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FRANK MUNSHOWER

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    FRANK MUNSHOWER, of Leechburg, Armstrong County, engaged as sheet roller in the employ of the American Sheet & Tin Plate Company at Leechburg, was born Dec. 25, 1873, son of Samuel Munshower.

             The first ancestor of the Munshower family in America came to this country from Germany, settling in Maryland.  Thence John Munshower, great-grandfather of Frank Munshower, came to Indiana County, Pa., settling in Center township, where he followed his trade, that of blacksmith, the rest of his life.  He died there about 1840.  In Maryland he married Catherine Baker, and a family of nine or ten children was born to them.

             William Munshower, son of John and Catherine (Baker) Munshower, came with his parents to Center township, Indiana Co., Pa., where he grew to manhood.  He was a lifelong farmer, and cleared a tract of land in that township upon which he resided until his death, which occurred there in 1881 when he was eighty-two years old. The property of seventy acres was all in the woods when he came to it, and the first improvement was the clearing he made for the erection of his shanty.  His wife, Anna (Kunkle), lived to the advanced age of ninety-seven years.  Their children were:  Catherine died when three years old; John died at Parkers Landing, Pa.; Samuel, is mentioned below; William, who lives at Cookport, Indiana county, is a justice of the peace; Huston lives at Blairsville, Indiana county; Harrison lives at Blairsville; Mary, twin of Harrison, is the wife of Chambers Yuengling, of Canton, Ohio.  The five survivors of this family are all over seventy.  All of the sons served in the Union army during the Civil war.

             Samuel Munshower, son of William Munshower, was born July 3, 1834, upon his father�s farm in Center township, Indiana county, and in early life followed farming.  During three months of the year he had such privileges as were afforded at the old log schoolhouse in the neighborhood, where the furnishings were of the most primitive character, slab benches and other rude appliances being the rule at that time. He worked for his father until he was twelve years old, after which he hired out among other farmers, and following his marriage he farmed on his own account from 1857 until the spring of 1865.  On March 8, 1865, he enlisted in Indiana for one year, becoming a private in Company F, 74th P. V. I., and was discharged at Clarksburg, W. Va., Sept. 24, 1865.  Upon his return home he worked at the carpenter�s trade, also doing contracting, and prospered, continuing in this line until his retirement, in 1906.  In the spring of 1871 he moved into the borough of Indiana, where he has resided continuously since, making his home at the corner of Church and Eleventh streets.  He helped on the construction of the first of the normal school buildings at Indiana, and has worked on many other notable structures there, churches, public buildings, etc.  Mr. Munshower is an active member of the Republican party, belongs to Post No. 28, G. A. R., of Indiana, and holds membership in the Lutheran Church.

             On Jan. 8, 1857, Mr. Munshower married Susanna Kinnard, daughter of Joseph Kinnard and his wife Mary Ann (Hartzel).  Mrs. Munshower is a member of the M. E. Church.  To this union have been born the following children:  Jemima, Mrs. John Kooser, of Rayne township, Indiana county; Ariettta, who died when three years old; Laura A., who is unmarried; Ida, widow of Corry C. Boggs, of Indiana county; Charles of Breckenridge, Allegheny county; Frank; and Annie G., wife of John D. Skelton of Wellsville, Tioga Co., Pennsylvania.

             Frank Munshower was born at Indiana, Indiana county, and there began his education in the common schools, later attending the State normal school in that borough.  He then learned the trade of marble cutter there, following same for five years, and in February, 1895, began to work in the sheet mill.  In 1897 he became a roller, and he has since continued to fill this responsible position.  Mr. Munshower has prospered in his undertakings, and he built the Kilpatrick block at the corner of Third and Market streets, Leechburg.  He has long been recognized as a citizen who can be depended upon to look out for the best interests of his borough, and in the spring of 1909 was elected a member of the council.  He is a Republican on political questions.  Mr. Munshower takes an active part in almost every cause or enterprise with which he becomes identified.  He is a member of the Presbyterian Church, and is at present serving as chairman of the board of trustees.  Socially he belongs to Leechburg lodge of Elks, No. 377, and is one of the trustees of that body.

             On Aug. 30, 1894, Mr. Munshower married Rosa B. Shull, daughter of Philip and Mary (Van Tine) Shull, of Leechburg.  They have no family.

  

Source:  Pages 854-855.  Armstrong County, Pa., Her People, Past and Present, J. H. Beers & Co., 1914
Transcribed April 2002 by James R. Hindman for the Armstrong County Beers Project
Contributed for use by the Armstrong County Genealogy Project (http://www.pa-roots.com/armstrong/)

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