OF CAMBRIA COUNTY.

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Mary's church, he was sent to Breckinridge, Colorado, and served for two years as rector of various missions in Summit and Park counties. From this western field of labor he came in 1890 to Nicktown, Cambria county, Pennsylvania, and has had charge of St. Nicholas church, as resident pastor, ever since. Soon after coming to St. Nicholas church, Father Trageser resolved upon many improvements, and with characteristic energy set about carrying out his projected work. The replacing of the old church structure with a new and commodious building was the first thing necessary. Patient but persevering, he labored for over five years for the accomplishment of this object, and is now erecting a handsome new brick church, fifty-four by one hundred feet in dimensions, which, when finished, will be an ornament and a credit to the parish.     The congregation of St. Nicholas consists of one hundred families, and has prospered remarkably since Father Trageser has become resident pastor. From his eastern and western fields of labor Father Trageser came to St. Nicholas, with the reputation of being a popular and useful minister, and in his pastoral relations here has well sustained the many encomiums passed on him in this and other States. He has the love and confidence of those for whose spiritual welfare he is laboring so earnestly and zealously. His work has not disappointed the expectations of his most sanguine friends, while his usefulness in his present field of labor has enlisted public attention, and won for him the respect and good-will of the whole community. He is a courteous gentleman, a fine scholar and an able and progressive minister, whose future career of usefulness seems assured from past labors and present success.

REV. FERDINAND HARTUNG, O. S. B., was born October 3, 1868, in Allegheny City, Pennsylvania, and is a son of Henry Hartung. Rev. Hartung received his educational training at St. Vincent's college, Latrobe, Westmoreland county, this State, and was ordained to the priesthood in September, 1892. Soon after his ordination he was stationed in Baltimore, remaining in the "Monumental City" until 1895, when he became curate of St. Benedict's church, Carrolltown, this county. JOHN C. BLIMMEL. -- A typical representative of that thrifty class of citizens of German descent, who have contributed so much to the development of Cambria county, is the gentleman whose name heads this sketch. He is a son of George and Mary (Heckman) Blimmel, and was born November 23, 1866, in Cambria city, now the Sixteenth ward of Johnstown, this county. His grandfather, Michael Blimmel, was a native of Bavaria, Germany, and died in his native country.     George Blimmel, father of the subject of this sketch, was born in Regensburg, Bavaria, March 31, 1833. While in his native country he followed the avocation of a farmer.     In 1854, desiring to better his condition, he emigrated to this country and located in Johnstown, where he took up the avocation of a miner as a means of procuring a livelihood. For twenty-four years he was employed in the coal and ore mines of the Cambria Iron company. At the end of this long and faithful period of service for that company he removed to Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania, where he followed coal-digging for ten years, after which time he returned to Cambria city, and worked in the mills there for several years, since which time he has retired from active service and is enjoying a well-earned rest.

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