BIO: Samuel Blair ECHARD, Clearfield County, PA Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Judy Banja & Sally Copyright 2005. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/clearfield/ NOTE: Use this web address to access other bios: http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/clearfield/1picts/swoope/swoope.htm _____________________________________________________________ From Twentieth Century History of Clearfield County, Pennsylvania, and Representative Citizens, by Roland D. Swoope, Jr., Chicago: Richmond-Arnold Publishing Company, 1911, page 357. _____________________________________________________________ SAMUEL BLAIR ECHARD, owner and proprietor of a blacksmith shop and a dealer also in agricultural machinery and farm implements, at Ramey, Pa., is one of the representative men of the borough which he has served officially on numerous occasions. He was born November 2, 1866, in Freedom Township, Blair County, Pa., and is a son of John and Salome (Stiffler) Echard. John Echard was born in Blair County and was a son of George Echard. He was a farmer in Blair County and spent his life there. He married Salome Stiffler, who is also deceased, and they had the following children born to them: James F.; Catherine, who is the wife of Samuel Stiffler; Henry M.; Samuel B.; Joseph C.; Mary A., who is the wife of David L. Semple; Peter W.; and Anna B., who is the wife of Calvin Fleming. Samuel Blair Echard obtained his education in the public schools of Blair County and then worked on the home farm until he was twenty-one years of age, after which he spent one year in the woods. He came to Clearfield County when he was twenty-one and worked for eight years at the carpenter trade and then turned his attention to blacksmithing and dealing in farm implements. Mr. Echard is considered an expert mechanic and has proved the justice of this reputation by his successful efforts in both trades. He is an intelligent and active citizen and one who commands the confidence of his fellow citizens. He served in the borough council for two and one-half terms, was borough treasurer for one term and for seven years has been a member of the school board. He is also a member of the board of trustees and treasurer of the Methodist Episcopal church at Ramey. On November 2, 1894, Mr. Echard was married to Miss Mary J. McMurray, a daughter of Alexander and Sophia McMurray, and they have three children: John A., Vida May, and William McKinley, all of whom are very satisfactory pupils in the Ramey schools. In politics Mr. Echard is a Republican.