BIOGRAPHY: J. B. DENNY, 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. 100-1
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J. B. DENNY

J. B. DENNY, of Ebensburg, this county, is a son of Mathias Denny and Mary 
(Lattemer) Denny, and was born in Elder township, Cambria county, on November 9, 
1861.  His grandfather, Peter Denny, was a native of Alsace-Lorraine, France, 
and emigrated to America about 1820, locating in Hollidaysburg, Blair county, 
after which he moved to Elder township, this county, where he followed the 
avocation of a stonemason and farmer for many years.  Mattias Denny, his only 
son, and the father of J. B. Denny, was born in 1831, in Elder township, Cambria 
county, where he lived until 1865.  He was a carpenter by trade, and from 1865 
to 1875 was one of the leading contractors of Altoona, Pa.
     During the late Civil War, Matthias Denny was drafted for service three 
times, and was in the field when the war closed.  He has always supported the 
Democratic party and represented his party in conventions, and in 1886 served as 
burgess of Gallitzin borough, and in 1887 as school director.  He is a devout 
member of the Roman Catholic church.
     In 1858 Matthias Denny married Mary Latterner, who was the daughter of 
Michael and Catharine (Sharbaugh) Latterner, Michael Latterner being a native of 
France, and having emigrated to Loretto, this county, where he followed the 
business of tailoring. Their marriage has been blessed in the birth of the 
following children: J. B. Denny; Michael R., who died in Altoona in 1894 at the 
age of thirty-two years; Wm. C., a carpenter, now in the employ of the 
Pennsylvania Railroad company at Altoona; Rev. Joseph G., who was ordained to 
the priesthood at Price Hill Theological Seminary, Cincinnati, Ohio, in June, 
1895, and who is now stationed in Cincinnati, Ohio; Mollie; Annie R., who died 
in 1895; Edward R., painter, who is in the employ of the Pennsylvania Railroad 
company at Altoona; Tillie M.; Frank, who died in 1890; Stella and Loretto.
     J. B. Denny received his education in the public schools, and when fourteen 
years of age he embarked in the produce business at Chest Springs, after which 
he engaged in the merchandizing business at that and other places. On October 
19, 1884, J. B. Denny was married in St. Patrick's church, Chicago, Illinois, to 
Miss Caroline V. Christy, of Loretto, a daughter of Dr. A. J. Christy and Mary 
(Gwin) Christy, of that place, and a niece of Rev. R. C. Christy, who was a 
noted chaplin of the late Civil War. Mr. Denny's marriage has been blessed in 
the birth of the following children: Mary Olean, Matthias Andrew, who died in 
1887, Emily Grace, Hilda Rose, and John.
     After his marriage Mr. Denny embarked in the hotel business at Loretto, 
after which he came to Ebensburg and took charge of the Mountain House, one of 
the leading hotels of Ebensburg, which hotel he has owned since 1888. In 
addition to this hotel, Mr. Denny, in 1890, purchased the West End hotel, in 
Altoona, Pennsylvania, one of the principal railroad hotels in that city. He has 
been successful in the hotel and real estate business.
     Politically he is a democrat, and has represented his party as a delegate 
to both county and state conventions. In 1894 he was the nominee of his party 
for the legislature.