BIO: John H. MOSER, Blair County, PA Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Denise Phillips Copyright 2006. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/blair/ _________________________________________ Donehoo, George P., Editor-in-Chief. Pennsylvania, A History, Vol. 3, Biography. New York: Lewis Historical Publishing Co., Inc., 1926, page 70. _________________________________________ JOHN H. MOSER - In the course of his many years' association with the Kline Brothers' store at Altoona, Mr. Moser, from grade to grade of his promotion in that business to that of his vice-presidency and treasurership of the firm, has been and is a personal factor in its progress, as well as an influence in establishing the high standard of the business rating of the community. Both in his own name, and in his present partnership, Mr. Moser has always proven his capabilities of leadership in the department store line; he is one of the most thorough and critical investigators of the requirements of an extensive establishment like that of Kline Brothers; and his business word is one of the substantial tokens of the prosperity of his company. He is the son of John C. Moser, who was born in Adams County, and of Sarah A. (Butt) Moser, a native of Fairfield. John C. Moser was a well- known and expert wagon manufacturer; a veteran of the Civil War, he had served with Pennsylvania troops, and he was a member of the Grand Army of the Republic. John H. Moser was born December 2, 1876, in Juniata County, and he attended the public and high schools. He first spent three years in the printing trade, after which he established a mercantile business of his own, and in which he continued for five years. In 1904 he became associated with the Kline Brothers department store at Altoona as a floor walker, and later was made the head of the linen and wash goods department. In 1917 he was appointed manager, vice-president and treasurer of the entire store, which is known as one of the largest department establishments in Central Pennsylvania. Kline Brothers was originally started in 1898 by I. and H. Kline, at the corner of Eleventh Avenue and Fourteenth Street, and in 1904 they completed their new building, the present store, and began to occupy it on October 8, the same year. The store has five floors, four of which are sales floors, with about 30,000 square feet of space; there are one hundred and thirty people in the employ of the firm, and the concern carries everything that is expected to be found in the high-class department store, with the exception of rugs and furniture. On January 13, 1905, the merchandise and fixtures were purchased by John Claflin, who then managed a chain of forty-five stores; and the Altoona store was managed by A.C. Curtis for several years, who was succeeded by R.B. Gage, and he by W.F. Gage, who died August 20, 1917. The Mercantile Stores Corporation was organized in the early part of 1915, to take over the assets, rights and claims transferred to it by the Claflin Re-organization Committee. The present officers of Kline Brothers are: President, W.A. Jonas, New York; vice- president, J.H. Moser, Altoona; secretary, C.H. Low, New York; treasurer, J.H. Moser, Altoona; Mr. Moser has been manager of store since 1917. Kline Brothers, in conjunction with twenty-three other stores in the United States, maintain their own New York buyers' office, as well as connection with buyers' offices in every important country. Mr. Moser is a member of the board of directors of the Lincoln Building and Loan Association. Mr. Moser who was prominent in the drives in behalf of the World War, had served during the Spanish-American War in Company A, 16th Pennsylvania Regiment of Infantry. His fraternal affiliations are with the Free and Accepted Masons in all bodies of the York Rite, including the Ancient Arabic Order Nobles of the Mystic Shrine, and he is a member of the Patrol at Jaffa Shrine. He is a member of the Altoona Chamber of Commerce, Altoona Boosters' Association, Shrine Club, and the Luncheon Club. He attends the Second Lutheran Church. John H. Moser married, in 1901, Anna B. Lower, who was born in Huntingdon, and they are the parents of a daughter, Sarah R.