Bio-Birch, SamuelW

Samuel William Birch
(1862-1946?)

Samuel William Birch was born on Dec. 5, 1862, the son of Samuel and Luretta (Wilson) Birch. He was a small business owner in Johnstown, Cambria County, PA.

Samuel's mother (also known as "Louetta") died when he was less than three years old, and at a time when the father was away serving in the Civil War. After a time, the father married again, to Susan A. Miner. Thus Samuel grew up in Greene County, PA, with a brood of nine younger half-brothers and half-sisters that came in following years.

Samuel struck out on his own as a teenager. When the federal census was taken in 1880, he was a boarder in the residence of McClain and Rachel Johnston in nearby Canton Township, Washington County, PA. He earned his room and board with the Johnstons as a farm laborer.

In about 1884, when he was age 22, Samuel married 23-year-old Mary Elizabeth Staller (1861-1937). They had 10 children -- Nellie M. Birch, Reuben W. Birch, James W. Birch, Ollie B. "Ola" Weaver, Harry A. Birch, Alta L. Hite, Harold L. Birch, Ralph M. Birch, Gertrude Uncapher and Josephine Thomas. Sadly, three of the children -- Nellie, Harry and Ralph -- are believed to have died young.

Occasionally using "William" -- his middle name -- Samuel obtained employment as a machinist in Johnstown, Cambria County. Johnstown had reached world fame in 1889 when it was the scene of the horrific Johnstown Flood, killing more than 2,200 townspeople, "one of the most devastating 'natural' disasters America has ever known," according to David McCullough's bestselling book, The Johnstown Flood. Perhaps the opportunity to help the city in its massive rebuilding effort is what drew him to the locale.

Devastation caused by the 1889 Johnstown Flood -- involving a massive rebuilding effort which may have drawn Samuel there for employment.

The 1900 census shows the family of Samuel and Mary and their eight children living in Stonycreek Township near Johnstown. Son Reuben worked that year as a laborer in an iron foundry.

By 1910, the Birches had relocated to East Wheatfield Township in Indiana County, PA. That year, Samuel was employed in local coal mines as a machine engine "engineer," while son Harry, age 17, labored in local coal mines.

Samuel eventually found his way out of the mines -- as a drayman, hauling loads of goods using teams of horses. Returning to Cambria County, he turned that expertise into his own company, the Birch Moving and Transfer Company in Lower Yoder Township, near Johnstown. The site of the business today is where the Lower Yoder Fire Company is now located. The 1920 census lists Samuel as "transfer - moving & transferring" with son Harry assisting in the family owned firm.

When the federal census was taken in 1930, the Birches lived on Fairfield Avenue in Johnstown, and have been married for 47 years. Daughter Josephine, unmarried and age 23, lived under their roof that year. Married daughter Gertrude and her husband Carl Uncapher were next door neighbors. Samuel's occupation was "proprietor - general hauling."

In 1936, Johnstown again was hit by a devastating flood that destroyed 77 buildings and damaged 3,000 more. Click here for details. How the Birches fared during the 1936 flood is not known.

Flooding in Johnstown again in 1936 -- on Market Street at the post office building

Sadly, Mary passed away in 1937, at the age of 76. She was buried at Sandyvale Cemetery.

Samuel outlived Mary by nine years, and died about 1946, at age 84. He is buried with his wife. In his newspaper obituary, four of his adult children were listed as living in homes on Fairfield Avenue in Johnstown, but at different addresses on the street.

Son Reuben W. Birch (1884- ? ) was born in April 1884. As an adult, he moved to Hooversville, Quemahoning Township, Somerset County, PA. Seen here is a rare old photographic postcard, showing the town's unpaved main street of that era.

He married Binnie (?) (1889- ? ) in about 1909. They had at least five children: Harry "Warren" Birch, Althea Birch, Priscilla Birch, Dorothy (or "Carrie") Birch, May Ethel Birch, Maurice Birch and Robert Birch.

The census of 1910 shows the Birches making their home in Quemahoning Township, with Reuben working as a motorman in a local coal mine. Living under their roof that year were Reuben's newlywed brother and sister in law, James W. and Rosa Birch.

In 1920, their home was on Water Street in Hooversville, with Reuben employed as a coal miner.

In the 1920s, two more children were born, and the Birches moved to a new home on Railroad Street in Hooversville, with Reuben continuing his longtime occupation as a coal mine laborer. The 1930 census shows the family living on Railroad Street.

Son James W. Birch (1887- ? ) was born in March 1887. He married Rose (1887- ? ) in about 1910.

As newlyweds in 1910, the Birches made their home with James' married brother and sister in law, Reuben and Binnie Birch, in Quemahoning Township, Somerset County, PA. James' occupation that year was "laborer - coal mine."

Daughter Ollie B. "Ola" Birch (1889- ? ) was born in November 1889. She married William C. Weaver (1889- ? ).

The Weavers had at least two children -- Geraldine Weaver and Bernard E. Weaver.

They lived on Fern Street near Johnstown in 1930, when the census was taken. William's occupation that year was as a life insurance agent.

Son Harry Birch (1893- ? ) married Jessie (1888- ? ) in about 1920. He was five years younger than his wife. They had three children -- Betty J. Birch, Freda L. Birch and William S. Birch.

The 1930 census shows the family making its home on Meadow Street in Lower Yoder Township, Cambria County. Harry was employed assisting his father as co- proprietors of the hauling business.

Daughter Alta L. Birch (1895- ? ) was born in May 1895. She married Guy Hite (1896- ? ). They had one known son -- Kenneth Hite Sr. -- and perhaps other children.

Their home circa 1930 was on Fern Street in Lower Yoder Township near Johnstown. Alta's sister and brother in law, Ollie and William Weaver, lived next door. Guy was employed as a steel mill laborer.

We are grateful to Alta's grandson Kenneth Hite Jr. for furnishing important details for this biography.

Daughter Gertrude Birch (1903- ? ) married Carl Uncapher (1901- ? ). They had at least one daughter, Betty A. Uncapher.

When the federal census was enumerated in 1930, they resided next to Gertrude's parents on Fairfield Avenue in Lower Yoder Township, near Johnstown. Carl's occupation was listed as "electric crameman - steel mill."

Daughter Josephine Birch (1907- ? ) married (?) Thomas. Her home in 1946 was at 676 Fairfield Avenue in Johnstown.