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	HISTORY OF CAMBRIA COUNTY.	345
his wife were then in Johnstown, and barely escaped with their lives in the endeavor to save Mrs. W'ild's parents. The first day of the flood Mr. Wild was appointed to a place on the police force, and on the second day was delegated to hire hands to clear away the debris. On the fifth day thereafter he received orders to go to the Cambria foundry and clear up the shop, with the result that this company was the first to resume business after the flood.     He served as school director in Stony Creek township, and after the township became a borough held the office of president of the council. He belongs to Johnstown Lodge, No., 785, F. and A. M.; Johnstown Lodge, No. 175, Benevolent Protective Order of Elks; Johnstown Turnverein, Germania Singing Society; Frohsinn Singing Society and Harmony Singing Society. He has always been a stanch Democrat and is a member of the German Lutheran church.     Mr. Wild married, in Johnstown, January 2, 1871, Carolina, born in Witenheim, Hesse Darmstadt, Germany, and brought to the United States in 1868 by her parents, Christian and Margaret Peppler. Mr. and Mrs. Wild have been the parents of the following children: John, in business with his father, married Margaret Smith; Otilla, wife of Howard Geisel, of Dale borough; Mary, at home; Annie, also at home; Bertha, wife of Francis M. McKenney; Olga; and Edward, deceased. Mrs. Wild is a stockholder of the Conemaugh Brewery.     JAMES GAFFNEY, of Cambria City, Johnstown, was born there, March 28, 1863, son of John Gaffney, who was born about 1827, in county Donegal, Ireland. The father of the latter was a poor farmer who was able to give his son but few educational advantages.     About 1848, being then twenty-one years of age, John Gaffney came to the United States, sailing from Liverpool to New York, whence he proceeded immediately to Johnstown. He was for a short time employed by the Pennsylvania Railroad Company in and about Tyrone, after which he became watchman for the company at Johnstown, being the first to fill that position. He served as such many years, and then entered the service of the Cambria Steel Company as a mill-worker, remaining until about four years prior to his death. In politics he was a loyal Democrat, but never sought office. He was at one time a member of St. John Gaulbert's Roman Catholic church, and helped to organize the congregation. At the close of his life he was identified with St. Columba's church.     John Gaffney married Catharine, born in Donegal, Ireland, daughter of James McNeelis, and the following were their children: Catharine, of Johnstown, widow of Thomas Kelly. Maggie, also of Johnstown, widow of M. O'Donnell. William, John S., of Johnstown, roller boss for Cambria Steel Company, married Eliza Keating. James, of whom later. Frank, gold-seeker in Klondike. Bella, died 1899, wife of E. 0. C. Kuhnel. Peter, deceased. William, the eldest son, was a resident of Johnstown, where he was well known in the insurance business. He was twice married, his first wife being Ellen Keelan and his second Catharine Campbell, of New York city. His death occurred in 1904. John Gaffney, the father, died in 1884, and his widow passed away in 1891. Like her husband, she was a devout member of the Roman Catholic church.     James Gaffney, son of John and Catharine (McNeelis) Gaffney, received his education in public and parochial schools. Leaving school at the age of thirteen, he began, at that early period of life, to be self-

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