BIOS: William Cecil APPEL, Somerset County, PA 

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History of Bedford and Somerset Counties, Pennsylvania; Bedford County by E. 
Howard Blackburn; Somerset County by William H. Welfley; v.3, Pub. The Lewis 
Publishing Company, New York/Chicago 1906, ppg. 521-523

William Cecil APPEL.

  William Cecil Appel, a member of the firm of Appel & Glessner, general 
merchants of Meyersdale, descends from a German ancestor, Nicholas Appel 
(grandfather), who was born in Hesse-Cassel, Germany, May 12, 1815.  Nicholas 
was a tailor by trade.  He married Elizabeth Hickory, also born in Germany.  In 
1840 Nicholas came to America with his wife and settled in Pennsylvania.  He 
worked in several places in Somerset county at his trade, but finally settled 
in Jenner township, where he purchased a farm and devoted himself to its 
cultivation until after the death of his wife, when he sold his property, and 
thereafter his home was with his children in their several homes, where he 
was a welcome guest.  Nicholas was a member of the Reformed church, as were 
his wife and children.  In politics he was a Democrat.  The children of 
Nicholas and Elizabeth Appel were as follows: Anna Martha (deceased), wife of 
Hiram Boyts, of Davidsville, Pennsylvania; Catharine (Mrs. Jesse Walters), of 
Stoystown, Pennsylvania; Mary (Mrs. P.J. Cover), of Meyersdale; and William 
hereinafter mentioned.  Nicholas Appel died in 1895, at the residence of his 
daughter, Mrs. Cover, in Meyersdale.
  William Appel, only son of Nicholas and Elizabeth Appel, was born in 
Quemahoning township, Somerset county Pennsylvania, March 29, 1827.  He was 
educated in the public schools of the township, and until arriving at manhood 
was a worker on the farm.  At the age of twenty-three years he married, and 
for a time continued farming, but mercantile life attracted him, and his 
first business venture was a general store at Forward.  His next was at 
Stoystown, where he only remained a year, after which he removed to Friedens, 
where for eleven years he was the leading merchant.  In 1889 he came to 
Meyersdale, where he bought out the stock of the A.F. John general store, and 
with J.F. Naugle and E.D. Leonard formed the firm of William Appel & Company.   
This firm continued in successful business until 1897 when it was dissolved 
by the purchase of his partner's interest by Mr. Appel.  For three years, 
until his death, Mr. Appel continued the business.  He was an unusually good 
business man, and on the foundation he laid is built the present business of 
Appel and Glessner.
  William Appel was a faithful member of the Reformed church.  At the age of 
eighteen years he was made a deacon, and at his death was an elder and 
trustee of Amity Reformed church of Meyersdale, and a teacher in the Sabbath 
school.  He was also on the board of trustees of Lancaster Theological 
Seminary.  Fraternally he was a member of Somerset Lodge, No. 358, F. and 
A.M., the Royal Arcanum, and the Heptasophs.  He was a strong Republican, and 
served the borough of Meyersdale as treasurer of school funds, and three 
terms as school director.
  William Appel married, June 14, 1870, Mary, born December 22, 1848, daughter 
of William and Rosina (Brubaker) Zimmerman.  William Zimmerman was a farmer of 
Jenner township, and later a resident of Meyersdale, where he died February 
1, 1885.  He was a devoted member of the Reformed church, in which body he was 
an efficient officer and worker, as was his wife Rosina, who died October 7, 
1872, in her forty-ninth year.  Mrs. Mary Appel is a member of the Reformed 
church.  The children of William and Mary Appel are: Rosa B., born April 19, 
1877, married, June 20, 1895, Rev. A.S. Glessner, of Meyersdale.  The children 
of this marriage are Martha Evelyn, Miriam Lenore, and Bertha Rosella 
Glessner.  William Cecil, of whom more will be written.  William Appel's busy 
and useful life terminated September 29, 1900.  His funeral on October 2nd was 
very largely attended, the business houses of Meyersdale being closed during 
the services.  The strong elements of William Appel's character were his 
industry, his economy, his honesty and his religion.  Mrs. Mary Appel, his 
widow, still resides in her comfortable home on Meyers avenue, Meyersdale.
  William Cecil Appel, second child and only son of William and Mary 
(Zimmerman) Appel, was born in Friedens, February 20, 1882.  He was educated 
in the schools of Meyersdale and at Mercersburg Academy.  After leaving school 
and until his father's death, he was a clerk in the store of the latter.   
Until attaining his majority the business was continued under the same name 
by Mr. Appel in the interest of the heirs and widow.  In 1903 the present firm 
of Appel and Glessner was formed, consisting of William C. Apel and A.S. 
Glessner, his brother-in-law.  They erected a handsome four-story modern brick 
store building on Centre and Clay streets, which is the home of their present 
large department store business.  The first floor is devoted to the display 
and sale of dry goods, notions and groceries; the second to shoes and ladies' 
wear; the third to men's clothing and furnishings; and the fourth to carpets, 
etc. The store is well conducted, well arranged, popular and prosperous.
Messrs. Appel and Glessner give it their entire time, with the aid of six 
clerks.  They have few outside interests, preferring to concentrate all their 
energies on their one business.  In politics Mr. Appel is a Republican.  In 
church fellowship he is of the Reformed faith.
  Mr. Appel married Bertha K., daughter of W.H. Deeter, of Meyersdale (whose 
sketch appears on another page).  She was born March 22, 1886.  She graduated 
from the Meyersdale high school, and was a student at Wilson college, 
Chambersburg, Pennsylvania.  She is a member of the Reformed church.  The 
marriage of William C. Appel and Bertha K. Deeter was solemnized by Rev. A.S. 
Glessner, June 1, 1905.  One child has been born to Mr. and Mrs. Appel--a 
daughter, Bertha D., Feburary 26, 1906.