OBIT: BEARER, John; 1905; Susquehanna Twp., Cambria Cnty., PA Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Patty Millich Copyright 2009. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/cambria/ _________________________________________ Cambria Freeman Ebensburg, Pa. Friday, 24 Nov 1905 Volume 39, Number 46 Death of John Bearer Respected Citizen of This County Gone to His Last Reward In the death of John Bearer, who passed away Saturday at his home in Susquehanna township, Cambria county loses one of her oldest and best known citizens. Mr. Bearer who was in the 85th year of his age was stricken a few days ago with paralysis which caused his death. When he was a young man he was afflicted with a swelling in one of his legs which caused him a great deal of trouble until he was 21 yeas of age when the diseased member was amputated. Following this his health improved and he continued a robust man until he was stricken with paralysis. The funeral took place at 10 o'clock Tuesday morning from the St. Benedict Catholic Church at Carrolltown where a solemn high requiem mass was celebrated and interment of the remains made in St. Benedict cemetery. The pall bearers were 12 grandchildren of the deceased and the undertaker, Mr. E. J. Bearer, who had charge of the funeral, was also a grandson. Mr. Bearer was born at Hagerstown, March 16, 1821, and at an early age came with his parents to Barr township, this county, where they settled. After reaching manhood, Mr. Bearer married and in 1846 located on the farm where he died, then in the wilderness and which he continued to improve until he made it one of the finest farms in the north of the county. He served several terms as Justice of the Peace in Susquehanna township and in 1857 was elected county commissioner and served one term. He is survived by his wife and six sons and three daughters, namely: Lewis J. of Susquehanna township; Francis L. of Barnesboro; D. A. of Elyria, O.; John A. of Susquehanna township; M. D. of Ebensburg; George of Pittsburg; Mrs. M. D. Koontz of Spangler; Mrs. J. R. Blair of Elyria, O., and Mrs. Henry Volk of Carroll township. Mr. Bearer was one of the best posted men in the country on current topics. During his entire career the daily and weekly newspapers were carefully perused by him even during his declining years. The history of the Bearer family dates to periods that are now referred to as antiquated epochs of our country's development. In 1816 Joseph Bearer landed with his family in the Quaker City, having left Alsace which was at the time a province in France, on account of certain difficulties which arose as a result of international conflicts at that period. Upon landing in Philadelphia in 1816 the Bearer family found themselves almost penniless, excepting some ready cash which they brought with them. When they left France they owned considerable real estate interests, but those were abandoned in the desire to locate in a country where peace and not strife predominated. As a consequence the members of the Bearer family were called upon to hustle for a livelihood; several of the sons of Joseph Bearer, having attained the age when they could go out into the world for themselves. Joseph Jr. subsequently located in Morristown, N. J., where he soon became an influential citizen, having embarked in the hotel business, conducting the Farmers' Hotel which he owned. He afterward became county treasurer. Louis, another son, embarked with a party bound for Cape Cod, Mass., where several of his sons are now identified with a large tack manufacturing concern. Ignatius, still another son of Joseph Sr., departed for what was then known as the "wild and unexplored west." He never returned. Although every effort has been made by members of the family to locate him, no trace of his whereabouts has ever been found. It is believed that he must have died.