supporting. His first employment was in the mills of the Cambria Steel Company, where he worked until 1899. He then engaged in the shoe business in Cambria City, establishing himself in a small frame building which adjoins his present Commodious store. His capital was meagre, but by dint of wise management, fair dealing and strict application to business he built up an extensive trade. In 1899 he erected his present store and dwelling, a building three stories high, with a frontage of twenty-five feet and extending back one hundred feet. For three years he was a member of the board of health, and is now serving his third terns as select councilman. He belongs to the Knights of Columbus, and is a stanch Democrat, always exerting himself to the utmost of his power, to advance the interests of the organization. He is a member of St. Columba's church.
Mr. Gaffney married, June 20, 1900, Clara, daughter of John and Anna Lees, of Verona, Pennsylvania, and they are the parents of the following children: Helen Isabelle, James Lees and Martha.
WALTER DOWLING. Walter Dowling, actively and prominently identified with the varied interests of his native city, Johnstown, Pennsylvania, where his birth occurred April 25, 1873, is a son of Patrick F. and Mary (Mitchell) Dowling, and grandson of Walter and Mary (Mitchell) Dowling, who came to the United States, July 4, 1831, resided for a few years in Mt. Savage, Maryland, and in 1839 took up his residence in Johnstown, Pennsylvania.
Patrick F. Dowling (father) was born in Ireland and came with his parents to America when a few months old, in 1841. He learned the trade of puddler and was one of the early iron workers of Johnstown, entering the employ of the Cambria Steel Company and remaining to the present time (1906). Mr. Dowling married, in Johnstown, Pennsylvania, 1870, Mary Mitchell, daughter of the late Patrick F. and Mary Mitchell, the ceremony being performed by the Rev. 0. P. Gallagher. Their children are: 1. Rev. John W., pastor of St. Patrick's church, Mt. Savage, Maryland, ordained June 30, 1896, at St. Mary's Seminary, Baltimore, Maryland, by Cardinal Gibbons. 2. Walter, see forward. 3. Annie, resides at home. 4. Mary, a teacher in the public schools of Johnstown. 5. Patrick V., and attorney of Washington, D. C.; he is a graduate of Georgetown University, 1905. 6. Richard M., clerk at Armour & Company's plant in Johnstown, Pennsylvania. 7. Bernardine. a teacher in the public schools of Johnstown. 8. Cecelia, a teacher in music at St. Agnes College, Baltimore, Maryland, 9. Loretto, resides at home. 10. Catharine, resides at home. 11. Rosalia, a bookkeeper in Johnstown's Book Store. The family reside at No. 315 Main street, Johnstown, enjoy the acquaintance of a wide circle of friends and are highly esteemed in the community.
Walter Dowling, second child in the above mentioned family, received an excellent education in St. John's parochial schools. At the age of thirteen he entered the general office of the Cambria Steel Company and for four years served in the capacity of messenger boy. He then accepted a clerkship in the office of the Johnstown Water and Gas Company, serving for a period of thirteen years. He then purchased a half interest in the Johnstown Board of Exchange from F. A. Crisswell, but at the expiration of one year sold his interest to Mr. Crisswell, from whom be purchased it. He then entered the First National Bank of South Fork as assistant cashier, and in 1903 became one of the organizers of the First National Bank of East Conemaugh, of which he
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