BIOGRAPHY: Chalmers L. DICK, Cambria County, PA 

Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Lynne Canterbury and Diann 
Olsen. 

Portions of this book were transcribed by Clark Creery, Martha Humenik, Betty 
Mirovich and Sharon Ringler.

USGENWEB ARCHIVES (tm) NOTICE All documents placed in the USGenWeb Archives 
remain the property of the contributors, who retain publication rights in 
accordance with US Copyright Laws and Regulations. In keeping with our policy of 
providing free information on the Internet, these documents may be used by 
anyone for their personal research. They may be used by non-commercial entities 
so long as all notices and submitter information are included. These electronic 
pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit. Any other use, including 
copying files to other sites, requires permission from the contributors PRIOR to 
uploading to the other sites. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb 
Archives to store the file permanently for free access. 
http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/cambria/ 
____________________________________________________________

From Wiley, Samuel T., ed. Biographical and Portrait Cyclopedia of Cambria 
County, Pennsylvania. Philadelphia: Union Publishing Co., 1896, p. 58-9
____________________________________________________________

CHALMERS L. DICK, deceased, was a man remarkable in many ways. By profession he 
was a lawyer, and as a general practitioner he was very successful. He was born 
at Mt. Pleasant, Pennsylvania, June 20, 1856, and was the only son of Rev. 
William and Virginia (Caldwell) Dick. Rev. Dick was a noted minister in the 
United Brethren church, and at the close of the war, in which he earned the 
affectionate title of "Captain Billy," he became pastor of the United Brethren 
church at Greensburg, Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania. In 1868, with his 
family he removed to Johnstown, where he built the well-known stone church of 
that denomination and became its pastor. Rev. Dick died in 1871. His children 
are: Mrs. A. P. Shupe, Mt. Pleasant, Pennsylvania; Mrs. Samuel Coombs, 
Pittsburg, Pennsylvania; Mrs. Amos Graham, of Kearney, Nebraska, and Chalmers L.
     Chalmers L. Dick received his early education in the common schools, and 
after graduating from the High school took a course at the Otterbein University 
of Ohio; being thus well equipped, he entered the law office of Judge James 
Potts, of Johnstown, and completed his study of law in the office of Horace 
Rose. In 1878 he passed a brilliant examination and was admitted to the Cambria 
county bar. His thorough knowledge of the law excited the admiration of all and 
brought him a large clientage. Although young, he was one of the leaders of the 
Cambria county bar, and was resident solicitor for the Pennsylvania railroad for 
many years. He was for many years one of the most influential Republican 
politicians of Cambria county, and in 1888 was elected burgess of Johnstown. He 
also served as a delegate to many state and national conventions. As a political 
speaker he gained much prominence, and his personal participation in a campaign 
won much for the cause he exposed. Mr. Dick was probably the best all-around 
sportsman in western Pennsylvania, and for ten years was a member of the Western 
Pennsylvania Sportsmen's association; he was also an original member of the 
Herron Hill Gun club, was prominent in Masonic circles, and was a member of the 
Vigilant Fire company of Johnstown. In the darkest hours following the flood of 
1889 he was one of the first to take steps looking to relief, and to his 
unselfish work and indomitable will is due the beginning of what eventually 
brought order out of chaos.
     In 1888 he married Miss Mary Wagoner, daughter of the late Dr. George 
Wagoner, and to this marriage were born three children: Virginia, Florence, and 
Helen.
     Nature was to a marked degree kind to Mr. Dick, endowing him with her 
choicest gifts of mind and body. The possessor of many fine qualities of heart 
and mind, he was to all who knew him, the rich and poor alike, a kind friend, a 
wise counsellor, and a helper in time of need. In his profession he was 
eloquent, forcible, and strong with juries, and much of his success was due to 
his intimate acquaintance with the people of all classes.