Blair County PA Archives Biographies.....Hare, William M. October 12, 1842 - ???? ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/pafiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Judy Banja http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00004.html#0000757 December 12, 2024, 1:45 pm Source: Biographical and Portrait Cyclopedia of Blair Co, PA: Philadelphia, 1892. Author: Samuel T. Wiley WILLIAM M. HARE, a leading live stock dealer of Altoona, and a man who by energy, enterprise and good business judgment has succeeded in accumulating a competency of this world's goods, is a son of William and Matilda (Goodman) Hare, and was born at Allensville, Mifflin county, Pennsylvania, October 12, 1842. William hare (father) was a orphan boy, who grew to manhood in Mifflin county, with none of the usual advantages for obtaining an education or getting a start in the world. In his composition, however, was force, ability, and a determination to make something of himself in defiance of adverse circumstances. He picked up such education as was possible for a poor boy compelled to work for his own maintenance, and as soon as opportunity offered, set in to learn the trade of tailor. He thoroughly mastered that trade, and locating in the village of Mill Creek, Mifflin county, engaged in tailoring, and successfully conducted that business until 1850, when he removed to Blair county. On coming to this county he purchased a farm im Catherine township, and devoted his latter years to agricultural pursuits. He was an extensive farmer, and met with good success-due principally to the care and energy with which he conducted all farm operations. He believed that whatever was worth doing at all was worth doing well, and his fields were kept in the finest state of cultivation. He died October 15, 1881, in the sixty-ninth year of his age, and greatly respected by a wide circle of friends and acquaintances. He was a leading member of the Evangelical Lutheran church, having connected himself with that denomination when only twenty years of age. In politics he was a whig and republican, and served as justice of the peace in his township. He married Matilda Goodman, a native of Lancaster county, this State, who died January 17, 1883, in the sixty-fifth year of her age. She also was a faithful and devoted member of the Lutheran church, and greatly beloved by all who knew her. William M. hare was reared principally on his father's farm in catherine township, and obtained his education in the common schools of his neighborhood. He remained on the farm with his father until twenty-two years of age, when he came to Altoona and engaged in the butchering business. He continued in that line until November 18, 1889, when he disposed of his butchering business and began dealing in live stock, purchasing cattle and hogs in the west and shipping them to the eastern markets. Hare is a natural judge of fine stock, and handles from five to six car loads of cattle and hogs every week. He has been extremely successful inthis business, and has accumulated a handsome fortune. In 1882 he erected the elegant brick structure on Chestnut avenue, where he now resides, and which ranks among the finest houses in the city of Altoona. He also purchased and now owns the old homestead in Catherine township, where his boyhood days were passed, beside other valuable property in Altoona, and a fine farm adjoining the city. In 1864 Mr. Hare was united in marriage with Harriet Lafferty, a daughter of Joseph Lafferty of Logan township, this county, and to this union was born a family of seven children, two sons and five daughters: Anna, Bertha, Amanda, Samuel, Harry, Helender, and Mary. Mr. and Mrs. Hare are taking great pains in the careful education of their children, all of whom have developed considerable artistic taste. The rooms of their home are embellished by a number of fine paintings, done by the deft fingers of their charming daughters. In politics Mr. Hare is an ardent republican, and an active worker for his party's success. He also takes a deep interest in all movements calculated to advance the prosperity and development of his town, or benefit his fellow citizens. Additional Comments: Originally submitted 2001. Transcribed by Linda Shillinger LindasTree@AOL.COM This file has been created by a form at http://www.usgwarchives.net/pafiles/ File size: 4.5 Kb