BIOGRAPHY: Alexander B. EARHART, Cambria County, PA Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Lynne Canterbury and Diann Olsen. Portions of this book were transcribed by Clark Creery, Martha Humenik, Betty Mirovich and Sharon Ringler. USGENWEB ARCHIVES (tm) NOTICE All documents placed in the USGenWeb Archives remain the property of the contributors, who retain publication rights in accordance with US Copyright Laws and Regulations. In keeping with our policy of providing free information on the Internet, these documents may be used by anyone for their personal research. They may be used by non-commercial entities so long as all notices and submitter information are included. These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit. Any other use, including copying files to other sites, requires permission from the contributors PRIOR to uploading to the other sites. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store the file permanently for free access. http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/cambria/ ____________________________________________________________ From Wiley, Samuel T., ed. Biographical and Portrait Cyclopedia of Cambria County, Pennsylvania. Philadelphia: Union Publishing Co., 1896, p. 464-5 ____________________________________________________________ ALEXANDER B. EARHART, chief clerk of the Cambria and Clearfield division of the Pennsylvania railroad, is a son of William and Martha Porter (Barclay) Earhart, and was born in Blairsville, Indiana county, Pennsylvania, June 14, 1856. The family of which Alexander Earhart is a worthy descendant, is of German origin. Anthony Earhart, paternal grandfather, was born in York county, Pennsylvania, and in 1810 removed to Indiana county, where he purchased a farm and for the remainder of his life followed the avocation of a farmer. Alexander Barclay, maternal great-grandfather, was born in county Antrim, Ireland. He married Miss Ann Martin, of county Down, Ireland, and emigrated to America. His son, John Barclay, who is grandfather of the subject of this sketch, was born in Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania, in 1802. At an early day he removed to Indiana county and located on a farm. He was one of the progressive and prosperous farmers of that section, and commanded the respect of all who knew him. He held the honored position of elder in the Presbyterian church. He died in 1874 at the age of seventy-two years. William Earhart, father, was born in York county, Pennsylvania, May 20, 1795, and removed with his parents to Indiana county in 1810. His ancestors for several generations had been farmers, and as an avocation he followed in their footsteps and became also a tiller of the soil. He died in 1867. Alexander B. Earhart, whose name heads this sketch, was reared in Blairsville, and attended the common schools of that place. He also took advantage of a course at the Millersville State Normal school, in Lancaster county, Pennsylvania. On leaving school he served an apprenticeship at marble- carving and from 1872 until 1881 followed this business. In the latter year he entered the service of the Pennsylvania railroad company, in the capacity of clerk for a freight agent in Allegheny city, Pennsylvania. November 7, 1882, he resigned this position to accept a position as clerk in the office of the auditor of the Cumberland Valley railroad. He remained in this office until March 13, 1887, when he resigned and accepted a position as clerk in the office of the superintendent of the West Penn division of the Pennsylvania railroad in Allegheny city. He filled this position until January 1, 1893, when he was made chief clerk of the Cambria and Clearfield railroad at Cresson, which position he occupies at the present time. He is a member of the Acacia Lodge, No. 355, F. and A. M., Blairsville, Pa. On March 27, 1879, he was wedded to Miss Emma C., a daughter of Martin Ludwig, of Chambersburg, Franklin county, Pennsylvania, and to this marital relation two children have been born: Vera Louise, born March 8, 1885, and Earl Barclay, born March 20, 1895.