John R. Betts

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  General Notes:

Buried at Grandview Cemetery. Was a Republican, Lutheran and belonged to F irst Lutheran Church, Johnstown, PA---- OBIT AS FOLLOWS:::

March 9, 1906 Tribune Newspaper

John R. Betts died at the Betts homestead, No. 706 Somerset Street, S ixth Ward, at 7:50 o'clock last evening after a month's illness of Bright 's disease, aged seventy years, ten months and nine days.

The deseased was the eldest of the ten children of Michael and Sara R isheberger Betts, two of the pioneer residents of Jenner Township, Somers et County and was born in that township on April 30, 1835. His is the se venth death among the children; the surviving being Mrs. Mary Betts Shauli s, of Jenner Township, Mrs. Adaline Betts Hess of Derry, and Jesse Bet ts of near Fort Palmer, Westmoreland County. Christian Betts died in Jen ner Township some twenty years ago and William Betts, another brother, di ed at Stoystown in 1904. The other children of Michael and Sara Betts di ed in infancy. The parents passed away almost together in Somerset Coun ty in 1886, the father on January 20th and the mother on February 11th.

John R. Betts was a carpenter all his life, and spent most of his yea rs in Johnstown. When a young man, he learned his trade with a man nam ed Hoffman at Jenner Cross Roads. He came to Johnstown in the early 60 's and began work under the late Charles Luther, who was then forman of t he crew of men erecting houses for the Cambria Iron Company. Not long aft er Mr. Luther enlisted in the Army he was followed by Mr. Betts, who beca me a private in Battery D, Fifth Heavy Artillery, under the late Webst er B. Lowman, serving in 1864 and '65. After the surrender of Lee, Mr. B etts returned to Johnstown to resume his work for Cambria. He was then ma de the foreman of the house repairing department, which position he held u ntil the time he took sick one month ago. His work was under the supervis ion of Judge Joseph Masters, who said today: "Mr Betts was an earnest, co nscientious, honest, straight-forward, and upright workman, besides bei ng a Christian gentlement. His place in the Cambria Works will be ha rd to fill."

On January 15, 1857, Mr. Betts and Miss Mary Launtz, daughter of M r. and Mrs Felix Launtz of Jenner Cross Roads were married in the Luther an Church at Stoyestown, by the Rev. John K. Miller, father of Dr. E. L. M iller of Market Stree. Two children were born to them, Marion, who was a ccidentlaly shot when a child three years old, in 1862, while playing in S omerset County, and Mirerva, wife of W. H. Happe, of No 516-1/2 Franklin s treet. Besides his wife and daughter, he is survived by three grandchildr en John B. Happe: Marion Happe, wife of Berthold Becker, and Frank W. Hap pe, all of the South Side.

In religion, Mr. Betts was a Lutheran: in politics a stalwart Republi can. He was a good husband, a loving father and a friend of all who kn ew him. For thirty years he lived on Somerset street, an it is doubtf ul if he missed reading a single issue of the Daily Tribune since it was f ounded. Mr. Betts was a member of Alma Lodge, I.O.O.F., and for many yea rs he was the Financer of the Knights of Honor, of this city.

The funeral will take place from the Betts home at 2 o'clock Sunday a fternoon, when the deceased's pastor, the Rev. Dr. William Alfred Shipma n, of the First Lutheran Church, will conduct the obsequies. The remai ns will be laid to rest in Grand-View Cemtery.

Monday Mention in Daily Tribune

The Rev. Dr. William Alfred Shipman, pastor of the First Lutheran Chu rch, yesterday afternoon conducted the funeral services over the remai ns of the late John R. Betts, at the Betts residence on Somerset street, w ith a large concourse of people in attendance. The Lutheran Church cho ir sang "Rock of Ages" and "Jesus, Lover of My Soul." The pallbearers we re Messrs, Joseph Masters, Frank Stearn, R.F. Rutledge, W.A. Levergood, Jo hn Woy, and Peter S. Fisher. The remains were laid to rest in Grand-Vi ew Cemetery.

John married Mary Amanda Launtz, daughter of Felix Launtz and Rose Woy, on 15 Jan 1857 in Stoystown, PA. (Mary Amanda Launtz was born on 14 Sep 1838 in Jenner Twp, PA ⁶ and died on 19 Dec 1917 in Johnstown, PA.)