John E. Gable's History of Cambria County, V.II, p.1032

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History of Cambria County, V.2

1032 HISTORY OF CAMBRIA COUNTY

We usually got one pair of boots a year, and they had red tops and copper toes. We were to proud of them to ever wear them out, but when we outgrew them, they were handed down. Mother mad us slippers from the old clothing that was considered worn out.
     "Yes, those days were different. We sold land at $1 an acre, timber, mineral rights and all. I remember of grandfather selling 400 acres for $400. The same property could not be purchased for a million now. Yes, the older fellows had things pretty tough. I never could understand how it was that they turned our township and county over to us free of public debt. I read of a debt of $25,000,000,000 on farm land in the United States. The debt on schools and roads is so large not many of us will ever see it paid. I realize there has been many improvements, but everything seems to have been accomplished on credit - too much credit is bad for any man. Then again when you stop to think, forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors, I trust there is at least a possibility that all will be well in the end."

    John Bert Denny, deceased was prominent in the affairs of Johnstown and Cambria County during his life. He was born at Ebensburg, Pa., Nov. 9, 1861, and was a son of Matthias and Mary (Latterner) Denny.
    The paternal grandfather, Peter Denny, was a native of Alsace-Lorraine, France, and emigrated to this country about 1820. He located in Hollidaysburg, Blair County, Pa., but later moved to Elder Township, Cambria County, where he worked as a stone mason and also farmed for many years.
    Matthias Denny, only son of Peter Denny and wife, was born at Pennsylvania Furnace, now Blair County, in 1831, and in 1865 the family moved to Altoona, Pa. He was a carpenter and followed contracting work in that line. During the Civil war he served in the army for a short time. He was a Democrat and represented his party in both county and state conventions as a delegate. In 1886 he was elected burgess of Gallitzin and later served on the school board. He was a devout Catholic. He was married in 1858 to Mary Latterner, who was born in 1842 at Loretto, Pa., the daughter of Peter and Catherine (Sharbaugh) Latterner. Michael Latterner, the grandfather, was a native of Zweibricken-on-th-Rhine, France. He emigrated to this country and settled in Loretto, Pa. He was a tailor.

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1032	HISTORY OF CAMBRIA COUNTY
We usually got one pair of boots a year, and they had red tops and copper toes. We were to proud of them to ever wear them out, but when we outgrew them, they were handed down. Mother mad us slippers from the old clothing that was considered worn out. "Yes, those days were different. We sold land at $1 an acre, timber, mineral rights and all. I remember of grandfather selling 400 acres for $400. The same property could not be purchased for a million now. Yes, the older fellows had things pretty tough. I never could understand how it was that they turned our township and county over to us free of public debt. I read of a debt of $25,000,000,000 on farm land in the United States. The debt on schools and roads is so large not many of us will ever see it paid. I realize there has been many improvements, but everything seems to have been accomplished on credit - too much credit is bad for any man. Then again when you stop to think, forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors, I trust there is at least a possibility that all will be well in the end." John Bert Denny, deceased was prominent in the affairs of Johnstown and Cambria County during his life. He was born at Ebensburg, Pa., Nov. 9, 1861, and was a son of Matthias and Mary (Latterner) Denny. The paternal grandfather, Peter Denny, was a native of Alsace-Lorraine, France, and emigrated to this country about 1820. He located in Hollidaysburg, Blair County, Pa., but later moved to Elder Township, Cambria County, where he worked as a stone mason and also farmed for many years. Matthias Denny, only son of Peter Denny and wife, was born at Pennsylvania Furnace, now Blair County, in 1831, and in 1865 the family moved to Altoona, Pa. He was a carpenter and followed contracting work in that line. During the Civil war he served in the army for a short time. He was a Democrat and represented his party in both county and state conventions as a delegate. In 1886 he was elected burgess of Gallitzin and later served on the school board. He was a devout Catholic. He was married in 1858 to Mary Latterner, who was born in 1842 at Loretto, Pa., the daughter of Peter and Catherine (Sharbaugh) Latterner. Michael Latterner, the grandfather, was a native of Zweibricken-on-th-Rhine, France. He emigrated to this country and settled in Loretto, Pa. He was a tailor.