BIO: DAVID G. BAER, Cumberland County, Pennsylvania Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Joe Patterson OCRed by Judy Banja Copyright 2004. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/cumberland/ _____________________________________________________________ >From Biographical Annals of Cumberland County, Pennsylvania, Chicago: The Genealogical Publishing Co., 1905, pages 649-651 _____________________________________________________________ NOTE: Use this web address to access other bios: http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/cumberland/zeamer/ DAVID G. BAER, one of the most prosperous and highly respected citizens of West Pennsboro township, Cumberland Co., Pa., son of John Baer, and grandson of 650 CUMBERLAND COUNTY. Samuel Baer, was born in West Pennsboro township Nov. 20, 1844. Samuel Baer was born in Lancaster county, Pa., and came to Cumberland county when a boy, more than a century ago. John Baer, the father, was born in West Pennsboro in 1811, and was educated in the public schools of his day, after which he engaged in farming. In 1835 he married Martha Diller, daughter of Francis and Elizabeth (Bowman) Diller, of Frankford township, and they had nine children: Francis; Samuel; Sarah, who died in infancy; David G.; William, who died Dec. 26, 1865, in his nineteenth year; Elizabeth, now Mrs. Joseph Leidig, of near Chambersburg; Mary, Mrs. Hiram Ditlow, living on the family home farm at Hertzler's Bridge; Joseph, who died Sept. 15, 1902, aged fifty years; and Anna, Mrs. William Black, of West Pennsboro township. John Baer died on the home farm Jan. 29, 1879, in his sixty-seventh year, and his wife passed away Jan. 18, 1890, in her seventy-fifth year. David G. Baer alternately attended the public schools of his district and helped his father upon the farm until 1873, when he married Miss Elizabeth Doner, daughter of David and Susan (Miller) Doner. Mr. and Mrs. David Doner had children: Daniel H., born Sept. 24, 1847, who died Feb. 15, 1851; Joseph C., born Jan. 15, 1849, who died Sept. 20, 1872; Elizabeth, born July 5, 1851, and Alfred, born Nov. 25, 1853. David Doner died April 1, 1892, in his seventy-second year, and Mrs. Susan (Miller) Doner passed away April 5, 1885, in her seventieth year. Mrs. Baer's ancestors on her father's side came from Germany and settled in Lancaster county, where Daniel, her grandfather, was born and grew to manhood. He married Miss Elizabeth Musser, also of Lancaster county, about theyear 1802, and sometime after this he moved to Cumberland county, on a farm purchased by him in Frankford township, where he lived for some years. He then purchased a fine farm in West Pennsboro township, one mile north of Kerrsville, which is still owned and occupied by his descendants. Here he and his wife lived retired in their old age. Daniel Doner died Feb. 25, 1853, in his seventy-second year; Elizabeth (Musser) Doner died March 7, 1875, in her ninety-seventh year. Henry Miller, Mrs. Baer's great-grandfather on the mother's side, with his brother Abraham, came from Wales about the year 1780, Abraham settling at Huntingdon and Henry near Lewisberry, York county. He was married to Eve Herman June 8, 1785, and they had ten children. Henry Miller was born Aug. 16, 1764, and died Oct. 27, 1843, in his eightieth year; Eve (Herman) Miller was born May 3, 1764, and died June 21, 1825, aged sixty-one years. Henry Miller, the third child, and grandfather of Mrs. Baer, was born March 16, 1792. He married Elizabeth Brookhart, Jan. 17, 1815, and to them were born three children, Susan (Mrs. Doner), Daniel and Eliza. Sometime after this Mrs. Elizabeth (Brookhart) Miller died, and Henry Miller afterward married Catherine Rhoades, also of York county. To this union were born nine children. He was engaged in farming on his father's farm until about the year 1835, when, with his family, he moved to Cumberland county, settling several miles west of Newville, on the north bank of the Conedoguinet Creek in Mifflin township, where he had purchased a farm. Here he and family lived until his death, which occurred Aug. 22, 1848, when he was aged fifty-six years. David G. Baer engaged in farming for CUMBERLAND COUNTY. 651 his father-in-law until 1892, when Mr. Doner died and the farm fell to Mrs. Baer. Mr. Baer has greatly improved the place, until it is now one of the most valuable and well tilled farms in Cumberland county. Children as follows have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Baer: D. Edgar, at home; Alvin H., who married Alys Weldy Nov. 11, 1903, and lives at Waynesboro; S. Maud at home; Bessie I., at home; S. Herman and Mae E., attending school; and Bertha F. and Emma R., both of whom died in infancy. Mr. Baer is a Republican in politics, but never aspired for public office. The family attend the United Brethren Church at West Hill and are active in its good work, and are prominent in the township as well.