Page: 210

The Consolidated Bottling Company was incorporated in 1882; it is simply a consolidation of the firms of A. F. Kent, Woodbury & Campbell, Mayer Brothers and T. Blakely & Company; the business is well carried on....Campbell Brothers' bottling works, on Davis street, is a large industry here... (Bradford)

Page: 349

P. H. DAVITT, proprietor of bottling works, Bradford, is a native of Ireland, born March 14, 1854, a son of John and Nora (Rush) Davitt.  In 1866 he came to America with his parents, who settled in Erie county, N. Y., where the father worked at  the stone masons' and plasterers' trades, and later became a contractor and builder.  In 1878 the subject of our sketch came to Bradford, soon after opened his bottling works, and has built up a good trade in his line.  Mr. Davitt was married in New York in 1889 to Miss Ella J., daughter of John Considine.  Mr. and Mrs. Davitt are members of the Catholic Church and he is a member of the Catholic Benevolent Association.  He is a Democrat in politics, and has served as a member of the select council.

Page: 646

The first brewery was established by Michael Hantz in 1845, a small concern, which continued about ten years. Joseph Windfelder built a brewery in 1851. In September, 1876, the building and machinery became the property of Charles and Henry Luhr, the present owners. The annual sales range from 1,000 to 1,500 barrels. The third brewery was started by Charles Volk in 1855-56, opposite the old Washington House, later built where is now the City Hotel, and later built the brewery now owned by Straub, in Benzinger township. The Babylon Brewery was founded by Edward Babelhence the name. This burned down a few years ago. The second brewery in the borough was established by William Geiss, who sold to the present owner, Charles Walker.

Page: 769

ALLOIS URMANN, proprietor of Elk Brewery, Kersey's, was born in Bavaria, Germany, July 4, 1861, a son of Ludrich and Teressa (Shimburger) Urmann.  Allois Urmann came to America in 1881, and 1884 engaged in hotel-keeping at Kersey.  In this he was successful, and he continued in the same in 1885, when he purchased the Elk Brewery, and has since conducted the same, proving himself to be a man of marked business ability.  He married, May 9, 1883, Miss Teressa, daughter of Andrew Hau, of Fox township, and to them have been born four children; Andrew, Tersssa, Wally and Emma.  Mr. Urmann is a member of St. Boniface Society, and is a Democrat.

Page 800

CHARLES LUHR, merchant and brewer, St. Mary's, was born in the grand duchy of Baden, near Freiburg, Germany, September 25, 1830, and is a son of Joseph and Barbara (Loesch) Luhr, who settled in what is now St. Mary's borough, Elk Co., Penn., in 1846. His father, who was one of the first hotel-keepers in St. Mary's, cleared the lot on which the Luhr House now stands, erected the building and conducted the hotel from 1846 to 1869, when he retired from business. His family consisted of four children: Charles, Frank X., Josephine (Mrs. Dr. W. James Blekley) and Henry. Our subject was reared in Germany until fifteen years of age, when he came to the United States, landing in New York in September, 1845. He attended school in Baltimore until July, 1846, when he set out to join his parents at St. Mary's, taking ten days to make the journey from Baltimore. Mr. Luhr remained with his parents until twenty-seven years of age, attending to the business of the hotel, teaching school, and for a short time acting as agent for the Ridgway Farm & Land Company. In 1857 he embarked in the mercantile business, in which he has since been successfully engaged, and is now a member of the firm of J.C. Frank & Co., general merchants. September 9, 1876, with his brother, Henry, he purchased the St.. Mary's brewery, which they have since operated. He is also interested in the real estate business, having purchased and made Luhr's allotment an addition to the borough of St. Mary's. Mr. Luhr was married November 30, 1857, to Elizabeth, daughter of Joseph and Margaret (Knickenberger) Beleke, of St. Mary's, and by her he has had ten children, six of whom are living now: Rosa M. (Mrs. J.C. Frank), Joseph J., Charles W., Frank E., Fred A. and Alfred F. The deceased children were named Josephine J. (Mrs. Charles D. Miller), Henrietta B., Fredericka A. and Emma E. Mr. Luhr and family are members of the Catholic Church. He is a representative and leading citizen; has filled the office of county auditor one term of three years; county treasurer one term (1863-64), and associate judge one term of five years. He has held all the leading offices in the borough of St. Mary's, including burgess, justice of the peace, councilman and school director. Politically he has always been a stanch Democrat.

Page: 801

HENRY LUHR, brewer, St. Mary's, was born in St. Mary's, Elk Co., Penn., September 20, 1849, and is a son of Joseph and Barbara (Loesch) Luhr, who settled in St. Mary's in 1846. He was reared and educated in his native place, where he has always resided, and at the age of eighteen entered his brother's general store as a clerk; afterward, for fourteen years, was engaged in the mercantile business. Since 1876, in company with his brother, Charles, Mr. Luhr has successfully operated the St. Mary's brewery. On November 13, 1875, he married Amanda, daughter of Barnard B. and Mary A. (Fuegle) Weidenboerner, of St. Mary's, Elk county, and they have five children: Alois, Eugene, Edward, George and Mary A. Mr. Luhr and family are members of St. Mary's German Catholic Church; he is a member of St. John's Benevolent Society, and in politics is a Democrat.

Page: 804

PETER STRAUB, brewer, St. Mary's, was born in Wurtemburg, Germany, June 28, 1850, a son of Anton and Anna M. (Eger) Straub. He was reared and educated in his native country, and came to America in 1869, locating in Allegheny City, Penn., where he was employed in the brewery of Eberhart & Ober four months. He then removed to Brookville, same State, and in the breweries of this place worked two years, at which time he returned to Allegheny City, where he worked four months, and also at McKeesport, Allegheny county, four months. In 1876 Mr. Straub came to Centreville, Elk county, where he was employed in a brewery six months, and then met his wife and eldest child, re-visited his native land, where they saw the exposition at Paris, 1878. On their return to their home in this country, he entered, the employ of Joseph Windfelder, with whom he remained one year and eight months. In 1878 he commenced on his own account, and since November of that year has conducted a brewery and built up a successful business. Mr. Straub became united in marriage with Sabrina, daughter of F.X. Sorg, at St. Mary's, and by her has five children: Frank X., Josie, Anton, Anna M. and Jacob. Our subject is a member of the Catholic Church; in politics he is a Democrat.

Page: 804

PETER SHOUP, bottler and wholesale liquor dealer, St. Mary's, was born at Madison Furnace, Clarion Co., Penn., October 19, 1861, a son of Lawrence and Lena (Snyder) Shoup, former a native of Germany and latter of Pennsylvania.  Lawrence Shoup was a resident of Clarion county about fifty years, and Joseph Snyder, maternal grandfather of Peter Shoup, a native of Germany, was one of the pioneers of Knox township, same county.  The subject of our sketch was reared and educated in his native county, and in 1881 came to Elk county, where he worked in the lumber woods up to 1885.  He then embarked in the hotel business in St. Mary's, becoming the proprietor of the Luhr House, which he carried two years, and in 1887 engaged in his present business, which he has successfully continued since, having built up a lucrative trade.  In January, 1882, Mr. Shoup married Jennie, daughter of Antony Mottmiller, of Paint township, Clarion Co., Penn., and by her has four children: Bert, Nora, Mamie and Magdalena.  Mr. Shoup is a Democrat in politics, and a member of the Catholic Church.

Page: 810

JOSEPH F. WINDFELDER, grocer, saloon-keeper and manufacturer of pop, St. Mary's, was born in that borough, August 13, 1852, a son of Joseph and Mary (Weis) Windfelder.  His father was a native of Bavaria, Germany, came to this country and settled in 1846 in St. Mary's, where he commenced the brewing business, erecting the first brewery in the town, now known as St. Mary's, which he operated up to 1874.  He was also engaged in other lines of business, and served as treasurer of Elk county one term.  His family consisted of twelve children, of whom six survive: Joseph F., Mary W., Josephine (Mrs. Frank Fey), Louis, Maggie and Isadore.  The subject of this notice was reared and educated in St. Mary's, and began business for himself as proprietor of a restaurant and saloon (in which he is still engaged), embarking, in connection, in the grocery business in 1874, and in 1884 in manufacture of pop and other soft drinks.  Mr. Windfelder married, October 13, 1874, Kate, daughter of John Kaul, of St. Mary's, and by her has five children: Rosa and Mary (twins), Albert, Andrew and Irene.  Mr. Windfelder is a member of the Catholic Church; in politics as Democrat, and was deputy treasurer of Elk county under his father's administration.

Page: 887

Blumle Brewery was established in 1876 by F. X. Blumle, who that year erected the buildings on Wright's run, a half mile north of the junction.  The capacity is about 500 barrels, the market for which is in Emporium.  The bottling works were established by him in 1882.  This took the place of Hout's Brewery.  The pioneer brewery was on Hacket's land, on the Portage road.

Page: 974

P. H. SHUMWAY, proprietor of the Sizerville Bottling Works, was born at Wellsboro, Tioga Co., Penn., December 6, 1854, a son of Joseph and Margaret Shumway, natives of Pennsylvania.  He attended school until seventeen years of age, and then traveled extensively through the Western States, remaining until 1877, when he returned home and went to the Bradford oil fields, and was there employed until 1880, when he went to Olean, N. Y., and for seven years engaged in bottling mineral water for the market.  In 1877 he came to Cameron county, Penn., and leased the Sizerville Mineral Spring and opened his bottling works.  Mr. Shumway was married November 8, 1881, to Miss Etta Bullemer, daughter of George and Mary Bullemer, of Buffalo, N. Y.  They have two children: Florence M. and Earl P.  Mr. Shumway is a member of Olean Lodge, No. 252, F. & A. M., and also of Olean Chapter, R. A. M., No. 150.

Page: 1129

The general stores of the village, in 1889, were conducted by L. D. Reynolds, R. L. White, John Seymour, A. M. Benton & Co., and C. W. Tauscher & Co.; Dr. C. G. Fisher's drug, Elmer & Co.'s hardware, A. Goodman's clothing and C. P. Reed's grocery were the leading mercantile houses.  The brewery was carried on by Thomas Moran.  (Village of Roulette)

Page: 1225

JOHN SCHMID, brewer, Germania, a son of John Martin Schmid, is a native of Germany, and, although he has lived in Germania only three years, is one of the substantial and enterprising citizens. He came to America in 1871, and first located in Philadelphia, where he lived fifteen years. In 1886 he removed to Germania, Potter county, and built a brewery, which he has since successfully conducted, and Schmid's lager has gained a wide reputation as one of the best beers in the market. Mr. Schmid married Miss Rose Strahley, and they have a family of three children: John F., Katie and Harry. In politics Mr. Schmid is a stanch supporter of the principles of the Democratic party.

Page: 1226

JOSEPH SCHWARZENBACH, brewer, Germania, a son of Simpertus Schwarzenbach, was born in Bavaria, Germany, in 1822.  He came to America in 1851, and located in New York City where he worked at his trade, marble carver, for four years.  He worked on the capitol building at Washington, D. C., two years, and then removed to Philadelphia.  He was also employed on the post-office building at Washington, as carver of marble.  He came to Germania, Potter Co., Penn. in 1858.  In 1855 he married Louisa Seebald, in Philadelphia, and their children are Theodosia, Roland, Herman, August, Virginia, Louisa and Emanuel.  Mrs. Schwarzenbach died in 1884, and he then married Cilia Eberle, in New York City.  Mr. Schwarzenbach began brewing in 1858, has since been engaged in the manufacture of lager beer, and is now one of the two licensed brewers in Potter county.  He is a radical in politics, has been postmaster of Germania, and by an act of the legislature was made a road commissioner.  He is one of the popular German citizens of the county.