GOTTLIEB BANTLEY, said to be one of the wealthiest German residents of Johnstown, expired at his residence, No. Messenger St, 7th Ward, between 8 and 9 o'clock this morning, aged 73 yrs, 3 mos & 22 days. Mr. Bantley's health had been failing for the past few years. About 1906, he underwent a surgical operation and from that time on, his condition gradually declined until last year, when he was stricken with paralysis. He, however, was able to be about his home until yesterday, when his condition suddenly changed for the worse. From that on, he remained in his bed to the hour of his death, this forenoon. Gottlieb Theodore Bantley was a son of Mr. and Mrs. Gottlieb Phillip Bantley, deceased and was born Aug 23 1824, in Wurtemburg, Germany, where he spent his boyhood days, having worked there for some years in his father's tannery. Gottlieb Theordore Bantley came to America some time before the rebellion and located in this city, his father and brothers followed some years later. Gottlieb Bantley's first work in Johnstown was as a clerk in Walden & When's store on Clinton St., where he remained a short time, after which he went to work as a salesman in Louis Plitt's hardware store. Here he obtained a knowledge of the hardware business & later bought out his employer. This store at that time was located where the present Ruth block now stands. Some years later, Mr. Bantley bought part of the old Exchange Hotel, on the opposite side of the street and moved his store into this structure, which is still standing. In 1876, Mr. Bantly sold his store to his brother, Herman Bantley and from that on he was engaged in buying and selling real estate. Among the properties owned by the deceased is the building the Merchants Hotel at present occupied by Clothier, Isaac Marx, part of the old Exchange Hotel, two dwellings on Lincoln St., 1st Ward, and quite a number of properties in the Meadowvale district of the 7th Ward. The deceased was married (illegible word), the first time to Miss Christina Wilhemina Stoll who died in Johnstown in Nov. 1875. some years later he was wedded to Miss Susan Dunmire, who survived him with these children: Edgar and Charles Bantley, engaged in the hardware business at Conemaugh; Roy at home; Miss Emily of New York City, and Misses Rose and Lucy, at home. Besides them he is survived by one grandchild, Gladys, the 4 year old daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Edgar Bantley. Of the six sons of Mr. and Mrs. Gottlieb Phillip Bantley, the deceased is the fourth to pass away. Theodore was a soldier in the Civil War and died of
starvation in Andersonville prison, in Georgia; William perished in the Great Flood of 1889, when he lived in the 4th Ward, and Charles died in Lebanon, Mo., in 1902. The surviving brothers are Messers. Christopher Bantley of Scalp Level, and Herman Bantley of Levergood St., this city. Their mother died many years ago in Germany and their father expired at the home of his son Christopher Bantley in Scalp Level, in May 1883. The funeral will probably take place from the Bantley residence at 2 o'clock Wednesday afternoon, when the Rev. Hugo E. Erdmann, pastor of Zion's German Baptist Church, will conduct the obsequities. Mr. Bantly was a charter member of the Johnstown Turnverein, and the officers of that organization will likely be in charge of his funeral. The remains will be laid to rest in Grand-View Cem. |
