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1874, wife of C. F. Livingstone, a dairyman of Upper Yoder township. 2. J. Robert, born April 5, 1878; unmarried, a bookkeeper. 3. Emma Rebecca, born February 13, 1850. 4. Eldorado Elizabeth, born September 21, 1881. 5. Jennie Matilda, born January 10, 1890. 6. H. Darlington, born July 19, 1892.
HARRY WILLIAM SCHERER, business man and theatre manager of Johnstown, is a native of that city, and a son of the late Henry Scherer, who for nearly fifty years was identified with the best interests and history of Cambria county.
Henry Scherer was born in Hesse Darmstadt, Germany, and by occupation was a shoemaker. He came to this country some time between 1840 and 1850, and with Casper Hager, Mr. Beilstein and perhaps others, carried on shoemaking in the then borough. Later on he engaged in business on his own account and was proprietor of a shop so long as he followed his trade as a means of livelihood. When he gave up shoemaking Mr. Scherer became an employe of the Gautier department of the Cambria Steel Company, and worked there as long as he lived. He died in 1890, his death in a great measure having been hastened by the serious effects of the Johnstown flood, which cost him his wife and two eldest daughters. At the time the family lived on Portage street, opposite the wire mill. Mr. Scherer himself was not personally injured by the flood, but his home was wrecked, and the loss of his faithful companion and helpmeet of years and two of their children so affected him that he died nine months afterward. Mr. Scherer was one of the few older residents of Johnstown who began their married life in that place. Soon after coming to the borough he became acquainted with Catherine Fox, who was born in Hesse Darmstadt and came to this country soon after Mr. Scherer. They married, and afterward lived in devoted companionship until the awful disaster of May 31, 1889. The following children were born to them: Emma Scherer, drowned May 31, 1889. Mary Scherer, drowned May 31, 1889. Lena Scherer, married Paul Kirschmann, a teacher in the German parochial school in Johnstown. Harry William Scherer, business man of Johnstown. Martin Scherer, died in infancy. Charles Scherer, died in infancy. August Scherer, died in infancy.
Harry W. Scherer was born in Johnstown, March 28, 1874, and obtained his education in the public schools. When twelve years old he began work in a grocery store owned by Joseph Young, and was clerk there until the latter part of 1889, when he secured a clerical position in the office of the Gautier department of the Cambria Steel Company. Later on he was a bookkeeper in the Citizens' National Bank of Johnstown, and during his three years of service in that capacity he also became business manager of the two theaters of the city, which then were owned by I. C. Mishler, of Altoona. As business manager of the theatres Mr. Scherer was successful in the beginning, and has been successful in that line of work even to the present day. But he no longer acts as manager for another owner, for now he is part owner of one of the playhouses which he formerly managed, and as such has been the means of furnishing Johnstown theatre patrons with a better class of entertainments than had been their fortune to attend in earlier years. His efforts have elevated the stage and the theatrical profession, and also have been the means of teaching the people of Johnstown the value of clean entertainments as an element of education as well as a source of pleasure. In June, 1904, in partnership with Joseph T. Kelly, he purchased Cambria Theatre, and since that time has given his attention to the management of what is regarded as one of
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