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BIOGRAPHICAL AND PORTRAIT CYCLOPEDIA

and entered on his long and successful career as a banker. In April of that year S.H. Smith & Co., then doing a banking business on the premises now occupied by the Citizens' National bank, engaged his services, and he remained with that house, with the exception of a few months, until it was converted into a National bank in 1863. During the summer of that year the First National bank was organized, and Mr. Roberts was elected its first cashier, in which capacity he was retained until his death, which occurred May 31, 1889.     It was in this station that his integrity and executive ability were thoroughly tested and proved. Under his watchful care and honest and intelligent management the First National bank of Johnstown, from modest beginnings, developed into one of the solid banking institutions of the State, and was a powerful agent in promoting the growth and prosperity of Johnstown.     In addition to his position in the bank, he was, from its organization (1867) to his death, treasurer of the Johnstown Water company; had served a number of years as treasurer of the borough of Johnstown, and was long a member of the board of trustees of Johnstown Savings bank. All efforts and measures for the advancement of the best interests of Johnstown received from him enthusiastic co-operation, and his activity and usefulness ceased only with his life.     He was twice married; his first union was with Elizabeth Wray Carmon, of Ebensburg, Pennsylvania, and to this marriage was born one child, Harry Carmon, now of Pittsburg. He wedded his second wife, Mary Swoyer, of McVeytown, Mifflin county, this State, June 18, 1863; and to this union were born two children, Dwight and Otis, the latter of whom,

together with his parents, perished in the Great Flood.     Howard Roberts was an unassuming, devout Christian his life long, having connected himself with the church of his fathers in his fourteenth year. During his residence in Johnstown he was a member of the Presbyterian church, and ever zealously labored in and liberally supported the cause of Christianity.     He leaves behind the honorable record of a man of principle, of energy, and of high moral courage; constancy in his attention to his secular and religious duties, devotion to his family and fidelity to his friends. ANDREW ECKENRODE, a leading merchant and the present postmaster of Carrolltown, is a son of John and Barbara (Illig) Eckenrode, and was born in Carroll township, Cambria county, Pennsylvania, October 22, 1840. The Eckenrodes, as the name would indicate, are of German descent, and John Eckenrode, Sr., in all probability, was a native of Maryland. He was a farmer and a Catholic, and settled near St. Augustine, this county, when that section of the county was largely in woods. He reared a family of fifteen children, eight sons and seven daughters.     John Eckenrode was born in Maryland in 1806, and died at Carrolltown in 1880, aged seventy-four years. He commenced life in Carroll township with no means, and built a log cabin in the woods, where, by hard labor, he cleared out a farm which became very valuable in later years. He was successful as a farmer and general business man, and at the time of his death possessed considerable wealth. He was a member of the Catholic church, and in politics was a democrat. He held several township offices, serving for quite a number of years as school director. He

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