Henry Wilson Storey's History of Cambria County, V.III, p.579

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History of Cambria County, V.3

HISTORY OF CAMBRIA COUNTY. 579

founder of the family. William J. Headrick erected a church in this cemetery, which is used by various denominations.
    He married, in Pittsburg Pennsylvania, Catherine Gray, of Jackson township, Cambria county, Pennsylvania, daughter of John Gray, a blacksmith, who came to the United States from Scotland. The children of William J. and Catherine (Gray) Headrick were: 1. John A., a carpenter of Tusseyville, Pennsylvania, married Sally Wright. 2. William George Washington, see forward. 3. George T., was a traveling salesman in the employ of the Westinghouse Company, and lost his life at the time of the earthquake in San Francisco in April, 1906. 4. Margaret, married Frederick Custer, of Conemaugh. 5. Harry W., is a superintending machinist in Chicago, Illinois. 6. Walter A., a farmer in Crawford county, Pennsylvania, married ------- Nutzenbougher. 7. Lu, an engineer, resides in Allegheny, married Matilda Stany. 8. Ernest C., a machinist in Chicago, Illinois. 9. Lawrence, a machinist in Allegheny, Pennsylvania.
    William George Washington Headrick, second son and child of William J. and Catherine (Gray) Headrick, was born on the Island, Johnstown, Cambria county, Pennsylvania, February 22, 1857. He attended the public school on the Island, and then became a student at the Headrick School, acquiring an excellent education. Upon the completion of his studies he commenced to assist his father in the cultivation of the farm, and continued this until he was eighteen years of age, when he entered the employ of the Pennsylvania Railroad Company as a fireman. He was promoted to the position of engineer in 1880, and since 1891 has been running on that section known as Cambria Coke Run, which is situated between Conemaugh and Dunbar, Pennsylvania. So faithful and conscientious has he been in the discharge of even the smallest details connected with his duty that in all the years of his service for the company he has been in but one accident--a headon collision on the southwest branch at a point called Hunkers. Mr. Headrick was buried under the debris, but when released it was found that he had escaped without a scratch. He is held in high esteem by his fellow workers as well as by those at the head of the company. In his political affiliations he is a Democrat, but will not be bound by party rules, and insists upon forming and following his own opinions. He and his family are members of the United Brethren church of Conemaugh.
    He married, in Conemaugh, February 22, 1877, Ella Kate Furlong, born in Conemaugh, February 9, 1859, and a student at the public schools until the age of eighteen years. She is the daughter of Lawrence L. and Eva (Gouchmour) Furlong, the former of whom was born in Center county, Pennsylvania, July 23, 1833, and was brought to Johnstown in early boyhood. His first occupation was working along the canals, driving the mules. He then became an engineer on the Pittsburg local and the Johnstown accommodation trains, holding this position for many years, until, during the great railroad strike of 1877, he was wrongfully blamed for the misdemeanor of someone else, and was requested to resign. He then became a stationary engineer in the Gautier department of the Cambria Steel Works, retaining this position until the disastrous flood of May, 1889, when he removed with his family to Duquesne, Pennsylvania, and accepted a position in the steel works in that town for a time. He was active in the public affairs of this town, and served as a burgess for the period of four years, and also for some years as truant officer. He is now (1906) living in retirement. In politics he is a strong Democrat, and he and his wife are members of the Lutheran church. Their chil-

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	HISTORY OF CAMBRIA COUNTY.	579
founder of the family. William J. Headrick erected a church in this cemetery, which is used by various denominations. He married, in Pittsburg Pennsylvania, Catherine Gray, of Jackson township, Cambria county, Pennsylvania, daughter of John Gray, a blacksmith, who came to the United States from Scotland. The children of William J. and Catherine (Gray) Headrick were: 1. John A., a carpenter of Tusseyville, Pennsylvania, married Sally Wright. 2. William George Washington, see forward. 3. George T., was a traveling salesman in the employ of the Westinghouse Company, and lost his life at the time of the earthquake in San Francisco in April, 1906. 4. Margaret, married Frederick Custer, of Conemaugh. 5. Harry W., is a superintending machinist in Chicago, Illinois. 6. Walter A., a farmer in Crawford county, Pennsylvania, married ------- Nutzenbougher. 7. Lu, an engineer, resides in Allegheny, married Matilda Stany. 8. Ernest C., a machinist in Chicago, Illinois. 9. Lawrence, a machinist in Allegheny, Pennsylvania. William George Washington Headrick, second son and child of William J. and Catherine (Gray) Headrick, was born on the Island, Johnstown, Cambria county, Pennsylvania, February 22, 1857. He attended the public school on the Island, and then became a student at the Headrick School, acquiring an excellent education. Upon the completion of his studies he commenced to assist his father in the cultivation of the farm, and continued this until he was eighteen years of age, when he entered the employ of the Pennsylvania Railroad Company as a fireman. He was promoted to the position of engineer in 1880, and since 1891 has been running on that section known as Cambria Coke Run, which is situated between Conemaugh and Dunbar, Pennsylvania. So faithful and conscientious has he been in the discharge of even the smallest details connected with his duty that in all the years of his service for the company he has been in but one accident--a headon collision on the southwest branch at a point called Hunkers. Mr. Headrick was buried under the debris, but when released it was found that he had escaped without a scratch. He is held in high esteem by his fellow workers as well as by those at the head of the company. In his political affiliations he is a Democrat, but will not be bound by party rules, and insists upon forming and following his own opinions. He and his family are members of the United Brethren church of Conemaugh. He married, in Conemaugh, February 22, 1877, Ella Kate Furlong, born in Conemaugh, February 9, 1859, and a student at the public schools until the age of eighteen years. She is the daughter of Lawrence L. and Eva (Gouchmour) Furlong, the former of whom was born in Center county, Pennsylvania, July 23, 1833, and was brought to Johnstown in early boyhood. His first occupation was working along the canals, driving the mules. He then became an engineer on the Pittsburg local and the Johnstown accommodation trains, holding this position for many years, until, during the great railroad strike of 1877, he was wrongfully blamed for the misdemeanor of someone else, and was requested to resign. He then became a stationary engineer in the Gautier department of the Cambria Steel Works, retaining this position until the disastrous flood of May, 1889, when he removed with his family to Duquesne, Pennsylvania, and accepted a position in the steel works in that town for a time. He was active in the public affairs of this town, and served as a burgess for the period of four years, and also for some years as truant officer. He is now (1906) living in retirement. In politics he is a strong Democrat, and he and his wife are members of the Lutheran church. Their chil-