Obituary, probably from the Johnstown, PA "Tribune", dated probably early February 1889

THE LATE ADAM HOLSOPPLE

A Man of Probity, Wisdom and Justice--Tribute From a Friend

The TRIBUNE has already printed an obituary of the late Adam Holsopple, Esq., of Paint Township, Somerset County, but we gladly give place to the following communication:

The venerable Adam Holsopple expired at fifteen minutes of 8 o'clock on Wednesday morning, January 30, 1889, aged seventy-nine years one month and nineteen days, at the residence of his son Edmund. He was the only survivor of the Holsopple family. He was afflicted with a paralytic stroke in June, 1886, which rendered him helpless, so that he could not move without being assisted. He did not suffer physically and retained all his faculties to the end, and with perfect resignation, awaited the final summons. Mr. Holsopple was born in Greenbrier County, W.Va., December 11, 1809. His father died in the War of 1812. He came with his widowed mother, three brothers, and four sisters, when he was six years of age, to what is known as the "Holsopple farm," near what is now Bethel Station. During his boyhood there were no schools in the vicinity, and his schooling consisted of forty-two days; being obligated to walk six miles morning and evening, beside attending to his daily chores. After his schooling he taught quite a number of terms of school. When quite young he connected himself with the German Reformed Church, and has ever since been a consistent member. He was married in 1835 to Miss Salome Lape. He was the father of thirteen children, in the order named: Helena, deceased, wife of Henry Ream; Lucinda, wife of Michael St. Clair, of Braddock; Edmund, at whose home he died; Isaiah, of Hillsboro, Somerset County; Flora, widow of Hiram Geiser, of Paint Township; Philemon E., of Upper Yoder, Cambria County; Adam L., of Goshen, Ind.; Adeline, wife of Jacob Custer, of Hillsboro; Simon P., of Paint Township; Eve, wife of Jeremiah Spigler, of Kring's Station; Salome, wife of Jackson St. Clair, of Morrellville; and Charles F., of Johnstown. He also had sixty-nine grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren.

Mr. Holsopple was a man of exemplary habits and strictly honest. He was elected Justice of the Peace in 1840. He served in that official capacity for forty-five consecutive years. His ability, good sound judgment, and mode of conducting the office brought people from a distance to seek his advice. When a case was given in his hands he would counsel them to settle their difficulties. If so, he would throw off his cost, give them their dinners and "horse feed", and send them away happier and wiser. In this way he saved people thousands of dollars, and sent but nine cases to court in forty-five years.

He was widely known and very popular throughout the county and did nearly all of the public writing for a number of years in his community.

As a politician he always took a very prominent part. During the days he was a member of that party, and after the formation of the Republican party he was a firm advocate. He was a leader of his party in his district, and the saying was "As Squire Holsopple votes so goes Paint Township." For this reason he was sought for by all the candidates of his party, and at his promise they could rely on Paint as being safe for them. He also served on the Board of County Auditors and quite a number of years on the School Board.

He was a farmer by occupation, and resided within four miles of where he was raised. He was physically very stout, and could turn his hand to almost anything. He always did his own wagon-making and blacksmithing.

Through his extreme liberality and way of contributing he did not succeed in amassing a fortune. He, being very neighborly, having lived so long in the same place, made a host of friends and loving relatives. These were what Squire Holsopple counted as his "wealth."