Husband J. Simpson Africa 1 2 3
Born: 15 Sep 1832 - Huntingdon, Huntingdon Co, PA 2
Christened:
Died: Bet 1897 and 1913
Buried:
Father: Daniel Africa (1794- ) 2 4
Mother: Elizabeth Isabella Simpson (1794-1865) 4
Marriage: 1 Jan 1856 5
Wife Dorothea C. Greenland 5
AKA: Dorothea L. Greenland 3
Born:
Christened:
Died: Bef 1913
Buried:
Father: Joshua Greenland (1808-1887) 3 6
Mother: Betsey Wright (1812-1880) 3 7
Children
1 M B. Franklin Africa 5
Born:
Christened:
Died:
Buried:
2 M James Murray Africa 5
Born:
Christened:
Died:
Buried:
3 M Walter G. Africa 5
Born:
Christened:
Died:
Buried:
General Notes: Husband - J. Simpson Africa
He was educated in the Huntingdon, Pennsylvania, public schools and academy, and was instructed in surveying and civil engineering by his father and his uncle, James Simpson, especially the latter. His first work in his chosen profession was done under Samuel W. Mifflin, chief engineer on the Huntingdon and Broad Top railroad, in 1853. His close and conscientious attention to all matters pertaining to his profession, his studious habits and retentive memory, coupled with his long experience, gained throughout the length and breadth of Pennsylvania, made him not only one of the foremost surveyors of the State, but an almost unerring authority on its land titles. He showed himself a public-spirited and serviceable citizen of the borough of Huntingdon, taking a pride and pleasure in promoting its business enterprises and improvements. He served as councilman and chief burgess, and as cashier of the First National Bank. In 1882, he became one of the incorporators of the Union Trust Company of Philadelphia, and was president of the company beginning in October, 1887.
In 1853 Mr. Africa was elected county surveyor, having then barely attained his majority. In 1858-59 he was a clerk in the State Senate, and in the latter year was elected to represent Huntingdon County in the Legislature. He served on important committees, and soon made his influence felt, as one of the ablest members of that body. His political successes were the more remarkable because they were attained in districts ordinarily giving large Republican majorities. He rendered his most distinguished service to Pennsylvania as Secretary of the De-partment of Internal Affairs. Selected by Gen. McCandless as deputy secretary at the time of the organization of the department, it has been justly said that its present efficiency is due to the thorough and practical manner in which he accomplished that work. Although defeated for the office of secretary in 1878, the vote given him made the very defeat a triumph. In 1882 he received the unanimous nomination of the Democratic party, and was elected.
Mr. Africa was a member of the Masonic fraternity for more than thirty years. He served as Secretary and Worshipful Master of Mount Moriah Lodge, No. 300, and as Secretary and M. E. High Priest of Standing Stone Chapter, No. 201. He was R. W. Grand Master of Masons of Pennsylvania during the years 1891 and 1892 and was later chairman of the Committee on Temple and member of the Committee on Correspondence of the Grand Chapter. He was active in the work of the fraternity, rendering important services. He was a fluent writer, and was a master of pure and correct style. For two years-1853-54-he published and edited the Standing Stone, issued at Huntingdon. He has wrote and edited much local historical matter, his most extended and important work of this nature being his "History of Huntingdon and Blair Counties."
He belonged to the Presbyterian church at Huntingdon; he served the congregation as trustee, and as treasurer.