BIO: Alfred WALTER, Centre County, PA

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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.
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492  COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.  

  ALFRED WALTER, cashier of the Millheim Baking Company, at Millheim, 
Centre county, has won a high position in the community despite heavy 
odds. Born of poor, though respectable, parents, left fatherless at the 
age of ten years, without rich relatives or influential friends, and 
coming as a stranger to Centre county in his boyhood, he won the 
confidence and good will of all who met him by his upright conduct, his 
attention to his business, and his straightforward manner. Among those 
who were thus attracted to him was J. C. Motz, one of the shrewdest 
business men of Penn's Valley, and the last person to repose confidence 
where he was not convinced of the existence of sterling worth and 
integrity. Judging only by what he had seen of Mr. Walter as a boy 
clerking in a store, he placed him, in 1872, as cashier in the bank 
organized then at Millheim by J. C. Motz & Co. No security was asked or 
offered, as he placed implicit faith in the integrity of his prot‚g‚, 
and the result has demonstrated the soundness of his judgment.
  Mr. Walter was born at Middleburg, Snyder Co., Penn., February 3, 
1850, the son of Isaac and Lucinda (Reninger) Walter, both natives of 
Snyder county. The father, who was a bricklayer and farmer by 
occupation, died in 1860, and the mother in 1867. Of five children our 
subject was the eldest; Emma J. married Mr. Hillbish, of Bristol, Ind.; 
Thomas died in Philadelphia; Christian resides in Union county, Penn., 
and Amelia married W. M. Miller, of Union county.
  The little family was scattered at the father's death, and thus it 
happened that, when only ten years old, Mr. Walter went to live with 
Christian Walter, of Kreamer, Snyder county, upon whose farm he worked 
for five years, attending the district school in the meantime. He then 
began clerking for Walter & Smith, merchants at Kreamer, receiving only 
his board and clothes. After two years the firm dissolved partnership, 
and Mr. Walter went to Woodward, Centre county, to clerk for J. W. 
Snook at $15 per month; when the business changed hands he still 
retained his situation, remaining three years in all. His salary there 
was the first money that he had ever earned, and his savings enabled 
him to take a course at the Eastman Business College, in Poughkeepsie, 
N.Y. On his return to Centre county, he went to Millheim to enter the 
store of J. W. Snook as a clerk; six months later, at the organization 
of the banking firm of J. C. Motz & Co., he became cashier of the 
institution, and has since continued in that capacity. In 1878, six 
years after its foundation, the firm was reorganized under the name of 
the Millheim Banking Company, as at present known.
  Mr. Walter is a safe and trusty counselor in financial matters and in 
local affairs, and although he is unostentatious in manner and retiring 
in disposition, he wields an influence in the community that is 
difficult to measure. He is ever ready to encourage any enterprise 
which will promote the interests of his locality, and his substantial 
support is freely given when required.
  In May, 1877, Mr. Walter was united in marriage with Miss Junie A. 
Musset, who was born in Millheim, August 5, 1855, the daughter of D. A. 
and Lydia A. (Shreffler) Musser. No children were born of this union. 
Mr. Walter and his wife are prominent socially, and he is a member of 
the Masonic order. He is also a leading worker in the Methodist 
Episcopal Church, having held the office of trustee for some time.
  In politics, Mr. Walter is a Randall Democrat. He does not endorse 
any Democratic platform in every part. In this respect he shows the 
same conservatism which governs his business transactions, and no issue 
is fully accepted until he thoroughly understands it as a result of 
careful study and research.