Henry Wilson Storey's History of Cambria County, V.III, p.381

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History of Cambria County, V.3

HISTORY OF CAMBRIA COUNTY. 381

larging the scope of his transactions as trade increased. His prosperous course was temporarily interrupted by the flood, which washed away the building in which he had then conducted business for nearly twenty years, but in 1890, with undaunted courage, he erected his present establishment on the site of the former structure. This building, the dimensions of which are thirty-three by sixty feet, has three stories and is equipped with all modern improvements. In 1893, in consequence of failing health, he took as a partner his son, Henry J. Raab, and in 1895 admitted another son, Charles Vomhof Raab, the name of the firm then becoming John Raab & Sons, as it still continues. He affiliated with the Democratic party until ten years before his death, when he identified himself with the Republicans. He and his wife were among the earliest members of the Johnstown German Lutheran church.
    Mr. Raab married, in 1860, in Johnstown, Elizabeth, born in 1843, in Biedenkopf, Hesse-Darmstadt, Germany, only child of George and Catherine (Unverzagt) Vomhof, by whom, at the age of seven years, she was brought to the United States. Mr. and Mrs. Raab were the parents of the following children: 1. George, born September 6, 1861, deceased. 2. Henry J., of whom later. 3. John, born September 15, 1865, carpenter of Johnstown; was married twice, his first wife, Justina (Uverzagt) Raab, born in Biedenkopf, Hesse-Darmstadt, Germany, died June 1. -----; to this union two children were born: George, and Anna, died in infancy. The second time he married Jennie Yutzie; children, Mabel, Hazel, John Theodore, and others. 4. Cathrine, born May 29, 1868, deceased. 5. Amelia S., born March 3, 1871, married Frederick W. Speck, May 27, 1890; Mr. Speck died April 13, 1900; to this union four children were born: John H., Frederick V., Ralph C., James E. 6. Charles Vomhof, of whom later. 7. Anna E., born May 6, 1875, wife of Professor Fritz John, who was born in Breslau, Silesia, Germany, and in 1885 came to the United States. He resided in various places, attending school in Milwaukee in 1893-94. At the outbreak of the Spanish-American war he enlisted, April 26, 1898, in the Illinois Volunteer Infantry, and served in Cuba and Porto Rico. At the close of the war he was discharged and took up his abode in Johnstown, in October, 1899, since which time he has been physical instructor at the Johnstown Turnverein. Mr. and Mrs. John have no children. 8. Justina, born June 25, 1879, wife of Lewis Wolf, of Westmont; children, Earl and Theodore. 9. James Otto, born February 9, 1882, attended public schools until 1899, since which time he has been employed in the store of his brothers.
    The death of Mr. Raab, the father of this large family, occurred December 18, 1898, and was deeply and sincerely mourned by the large circle of his friends and by many more who knew and respected him as a man and a citizen. His entire course was characterized by the strictest business integrity, and, although of a reserved disposition, he was a man of kind and generous feelings. Mrs. Raab died December 4, 1896, at the comparatively early age of fifty-three.
    Henry J. Raab, son of John and Elizabeth (Vomhof) Raab, was born January 27, 1863, and until his thirteenth year attended the public and parochial schools. He was then engaged for eighteen months in cigar-making, and for the same length of time worked at the carpenter's trade. He next served an apprenticeship of three years at the machinist's trade in the shop of the Cambria Iron Company, in whose service he remained for fourteen years, at the end of which time he became a partner in his father's business. He belongs to the Benevolent

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	HISTORY OF CAMBRIA COUNTY.	381
larging the scope of his transactions as trade increased. His prosperous course was temporarily interrupted by the flood, which washed away the building in which he had then conducted business for nearly twenty years, but in 1890, with undaunted courage, he erected his present establishment on the site of the former structure. This building, the dimensions of which are thirty-three by sixty feet, has three stories and is equipped with all modern improvements. In 1893, in consequence of failing health, he took as a partner his son, Henry J. Raab, and in 1895 admitted another son, Charles Vomhof Raab, the name of the firm then becoming John Raab & Sons, as it still continues. He affiliated with the Democratic party until ten years before his death, when he identified himself with the Republicans. He and his wife were among the earliest members of the Johnstown German Lutheran church. Mr. Raab married, in 1860, in Johnstown, Elizabeth, born in 1843, in Biedenkopf, Hesse-Darmstadt, Germany, only child of George and Catherine (Unverzagt) Vomhof, by whom, at the age of seven years, she was brought to the United States. Mr. and Mrs. Raab were the parents of the following children: 1. George, born September 6, 1861, deceased. 2. Henry J., of whom later. 3. John, born September 15, 1865, carpenter of Johnstown; was married twice, his first wife, Justina (Uverzagt) Raab, born in Biedenkopf, Hesse-Darmstadt, Germany, died June 1. -----; to this union two children were born: George, and Anna, died in infancy. The second time he married Jennie Yutzie; children, Mabel, Hazel, John Theodore, and others. 4. Cathrine, born May 29, 1868, deceased. 5. Amelia S., born March 3, 1871, married Frederick W. Speck, May 27, 1890; Mr. Speck died April 13, 1900; to this union four children were born: John H., Frederick V., Ralph C., James E. 6. Charles Vomhof, of whom later. 7. Anna E., born May 6, 1875, wife of Professor Fritz John, who was born in Breslau, Silesia, Germany, and in 1885 came to the United States. He resided in various places, attending school in Milwaukee in 1893-94. At the outbreak of the Spanish-American war he enlisted, April 26, 1898, in the Illinois Volunteer Infantry, and served in Cuba and Porto Rico. At the close of the war he was discharged and took up his abode in Johnstown, in October, 1899, since which time he has been physical instructor at the Johnstown Turnverein. Mr. and Mrs. John have no children. 8. Justina, born June 25, 1879, wife of Lewis Wolf, of Westmont; children, Earl and Theodore. 9. James Otto, born February 9, 1882, attended public schools until 1899, since which time he has been employed in the store of his brothers. The death of Mr. Raab, the father of this large family, occurred December 18, 1898, and was deeply and sincerely mourned by the large circle of his friends and by many more who knew and respected him as a man and a citizen. His entire course was characterized by the strictest business integrity, and, although of a reserved disposition, he was a man of kind and generous feelings. Mrs. Raab died December 4, 1896, at the comparatively early age of fifty-three. Henry J. Raab, son of John and Elizabeth (Vomhof) Raab, was born January 27, 1863, and until his thirteenth year attended the public and parochial schools. He was then engaged for eighteen months in cigar-making, and for the same length of time worked at the carpenter's trade. He next served an apprenticeship of three years at the machinist's trade in the shop of the Cambria Iron Company, in whose service he remained for fourteen years, at the end of which time he became a partner in his father's business. He belongs to the Benevolent