FAYETTE COUNTY, PA - BAER BIOGRAPHY; HISTORY OF FAYETTE COUNTY File submitted for use in the USGenWeb Archives by: Dick E rickson ************************************************************************ USGENWEB NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by any other organization or persons. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material, must obtain the written consent of the contributor, or the legal representative of the submitter, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. ************************************************************************ BAER HISTORY FROM BOOK OF JORDAN & HADDEN 1912 HISTORY OF FAYETTE COUNTY-UNIONTOWN LIBRARY COPIED BY RICHARD L. ERICKSON (GREAT, GREAT GRANDSON OF LOUIS BAER) APRIL 23, 1998 This branch of the Baer family came to Fayette county from Ohio where Louis Baer of German descent was born. He came when a young man to Nicholson township, Fayette county, Pennsylvania, where he married, then returned to Ohio, where they lived for several years, but finally returned to her home in Nicholson township, Fayette county. He was a blacksmith and followed his trade in both states. He married in Masontown, Pennsylvania, Mary Honsaker, born in Nicholson township, where both died. Children: 1. Josiah, of whom further, 2. John, a farmer now living near Smithfield, Pennsylvania, married Margaret Howard. 3. Margaret, married Caleb Rockwell, a farmer, moved to Virginia, later returned and died in German township. 4. Rebecca, married David Turney and lived in Nicholson township, then in Iowa and Nebraska, now in Oregon City, Oregon, he is deceased. 5. Justice B., now a farmer, living at McClellandtown, Fayette county, married Barbara Sayler, also living. 6. Nicholas, died aged 28 years, married Mary McCann. 7. Rachel, married John Phillips, and live in La Salle, Illinois, she is yet surviving. 8. Mary, married John Riffle, both living in German township, Fayette county. 9. Louis (2), married Josephine Jeffries and lives in Dunbar, Fayette county. (11) Josiah, eldest child of Louis and Mary (Honsaker) Baer, was born in Masontown, Fayette county, Pennsylvania, December 7, 1830, died, March 5, 1908 in Uniontown, Pennsylvania. He was a small boy when his parents moved to Ohio, where he attended public school until the return to Nicholson township, Fayette county. He became a farmer and finally owner of a farm of one hundred sixty-four acres in Nicholson township, upon which he live and prospered until 1905 when he retired. He was a Mennonite in religious faith and strictly observed the tenets of that peculiar sect. He was a Republican in politics. He married (first) Barbara Johnson, born in Nicholson township, Fayette county, March 31, 1830, died there June 2, 1870, daughter of Nicholas (2) and Martha (Clemmer) Johnson, both born in Fayette County, where he died aged 92 years, she died aged 84. Nicholas (2) Johnson was a school teacher and taught in both English and German for many years in Nicholson township. He was also a local preacher of the Mennonite Church, a man devoutly religious and very thrifty, owning several good farms. He was the son of Nicholas (1) and Mattie (Bixler) Johnson, the former a farmer and saw mill owner of German township, Fayette county, son of Peter (2) and Anna (Druslein) Johnson, he being the pioneer settler of the family in Fayette county, son of Peter Johnson (1), born upon the high seas, and the first of the line to settle in Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, both parents dying on the voyage (see Johnson). Children of Nicholas (2) and Martha (Clemmer) Johnson : 1. Mattie M., married John Honsaker, a farmer and carpenter of German township, Fayette county, Pennsylvania. 2. died young. 3. Joseph, deceased. 4. Nancy J., married Squire A. Hayden and lived in German township, where both died. 5. Elizabeth, married Solomon Honsaker, a farmer of Nicholson township, both deceased. 6. Jacob J., married three times, he is deceased. 7. David, a local preacher of the Mennonite Church, preaching in one pulpit 60 years, died age 92 years, married Barbara Riffle. 8. Barbara (of previous mention), wife of Josiah Baer. Their children; 1. David J., married Anna Campbell, lives in Masontown, Pennsylvania, engaged in teaming and delivery business. 2. John H., married Anna Leckrone, lives in Uniontown. 3. Justice, died age 2 years. 4. Jacob A., of whom further. 5. Nancy J., died in infancy. 6. Rachel M., married Beauregard F. Cuppett, both living in Uniontown. 7. James Alpheus, married Minnie Riffle, resides in German township. Josiah Baer married (second) Bertha Edingfield, who survives him (1912). Children; 8. William T., resides in Uniontown with his mother, unmarried. 9. May Eliza, married D. A. Brashear, of Uniontown. (111) Jacob A., fourth child of Josiah and Barbara (Johnson) Baer, was born in Nicholson township, Fayette county, Pennsylvania, February 17, 1861. He attended the public schools and until he attained the age of twenty years remained on the home farm. On May 12, 1882, he came to Uniontown and began learning the carpenter’s trade under the direction of A. B. Craft. After working two years with Mr. Craft, he went west locating at Meriden, Jefferson county, Kansas, where he continued work at his trade and in a furniture store as a clerk. He intended to go farther west, and has purchased a ticket to California, but being stricken with malarial fever, he changed his destination and returned to Uniontown where he again entered the employ of Mr. Craft. After fifteen months he began working in a planing mill, continuing 2 years. In 1897 he formed a partnership with J. W. Baird, under the firm name of Baird and Baer, lumber dealers and general building contractors. The continued in successful operation until November, 1906, when the firm dissolved, Mr. Baer purchasing his partner’s interest. In February, 1907, he sold the business to J. M. Laing and retired for a year. Since 1908 he has done some contracting and superintended the erection of buildings for others. He is a Republican in politics and has never consented to run for any public office, although urged by his friends to accept nomination for both the school board and city council. He is a member of the Second Presbyterian Church of Uniontown; Fort Necessity Lodge, No. 254, and is past chief patriarch of Fayette Encampment, Independent Order of Odd Fellows. He resides at No. 114 West Berkley Street, where he purchased a home in 1889. He married June 7, 1885, Elizabeth Fike, born at Selbysport, Maryland January 25, 1865, daughter of William and Rebecca (Thomas) Fike, who both died when Mrs. Baer was a child. Children: 1. Charles W.; born April 5, 1886, graduate of Uniontown High School and also the law department University of Michigan, now teacher of History at the Uniontown High School. 2. Joseph J., born May 7, 1888, graduate of the law department, University of Michigan, and attorney of Uniontown, Pennsylvania. 3. Harold Harrison, June 23, 1891. 4. Mary Gertrude, March 26, 1893. 5. Gordon Reed, June 22, 1895. 6. Alice Elizabeth, March 7, 1898. 7. Elsie Barbara, January 7, 1900. 8. Jacob A. (2) June 16, 1906.