| 4. | John ZENTMYER was born 24 Mar 1808, Washington County, Maryland (son of David ZENTMYER and Eve Ann WELTY); died 13 Mar 1891, Porter Twp., Huntingdon Co., Pennsylvania; was buried Alexandria Presbyterian Cemetery, Alexandria, Huntingdon, Pennsylvania. Notes:
From various sources he have good data that John was quite the entrepreneur. He farmed, bought and sold logs, and mined iron ore, having located his residences near the Springfield Furnace, Huntingdon Furnace, and the Juniata Iron Works, early blast furnaces in Huntingdon County.
"John Zentmyer was born in Franklin County, Pa., near the South Mountains, not far from Pen Mar, about 1806. (probably 1808 -Ed) In 1831 he went to Springfield Furnace, Blair County, (actually Huntingdon County, Blair County was not formed until 1846 -Ed) where he remained for some time, (four years -Ed) after which he moved to Spruce Creek valley to the farm now owned by the heirs of Robert L. Henderson. He then rented one of the farms of the Huntingdon Furnace Company, and in 1866 bought a farm in Porter township, Huntingdon county, where he resided until his death." -Commemorative Biographical Encyclopedia of the Juniata Valley: Comprising the Counties of Huntingdon, Mifflin, Juniata and Perry, Pennsylvania, Containing Sketches of Prominent and Representative Citizens and Many of the Early Settlers. Chambersburg, Pa.: J. M. Runk & Co., 1897, pages 118-119.
"He was well known as Major Zentmyer, having held that rank in the State militia. He married Margaret Gates, of Blair county, (see Blair Co. note above -Ed) who died about 1889. Mr. Zentmyer died in 1891; he and his wife are buried in a small graveyard on the farm." (However, there are currently no Zentmyer headstones in the farm cemetery, now called the Huyett Cemetery. The headstones are located in the Alexandria Presbyterian Cemetery, indicating a likely relocation of the graves. -Ed)
"Their children are: Isabella, wife of David Kinch, of Altoona; David (who died at the Battle of Fredricksburg -Ed); Frank, enlisted in Company I, Fifth Pennsylvania Reserves, was wounded at Fredericksburg, and died in Libby Prison; Priscilla, wife of E. C. Kinch, resides near Altoona; Porter, secretary and treasurer of the Clearfield Manufacturing Company; Miles, attorney in Schuyler, Neb.; Margaret, wife of David C. Stine, Bellefonte, Pa.; John W., insurance solicitor, resides in Blair county; Benjamin, on the homestead; and George, who died young." - article provided by Dante Hebert, Kingston, Washington
"After a brief illness, Major John Zentmyer died on Wednesday evening at his home in Hartzlog [sic] Valley, Potter township, Huntingdon county. While the deceased had not resided in Blair county for some years past, yet he was well known throughout the county and especially among the older citizens. Born near Williamsport, Md., March 24, 1808, he came to what is now Blair, but was then Huntingdon county, in the year 1832, settling at Springfield Furnace. There in the same year he was married to Margaret Gates, who preceded him to the tomb some three years, after a long and happy married life. Major Zentmyer's death was sudden, for he had been always very strong in health. Some ten days ago, however, he contracted a heavy cold, which resulted in typhoid pneumonia, and this disease was the cause of his demise. He removed from this county to Hartslog Valley in 1866. To Mr. and Mrs. Zentmyer, nine children were born. The living children are: Isabella, wife of David Kinch, of Altoona; Priscilla, wife of E. C. Kinch, of Sinking Valley; Maggie, wife of D. C. Stone, of Bellefonte; Miles Zentmyer, esq., an attorney of Schuyler, Neb.; Porter R., superintendent of the Clearfield Creek Coal company, Madera, Pa., and John and Benjamin, residing on the old homestead. In politics Major Zentmyer was a staunch democrat and during the war was a candidate on that ticket in Huntingdon county for the legislature. He was not successful, however. In religion he was a Reformed and was a member of the church at Alexandria. Funeral will take place at noon to-day and the interment will be in the family burying ground on the farm." Morning Tribune, Altoona, Pa., Friday, March 13, 1891
It is almost certain that John Zentmyer knew Alfred Crewitt, whose daughter Jane would marry John's son Miles, as they both worked in the iron industry in Huntingdon County during the same period, and were both Presbyterians.
John married Margaret GATES 29 Mar 1832. Margaret (daughter of Johann Godlieb GÖTZ and Elizabeth GEAURNEY/GAUBY) was born 28 Mar 1810, Berks, Pennsylvania; died 14 Jul 1888, Alexandria, Porter Twp., Huntingdon, Pennsylvania. [Group Sheet]
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1893 - 1979 (86 years)