BIOGRAPHY: Abram HOSTETLER, 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. 80-1
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ABRAM HOSTETLER, a well qualified business man and a very successful farmer and 
fruit grower of Richland township, is a son of Henry and Mary (Weaver) 
Hostetler, and was born in Richland township, Cambria county, Pennsylvania, 
October 17, 1866. The American ancestry of the Hostetlers is traced from early 
settlers in one section of Chester county, to pioneers in one part of Somerset, 
and then in the first quarter of the present century to Richland township. Peter 
Hostetler, whose parents came from Chester county, was born and reared in 
Somerset county, and came in 1830 to Richland township, where he purchased a 
farm and passed the remainder of his life, dying April 1, 1863, aged fifty-two 
years. He was the father of Henry Hostetler, whose son Abram is the subject of 
this sketch. Henry Hostetler was born December 1, 1841, and after receiving a 
common education, turned his attention to agricultural pursuits, in which he has 
been engaged ever since. Energetic as a business man and successful as a farmer, 
Mr. Hostetler has come to be one of the representative citizens of this 
township. His business and farm interests have not, however, rendered him 
indifferent to affairs connected with his township or having a bearing on the 
county. For many years he has served as supervisor and manager of the Johnstown 
and Scalp Level turnpike. He is a republican in political opinion, and has been 
for many years a consistent member of the German Baptist church.
     Mr. Hostetler married Mary Weaver, who was born in Paint township, Somerset 
county, March 19, 1846, and is a daughter of Abraham Weaver, who was a native of 
Davidsville, that county, and died in the spring of 1895, aged seventy-seven 
years. The Weavers, like the Hostetlers, were of German descent and believers in 
the faith of the German Baptist church, also Amish and Mennonite. Abram 
Hostetler received a practical English education in a common school some 
distance from his home, and then attended a good normal school, after which he 
taught two terms in the public schools. In youth he became familiar with the 
labor of the farm, and assisted in its cultivation until his majority was 
attained, when he engaged for himself in farming, which he has followed ever 
since, except the two years partly spent in teaching. Mr. Hostetler owns a well-
improved farm of eighty acres of good land, situated along the Johnstown and 
Scalp Level turnpike, and only two miles from Scalp Level post office.
     Abram Hostetler, on October 30, 1887, married Lizzie Statler, a daughter of 
Peter Statler, a well-known citizen of Richland township. Their union has been 
blessed with three children, two sons and a daughter: Clyde H., Emma J., and 
Newton K.
     Engaged in the employments of an agriculturist, Mr. Hostetler, while not 
neglecting general farming, yet made fruit culture a study, and at present has 
the largest peach, plum and pear orchards in his section of the county. In 
politics he has always been a republican of pronounced views, and an active 
worker in the interests of his party. He has served as assessor and auditor, and 
held other township offices. He was the first assessor elected for three years 
in Richland township under the State law providing for that length of term. 
Abram Hostetler is deservedly popular on account of business ability, good 
character and efficient service as a public official. Economic, prudent and yet 
progressive, he is a safe and reliable business man, and in any township or 
county office could be depended upon to look carefully after the true interests 
of the people.