BIOGRAPHY: Lieut. Joseph R. HUMMEL, 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. 90-1
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LIEUT. JOSEPH R. HUMMEL, a Union officer of the late Civil War, and who has 
served continuously as burgess of Dale borough ever since its incorporation, is 
a son of David and Mary Hummel, and was born in Shade township. Somerset county, 
Pennsylvania, January 17, 1840. David Hummel was a son of Henry Hummel, a native 
of Franklin county, whose father, Henry Hummel, came from Germany, in all 
probability, as early as the middle of the last century. David Hummel was born 
in Somerset county in 1810, and learned the trade of blacksmith, which he 
followed for a life-vocation. He was a democrat, and at one time was one of only 
ten men who voted the Democratic ticket in Shade township, Somerset county. He 
was a member of the Evangelical church of North America, and married Mary 
Rhoades, who was a daughter of Joshua Rhoades, and died in 1879, aged sixty-nine 
years. Their family consisted of ten children, eight sons and two daughters.
     Joseph R. Hummel was reared in his native township, received but a limited 
education in the common schools, and was a farm laborer until he attained his 
majority, in 1861. A few months later, in October 1861, he enlisted in company 
"E," Fifty-Fourth Pennsylvania infantry, and served until Lee surrendered, being 
honorably discharged at Annapolis, Maryland, on May 31, 1865. He participated in 
the following battles: New Market, May 15, 1864; Piedmont, June 5; James river, 
June 14; Lynchburg, June 17 and 18; Liberty and Salem, June 19 - 22; Snicker's 
Ford, July 18; Winchester, July 23 and 24; Cedar Creek, August 12; Second 
Winchester, September 19; Fisher's Hill, September 22; Cedar Creek, October 19; 
Fort Griggs, and High Bridge, besides numerous skirmishes. He served as a 
private until November 1, 1862, when he was promoted to corporal, and on October 
20, 1864, was made sergeant. Afterwards, on April 2, 1865, he was commissioned 
as second lieutenant. Returning from the army, he drove team for a few years and 
engaged in the saw-mill business, which he followed for several years, being 
manager of Ashtola mills from 1870 to 1874. In the last-named year he came to 
Johnstown, ran a farm and burned lime seven years, and then spent nine years in 
Somerset county. He returned to Johnstown in 1890, and was elected burgess of 
Dale borough, which was organized that year, and has been re-elected every year 
since.
     He is a republican in politics, cast his first vote for Abraham Lincoln, 
and has served for ten years as a member of school boards in Somerset and 
Cambria counties. He is a member of Emory Fisher Post, No. 30, Grand Army of the 
Republic, and the United Evangelical church, in which he has always been an 
active worker. In every field in which he has labored, Lieut. Joseph Hummel has 
been active, zealous, and useful. As a business man he is prompt and reliable, 
as a public official he is firm and just, as a school officer discreet, prudent 
and progressive, and as a man, a citizen, and a neighbor, he is respected.
     On September 10, 1868, Mr. Hummel was united in marriage with Frances 
Pickworth, a daughter of John Pickworth, of Johnstown, who was engaged for 
several years in boating on the old canal. Lieut. and Mrs. Hummel have seven 
sons and three daughters: John H., Milton A., F. K., Mamie, Samuel P., Ada, 
Nora, Robert, Forest, and Henry.