My Genealogy Hound

ALBERT H. MURTOFF, coachmaker and blacksmith by trade, and a prominent resident of Boiling Springs, Cumberland county, was born in Adams county, this State, near Bendersville, Jan. 3, 1859.

Moses and Elizabeth (Goulden) Murtoff, his parents, were natives of Adams and Cumberland counties, respectively. The father died in 1872, aged sixty-four years. He was a cooper by trade. In religious matters he was a member of the U. B. Church, and served upon the official board of the church. His wife died in about 1883, aged seventy-five years. Eight children were born to them: William, a resident of Reading, Pa.; Mary, wife of Jerry Beam, of Zion Church, this county; Eliza, who married Frank Slusher, of Cumberland county, residing near Alger; Levi J., residing at Bendersville, Adams county; Ellen, deceased, who married Jesse Bricker; John, a carpenter of Uriah, this county; George, deceased; and Albert H.

Albert H. Murtoff attended the public schools until he was sixteen years of age, when he went to Centerville to learn the trade of coachmaking, under G. W. Warfield. He finished learning his trade, and remained with his employer one year longer, after winch he came to Boiling Springs and entered the employ of the Ahls, in their iron works, remaining with them for four years, doing their smithing and running the engine. He then went to the Baldwin locomotive works, at Philadelphia, where he spent six months, in the erecting shops, and then returned to Boiling Springs building a shop for the purpose of coachmaking and general blacksmithing. This was about 1882 or 1883, and he continued to conduct this shop continuously until 1902, at which time he was appointed instructor in the coach department of the Indian School, where he has since continued. Mr. Murtoff has been very successful as a mechanic. His home, a fine frame residence on the corner of Third and Walnut streets, was remodeled by him in 1903, and is one of the most attractive in the village. He also owns another property, adjoining his home, and still another near his shop on Third street. His shops for building, repairing and painting coaches were built by him. On his fine farm, which is located one mile southeast of Boiling Springs, he has built a good brick house and frame barn, and has the entire 175 acres in excellent condition. In addition to this he owns three lots in the Cumberland Valley. Mr. Murtoff is a self-made man, and started out in life without a cent, gradually working up to his present position through his own unaided efforts. In addition to and in connection with his coachmaking business, he handles fertilizers, farm implements, etc.

In March, 1886, Mr. Murtoff was married to Miss Emma V. Shopp, a daughter of Jacob and Elizabeth (Sadler) Shopp. She was born in Cumberland county in 1864. Two children have been born of this union, Robert and Vida. Both parents of Mrs. Murtoff survive, and she has one brother and one sister, Elizabeth and Jacob.