Fifteenth Generation


939. Edward N. ROOT was born on 7 October 1852 in Antis Township, Blair County, PA.102,156,160
"EDWARD N. ROOT, who has been actively engaged in the fire insurance business at Bellwood, Pa., since 1907, is a representative of several of the leading old line companies, and was previously for many years in the service of the Bell's Gap Railroad. He was born October 7, 1852, in Antis Township, Blair county, Pa., and is a son of John M. and Mary Ann (Nelson) Root.

Edward N. Root grew to man's estate in Antis township, and after completing his education taught some eighteen terms in Clearfield, Center and Blair Counties, his last school being a subscription school. On March 29, 1879, he moved to what was then known as Bell's Mills, and on August 3, 1882 entered the railroad service.

He was continuously in the service of the railroad until May 30, 1907, and was identified with the Bell's Gap Railroad as ticket and freight agent and weigh master at Bellwood, and continued as such until transferred to the Middle Division. At that time (Dec. 1888) a joint agency was established with the P. & N. W. R. R., after which he served as coal clerk until the time of his retirement from the service in May, 1907.

Mr. Root is a Democrat in politics, although inclined to be independent. For the past sixteen years he has been a member of the school board, and was a member of that body when the town was formed into a borough. He has been treasurer of the local fire company since its organization, August 18, 1891. Mr. Root is fraternally a member of the I. O. O. F., the Royal Arcanum, the K. O. T. M. and the Sons of Veterans.

On December 26, 1876, Mr. Root married Mary Eleanor Iddings, who was born in the vicinity of Unionville, Center County, Pa., April 5, 1853, and died March 6, 1907. She was a daughter of Henry and Elizabeth (Allen) Iddings, who were people of affluence and the owners of several valuable farms. Four children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Root, namely: Joseph Eugene, born September 21, 1879, who graduated from Bellwood High School in 1898, and from the Pennsylvania State College in 1907, in the course of Civil Engineering, and is now an instructor in the University of Cincinnati, at Cincinnati, Ohio. He married Elsie Selma Richter of Cumberland, Md.; Margaret Elizabeth, born November 16, 1881, who graduated from the Bellwood High School in 1898 and from the Millersville State Normal in 1902, taking a later course in 1905, and who is now teaching in the public schools at Camden, N. J.; Alice Lydia, born June 22, 1884, who is the wife of George E. Wentz (they residing with Mr. Root); and Ruth Isabella, born October 23, 1893, who is now a senior in the Bellwood High School. The religious connection of the family is with the Lutheran church."

Source: "Twentieth Century History of Altoona and Blair County, Pennsylvania, and Representative Citizens," Jesse C. Sell, Chicago, IL: Richmond-Arnold, 1911, File 11, pp 650-653.

Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by the Blair County Genealogical
Society, 431 Scotch Valley Road, Hollidaysburg, PA 16648. Copied and
proofread by Linda M. Shillinger LindasTree@aol.com OCRed by Judy Banja
jbanja@email.msn.com

. He appeared in the census in 1860 in Antis Township, Blair County, PA.160

Edward N. ROOT and Mary Eleanor IDDINGS were married on 26 December 1876.102 Mary Eleanor IDDINGS was born on 5 April 1853 in Unionville, Centre County, PA.102 She died on 6 March 1907 at the age of 53.102

Edward N. ROOT and Mary Eleanor IDDINGS had the following children:

1035

i.

Joseph Eugene ROOT was born on 21 September 1879.102

1036

ii.

Margaret Elizabeth ROOT was born on 16 November 1881.102

1037

iii.

Alice Lydia ROOT was born on 22 June 1884.102

1038

iv.

Ruth Isabella ROOT was born on 23 October 1893.102