BIO: William W. BOOB, Centre County, PA

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Commemorative Biographical Record of Central Pennsylvania: Including 
the Counties of Centre, Clearfield, Jefferson and Clarion: Containing 
Biographical Sketches of Prominent and Representative Citizens, Etc. 
Chicago: J. H. Beers, 1898.
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  WILLIAM W. BOOB, one of the most reliable, progressive and capable 
business men of Centre Hall, Centre county, was born June 15, 1868, in 
Mifflinburg, Penn., and is the eldest child of R. B. and Sarah 
(Shearer) Boob. When two years old he was brought by his parents to 
Aaronsburg, Centre county, where he was educated, his first teacher 
being Julia Wolf, and at the age of twelve he left the school room and 
began assisting his father in the blacksmith shop, where he soon 
learned the trade, and during the six years he remained there became an 
expert workman.
  In Aaronsburg, August 6, 1886, Mr. Boob was united in marriage with 
Miss Cora B. Reifsnyder, of Millheim, Centre county, a daughter of 
Urush Reifsnyder, and have one child, Grace L., born in August, 1887. 
For a time after his marriage, Mr. Boob worked in a blacksmith shop in 
Boalsburg, Centre county, for Mr. Webber, later was in the employ of 
Samuel Foust, of Spring Bank, and while living in Millheim worked as a 
blacksmith in the foundry at Centre Hall. Subsequently he established a 
shop of his own in Coburn, which he conducted for two and one-half 
years, and then removed to Centre Hall, where he purchased the carriage 
business of J. W. Haney, and also the millinery establishment of Mrs. 
Haney, which his wife now conducts.
  After one year spent in carriage making, he converted his shop into a 
factory for the manufacture of buggy and wagon wheels, and now does 
almost an exclusive wholesale business, selling his wheels throughout 
the Eastern States, in Norway, Belgium, Germany, Java, Jamaica, 
Australia, and India. He gives employment to a number of hands, and has 
succeeded in building up one of the most important and prosperous 
industries in the county. Although still quite young in years, he is 
possessed of more than ordinary business sagacity, is enterprising and 
industrious, which qualities have been the important factors in his 
success, and his business, which is still in its infancy, is growing 
rapidly through his tireless efforts. His familiarity with its every 
detail, and the close attention he gives it, insures its success, and 
in the near future he will undoubtedly be one of the most prosperous 
and well-to-do citizens of the community. By his own unaided efforts he 
has worked his way steadily upward from a humble position to one of 
affluence, and deserves to be numbered among the representa-

442  COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.  

tive and prominent business men of Centre county. Politically he has 
always been identified with the Democratic party. Taking a deep 
interest in the cause of education, he is at present an efficient 
member of the school board. Mr. Boob has an office in New York City, 
No. 11 Broadway, for his export trade exclusively.