John F. Eicher

JOHN F. EICHER was born July 12, 1868. He attended the public schools until he was about fifteen years old, and then took a position as a daubler and motcher in the sheet mills in Scottdale, remaining there for two years. He then learned the trade of carpentering with his father and continued at that for about five years. In 1888 he went to Greensburg and spent one year there as a journeyman carpenter, thence to Jeannette, remaining there four years as journeyman. He then returned to Scottdale and worked as a journeyman there for a short time, then formed a partnership with his brother, L. R. Eicher, and did contracting and building under the firm title of Eicher Bros. This name existed for five years and nine months, at the expiration of which time L. R. Eicher returned to journeyman work and John F. continued contracting and building alone. Today he is the leading contractor in Scottdale and furnishes employment to some forty men, his operations extending through Fayette and Westmoreland counties. He has been awarded many of the largest contracts in that portion of the state, among them being: the public school building at Alverton; the municipal building at Scottdale; the Fairchance public school building, and numerous others of less importance. He also does considerable private building and selling on his own account. In 1902 the, Broadway Planing Mill Company was formed, Mr. Eicher being one of the promoters and half owner of the concern; they do a general planing mill business, with lumber yards, etc. He established the shoe business at 106 Pittsburg street in company with W. H. Niswanger, where they have a large trade, the firm title being Niswanger and Eicher. He is a stockholder in the Scottdale Savings and Trust Company, the Broadway National Bank, and is one of the promoters and a stockholder in the Braddock Trust Company, formerly known as the People's Trust Company of Braddock. He also has interests in the Scottdale Foundry and Machine Company, whose plant he erected. In local affairs he is ever glad to further the interests of the community, and has served on the borough council for three years, officiating as chairman for one year. His politics are Republican. He is a member of the A. I. O. K. M. of Scottdale.

Mr. Eicher married, July 2, 1887, C. Belle Ridenour, daughter of George W. and Priscilla (Booher) Ridenour, of East Huntingdon township, Westmoreland county. They have two children: Bessie M. and V. Elizabeth Eicher, living, and one, Frank A., who died at the age of eleven. They attend the Methodist Episcopal church.

Source: Page(s) 171, History of Westmoreland County, Volume II, Pennsylvania by John N Boucher. New York, The Lewis Publishing Company, 1906.
Transcribed May 2007 by Nathan Zipfel for the Westmoreland County History Project
Contributed for use by the Westmoreland County Genealogy Project (http://www.pa-roots.com/westmoreland/)

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