James Bergey Smull Family: Jesse McGarvey Smull

UNK SMULL > JESSE SMULL > JAMES BERGEY SMULL > JESSE MCGARVEY SMULL m
Mary Etta "Etta" Robison

Jesse's father James was the son of one of the original Brothers Smull of Brush Valley, Centre County, Pennsylvania. We covered Jesse M Smull's brother Judson previously.

Jesse McGarvey Smull was born to James Bergey Smull and Louise McGarvey on 26 Sep 1891 in Altoona, Pennsylvania. He married Etta Robison at Cumberland, Maryland on 23 Feb 1910. She was born 04 Aug 1891, also in Altoona. The couple had four daughters.

Jesse was a sign painter by trade and quite well known for being good at what he did. Their lives hummed along without much incident until August 1925, when Jesse was caught up in a tragedy.

William Heller, a retired tinsmith who resided on Juniata Gap Rd, was walking home from the store to his Point View cottage when he was struck by Jesse M. Smull's automobile at about 8 pm on 05 Aug 1925. Smull's address at the time was 1212 Seventeenth Ave in Altoona. He was reportedly on his way home to Altoona when he struck Heller. Smull loaded the injured man into his car to take him to the hospital and got only a few feet before he struck another car. Heller was seriously injured and did eventually get to the hospital. He held his own for some time before his injuries got the best of him and he died. The autopsy revealed he died of a cerebral hemorrhage.

There was no doubt from the outset of the investigation - Jesse M. Smull was intoxicated when he struck Heller. He was immediately placed under arrest. The Corner's inquest was called and witnesses testified about the victim and the driver. Many of the witnesses smelled liquor on Smull's breath, yet, the panel rendered a verdict absolving Smull of carelessness or reckless driving. Didn't matter to the district attorney though, he decided to pursue a charge of involuntary manslaughter against Smull. At his arrest, Smull had bailed at $3,000.He went to trial in January of 1926 and a jury was empaneled. He suddenly changed his plea to guilty. He was sentenced to no more than seven months in county jail, a $100 fine, and the costs of the trial.

Jesse, we presume, served his sentence and went on with his life. In 1936, he was arrested again - intoxicated - but this time was found sleeping in his car at 1 am with no keys in  the ignition, so the charge was just drunkenness.

Jesse died in an Altoona hospital after a brief illness on 05 Feb 1967. His wife and three daughters, Beatrice, Virginia, and Frances, survived him.

Jesse Smull Family: James Bergey Smull

JESSE SMULL > JAMES BERGEY SMULL m Louise Garvey

Click image to enlarge

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.