BIOGRAPHY: Thomas T. BYRNE, Cambria County, PA 

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From Wiley, Samuel T., ed. Biographical and Portrait Cyclopedia of Cambria 
County, Pennsylvania. Philadelphia: Union Publishing Co., 1896, p. 231-2
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Thomas T. BYRNE

THOMAS T. BYRNE, a prominent and successful farmer of Clearfield township, this 
county, is a son of Augustine and Ann (Driskle) Byrne, and was born in Allegheny 
township, this county, March 15, 1832.
     The Byrne family came originally from Ireland, and were among the early 
pioneer settlers of Cambria county.
     John Byrne, the great-grandfather, was born in Ireland, and was the founder 
of the family in this country.  He emigrated to America in 1795, bringing with 
him his three sons and five daughters, his wife having died in Ireland.  He 
located near Loretto, on what is now known as the Flick farm, and engaged in 
farming.  He was one of the very early settlers of this county, locating here 
previous to Father Gallitzin, who was a pioneer in Cambria county.  His children 
were: Henry, John, Thomas, Mrs. McGuire, Mrs. Levi, and Mrs. Platt.
     Thomas Byrne (grandfather) was born in Ireland, and, when a boy came with 
his father to America.  He assisted his father on the farm until he reached 
mature years, when he located on a farm in Carroll township, where he followed 
the pursuits of a farmer all his life.  He died in 1832.  He married Miss 
Burgon, and this marriage resulted in the birth of thirteen children: Bernard, 
Michael, Augustine, Catherine, Little, Henry, James, Nancy Buck, Elizabeth, 
John, Thomas, Frances and Mary Ann.
     They were a family of farmers, and are now all deceased but Frances, who 
resides at Carrolltown, this county.
     Augustine Byrne (father) was born in Carroll township, April 18, 1807, and 
died near Chest Springs, Allegheny township, May 8, 1864.  He lived in Allegheny 
township all his life except during a short period spent in Washington township.  
He was a farmer and a member of the Roman Catholic church.
     He married Miss Ann, a daughter of Charles Driskle, of Allegheny township, 
and to them were born eight children: Michael, of Allegheny township; Alice, 
deceased, who was the wife of James Adams, now deceased; Thomas J.; Mary 
deceased, was the wife of L. Leonard Litzinger; Margaretta, deceased; Sarah, the 
wife of Benjamin Grove, of Chest Springs; Matilda, the wife of John McKensie, of 
Chest Springs; Cecelia, deceased, who was the wife of Andrew Noel; and George, 
of Johnstown.
     Thomas T. Byrne was reared a farmer boy, and educated in the common and 
subscription schools of his township.  When he began life on his own account, he 
was employed on the old Portage railroad and remained there two years, and then 
for the next ten years engaged in the shuck business.  In 1865 he purchased the 
farm on which he now resides, located in the eastern part of Clearfield 
township, this county, containing one hundred and eight acres, underlaid with 
coal.  At the time of the purchase the farm was only partially improved, and he 
has since cleared and improved the entire farm, and it is now in a good state of 
cultivation and is one of the most desirable farms in Cambria county.
     In religion he belongs to the church of his forefathers, the Roman Catholic 
church, of which he is a devout member.  Politically he is a democrat, and takes 
a normal interest in local affairs.
     His marriage with Miss Mary Yeatly was celebrated January 9, 1853, and 
their union has been blessed in the birth of ten children: John Cosmon, located 
in Altoona, Pennsylvania; Emmet, deceased, was a farmer of Chest Springs; Mary, 
wife of James Kelley; Charles, located in Altoona; Ann, a resident of Altoona; 
William, employed in Altoona; Alice, deceased; Fannie, the wife of Frank Adams, 
of Clearfield township; and Thomas, a farmer, of Clearfield township.