BIOGRAPHY: William Henry HAHN, Cambria County, PA 

Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Lynne Canterbury and Diann 
Olsen. 

Portions of this book were transcribed by Clark Creery, Martha Humenik, Betty 
Mirovich and Sharon Ringler.

USGENWEB ARCHIVES (tm) NOTICE All documents placed in the USGenWeb Archives 
remain the property of the contributors, who retain publication rights in 
accordance with US Copyright Laws and Regulations. In keeping with our policy of 
providing free information on the Internet, these documents may be used by 
anyone for their personal research. They may be used by non-commercial entities 
so long as all notices and submitter information are included. These electronic 
pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit. Any other use, including 
copying files to other sites, requires permission from the contributors PRIOR to 
uploading to the other sites. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb 
Archives to store the file permanently for free access. 
http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/cambria/ 
____________________________________________________________

From Wiley, Samuel T., ed. Biographical and Portrait Cyclopedia of Cambria 
County, Pennsylvania. Philadelphia: Union Publishing Co., 1896, p. 273-4
____________________________________________________________

WILLIAM HENRY HAHN, a self-made man of excellent business character, is entitled 
to the credit of starting the pioneer meat market of Morrellville, which he 
still successfully operates. He is the fourth son and fifth child of John and 
Margaret (Heil) Hahn, and was born near Utford, Hesse-Darmstadt, Germany, 
January 26, 1853. John Hahn was a son of Christian Hahn, and on September 5, 
1821, first saw the light of day at Utford, where he learned and followed, for 
several years, the trade of shoemaker in connection with discharging the duties 
of a shepherd. In 1854 he came to the United States to find a better home for 
his family than his opportunities would allow him to provide in the fatherland. 
He first settled in the State of New York, but soon came to Johnstown furnace, 
where he worked in the ore mines on Ben's creek up to 1880, in which year he was 
employed as watchman by the Cambria Iron company, a position that he held until 
1888, when he retired from active work. He came by himself to this country in 
1854, and the next year sent for his wife and children, who came over on the 
next vessel sailing for New York.
     John Hahn was industrious and reliable, and died August 15, 1893. He was a 
devout member of the German Lutheran church, and married Margaret Heil, a native 
of Germany, and who died in 1873, when in the fifty-second year of her age. They 
were the parents of six children: Christian, who died in Germany; Conrad, a 
resident of Johnstown; Henry, died in Germany; Catherine, wife of Charles 
  Owens, of Johnstown; William Henry and Mary, who died when young.
     William Henry Hahn was brought in 1855, with brother and sister, by his 
mother to this country to rejoin his father. He received his education in the 
common schools, and learned the trade of butcher with his brother Conrad, for 
whom he worked for two years. Having mastered the butchering business in all of 
its details, he worked for six months in Pittsburg, and for three months in 
Steubenville, Ohio, and then opened a shop for himself at East Conemaugh, which 
he left a year later to form a partnership with his brother in Johnstown. They 
ran their large meat market until 1884, when he withdrew to open his present 
business, the pioneer meat market of Morrellville. His market is on Fairfield 
avenue, where everything has always been kept in the best manner to accommodate 
his patrons, who are not confined to Morrellville, as first-class goods and 
courteous attention generally bring custom from a distance.
     On April 14, 1879, Mr. Hahn married Sarah Brixner, who was a daughter of 
Christina Brixner, of Johnstown, and died March 17, 1890, leaving one child, 
Charles. For his second wife, Mr. Hahn wedded, on September 5, 1891, Emma Sides, 
daughter of Anna Sides, of Indiana county. To this second union has been born 
one child, a son named John.
     In the great schools of life the only prizes offered Mr. Hahn were those 
that could be won by self-effort, and he has succeeded well in the contest, 
having gained honorable position and a comfortable competency. Besides his own 
prosperous business, he is interested in the Morrellville Building and Loan 
association, which he is now serving as vice-president. He is a member of 
Morrellville Council, No. 941, Royal Arcanum, in which he has served as 
treasurer for eleven years; and a charter member of the Morrellville Fire 
company, all of whose offices he has filled, and is now serving it as treasurer. 
He is also a member of the Turner's Association, of Johnstown, and has held 
membership for many years in the German Lutheran church. Mr. Hahn, in politics, 
has always been identified with the Democratic party. He served for six years as 
a school director, being for one year president, and for three years treasurer 
of the board. He has also held other elective and appointive offices, and in 
every public capacity in which he has served has made an honest and honorable 
record.