After engaging for a time in this new undertaking, he once more came back to Johnstown and resumed his position with Colonel Fraser. His next venture was to engage in the lumber business, after which he took the Johnstown agency for the Iron City Brewing Company. From his labors in these many enterprises he returned to the home farm and was a successful tiller of the soil until 1902, when he sold the property, settled in Walnut Grove, Johnstown, and opened a general grocery store, which he has since conducted with the assistance of his son, and where he is now doing a profitable and increasing business. In politics he is an ardent and stanch advocate of the principles endorsed and supported by the Republican party, and an active worker in the interests of the organization. He has fraternal as well as political affiliations, being a member of Cambria Lodge, No. 278.
The Harshbergers of the present day, in common with all representatives of old families, are in the possession of heirlooms inherited from their ancestors, and among these memorials of past generations is an ancient German Bible, which belonged to Isaac Harshberger and is now treasured by his descendants. This Bible contains valuable family records which constitute a mine of wealth for the inquirer into the Harshberger genealogy.
CHARLES MURR, deceased, late of Johnstown, for many years a leading cigar manufacturer of that city, was born in Bavaria, Germany, son of Godfried and Margaret Anna (Hoffman) Murr, who emigrated to the United States and settled in Johnstown, whence they moved to Saxonburg, Butler county, Pennsylvania. They remained, however, but a short time, and then returned to Johnstown, where Godfried Murr engaged in the grocery business on Railroad street. After carrying on a successful establishment for some years, he retired and passed his declining days in the home of his son, Charles Murr.
Charles Murr was about twelve years old when his parents brought him to this country, and he had received his education in German schools. At an early age he became a clerk in his father's store in Johnstown, serving in that capacity for two years. He then learned the trade of a cigar-maker with a Mr. Floto, of Johnstown, and in I870 engaged in business for himself, opening a cigar store on Washington street. His trade increased so rapidly that he was soon able to erect a building and store of his own on the same street, in which he conducted what was, for those times in Johnstown, a large cigar-manufacturing business, employing as many as twenty hands. The great flood of 1889, which brought financial ruin and loss of life to so large a part of the population of Johnstown, numbered among its victims Charles Murr. His factory and store were swept away and he himself, with five of his children, perished in the waters. Among the many worthy citizens lost to Johnstown by this disaster it is safe to say that none was more sincerely mourned than Mr. Murr. He was survived by his wife and remaining children, and also by two sisters: Mary, wife of Godfried Lessenger; and Katrina. After the death of Mr. Murr, his widow, in partnership with her brother, Frederick Speck, erected the first brick business building put up in Johnstown after the flood, beginning the work of construction in the July following the disaster, all the bricks and other building materials being shipped from Pittsburg. After the erection of this structure they carried on the business successfully.
Mr. Murr married Mary Speck, and their family consisted of the following children: Katharine, born April 17, 1871, died May 2, 1889.
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