BIOGRAPHY: John L. STIBICH, 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. 371-2
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JOHN L. STIBICH, superintendent of the Goenner brewery of Johnstown, is a son of 
Joseph and Margaret (Pfarr) Stibich, and was born August 16, 1862, in what was 
then Cambria city, now the sixteenth ward of the city of Johnstown.
     His grandfather was Adam Stibich, and his grandmother's maiden name was 
Margaret Fisher, both natives of Germany, where they were engaged in farming 
until 1845, when he, with his entire family, broke away from his native country, 
and sought a home in the new world. They went to Bremen by an overland route in 
a wagon, it taking two weeks to make the trip. At Bremen they took a sail-ship 
for Philadelphia, and were eight weeks crossing the "briny deep." From there 
they took the canal, and headed for St. Mary's, Elk county, Pennsylvania, When 
they arrived at Bellefonte they encountered a heavy snowstorm, and they were 
compelled to take a sleigh to their destination, which took them two, days, 
arriving two weeks before Christmas. Here he purchased a wooded piece of land, 
for which he paid six dollars an acre, and commenced the clearing up and 
establishment of a new home. Upon that farm he settled down, and followed 
farming until his death.
     Joseph Stibich (father) was born March 19, 1827, in Texeddern, in the state 
of Bavaria, Germany; came with his parents to this country, and remained with 
them in their pioneer home until twenty-one years of age, when he went into 
Clarion county, where for five or six years he was employed in the furnaces and 
mines; then after two years of service in the rolling-mill at Brady's Bend, 
Armstrong county, he came, in 1854, to Johnstown, and engaged with the Cambria 
Iron company. In 1864 he enlisted in company C, Sixty-seventh regiment, 
Pennsylvania volunteer infantry, and was present at the surrender of Lee at 
Appomattox.
     Just prior to entering the army he had embarked in the mercantile business 
on a small scale, and when he came back from the service, devoted his entire 
attention to it. The business grew and prospered, and at the time of the flood 
his loss was estimated at about $45,000. After the flood he resumed the same 
line of business and pursued it three years, when he sold out and removed to 
lower Yoder township, his present place of residence.
     John L. Stibich remained with his father in business until twenty-three 
years of age, when he went into business on his own account.
     The brewery of which he is superintendent and part owner, takes its name 
from Jacob Goenner, who was a native of Germany, and emigrated to America. After 
living for a time at each of the following places, Altoona, Gallitzin, Summit, 
Geistown, and Conemaugh, he came to Johnstown and purchased a brewery, and 
operated it until his death, which resulted from exposure during the flood. His 
wife was made executor of the estate, and after affairs were settled up, W. F. 
Goenner and Mr. Stibich were appointed managers of the brewery. This joint 
management continued until the death of Mr. Goenner, January 2, 1896, when Mr. 
Stibich was made superintendent.
     The plant is one of the best equipped in western Pennsylvania, and Mr. 
Stibich's long experience in the brewing business makes him eminently qualified 
to superintend the enterprise.
     Mr. Stibich married a Miss Goenner, daughter of Jacob Goenner.