J. Simpson Africa

J. Simpson Africa made an exceptional contribution to preserving Huntingdon County history while living here and compiling his History of Huntingdon & Blair Counties in 1888. Lot#16, where this building stands, belonged to the Africa family from 1796 to 1918, and Africa was born and died here, which remained his principal residence throughout his life. As a young man, he learned surveying from his father and uncle and first worked under Samuel Mifflin laying out the right-of-way for the Huntingdon & Broad Top Mountain Railroad. His accuracy and deep knowledge of Pennsylvania land titles made him one of the leading surveyors in the region and state. Later, he showed similar ability as a writer, editor, businessman, and politician, serving as Secretary of the Department of Internal Affairs at Harrisburg, president of the Union Trust Company of Philadelphia, and Grand Master of the Grand Masonic Lodge of Pennsylvania.

Huntingdon, Pennsylvania · United States