BIOGRAPHY: George Marion HARSHBERGER, 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. 179-80
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GEORGE MARION HARSHBERGER, a successful business man, and an active Republican 
worker of Johnstown, is a son of John M. and Catherine (Wertz) Harshberger, and 
was born on the old homestead farm in Adams township, Cambria county, 
Pennsylvania, September 28, 1861. He was reared on the farm, received his 
education in the public schools and several county normal schools, and before he 
had attained his majority had taught three winter terms of school, one term in 
Adams and two terms in Richland township. At twenty-one years of age he left the 
farm, where he had worked during several summer seasons, and in March, 1883, 
came to Johnstown, where he has resided ever since. His first employment in the 
city was as clerk in the store of N. B. Hartzell, where he remained three years. 
He then engaged in the grocery and meat business, but sold his establishment in 
1888 to McClelland & Miller, and became a traveling salesman with J. Swank, Son 
& Co., hardware dealers of Johnstown, and built the Pompeii restaurant, which he 
conducted some time after the flood. About September 1, 1889, he commenced the 
erection of the Pompeii hotel, which, after its completion, he conducted until 
April 1894, when he sold it to D. B. Cook, its present owner. After disposing of 
his hotel property he traveled for one year for the Northwestern Fertilizing 
company, of Chicago, and in October 1895, embarked with his father and brother 
Cornelius in their present business of handling flour, feed, fertilizers, grain 
and coal. Their establishment is on the Baltimore and Ohio railroad and Bedford 
street, and he aims to keep everything in their line that is needed by their 
many patrons. He is building up a very good business, with every indication and 
assurance that it will be permanent and remunerative. Mr. Harshberger is in his 
political belief a staunch republican, and further is an active and effective 
worker for the principles and nominees of his party. He was elected in 1892 as a 
member of the common council from the Fourth ward, but he resigned in 1893 to 
accept the position of city assessor, to which he had been elected for a term of 
three years that expired in April, 1896. He is a contributor to the United 
Evangelical church of Johnstown, of which his family are members; and has been a 
member for several years of Daniel Webster council, No. 700; Junior Order of 
United American Mechanics and Johnstown Lodge, No. 245, Ancient Order of United 
Workmen. Mr. Harshberger has always been active in any measure or movement of 
his city; being an active member of the Board of Trade. He was one of the 
organizers and is the present president of the Seventh ward fire company. He is 
also vice-president of the Firemen's Union of the city of Johnstown. Active and 
persevering, he throws his whole energy into whatever enterprise he engages, and 
has always come out well in his different ventures.
     On June 21, 1883, Mr. Harshberger married Lovinia J. Shank, a daughter of 
Jacob Shank, a resident of Adams township. To their union have been born four 
children: Ivy Pearl, who died at six years of age; Royal Longfellow; Mabel 
Gladys, and Elsie V.
     The Harshberger family is of German lineage, and Joseph Harshberger, in 
1816, moved with his family from Somerset county, near the Castleman's valley, 
near the Maryland line, to a farm of four hundred acres, upon which Moxham or 
the Seventeenth ward of Johnstown now stands. He reared to maturity a family of 
sixteen children, of whom Moses was among the youngest. He was born in December 
1804, and was twelve years of age when his father moved to the farm at Moxham. 
Being a farmer he purchased the old Wissinger farm, now known as the Abner 
Griffith farm, near Walnut Grove, Cambria county, which he sold to buy the farm 
in Adams township, on which he died in 1885. He was a man of standing and 
character, and married a Miss Shryock, of Shanksville, Somerset county, by whom 
he had two children, a son and a daughter: John M., and Mary, wife of Christian 
Shelter. John M. Harshberger was born on the Wissinger farm, August 13, 1833, 
and after receiving a good English education taught school for two terms. He 
then retired from teaching, and since then has devoted his time and attention to 
the improvement and cultivation of the home farm on which he still resides. In 
politics he has supported the Republican party since 1861, but is not an active 
politician. He is a member and minister of the German Baptist church, and has 
been an active and influential worker in religious affairs for many years. 
Though in no sense a public man, yet Mr. Harshberger is endowed with strong 
force of character, and this quality, associated with good judgement and a high 
sense of honor, has enabled him to exercise unsought a controlling influence in 
the community where he resides. On Christmas, 1858, Mr. Harshberger married 
Catherine Wertz, a daughter of Jacob Wertz, of Conemaugh township. To their 
union have been born eleven children: Cornelius, a member of the firm of J. M. 
Harshberger & Sons; George M.; Mary Catherine, who died at six years of age; 
Malinda Jane, wife of Jacob G. Custer; Milton, died in infancy; Minnie E. wife 
of Samuel W. Pearse, of Johnstown, Ira L., a farmer; Lizzie; Jacob W., a 
teacher; Edith May, and David, who died in infancy.