BIO: William A. TOBIAS, Centre County, PA Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by JO Copyright 2009. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/centre/ http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/centre/1picts/commbios/comm-bios.htm _____________________________________________________________________ Commemorative Biographical Record of Central Pennsylvania: Including the Counties of Centre, Clearfield, Jefferson and Clarion: Containing Biographical Sketches of Prominent and Representative Citizens, Etc. Chicago: J. H. Beers, 1898. _____________________________________________________________________ WILLIAM A. TOBIAS, one of the most prominent citizens of Millheim, Centre county, is a self-made man in the fullest sense of the word. Not only has he won a financial success through his own efforts, but his excellent practical education has been gained mainly from private study. Mr. Tobias is a native of Bloomsburg, Columbia Co., Penn., and is a son of Rev. D. S. Tobias, a minister of the German Reformed Church, whose talents and devotion to the cause of religion made him prominent in his day. Reared in a rural community in Berks county, Penn., where he was born March 3, 1804, Rev. Mr. Tobias had but limited educational advantages in his youth, and his preparation for his chosen calling was obtained with unusual sacrifice and effort. His studies in theology were directed by Rev. C. J. Hermann, and in all lines his instruction was in the German language, in which all his preaching was done. His first sermon, delivered November 23, 1823, at "the Swamp," in Lancaster county, Penn., was founded upon the first five verses of the 103d Psalm. For a time he served as a local preacher in different parts of Berks county, and his first settled charge was at Bloomsburg, Columbia county, in 1824. About 1851 he moved to Rebersburg, Centre county, where he died October 29, 1864, COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 397 in his sixty-first year. He was a small man, weighing about a hundred pounds, and was never robust physically, yet his mental powers were of an unusually high order. He lived comfortably, but never accumulated much property. In the course of his active service in the ministry he preached 4,500 regular sermons, officiated at 750 funerals, 657 confirmations and 576 marriages. He was a member of the Masonic fraternity. On February 9, 1824, Rev. Tobias was married in Berks county to Miss Elizabeth Fisher, a native of that county, born July 3, 1802. She survived him many years, living for more than twenty-five years in the home of our subject, where she breathed her last October 13, 1891, in her ninetieth year. The mortal remains of this worthy couple now rest in the cemetery at Aaronsburg, Centre Co., Penn. Their children were ten in number, the names with dates of birth being as follows: Methusalem, February 16, 1825, died in infancy; John F., January 28, 1827, was a physician at Sedalia, Mo., where he died; Silisa S., August 9, 1828, is the widow of P. E. Bomboy, of Espy, Columbia Co., Penn.; Calvin J. R., September 29, 1830, is a railway engineer residing in Keene, N.H.; William A., January 10, 1833, is mentioned more fully below; Andrew J., February 13, 1835, resides in Almedia, Columbia county; Amelia, September 24, 1837, married John H. Auman, of Millheim; Snyder D., August 1, 1840, died at Millheim, January 30, 1894; Elizabeth A., June 19, 1845, married Henry Miller, of Millheim; and Lewis C., July 17, 1848, resides in the same town. Mr. Tobias, our subject, first attended the public schools of Bloomsburg, which were by no means equal to those of the present. His unfortunate deprivation of suitable opportunities for an education has deeply impressed upon him the need of better schools in which all children may find thorough instruction. By diligent use of such means as lay within reach, he prepared for teaching, and in 1858 he took charge of a school in Haines township, Centre county, known as "Fowler's School," at $20 per month, not including board. This school was very small in numbers, the average being about five. While there he began to chew tobacco to put in the time, which hung heavily. He had already learned the harness maker's trade under Alexander Best, at Danville, Penn., but after serving a portion of his term of apprenticeship he became so proficient that he began work as a journeyman. In the early part of 1861, he was local editor, foreman, pressman, devil and carrier, of the Berwick Gazette, a weekly paper published by A. B. Tate, at Berwick, Columbia Co., Pennsylvania. On October 21, 1861, Mr. Tobias enlisted at Bloomsburg, in Company D, 84th P.V.I., with Capt. Alexander G. Frick. His first battle was at Hancock, Md., and his second at Winchester, Va. He was in Banks' retreat from Winchester to Williamsport, Md., and after that event he came home for a short time. Soon after rejoining the regiment at Washington, D. C., he was taken ill and sent to the hospital at Washington, D.C., from there to York, Penn., and October 23, 1862, he was discharged at Baltimore, Md., on a surgeon's certificate of disability. He returned to Centre county, and for thirteen years was engaged in teaching during the winter seasons, chiefly the schools of Rebersburg, three terms, his vacations being devoted to other work. His last term of school was in Boggs township, Centre county, winter of 1874, where he received $45 per month. In the fall of 1875 he was elected County Recorder of Deeds of Centre county for three years, and re-elected in 1878. Before his term expired he was appointed by the president judge of the court, C. A. Mayer, to make a new index for miscellaneous papers and deeds and mortgages of Centre county, which occupied his time for a year, two clerks helping him. In 1876 he moved to Bellefonte in order to discharge conveniently the duties of the office of County Recorder of Deeds. In 1882 he came to Millheim, where he has since resided. In 1894, in company with W. H. Culverson, he established a small general store at Paddy's Mountain, Mifflin county, but sold out at the end of a year to his partner. Prior to this he had charge of a bankrupt stock of goods at Millheim. He has also to some extent dealt in real estate, and at the present time he is connected with the Building & Loan Association, of Millheim. Mr. Tobias has always taken an active interest in politics, is one of the leading Democrats in his section, and was a delegate to County Convention several times. At present he is serving as president of the city council of Millheim. He has a wide acquaintance, and is deservedly popular, with all classes. His kindliness of heart is shown in his care of his parents and for others of the family who have been less fortunate than he in worldly matters. One brother, Snyder D., an invalid for many years, found a home with him also during his last days, and passed away there. Our subject's intellect is acute and active, and he is gifted as a writer, finding much enjoyment in corresponding for various papers. Fraternally, he belongs to W. W. Bierly Post No. 298, 398 COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. G.A.R., at Millheim, and to Centre Lodge, No. 153, I.O.O.F., at Bellefonte; was initiated at Lock Haven, Penn., in Great Island Lodge No. 320, I.O.O.F., in 1863, and transferred to Centre Lodge No. 153, Bellefonte, in 1876; he was formerly a member of the Knights of Pythias and the Order of Red Men, but as neither had a lodge in the county he withdrew after a time. In 1890 he made an application for pension under the Act of June 27, was examined and rejected. On August 4, 1897, he was again examined, and on November 16, 1897, his pension was granted, $10 per month and 55 months and 25 days back pay. Mr. Tobias has never married.