Henry Wilson Storey's History of Cambria County, V.III, p.327

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History of Cambria County, V.3

HISTORY OF CAMBRIA COUNTY. 327

    DAVID W. HARSHBERGER, one of Johnstown's successful business men, and for many years engaged in commercial enterprises both there and in the chief cities of his native state of Pennsylvania, was born December 17, 1844, at Franklin, Venango county, son of Isaac Harshberger, and grandson of John Harshberger, who was a farmer and land-owner in Somerset county and married ---------- Miller. Isaac Harshberger, son of John and ---------- (Miller) Harshberger, was born November 24, 1811, and was reared on his father's farm in Somerset county, receiving his education in the schools of that period. He afterward moved to Cambria county, where he purchased a tract of land and engaged in farming. On this estate of one hundred and thirty acres he lived during the remainder of his life, with the exception of about ten years which were passed in Franklin, Venango county, where he owned and cultivated a large farm of two hundred acres. Eventually he sold this property and returned to his farm in Cambria county, where he ended his days. The estate was divided between his two sons, Samuel I. and David W. Harshberger. Although not a politician he served several terms as justice of the peace greatly to the satisfaction of his fellow citizens. He was an active member of the Evangelical church of Richland township, in which for many years he held the office of elder.
    Isaac Harshberger married, April 11, 1834, Rebecca Fye, born October 3, 1818, and they became the parents of five sons, only two of whom are now living: 1. Jacob, born February 17, 1836, served with distinction in the Civil war, and died May 12, 1865, from an illness caused by exposure during the campaign before Petersburg. He participated in several battles. He married Margaret, daughter of Peter Varner, and their children were: Frederick, deceased; and Amanda, widow of Andrew Mumah. Jacob Harshberger's widow now resides at Lovett. 2. John, born July 15, 1838, died November, 1838. 3. Samuel L, born September 14, 1839, married Mary Livingston, seven children: John, William, Isaac, Samuel, Emma, Mary and Elizabeth. 4. David W., of whom later. 5. Daniel, born August 15, 1859, died at the age of twenty-seven. The death of Isaac Harshberger, the father, occurred in 1898, when he had attained the ripe age of eighty-seven years. He was a man of much nobility of character and was highly respected by his neighbors.
    David W. Harshberger, son of Isaac and Rebecca (Fye) Harshberger, was reared on his father's farm and acquired his elementary education in the public schools of his native township. At the age of fifteen he entered the service of the firm of Nutter & Ayres, manufacturers of sugar hogsheads, and the money, thus obtained he devoted to the completion of his education, placing himself in a seminary at Greensburg, near Canton, Ohio. After finishing his course of study he returned home and became the assistant of his father in the management of the farm, teaching school during the winter months. He next became clerk in the drug store of August Zwinner on Main street, where the Hinchman block is now situated. When Mr. Zwinner sold out to Dr. M. G. Crawford Mr. Harshberger remained for a time with the latter, and then accepted a position with Colonel C. T. Fraser, by whom he was employed for about a year. He then, in partnership with B. L. Yeagley, opened a drug store on Main street, but after a time the firm sold out and Mr. Harshberger moved to Philadelphia, where he obtained a position with French, Richards & Company, large wholesale dealers in drugs, with whom he remained three years. He then returned to Johnstown and engaged in the liquor business, subsequently going to Pittsburg, where he became clerk for the Honorable R. N. McClaran in the drug business at East Liberty.

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	HISTORY OF CAMBRIA COUNTY.	327
DAVID W. HARSHBERGER, one of Johnstown's successful business men, and for many years engaged in commercial enterprises both there and in the chief cities of his native state of Pennsylvania, was born December 17, 1844, at Franklin, Venango county, son of Isaac Harshberger, and grandson of John Harshberger, who was a farmer and land-owner in Somerset county and married ---------- Miller. Isaac Harshberger, son of John and ---------- (Miller) Harshberger, was born November 24, 1811, and was reared on his father's farm in Somerset county, receiving his education in the schools of that period. He afterward moved to Cambria county, where he purchased a tract of land and engaged in farming. On this estate of one hundred and thirty acres he lived during the remainder of his life, with the exception of about ten years which were passed in Franklin, Venango county, where he owned and cultivated a large farm of two hundred acres. Eventually he sold this property and returned to his farm in Cambria county, where he ended his days. The estate was divided between his two sons, Samuel I. and David W. Harshberger. Although not a politician he served several terms as justice of the peace greatly to the satisfaction of his fellow citizens. He was an active member of the Evangelical church of Richland township, in which for many years he held the office of elder. Isaac Harshberger married, April 11, 1834, Rebecca Fye, born October 3, 1818, and they became the parents of five sons, only two of whom are now living: 1. Jacob, born February 17, 1836, served with distinction in the Civil war, and died May 12, 1865, from an illness caused by exposure during the campaign before Petersburg. He participated in several battles. He married Margaret, daughter of Peter Varner, and their children were: Frederick, deceased; and Amanda, widow of Andrew Mumah. Jacob Harshberger's widow now resides at Lovett. 2. John, born July 15, 1838, died November, 1838. 3. Samuel L, born September 14, 1839, married Mary Livingston, seven children: John, William, Isaac, Samuel, Emma, Mary and Elizabeth. 4. David W., of whom later. 5. Daniel, born August 15, 1859, died at the age of twenty-seven. The death of Isaac Harshberger, the father, occurred in 1898, when he had attained the ripe age of eighty-seven years. He was a man of much nobility of character and was highly respected by his neighbors. David W. Harshberger, son of Isaac and Rebecca (Fye) Harshberger, was reared on his father's farm and acquired his elementary education in the public schools of his native township. At the age of fifteen he entered the service of the firm of Nutter & Ayres, manufacturers of sugar hogsheads, and the money, thus obtained he devoted to the completion of his education, placing himself in a seminary at Greensburg, near Canton, Ohio. After finishing his course of study he returned home and became the assistant of his father in the management of the farm, teaching school during the winter months. He next became clerk in the drug store of August Zwinner on Main street, where the Hinchman block is now situated. When Mr. Zwinner sold out to Dr. M. G. Crawford Mr. Harshberger remained for a time with the latter, and then accepted a position with Colonel C. T. Fraser, by whom he was employed for about a year. He then, in partnership with B. L. Yeagley, opened a drug store on Main street, but after a time the firm sold out and Mr. Harshberger moved to Philadelphia, where he obtained a position with French, Richards & Company, large wholesale dealers in drugs, with whom he remained three years. He then returned to Johnstown and engaged in the liquor business, subsequently going to Pittsburg, where he became clerk for the Honorable R. N. McClaran in the drug business at East Liberty.