Altoona Tribune from Altoona, Pennsylvania • Page 44

SECTION TWO PAGE TWELVE ALTOONA TRIBUNE, SATURDAY MORNING, JANUARY 15, 1916 SIXTIETH ANNIVERSARY THE MELTING 'POT KiaMBl The Germans sh The Iri itable work will live for many years in the memory of the people of Altoona. In looking over the names of men of Irish birth or descent who are at the present prominent In the affairs of our city, we deem it a great privilege to give first place to the name of Right Reverend E. A. Garvey, bishop of the diocese of Altoona, who has ever been alert for the spiritual and temporal welfare of its people, espe- About the Large Company Dennis J. O'Leary Tells of the Sons of Erin Prominent in the County and Elsewhere been given by amateurs, some of the pieces having been translated by one of thejnembers of the society.

An excellent library is at the disposal of the members. The double bowling alley in the basement is being very liberally patronized. Mr. William De Toscana is the musical director. Messrs.

Hugo Weisflag and George Schottdorf are the president and secretary of the society. The singers are making extensive preparations for the saengerfest to be held under the auspices of the Concordia society in May, 1916. The business meetings are held on the first and third Thursdays of each month. The Altoona Turngemeinde was organized in 1884 and is located at Eighth avenue and Fifteenth street. August Hafner is the efficient instruc close of the Revolutionary war.

The borough of Newry next to Frankstown is the oldest village In the county. The Irish settlement of Newry and Blair township was for many years a very important part of Huntingdon county. The old settlers, the Cassidays, Mc-Intoshes, Conrods, McGraws, Malones and others, were all active in the promotion of Blair county. Patrick Cas-siday, the founder of the town, was a native of Newry, in Ireland, whence the town takes its name. The earliest school teachers in Newry were also Irishmen Robert McNamara and John McCoy, who taught about 1820, followed by John Shannon, James Mc-Ga'rvey, Martin Cristy and Peter O'-Hagan.

As typical of the broad-mindedness of that time, it is worth noting that, in lo00, Patrick Cassiday donated a lot on the eastern side of the town to the Catholic and one on the west- ern side to the Lutheran church. In 1768 William and Adam Holliday, who had immigrated from the north of Ireland settled- what is now the coun ty capital. Blair county was represented by many Irishmen in the Revolutionary war, the War of 1812, the Mexican and Civil wars. Many of the older resi-' dents of the city, no doubt, remember the name of Colonel William G. Mur-iray and Capt.

Patrick Gallagher, both of whom gave up their lives at the battle of Winchester, Among the Irish officers from Blair county, were Patrick F. Walsh, John Maloney, Joseph Delehunt, Charles O'- Niel and John P. McGinnis. It might also be mentioned that Andrew G. Curtin, Pennsylvania's famous war governor, was the son of an immigrant from County Clare, Ireland, and our last governor, John R.

Tener, was born in Ireland. Among the Altoona Irishmen who served during the Civil war are Captain John H. Dowling, Rodger Morgan, John O'Neil, the late Michael Holleran, Patrick Logue and many others too numerous to mention here. Among those who have helped to make Altoona great, we would mention the late Mrs. Kate Bowman and her brother, John Dovle; Dr.

Christy, Matthew Dunn, Patrick pelaney, Richard McHale, Richard Rowan, John O'-Toole, and we cannot allow an occasion of this kind to pass without mentioning the name of the beloved pastor of St. Mark's, the Rev. Father O'Reilly, whose philanthropic and char The French but made their influence felt in England and Scotland. The Irish annals of the thirteenth to fifteenth centuries have numerous references to distinguished harpers and singers, and there are still sung many beautiful airs of this period, including "The Colin" and "Eibhlin Aroon." Thurlogh O'Carlan, who has been styled the last of the Irish bards, wrote and composed numerous songs. Among the many Irish musicians and song-writers of the last century, Tom Moore was the most famous.

In our own day, it is only necessary to mention composers such as Victor Herbert, Dr. Sinclair, Norman O'Neil and Arthur O'Leary; singers, like John McCormack, Egan Burke and Joseph O'Mara. Of the great Irish writers of plays, the names of Goldsmith, Sheridan and O'Keefe are the most remembered, although Dion Boucicault's plays were more popular due to the fact that there was less "stage Irish" character about them than that of his predecessors. Of the great Irish actors, John Drew, Tyrone Power and Barney Williams were the most popular. To journalism, our race has given some brilliant minds, the most popular in modern times being Patrick Ford and John Boyle O'Reilly In America, and Charles Garvin Duffy and John Francis Maguire in Ireland.

At least six presidents of the United States were of Irish extraction. President Jackson's parents came from County Down, Arthur's from Antrim, Buchanan's from Donegal and McKin-ley's grandparents from the same place. Among the distinguished vice-presidents were George Clinton and John C. Calhoun, sons of immigrants from Longford and Donegal, respectively. James Shields, an Irishman, had the unique distinction of representing three different states at different times in the United States senate.

Senator O'Gorman is today one of the brightest lights in the. United States senate. In the judiciary, we have many shining lights of Irish originthe chief justice of the United States supreme court, Edward D. White; his able associate, Joseph McKenna; Dennis O'Brien, chief justice of New York court of appeals; John D. O'Neil, who occupies a like place on the bench of South Carolina; Richard O'Gorman, Morgan J.

O'Brien and many others. The history of medicine is adorned with the names of many physicians of Irish birth and blood, there being no surgeon of the present day who has achieved such a world-wide reputation as Dr. John B. Murphy, of Chicago Theodore Vail, the presiding genius of the greatest telephone service in the world, is Irish, and so is Carty, its chief engineer. Morse, the inventor of the telegraph, was the grandson of an Irishman.

John P. Holland, the inventor of the submarine torpedo boat, was born in Ireland. McCormack, the inventor of the reaping and mowing machine, was of Irish descent. Anions, diplomats who represented the United States abroad, and did so were the following Irishmen: Richard O'Brien, James Ka-vanaugh, Louise McLane, O'Brien, to Italy and Japan; Kerens to Austria; Egan to Chile; another Egan to Denmark; O'Sliaughnessy -to Mexico and O'Rear to Bolivia. Among the historians were John Gilmary Shay, Dr.

Walsh and many others. In the field of poetry in America we had Theodore O'Hara, John Boyle Reilly, Thomas Dunn English, Ele- anor Donnelly F. Egan, A Daly and Joseph Clarke Among the sue- cessful men of affairs, we would men- f. Day' Farrelly, William R. Grace and Dom inick Lynch.

A few among the dominant figures in the world of business are: Thomas, Mellon, John R. Walsh, the Cudahy Brothers, of Chicago; Phelan Donahue and Sullivan, of San tana, and Thomas Dolan, of Philadel-I phia. Among the great contractors are: John H. O'Rourke, James D. Leary, James Coleman, John Crlm- ni ins and John B.

McDonald, the builder of the New York subway. Ireland has given many eminent; three American cardinals, Gibbons, Farley and O'Connell, as well as Arch bishop Carroll; Hughes, McCloskey, Kendrick Ryan. Ireland Glennon, Cor- ngan and Keane, all of whom have1 shed luster on the church. History has given to an Irishman, Francis Ma-Kemie, of Donegal, the credit of founding Presbyterianism in America, while among the noted Presbyterians of Irish birth were James Waddell, known as the "blind preacher of the Thn. Bmvti, Tnhn Hall, Francis Allison, William Frnnaut and James McGrady, all men of great i i I Gottlieb Hauser Tells of Men Who Came Gentle reader, I feel no small reluctance in venturing to give to the readers of Altoona's oldest newspaper a brief and fragmentary history of the early German settlers of Altoona.

To give a correct and minute account of the pioneers would require an accession to records difficult and tedious to obtain. Much of my information concerning these early German pioneers is based upon oral tradition, and should, therefore, my memory be incomplete or incorrect, I would apologize to the reader. In perusing the history of colonial times, the latter part of the eighteenth century and the early part of the nineteenth century, we have no trace of German settlers, and it is pot until ithe year 1840 that Germans settled near Hollidaysburg and in Hollidaysburg proper. Blair county being formed in 1846, all the old records, wills, are deposited in Hunting don, Pa. My historical knowledge of the settlers being based simply on memory, some of the names may be missed.

The first arrivals of these eturdy and brave pioneers came here trom Hollidaysburg, their names being: John Stahl, Fred Weldely, Paul Hurm, Christ Brennecke, Michael Eckerlein, Christian Hauser and John Senninger; from Duncansville, the three Gearhart brothers, Jacob, Frederick and George, with their families; George Bleiler and Fred Steurer. In the fifties, from various parts of Germany and Switzerland came: Christ Beier, Michael Fischer, J. Kimmel, Peter Vetter, Jacob Klink, John Klink, Frederick Lehle, J. May, Charles Bussman, George Wilhelm, "William Meyer, Adam Behm, Conrad Behm, Andrew Kolley, Casper Kolley, Frank Kolley, Bernard Kolley, J. Ensbrenner, Sebastian Bender, Conrad Bender, J.

Flack, John Klein, John Krummeck, John Bowman, (Baumann), Ludwig Kiefer, George Brunner, David Koch, Casimir Rigel, D. Wehrbach (Warebaugh), Charles Kerber, Fred Hoefler, Christian Mo-bus, Wolfgang Weist, J. Feller, Christ Selwitz, William Myer, Joseph Stehle, John Stehle, Peter Vetter, Henry Vetter, Casper Baumgardner, Charles Knlsel, John Schmidhuber, Dr. Louis F. Busch, George Feiler, Conrad Kiesil, John Wentz, J.

B. Hald, George Kirstner, J. Berloeb, J. Gleichert, Henry Bernd, Martin Bernd, Conrad Kiesel, L. Kimmel, Frank Kolben-schlag, Peter Bberhard, Adam Kle sius, J.

Schneider, Philip Faddle, Bernard Kurz, Felix Kurz, Nicholas Kurz, Nicholas Marks, A. F. Heess, Magnus Bender, George Stitzel, George Soller, Michael Soller, J. JSCKies, nicnara Wittendorfer, John and Peter Geib, Adam Geib, Conrad Lantz, John Lantz, George Rosinberger, Simon Alberger, Christ Schlemmer, Joseph Meyer, John Schmitt, Jacob Noll, Adam Oderwaelder, J. Meintel, L.

Her-tel, Lander Dreifus, Jos. Schmidham-imer, Wolfgang Weiss, G. A. Streit and Simon Rogger. In the sixties came: Jacob Haller, Henry Vetter, Harry Slep, C.

Joseph Stahl, Wolfgang Weiss, G. A. Streit, if. Martin Weiss, Hauser, Gottlieb Hauser, Michael Effinger, Fred Effinger, Andrew Rath, Jacob Effinger, Mathias Effinger, Michael Rupp, Anthony Schittelkoph, Joseph, Hent-echal, Reinhold Schimminger, Max Schlegel, Christian Eberhard, Gott-leib Klink, George Lehle, John Gloeck-ler, Leopold Ingold, William Reifsteck, Frederick Reifsteck, Philip Schraf, Jos. eph Betzendorfer, Andrew Buchber-ger, Jacob Heiss, John Meier, George Koelle, Frederick and Balzer Koelle, Frederick Ehredt, George Lehrsch, David Koch, Michael Haag, A- Balzar Wolf.

In the seventies came: Matthew Hausser, Christ Wolfsberger, Christ Rath, J. George Hausser, Frederick Ehredt. Charles Ingold, the Grein-ers and Siegrists (in great numbers), Emil Thieme, John Heinz, William Dorenburg, Christian Fauth, Herrman Fauth, HI Beckman, George Breisach-er, Michael Ehredt, Stephen O. Adler, Matthew Fleig, Nicholas Behm, Andrew Buechele, George Endress, Adam Behm, Adam and Henry Brede, B. Biseli, Albert Hauth, Frank Hiergeist, J.

George Hausser, Frank Gleichert, Jacob Gruhler, Jacob Glunz, George Schandelmaier, Peter Young, Theodore Schlatter, Frederick Schlatter, Ernst Pietsch, Alexander Scheeline, J. Reichert J. Resig, John Reismeier, Frank Kiesewetter, Paul Karl, August Keller, Henry G. Kunzig, L. G.

Lamade, John Geisler, Henry Vogel, Jacob Weiss, Andrew Buch-herger and Paul Kreuzpointner. In the eighties came: F. X. Brum-huber, Joseph Brundle, Peter Buch-heit, Adam Buckreis, Henry Budde, George Budde, Christ Burkert, Conrad Dingeldein, John Dorman, Philip Dosch, Emil Boese, Christian Bohner, John Bonner, Gottlieb Bohner, Jacob Hauser, H. Brupbacher, Otto Dietze, M.

Baumann, G. M. Aurich, J. Beck, Dominik Beck, Carl Beck, Robert Ans-linger, George Berrang, Peter Ber-fang, Peter Bey, Walter Azinger, Albert Altweg, Rev. Andrew Hauser, Augustus Hauser, J.

Jacob Hauser, Matthew Hauser, Joseph Heim, Ed. Heintel, Carl Heintzman, Carl Hell, Fred Hell, Michael Heiss, Henry Hengstler, David Hengstler, John Hengstler, August Hirt, John Hirt, Hieronymus Hirt, Joseph Hirt, Andrew Hopfl, Adam Schatzinger, A. J. Schaner, George A. Scheeler, John Scheeler, Herman Schiessle, George Funk, Ernest Durst, Philip Mann, Joseph Ebner, Henry Sabathne, Philip Klobestanz.

John Huber, William TTnhpr. Ferdinand Hiiher. Georee Huebner, Charles Hummel, Joseph Kanaimnaer, unaries lummen, Anion Kleiner, John Krenz, A. Krenz, Gottlieb Raichle, G. Raichle, R.

J. Keser, ueorge Kirstner, jonn ivoecK, ueorge noecnie, neinnoia jnoecme, iranu Koenig, Frederick Koenig, John- Koe-l lig, A. Killer, Adam Kroll, August 'Uieger, Joseph Kuhn, George Kuhn, From the Fatherland Peter Kuhn, Conrad Kumpf, Burtley, August and Karl Kuny; Matthew Stehle, E. Stehle, F. Lang, August Lehman, Fred B.

Loercher, Christ Loechner, George F. Loeffler, Leonhard List, Robert Lienhoff, Ludwig Leix, Casper Locher, J. Lunglhofer, Engime Maillard, Achilles Maillard, P. Beech, C. Hafa, Frederick Haller, John Haller, John Haller, John Haller, Matthew John Hauser, Gust H.

Humminger, J. Maier, Ludwig Fredeking, W. Dorenburg, Michael Bastian, George Bastian, F. W. Red-witz and John Franenhofer.

In the nineties came J. Kollegger, Paul Just, Otto Kampmann, Lorenz Mattis, Lawrence Mathiew, Joseph Maurer, August Meinel, George Metz-ger, Julius Metzger, Ernest Meyer, Frederick Meyer, John Muri, Joseph Murl, Max Muri, F. Nickola, George Nickola, William and Jacob Nickola, E. Nickola, George Noll, August Noll, Ernest Nickel, Matthew Effinger, August Oexle, Max Oexle, Jacob Oswald, C. Pflfer, George Pielmeier, Peter Pielmeier, Carl Pietsch, E.

Pietsch, Otto B. Pip-part, J. Quirin, J. J. Quirin, Christ Stoltenberg, William Eisel, AI.

Fell-lnger, J. Feser, Fred Fuenfschilling, Matthew Fleig, Albert Freiman, R. Farabaugh, Anselm Frischkorn, F. Fuchs, Valentine Gamber, Carl Gam-ber, John Geig, L. Geig, John Gan-zenhuber, Edward Ganzenhuber, Andrew Gehl, George Gehl, H.

Geisler, Joseph Grieble, F. P. M. Gipp-rich, Matthew Gruhler, Jacob Gruhler, A F. Gutzwiller, Joseph Gutzwiller, Earnest Haas, Philip Haas, C.

Roesch, Martin Roesch, F. Ritter, John B. Ritter, J. A. Roessler, F.

J. Rudel, Louis Schmeltz, F. Schmeltzer, J. A. Schmelzle, Christ Schmelzle, Charles W.

Schmitt, Hermann Schmitt, Frederick Schneider, Michael Schneider, J. F. Wahl, F. W. Redwitz, August Schoch, Leo Schreiber, George Schoenk, Michael Schuh, Fred Schuh-macher, Leonhard Schwartz, Henry Schweitzer, Gottlob Seemann, August Seel, H.

Schweitzer (Hotel Austria), J. Segmiller, Ntmrod Sigrist, John Si-grist, Norbert Sigrist, Louis and Stephen Sigrist, J. A. Seidel, Joseph Seldel, Florian Seidel, R. H.

Siegel, Oscar H. Siegel, Paul Siegel, Anton Senz, Fred Siegel, Otto Sidler, Jacob Somner, Ad. Stadler, H. Staerk, A. H.

ner, Andrew Stelndel, R. Stoehr, Gottlieb Stoehr, Martin Stoehr, Max Stoehr, Michael Teufel, J. R. Teufel, H. A.

Titze, W. E. Traeger, F. Weber, R. Weber, John Weidmann, F.

Schultz, F. Weidlich, Jacob Wieslnger, F. S. Wiederkehr, Alfred A. F.

Wendt, H. Wentzel, John Ganzenhuber, Emil Zimmerer, John and Carl Zimmerer, Frank Zumsteg, Theodore Ziegler, Charles Koltschmidt, Carl Burkhart: Ed. Gassenhuber, and Adolph Koehle. In 1900 the following persons came: Carl Fischer, Joseph Poeschl, Herman Raible, William Reppe, E. Rentlinger, A.

J. P. Schilling, Gottlieb W. Walker, Hugo Weisflag, Max Wohlbrueck, B. Benzel, Rev.

G. S. Gratz, Rev. Julius Langer, Fred Gipprich, M. Gatsche, Carl Loser, H.

Hartlap and Max Schroeter. German Churches. St. Mary's church, founded in 1862, is in a prosperous condition, and is situated on Fifth avenue and Fourteenth street. The congregation has a large, commodious school building, also a convent and a society meeting house.

All the fraternal societies and sodalities meet in the basement of the church. The Rev. George Bock, a highly esteemed pastor, is the -rector of the church, with Rev. J. W.

Buett-ner as assistant. The beautiful parsonage joins the church edifice. The German Lutheran church was founded in 1862. It is situated on Eighth avenue and Fourteenth street, and owns a very fine edifice and a handsome and commodious parsonage. The congregation has a large membership, and is in a flourishing condition.

The auxiliaries connected with the church meet at the school room of the church. Rev. C. L. Boecele, a highly educated minister, has been the faithful pastor for the past fifteen years.

The German Evangelical congregation was founded in 1884. They own a very fine church edifice and a comfortable parsonage at the corner of Fifth avenue and Fifth street. The various societies connected with this church meet in the basement of the church. The church, though still in debt, is in a healthy condition, having greatly increased, in membership during the pastorate of the present incumbent, Rev. G.

S. Gratz, whose untiring efforts have been very visibly blessed. Singing Societies. The Frohsinn Singing society was organized in February, 1863, and is still in a prosperous condition. The society has a large and commodious home on Ninth avenue near Twelfth street, -and holds regular rehearsals every Thursday evening.

It took part in quite a number of singing contests particularly in the eighties and nineties of the- last century, carrying off several prizes. It also has a very finely equipped stage, where some creditable performances have been rendered by home talent Mr. A. Roller is the vocal director, ably assisted by Professor Schoeb. The society has a fine library, and there is a double.) bowling alley in the basement.

Mr. J. M. Steindel is the president, and Mr. C.

Munch the secretary of the society. Business meetings are held on the first and third Mondays of each month in the hall. The Concordia Singing society was founded on the 8th of January, 1870, and built a hall in 1882 at the corner of Second avenue and Ninth street. This society has taken part in many contests, being awarded first, second and fourth prizes. The building" contains a well-equipped stage, on, which many, excellent performances have jcially the orphans, and whose work along that line is well known to the people of Central Pennsylvania.

Space will not allow us to give the full measure of credit that is due to-, the Rev. Dr. M. M. Sheedy who, in his years of toil, has given generously of his vast store of mental treasures for the promotion of the city's welfare.

Among those of our people who have added lustre to the professions in Altoona, are the Hon. Thomas H. Greevy, John F. Sullivan, J. Austin Sullivan, Charles McCullough and Dr.

John M. Sheedy. Among the business men of the city, we have S. M. Hoyer who has been honored three times by the citizens of Altoona with theofilce of its chief executive, and whose interest in its welfare never wanes.

Others who have done much for Greater Altoona are: John Farrell, Denis Sullivan, John Gibbons, Patrick Burke, Anthony McNeils, Maurice J. Holland, P. H. Kelly, P. J.

Reilly, the lata Edward O'-Friel, and we might add a iiukdrod to those few and still not mention all. Of the men of our race who have raised themselves to positions of prominence in the employ of the great Pennsylvania Railroad company there are the late John Henry, William T. McConnell, William Kelly, S. J. Reagan and Thomas McKiernan.

Among the locomotive engineers who have made great records for themselves and for the company, we have John Healy, Thomas Cassiday, Dominic Reagan, Bernard Rourke, Patrick Masterson, Edward McConnell and Michael Mc-Cann. To the foregoing, we could add a horde of others who are in the rank and file and who did much and are still doing their part to make our community prosperous and happy. "No treason we bring from Erin, Nor bring we shame nor guilt." In conclusion, we wish to thank the Altoona Tribune for this courtesy and vwish you God's choicest blessing for a happy and prosperous future. DENNIS J. O'LEARY, 813 Crawford Ave.

Altoona, But They Have Truthfully Says J. E. P. Fontaine," thus giving the town its name. Had a genius in military affairs like Napoleon lived today, the European war would have been over.

The fame of the French strategist is secure for all time as one of the world's ablest military leaders. One must not overlook the debt we owe to Marquis Lafayette, who fought with us during the Revolutionary war; to Count Ro-chambeau and Baron d'Estaing, whose activities with the French army and fleet harassed the British and assisted greatly in the surrender of Corn-wallls. The world will always be indebted to Pasteur, who found a method to prevent hydrophobia; to Mme. Curie, the discoverer of radium; to Saint-Saens and Massenet, whose musical works have delighted millions of people in all parts of the world; to Mara-beau, Danton, Robespierre and Marat, who' kept alive the torch of human freedom, and to many others whose names we have not space to mention. French In Altoona.

So far as we have been able 'to learn, but six Frenchmen have lived in Altoona, and only one of the six remains today Germain Casanave, the well known harness dealer, who owns the Casanave blck opposite the post office on Eleventh street. Mr. Casanave was born in Escot, southwestern part of France, in the department of Bas Pyrenees, near the birthplace of Henry IV, king of France. He came to Altoona in 1870 and has resided here ever since. Probably the first Frenchman in Altoona was a man named Garnicr, who came here about the year 1858 and was engaged in the mercantile business for many years.

J. G. Vallade came here In 1860 from Paris. He was born in the same town as Stephen Girard, the noted Philadelphia philanthropist Peri-gueux, in southwestern France. Mr.

Vallade was well known as a photographer for many years. F. D. Casanave, a brother of Germain, preceded his brother to Altoona, having come here in I860. He entered the employ of the Pennsylvania railroad as a machinest and advanced step by step until he was made assistant master mechanic of the local shops.

Then he was transferred to the shops at Fort Wayne as master mechanic and while there became superintendent of motive power. He was transferred back to Altoona asgen-eral superintendent of motive power and died while on a visit to France with his brother. Adrien Dazin came to Altoona in 1875 and became a successful merchant. His cleaning and dyeing establishment won a high reputation. Dr.

T. R. Rivailles, a graduate of the university of Paris, came here in 1880 and lived here for six years practicing medicine. He entered the Pennsylvania railroad relief department and was transferred to Baltimore. Before the Movies Came.

Tribune, May 19, 1859. Mr. J. F. Keesberry gave two magic lantern exhibitions in the Presbyterian church in this place on Monday and Tuesday evenings, which were well attended.

This exhibition Is well worth going to see, and we bespeak for the proprietor a full house wherever lie oe "When Erin first rose from the dark swelling blood, God blessed the green isle and saw it was good; The em'rald of Europe, it sparkled and shone In the ring of the world the most precious stone." When at the dawn of the Christian era we first hear of Ireland from external sources, we learn of it as an island harboring free men, whose love of freedom was hateful to the spirit of imperial exploitation. Ag-ricola's advice to the empire builders of his day was that Rome should war and take possession of Ireland, so that freedom may be put out of sight. It was to meet this challenge of despotism that the Scotic clans of Alba turned to their Motherland for help and the sea was "white with hurrying oars" of the men of Erin speeding to the call of their Highland kinsmen who were threatened with imperial servitude. The first external record we possess thus makes it clear that when the early Irish went forth to carry war abroad, it was not to impose their yoke on other peoples, or to found an empire, but to defend the cause of freedom held so dear at home. Therefore, it is not surprising to the student of history to find them in the forefront in every battle for freedom.

This is particularly true in our own land where they figured conspicuously in that glorious struggle to throw off the foreign yoke. Sullivan of New Hampshire struck the first blow on land; O'Brien of Maine was the hero of the "Lexington of the Charles Thompson, the first secretary of the national congress, Charles Carroll of Carrolltown, having cast off the hated word British subject," signed himself: "First citizen" of the republic. To Nixon fell the honor of first reading the Declaration of Independence to the people. To Robert Morris is due the credit of financing the Revolutionary The Irish society, the Friendly Sons of St. Patrick of.

Philadelphia, came nobly to the aid of the Continental army when it was in great need of food and clothing in 1780, by subscribing $500,000. Joseph Galloway when examined before a committee of the British House of Commons said: "Scarcely one-fourth of the American army were native of the country; about One-half were Irish, the other one-fourth English and Scotch," Lord Mountjoy said in the House of Commons, "You have lost America through the Irish." Sir Thomas Dongan, an Irishman, when Colonial governor of New York, established the first real charter of liberty on this continent, a charter which prevented the imposition of taxes except by legislative'Tluthority and which was followed by a declaration of full religious toleration to" all sects. Again in 1812, when a dark cloud hung over the firmament, and friends of liberty trembled for the fate of the young republic, out flashed the swords of Jackson and McDon-ough. The first was the son of exiled parents from Ulster; the parents of the second were born in Galway. Jackson defeated the enemy at New Orleans; McDonough destroyed the British navy on Lake Champlain.

There were many other notable men of our race who stood sponsor for the young republic, such as "Mad Anthony" Wayne, Moylan, Hand and Montgomery, as well as John Dunlap, who was first to print the Declaration of Independence. Again, in the Mexican war, did the men of our race cover themselves with glory General Phil Kearney, James Shields, Stephen W. Kearney, Bennet Reilly and Major General Cro-gan, Robert Patterson, as well as Theodore O'Hara, the poet, and many others. It was, however, in the Civil war that the flood of Irish valor and loyalty was at its height. Of the 2,800,000 enlistments in the northern army, not less than 40 per cent, were Irish bom or of Irish descent.

It would, indeed, be hard to compass in a brief article even the names of the general officers of Irish blood in the Civil war. We had some of the greatest military geniuses of any age. Phil Sheridan, Michael Corcoran, Thomas F. Meagher, George C. Meade, John Logan, as well as hundreds of others of lower rank, who, during that war, created a mine of honor to.

the name of the Irish race. In the Spanish-American war, we supplied a full quota of Kelleys, Murphys, Burkes and Doyles. Pennsylvania has ever been a favored home of the exiles of Erin. In the beginning, the Irish settlers were attracted to it by sentimental as well as by practical reasons. The whole Atlantic seaboard lay open to them, but they seemed specially fond of Penn's colony.

Thousands of them landed on the Delaware, others moved westward, settling in the southern tier of counties, dotting the hills and valleys with old names which they still bear, such as Dublin, Tyrone, Coleraine, Merion, Dungannon and Newry, and, so keeping alive the memory of the old Motherland. Perhaps nothing so strikingly brings home the association of Ireland with music as the fact that the harp is emblazoned on the national arms. It is true that even before the coming of St. Patrick, the Irish were a highly cultured nation and the national Apostle utilized music and song in his work of conversion. Who has not heard of the great music school of San Gallen founded by St.

Gall, the wonder and delight of Europe, to which flocked German students? One of the Irish monks composed numerous sacred pieces, including the famous farced "Kyrie." Not alone did Irish monks propogate sacred and secular music throughout France, Italy, Switzerland, Austria, Germany and the far nortX tor, and has achieved great success in his gymnastic instructions. The benefits derived from these exercises mentally and physically are incalculable. The evolutions gone through by Mr. Hafner's class of young ladies at a performance given at the Mishler theatre in June, 1915, were marvelous and elicited well-merited admiration and applause. It is to be hoped that.

gymnastics will he universally introduced and adopted in our schools. The Frohsinn Beneficial association meets on the first Sunday after the 10th of the month, in the Frohsinn hall, 1125 Ninth avenue. The German Beneficial union, No. 45, meets on the third Wednesday of the month, at the Concordia hall. The home-seeking instinct of the German race is incontestably demonstrated in our city.

Most of its citizens own properties and are heavy tax payers. There are very few litigations among the "Teutons," as the jingo press is pleased to style them. Their loyalty to the American government cannot be questioned, as was proven during the trying times of the Revolution. Washington's most faithful and devoted soldiers and advisers were Germans. These facts, I regret to say, are rarely mentioned these days; but they are, nevertheless, indelibly engraved on the tablets of history.

Statistics show how many thousands of German-born Americans fought in the Union army. I would most emphatically recommend to a certain class of patriots the study of the history of our beloved country, also the Declaration of Independence, the grandest document ever conceived by a human brain or traced by a human hand G. HAUSER. FIRS! NATIONAL OUR OLDEST BANK Resources Today Are More Than $2,450,000 An Interesting History With a history almost as old as the city and which is, in reality, a barometer of the city life and growth, the First National bank, of ing the oldest financial institution in the city. It was organized the 21st day of December, 1863, under an act of congress, entitled "An act to provide a national currency secured by a pledge of United States stocks, and to provide for the circulation and redemption thereof." Approved February 25, 1863.

The capital stock of the bank was $100,000, paid in. The first board of directors, elected December 21, 1863, was: William Lloyd, Thomas L. Caldwell, George F. Huff, David T. Caldwell, John Lloyd.

William M. Lloyd was elected president, and Thomas L. Caldwell cashier. The bank was authorized to commence the business of banking under, an act approved the 10th of February, 1864, by Samuel T. Howard, deputy controller of the currency.

Following is a brief chronological history: June 30, 1864 Fifty thousand dollars was paid on account of capital stock, making the total amount paid in on capital stock $150,000. At the annual meeting in January, 1864, D. T. Caldwell was elected cashier, and resigned May 24, 1867, to take charge of the bank of Lloyd, Caldwell Tyrone. John Lloyd was elected cashier to succeed him.

August 10, 1875 William M. Lloyd resigned his position as president. Henry Lloyd, of Pittsburg, was elected president, and A. M. Lloyd was elected vice president.

May 12, 1879 A. M. Lloyd was appointed president to fill the vacancy occasioned by the death of Henry Lloyd, and David McK. Lloyd was appointed vice president. April 22, 1892 John Lloyd was elected president of the bank, and Henry Cryder was appointed cashier.

January 21, 1902 J. M. Skyles was appointed cashier and R. C. Wilson assistant cashier.

While the capital stock is $150,000, the surplus amounts to $400,000, and the total resources ofthe bank are $2,451,855.90. The officers: John Lloyd, president; J. M. Skyles R. C.

Wilson, assistant cashier. The directors. John Lloyd, H. Slutzker, F. H.

Lloyd, M. H. Canan, John Lloyd. Drunkenness a Rarity. Tribune, September 8.

1859. It is seldom that a drunk man is seen on our streets, consequently the boys consider it a treat to come across some unfortunate individual who has imbibed too freely. The other evening we saw an individual who had taken on too much tanglefoot whiskey, in the midst of a gang of boys Who were enjoying the delectable sport of letting him drop on his posterior at every opportunity. It was no doubt fun for the boys, but hard on the dilapidated individual's corduroys. Seriously, we could not but think tnat boys who would thus impose on an unfortunate man were as much deserving of a place in the lockup as was the drunken man- I Not Many of Them in Played Well Their Part, By J.

E. P. "La Belle France!" These words appeal to the Frenchman with a potency and magic of appeal that no other country inspires, and although the Frenchmen in Altoona are. fewer numerically than any of the other races mentioned in the Tribune's "Melting Pot," the men who came to this city have been representative of the best that come from the land of love and romance. From the time that the great Charlemagne became emperor of France on Christmas Day, 800, to the present time, France has played a dominant role in the history of the nations of the earth.

In politics, statesmanship, military prowess, literature, science, philosophy, art and music, France has been represented by men of great intellect. In the field of exploration, the intrepid sons of France have been among the bravest and most daring. John and Sebastian Cabot, who are said to have visited America before Columbus discovered it; Jacques Car- tier, one of the world's ex nlAiaia a 11 and T)a (hfitn urVi 5, hQ Miici! nH loft ther on the western rt of thls country; Father Marquette and scft.ea of othera have wieided a mighty influence in the affairs of this country by reason of their daring ex plorations. By the sailing of the Cabots up the St. Lawrence river in quest of a pass age to China, and the navigation of the Mississippi by La Salle and De Soto, the French used the two great- of Amot.iQn nnH this avfi thfim advantage in colonizing this country and Canada Had the French Bent sufficient forces to this country to ad equately man their line of outposts Qn th frnm New Orleans, the British never would have triumphed and today the western part of the country would be dom- naiad Anriia1v Vttf Proti a rm a onrl VthV case in prta "of rana(1 t' rtnv Fort Duquesne, now Pittsburg; Detroit, Vincennes, Joliet, La Salle, New Orleans, Pere Marquette, Sault Ste.

Marie and scores of other names of American towns give some idea of nTZl nient from the shores of the Great the influence of the French settle- Lakes to the Gulf of Mexico. Just a few months ago, the town of New Ro- brated the 200th anniversary of the J1undin8 t0Twn Frenchmen. The extent of the Louisiana Purchase from France, embracing nearly all the territory west of the Alleghenies, gives an idea of French dominance In the early history of the country. In literature, the names of Voltaire, Rousseau, Balzac, Hugo, Dumas and Maupaussant stand out boldly. Rous anon an1 I ra tntirtit VtA arm rr seau and Voltaire might be termed the pioneer apostles of freedom and republicanism.

There has never lived a more adroit statesman than the great Talleyrand, who. maintained his power through the varying fortunes of France, now as a republic and then a monarchy, and even during the seething days of the awful Revolution. It is said that during Talleyrand's visit to America be visited the spring at Bellefonte ana upon seeing tne magnmcent spring which furnishes all the water tor the town, he exclaimed, "La Belle a suburb of New York, cele- ei vinw nrPidnt nf PrinrPton mi. lege in 1761. was a native of Armagh 1 and John Blair Smitn, famous as a preacher throughout the Shenandoah valley, and the first president of Union college in 1795, was of Irish descent.

Irishmen and their sons have found ed American towns and cities and the capital of the state of Colorado takes i its name from General James Denver, son of Patrick Denver, an immigrant from County Down in the year 1795. Sixty-five places in the United States are named after people having the Irish prefix and upwards of 1,000 after the "Macs" and there are 263 counties of the United States and ap proximately 7,000 places called by Irish family or place names. Coming down to local affairs, we find the Irish have been prominent in the history of Blair county since its incep- i tion. What is now Blair township was settled by Irish Catholics about the.