BIO: JOSEPH L. BEST, 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, pages 287-288
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  NOTE: Use this web address to access other bios:
  http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/cumberland/zeamer/

  
    JOSEPH L. BEST, one of the prominent and highly esteemed citizens of East
  Pennsboro township, was born in 1851, in Clearfield county, Pa., son of
  Joseph Best, ,whose father, Joseph Best, was born in Germany. The grandfather
  came to America and settled along the Yellow Breeches creek, in York county,
  where he bought a tract of over 100 acres of land and followed farming until
  advanced in life, when he came to Cumberland county and made his home with
  his son Joseph. His death occurred there, and he was buried in St. John's
  cemetery in Hampden township. His wife died young, leaving four children:
  John Elizabeth, who married Henry Snavely and died in Mechanicsburg; Joseph,
  father of Joseph L.; and Martin, who died in Shiremanstown.
    
    Joseph Best, father of Joseph L., was born in 1818 in York county, near the
  Cumberland county line. In young manhood he taught school and in 1840 went
  into the mercantile business at Shiremanstown. Later he went to Clearfield
  county, where he became a very successful lumber merchant, continuing in,
  that business until his death, in 1880. He was interred by the side of his
  father in Hampden township. He married Catherine Barnhart, daughter of Peter
  Barnhart, of Hampden township, and she died in 1882, and was also laid to
  rest in St. John's cemetery. They had children as follows: John, who married
  Sadie Eberly, died in 1880, and was interred with the other members of his
  family; Peter is a resident of Carlisle; Mary is the wife of Christian T.
  Eberly, and they live at Wellington, Kan.; Joseph L. is mentioned below;
  George C. is a resident of Kansas.
    
    Joseph L. Best attended the township school of Hampden until he was sixteen
  years of age, and then engaged in the lumber business along the river at
  Fairview for fourteen years. Then he learned the carpenter's trade in East
  Pennsboro township, which he still follows, and many of the buildings in this
  section show his handiwork.
    
    In 1872 Mr. Best married Sallie Lantz, who is a daughter of Jacob and
  Elizabeth (Swartz) Lantz, and located in East Pennsboro township. They have
  had two daughters, Mary and Cora. The former was born in 1873 and died in
  young girlhood, aged but twelve years, and she was buried in Zion
    
    CUMBERLAND COUNTY.  288
    
  Lutheran cemetery in East Pennsboro township. The latter, born in 1875, is
  the wife of Rev. J. C. Nicholas, a Lutheran minister of Butler, Pennsylvania.
    
    In politics Mr. Best is a Democrat, and he has frequently been honored with
  election to office. In 1884 he served one term as county commissioner, and has
  been school director three years and supervisor of East Pennsboro township for
  two terms. Both he and his wife are valued members of Zion Lutheran Church.
  Mr. Best enjoys the esteem of all who know him, and his reputation is that of
  an honorable, upright man and first-class citizen.