and is now serving his second term as road super- visor, being president of the board of super- visors of this township. Mr. Bowser is a member of the German Reformed church, in which he is also a deacon, and is fraternally a member of the P. O. S. of A. and the National Protective Legion, both of Butlerville.

P. M. SWANGER, who has been a resident of Altoona, Pa., since 1886, has been identified with the legal profession of Blair County since 1903, and is recognized as one of the leading attorneys of Altoona. He was born December 27, 1864, in Allegheny County, Pa., and at the age of eleven years moved to Westmore- land County, where he was reared and edu- cated, receiving a common school education. January 30, 1886, Mr. Swanger came to Al- fireman on the Pennsylvania railroad until October 22, 1893, when he was promoted to engineer, and ran an engine on the road until

Moses Bowser and wife were both natives of Greenfield Township, Blair County, Pa., and spent the greater part of their lives in this township, where he died in June, 1897, and is survived by the following children: Annie, . toona, where he was employed as a locomotive who is the widow of J. Q. Adams, of Roaring Spring, Pa .; Rebecca E., who is the wife of John Conrad, of Union Township, Bedford

WILLIAM JOHNSTON MOORE GROUP

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January 7, 1898. He then gave up engineer- ing and took up the study of law, which he read in the office of M. M. McNeal & E. H. Flick, of Altoona, being admitted to the bar May 12, 1903. He immediately embarked in the practice of law at Altoona, where he has established a lucrative practice and enjoys to the fullest extent the esteem and confidence of his fellow citizens. He is a member of the Altoona Bar Association.

L. L. BOOK, who has been a resident of Blair County, Pa., since 1875, is one of the foremost citizens of Eldorado, and is exten- sively engaged in gardening. He was born in Lancaster County, Pa., September 19, 1844, and is a son of George and Harriet (Geist) Book, who both spent their entire lives in Lancaster County.

L. L. Book was reared and educated in his native county, and was graduated from Mil- lersville Normal school, receiving a diploma of the first class. He then engaged in teaching and followed that profession many years in Allegheny, Carbon and Lancaster Counties, and after coming to Altoona in 1875 he taught eight years in the high school of that city. He then located at Eldorado with the idea of fruit growing, but did not carry out the plan, en- gaging instead in gardening at which he has been so successful. He began this business in a small way in the eighties, and as his business grew he erected greenhouses, now having six, and raising vegetables exclusively. Lettuce growing has been his specialty and in former years he shipped to Philadelphia and other cities, but now deals exclusively with the wholesale houses of Altoona, and has two and sometimes three wagons make the haul to the market three times a week.

Mr. Book was married in 1878 to Kate G. Witmer, of Lancaster County, and they have two sons, Harry W. and Ross A. Mr. and Mrs. Book are members of the Broad Avenue Presbyterian Church of Altoona. He is polit- ically a Republican.

R. R. FIDER, general merchant at East Sharpsburg, Pa., and a representative business man of this, his native place, was born Febru- ary 16, 1853, and is a son of Matthew and Dora ( Albus) Fider. Matthew Fider and wife were born in Germany. He was a tailor by trade and during his many years of resi- dence at East Sharpsburg, engaged in this business which he built up into a very satis- factory one. His death occurred November 21, 1880. He gave his political support to the Democratic party.

R. R. Fider was educated in the schools of East Sharpsburg .. For a number of years be- fore embarking in the mercantile line he was in a butchering business and dealt quite exten- sively also in live stock. He conducts the lead- ing general mercantile store of the borough and carries a large and well assorted stock. At different times he has been approached with tenders of responsible public offices and has served Taylor Township as assessor, tax col- lector, judge of elections and on the school board, in all of these positions exercising the good judgment which has served to make his private enterprises successful. Mr. Fider is a 32nd degree Mason and belongs to Woodbury Lodge No. 856, F. & A. M., at Roaring Spring; to Jaffa Temple at Altoona; to Model Lodge, Odd Fellows, at Roaring Spring and also to the Encampment; and to the Knights of the Golden Eagle, at Martinsburg.

Mr. Fider was married March 10, 1886, to Miss Julia Martin, a native of Blair County, Pa. In politics, he is a Democrat. He is an active citizen in all that pertains to the sub- stantial development of his community and is a liberal contributor to all worthy charities.

J. FOSTER MECK, one of the leading at- torneys of Altoona, Pa., who has been a mem- ber of the Blair County bar since 1898, was born in this city, a son of J. Frank Meck, now deceased. After completing a course of study in the local schools of Altoona, Mr. Meck studied law in the office of Craig & Bowers of this city, and was admitted to the bar.in 1898. He then became associated with Craig & Bow-

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HISTORY OF BLAIR COUNTY

ers in the practice of law in this city, continu- ing with that firm until 1905, since which time he has maintained a business of his own. He practices in all of the courts of the state, is official stenographer of the courts, and a member of the Blair County Bar Association. Aside from his general practice, Mr. Meck is also actively interested in various enterprises of this city. He takes an active interest in local politics, and is a member of the city coun- cil, representing the ninth ward. He affiliates with the B. P. O. E., and his religious connec- tion is with the Broad Avenue Presbyterian Church. In 1905 Mr. Meck was joined in marriage with Margaret Hazlett and they have one daughter, Regina Catharine.

FRANCIS HEYER WEAVER. One of the old, prolific and substantial families of Blair County bears the name of Weaver. It is of German origin but generations have passed since it was first established in Penn- sylvania, where the industry, thrift and high character of its members have long contrib- uted to its best citizenship. Francis Heyer Weaver, of Freedom Township, is a well known representative of this family. He is the proprietor of 500 acres of fine farming land, known as Weaverlea, is a veteran of the Civil War and has been especially honored in a public way by appointment to responsible positions. He was born at Newry, Pa., May 20, 1844. His parents were George and Lavinia (Fetters) Weaver.

George Weaver was born in Center County, Pa., a son of Jacob Weaver, who was a son of Jacob Weaver, a Revolutionary soldier. George Weaver was reared in what is now Blair County and became a man of family and importance. For thirty-three consecutive years he served as justice of the peace in Juniata and Freedom Townships, was a di- rector of the Blair County Poor Home, was active in all local improvements and was a sound, reliable, sensible man in everything pertaining to life and its duties as he saw them. He voted first for Andrew Jackson for Presi- dent of the United States, later became a

Whig and subsequently a Republican, led largely by his anti-slavery views. He was sympathetic and it is said helpful in relation to the underground railway, that quiet system that, prior to the Civil War, assisted slaves to escape to Canada. His death occurred Sep- tember 15, 1879, and his funeral drew the largest concourse of people ever seen on a like occasion, in this neighborhood. He married Lavinia Fetters, whose uncles, "The Fetters Boys," were the famous Indian fighters and who slew the last Indians east of the moun- tains. The remains of Fort Fetters may still be seen on the banks of Fetters Run, one mile northwest of Hollidaysburg. Of this mar- riage these still survive: Lavinia, who is the wife of John B. Holland, of Newry, Pa .; Francis Heyer; Margaretta D., who lives at Newry; S. Blair, who is a retired citizen of Newry; Juniata, who is the wife of Harry Wike, who is an officer of the Pennsylvania State Reform School at Huntingdon, Pa.

Francis Heyer Weaver attended the district schools and remained on the home farm until he was seventeen years of age. Although only a boy in years he had attained the stature of a man and when he presented himself for enlistment as a private in Co. C., 53d Pa. Vol. Inf., on October 10, 1861, he was accepted and marched away with his command to become a part of the Army of the Potomac. He fought as a soldier at Fair Oaks and Malvern Hill and in the campaign of seven days' fighting that followed, at Harrison Landing, Antietam, Fredericksburg and Gettysburg. Before he was twenty years old he had been wounded twenty-two times and on account of his in- juries, was transferred to the Veteran Reserve Corps, in which he served out his full period of enlistment. His bravery was recognized by General Grant, who also showed confidence in his judgment, business capacity and diplomacy by sending him to execute the treaty, known as the Felix-Brunot treaty, long neglected, with the Southern Ute Indians, a commission Mr. Weaver successfully carried out, in 1877, under very hazardous conditions. In 1880 he was appointed chaplain of the Ioth U. S. Cav.

D. M. ROUDABUSH, M. D.

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AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS

and served until he was retired in 1897. By Act of Congress, without his knowledge, he was promoted to the rank of major on April 23, 1904.

Mr. Weaver completed his education after his discharge from the volunteer army and sufficiently recovering from his injuries. In 1872 he graduated from Pennsylvania College, Gettysburg, and in the class of 1876 was grad- uated from the Gettysburg Theological Sem- inary, at Gettysburg, Pa. In late years his interests have been largely agricultural, farm- ing and stock raising on an extensive scale occupying the larger part of his time. He has always been deeply interested in the Grange movement, thoroughly believing in its prin -. ciples and is identified with the organization at Poplar Run.

On November 30, 1876, Mr. Weaver was married to Miss Catherine M. Schneider, a daughter of Louis H. Schneider, a former resident of Washington, D. C. They have three children: Louis S., who is a physician in practice at York, Pa .; George D., who is a res- ident of Youngstown, O .; and Marguerite, still at home. Mr. Weaver and family are members of the Lutheran church. He belongs to the G. A. R. Post at Duncansville, Pa., and to the Pennsylvania Commandery of the Loyal Legion of the United States. He has twice been a beneficiary by special Act of Congress for meritorious services in the Civil War.

D. M. ROUDABUSH, M. D., who has spent almost the entire period of his profes- sional life at Altoona, Pa., where he is in the enjoyment of a very satisfactory practice, was born at St. Clairsville, Bedford County, Pa., June 27, 1880.

Dr. Roudabush was educated at St. Clairs- ville and the Lockhaven Normal School and afterward taught school for eight terms in Bed- ford and Blair Counties. In the meanwhile he was completing his preparatory reading and then entered Hahnemann Medical College, at Philadelphia, where he was graduated in 1906. He then took up his residence at Bedford Springs, a summer resort and remained there

in practice during the three months of the season, after which he came to Altoona. He is a member of the Blair County and the Penn- sylvania State Homeopathic Medical Societies, occasionally contributes to their literature and keeps closely in touch with all scientific work along medical and surgical lines. He is also owner and proprietor of the Altoona Sani- tarium, which treats by the Swaine remedies, the drug and liquor habits. This Sanitarium is located at 1516 Twelfth Avenue, Altoona.

Dr. Roudabush was married in 1906, to Miss Pearl Warsing, of Hopewell, Bedford County, Pa., and they have one son, Luther. They are members of the First Reformed Church at Altoona. He is a Mason, and Odd Fellow, belongs also to the order of Forresters and to the patriotic organization, the Sons of Veterans.

WILLIAM STONE, who is now living in retirement at Williamsburg, Pa., was for many years interested in agricultural pursuits in Huntingdon County, Pa., and was engaged in various lines after locating in Blair County. He was born October 7, 1839, in Huntingdon County, Pa., and is a son of William and Susan (Weaver) Stone, who always resided in Huntingdon County, where he followed farming. The father was politically a Repub- lican. Both parents were members of the Reformed church. The following children were born to the parents of our subject : Mary, Catherine, Margaret, Abraham, Jacob, Har- riet, William, Annie, Elizabeth, Nancy and David.

William Stone grew to maturity and was educated in his native county and there sub- sequently followed farming until 1889. He then came to Blair County, Pa., where he has since continued to live, and has been employed in various lines of business. He has been liv- ing somewhat retired at Williamsburg for a time, but for the past four years has been serving as janitor of the Williamsburg school during the winter months. Mr. Stone resides in a very fine brick house which was erected by him in 1908. He is a Republican in his

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HISTORY OF BLAIR COUNTY

political views and in his religious connection is a Methodist.

Mr. Stone was married September 10, 1874, to Elizabeth Myers, a daughter of Amos and Eliza Myers, who were residents of Hunting- don County, Pa., and the parents of the fol- lowing children: Isaac, George, David, Reuben, Hannah, Elizabeth, Harriet, Mar- garet, and William. To Mr. and Mrs. Stone six children were born, namely: Chalmer ; Hiram; Ada, who is the wife of Virgil Woods; Amos; Thomas; and Elise.

SAMUEL L. WISLER, secretary of the board of road supervisors in Taylor Township, Blair County, Pa., where he owns a well cul- tivated farm of fifty-four acres, was born in this township, November 1, 1864, and is a son of John and Catherine (Longenecker) Wisler.

John Wisler was born in Adams County, Pa., and was a son of Samuel Wisler, who was one of the early settlers of Taylor Township. John Wisler was reared there and married Catherine Longenecker, who was born in Bed- ford County, Pa. Both John and Catherine Wisler are deceased.

Samuel L. Wisler was only three years old when his father died. He was reared in Tay- lor Township and attended the Oak Grove public school. The guardian appointed to look after his interests as long as he was a minor, was Mr. D. M. Bare, the well known manufac- turer of Roaring Spring and practically its founder. Mr. Wisler has been engaged in farming since youth and he carries on a gen- eral agricultural line, including the growing of some stock. He has always been an active citizen, willingly contributing according to his means for public improvements, good roads, schools and churches. He is serving as road supervisor and is also clerk of Taylor Town- ship. In politics he is a Republican.

Mr. Wisler was married in May, 1887, to Miss Elizabeth M. Frederick, a daughter of John B. Frederick, who resides near Henri- etta, Pa., and they have four children : Charles F., John F., Paul F. and Martha F. Mr. and

Mrs. Wisler are members of the Progressive Brethren church at Martinsburg, Pa.

DAVID F. HAAGEN, M. D., who is one of the younger members of the medical pro- fession at Altoona, Pa., and bids fair to reflect credit upon it, was born at Tyrone, in Blair County, Pa., in 1885. He is a son of D. H. Haagen, who for thirty years has been en- gaged in the hotel business, and is proprietor of the Arlington, the leading hostelry of the city.

David F. Haagen continued at school at Tyrone until he was graduated from the Ty- rone High School, after which he attended the Mercerburg Academy and then entered Jeffer- son Medical College, at Philadelphia, where he was graduated in 1908. During the year following he served as resident physician of the Altoona Hospital and since then has been kept busy attending to a rapidly increasing general practice. He is a member of the Blair County and State Medical Societies and of the American Medical Association. He keeps more or less in touch with the scientific soci- eties to which he belonged while taking his medical course, and during his senior year he was president of the Nu-Sigma-Mu Society. Dr. Haagen has a well equipped office at No. 914 Seventeenth Street. On April 28, 1910, he was married to Miss Edna Lloyd, a daugh- ter of Samuel Lloyd, an old citizen of Altoona.

JACOB W. HOOVER, general farmer and well known citizen of Allegheny Township, Blair County, Pa., where he owns eighty acres of fine land, was born in this township, Sep- tember 13, 1875, and is a son of Jacob W. and Susanna (Shadel) Hoover.

Jacob W. Hoover spent the greater part of his life in Allegheny Township, where he died about 1891. He served as a soldier in the Civil War and was honorably discharged. He was a member of the German Baptist church. He was twice married and to his union with Susanna Shadel, a large family was born and of these the following survive: Levi, a well known farmer in Allegheny Township;

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Jemima, wife of William G. Diehl, of Juniata County; John W., residing at Blairsville; George W., living at Duncansville; Mary E., wife of S. R. Clapper, of Allegheny Town- ship; Sarah, wife of J. A. Brubaker, of Alle- gheny Township. The Hoovers were early settlers in Blair County and the late Jacob W. Hoover was a worthy representative of that old family.

Jacob W. Hoover grew to manhood in Allegheny Township, where, with his brothers and sisters, he attended the public schools. He has made farming his business and has in- formed himself concerning modern methods, making use of these according to his judgment and thus is able to realize large returns from his eighty acres.

In June, 1901, Mr. Hoover was married to Miss Jeannette Holderbaum, who was born in Bedford County, Pa., and formerly was a very popular and successful teacher in Blair County. They have had three children: Lista C., Retta P. and David R. Retta P. is deceased. Mr. Hoover and wife are members of the Carson Valley German Baptist Church, in which he is serving as a deacon. He casts his vote with the Republican party.

ALBERT C. ROBESON, who is operating his mother's farm of 100 acres, situated in Frankstown Township, Blair County, Pa., was born at Canoe Creek, in Frankstown Town- ship, December 17, 1881, and is a son of John C. and Ida (Riddle) Robeson. The late John C. Robeson was a well known resident of Frankstown Township and was born in Blair County. His main business was lumbering and he operated a saw-mill. His death oc- curred February 22, 1888. His widow resides at Hollidaysburg. They had three children: Albert C. and Julia and Susan, both daughters residing with their mother. The grandfathers were Samuel Robeson and Joseph Riddle.

Albert C. Robeson was educated at Holli- daysburg and after leaving school he spent one year on his mother's farm and then worked for two years as a blacksmith for the Pennsylvania Railroad Company. In 1904 he took charge

of the farm and has met with success in its cultivation.

On May 19, 1903, Mr. Robeson was mar- ried to Miss Catherine Trindel, a daughter of John and Margaret (Semore) Trindel. The Trindel family came to Blair from Cambria County in 1868, and they reside on their farm. They had the following children: May, who is the wife of John Mathews; Anna, who is the wife of Samuel Shaffer; Catherine, who is the wife of Albert C. Robeson; Millie, who is the wife of Chester Smith; Elizabeth, who is the wife of Frank .McCauley; and Grace, Margaret, Harvey, Alice, Gertrude and Ruth. Mr. and Mrs. Robeson have one son, John Crawford, who was born April 30, 1906. Mrs. Robeson was reared in the Catholic faith. Mr. Robeson, like his late father and mother, is a member of the Presbyterian church. In politics he is a Republican. He is an industri- ous, capable and enterprising young man and is universally respected in his neighborhood.

WILLIAM L. WOODCOCK, a prominent representative of the Altoona bar, has been en- gaged in practice in this city for forty-four years and during this long period has gained and maintained an emiment position. He is also largely interested in the coal industry and in financial and other institutions. Mr. Wood- cock was born on his father's farm in Wells Valley, Fulton County, Pa., October 20, 1844, and is a son of John and Sarah ( Alexander) Woodcock.

The Woodcock family came from England to America as early as 1764. The grandfather settled in Delaware and there the father of William L. Woodcock was born in 1800, but from the age of five years was reared in Bed- ford County, Pa. From there in middle life he moved to Fulton County and in advanced age retired to Altoona, where he died in 1874. He was a man of sterling character, served in local offices with efficiency, was a justice of the peace for a protracted period and was a liberal supporter of the Methodist Episcopal church. His wife was Sarah Alexander, a woman of beauty and amiability, who was called from

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HISTORY OF BLAIR COUNTY

his side by death when aged but thirty-five years.

William L. Woodcock was educated in in- stitutions which, in his youth, ranked with the best in his part of the state-Martinsburg Academy and Allegheny Seminary. His older brother, the late Samuel M. Woodcock, was already a successful practitioner of law at Al- toona, and under his supervision William L. Woodcock prepared for the bar and was ad- mitted to practice in Blair County, October 27, 1865. Prior to accepting law business. Mr. Woodcock taught school for a time and during one term was principal of the Phillipsburg High School, in Center County. He had also testified to the genuineness of his courage and patriotism prior to this time, by twenty-three months of service in Co. F, 77th Pa. Vol. Inf., in the Civil War, the latter part of this service being in the Signal Corps, where he ranked as lieutenant. He was discharged on account of disability.

Mr. Woodcock in a legitimate business way, lias acquired a large amount of valuable realty both in Altoona and in Hollidaysburg and also has coal interests of more than average impor- tance. Aside from his prominence in his pro- fession, however, and his standing as a capital- ist, Mr. Woodcock is widely known, admired and esteemed on account of his philanthropic and uplift work. He is what may be best de- scribed as a practical Christian and while his efforts were commenced in connection with his interest in the work of the Methodist Episco- pal church, they have expanded into other avenues of good will, beneficence and benev- olence and his influence cannot be overesti- mated. Mr. Woodcock has proven himself a model Sunday school superintendent and to this work has given his enthusiasm, his time and his capital for forty years, having served as superintendent most of that time. He or- ganized a mission Sunday school in 1889 and built, of his own private means, Belnore Hall, in which to hold the school. The city knows the result of his concentrated effort in Al- toona, but of the individual benefits of this mission work, the public has never learned

one half. He remained with this school as superintendent · for ten years, during which time it steadily grew until its average attend- ance was over 300, and the Walnut Avenue Methodist Episcopal Church is the result of his work in this mission school. At the ex- piration of his decade of work, Mr. Wood- cock declined to accept its superintendency any longer, the school having become a strong and vigorous organization.

In 1899, Mr. Woodcock was elected super- intendent of the First Methodist Episcopal Sunday school of Altoona and has remained in that position until the present time and has succeeded in bringing the school up until it now numbers over 1,400 pupils. He has been superintendent of Sunday schools for forty years, during which period he has spent much of his time and energy in this direction, believ- ing that it is the greatest work that presents itself to laymen in the field of Christian activ- ity. Besides his practical work in the Altoona schools, he contributes to a number of Sunday school papers and magazines, his efforts al- ways being sought after as they are the ex- pressions of an earnest man who, through experience, is well qualified to write along these lines. His liberality has extended the cause of missions, educational institutions and church enterprises. It was stated at the dedica- tion of the First Methodist Church of Altoona, in 1907, that his liberal and timely giving made it possible to construct that magnificent church edifice, "the finest Methodist church in Central Pennsylvania."

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Twentieth century history of Altoona and Blair County, Pennsylvania, and representative citizens, Part 95

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