My Genealogy Hound

LOUIS A. NAGLE, a prominent and progressive business man of Ogontz, dealing in lime, coal, building materials, etc., is a native of Philadelphia, where he was born April 19, 1861. He is the son of Myra (McDowell) and Henry W. Nagle, his mother a member of an old Germantown family.

Henry W. Nagle was born in Berks county, Pennsylvania, being a, son of Peter Philbert and Lydia (Bertolette) Nagle, his wife being of French Huguenot descent. The Nagle family are of German origin. Peter Nagle, the progenitor of the family in this country, came from Germany considerably more than a century ago, and settled in Berks county. Henry W. Nagle married in Philadelphia, in 1859, and his children were Louis A. and Walter. Henry W. Nagle is a graduate of the Philadelphia High School. From early life he has been connected with the coal business, and is still engaged in it, being connected with the firm of Percy Heiler 8Son.

Louis A. Nagle acquired his education in the public schools of Philadelphia. After leaving school he served an apprenticeship of six years in the Baldwin Locomotive Works in Philadelphia, where he learned the trade of a machinist, In 1881 he went to Denver, Colorado, where he was connected with the Denver & Rio Grande Railroad. In 1882 he removed to Salt Lake City, Utah, where he had charge of the round houses of the Denver & Rio Grande Western Railroad for one year. During 1883 he was in the employ of the Utah Northern Railroad, and in 1884 he returned to Philadelphia. After a short stay he went to Laramie, Wyoming, where he was connected with the Union Pacific Railroad until the latter part of the year 1886. From 1887 until 1893 he was connected with the Vulcanite Paving Company of Philadelphia, and in February of the last named year engaged in his present business in Ogontz with Wilmer W. Dewees. The partnership continued until 1898, when Mr. Nagle purchased his partner’s interest in the business and the property where it is carried on, and since that date Mr. Nagle has conducted the business solely in his own behalf. Since he took sole charge of the establishment he has greatly extended the business and made many valuable improvements to the property, which is now one of the most extensive of the kind in the county. Mr. Nagle is an active Republican in politics. He served four years as supervisor of Cheltenham township with great satisfaction to the taxpayers, and in 1902 as school tax collector. His name has frequently been mentioned in connection with the Republican nomination for sheriff of Montgomery county, and he stands high in the estimation of his party friends as well as in the esteem of his fellow-citizens of all parties.

Fraternally Mr. Nagle is a member of the following orders: Abington Chapter, No. 245, Royal Arch Masons; Philadelphia Consistory; Corinthian Chasseurs, No. 53, Knights Templar; Ancient Arabic Order Nobles of the Mystic Shrine; Minnehaha Tribe, No. 111, Improved Order of Red Men; Peace and Love Lodge, Independent Order of Odd Fellows; Norristown Lodge, No. 714, Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks; Jenkintown Council, No. 39, Royal Arcanum; Quaker City Lodge, No. 116, Ancient Order of United Workmen; Ogontz Council, No, 59, Improved Order of Heptasophs; the Columbia and Athletic Clubs of Philadelphia, and the Jenkintown Club of Jenkintown.

Mr. Nagle married, at Atlantic City, April 17, 1888, Miss Ella M. Whiteside, daughter of William M. and Mary Harding (Moore) Whiteside, of Philadelphia. They have one daughter, Mary Harding, born in 1889.

Politically, Mr. Nagle is an earnest worker, giving his unwavering support to the principles and candidates of the Republican party, in the west as well as at home. He is one of the most popular citizens and business men of his section of the state, having a high reputation for integrity and honor, and being esteemed and honored in the community in which he lives and wherever he is known.