Henry Wilson Storey's History of Cambria County, V.III, p.487

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History of Cambria County, V.3

HISTORY OF CAMBRIA COUNTY. 487

and was school director for eleven years and refused to serve any longer. He is a member of the Catholic church. He married Elizabeth R., daughter of John Sherdan and wife, of Clearfield township, Cambria county, Pennsylvania, and they are the parents of the following children: 1. Harriet, born November 21, 1881, married Sherry Jones, of Ebensburg, Pennsylvania, and they have two children. 2. Mary, born September 23, 1883, married A. Slater, of Cresson, Pennsylvania. 3. Johanna, born March; 15, 1886. 4. Albert, born November 1, 1881, is still at home. 5. Michael, born May 22, 1894.
    The subject's brother James, now deceased, enlisted in the old Forty-fourth New York regiment, known as the Ellsworth's Avengers, and served three years as color bearer, through many a hard fought battle. He was thrice wounded, but recovered and returned to his home at Buffalo, where he died March 27, 1899.
    FRANCIS J. BURG00N, train dispatcher for the C. S, C. division of the Pennsylvania Railroad, residing at Cresson, Cambria county, Pennsylvania, was born at Sonman, Cambria county, May 22, 1853, son of Joseph and Ellen (McHugh) Burgoon. The father is the son of Robert Burgoon, a native of Blair county, Pennsylvania; born in 1776. He reared a large family, and followed farming all of his life. He died in 1864, aged eight-eight years.
    The subject's father, Joseph Burgoon, was a farmer in Cambria county and also followed lumbering. He died at the age of eight-one years. In politics he was first a Whig and then a Republican. He held the office of secretary of the school board for Washington township for twelve years, and was a noted violinist, furnishing the music for many of the early day dancing parties and dancing schools held at the old Washington House at Plane No. 2, during the old Portage days. He had the honor of accompanying the celebrated Hungarian patriot Kossuth on his tour. He was a member of the Highlands Regiment, raised in time of the Mexican war in Cambria county, but which was never called into service. His wife died in 1902, at the age of eight-years, at Altoona, Pennsylvania, and was buried at Wilmore, as was her husband. Her maiden name was Ellen McHugh daughter of Matthew and the granddaughter of Captain McGuire. Four children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Burgoon, as follows: 1. Ferdinand A., born February 21, 1845; he was accidentally killed September 5, 1873. 2. Henrietta. born October, 1846, married M. C. Egan, a conductor, and to them were born five children--Ellen, Josephine, Haden, Alfonzo and Scott. 3. Scott Augustine, born 1845, died 1850. 4. Francis J. (subject).
    Francis J. Burgoon was educated in the public schools of Cambria county, and then took telegraphy for a profession. He commenced by taking lessons of Lee McCormick, daughter of Professor McCormick, March 1, 1869. His first office was Cresson, Pennsylvania. In 1871 he took charge of the union depot at Pittsburg, remaining until March, 1869, and was then transferred to Conemaugh, where he remained until September, 1873, at which date he took charge of the office at Sonman, where be remained until October, 1885, then went to Altoona in the trainmaster's office, remaining there until April, 1886, when he was called upon by Judge John Dean and was made chief operator for the New York short route line, July, 1888, he was made trainmaster for that road, retaining such position until January 1, 1893, when the Pennsylvania company bought the road, but he was retained as train dispatcher of the C. & C. divisions.

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	HISTORY OF CAMBRIA COUNTY.	487
and was school director for eleven years and refused to serve any longer. He is a member of the Catholic church. He married Elizabeth R., daughter of John Sherdan and wife, of Clearfield township, Cambria county, Pennsylvania, and they are the parents of the following children: 1. Harriet, born November 21, 1881, married Sherry Jones, of Ebensburg, Pennsylvania, and they have two children. 2. Mary, born September 23, 1883, married A. Slater, of Cresson, Pennsylvania. 3. Johanna, born March; 15, 1886. 4. Albert, born November 1, 1881, is still at home. 5. Michael, born May 22, 1894. The subject's brother James, now deceased, enlisted in the old Forty-fourth New York regiment, known as the Ellsworth's Avengers, and served three years as color bearer, through many a hard fought battle. He was thrice wounded, but recovered and returned to his home at Buffalo, where he died March 27, 1899. FRANCIS J. BURG00N, train dispatcher for the C. S, C. division of the Pennsylvania Railroad, residing at Cresson, Cambria county, Pennsylvania, was born at Sonman, Cambria county, May 22, 1853, son of Joseph and Ellen (McHugh) Burgoon. The father is the son of Robert Burgoon, a native of Blair county, Pennsylvania; born in 1776. He reared a large family, and followed farming all of his life. He died in 1864, aged eight-eight years. The subject's father, Joseph Burgoon, was a farmer in Cambria county and also followed lumbering. He died at the age of eight-one years. In politics he was first a Whig and then a Republican. He held the office of secretary of the school board for Washington township for twelve years, and was a noted violinist, furnishing the music for many of the early day dancing parties and dancing schools held at the old Washington House at Plane No. 2, during the old Portage days. He had the honor of accompanying the celebrated Hungarian patriot Kossuth on his tour. He was a member of the Highlands Regiment, raised in time of the Mexican war in Cambria county, but which was never called into service. His wife died in 1902, at the age of eight-years, at Altoona, Pennsylvania, and was buried at Wilmore, as was her husband. Her maiden name was Ellen McHugh daughter of Matthew and the granddaughter of Captain McGuire. Four children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Burgoon, as follows: 1. Ferdinand A., born February 21, 1845; he was accidentally killed September 5, 1873. 2. Henrietta. born October, 1846, married M. C. Egan, a conductor, and to them were born five children--Ellen, Josephine, Haden, Alfonzo and Scott. 3. Scott Augustine, born 1845, died 1850. 4. Francis J. (subject). Francis J. Burgoon was educated in the public schools of Cambria county, and then took telegraphy for a profession. He commenced by taking lessons of Lee McCormick, daughter of Professor McCormick, March 1, 1869. His first office was Cresson, Pennsylvania. In 1871 he took charge of the union depot at Pittsburg, remaining until March, 1869, and was then transferred to Conemaugh, where he remained until September, 1873, at which date he took charge of the office at Sonman, where be remained until October, 1885, then went to Altoona in the trainmaster's office, remaining there until April, 1886, when he was called upon by Judge John Dean and was made chief operator for the New York short route line, July, 1888, he was made trainmaster for that road, retaining such position until January 1, 1893, when the Pennsylvania company bought the road, but he was retained as train dispatcher of the C. & C. divisions.