BIO:  JONATHAN BEAR, 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/
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  >From Biographical Annals of Cumberland County, Pennsylvania,
  Chicago: The Genealogical Publishing Co., 1905, page 539
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  NOTE: Use this web address to access other bios:
  http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/cumberland/zeamer/


      JONATHAN BEAR (deceased), for many years a prosperous farmer of West
  Pennsboro township, Cumberland county, was a native of that township, born
  July 4, 1819. He was a grandson of John Bear, and a son of Samuel Bear, who
  married Sarah Zeigler, daughter of Philip Zeigler. They settled in what is
  now known as Bear's district, in West Pennsboro township, and there Mr. Bear
  passed the remainder of his days, dying April 30, 1855, in his sixty-eighth
  year. His widow died in Plainfield, Dec. 26, 1871, aged eighty years and five
  months. They were the parents of ten children, eight of whom reached maturity:
  Catharine (Mrs. Steiner), Jonathan, Mary (Mrs. Seitz), Rebecca, Elizabeth,
  John, David and Philip.
  
      Jonathan Bear was reared and educated in his native township, and on
  commencing farming on his own account settled on the farm near Conedoguinet
  creek, where he resided until August, 1884. He then moved to the place which
  has since been the family home, a beautiful little tract of six acres near
  Elliottson, and also retained the ownership of a fine place of 132 acres in
  West Pennsboro township, now owned by S. L. Eppley, his son-in-law. On Jan.
  11, 1849, Mr. Bear married Miss Maria Bear, daughter of Henry and Polly
  (Bear) Bear, of Lancaster county, Pa., and to this union were born nine
  children, four of whom survive: Abner, Mary (Mrs. Eppley), Sarah and
  Elizabeth, the two last named now living at the home in West Pennsboro left
  them by their father. Abner is living in Mechanicsburg; he married Rebecca
  Huston, and they have had five children: Charles, who is in New York; Harry
  L., in Waynesboro; Bessie M., who is teaching school in Mechanicsburg; and
  Dale and Clarence, who are still going to school. Of the deceased, Ellen died
  when seventeen years old; Emma, when fifteen; Samuel, when nineteen; and
  Rebecca and Catharine died when small.
  
      Mr. Bear lived retired for the last few years preceding his death, which
  occurred in 1895, and the wife passed away in 1896. He and his family adhered
  to the faith of the Reformed Mennonite Church. They are among the best people
  of the community, and the family has always been noted for thrift and
  integrity.