BIOGRAPHY: Philip J. DIETRICK, Cambria County, PA 

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From Wiley, Samuel T., ed. Biographical and Portrait Cyclopedia of Cambria 
County, Pennsylvania. Philadelphia: Union Publishing Co., 1896, p. 486-7
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PHILIP J. DIETRICK, of Carrolltown, son of Matthias and Annie M., (Eberhard) 
Dietrick, was born in Chest township, Cambria county, June 12, 1859.
     Grandfather Dietrick was a native of Alsace-Lorraine, and, on coming to 
America, located in Chest township. He was a farmer in his native country and 
followed the same calling in his new home. He was a member of the Catholic 
church, and died in Chest township. He was married in Alsace-Lorraine, and all 
his children, four sons and five daughters, were born in the old country.
     Matthias, the father of the subject of this sketch, died in Chest township. 
He was one of the most successful farmers in the northern part of the county, 
owning a farm of over one hundred acres. In religion he adhered to the Catholic 
faith. He married Miss Annie M. Eberhard, by whom he had five sons and five 
daughters, namely: Martin, a farmer living in Chest township ; John, deceased ; 
Peter, died in Libby prison during the Civil War; Joseph, an architect at Omaha, 
Nebraska; Philip J., subject above named; Katie, deceased, married to Michael 
Kronour; Lizzie, wife of John Becker, of Chest township; Lena, wife of Lewis J. 
Ream, of Susquehanna, Pennsylvania; Annie, deceased; Clara, wife of Thomas Ream, 
of Altoona.
     Mr. Dietrick was reared on the farm and received his education in the 
common schools. At the age of sixteen years he was apprenticed to John Winters, 
of Carrolltown, to learn the tinning trade. He served the full term of his 
apprenticeship, and then went to Omaha, Nebraska, where he remained about ten 
months. In the winter of 1879 he returned, and in 1880 he started in the 
hardware business at this place, in which he has continued ever since. 
Religiously he is a Catholic, politically a democrat. He has been prominent in 
public affairs, serving as councilman, school director, etc. He has also 
represented his district in several conventions, and was a delegate to the State 
Democratic convention at Scranton that nominated Robert E. Pattison for governor 
for his second term. Mr. Dietrick married Miss Annie, daughter of John Stoltz, 
of Carrolltown, by whom he has six children, viz.: Blanche, William, Edwin, 
Cora, Marie, and Margarette.