... John Dibert, son of John and Rachel (Blaugh) Dibert, was born in Somerset county, Pennsylvania, May 12, 1831. He started out in his business career about 1848, after obtaining a practical education, as a clerk in his father's dry goods store, the firm trading as Dibert & Osborn at the corner of Franklin and Main streets, under the old Mansion House, now (1906) the present site of the shoe store of Scott Dibert. About a year later, at the time of the death of his father, John Dibert, Jr., went into business for himself a few doors further up Main street, dealing in general merchandise, which business continued until about 1870, a period of about twenty years, when the firm of Dibert, Wayne & Company was formed to deal exclusively in hardware, which business superseded the old business of general merchandise. About 1875 this firm was dissolved and Mr. Dibert continued in the hardware business alone under the name of John Dibert to the time of his death, May 31, 1889, in the great flood that almost completely devastated the city of Johnstown. He was one of the organizers of the First National Bank, in which he held the position of director for a number of years. About 1874 he started a private banking business at the corner of Franklin and Main streets, opposite his father's old business corner, under the firm name of John Dibert & Co., his partners being his eldest son, John H. Dibert and John D. Roberts. Mr. Dibert was actively connected with the First Presbyterian church, and was one of its largest contributors. In politics he was a strong Republican of the old fashioned kind, and was active in Masonry and a Knight Templar. He was a man of sterling qualities, of the real robust honesty, one who had the confidence of all his business acquaintances and among friends their respect and admiration, and with his family he was a very kindly and affectionate nature, generous almost to a fault. To describe his character can best be done by quoting the words of a friend of his used after his death : "John Dibert was one of nature's noblemen."
Mr. Dibert married, July 4, 1850, Martha G. McLain, daughter of George McLain, a large real estate owner and dealer of Johnstown. The children of this marriage were: John H. Dibert, George W. Dibert, William B. Dibert, Frank G. Dibert, Mary D. Snowden, Rachel D. Ellis and Susan D. Weaver. ...
