T. W. Tobias, of the Altoona firm of accountants of Tobias, Seward & Rice, is a native of Everett, Pa., where he was born August 19, 1879. JOHN B. TOBIAS, his father, was born at Lewisburg, Pa., and for some years followed the trade of tinner. He served as postmaster of Everett for four years, retiring from that office to enter the mercantile business, which he followed until the time of his death in 1919. He served as first sergeant in the Civil War with the 8th Pennsylvania Reserve Regiment, in service four years and seven months, and was wounded and captured at Fredericksburg, spending six months in Libby prison. He served with the detail that witnessed the hanging of those who conspired the death of Abraham Lincoln, and was a member of the Grand Army of the Republic. He married Hettie M. Davis, a native of Yellow Creek, Bedford County, Pa. T. W. Tobias, their son, graduated from the Everett High School, in 1896, and took a commercial course at the Eastman Business College, Poughkeepsie, New York, from which he graduated in 1899. He was thereafter associated with his father in the mercantile business until 1906, at Everett, Pa., when he entered the employ of the Pennsylvania Railroad accounting department, remaining there until 1913.
From that time until 1921, he was county comptroller of Blair County. He has since been engaged in the public accountancy business for himself, the firm name being that of Tobias, Seward & Rice, with offices in the Altoona Trust Building. He is also secretary and treasurer of the Grand View Cemetery Company, secretary and treasurer of the Construction Service Company, and a director of the Franklin Building & Loan Association. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity, and Rotary Club, and as a Republican in politics, he was a delegate to the Republican National Convention in 1916. Mr. Tobias is also the owner of the Altoona School of Commerce. In 1908, he married Dorothy E. Barkley, who was born at Rainsburg, Bedford County, Pa., a daughter of George W. Barkley, who served in the Civil War, as a Corporal in Company E, 138th Pa. Infantry, three years, August 17, 1862, to 13th day of June, 1865. Mr. Tobias during the World War enlisted as second lieutenant Quartermaster Department, but was never called. He held a reserve officers commission as second lieutenant until his resignation in September, 1930.
Currently a resident of Burke, Virginia - I'm originally from the City of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. I have been a student of the Pennsylvania Reserves since 1997 and thoroughly enjoy telling their story. By trade I'm a former IT Professional but presently working as a Letter Carrier for the United States Postal Service.
