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OF CAMBRIA COUNTY. 179

been engaged ever since. He carries a full line of general merchandise, and has a large and growing trade. In addition to merchandizing he conducts the only restaurant in the town, and manufactures ice-cream for the wholesale and retail trade. Fraternally he is a member of South Fork Council, No 74, Jr. O. U. A. M., and religiously of the Lutheran church, of which he is a member of the council. He adheres to the Republican party as a matter of politics, and has served as auditor and councilman of South Fork. December 25, 1884, he married Miss Elizabeth M. Walter, a daughter of Justice Henry Walter, of Cambria township, this county, and to their union have been born three children: Mary Odessa, died in infancy; Earl Walter and Charles Clare.


GEORGE MARION HARSHBERGER, a successful business man, and an active Republican worker of Johnstown, is a son of John M. and Catherine (Wertz) Harshberger, and was born on the old homestead farm in Adams township, Cambria county, Pennsylvania, September 28, 1861. He was reared on the farm, received his education in the public schools and several county normal schools, and before he had attained his majority had taught three winter terms of school, one term in Adams and two terms in Richland township. At twenty-one years of age he left the farm, where he had worked during several summer seasons, and in March, 1883, came to Johnstown, where he has resided ever since. His first employment in the city was as clerk in the store of N. B. Hartzell, where he remained three years. He then engaged in the grocery and meat business, but sold his establishment in 1888 to McClelland & Miller, and became a traveling salesman with J. Swank, Son &

Co., hardware dealers of Johnstown, and built the Pompeii restaurant, which he conducted some time after the flood. About September 1, 1889, he commenced the erection of the Pompeii hotel, which, after its completion, he conducted until April 1894, when he sold it to D. B. Cook, its present owner. After disposing of his hotel property he traveled for one year for the Northwestern Fertilizing company, of Chicago, and in October 1895, embarked with his father and brother Cornelius in their present business of handling flour, feed, fertilizers, grain and coal. Their establishment is on the Baltimore and Ohio railroad and Bedford street, and he aims to keep everything in their line that is needed by their many patrons. He is building up a very good business, with every indication and assurance that it will be permanent and remunerative. Mr. Harshberger is in his political belief a staunch republican, and further is an active and effective worker for the principles and nominees of his party. He was elected in 1892 as a member of the common council from the Fourth ward, but he resigned in 1893 to accept the position of city assessor, to which he had been elected for a term of three years that expired in April, 1896. He is a contributor to the United Evangelical church of Johnstown, of which his family are members; and has been a member for several years of Daniel Webster council, No. 700; Junior Order of United American Mechanics and Johnstown Lodge, No. 245, Ancient Order of United Workmen. Mr. Harshberger has always been active in any measure or movement of his city; being an active member of the Board of Trade. He was one of the organizers and is the present president of the Seventh ward fire company. He is also vice-president of the Firemen's Union of the


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