Bios: Surnames CRE to FIN - Twentieth Century History of Altoona and Blair County, Pennsylvania, and Representative Citizens, Jesse C. Sell, Chicago, IL: Richmond-Arnold, 1911, File 4 Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by the Blair County Genealogical Society, 431 Scotch Valley Road, Hollidaysburg, PA 16648. Copied and proofread by Linda M. Shillinger LindasTree@aol.com OCRed by Judy Banja jbanja@email.msn.com USGENWEB NOTICE: Printing this file within by non-commercial individuals and libraries is encouraged, as long as all notices and submitter information are included. Any other use, including copying files to other sites, requires permission from the submitters PRIOR to uploading to any other sites. We encourage links to the state and county table of contents. _____ FRANKLIN K. FICKES, M.D., a leading physician and surgeon at Tyrone, Pa., whose medical experience covers twenty-nine years, nineteen of these having been passed in this city, was born November 4, 1854, in Bedford County, Pa., a son of John and Rebecca (Weisel) Fickes. John Fickes was born in what was then Union Township, Bedford County, Pa., in 1806. It was one of the larger townships and was later divided into three, the part in which he was born and lived now bearing the name of Queen Township. His father was of German extraction, but was born in America, but his mother was of Spanish blood. They lived and died in Bedford County. John Fickes located on a farm following his marriage and continued there until his death, which occurred in his eighty-sixth year. He was a supporter of the Republican party from its organization. He married Rebecca Weisel, who was born in 1812, in Bedford County, a daughter of John Weisel, a native of Germany. She lived to be eighty-eight years of age and was the mother of fifteen children, all of whom survive except three. The eldest, John, is deceased. Richard is a retired carpenter, living at Sandusky, O. Daniel, who died in Montana in 1907, was a carpenter by trade. Rachel is the wife of Henry Beegle and they live on a farm in Bedford County. William is a retired farmer and lives on the old homestead. Henry follows the carpenter trade at Altoona. Jacob was drowned when a child of three years. Emma is the wife of John Dibert of Claysburg, Blair County. Anna is the wife of Joseph Sill, a farmer of Bedford County. Sarah is the wife of Levi Hettzel, a carpenter, and they reside at Nelson, Nebr. Thomas is also in business in Nebraska. Maria is the wife of Michael Stuft, a resident of Kalispen, Mont. Abram is a carpenter, following his trade in the city of Chicago. Franklin K. was the fourteenth born in the above family. Lucinda, the youngest, is the wife of Franklin Mock, and they live at Kalispen, Mont. The parents of the above family were members of the German Reformed church. Franklin K. Fickes was educated in the public schools and at Martinsburg Academy, after which he taught school for five years, in the meanwhile having directed his studies along the lines of medicine and was thus well prepared for entrance at the College of Physicians and Surgeons, in Baltimore, Md. He was creditably graduated in the class of 1881, and in the following years located at Warrior's Mark, in Bedford County, where he remained until 1891, coming then to Tyrone. He is a member of the Tyrone Medical Club, and enjoys a large and substantial practice which has been built up on professional ability. Dr. Fickes was married in 1884 to Miss Ella May Kieffer, a daughter of Joseph Kieffer, of Warrior's Mark, and they have had five children, namely: Ralph and Forest, both of whom are deceased; Virginia Ray, who is engaged in the practice of medicine at Philadelphia, and is a graduate of the Women's Medical College of that city, after which she practiced one year at Tyrone: Victor, who resides at home; and Charles, who is in the employ of the Motor Transportation Company of Clearfield. Dr. Fickes is an Independent Republican in his views on public questions.
Birth and death dates for Calvin Ira Kephart from Social Security Death Index Following entry from Who Was Who in America. Volume 5, 1969-1973. Chicago: Marquis Who's Who, 1973. (WhAm 5) KEPHART, CALVIN IRA, lawyer, historian, author; b. New Britain, Pa., May 27, 1883; s. George Elwood and Anna Catherine (Weisel) K.; B.S. cum Laude, U. Cal., 1913; LL.B. LL.M., M.P.L., Nat. U., 1922, D.C.,1928; B.C.S., Southeastern U., 1923; Ph.D., Am. U., 1933; m. Olga Ahlson von Zweigbergk, Apr. 21, 1917; children - Arnold Ahlson, Robert Drake, George Weisel, Calva (Mrs. William L. Collier). Asst. chief clk., chief clk. United Railways San Francisco, 1906-08, constrn., valuation engr. Utilities and Interstate Commerce Commn., 1913-1918; auditor, engr. Pub. Service Commn. Ore., 1918-20; hearing examiner Interstate Commerce Commn., 1920-49; admitted to D.C. bar, 1922, Md. bar, 1950; asso. prof. law Nat. U., Washington, 1927-39. Sec., chmn. Pub. Service Commn., Arlington County, Va., 1930-35. Served to col., World War II. Mem. Md. State Poetry Soc. (1st v.p. 1962-69), Anthrop. Soc. Washington, Huguenot Soc. Pa., Bucks County Hist. Soc., Mil. Order World Wars, S. A. R., Soc. War 1812, Mil. Order Crusades, Baronial Order Magna Charta, Ret. Officers Assn., TauBeta Pi, Sigma Xi, Sigma Nu Phi, Chi Psi Omega. Mason (K.T.), Kiwanian, mem. Order Eastern Star. Author: Sanskrit - Its Origin, Composition, and Diffusion, 1949; Origin of Heraldry in Europe, 1953; Races of Mankind - their Origin and Migration, 1960; Concise History of Freemasonry, 1964. Contbg. editor: Western Destiny Mag. Contbr. articles numerous publs. Home: Shady Side MD Died Aug. 17, 1969; buried Arlington Nat. Cemetery.Transcription provided by Bonnie Swartley Martin, July 2002.
AN EARLY SETTLER
A Brief Sketch of the Life of
John Weisel, Esq.
Something About Pioneer Life
in Lycoming County
Interesting Reminiscences of a Venerable and Useful Citizen
The subject of this sketch, John Weisel, Esq. of this city [Williamsport, PA]
was born on the first day of April 1805 in Tinnecum [Tinicum] township, Bucks
County, the residence of his father, [John] George Weisel, being at the time
on the banks of the Tinnecum river where it empties into the Delaware. In
the fall of the same year his father moved his family to this section of
country, settling in Loyalsock township, at that time, now Eldred, and
occupying that winter a little house that stood on the premises where a Mr.
Mosteller now lives, situated near the Quaker meeting house. Shortly after
his arrival in this vicinity his father purchased a small tract of land in
Hepburn Township and erected a house thereon. He then cut a road through the
woods to his new home that winter and in the spring of 1806 he moved his
family and household goods. In the year 1808 his father erected a new mill
on the banks of Mill Creek and in the spring of the year 1810 he began the
erection of a grist mill. Mr. Jacob Hyman had the contract to do the
carpenter work, John Fields, father of Firman Fields, Esq. of Fields Station,
being an apprentice under him at the time. A man by the name of Jacob Shane
was the millwright, Mr. William Ball, a brother-in-law of Mr. Weisel who
afterwards became the owner of the mill, being an apprentice under Shane at
the time. Philip Pence, an old Revolutionary soldier, cut the stone, taking
him many months to complete the job, he procuring the stone in a quarry along
Lycoming Creek. The grist mill was completed in the fall of the same year,
and began operations. The mill is still standing and is now known as Ball's
Mills.
Although but five years old at the this time, Mr. Weisel says he distinctly
remembers that the country was infested with wild animals, such as bears,
wolves, etc. As an incident, he relates that one evening a bear came to the
residence of his uncle Abraham Utterhold, and made for the hog pen in which
were several fine fat hogs. His uncle being in the barn at the time, seized
a pitchfork and undertook to drive bruin off, but to no purpose, as the best
succeeded in breaking in the pen, and seizing one of the porkers, he made off
for the hills with it. The next day, Samuel Weisel, an older brother,
succeeded in shooting the animal, which on being cut open was found to be in
very lean condition, not an once of fat on his carcass. This fact explained
that hunger had compelled the bear to make such a bold dash for food. Mr.
Weisel worked on the farm for his father until the year 1825, when he then
began to work at what was called a carding machine, which was situated in a
small building about one-fourth of a mile from the grist mill, and which had
been in charge of his oldest brother, William, for a long time. His duties
consisted in carding the wool into rolls, which were then taken to the house
where the female portion of the family xxx, was taken to the weaver who wove
it, it was then taken to what was known as a fulling mill where it was fulled
and sheared, and then was known as cloth. He continued to work at the
business until the time of his father's death which occurred in 1836? In
1837 he was united in marriage to Miss Sitney [Sidney] Mackey, Jacob Grafius,
Esq., performing the ceremony at the residence of the bride's parents, which
was situated in back of what is now known as Warrensville. The best man on
this occasion was the father of Captain D.B. Eise, proprietor of the Crawford
House, who is now living in one of the western states.
After the death of this father, Mr. Weisel took charge of the mill property,
paying the other heirs for their shares. He carried on the business until
1840 when he sold out to William Ball, his brother-in-law, whose nephew,
George now owns and operates the mill. After selling out, Mr. Weisel moved
to what in now known as Warrensville, which place he afterwards laid out, and
purchased a property of Samuel Carpenter, consisting of one hundred and
twenty five acres of land, and a saw and grist mill, paying $7,000 for the
same. He resided here for thirteen years, when he sold the property to
Squire Milnor and his brother-in-law, a man by the name of Whitefield,
receiving for the same $8,000.
In 1853, on the first day of April, Mr. Weisel removed with his family to
this city [Williamsport] and purchased the piece of ground on which his
residence is now erected, No. 35 East Third Street. At the time of the
purchase the improvements consisted of a small frame building. He bought the
property from Hon. Judge Eldred, paying $1,500 for it. On the eighth day of
the following March, his mother died, being 93 years old to the day. Mr.
Weisel continued to live in this building until it was destroyed by the great
fire of 1871. Shortly after the destruction of the property he began the
erection of the three storied brick property in which he has resided ever
since. Mr. Weisel was at one time the owner of considerable real estate
situated in this city. In 1846 he bought of Lentz & White, members of the
well known lumber firm of White, Lentz & White, ninety town lots situated in
what is now the eastern extremity of the city limits, paying for them the sum
of $3,400. These lots fronted on Washington Street, between Almond and Lower
Vine streets, and extended back into Lloyd's addition. Mr. Weisel disposed
of a large number of these lots.
Mr. Weisel has been elected to fill several positions of trust. In 1844 he
was elected County Commissioner to serve three years, taking the place of
Daniel Strieby, Esq., deceased. At the time of he served, John Steck, of
Hughesville, farmer Thomas Wood of Muncy, Hugh Russell of Larry's Creek, and
William Platt, of Clinton Township also served. A new Commissioner was
elected each year, tow holding over. He was also elected a Justice of the
Peace in the Second Ward of this city at the time the Eighth Ward was formed
but he never lifted his commission.
Mr. Weisel is now living at N. 35 East Third Street, this city with his
estimable wife, Elizabeth, who is but ten months his junior, she being born
in the town of Bellvidere, New Jersey. A remarkable thing in regard to Mrs.
Weisel is that she has never been sick a day in her life. Mr. and Mrs.
Weisel had three children born to them, Elizabeth A. who died a few years ago
in White Deer Valley; Mary Jane Fullmer, who resides in this city, and Dr.
George Weisel, a well known physician of Williamsport.
Source: Newspaper transcription provided by Alan Weisel, State College, PA on May 2002
A photocopy of the newspaper cutting was made by the Centre County Library and Historical Museum. They had no attribution for the source of the newspaper cutting. The Lycoming County Historical Society was not able to identify the source of the newspaper article.
Source: Johnstown Tribune Democrat, Johnstown, Cambria County, Pennsylvania, March 1926
William W. Weisel
BEDFORD Mar 25 William W. Weisel, aged 85, died last Sunday morning at his home on East Pitt Street. He was a veteran of the Civil War, and was honorably discharged after a service of three years and 11 months. He is survived by one sister, Miss Henrietta Weisel; niece, Miss Gertrude Middleton, and two nephews, Percy W. A. Middleton and Paul Reed, all of Bedford. Funeral services were conducted Tuesday afternoon in charge of the Rev. J. Albert Eyler of the Reformed Church. Burial was in the Bedford Cemetery.
Contributed by Sara Deffenbaugh, January 2001
Source: HISTORY OF CAMBRIA COUNTY, Page 494
WILLIAM WYSEL, South Fork, was born October 20, 1856, son of Moses Wysel, and grandson of Joseph Wysel. The father of Joseph Wysel was George Wysel, who came from Maryland to Cambria County where he took up a tract of land in Mineral Point. Wysel Hill, which was then included within the limits of Bedford County, was named in his honor. He was a farmer and hunter. His brother John was a soldier in the revolutionary army. George Wysel lived to an advanced age.
Joseph Wysel, son of George Wysel, was born in Maryland, and was a child when the family moved to Pennsylvania. He owned a large tract of land in Mineral Point, and moved to Wabash, Indiana County [this is a mistake printed in book] where he ended his days. He was a Democrat and a member of the Lutheran Church.
Moses Wysel, son of Joseph Wysel, was bon December 19, 1831 and was reared on a farm, being at one time employed by the Pennsylvania Railroad Company as a track foreman. During the Civil War he enlisted in the Eighteenth Regiment, Pennsylvania Cavalry, and in May 1864, was captured at Mine Run, whence he was taken to Andersonville prison where he died. He was interred at National Park July 28, 1865. [as printed in book]. He married December 19, 1855, Elizabeth, daughter of Joseph Funk and they were the parents of three children: 1. William, of whom later. 2. Henrietta, born in 1858, wife of Ezra Oaks, had eight children. 3. Jennie, born in 1860, wife of Joseph Wicks, Junior, had ten children.
William Wysel, son of Moses and Elizabeth [Funk] Wysel was educated at the Soldiers' Orphans schools at Cassville and Jacksonville, Pennsylvania. He also pursued a course in mining from the Scranton school of correspondence. He was employed as a clerk until 1896 and in 1901 engaged in mercantile business, intrusting the management of the store to his son, while he himself worked at the trade of carpenter. For sixteen years he served as clerk of the borough council, and for the same length of time was school director. Fore three years he held the office of treasure of the borough school fund, and at present is assessor of first ward. He is a Republican and a member of the Methodist Episcopal church.
Mr. Wysel married, in 1876, Anna, daughter of Aaron Berkebile and they are the parents of the following children: Ella, born 1876; Alva B., 1878; Joseph, 1880; Henry, 1881; John W., 1884; Edith, 1886; Charles H., 1888; Laura, 1891; and Iva, 1896.
I found this in the book "History of Cambria County" at the historical society in Ebensburg and made a Xerox copy. I copied it exactly as printed in the book and made some corrections in []. My father, William L. Wysel is the son of Joseph Wysel, son of William Wysel, son of Moses.
Sara Wysel Deffenbaugh, December 2000
Page 4
December 2, 1953
Thank you so much for the copies of the letters. I was especially
interested in the one from Moses. Poor dear, he had no idea that he would
be dead in two months time when he wrote that letter. It was a sweet
letter, wasn't it? It must have been hard on the wife being left with
three children. Joseph and Susannah had plenty of worries with four sons
in the war. Mom says her mother told her that he would often be on his
knees praying all night long. They were very devout.
Affectionately,
EthelComment: Ethel Adams Baker is the granddaughter of Rachel Weisel who was Moses sister. This text came from page 4 of a typed letter written by Ethel in 1953 or thereabouts on her line of the family. - Sara Deffenbaugh 12/2000
Here is the letter she was referring to in the paragraph above.
Letter from Moses Wysel to his wife, Elizabeth Funk Wisel.
Danville, Virginia May 16, 1864
Dear Wife- Will write a few lines to inform you that I am in
good Health, and hope these few lines may find you all in good health too.
I do not like letting you alone, but it the best I can do.
I will be back in 1 year's time to you.
Yours Truly,
Mr. M. Wisel
Iva Wysel (She always used this spelling), daughter of William Wysel, and
granddaughter of Moses Wisel writes further:
The above is written exactly as the letter (original) which is encased in a
picture frame of Grandfather who is in uniform. He appears to be a small
man, with full grown whiskers-his hair appeared to be dark. I also hunted
up the History of Cambria County, PA. I could only find the second volume
and the third. The 2nd volume deals with the Civil War. It gives the
following:
Company K- Moses Wisel.
Captured at Mine Run, Orange Co., VA, May 5, 1864.
Died at Andersonville, GA Prison August 28, 1864.
Burial record July 28, 1864, grave # 4181.
Comments:
Transcribed by Sara Deffenbaugh from a page by Ethel Baker from a letter her
cousin, Iva O. Wysel (b. 4 Nov. 1887 South Fork, PA, d. 8 Sept. 1975 in
Cleveland, burial at South Fork Cemetery, Cambria Co., PA) wrote to
her. Iva lived in Cleveland, Ohio. She was a daughter of William
Wysel. This part of the family took up the Wysel way of spelling the name.
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