Pearl Geiser. John R. Oswald, the father of this family, died in 1882, and the mother survived until 1903.
Edward Oswald, son of John R. and Theresa (Seifert) Oswald, attended the schools of Bedford county until the age of fourteen, and then for a time worked as a farm hand, being so occupied until the removal of his parents to Johnstown. Upon settling in this place he secured employment as a puddle helper in the plant of the Cambria Steel Company, later becoming a puddler. He left the service of the company in 1887, and became clerk for the Economy Clothing Company, with whom he remained until the time of the flood. From 1890 to 1902 he was clerk in the store of John Thomas & Sons, serving them with a remarkable fidelity to duty. He established himself as the proprietor of a general store at Cambria City in 1902, where he remained for two years, removing at the end of that time to Railroad street, Johnstown, where he has since carried on a successful business. He has served six years as school director, and in politics is a stanch Democrat. He and his wife are members of St. Joseph's German Roman Catholic church. Mr. Oswald married, December 3, 1889, in Johnstown, Josephine, daughter of the late Peter and Josephine Sauer, of that city, and they have three children: Ida, Esther and Edward, Jr.
AMOS COVER, of Johnstown, one of the oldest residents of Cambria county, now living in retirement at, Walnut Grove, was born November 13, 1817, on the homestead on Cover Hill, Conemaugh township, son of Adam and Mary (Bashore) Cover. The personal history of Adam Cover will be found in the sketch of C. B. Cover, which appears elsewhere in this work. Amos Cover attended the earliest schools of Johnstown, which were the old-fashioned subscription schools, his first teacher being a Mr. Birry. The schools were held only during the winter months and from various causes he lost no less than half that short period. When only a boy he began to assist his father in the farm duties, helping to clear much of the land where Daisytown now stands, that forming part of the estate. He remained at home until the age of twenty-six, when he married and settled on a farm consisting of seventy-seven acres, situated in Taylor township, belonging to his father-in-law. This property he improved, erecting new buildings, and subsequently adding, at different times, tracts of fifty and fifty-seven acres respectively, both adjoining his own land. Throughout his long career as a farmer he was extremely successful, managing his estate with the most gratifying results until the autumn of 1906, when he retired to his present home in Walnut Grove. While a resident of Taylor township in 1877 he became a member of the German Baptist church, with which he has ever since been prominently identified. He has attended every conference held by the church since 1894, when the session was held at Myersdale, Pennsylvania. He has since been present at conferences held at Carthage, Missouri; Frederick City, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania; Bellefontaine, Ohio; Bristol Farm, Roanoke, Virginia, and Springfield, Illinois. On the last occasion and a few preceding it he was the oldest member present. Mr. Cover has been twice married. By his first wife he had one child: Lucinda, who became the wife of Levi Leidy, and died in Taylor township, January 30, 1888, leaving six sons: Harry, lives on his grandfather Cover's farm, married Savilla Weissinger; Howard, at home; Amos, of Taylor township, married Abigail Rose; John, of the neighborhood of Pittsburg, married Mabel Stevens; Blair, at home; and George, teaching in the public schools. The mother of
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