OF CAMBRIA COUNTY.

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Blauch was a native of the celebrated city of Berne, Switzerland, and settled at an early day in Somerset county, where he followed farming until his death at an advanced age. Of his sons who remained in the county, one was David Blauch, who was born in 1789, and died in 1872. He was a shoemaker by trade, but followed farming during his long and useful life. He was a member of the Mennonite church, and passed his years with remarkable exception from pain and sickness, never being ill a day until his summons came to rest from the toils of life.     Mr. Blauch married Barbara Fyock, a native of Somerset county, and a member of the Seven-Day Baptist church. She was born in 1808, and passed away in 1884, at seventy-six years of age. Her father, John Fyock, an old and well-known resident of Somerset county, lived to a ripe old age.     Col. David D. Blauch did not grow to manhood in his native township, but after receiving his education in the common schools came to Johnstown when in his sixteenth year. He served as a clerk for some time in a general mercantile establishment; next learned the trade of carpenter, and then took charge of a stationary engine for the Cambria Iron company. Later he was transferred to the roofing department of the works, and after working in all of its different divisions was promoted to chief roofing clerk, which position he held until the time of the great flood of 1889. After the city had passed from the immediate effect of the flood Mr. Blanch turned his attention to contracting and building, which was then so badly needed, and during two years contributed his part towards rebuilding Johnstown. Retiring from contracting and building in 1892, he embarked in his present real-estate business.

On November 10, 1874, Colonel Blauch married Emma Campbell, a daughter of Christopher Campbell, of Indiana county, Pennsylvania. Their union has been blessed with two children--daughters: Jessie May, died at the age of two and a half years, and Barbara, a member of the junior class of Johnstown high school, aged fourteen.     As a business man Colonel Blauch is capable and well qualified, and conducts with skill and sound judgment whatever enterprise he may be engaged in. He is a member of the First Methodist Episcopal church of Johnstown, in which he is useful and efficient for the promotion and advancement of every good enterprise. While active in business and useful in the church, yet Col. David D. Blanch has found time to be serviceable to his city in various other ways. He is prominent and influential in various beneficial and secret societies. He is a member of Washington Camp, No. 583, Patriotic Order Sons of America, and Johnstown Lodge, No. 538, Free and Accepted Masons, and Portage Chapter, No. 195, Royal Arch Masons. He is also a member and past chancellor of Johnstown Lodge, No. 57, Knights of Pythias, and a member and past representative of Independent Castle, No. 51, Ancient Order of the Knights of the Mystic Chain, and the organizer of the castle. In 1880 he was awarded a gold medal by the Select Castle of Pennsylvania for having organized the largest number of castles in the State. Colonel Blauch is a member of Pride of Cambria Castle, No. 52, of Johnstown, and Monarch Temple, No. 7, of Washington City, of the Knights of the Golden Eagle. He is colonel of the Sixth regiment of the Uniformed Rank of the Eagles. For six years he was colonel of the Seventh regiment, and for three years was on the staff of the lieutenant-general, and

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