Jesse Smull Family: James Bergey Smull

JESSE SMULL > JAMES BERGEY SMULL m Louise Garvey

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Jesse Smull, one of the Brothers Smull of Brush Valley in Centre County, Pennsylvania, moved fairly early on to Montgomery and then Chester County, Pennsylvania. He and his wife, Mary Bergey, had nine children. Jesse died tragically in an industrial accident. You can read about his brother, Henry Bergey Smull here.

330 23rd Ave Altoona

Son James Bergey Smull was born 30 Sep 1852 in Spring City. On 06 Oct 1880, he married Louis McGarvey, daughter of William McGarvey and Mary Gray. She was born 13 Aug 1861 in Blair County. Smull came to Altoona in 1877. He began working in the shoe repair business prior to arrival in Altoona, when he was 13 years old. For 18 years, he worked for J B Smith.

Early on, they resided at 1212 17th Ave in Altoona. His shoe shop, Smull's Shoe Shop, was located at 1504 12th Ave. He worked in several locations in this vicinity over the course of his career including his final location at 1109 14th St.  In early days, before machinery, he employed up to 10 shoemakers of the highest skill. The shop was a thriving concern that was in business until his retirement in 1931. In their old age, they resided at Lake Altoona on the Kittanning Trail Highway where James liked to garden. That place was on the old McGarvey homestead farm. Louise sold that farm in 1937. Before their deaths, they lived at 330 23rd Ave  in Altoona. James lived until 20 Sep 1940, when he died of heart issues. His wife, Louise, died 19 Oct 1944.

The Smull's had four children:;

1. Judson Gray Smull was born on 02 May 1882 in Altoona. He married Margaret Erwin, who was born 23 Sep 1880 in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. They had two children, Louise and Judson Gray, Jr. I'll be writing about him separately. He died 21 Apr 1978 in Bethlehem and Margaret died 16 Feb 1917 in Long Island.

2. William Penn Smull was born 30 Sep 1883 in Altoona. He married Eleanor M Smith of Italy and it appears they divorced. WP Smull held Patent 2,793,610 for a multipoint moistener for gummed labels. He resided in Gettysburg and died Altoona in Apr 1967.

3. Mary Victoria Louise Smull was born 09 Oct 1886 in Altoona. She married Frank Jesse Varner who was born 29 Mar 1884 in Juniata County, Pennsylvania. They had two children: Virginia Louise Varner and Franklin Smull Varner. Frank died 30 Jun 1959 in Huntingdon and Mary died 30 Mar 1956 Huntingdon.

4. Jesse McGarvey Smull was born 26 Sep 1891 in Altoona. Jesse married Mary  Etta "Etta" Robison. They had four children: Marian, Beatrice, Virginia, and Frances. Jesse died in Feb 1967 and Etta on 19 Aug 1973.