My Genealogy Hound

CHARLES SEIBERT, secretary and treasurer of the Germania Savings Bank, Pittsburgh, was born near Kreuznach, Prussia, April 2, 1845. His parents, Nicholas and Catherine (Mohr) Seibert, sailed for America from Bremen on the day he was three years of age. During the voyage of sixty days an infant brother died, and was consigned to the deep. The father took the family to Springville, Seneca county, Ohio, where he settled for a time, his wife and eldest daughter dying there. The fever and ague, for which Western Ohio was then noted, proved too much for him, and after remaining several years he removed to Allegheny City, where he died in 1858.

Charles is the seventh of eight children, of whom five are now living. Of these Christian M. was for a number of years assistant cashier of the Third National Bank of Pittsburgh, and was the predecessor of Charles in the position he now holds. He is now secretary of legation at Santiago, Chili. Two brothers are engaged in the furniture manufacturing business in Allegheny City. Charles attended school until twelve years old, when he spent three years in the office of the Pittsburger Republikaner, learning the printers’ trade. He then took a short course in one of the commercial colleges of Pittsburgh, after which he was employed for a time in the office of the Clarion Independent Banner, edited by Col. Samuel Young, then well known by the name of the “literary drayman.” After the first battle of Bull Run Charles got the war-fever, and succeeded, though but little over sixteen years of age, in enlisting as a private in Co. G, 62d P. V. (Col. Samuel W. Black), for three years. His regiment was attached to the 5th corps, Army of the Potomac, and saw hard and continuous service. In October, 1862, Private Seibert was appointed orderly sergeant, and came home at the expiration of three years’ service as second lieutenant, commanding the company. He had the remarkable good fortune to never lose a day during the term of service through sickness, and was never wounded. On the day of his being mustered out he took the position of bookkeeper in the Third National Bank, which he held for four years, when he became cashier of the German Savings Bank, of Allegheny. He resigned this position, after about four years, to engage in the real-estate and insurance business. He was elected to his present position in February, 1878. He is also the secretary and treasurer of the Pittsburgh, A. &M. Passenger Railway company, which position he has held for eleven years. Mr. Seibert is a member of the G. A. R. and Veteran Legion, and in politics has been generally a republican. He has been twice married, and has three sons and one daughter: Henry E., secretary of the Manufacturers’ Natural Gas company, of Pittsburgh; Charles A., in the office of W. E. Schmertz & Co.; William, attending school, and Estella, at home.