BIOGRAPHY: John C. BLIMMEL, Cambria County, PA 

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From Wiley, Samuel T., ed. Biographical and Portrait Cyclopedia of Cambria 
County, Pennsylvania. Philadelphia: Union Publishing Co., 1896, p. 399-400
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JOHN C. BLIMMEL. -- A typical representative of that thrifty class of citizens 
of German descent, who have contributed so much to the development of Cambria 
county, is the gentleman whose name heads this sketch. He is a son of George and 
Mary (Heckman) Blimmel, and was born November 23, 1866, in Cambria city, now the 
Sixteenth ward of Johnstown, this county. His grandfather, Michael Blimmel, was 
a native of Bavaria, Germany, and died in his native country.
     George Blimmel, father of the subject of this sketch, was born in 
Regensburg, Bavaria, March 31, 1833. While in his native country he followed the 
avocation of a farmer.
     In 1854, desiring to better his condition, he emigrated to this country and 
located in Johnstown, where he took up the avocation of a miner as a means of 
procuring a livelihood. For twenty-four years he was employed in the coal and 
ore mines of the Cambria Iron company. At the end of this long and faithful 
period of service for that company he removed to Westmoreland county, 
Pennsylvania, where he followed coal-digging for ten years, after which time he 
returned to Cambria city, and worked in the mills there for several years, since 
which time he has retired from active service and is enjoying a well-earned 
rest.
     His marriage with Mary Heckman resulted in the birth of eleven children, of 
which four are yet living: Mary, the wife of Richard Howe, a liveryman and 
undertaker of Johnstown; John C. Blimmel; Rose, wife of F. E. Kelley, a hotel 
man of Johnstown; Katie, the wife of Frank Fleckenstein, a resident of Cambria 
city, and Maggie, who, with her husband, Peter N., and three boys, was lost in 
the memorable flood of 1889.
     John C. Blimmel received his education in the common schools of this 
county, and remained with his father until he attained to his majority, when he 
located on the corner of Broad street and Fifth avenue, where he is now engaged 
in the hotel business, being the proprietor of the Fifth Avenue Hotel.
     Mr. Blimmel is a democrat, takes an active part in the politics of his 
city, and is now serving as councilman for the Sixteenth ward, Johnstown. He is 
a consistent member of the Roman Catholic church, and is identified with the St. 
George's Society of the organization.
     November 15, 1892, he married Rose McDonnell, daughter of James McDonnell, 
of Cokeville, Westmoreland county. This marriage resulted in the birth of two 
children: Mary and Maggie.