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BIOGRAPHICAL AND PORTRAIT CYCLOPEDIA

as justice of the peace of Richland township. He was a believer in the religious tenets of the sect of John Wesley, and the first class of Methodism ever established in Cambria county, was in his home, on December 25, 1827.     He was twice married; his first marital union was with Rebecca Hemphill, who died in 1846, and in 1847 he married Rachel Benson, widow of William Benson. His children were of the first union, and were as follows: Annie, deceased; Eliza, was the wife of William Makin; Robert, died at the age of twenty-six years, of small-pox; Nancy, wife of John Amsbough; Julia Ann, wife of Robert E. Rodgers; John; Benjamin Franklin, subject; William, a surveyor of Johnsown; Rebecca, died young; Joseph, a resident of Johnstown; George, father of Dr. George A. Slick, of Johnstown, was lost in the great flood of 1889.     Mr. Slick had very poor advantages for securing an education. His father was a man of progressive spirit, and fully realized the advantages to be gained through education, and made a strong effort to secure enough pupils in Richland township to run a subscription school, but failed in this very worthy effort. He then secured a private teacher for his own family in the person of Rev. John Spencer. Young Slick profited under the instruction of this tutor two winter sessions of three months each. It is misleading, however, to say that he is without education. He has always been a close reader, and has learned much from experience and by mingling with the business world.     He learned the trade of tanner with his father, and, until twenty-seven years of age, followed journey work. He then purchased a property at Summerhill, this county, built a tannery upon it, and successfully operated it

from 1848 to 1861. The crisis of the Rebellion was then upon us, and his services were sought in another and perhaps more useful field. He was engaged for a time as enrolling officer, and as provost guard. In 1864 he enlisted in company K, Two Hundred and Sixth regiment, Pennsylvania Volunteer infantry, in which he served as quartermaster sergeant from the autumn of that year until December 10, when he was transferred to the office of Capt. William C. Crandall, of St. Louis, where he remained until March 30, 1865, when he returned to his regiment, which had the honor of being the first organized regiment to enter the city of Richmond on April 3, 1865, and he was the first man assigned to duty after entering. Shortly after this, being a good penman and man of good clerical ability, he was selected by Gen. Devin as a clerk, and later held a similar position at the headquarters of Gen. F. T. Dent, where his services were very satisfactory and highly appreciated.     Having served his country faithfully and well upon the field of battle, he returned to the peaceful pursuits of the civilian, and for twenty-two years was weighmaster for the Cambria Iron company, since which time he has followed farming in Conemaugh township. In his political texture Mr. Slick was an adherent of the school of political economists, of which Clay was an illustrious exponent, but upon the organization of the Republican party as a substitute to Whigism he became an ardent exponent of the new party, and has steadfastly pinned his faith to the party of protection and sound finance.     He has been active in the councils and work of his party, holding many local offices. He served as postmaster at Summerhill seven years, as enrolling officer about four years,

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