Twentieth century history of Altoona and Blair County, Pennsylvania, and representative citizens, Part 92

Author: Sell, Jesse C 1872-
Publication date: 1911
Publisher: Chicago, Richmond-Arnold Publishing
Number of Pages: 1036

USA > Pennsylvania > Blair County > Altoona > Twentieth century history of Altoona and Blair County, Pennsylvania, and representative citizens > Part 92

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IRVIN MENTZER, manager of what is known as the Frankstown mill, which is owned by the heirs of the late Jeremiah Mentzer, and which includes twenty-six acres of land, was born in Bedford County, Pa., a son of Jeremiah and Mary (Work- ing) Mentzer.

Irvin Mentzer attended the public schools and afterward entered his father's mill and has made milling his main business, and very seldom been absent from this mill. For the past thirty-five years he has been the leading miller of Frankstown and is known to the majority of the farming people through this section. He has several special brands of flour which find a ready sale in the home markets. The Mentzers have been millers here for many years, his father following the business for a long time.

On February 8, 1877, Mr. Mentzer was

married to Miss Rebecca Slippey, a daugh- ter of Jonathan and Rebecca Slippey, who were old residents of Frankstown. Mrs. Mentzer had four sisters, namely: Mary, deceased, who was the wife of Morrison Lindsey ; Sarah A., who is the wife of James F. Mentzer; Blanche, who is the wife of Joseph W. Delozier; and Clara, who is the wife of William S. Reese.

Mr. and Mrs. Mentzer have the follow- ing children: Blanche Pearl, who is the wife of Andrew Hileman; Cora Rebecca, who is the widow of John Long; Mary Edna, who is the wife of I. G. Robison; and Mabel Laura, who resides at home. The family belongs to the Lutheran church, as did the older generations. Mr. Mentzer is a Republican, but has never consented to hold office. He is identified with the Odd Fellows, belonging to Lodge No. 119, at Hollidaysburg, and is a member also of the organization known as the Artisan Order of Mutual Protection.

MAX RIEBENACK, late comptroller of the Pennsylvania Railroad Company. Some- times it happens in political life, that a hith- erto unknown and apparently untrained man is suddenly brought to the front through a certain train of circumstances, and, in the exigencies of the times, is en- trusted with large interests. It is never thus in railroad affairs. Through knowl- edge of every detail each step forward is made and this knowledge must be acquired in a practical way. Thus, when a man rises from the comparatively humble position of office clerk to the vastly important one of comptroller of a great railroad system, there is no doubt but that his native ability has been unusual and that his knowledge of railroad affairs is unassailable. This is

notably the case with Max Riebenack, who was comptroller of the Pennsylvania Rail- road Company from February 1, 1905, to May 14, 1910. His life record contains much that is interesting and encouraging.

Max Riebenack was born October 12,

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1844, and was a son of Roman and Josephine (Fleschutz) Riebenack. He was nineteen years of age when he entered the service of the Pennsylvania Railroad Company as clerk to the military agent stationed at Al- toona, Pa. In June, 1864, he was trans- ferred to Philadelphia, and he remained in the agent's office until 1866, when he was made corresponding clerk and cashier to the general passenger and ticket agent, and in 1869 was promoted to the position of chief clerk of foreign tickets. In April, 1872, he was appointed assistant auditor of pas- senger receipts, and on April 1, 1880, was promoted to the position of auditor of pas- senger receipts. His promotion continued, and on October 12, 1881, he was given fur- ther responsibility by being appointed as- sistant comptroller. On November 1, 1889, he resigned the former position in order to devote himself entirely to the duties of as- sistant comptroller, and on February 1, 1905 he was advanced to the position of comptrol- ler. The various companies with which he was thus identified are: the Pennsylvania Railroad Company, Philadelphia, Baltimore & Washington Railroad Company, West Jersey & Seashore Railroad Company, Nor- thern Central Railway Company, Long Island Railroad Company, Baltimore, Ches- apeake & Atlantic Railway Company and the auxiliary companies.

Mr. Riebenack was closely identified with the Pennsylvania Railroad voluntary relief department, also the Pennsylvania's em- ployes' saving fund and the Pennsylvania Railroad pension department, having, through his interest and activity brought success to all of these enterprises. A large measure of their practical benefit to those interested is directly due to him. He was a member of the advisory committee of the relief department by appointment of the board of directors of the Pennsylvania Rail- road Company, and was chairman of the supervisory committee of the same depart- ment. On January 1, 1900, when the pen- sion department was organized, he was ap-

pointed by the board of directors of the va- rious affiliated companies as one of the members of the board of officers of that de- partment, and was selected as secretary as a tribute to his thorough knowledge of these matters which he had investigated, having studied pension systems of his own and foreign lands.

Mr. Riebenack has been connected with the most important railroad organizations of the whole country, and his ability, thor- ough and practical knowledge and his ex- ecutive ability were fully recognized. He was president of the Association of Ameri- can Railway Accountants during 1889-1891, and to him the association is indebted in no small degree for its present high standing. One of the objects of this association is to secure uniformity in railroad accounts, and in this connection he was appointed in 1894, chairman of a special committee of three to confer with the statistician of the Interstate Commerce Commission on questions in re- gard to operating expenses, and in 1895 he was reappointed on account of his great and available fund of knowledge on this subject. Mr. Riebenack was an authority on railway accounting matters, and frequently con- tributed to railroad publications on this sub- ject. When the International Railway Congress was held at Washington, D. C., in 1905, he was a representative of the Penn- sylvania Railroad Company, and his ad- dress before this technical body on "Rail- way Provident Institutions in English- Speaking Countries," was a thorough and complete exposition of the various plans which these railroads are carrying on and seeking to perfect for the betterment of rail- road employes.

Mr. Riebenack was a prominent Mason, being a representative from his lodge to the Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania and chair- man of the Committee on Finance of that body, and was also a director and treasurer of the Union League, Philadelphia, for many years, serving that organization with his usual zeal and interest, and only relin-

HON. JOSIAH D. HICKS

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quished the office on May 10, 1910, a few days before his death having decided to re- sign from a number of his activities, in or- der to relieve himself of the numerous re- sponsibilities which demanded his attention.

Mr. Riebenack was married December 9, 1869, to Miss Eleanor Gertrude Simpson, a daughter of Thomas M. Simpson, of Phila- delphia, and died, after a comparatively short illness, at his summer residence at At- lantic City, N. J. His illness began in De- cember, 1909, with pneumonia, which caused an attack of heart trouble in Febru- ary, 1910, from which he partially recovered, and until April 23, 1910, visited his office at Broad Street Station every day. He subse- quently decided to go to Atlantic City for the benefit of the sea air and finally passed away in the presence of his family on May 14, 1910.

There are three surviving children : Eleanor, Josephine, William Beard and Ed- win Earl.

JAMES W. SMITH, a member of the borough council of Roaring Spring, Pa., and a leading citizen of the place, being inter- ested in a number of its foremost industries, is superintendent of the Roaring Spring Blank Book Company plant. He was born in Huston Township, Blair County, Pa., De- cember 30, 1870, and is a son of George D. Smith, who was a substantial farmer of Hus- ton Township for many years, and a promi- nent citizen in his community, serving on the school board and active in township af- fairs. When he died a few years ago his fellow citizens mourned the loss of a worthy man.

James W. Smith remained on the home farm until he was sixteen years of age and attended the public schools of Huston Township. He came then to Roaring Spring and entered the employ of the Roar- ing Spring Blank Book Company, and has been identified with this concern ever since. He is interested in the same as a stock- holder and has a practical, working knowl-

edge of every department, having won pro- motion from the bottom until he has become superintendent of the whole plant. Mr. Smith is one of the borough's most in- terested and public spirited citizens. For three years he served as auditor and in the spring of 1910 was elected a member of the borough council, in which body his advice and business judgment prove very valuable. In politics he is a Republican, but has independent proclivities.

Mr. Smith married Miss Eliza Garver, a daughter of Samuel Garver, of Roaring Spring, and they have had four children, two of whom, James R. and Mary E., are living, while twin sons are deceased. They were the eldest born and were named Ar- thur and Samuel. Mr. and Mrs. Smith are members of the Methodist Episcopal church at Roaring Spring, and he is serving as a trustee of the same.

HON. JOSIAH D. HICKS, of Altoona, Pa., is one of the representative men of Blair County, one who has achieved success and gained distinction along many lines. He was born of Welsh parentage, August 1, 1844, and is a son of John and Barbara (Eynon) Hicks.

John Hicks and wife were both born in Wales and from that country they came to America in 1842 or thereabouts and located in Chester County some time afterward, where John Hicks had secured work at Phoenix- ville at his trade, that of forgeman, and work- man in charcoal iron. He removed his fam- ily to Blair County in 1846. As opportunities for lucrative employment led him, he lived alternately in Blair and Huntingdon Counties until 1861, when he removed to Cleveland, O. Failing health induced him to visit a son, Rev. W. W. Hicks, at Milledgeville, Ga., and there his death occurred in 1874. Eight chil- dren were born to him, six of whom survived him, but his wife passed away in 1869. They were members of the Methodist Episcopal church.

Josiah D. Hicks in large measure is a self

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made man. His home surroundings were morally all that could be desired, but the fam- ily was large and in those days wages were low and thus chances for anything more than common school advantages were impossible. The youth had ambition and mental qualifica- tions however that made him anxious to add to his store of knowledge and after coming to Altoona he completed a higher course at the night schools while employed during the day. Attending the school of Professor John Miller a novel German scholar and teacher then in Altoona. At first a clerk in a mercantile estab- lishment he later secured a position in the freight and ticket department of the Pennsyl- vania Railroad at Altoona, and in 1864 became a clerk in the office of Robert Pitcairn, who was then superintendent of transportation, and through his good offices, Mr. Hicks later was made chief clerk of the Tyrone Division, with office at Tyrone, where he remained for three years. For a short time afterward he was in partnership with his brother, W. W. Hicks, in a mercantile business at Altoona, and then dis- posed of his interest and removed to his farm near Williamsburg, in Blair County. During his four years of quiet life in the country, he began the study of law which he completed after returning to Tyrone, and was admitted to the bar on May 4, 1875, and engaged suc- cessfully in the practice of his profession at Tyrone until March, 1884, when he again became a resident of Altoona. Here he formed a law partnership with Daniel J. Neff, becom- ing the junior member of the law firm of Neff & Hicks, which has proved a strong combina- tion, and has for many years been counsel for the Pennsylvania Railroad Company.

From early manhood Mr. Hicks has been a wide awake and earnest citizen, a thoughtful student of public affairs and a man whose judgment no less than his public spirit has brought him the confidence of his fellow citizens, a confidence that he has retained through the many years during which he has been more or less in public view. In the fall of 1880 he was elected district attorney on the Republican ticket and served a second term,

and in 1890 he was put forward as a candidate for congressional honors and in 1892, was elected a Member of Congress and served three terms. He has served prominently in city, county and state political organizations and has always been noted for his loyalty to the principles of the Republican party. He was for many years a member of the State Board of Agriculture and took an active interest in agriculture. During the Civil War he proved his loyalty and participated at Antietam and Chancellorsville and later served out two subse- quent enlistments, being also officially commis- sioned by Governor Curtin, as first lieutenant in the United States service, following the de- struction of the city of Chambersburg by the Confederates. Ever since the organization of the Grand Army of the Republic in Pennsyl- vania, Mr. Hicks has been active in its affairs and has served as commander of the posts both at Tyrone and Altoona and has served on dif- ferent occasions as a state and national delegate to the Encampments. In local as well as pub- lic affairs his name is linked with the leading men of his day and Altoona takes a just pride in such a citizen. In addition to his profes- sional he has other interests and takes much delight in his agricultural experiments, carried on his fine farm near Williamsburg. For thirty years he has been connected with the Blair County Agricultural Association and for many years has been its vice president.

Mr. Hicks was married in December, 1868, to Miss Anna M. Sparr, who died at Tyrone in 1875. She was a daughter of Isaac Sparr, one of the very early settlers of Blair County. Three children were born to this marriage: Hattie W., William B. and Herbert S. The second son died in infancy. William B. Hicks is in the insurance business at No. 1202 Eleventh Street, Altoona, is also steamship agent and a well known newspaper correspond- ent. The daughter, Hattie (Mrs. Cadle) re- sides on the old farm near Williamsburg. Mr. Hicks was married a second time, in 1876, wedding Miss Josephine Barrick, a daughter of Dr. Samuel Barrick, of Maryland, and two children were born to this union: Cora Eynon,

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who resides with her parents in the family home at No. 1422 Sixth Avenue; and Charles B., who resides at No. 2105 Seventh Avenue, Altoona.

During Mr. Hicks' six years in Congress he served as chairman of a special committee appointed by Speaker Crisp to investigate the conduct of the architect of the capitol and the business management of that officer, and pre- pared and submitted the majority report of the committee exonerating the architect from any wrong doing. Under Speaker Reed he was appointed chairman of the important com- mitte of patents, trademarks and copyrights, and as such secured the enactment of several important measures, one of which was the re- organization and increase of the force of the patent office, so as to secure speedy action on claims. Was vice chairman of the committee on public buildings and grounds, and while on that committee secured for Altoona its hand- some postoffice building. As a Union veteran while in Congress he took an active part in behalf of his army comrades, their widows and orphans, and secured several special bills in their behalf and for their relief.

JAMES W. LOWTHER, who is cashier of the Bellwood Bank, obtained his banking experience with the Second National Bank of Altoona, Pa., and with the exception of three years spent in the west for his health, has been identified with the Bellwood bank since its organization September 1, 1892. He was born June 24, 1872, in Altoona, Pa., on what is known as the McCoy Corners, and is a son of James and Susan M. (Wible) Lowther.

James Lowther, great-grandfather of our subject, and a native of Ireland, came to this country when a boy and located in Con- cord, Pa., previous to the Revolutionary War. He served in the war and was cap- tured and imprisoned at what is now Ger- mantown, and died in Concord in 1825.

John Lowther, grandfather of the sub- ject of this sketch, was born October 29, 1784, in Concord, Franklin County, Pa.,

and was by trade a blacksmith. He fol- lowed his trade in Concord until 1828, when he moved to Franklin Township, Mifflin County, Pa., and there farmed until 1854. He again resumed work at his trade, then moved to Altoona, where he lived until his death February 12, 1858. He first married Margaret Patten, and his second wife was Sarah Hamilton, who was the mother of James Lowther, father of our subject.

James Lowther was born July 4, 1824, in Concord, Franklin County, Pa., and during his early manhood came to Altoona, where he gained his start in the business world with two carts. He was a contractor, and in 1848 engaged in teaming for the Pennsyl- vania Railroad Company, and in 1854 in company with William McDowell, em- barked in the mercantile business at Al- toona. In 1862, although a resident of Al- toona, he engaged in the lumbering business in Cambria County. In 1869 he sold his mercantile business and thenceforth de- voted his energies to lumbering, transfer- ing his lumber operations to Clearfield County, where he formed a partnership with Thomas McCauley, of Altoona. Six years later the partnership was dissolved and the firm of Lowther & Co. formed, the "company" being a son, J. Lloyd Lowther. January 1, 1882, Flynn Brothers of Clear- field County were admitted to the firm, and the firm of Lowther & Lynn became owners of extensive tracts of timberland in Blair, Cambria and Clearfield Counties. They operated a mill in Clearfield County and an- other four miles from Bellwood in Blair County.

In 1877 Mr. Lowther purchased the old Bell mansion, farm, and flouring mills and in the following spring moved to Bellwood, where he resided and operated the grist mill until his death. He was a stockholder and one of the organizers of the Bellwood Bank. His religious connection was with the Meth- odist Episcopal church, and he was a mem- ber of the board of directors of the Juniata Camp Meeting Association. In politics he

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was identified with the Democratic party. January 6, 1853, Mr. Lowther married Susan M. Wible, a daughter of William and Eliza (Haines) Wible. She came of one of the old families of Westmoreland County, the family having originally come from Schuylkill County, Pa. The following chil- dren were born to James and Susan Low- ther: Lizzie K., who died at the age of eighteen years; J. Lloyd, a resident of Pitts- burg ;- William F., who died in infancy; James W .; and Harry C., who lives in Bell- wood.

James W. Lowther, subject of this record, was reared in Bellwood and obtained his education in the local schools of the bor- ough. His banking experience was gained with the Second National Bank of Altoona, he having been employed there three years. Since that time, with the exception of three years spent in the west, he has been cashier of the Bellwood Bank, which was estab- lished September 1, 1892. The organizers of the bank were as follows: James Low- ther, father of James W .; J. H. Mathers, of Mifflin; D. L. Wray, now deceased; Ira Wentzel, and H. C. Kinsloe, of Newton Hamilton; Samuel Henderson, now de- ceased; and H. G. Laird. The officers of the bank were as follows: J. H. Mathers, president, also the president incumbent; D. L. Wray, deceased, vice president, was suc- ceeded by Ira Wentzel; and James W. Lowther, cashier. The Bellwood Bank has a capital stock of $25,000, is a private bank and derives its strength from the individual liability, being backed by men of affluence, integrity and sound business judgment. Mr. Lowther is also a director of the bank and is treasurer and a director of the Bell- wood Lumber and Construction Company.

On February 18, 1902, Mr. Lowther mar- ried Eleanor Reiley, who was born in Hope- well, a daughter of Rev. W. McK. Reiley, who is a Methodist Episcopal minister of the Central Pennsylvania Conference. Two daughters have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Lowther, Mary Eleanor and Catherine

Reiley. Mr. Lowther is inclined to be inde- pendent in politics and was elected to the school board on the Democratic ticket by an overwhelming majority in a Republican ward. He is fraternally a Mason and an I. O. O. F. His religious connection is with the M. E. church of Bellwood, of which he has been a member since he was eleven years of age. He has been president of the board of trustees for a number of years.

E. O. M. HABERACKER, M. D., one of Altoona's experienced medical men, who has been engaged in the practice of his pro- fession in this city for almost a quarter of a century, was born in Lehigh County, Pa., in 1846, a member of one of the old and sub- stantial families of that section.

Dr. Haberacker was educated in the Al- lentown Seminary, Muhlenberg College and the State Normal School, and in 1869 was graduated from the medical department of the University of Pennsylvania. He began practice at Tyrone, in Blair County, and re- mained there until 1886, when he came to Altoona. He is identified with the leading medical organizations in the county, state and nation, and has always been a man of scientific investigation. He enjoys a very large general practice, avoiding specializ- ing, and for five years has served as sur- geon for the Pennsylvania National Guards.

On August 20, 1870, Dr. Haberacker was married to Miss Jennie S. Keith of Sinking Valley, and one daughter was born to them, Irma L. She grew to attractive woman- hood and married Harry Rippman, of Mil- lerstown, Pa. Her death occurred when she was but twenty-two years of age. A son survived her, Charles Eugene Rippman, who is a student at Yeates School, at Lan- caster, Pa.

Dr. Haberacker and wife are members of the Simpson Methodist Episcopal church. He is identified with Tyrone Lodge No. 494. F. & A. M. All his life he has been a con- scientious citizen, but has never had the time or taste for politics.

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ABRAHAM L. McINTIRE, a prominent citizen of Blair Township, Blair County, Pa., a director of the Blair County Grange Associa- tion and treasurer of the school board of Blair Township, of which public body he has been a member for thirteen years, resides on his will improved farm of 140 acres, which he de- votes to general agriculture. He was born in Blair Township, Blair County, September 22, 1864, and is a son of James and Mary (Speal- man) McIntire.

James McIntire was born in Virginia, where his mother died in his infancy and he was brought by his father to Blair County, Pa., and they lived for a time in Frankstown Town- ship. Later he was adopted by a family in Huntingdon County and f for some years worked in woolen mills. For several years after his marriage he engaged in boating on the Pennsylvania Canal but subsequently set- tled down to farming, one mile south of Holli- daysburg, in Blair Township, where he lived until his death, which occurred July 20, 1899. He was a self made man, earning all the op- portunities that life ever gave him. He was one of Blair Township's reliable and respected men and filled township offices. He lived to be eighty-six years old. He married Mary Speal- man, who still survives, being in her eighty- ninth year and she is remarkably well pre- served and still enjoys attending church services, in the Lutheran church at Hollidays- burg, and meeting her friends in a social way. Five children of James and Mary McIntire are

John, also of Gaysport; Lovinia, widow of John Phander, of Philadelphia; Priscilla, widow of Elias Lyons, late of Frankstown Township, residing in Blair Township; and Abraham L.

Abraham L. McIntire was reared and at- tended school in Blair Township. Farming has been his main business but he has also been called on to devote time and attention to public duties. "He was one of the promoters of the Blair County Grange Fair Association and has taken a very active part in advancing its in- terests and from the beginning has been a director. During his long period of member-

ship on the school board he served two years as its president before becoming its treasurer. He is also president of the Blair Telephone Company and was one of the main- agitators which resulted in the establishment of this great public convenience in this section. Mr. McIntire is notably progressive and enterpris- ing and is interested in everything that gives promise of being permanently beneficial to his section. He served two years as road super- visor.

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Twentieth century history of Altoona and Blair County, Pennsylvania, and representative citizens, Part 92

Author: Sell, Jesse C 1872- Publication date: 1911 Publisher: Chicago, Richmond-Arnold Publishing Number of Pages: 1036

Author: Sell, Jesse C 1872-
Publication date: 1911
Publisher: Chicago, Richmond-Arnold Publishing
Number of Pages: 1036