BIOGRAPHY: George C. K. ZAHM, 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. 52-3
____________________________________________________________

GEORGE C. K. ZAHM, who has been a prominent citizen of Ebensburg, Pennsylvania, 
for more than half a century, is a son of Daniel and Elizabeth (Bradd) Zahm, and 
was born in Lancaster, Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, October 24, 1816.
     His paternal ancestry was of German origin, whilst his maternal was 
English. Matthew Zahm, his grandfather, was a native of Frederick, Maryland, 
whence he migrated to Lancaster, where he passed the remainder of his life. 
Daniel Zahm, father, was born in Lancaster in the year 1792, and died in the 
year 1854 at Columbia, Lancaster county, where his remains now lie buried. He 
was a soldier in the war of 1812, our second struggle with Great Britain, and 
served during the latter part of the conflict under the command of Captain 
George A. Ambright.
     At the early age of sixteen he left the paternal roof to assume the 
responsibilities of life on his own account. For five years he was engaged in 
butchering in Lancaster; and in February, 1838, he went to Portage, then known 
as No. 2, A. P. R. road, on the old Portage railroad, and accepted a position 
with William Russell, Esq., who was engaged in merchandizing. He remained with 
him until 1844, and in January of that year went to Ebensburg, Cambria county, 
this State, as deputy sheriff under Captain James Murray. He served a full term 
of three years, and Captain Murray's successor, Sheriff Jesse Patterson, 
reappointed him to that office in 1847. The year following Mr. Zahm and Captain 
Murray engaged in merchandizing, manufacturing lumber and tanning, which they 
followed successfully until October, 1854. The two succeeding years were 
occupied as clerk to the commissions of Cambria county, and then he was again 
appointed deputy by Sheriff John Roberts, under whom he served until 1859. He 
also served in the same capacity during the years 1860 and 1861 under Sheriff R. 
P. Linton. Subsequently he filled various clerical positions about the court 
house until April, 1864, when he located upon a farm near Ebensburg, in Cambria 
township, which he had previously purchased. In 1863; he was elected 
prothonotary of Cambria county for three years. At the end of said term, in 
1869, he and his son, James B. Zahm, formed a partnership under the firm name of 
Zahm & Son, and embarked in mercantile pursuits in Ebensburg. In 1871 his son 
withdrew, and Mr. Zahm continued successfully until the financial crisis of 
1873, which prostrated business in every form throughout the United States. He 
withstood the pressure of the times until 1875, when he, along with many of the 
substantial business men of the country, was obliged to close out. Since this 
time he has done clerical work in the various offices of the court house.
     On the 23d March, 1843, Mr. Zahm and Miss Eliza Wherry were united in 
marriage, and to their union have been born the following children, viz.: 
Margaret A., who is the wife of F. H. Barker, now Treasurer of Cambria county. 
Mary V. is the relict of George W. Jones; James B., deceased, was a bookkeeper 
in the employ of Carnegie & Co., of Pittsburg; was thrown from a train and 
killed in 1895 near said city; Daniel H. is a locomotive engineer on the Cresson 
and Ebensburg branch of the Pennsylvania railroad; Elizabeth is dead; Kate F. is 
the wife of Judge A. V. Barker, now president judge of the several courts of 
Cambria county, and resides at Ebensburg; Amelia married Ezekiel Wherry, and 
resides at Altoona, this State; Alexander died in infancy; Alice is the wife of 
Webster Griffith, of Ebensburg, manufacturer and dealer in lumber; Hattie wedded 
A. W. Buck, a prominent banker of Ebensburg; George died young, and Matthew is 
at home with his parents.
     Mr. Zahm and his wife are both living and enjoying reasonably good health, 
and celebrated their golden wedding anniversary on the 23d of March, 1893, when 
all their children then living were present, together with their husbands, wives 
and their grandchildren.