J. Lloyd Kalp

J. LLOYD KALP. One of Mount Pleasant's enterprising business men of the younger generation is J. Lloyd Kalp. He is a grandson of William K. and Margaret (Wadsworth) Kalp, the former a farmer of Donegal township.

William Andrew Kalp, son of William K. and Margaret (Wadsworth) Kalp, was born May 15, 1857 in Donegal township, was bred to farm life and educated in the public and normal schools. At the age of seventeen he began to teach, and for fourteen terms was an instructor in the country districts of Westmoreland county. He taught for two terms in Mount Pleasant, and at the age of twenty engaged in farming in connection with his work as a teacher. In 1890 he gave up his farm and settled in Mount Pleasant, where he spent the remainder of his life. He again became a teacher and also engaged for a time in the insurance business. Later he formed a partnership and entered the hardware business, the firm being known as Kalp, Mechling & Company. Subsequently it became Kalp & Mechling, remaining so until 1901 when Mr. Kalp withdrew his interest in the business and turned his attention to real estate and fire insurance. He carried on an extensive business in both insurance and realty, and was one of the founders of the Citizens Building & Loan Association, in which from its inception until his death, he held the office of secretary. In connection with C. E. Mullen he purchased and laid out in building lots the James Neel farm in the borough of Mount Pleasant. He was one of the promoters of the Mount Pleasant Creamery Company and also of the Mount Pleasant Tool Company in both of which he was a stockholder and of the latter was secretary of board of directors. He was secretary of the Berlin Electric Light Company, of Berlin, Pennsylvania, and also of the Berlin Water Company, being part owner of both corporations. As secretary and treasurer, he was connected with the Cedar Ridge Mines & Tunnel Company, of Idaho Springs, Colorado. Mr. Kalp was a benevolent and public-spirited citizen as well as a successful business man, and was one of the promoters of the Mount Pleasant Hospital and the free dispensary acting as secretary of both. In Donegal township he held the office of justice of the peace, and in Mount Pleasant borough served as chief burgess and as a member of the school board. He was also a delegate to the Erie convention. He was first member of Marion Lodge, No. 562, F. and A. M., and also belonged to Urania Chapter, No. 192, R. A. M., Kedron Commandery. No. 18, K. T., Valley Consistory of Pittsburg, A. A. S. R., Gaurgas Lodge of Perfection, Moss Rose Lodge, No. 350, I. 0. 0. F., the Royal Arcanum, and the Loyal Association. He was one of the founders and one of the trustees of Lodge No. 868 B. P. 0. E.

Mr. Kalp married, June 16, 1877, Ellen Ulery, daughter of Frederick and Rachael (Ellis) Ulerich, as the name was originally spelled. Frederick Ulerich was born December 16, 1817, in Prussia, and came to the United States when a lad of fourteen. He settled near Stahlstown, Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania, where he passed a part of his life as a farmer. His wife was of Scotch Irish extraction. Mr. and Mrs. Kalp were the parents of the following children: I. J. Lloyd, mentioned hereafter. 2. William Lawrence, a graduate of Bucknell and a teacher in Mount Pleasant Institute. 3. Margaret Ellen, a student at Bucknell. 4. Maude Cecelia, wife of J. D. Springer, a real estate and insurance dealer of Uniontown, Pennsylvania. 5. Kathryn M., a stenographer. 6. Bertha P., a student at Mount Pleasant Institute. 7. Viola R. 8. Clyde F. 9. Earl A. The three last-named are attending the public schools. The death of Mr. Kalp occurred December 23, 1903, and was lamented by all who knew him as that of an upright and worthy citizen and a truly good man.

J. Lloyd Kalp, son of William Andrew and Ellen (Ulery) Kalp, was born July 18, 1878, in Donegal township, and was educated in the public schools, Mount Pleasant Institute, graduating therefrom in class of 1899, and at Bucknell University, graduating in the class of 1903. In that year and the preceding one he was assistant to the registrar of the University, and after graduation became principal of the public schools of Saltsburg. Indiana county. He came to Mount Pleasant upon the death of his father, whom he succeeded in the real estate business and also in the insurance interest. He is secretary of the Citizens Building and Loan Association, secretary and treasurer of the Cedar Ridge Mines and Tunnel Company, director of Berlin Water Company, of Berlin, Somerset county, and secretary of board of directors of Mount Pleasant Tool Company. He is identified with Marion Lodge. No. 562 F. and A. M., the Royal Arcanum, Moss Rose Lodge. No. 350, I. 0. 0. F., Encampment No., 310 and Lodge No. 868, B. P. O. E. He married, September 14, 1905, Martha Wolfe, daughter of Charles Spiker Wolfe, deceased, of Lewisburg, Union county, Pennsylvania.

Source: Page(s) 140-142, History of Westmoreland County, Volume II, Pennsylvania by John N Boucher. New York, The Lewis Publishing Company, 1906.
Transcribed March 2006 by Nathan Zipfel for the Westmoreland County History Project
Contributed for use by the Westmoreland County Genealogy Project (http://www.pa-roots.com/westmoreland/)

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