in 1900, Mr. Shank had amassed a comfortable fortune and felt that he might retire from active business life. He accordingly purchased property in Dale borough, where he now (1906) resides, and has a commodious and elegant dwelling. In politics he is a Democrat, and while he resided in Adams township filled the offices of supervisor, school director, also tax collector. He enlisted in the Fifty-sixth Pennsylvania Volunteers in 1865, serving four months. He sold the coal rights in his land very advantageously in 1898.
He married, September 27, 1860, Mary A. Stull, born in Cambria county, May 31, 1839, daughter of Martin and Martha (Speicher) Stull, and they have had children: 1. Levina; married George M. Herschberger. 2. Izora, married W. H. Bantly, of Johnstown, and has two children: Milton and Nellie. 3. Abner F., married Sarah Keiper, and has one son, Harry. 4. Dr. Orlando J., a physician in Windber, Somerset county, Pennsylvania. 5. Minnie, married J. W. Miller and has two children: Newton and Homer. 6. Sadie E., married John Trotter, of Johnstown.
WILLIAM F. GOENNER. The death of William F. Goenner, which occurred at his late home in Johnstown, Pennsylvania, January 4, 1896, removed from that city one of its representative citizens and reliable, successful business men, who demonstrated the truth of the saying that success is not the result of genius, but the outcome of a clear judgment and experience. His career was marked by the strictest integrity, faithfulness to every trust reposed in him and he was known as a capable man, a pleasant social companion and a devoted husband and father.
Jacob and Caroline (Eger) Goenner, parents of William F. Goenner, were natives of Germany, from whence they came to the United States, locating at Number Five on the old Portage canal, Cambria county, Pennsylvania. Later he removed to Geistown and was there foreman of a cooper shop which controlled a considerable business. From there he removed to East Conemaugh, thence to Gallitzin, and later to Summitt, where be purchased a brewery in company with a Mr. Schwader, and this they operated successfully for a number of years. In 1870 he took up his residence in Cambria City and there purchased the Gugssrager Brewery, which he operated until the flood of 1889, when the same was swept away. When he commenced the brewing business in Cambria City the motive power was a tread mill operated by one horse, a small concern, but by energy and perseverance the business increased in volume and importance until it became one of the leading enterprises of its kind in that section of the county. On July 10, following the disastrous flood of 1889, Jacob Goenner died, and his widow took charge of the business, settled up the estate, and in August, 1890, William F. Goenner, her son, and John L. Stibich, a son-in-law, took charge of the business and conducted the same under the name of the Goenner Company. In 1892 they increased the capacity of the plant and made it one of the model breweries of the county, spending many thousands of dollars in improvements. Jacob Goenner was a member of Cambria City Mennechor Society, and the German Lutheran church, in which he took an active interest. His widow, Caroline (Eger) Goenner died, aged forty-seven years. She was survived by two children: Catherine, wife of John L. Stibich, and William F., now deceased.
William F. Goenner was born in Gallitzin, Cambria county, Pennsylvania, September 17, 1860. He acquired a practical education in the schools of his native city, and at the age of fifteen went to Johnstown
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