OF CAMBRIA COUNTY.

453

Ebensburg, and a descendant of the Todds, who were among the original settlers of Ebensburg. John Murphy, our subject, was the only child born of this union. He was left an orphan, his father having died before the child's birth, his mother only surviving her husband about one year. He was reared by kind friends and educated in the common school. When about sixteen years old he went to Gallitzin, where he was employed as a clerk until twenty-two years old. During this time he had saved enough money to enable him to enter St. Francis college, Loretto, where he remained two years. Having decided on a professional career, in 1879 he entered the office of Dr. James J. Oatman, of Ebensburg, and began the study of medicine. The same year he entered Hahnemann Medical college, Chicago, Illinois, from which institution he graduated in 1882. Immediately after leaving the medical college he opened an office in Gallitzin, where he practiced his chosen profession successfully for two years. In 1884 he removed to Loretto, where he has remained ever since, and where he has built up an extensive general practice. He is a member of the Roman Catholic church, and supports the principles of the Republican party. April 14, 1879, he married Miss Annie Selbitz, a daughter of Charles Selbitz, of Gallitzin. This union has been blessed in the birth of five children: Marie, Katie, deceased; Maggie, Nellie and Charles, deceased. ANTHONY ANNA, an ex-auditor and an ex-county commissioner of Cambria county, is the present burgess and one of the justices of the peace of Hastings. He is a son of Francis and Mary (Seller) Anna, and was born in a Rhine river province of the kingdom of Bavaria, Germany, February 15, 1834.

Francis Anna was born, reared and received his education in western Bavaria. He was born in November, 1804, and at a proper age became an apprentice to a baker, with whom he learned the trade of baking. His early years were passed in a stormy period of war, dissension and suffering, and he followed his trade in his native kingdom until he was thirty-nine years of age. He then, in 1843, embarked with his family on board a sailing vessel and came to the United States. Soon after landing in this country he came westward and settled in Cambria county, where he purchased a tract of woodland in Carroll township, and turned his attention to clearing it and making a farm. He turned his timber largely into lumber, and in a few years had a good farm, a part of which he sold in lots when the town of Patton was laid out adjoining his property. He was industrious and steady, a good neighbor and a well-respected citizen. He was a member of the Catholic church. He married Mary Seiler, who was born in Bavaria, and to their union were born nine children, of whom three grew to maturity Anthony, Charles, who owns the home farm, and Christina, who married Vitus Pherston.     Anthony Anna passed the first nine years of his life in his native land, where he learned to read, write and cipher, and after his parents brought him to Cambria county, notwithstanding the poor educational facilities then existing there, he obtained a good common-school English education. Leaving school, and having no desire to learn a trade, he remained on the farm with his father, and was engaged in agricultural employments until he was twenty-three years of age. He then bought a tract of woodland in what was then Chest, but is now Elder township, and immediately set to work to clear out a farm. He cut his timber

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