BIOGRAPHY: Jacob FRONHEISER, 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. 364-5
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JACOB FRONHEISER, deceased, was one of the early, active settlers of Johnstown. 
He was born in Biedenkopf, Hesse-Darmstadt, Germany, October 8, 1814. In 1832, 
desiring to escape the long military service of his native country and to secure 
the greater freedom of the land across the sea, he emigrated to America. He 
landed in the city of Baltimore, Maryland, where he learned the trade of a 
baker. After finishing his trade he came to Johnstown, where, for two years as a 
journeyman, he was under the employ of Mrs. Pershing, the mother of Cyrus L. 
Pershing, now president judge of the courts of Schuylkill county, Pennsylvania. 
He then purchased a small tract of land on what was known as "The Island," the 
present location of the Gautier department of the Cambria Iron company's works. 
He then built a small oven and store-room, and commenced the bakery business on 
his own account. His business prospered from the start, and he followed it 
exclusively for about eight years, when he branched out into the mercantile 
business, renting a store-room on the corner of Main and Clinton streets. At 
this stand he carried on a general mercantile trade, and furnished supplies for 
the Pennsylvania Railroad company. As a business man he was far-seeing and 
shrewd, and he began to invest in real-estate, which speedily advanced in value, 
and through which he realized considerable wealth. He subsequently built a brick 
block on the corner of Clinton and Railroad streets, which was destroyed by the 
great flood of 1889. In this building was located Fronheiser's hall, then the 
most popular hall for theatrical performances in the town. This property was 
afterward exchanged for what is now known as the Merchants' hotel property. Mr. 
Fronheiser, however, did not conduct the hotel, but devoted the latter part of 
his life to speculations in realty. He died in 1894, at the age of seventy-nine 
years, four months and one day.
     In political affiliations he was a democrat, whilst in religious faith he 
was a German Lutheran.
     He married Catharine Meyer, and nine children blessed this union. They are: 
Elizabeth, who died at the age of fourteen years; George, who died at the age of 
sixteen years; Jacob died in infancy; Justina, the wife of Charles F. Kress, of 
Johnstown; Amelia, widow of Fred. Kress, formerly a merchant of Johnstown; James 
J., deceased, was an eminent chemist; Edward, who lives in the old homestead at 
Johnstown; Mary, wife of Fred. Stammler, of Johnstown, and Emma, who died in 
infancy.