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George W. Reese, treasurer of the Piney Run Mining Company, with offices at 1206 First National Bank Building,
Johnstown, was born in LaSalle, Ill., NOV. 11, 1870, and is a son of John G. and Elizabeth (Barnes) Reese.
John Gomer Reese was born Aug. 13, 1843, at Pittsburgh, Pa. He was a son of Joseph and Margaret Reese, natives
of Wales, who came to the United States about 1842 and settled in Pittsburgh, Pa. Joseph Reese died in Johnstown,
and is buried in Pittsburgh, his wife having died there previously. He enlisted at Johnstown for service in the
Civil war Nov. 28, 1862, in Company G, Fourteenth Cavalry, One Hundred Fifty-ninth Regiment, Pennsylvania Volunteers,
and was honorably discharged May 30, 1865. After his return home from the war he was married at Johnstown, Dec.
24, 1867, to Miss Elizabeth Barnes, daughter of John Barnes, of Berlin, Somerset County. Some time after their
marriage they went to LaSalle, Ill., where he worked in a foundry for several years. He then returned East in 1873
and located at Brady's Bend, Pa., and worked in the puddling mill until 1874, when he returned to Johnstown, where
Mr. Reese entered the employ of the Cambria Iron Works foundry, and later accepted a position with the Johnson
Company, now the Lorain Steel Company. Mr. Reese died Oct. 21, 1894, and is buried in Grand View Cemetery. His
widow resides in Johnstown. He was a member of Encampment No. 60, Union Veterans Legion; Emory Fisher Post No.
30, G. A. R.; Alma Lodge No. 523, I. O. O. F., and the United Brethren Church.
To John G. and Elizabeth (Barnes) Reese nine children were born: William H., foreman steel foundry of the Lorain
Steel Company, Johnstown; George W., the subject of this sketch; Job, Clara and Frank, deceased, and are buried
in Grand View Cemetery, Johnstown; Gertrude, married Thomas Osborne. He is deceased and buried in Grand View Cemetery.
She resides in Johnstown; Arthur E., a steel moulder, resides in Johnstown; Reno W., steel moulder, Johnstown;
and Edith, a student at the University of Pittsburgh.
George W. Reese was educated in the public schools of Johnstown. At the age of 13 years he entered the employ of
the Cambria Iron Works and remained with this company until 1889, when he accepted a position with the Johnson
Company, which is now the Lorain Steel Company, in the steel foundry. He was superintendent of the steel foundry
for about 25 years, and resigned in April, 1921, on account of ill health. In 1900 Mr. Reese assisted in the organization
of the Valley Coal Company, which was later known as the Valley Smokeless coal Company. His associates in this
business were: S. H. Cauffiel, Daniel Cauffiel, Joseph Cauffiel, John L. Tross, William J. Watkins. Mr. Reese was
managing director of the company. This business was later sold to J. Blair Kennerly of Philadelphia. In 1902 Mr.
Reese helped organize the Sunnyside Ideal Coal Company. This was later sold to the Cosgrove Meehan Company. In
1920 Mr. Reese joined the Piney Run Mining Company and was elected treasurer. His offices are located in the First
National Bank Building, Johnstown.
In 1895 Mr. Reese was united in marriage with Miss Lulu C. Price, a daughter of John Wesley and Margaret (Decker)
Price.
John Wesley Price was born at Colerain Forge, Huntington County, July 11, 1846. He came to Johnstown in the early
fifties, later locating at Laurel Hill Furnace, Westmoreland County, Pa., then to Mill Creek, Upper Yoder Township,
where he worked in the old furnace. In 1861 the family moved to Benscreek, Somerset County, where Mr. Price was
employed by the Cambria Iron Works. In 1862 Mr. Price enlisted as a private in Company M, Twelfth Pennsylvania
Cavalry. On account of his mother's objection he was sent home and put to work on his father's farm, but being
a very patriotic young man, he secured his parent's permission and again enlisted in July, in Company A, One Hundred
Thirty-third Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry. He served for nine months with this company and never lost a day.
Later he re-enlisted in Company M, Twelfth Pennsylvania Volunteer Cavalry. He was taken prisoner and marched up
the valley to Staunton, Va., where the prisoners were loaded on cars for Richmond, landing on Castle Thunder. They
reached the stockade June 1st and remained until September 28th, when he was transferred to Florence, S. C., where
he was detained until Jan. 15, 1865, thence transferred to Milton, Ga.; Savannah, Ga.; Charleston, S. C.; Wilmington
and Galesboro, N. C., having served most of his prison term in Andersonville Prison, where he was paroled, and
sent back to the Union lines at Burned Bridge, and from there to Annapolis, Md., where he was confined to a hospital,
and later honorably discharged. He served as commander of Emory Fisher Post No. 30, G. A. R. Mr. Price died Dec.
13, 1909, and is buried in Grand View Cemetery. On July 1, 1870, he was married to Miss Margaret Decker, a daughter
of James and Martha (Long) Decker. He was a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church.
To Mr. and Mrs. Reese three children have been born: G. Wesley, born in 1896, educated at Bordentown Military Academy
and Swarthmore College; Margaret E., graduated from Johnstown High School and Wellesley College, an English teacher
in Cochran High School; and Anna Gertrude, deceased. The family residence is at 514 Napoleon Street, Johnstown.
Mr. Reese is a Republican and a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Fraternally he is. identified with the
following lodges: Sunnehanna F. and A. M. No. 742, worshipful master. This lodge of Masons was organized on Monday,
Dec. 14, 1925, and Mr. Reese was honored by being chosen its first worshipful master; Portage Royal Arch Chapter
No. 195; Cambria Council R. & S. M. M. No. 32; Oriental Commandery K. T. No. 61, past commander; Valley of
Pittsburgh Consistory, thirty second degree; Syria Temple, Pittsburgh Shrine; Knights of the Red Cross of Constantine;
Knights of Pythias No. 89; Sons of Veterans and P. H. C.
From:
History of Cambria County, Pennsylvania
By: John E. Gable
Historical Publishing Company
Topeka-Indianapolis, 1926
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