BIO: Jonathan 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/
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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
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                                PART II.

             HISTORY OF CUMBERLAND COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

                               CHAPTER LX.

                       WEST PENNSBOROUGH TOWNSHIP.

574  BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES:

  JONATHAN BEAR, farmer, P. O. Plainfield, was born July 4, 1819, in 
West Pennsborough Township, Cumberland Co., Penn.  His father, Samuel, 
a son of John Bear, married Miss Sarah, daughter of Philip Zeigler, and 
settled in what is now known as Bear's District, West Pennsborough 
Township, and here resided until his death, which occurred April 30, 
1855, in his sixty-eighth year; his widow died in Plainfield December 
26, 1871, aged eighty years and five months.  They reared eight of 
their ten children:  Mrs. Catharine Steiner, Jonathan, Mrs. Mary Seitz, 
Rebecca, Elizabeth, John (deceased), Davis and Philip (deceased).  
January 11, 1849, our subject married Miss Maria, daughter of Henry and 
Polly (Bear) Bear, from Lancaster County, Penn.  They resided on the 
farm near Conodoguinet Creek until August, 1884, when they moved to 
their present residence, and now own a fine farm of 132 acres, besides 
a beautiful home of six acres where they reside.  To them have been 
born nine children, of whom the following are now living:  Abner, Mrs. 
Mary Eppley, Sarah and Lizzie.  Ellen died at seventeen years of age, 
Emma when fifteen, Samuel died when nineteen years old, and Refeea and 
Catharine when small.  Mr. Bear and family belong to the Reformed 
Mennonite Church.  He takes great interest in the education of his 
family and has given them good opportunities.