Bedford County PA Archives Biographies.....Zeth, Martin V.     
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File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Judy Banja jbanja@msn.com May 2003


MARTIN V. ZETH, the leading general merchant of Hopewell, 
Pa., has been eminently successful in business, and is 
recognized throughout this part of Bedford County as an able 
financier.  He was born in January, 1838, in Blair County, 
this State, a son of Jacob Zeth.  He is of German ancestry, 
his paternal grandfather, John Zeth, the emigrant progenitor 
of the family, having been born, bred, and educated in the 
Fatherland.  After coming to the United States, John Zeth 
located permanently in Blair County, Pennsylvania, where he 
became a land-owner and carried on general farming to some 
extent.
  Jacob Zeth, son of John, was born near Sarah Furnace in 
Blair County.  A well- educated man, he was a surveyor by 
occupation, and in addition to his work with chain and 
compass he owned and operated a grist-mill.  He served as an 
officer in the State militia for many years, being 
commissioned as Major and afterward Colonel.  He was 
familiarly known far and wide as Major Zeth, and was very 
popular with all classes.
  Martin V. Zeth was reared and educated in Blair County.  
In 1857 he came to Hopewell township to assume charge of the 
Lemnos Iron Works Company's store, which was located at 
Yellow Creek.  Three years later he accepted the position of 
book-keeper for the firm of Lowery, Eichelberger & Castner, 
iron manufacturers, with office and factory in the village 
of Hopewell, and remained with them as bookkeeper and clerk 
until 1873.  In that year Mr. Zeth established himself in 
mercantile business on his own account, and he has since 
built up a large and lucrative trade in general merchandise. 
 From 1860 until 1873 he was also agent for the Huntingdon & 
Broad Top Mountain Railway company, conducting all their 
business in Hopewell; and for a brief period he was 
identified with the coal mining interests of Broad Top 
Mountain in this county.  Mr. Zeth is a strong Republican in 
politics, and, though not an aspirant for official honors, 
has served as School Director at Broad Top township, and is 
now a member of the Hopewell borough council.
  Mr. Zeth married Miss Sarah Porter, of Pittsburg, Pa., and 
they are the parents of six children, namely: Andrew J.; 
Annie, wife of John Langdon; John L.; Minnie, wife of R. E. 
Madden; Mary P., wife of R. C. Talbot; and Frank M.


Source: Bedford Biographical Review, 1899, Bedford Co., Pa