Henry Wilson Storey's History of Cambria County, V.III, p.141

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History of Cambria County, V.3

HISTORY OF CAMBRIA COUNTY. 141

state canal between Blairsville and the mountains, and in helping with this work he became expert in the art of letter painting, doing much of that work himself. Later on he did the better grade of work on the Portage railroad cars. On attaining his majority he became partner in business with his father, and from that time until the latter retired from active pursuits the firm name of Heslop & Son was well known in trade circles in Cambria county. After the senior partner retired, his son conducted the business alone until 1857, and then began his long period of service with the Cambria Iron Company. In 1899 he left the company's employ and retired from active life to look after his own property interests and to enjoy the fruits of many years of hard work.
    Like his father, Gale Heslop always has taken an earnest interest in public and political affairs, and, while he has held office, it never has been for the advancement of personal interests. He is a Republican, and as the nominee of that party was elected a member of the council before the borough became a city. During his incumbency of the office an attempt was made to appropriate various plots of public land to private uses, and he was largely instrumental in defeating the nefarious measure. For eleven years also he served as judge of elections. During the Civil war Mr. Heslop was drafted for service, and so far as he himself was concerned was willing to go to the front; but at that time he was in the employ of the Cambria Iron Company, and as that corporation felt that his service at the works could not be dispensed with even temporarily, Daniel J. Morrell, on behalf of the company paid the three hundred dollars necessary to secure his exemption.
    On the 3d day of May, 1853, Gale Heslop married Elizabeth Rupp, daughter of John and Anna Elizabeth (Kaab) Rupp, both of whom were natives of Germany, and came to America in 1834, settling in Somerset county. Eleven children were born of this marriage: William Heslop, a business man of Johnstown; married Margaret Hocker, and has three children. Harriet Heslop, married Archibald Thompson, and is now a widow living in Pittsburg. Franklin Heslop; married Elsie Byroads, and lives in Johnstown. Elizabeth Heslop, married Mowry Bonner, and is now a widow living in Johnstown. Harry B. Heslop, married May McLaughlin, and lives in Coopersdale. Charlotte, married James Lindsey, of Pittsburg. Five died in infancy.
    William Heslop, eldest son and child of Gale and Elizabeth (Rupp) Heslop, was born in Johnstown on the 3d day of July, 1854. He received a meager education in the public schools, and when old enough to work began to learn the trade of his father and grandfather. At twenty-one he began work for the Cambria Iron Company, and continued in the employ of that corporation for twenty-five years, chiefly as a practical house painter having charge of other men and the oversight of a vast amount of work, for the company owned more than eight hundred houses and buildings, and it was his duty to see that they were kept in proper condition. In 1889 Mr. Heslop left the company and started in business on his own account in Johnstown. Although he never was employed in a factory in which stained glass was manufactured, he nevertheless acquired a perfect knowledge of that art by inheritance and native ability, and he seems also to have inherited something of his grandfather's genius for mixing and blending colors artistically; for since he began business his attention has been devoted chiefly to that line of work, and he has made a complete success of it. In his factory is produced all kinds of art glass, leaded stained glass, and even the more modern hard metal windows, employing copper, etc., in place of the less durable lead.

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	HISTORY OF CAMBRIA COUNTY.	141
state canal between Blairsville and the mountains, and in helping with this work he became expert in the art of letter painting, doing much of that work himself. Later on he did the better grade of work on the Portage railroad cars. On attaining his majority he became partner in business with his father, and from that time until the latter retired from active pursuits the firm name of Heslop & Son was well known in trade circles in Cambria county. After the senior partner retired, his son conducted the business alone until 1857, and then began his long period of service with the Cambria Iron Company. In 1899 he left the company's employ and retired from active life to look after his own property interests and to enjoy the fruits of many years of hard work. Like his father, Gale Heslop always has taken an earnest interest in public and political affairs, and, while he has held office, it never has been for the advancement of personal interests. He is a Republican, and as the nominee of that party was elected a member of the council before the borough became a city. During his incumbency of the office an attempt was made to appropriate various plots of public land to private uses, and he was largely instrumental in defeating the nefarious measure. For eleven years also he served as judge of elections. During the Civil war Mr. Heslop was drafted for service, and so far as he himself was concerned was willing to go to the front; but at that time he was in the employ of the Cambria Iron Company, and as that corporation felt that his service at the works could not be dispensed with even temporarily, Daniel J. Morrell, on behalf of the company paid the three hundred dollars necessary to secure his exemption. On the 3d day of May, 1853, Gale Heslop married Elizabeth Rupp, daughter of John and Anna Elizabeth (Kaab) Rupp, both of whom were natives of Germany, and came to America in 1834, settling in Somerset county. Eleven children were born of this marriage: William Heslop, a business man of Johnstown; married Margaret Hocker, and has three children. Harriet Heslop, married Archibald Thompson, and is now a widow living in Pittsburg. Franklin Heslop; married Elsie Byroads, and lives in Johnstown. Elizabeth Heslop, married Mowry Bonner, and is now a widow living in Johnstown. Harry B. Heslop, married May McLaughlin, and lives in Coopersdale. Charlotte, married James Lindsey, of Pittsburg. Five died in infancy. William Heslop, eldest son and child of Gale and Elizabeth (Rupp) Heslop, was born in Johnstown on the 3d day of July, 1854. He received a meager education in the public schools, and when old enough to work began to learn the trade of his father and grandfather. At twenty-one he began work for the Cambria Iron Company, and continued in the employ of that corporation for twenty-five years, chiefly as a practical house painter having charge of other men and the oversight of a vast amount of work, for the company owned more than eight hundred houses and buildings, and it was his duty to see that they were kept in proper condition. In 1889 Mr. Heslop left the company and started in business on his own account in Johnstown. Although he never was employed in a factory in which stained glass was manufactured, he nevertheless acquired a perfect knowledge of that art by inheritance and native ability, and he seems also to have inherited something of his grandfather's genius for mixing and blending colors artistically; for since he began business his attention has been devoted chiefly to that line of work, and he has made a complete success of it. In his factory is produced all kinds of art glass, leaded stained glass, and even the more modern hard metal windows, employing copper, etc., in place of the less durable lead.