Bedford County PA Archives Biographies.....Walter, Jacob ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/pafiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Judy Banja jbanja@msn.com May 2003 JACOB WALTER, a prosperous general farmer of Bedford, Bedford County, Pa., was born in this township, November 2, 1827. He is a son of the late Jacob, Sr., and Mary (Dibert) Walter. He has two brothers and two sisters now living; namely, Samuel, Daniel, Mary A., and Anna M. On the paternal side he is of French descent, and comes of excellent pioneer stock, his grandfather, Joseph Walter, having been among the earliest settlers of this section of the county. For further ancestral history see sketch of his brother Daniel, which appears elsewhere in this volume. Jacob Walter spent his early years upon the home farm, where he was reared to habits of industry, honesty, and thrift. His education was obtained by diligent improvement of the opportunities afforded him in the subscription and public schools of his time and by subsequent reading. Becoming a farmer from choice, he has engaged in the various branches of agriculture with notable success, so managing his well-improved farm of one hundred and thirty acres as to make it yield bountifully of the crops common to this part of the country. His homestead is located near Cessna. He formerly mined to some extent for iron ore, which was found in considerable quantities on the estate. On February 13, 1851, Mr. Walter was united in marriage with Miss Susanna Sill, who was born in Bedford township, a daughter of Daniel and Catherine (Stiffler) Sill. Her grandfather, George Sill, was one of the pioneers of Bedford County, having located on the farm now owned by Mr. Daniel Walter at an early period, and there made his home until his death, at the venerable age of eighty-three years. Daniel Sill, who lived to be seventy-two years old, was a lifelong resident of this place, and here reared his children, three of whom are yet living, as follows: Jonas Sill, of Bloomington, Ill.; John Henry Sill, of Bedford County; and Mrs. Walter. Mr. and Mrs. Walter have nine children living, namely: Lloyd S., of Kansas City, Mo.; Mary E., wife of D. L. Keyser, of Johnstown, Pa.; Ella J., wife of J. E. Kaston, of Portland, Ore.; Urilla C., wife of Jacob Kaar, of Princeton, Ill.; Job, of East St. Clair, Pa.; Melinda, wife of Daniel Chrisman, of Buda, Ill.; Laura, wife of Albert Reininger, of Spring Meadow, Pa.; Georgia E., who lives at home; and Virgie E., wife of Ira Park Amick, of Philadelphia, Pa. One daughter, Mrs. Martha A. Miller, has passed from earth, and is survived by her daughter, Nettie Wray Miller. Mr. and Mrs. Walter are active members of the Evangelical Lutheran church, in which he has served both as Elder and as treasurer. Source: Bedford Biographical Review, 1899, Bedford Co., Pa