BIO: Henry Bear, Cumberland County, PA Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Judy Bookwalter Copyright 2011. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/cumberland/ ______________________________________________________________________ History of Cumberland and Adams Counties, Pennsylvania. Containing History of the Counties, Their Townships, Towns, Villages, Schools, Churches, Industries, Etc.; Portraits of Early Settlers and Prominent Men; Biographies; History of Pennsylvania; Statistical and Miscellaneous Matter, Etc., Etc. Illustrated. Chicago: Warner, Beers & Co., 1886. http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/cumberland/beers/beers.htm ______________________________________________________________________ PART II. HISTORY OF CUMBERLAND COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA. CHAPTER LX. WEST PENNSBOROUGH TOWNSHIP. 574 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: HENRY BEAR, retired farmer, Plainfield, was born March 17, 1824, in West Pennsborough Township, this county. About 1690 Michael Bear, a Mennonite minister, of Switzerland, fled from persecution to accept the generous offer of William Penn of a home in Pennsylvania. He settled in Berks County and has a large number of descendants. Michael, his son, had a son, Henry, who came to West Pennsborough Township, this county, in 1804, with his sons, Michael, John and Samuel. Of these, Michael was twice wedded, and by his first marriage (with Miss Esther Alter) had two children: Benjamin, who died in Summit County, Ohio, and Mrs. Esther Stephens, who died in this county. His second wife, Hannah Wax, was a daughter of Peter Wax, a Revolutionary soldier, who settled in Frankford Township, this county, coming from Schuylkill County, Penn., and lived to be ninety-four years of age; his wife died aged eighty-seven. Mr. and Mrs. Bear settled near Plainfield. To them were born seven children, five of whom attained maturity: Henry, Mrs. Margaret Greason (deceased), Maria, Maurice (deceased) and Mrs. Rachael LeFevre, of Carlisle. Mr. Bear was a very effective local preacher of the United Brethren faith; he died very suddenly December 16, 1849, while officiating in the pulpit, being stricken down by apoplexy. He was a very active man, and exerted a wide influence for good. Henry Bear, who has lived on the home-farm all his life, owns a fine farm of eighty acres besides his handsome residence and farm of four acres where he resides. He was married, February 3, 1848, to Miss Margaret LeFevre, who died about two and a half years afterward. He next married, May 15, 1856, Miss Catharine Longnecker, and by her has one daughter, Mary. Mr. Bear, of Federalist descent, was formerly a Whig, afterward a Republican. He takes a deep interest in public affairs, and has rendered important services as a campaign orator. As a speaker he is clear, logical and forcible, and carries the weight of his own convictions in his addresses. He is one of the leading influential citizens of Cumberland County.