BIOGRAPHY: Daniel A. SIPE, 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. 224-5 ____________________________________________________________ DANIEL A. SIPE, a substantial citizen and the proprietor of the "Eclipse Roller Mill," at Summerhill, is the only son of Peter and Maria (Pottsgrove) Sipe, and was born at Allegheny furnace, Blair county, Pennsylvania, June 28, 1839. Peter Sipe was of German descent, and removed in 1835, from his native county of Cumberland to Allegheny furnace, Blair county, where he followed his trade of tailor for several years. At the end of that time he went to Collinsville, which he soon left to remove to Frankstown, and a few years later purchased near the Horse Shoe Bend, a farm on which he died at an advanced age. He was a whig in politics, and a member of the Catholic church, and wedded Maria Pottsgrove, whose father, George Pottsgrove, was a miller, resident then in that part of Huntingdon which is now Blair county. Their family consisted of three children, one son and two daughters: Daniel A.; Sarah, who died at ten years of age, and Margaretta, wife of James Knox, of Cleveland, Ohio. Daniel A. Sipe was reared in his native county, received his education in the common schools, and at the age of ten years entered a flouring-mill, in which he learned the trade of a miller. At the close of his apprenticeship he commenced life himself as a miller, and took every means within his grasp to perfect himself in this line of work. He worked in various mills until 1870, when he had acquired sufficient means to purchase a mill for himself. The milling industry at Summerhill presented sufficient advantage for a successful business, and he purchased the old Summerhill mill, which he repaired and ran successfully until 1892, when it was destroyed by fire. This great loss did not discourage Mr. Sipe, and he immediately made all the necessary preparations for rebuilding in a matter to keep abreast of the times, and with sufficient capacity to accommodate the needs of his rapidly increasing custom. His present splendid mill fills all of these conditions and requirements. It is 30x40 feet in dimensions, three stories high with a basement, and well fitted up in every department. This mill is fully equipped with all the late and modern milling facilities, including rollers, bolting-chests, reels, purifiers, elevators and a variety of other improved and necessary machinery, and has a capacity of thirty- five barrels of flour per day. It is a modern structure, and Mr. Sipe employs the full roller graduating plan in the manufacture of his different grades and brands of flour. He also manufactures feed and deals in salt and grain of all kinds. He has attained an enviable reputation for high-grade flour and millfeed, which have a strong hold upon public favor throughout this and adjoining counties. His choicest brands are White Rose and Minnesota Patent, which are manufactured under this personal supervision and never fail to give satisfaction. On November 25, 1863, Daniel A. Sipe married Elizabeth Laferty, a daughter of George Laferty, a resident of Blair county. They have six children, two sons and four daughters: Peter P., in the railroad service, married Lizzie Berghane; Annie, wife of Wm. Davis, of Ebensburg, whose sketch appears elsewhere; Ella, married James Karr, of Maybeury, West Virginia; Sadie, wife of J. K. Barlow, also of Maybeury; Mamie and G. I. Unpretentious and unassuming, Mr. Sipe has lived the life of a good and useful citizen, and as a business man is in the front rank of the milling industry of Cambria county. His politics have always been in harmony with the Republican party, and in religion he is identified with the Evangelical Lutheran church, in which he has been a member of deacon for several years.