OBIT: BYRNE, Henry; 1906; Ebensburg, 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, 23 Nov 1906 Volume 40, Number 47 Gone to His Last Reward Henry Byrne, One of East Ward's Oldest Citizens, Passes Peacefully Away Thursday Morning Henry Byrne, one of Ebensburg's oldest and most respected citizens, died at his home in the East Ward Thursday morning at about six o'clock, aged 85 years, three months and three days, his death being due to diseases incident to old age. Henry Byrne was born on the Simon Weakland farm in Susquehanna township, this county, and was a son of John and Mary Ann Bender Byrne, who were well known among the early settlers of northern Cambria County. John Byrne was taken to the north of the county by his father when the former was about two years of age. They were members of the McGuire settlement at Loretto, having come there soon after the place had been first settled. From Loretto John Byrne with his family traveled north to a spot which has since been known as "Hart's Sleeping Place," being so called from the fact that an Indian trader named Hart always made it his business to stop at this point and trade with the Indians as well as spend the night before resuming his journey across the Alleghenies. St. Joseph's Catholic Church, an old land mark that is still preserved, was erected at Hart's Sleeping Place about the year 1829 or 1830 and soon a thriving settlement appeared in the midst of the vast wilderness. Among the most prominent and industrious of the people in this little settlement was the Byrne family. It was at this point that Henry Byrne, the subject of this notice, spent his boyhood days and in fact the greater portion of his life, laboring as a farmer. When Henry Byrne was a young man, he conducted a wayside grocery store at Plattville in Susquehanna township and later he moved his store to the Cross Roads in Carroll township. About fifty years ago he was united in marriage to Miss Mary Ann Bender [note that this is the same name given above as the woman married to John Byrne] and lived on the Byrne farm at Hart's Sleeping Place. After giving up the mercantile business, Mr. Byrne followed farming until failing health and advanced age compelled him to retire from that occupation. In 1866 Mr. Byrne was elected to the office of Director of the Poor which he filled for one term. He later filled the offices of Constable and Justice of the Peace in Cambria Township. In 1870 Mr. Byrne moved with his family from his Carroll township farm to Cambria Township where he owned and farmed the Elijah Marsh farm, one-half mile east of Ebensburg until 1880 when he retired from business and moved to the East ward, Ebensburg, where he has since continued to reside and where his wife died twelve years ago. Mr. Byrne was an upright citizen, a lifelong member of the Catholic Church and in politics, a Democrat. He had many friends and commanded the respect of all who knew him. The deceased is survived by two sons and two daughters, as follows: William H. Byrne of Vintondale; Edward Byrne of Pittsburg; Lucinda, wife of T. C. O'Donavan of Coraopolis, Pa., and Miss Ella, at home. One daughter, Emma Byrne, died about thirty years ago. The funeral services will take place at the Church of the Holy Name in Ebensburg on Saturday morning at ten o'clock, when a High Mass of Requiem will be celebrated by the pastor, Father H. M. O'Neill, after which interment will be made in the adjoining cemetery.