Bios: Ba-Bl Surnames: Gresham and Wiley, 1889: Biographical & Portrait Cyclopedia, Fayette Co, PA Contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by Marta Burns. marta43@juno.com USGENWEB ARCHIVES NOTICE: Printing this file within by non-commercial individuals and libraries is encouraged, as long as all notices and submitter information is included. Any other use, including copying files to other sites requires permission from the submitters PRIOR to uploading to any other sites. We encourage links to the state and county table of contents. http://www.usgwarchives.net/ ______________________________________________________________________ Biographical and Portrait Cyclopedia of Fayette County, Pennsylvania editorially managed by John M. Gresham assisted in the compilation by Samuel T. Wiley, A Citizen of the County Compiled and Published by John M. Gresham & Co. Chicago: 1889 http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/fayette/gresham.htm Table of Contents. ______________________________________________________________________ NOTE: "Brnv & Bdgpt" stands for "Brownsville and Bridgeport" NAME LOCATION PAGE Bailey, M C, Rev Georges 491 Baker, George Springhill 248 Baker, J L Springhill 248 Baker, J P Springhill 247 Baker, Micheal Springhill 247 Baker, Micheal German 496 Baldwin, John Washington 313 Baldwin, T F Washington 313 Ball, Zachariah Uniontown 132 Barnes, David Miscellaneous 586 Barton, Joseph Uniontown 132 Bates, Joseph Tyrone 314 Baum, Max Uniontown 133 Beal, B F Menallen 314 Beal, L C, Dr Uniontown 134 Beatty, C S Dunbar 413 Beeson, J C Dunbar 414 Beeson, Jacob M Uniontown 134 Beven, David Dunbar 415 Bierer, Everhard, Col Uniontown 138 Bierer, Everhart Uniontown 137 Bixler, D V Tyrone 315 Blaney, W S Dunbar 415 Blythe, J P Washington 315 p491 Rev MALACHI CURTIS BAILEY, PhD, an earnest, able and efficient minister of the Presbyterian church, is a son of William S Bailey and Elizabeth Barker Bailey. He was born at Sandy Lake, Mercer county, Penna, July 31, 1848, and is a descendant of a Yankee family on both his paternal and maternal sides. His father, William S Bailey, was born in New York in 1818, removed to Mercer county, Penna, when a young man, and settled on a farm. He is a democrat and a ruling elder in the Presbyterian church. He now resides at Leesburg, and near there he owns a farm of sixty five acres. W S Bailey married Miss Elizabeth Barker, daughter of Jason Barker, a farmer. They have had five children: Rev M C Bailey; William Newil Bailey, a physician at East Liverpool, Ohio; Ada Belle Bailey, wife of T J Armstrong of Leesburg; Jason Bailey (dead) and Everett Bailey (dead). Mrs Bailey was born April 22, 1823, and has been a lifelong member of the Presbyterian church. Rev M C Bailey remained on the farm until the age of fifteen years, when he engaged as a clerk in a store at Sandy Lake, and continued as such for four years. At nineteen years of age he engaged in a dry goods store at Meadville, where he clerked at intervals until 1875. In 1869 and 1870 he attended Westminster College at Wilmington, Penna. From 1870 to 1875 he was a student at Allegheny College at Meadville. During that time he was the author of the Kalamathean prize essay, and was also the successful one of ten competitors for a declamation prize, besides being elected in the last year valedictorian of the Franklin Literary Society. In 1875 he attended the Western Theological Seminary at Allegheny City, and studied theology for three years. In 1878 he was called as pastor to the Presbyterian church at Middletown near Harrisburg, Penna, and served acceptably until 1881, when he came to Fairchance, where he has since labored zealously and efficiently for the best interests of his church. October 10, 1878, he was married to Miss Brightie Murdock, daughter of Matthew Murdock, a skilled mechanic at Natrona, Penna. To their union have been born three children: Charles Hodge Bailey; Rose Bailey and Lily Bailey (twins), Rose being dead. In 1886 M C Bailey completed the two years post graduate course of Wooster University, Ohio, and received the degree of doctor of philosophy. In 1885 he was elected stated clerk of the Redstone Presbytery, and in 1887 was a delegate from the same body to the general assembly of the Presbyterian church at Omaha, Nebraska. His charge embraced the Fairchance, Tent and McClellandtown churches, and includes one hundred square miles of territory. He has conducted over one hundred funerals in the last seven years, besides preaching three times every Sabbath. He reaches about four thousand people in his regular work, and through his able and practical sermons, published in the press of the county, addresses over 25,000 people. p248 GEORGE BAKER is of German origin, was born April 11, 1818, in Springhill township, Fayette county, Penna, and is a son of George Baker and Julia Ann Dick Baker. His paternal grandfather, Peter Baker, came from Maryland to Springhill township in 1802, and purchased a farm of 291 1/2 acres of land. He was a successful farmer in his day and kept an apiary. George Baker Sr, father, was born near Boonsborough, Maryland, and received a very good education. He married Miss Julia Ann Dick, December 14, 1794, in 1800 moved across the mountains in wagons to Springhill, settled upon his father's tract of which he became heir to 141 acres, his brother receiving the remainder. He had six children: Elizabeth Baker, Mary Baker, Margaret Baker, Thomas Baker, Charlotte Baker and George Baker. George Baker Sr was a weaver by trade and he and his wife were members of the Lutheran church. He died in 1839 at the age of seventy five years, and in two months his wife, a native of Germany, passed away aged sixty nine years. George Baker was reared on a farm, and attended the subscription school until eighteen years of age. The home farm was willed to him on condition that he pay the other heirs a certain sum each, which he did. He has held the farm since his father's death in 1839, and has added greatly to its appearance and value by many valuable improvements, one of which was the erection of a large, tasteful and comfortable residence. He was married October 7, 1844, to Miss Margaret Sergent, daughter of Richard Sergent. Their union has been blessed with seven children: Julia Ann Baker, April 6, 1846; Sarah E Baker, April 10, 1848; Oliver P Baker, March 10, 1850; James Baker, April 23, 1852; Emma C Baker, July 15, 1854; William E Baker, February, 10, 1857; Joseph M Baker, August 31, 1859; and two who died in infancy. Mr Baker is a Jacksonian Democrat, as was also his father; he has held the township offices of auditor, road supervisor, and school director. He is a prominent citizen of Springhill and is a good farmer. His wife has spent half a century of her life in the membership and service of the Presbyterian church, and has been a faithful friend of the church to which her husband also belongs. p248 Joseph Lyons Baker is of German ancestry, and a member of one of the prominent families of Springhill township. His is a son of John Baker and Catherine Saddler Baker, and was born September 5, 1838, in Springhill township, Fayette county, Penna. His grandfather, Micheal Baker, was a native of Hagerstown, Maryland, and was one of the early settlers of Springhill township. His father, John Baker, was born in Springhill township, and received a plain but practical education and engaged in farming as his life's pursuit. On arriving at man's estate, he married and immediately purchased his father-in-law's farm of 246 acres of land. He bought it on credit and by industry and prompt attention to his business, paid every dollar of his indebtedness. He was married to Miss Catherine Saddler, daughter of William Saddler. To them were born ten children: William Baker, Jacob Baker, Micheal Baker, Joseph L Baker, Daniel Baker, James Baker, John Baker, Mary Baker, Martha Baker, Maggie Baker, all living but Jacob who died in the federal army. John Baker was a democrat and served as road supervisory and assessor. He was a kind father, a good citizen and died September 23, 1853. His venerable widow is now living with her daughters in Missouri. Joseph Lyons Baker was reared on a farm, educated in the common schools and the Millsboro Normal School in Washington county where he attended two terms. Leaving school he engaged in teaching and taught three terms in the common schools of Fayette county, one term in Indiana and one term in Missouri. During 1866 he returned to Springhill and engaged in farming on the homestead farm for three years. In 1869 he removed to his father-in-law's farm in Dunbar township and remained there four years. In 1873 he purchased ninety two acres of the home farm in Springhill township, and immediately removed there. He erected a fine dwelling and has greatly improved his farm by fencing, draining and liming. He was married November 7, 1867, to Miss Rebecca Hurst, daughter of Nathaniel G Hurst, a well known citizen of Fayette county. They have seven children: Jesse Hurst Baker, Lilly May Baker, Julia M Baker, Katie Hurst Baker, Beatrice Baker, Isaac G Baker and Queenie Baker. Mr Baker was a democrat until 1888. Being in favor of a high protective tariff, he left the democratic ranks in that year and voted with the republican party. He has served one year as tax collector and is serving his fourth terms as school director. For two years he has been an elder in the Lutheran church at Morris Cross Roads, of which he and his wife have been members for several years. p247 JAMES P BAKER is a son of John Baker and Catherine Saddler Baker, and was born near Morris Cross Roads, Springhill township, Fayette county, Penna, March 2, 1843; he is descended from an old and worthy German family. His grandfather Baker was one of the earliest settlers of Fayette county. John Baker, father, was born near Morris Cross Roads on the 15th of September, 1807, and died September 23, 1853. He owned a farm of 240 acres of excellent, well-improved land and devoted all his time to farming. He married Catherine Saddler, daughter of William Saddler, a farmer and one of the earlier settlers. They had ten children: William Baker, Jacob Baker, Micheal D Baker, Mary Baker, Joseph L Baker, Daniel M Baker, James P Baker, John Baker, Mattie Baker and Margaret Baker. All these children are living except Jacob who died while a soldier in the Union army. James P Baker worked on his father's farm and attended the common schools until twenty years of age. Leaving school he engaged in farming with his father. He rented the Everhart farm in 1875 and farmed it one year. In 1876 he took charge of the celebrated "Friendship Hill" estate, the home of Albert Gallatin, and the "favorite seat of John L Dawson, who ended here his brilliant and useful life." Mr Baker continued to manage Friendship Hill estate until 1884 when he bought a farm of sixty five acres and removed to it. He remained on the farm until January 1, 1889, when he again took charge of Friendship Hill estate, where he now resides. James P Baker was married November 7, 1867, to Elizabeth Everhart, daughter of Adolph Everhart, a Fayette county farmer. Their union has been blessed with five children: Lena Baker, Ella Baker, Mattie Baker, Elizabeth Baker, and Eliza Baker, now all living except Elizabeth, who died at nine months of age. Mr Baker is a democrat and has always voted that ticket. He is a member of the Lutheran church at Morris Crossroads, and is a man of good judgment, correct business habits, gives intelligent thought to his business, and has always been successful in whatever he has undertaken. p247 Micheal Baker, an old and respected citizen of Springhill township, is of German descent and was born March 3, 1815. He is the son of Micheal Baker and Catherine Everly Baker, both natives of Maryland. Micheal Baker Sr, father, when a young man came to Springhill township with his father and mother. He bought a farm of 125 acres, which he improved and cultivated during the remainder of his life. He married Miss Catherine Everly, and unto them were born six sons and four daughters. He engaged in farming and for many years employed a team in hauling goods from Cumberland, Maryland, to Fayette county. He was an honest and respected citizen, and by hard work accumulated considerable property. He died in 1859, being preceded twenty years to the tomb by his faithful wife. Micheal Baker was reared on a farm, and attended the subscription schools until seventeen years of age. He then engaged in farming, and after his father's death, he purchased the home farm where he resides today. He has erected a very fine residence, and a large and commodious barn on the old homestead where he is passing his last days in peace and plenty. Mr Baker was married April 28, 1845 to Miss Catherine Everly, daughter of Richard Surgent. To their union were born seven children: Richard Baker, Sarah Baker, Elizabeth Baker, Jefferson Baker, Barbara Baker, John Baker and Margaret Ellen Baker (dead). John and Sarah are still at home while the others are married and have homes of their own. Mrs Baker was a member of the Presbyterian church until her death, January 15, 1873. Mr Baker was admitted to membership many years ago, in the Disciple church at Oak Grove. He is a democrat of the Jeffersonian school, has served as judge of elections, and supervisor of roads in Springhill township. By intelligent management and honest labor, he has acquired a competency, lives surrounded by all the comforts of life, and enjoys the confidence and respect of those who know him. p496 MICHEAL BAKER is of German-French extraction, and was born in what is now Nicholson township, Fayette county, Penna, February 12, 1827. He is a son of Joseph Baker and Anna Larch Baker. Joseph Baker was the son of Micheal Baker, a German Baptist minister and early settler of Fayette county. Joseph Baker was born, reared and educated in Springhill township. He was a farmer and owned a valuable farm of 128 acres; he subsequently added to it by purchase, forty five acres of adjoining land. He was a life-long democrat, an upright member of the Mount Moriah Baptist church at Smithfield, and was one of the old and substantial citizens of Nicholson township, and died May 15, 1858, aged fifty five years. He married Miss Hannah Larch, daughter of Paul Larch. Their union was blessed with four children: Micheal Baker and George Baker, twins; Josiah Baker, cabinet maker in Hamilton, Ohio; and Caroline Baker, married and resides in Smithfield. Paul Larch, maternal grandfather, as related won his wife in rather a romantic manner. He was a native of France, emigrated to the Illinois country, and engaged as an Indian trader. He stile his wife at night from an Indian camp where she was confined as a prisoner. She had been employed during the day in carrying wood, which the Indians intended to use in burning her during the next day. He owned four hundred acres of land where Kaskaskia, Illinois, now stands. Being in fear of the Indians, he came to George's Creek and took up four hundred acres of land where he resided till his death. Micheal Baker grew to manhood on the farm, attended the subscription schools and read and studied during his spare moments around the fireside at home until twenty one years of age. Starting out in life for himself, he engaged in farming as his life pursuit. He now owns the home farm of 128 acres, besides having an interest in a large cattle ranch in Wyoming Territory. September 20, 1859, he was united in marriage to Miss Jane Dowlin, daughter of John Dowlin of Greene county, and sister of John Dowlin, ex revenue collector. They have three children: Lizzie Baker, Ella Baker, married, and Chauncey Larch Baker. Mr Baker and his family are members of the Mount Moriah Baptist church at Smithfield. In 1873-75 he served very acceptably as poor house director of Fayette county. He is a prosperous farmer, an energetic and reliable business man. p313 JOHN BALDWIN was born at Fayette City, Fayette county, Pa, April 3, 1832, reared there and was educated in the common schools of the township. He learned the business of tinsmith and coppersmith, which he followed for some years. In 1850 he went to St Louis, Mo, and soon thereafter began steamboating as an engineer, and continued till the close of the war. After the close of the war he commenced to travel through the southern states, setting up machinery. He lost an arm while he was engaged in putting up a cotton gin in Tennessee. He returned to his native town, engaged in the hotel business and in contract work. He was married in 1867 to Susan Stickle, the daughter of Henry Stickle and Anna Start Stickle. Both of her parents were of old families in the county, and her father was a soldier in the war of 1812. Mr Baldwin and wife have three living children: Thornton H Baldwin, born August 1, 1868; Tillie Baldwin, born November 17, 1869, and Georgie Baldwin, born December 25, 1874. John Baldwin has held the office of burgess of Fayette City, was a member of the school board, and is at the present a member of the borough council. Robert Baldwin, father, was born December 25, 1805; was married January 24, 1824, to Matilda McFee, who was born November 14, 1807; and her father William McFee was one of the early settlers of Cookstown. Their family consisted of the following members: William D, born March 26, 1828, died May 12, 1832; John, born April 3, 1832; Elmira born March 8, 1834, died April 27, 1839; Eli A born February 14, 1836, died at about thirty five years of age, was pilot on the Upper Mississippi River; Thornton F born September 27, 1840; Clara M born May 2, 1841, died at nineteen years old; Ford McFee born February, 1844, died at four years old; Mary F and Charles C (twins) born February 20, 1847. Robert Baldwin died in 1870; his wife died in 1876. William Baldwin, the paternal grandfather of John Baldwin, was one of the early settlers of the county, and was justice of the peace for many years in the Quaker settlement, near what is now known as Red Lion. The Baldwins were members principally of the Methodist Episcopal church. William McFee, the maternal grandfather of Mr Baldwin, was the first tailor of Cookstown. p313 THORNTON F BALDWIN, a stirring business man of Washington township, was born at Fayette City, Fayette county, Pa, September 27, 1840, and is a son of Robert Baldwin. Thornton Baldwin was educated in the early common schools of Fayette county, and took care of a school building in order to secure some additional and higher school learning. At an early age he began to do for himself, was a cabin boy on the river for about five years, when he learned the trade of butcher. He was engaged in boring for oil in West Virginia for several years prior to the breaking out of the late war. He came back to Fayette county in 1862, and engaged in butchering and the livery business. After sixteen years experience in this work, he removed to Pittsburgh and opened a hotel. Owing to the loss of several members of his family he abandoned hotel-keeping, returned a second time to Fayette City and resumed his former employment of butchering. He continued it for two years, when he secured his present position on the river of steward on the "Hunter No. 2." In 1863 he was married to Miss Sarah McClinch, a native of Sheltersville, N J. They have one son, John W Baldwin, born in 1880. Mrs Baldwin is of Irish descent. Thornton F Baldwin is a K of P, U O of A W, Red Men, and a member of the N B A. He is industrious, energetic and never idle. p132 ZACHARIAH BALL, deceased, was a highly respected citizen of North Union township. He was a son of John and Rachel Ball, and was born in Dunbar township, Fayette county, Penna, April 3, 1819, and died in North Union township, March 11, 1886. Zachariah Ball left the subscription schools of Dunbar township at an early age to engage in farming. About 1844 he purchased the well known Craig farm, and erected thereon a large barn and a fine brick residence, which were blown down a few years later by a severe wind storm. Mr Ball and his family were sleeping at the time in a lower room, which was the only part of the house left standing. He rebuilt the house and within a few years sold the farm that cost him $30 per acre for $150 per acre, and purchased the Swan farm in North Union township near the county home, and where he resided until his death. On November 2, 1841, he married Miss Lydia Longanecker. They had three children: Sarah E Ball, died November 16, 1863; Jacob E Ball, died July 17, 1868; and Joseph L Ball, born August 11, 1844, married Clarissa Barricklow and has three children: Sarah E Ball, wife of J N Hibbs; George W Ball; and Altha Ball. Joseph L Ball owns 150 acres of fine land. Mrs Lydia Ball's father was Joseph Longanecker, son of John Longanecker, a prosperous farmer and leading member of the Mennnonite church. He was married to Sarah Mack, now an active old lady in the ninety first year of her age. Zachariah Ball was a school director in Dunbar township. After his removal to North Union township, he devoted all his time to the improvement and cultivation of his farm, and died enjoying the good will and respect of all who knew him. p586 DAVID BARNES. "Every town or borough has its distinctive characters, among whom are men who seem to have been born to be publicly useful, and who could not well have gone into strictly private life if they had tried. Aside from their regular business they fill numerous offices, are known by everybody, consulted more or less by everybody about everything, are alert, smart, found apt at any business upon which they may be called to enter, wide awake-in short, universally useful, ever willing and competent. Of this class of men is David Barnes of Connellsville. His family has been identified with Fayette county for over eighty years. Mr Barnes is the grandson of Zephaniah Ellis Barnes who came to America from England and settled in Woodstown, New Jersey, several generations ago. There in 1765 was born David Barnes Sr, father of our David Barnes, and who came to Connellsville in 1801 and built there (the first of its kind ever seen west of the mountains), what was then known as a "go-back sawmill." He took a great interest in the organization of the borough and was a member of its first council. He built the market house which stands on the corner of Spring and Church streets, and under Governor Simon Snyder was appointed flour inspector for Fayette county. During the War of 1812, he, in company of Joseph McClurg of Pittsburgh, ran Mount Pleasant Furnace where were made cannon, cannonballs, and grape shot for the government. After the war he engaged in the iron business with Isaac Meason and James Paull. He was a man of excellent ability to plan and execute. He died in 1832 and was buried in the Quaker graveyard in Connellsville. His wife was Sarah Proctor, a native of Old Town, Maryland, and born in 1785. She was a relative of the Ogles, Camerons and Clintons of that state, and came with her parents to Perryopolis, Fayette county, in 1812. In 1818 she and David Barnes were married. At his death she was left with six children, one having previously died. Her whole time and energy were devoted to rearing and educating her children, particularly in morals and religion. She never, when in health, let an evening pass without assembling her young family and reading to them a chapter from the Scriptures. Of course she was particular to avoid such chapters as are not considered delicate and proper to be read by youthful and uninformed minds. Her selections were always judicious. After reading she always uttered a prayer for the protection of her children, mingled with earnest hopes for their future usefulness. Her family consisted of David Barnes, William Barnes, Hamilton Barnes, Joseph Barnes, Z Ellis Barnes, Emily Barnes and Mary Bell Barnes. William Barnes was educated at Lewisburg University and was ordained as a Baptist minister at the First Baptist Church of Pittsburgh. He visited the Holy Land with the view of thereby the better enabling himself to fulfill the responsible duties of his calling. He wished to see the places where Christ preached, feeling that he might gather inspiration therefore. At the breaking out of the late war, he was commissioned as chaplain of the Fifth New York Volunteer Artillery, and served until the close of the war. Hamilton Barnes has served a term in the State Senate from Somerset county. He is a fluent and impressive speaker, and a leader in the republican party. Joseph Barnes became a carpenter, and as a foreman of his department helped build the Union Pacific railroad. Ellis Barnes, being a great lover of horses, has dealt extensively in them and during the late war was quartermaster under General Samuel B Holabird. He resides in Connellsville and carries on the livery and sale business. Emily Barnes died quite young. Mary Bell Barnes married Thomas Evans and is the mother of a large family, all industrious and good citizens. "David Barnes was born in Perryopolis, February 5, 1819, and attended the common schools, but regards his mother as his only real teacher and only friend in youth. At sixteen years of age, he commenced teaching school and followed the business until (he having meanwhile incurred the responsibilities of marriage) his wages would not support him, when he turned his attention to politics. In 1853 he was appointed a clerk in the State Department at Harrisburg, where he remained some sixteen year. About 1869 he resigned his office at the capitol and accepted the position of paymaster of the Pittsburg and Connellsville railroad, and thereafter resigned that to accept a position as bookkeeper of the National Locomotive Works at New Haven; and on the completion of the Southwest Pennsylvania railroad from Greensburg to Connellsville, was appointed station agent at the latter place, which position he still holds. "Mr Barnes is a staunch republican and exerted considerable influence during the late war. He was the true friend of the soldiers, helping and aiding them wherever he could, visiting them in hospitals and administering to their wants. Great numbers of them made him their banker, and he judiciously invested their funds for them, often profitably refusing all fees for his services; and he still helps them in their celebrations, especially to 'fight their battles o'er,' he being a fluent and stirring speaker. Mr Barnes is charitable to a fault, but of great determination of character, and--not lacking in fiery spirit-makes enemies; but feeling that he is right, he cares not for foes declaring that he would 'rather have one influential friend than the whole rabble of the town' at his back. Mr Barnes was a popular officer at the state capitol, was respected by all with whom he did business, and in war times was the confidential and trusted friend of Governor Curtin, rendering him special services, at one time carrying messages from him to all the governors of the New England states. Mr Barnes has been somewhat of a traveler, having climbed to the top of Mt Washington in the White Mountains, and visited the battlefields around Richmond, Virginia, and seen 'considerable of the country besides.' In 1848 Mr Barnes married Mary Jane Sherman, a daughter of Samuel Sherman of Connellsville, a native of Connecticut, and related to the family of Roger Sherman. Mr and Mrs Barnes have had nine children-four sons and five daughters. Two of the daughters are dead. His eldest son, Andrew Stewart Barnes, served during the late war as a soldier in the Fifth Pennsylvania Heavy Artillery. After the war he learned the machinist trade in the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad shops. Thereafter he was appointed postmaster at Connellsville, and afterwards route agent between Washington City and Pittsburgh, which position he still holds. Mr Barnes thinks that boys should learn trades, and his son, Samuel Barnes, is a machinist, and William Barnes a carpenter. Irwin Barnes, another son, quite young, is devoted to music. Mary Elizabeth Barnes is married and lives in Cuba, New York. Jennie Barnes and Hallie Barnes, his other children, are very intelligent and likely to grow up to be excellent citizens. Mr Barnes lost the use of one of his legs when he was but ten years old, and says that his misfortune was 'a godsend,' as with his vitality and energy and two good legs he 'might have become a brigand.' What is worse he might have, and likely would have, gone into the late war and would probably have been killed on the field. With the aid of his crutch he moves about as lively as most men on two good legs, and at the age of sixty three is as active as ever, and looks younger than most men at fifty. His 'nerve' will probably carry him on into extreme old age, and keep him useful all the while. p132 JOSEPH BARTON is a son of William Barton and Hannah Collins Foster Barton. He was born in the house where he now resides in South Union township, Fayette county, Pennsylvania, December 16, 1833. His father, William Barton, was a native of Bucks county, Penna, born September 13, 1795, and died November 6, 1865. He was a son of William Barton Sr died November 30, 1826, of the Quaker faith and English lineage, the latter a native of New Jersey, and came to German township, Fayette county, when William Barton was about twelve years of age. William Barton was well educated, and was employed in early life as a clerk and furnace manager. November 28, 1824, he was united in marriage to Mrs Hannah Collins Foster, widow of Captain John Foster (the last named a soldier of the War of 1812) and daughter of Thomas Collins of Uniontown. Colonel Thomas Collins married Miss Mary Daugherty, sister of Dr Daugherty of Morgantown, West Virginia. They had two children: Ann Collins and Hannah Collins. He was born near Winchester, Virginia, in 1741, and died at Uniontown November 3, 1813. His father was John Collins, a native of Ireland. Unto their union were born four children, all now dead except for Joseph Barton. Mrs Barton was born October 28, 1795, and married to John Foster. By this marriage she had two daughters: Jane Foster married Joseph Gray; Elizabeth Foster married Samuel Yarnell. Her father, Thomas Collins, was a colonel in the War of 1812, sheriff of Fayette county from 1796 to 1799, and a very popular man of his time. He died November 8, 1827. William Barton removed to the old Collins farm in South Union, where he engaged in farming, stock-raising, and operating a distillery. He was a whig and afterwards a republican-was a school director for years and a man of strictest integrity in business. Joseph Barton attended the common schools of South Union township, and was a student at Madison College for several terms. He enlisted 22nd of June, 1861, at the outbreak of the late war, in Company A, First West Virginia Cavalry, commanded by Captain William West, and served until September 12, 1864. The principal engagements he participated in were Carnifex Ferry, South Mountain and Antietam. Mr Barton has been twice married. His first wife was Miss Ruth Brownfield, to whom he was married January 1, 1857; she was born October 23, 1834, and died January 10, 1884. They had six children, four of whom are living: William Barton married Laura Todd; Priscilla Barton, Harriet Barton and Josephine Barton. On September 21, 1884, he again married, his second wife being Miss Florence Shanabarger, daughter of George Shanabarger of Georges township. Mr Barton was one of the founders of A E Wilson Lodge, No 208, K of P. He is a member of Fort Necessity Lodge, No 254, I O of O F, P O S A, and the Grand Army of the Republic. He has always been an active Republican and has filled the various township offices. He is intelligent, patriotic and an agreeable gentleman, and is the possessor of a large tract of well improved land. p314 JOSEPH BATES of Lower Tyrone is a son of William Bates and Eliza Moore Bates and was born at Merrittstown , Luzerne township, Fayette county, Penna, August 12, 1844. William Bates was born in Baltimore in 1798, and in 1814 came with his widowed mother to Vance's Mill in North Union township. He was a day laborer during his life. In January, 1864, near Upper Middletown, in felling a tree was struck by it and killed. His wife was a native of Fayette county and died in 1882, aged seventy eight years. Joseph Bates was bound out at the age of seven years to Joseph Newcomer of Georges township, and remained with him for fourteen years. He engaged as a day laborer until 1871 when he began farming on the shares for Ellis Phillips of North Union township. In 1877 he left the farm with $1700, two blooded cows and one horse. July 3, 1880 he purchased sixty acres of his present farm in Lower Tyrone situated two miles north of Dawson. He now has seventy acres of productive land. On April 28, 1864, he was married to Rose Ann Moore, daughter of Elijah Moore. Unto their union have been born eight children: William H Bates, Thomas S Bates, Isaac E Bates, Joseph S Bates, Albert S Bates, Charles S Bates, Mary Ann Bates and Emma May Bates. Joseph Bates being bound received no schooling, but after his marriage, by night study acquired a limited but practical education. He is a republican, has served as assessor and school director. Mr Bates is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, and his success in life is a remarkable illustration of what energy, honesty and perseverance will accomplish. p133 MAX BAUM, a leading merchant of Uniontown, was born in Germany February 3, 1842, and came to the United States in 1865 and located first in Cumberland, Maryland, where he remained for one year-thence to Baltimore, where he remained but six months, when he returned to Cumberland, and on August 5, 1867, came to Uniontown, Penna, and engaged in the clothing business. In January, 1879, he removed to his present stand at the corner of Main and Morgantown streets. Mr Baum is the oldest merchant clothier at Uniontown, and has by close attention to business, never fail courtesy and the strictest honesty, gained a host of friends and the good will of all who know him, and has established the best and largest trade in his line in the county. His store is an emporium, which contains a large assortment of the choicest clothing and the best goods for manufacturing clothes, and all of the appurtenances to the complete outfit of a gentleman's toilet. Mr Baum is thoroughly Americanized in manner, speech and feeling. When he offered himself as a candidate for the legislature he carried a great many of the districts of the county almost unanimously. He is especially popular with the farmers. He was married in 1869 to Miss Sarah Rosenbaum of Cumberland, Maryland, and has five living children: Rachel Baum, Mattie Baum, William Baum, Simon Baum, and Isaac Baum. Rachel Baum is married to Louis Hirsch of Cumberland, who is engaged in the wool and hide business. The other children are at home. Mr Baum is a member of the Free and Accepted Masonic society. p314 BENJAMIN F BEAL, one of the substantial farmers of the prosperous township of Menallen, is a son of Joseph Beal and Margaret Hutton Beal, and was born on the Old Beal Homestead, Menallen township, Fayette county, Penna, January 11, 1837. His grandfather, Benjamin Beal, was an industrious and well-to-do farmer. By occupation he was a stonecutter. By industry and patient labor he acquired two very good farms. His great grandfathers were William Beal and John Hutton. His father Joseph Beal was born in Menallen township, and was engaged during his lifetime in farming. His wife was Margaret Hutton. To their union were born eight children, four of whom are living. Benjamin F Beal was educated in the common schools of Menallen township and on leaving school, engaged in his present business of farming. December 14, 1865, he was married to Elizabeth Hibbs, a daughter of John Hibbs. To their marriage have been born two children: Violet J Beal and Elizabeth E Beal. Benjamin F Beal is a democrat, has served his native township as school director for six years, and has held various other local offices in Menallen township. He owns a valuable farm, well adapted to grain raising and grazing, and is underlaid with a good vein of coal. He is a good farmer, and is well and favorably known throughout the township. p134 L C BEAL, MD, was born in Franklin township, Fayette county, Penna, December 26, 1850. His boyhood days were spent on the farm, and his early education was received at the public schools of his native township. He graduated at the Southwestern Normal School in 1886, and for eleven years was engaged in teaching in the public schools of Fayette and Washington counties, and was in the meantime principal of the West Brownsville and Burgettstown public schools of Washington county; he also conducted a summer normal at Ohio Pyle, Fayette county, for two years. He subsequently graduated from the medical department of the Western Reserve University at Cleveland, Ohio, and began the practice of medicine at Farmington, Fayette county, Penna, where he continued in successful practice until the 1st of April, 1889, when he removed to Uniontown; and in connection with his professional duties opened a drug store at No 621, Maine street. The only office he ever held was secretary for three years of the School Board of Wharton township, Fayette county, Penna. He is the son of John and Jane Beal, both natives of Fayette county, Penna, and were members of the Flat Wood Baptist church. p413 CHARLES SHEARER BEATTY is a native of Dunbar township, Fayette county, Penna, and was born July 27, 1843. He is descended from an Irish family on the paternal and a German family on the maternal side. His paternal great grandfather of New Jersey served as a soldier in the War of 1812. After the war he removed to Centre county, Penna. He had three sons: Samuel Beatty, James Beatty and John Beatty, who were in the war with him. Samuel Beatty engaged in the manufacture of woolen goods at New Haven, soon removed to Belleville, Washington county, Penna, and there engaged in the mercantile business which he followed until 1840 when he moved to "Little" Washington, Washington county, Penna, and engaged in the woolen business. For twenty five years he was considered one of the largest wool dealers in the county. He is still living at Washington. His brother James Beatty died at Cool Spring Furnace, this county, in about 1849. John Beatty, paternal grandfather was born in New Jersey, removed to Centre county, Penna, and settled at Cool Spring Furnace, this county, about 1820. He was a common laborer and married Isabella Hyndman. Her father, Charles Shearer, was a native of Germany, born about 1768, and came to Baltimore about 1790. He engaged in the fish trade, and married Elizabeth Gamble. Colonel James Beatty, father, was a son of John Beatty and Isabella Hyndman Beatty, and was born August 21, 1822, in Fayette county, Penna. He was a farmer, colonel of a regiment of state militia that offered its services in the Mexican war, but was never called out. Colonel Beatty was married to Sarah J Shearer on July 25, 1842. They had nine children, five sons and four daughters: Charles S Beatty, Mary Beatty, Isabella Beatty, William Beatty, John Beatty, Alice Beatty, Emma Beatty, Louisa Beatty, and Robert Beatty. Charles S Beatty was educated in the common schools and is now engaged in farming in Dunbar township. He has lived for twenty years in that township, has taught school for sixteen years, and has never taught out of Dunbar except for one year. He has served continuously from 1876 to 1879 as school director of Dunbar township, and was secretary of the board. He was secretary of the democratic county committee in 1873-74. In the fall of 188, Mr Beatty was elected from Fayette county to the House of Representatives of Pennsylvania, and was the only candidate on the democratic ticket at that time elected. In the Pennsylvania legislature he has been very earnest in advocating measures in the interest of education. His bill providing for a county uniformity of textbooks to be determined by a majority vote of the citizens of each county of the State is one that commends itself to the careful consideration of everyone. He is a prominent member in several secret societies: Independent Order of Odd Fellows; withdrew in 1873 and became one of the charter members of King David Lodge, No 826, at Dunbar, of which he was the first Noble Grand; has filled all the offices of the subordinate lodge; was Grand Lodge Representative several times from King David, and has been since 1874 a member of the Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania of I O O F. He was charter member of Dunbar lodge No 410, K of P, organized October, 1873, withdrew March 23, 1889, and organized a lodge at Leisenring and at present is its Grand Lodge Representative; has filled all the offices of the subordinate lodge; and has been a member of the Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania since 1874. He is a member of the Junior O U A M and has passed the chairs; was representative to the State Council at Wilkesbarre, July, 1888, and Harrisburg, July, 1889. He was married August 25, 1865, to Rebekah Woodward, daughter of Davis and Mary Woodward, natives of Dunbar township. Mr Beatty has seven children: Louella B Beatty, Mary F Beatty, Davis W Beatty, Sarah J Beatty, Charles F Beatty, James L Beatty, and Robert E Beatty. Mr Beatty is a Presbyterian and for four years past, has been elder in the Leisenring church. He is clerk of the session and has been a delegate three years to the Presbytery. He was elected in 1888 by the Redstone Presbytery to the Synod at Erie City, Penna. p414 J CLARK BEESON was educated in Madison College and learned the trade of cabinet maker, which he pursued at Uniontown until 1870. In 1870, he purchased his present farm in Dunbar township, and has since been successfully engaged in farming and stock raising. On June 10, 1851, he was married to Miss Affinity Page of Connellsville. To their union were born eleven children: Mary Virginia Beeson, wife of Charles T Cramer, a merchant of Uniontown; Ann Beeson married John Gilchrist of North Union township; Samuel P Beeson died in Illinois; William T Beeson, engineer on Lake Erie Railroad; Frances A Beeson, wife of William French, conductor on the P & W R R; Henry M Beeson (dead); Sidney C Beeson, foreman on Lake Erie RR; Walter F Beeson, employed at the Columbia Iron and Steel Works, Uniontown; Joseph L Beeson; Jesse Beeson; and Wallace E Beeson. p134 JACOB M BEESON, a responsible and substantial businessman and a descendant of one of the pioneer families of Fayette county, is a son of Strauther Beeson and Mary M Miller Beeson. He was born at South Bend, Indiana, April 2, 1847, and came to this county at an early age. His grandfather, Jacob Beeson, was a brother of Henry Beeson, the founder of Uniontown. Both came from Virginia between 1765 and 1769. Jacob Beeson purchased of Henry Beeson 236 acres of land of what is now Morgantown street, Uniontown, paying 25 pounds for the same. Jacob Beeson afterwards received the patent for this tract, which was called Mt Vernon. On this same tract he platted and laid out two additions to Uniontown, known as Jacob's addition and Jacob's second addition. His father, Strauther Beeson, was born at Uniontown and died in December, 1878. He was a prosperous businessman, a real estate speculator, and a lawyer by profession. His wife was Miss Mary M Miller, daughter of Hiram Miller, the latter a whig, a Cumberland Presbyterian, and a successful farmer of South Union township. Jacob M Beeson was educated in the common schools and at Madison College under Professors Lewis and Mercer. He is at present engaged in farming. On December 16, 1874, he was united in marriage to Miss Jennie Barton, daughter of William Barton of South Union township. Of this union is one living child: William Barton Beeson born June 29, 1877. Mrs Beeson is a member of the Cumberland Presbyterian church and died January 25, 1880. Mr Beeson is an ardent and influential republican. He served two terms as school director, and has filled various other township offices, and is a well-liked and public-spirited citizen of South Union township. p138 Colonel EVERHART BIERER, who won distinction as an officer on the field battle and later in the forum as a lawyer, is now successfully engaged in the practice of his profession at Hiawatha, Kansas. He is a son of Everhart Bierer and Catherine Margaretta Bierer and was born at Uniontown, Pennsylvania, January 9, 1827. He received a good education at the private schools and at Madison College in his native town. Leaving college in 1845 he commenced the study of the law in the office of Joshua B Howell, Esq, (afterwards colonel of the Eighty fifth Pennsylvania Volunteers who was killed by a fall of his horse before Richmond, Virginia, in 1864), and was admitted to the bar March, 1848. After two years in traveling through the west and in some desultory literary and educational work, he returned to his native town and entered upon the practice of his profession. In October, 1850, he was elected the first district attorney of Fayette county, the office having been previously appointive. He performed the duties of the office during the term of three years and successfully continued the practice of his profession until April 23, 1861, when he left his office and raised the first company of Volunteers in Fayette county in the war for the Union. His company afterwards became Company F of the Eleventh Regiment Pennsylvania Reserved Corps; he continued in command of it until September 14, 1862. He served mostly in the Army of the Potomac, and was in the battles of Drainesville, Mechanicsville, and Gaines Hill or Cold Harbor before Richmond where he was surrounded and captured with his command June 27, 1862. With his company he made, it is believed, the last desperate resistance on that bloody field. He and the survivors were taken to Libby Prison and Belle Island from which they were released by exchange August 14, 1862. Six days afterward he returned to Washington where he was granted, by Secretary Stanton, a twenty days' leave of absence on account of ill health and went home; but learning by telegram of the impending battle of Second Bull Run, he returned to the army and joined his command on the day of the last battle, August 30, 1862. He was also in the battle of South Mountain, September 14, 1862, where he was severely wounded in the left arm, the ball fracturing the arm and passing through the elbow joint and lodging there from which it was not extracted until November 25th following. Having become convalescent on October 24, 1862, he was appointed commandant of Camp Curtin at Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, with the rank of colonel where he organized the One Hundred and Seventy first, One Hundred and Seventy second, One Hundred and Seventy third, One Hundred Seventy sixth, One Hundred Seventy seventh and One Hundred Seventy eighth regiments of infantry; on November 18, 1862, was commissioned colonel of the One Hundred Seventy first. After service in southeastern Virginia with headquarters at Suffolk, his regiment was ordered to New Berne, North Carolina, marching overland to Ballard's Landing on the Chowan river, there taking shipping. From there he was engaged in several expeditions and several skirmishes in the interior of that State. Subsequently he was ordered to Washington, North Carolina, on the Pamlico river, in April, 1863. In the months of May and June he was in command of the Military District of the Pamlico and part of the time in command of General Henry Prince's division, Eighteenth Army Corps. He was in an engagement at Blount's Creek near Washington, North Carolina, April 7, 1863, commanding a brigade under General F B Spinola, now a member of Congress from Brooklyn, New York. Spinola's forces were obliged to retire before superior numbers under rebel General Hill. To Colonel Bierer was assigned the command of the rear guard, the enemy following in heavy force. The duty was critical. Spending the entire night in the midst of intense darkness through pine forest and cypress swamps, the march was conducted. He finally succeeded in bringing off the column with the train, artillery and all the wounded. July 1, 1863, Colonel Bierer returned with his regiment to Virginia, going with General Dix on his expedition to Richmond, while Lee with the Rebel army was in Pennsylvania. The expedition marched from White House landing on the Pamunkey river to within eight or ten miles of Richmond, destined as it was then supposed, for an attack upon the rebel capitol. Dix had a large force and the rebel force around Richmond was small. After some skirmishing with the Rebels, Dix ordered the expedition to return to Fortress Monroe, much to the surprise and disappointment of colonel Bierer and many other officers. Colonel Bierer with his regiment went on to Washington and thence to Boonsville, Maryland, via Harper's Ferry where he joined General Meade, and on the 7th of July was given a brigade command and afterwards assigned to duty as commander of Western Maryland with headquarters at Frederick City. September 26, 1843, he was mustered out; the regiment's term of service having expired. During the winter of 1863 and 1864, Colonel Bierer served in the Veteran Reserve Corps, but in March, 1864, on account of illness and suffering from his wound, resigned. October, 1865, after the close of the war, he migrated with his family to Kansas. Settling on a beautiful farm one mile east of Hiawatha in Brown county, resuming the practice of law. April 8, 1852, at Brownsville, Pennsylvania, he married Ellen Smouse, daughter of Samuel and Elizabeth Smouse, a lady of extensive family connections in Alleghany county, Maryland, and in Somerset and Bedford counties, Pennsylvania. They have eight children, all living: the eldest, Everhard Bierer, graduated from Kansas University at Lawrence, in the class of 1877 and has been for nearly eight years engaged in various departments in Washington, District of Columbia, now on the Board of Re-review in the Pension Bureau. One son, Andrew G Curtin Bierer, is engaged in the practice of law at Garden City, Kansas. The youngest son, Bion B Bierer, is a cadet at the United States Naval Academy, Annapolis, Maryland. The others are engaged in mercantile pursuits and farming. The Colonel was originally a democrat, and as the nominee of that party, he was elected district attorney of Fayette county in 1850. His opposition to the repeal of the Missouri Compromise and the extension of slavery, caused him to support Fremont for president in 1856. In 1860 and 1864 he supported Lincoln and in the latter campaign he was elected one of the electors of Pennsylvania. In 1867 he was elected representative from Brown county, Kansas, to the legislature of Kansas. In 1868 he supported Grant for president but with considerable misgivings on account of the financial policy and the reconstruction measures of the republican party which he bitterly opposed. He was thoroughly disgusted with the carpet bag policy at the South, and with the administration of Grant generally; and believing as he did that the republican party had abandoned its early principles and was no longer the party of 1856 and the war; he with such men as Seward, Chase, Curtin, Sumner, Fessenden, Trumbull, Julian, Palmer, and nearly all the old founders of the republican party supported Greeley for the presidency, in opposition to Grant in 1872. Colonel Bierer has supported all the democratic nominees for the presidency since. He became a member of Fort Necessity Lodge, No 254, Independent Order of Odd Fellows at Uniontown in February, 1852; subsequently he joined the Encampment branch, has been district deputy grand master and district deputy grand patriarch of the order in Fayette county, and member of the Grand Lodge and Grand Encampment of Pennsylvania. He also became a Mason at Uniontown, and is versed in all the mysteries of the Blue Lodge, Royal Arch Chapter, Commandery and historical degrees of Masonry. Colonel Bierer has been all his life a careful student of the Bible, and is well acquainted with the other religious systems of the world, especially Buddhism, Mohammedanism, and Confucianism. He believes in inspiration of the moral and religious teachings of the Bible, the divine Sonship of Jesus and the efficacy of His life and teachings for the purpose of redemption; but he does not believe in the doctrines of the Trinity, vicarious sacrifice and eternal punishment. He accepts a salvation by conduct as well as belief, and includes all in the family of the Universal Father who act according to their highest conceptions of life, right and duty, whatever may be their creed or religious belief. p137 EVERHART BIERER (deceased). The Buehrer family -or, as the name is Anglicized, Bierer -is an old one, and traces its ancestry, who were mainly residents of the Kingdom of Wurtemberg, Empire of Germany, back several centuries. They were mostly farmers, merchants, and tradesmen, though some of them were prominent in the military and civil annals of Germany. The subject of this sketch, Everhart Bierer, was born January 6, 1795, in the town of Wiernsheim, district of Maulbronn-Ducy of Wurtemberg-and was the youngest of a family of three sons. His father, John Bierer, was a farmer in good circumstances. His mother's maiden name was Barbara Muller of Brackenfeldt Castle-situated in a beautiful valley of the river Neckar-a tributary of the Rhine. Wiernsheim is in the same valley -forty to fifty miles from Heidelberg, the seat of the famous German University. In 1803 the Duke of Wurtemberg became an ally of the Great Napoleon. In consequence of this alliance, Napoleon extended the dominions of Wurtemberg and made the duke a king, and his descendants as kings yet occupy the throne of Wurtemberg. In May, 1804, John Bierer migrated with his family, taking shipping at Amsterdam for the United States. The voyage occupied nearly five months, the vessel having been carried by storms to the region of the West Indies, and was there becalmed several weeks, during which time a tropic fever broke out on shipboard and many of the passengers died, among whom was the father of Everhart Bierer, the latter then a boy of nearly ten years of age. The vessel in the latter part of September or early in October, 1804, landed at Baltimore, Maryland, and his widowed mother and her three sons traveled across the mountains and settled at Greensburg, Westmoreland county, Penna. There the subject of this sketch grew to manhood. He had but limited opportunities of education, as the expenses of the migration to this country-coupled with loss of a large part of their means-through the villainy of a trusted friend of their father, left the widow and her children with scanty funds. This trusted friend had been authorized to receive and remit the deferred payments, amounting to about one half of the price of the German homestead, but instead of remitting the money or bringing it over to the family in this country, embezzled and kept it. But the three boys, thus thrown upon their own resources, proved equal to the emergency, and in after years rose to wealth and influence. Two of them, John Bierer and Frederick Bierer, died many years ago near Greensburg, Pennsylvania. On the 15th of April, 1816, at Greensburg, Pennsylvania, Everhart Bierer married Catherine Margaretta Rukenbrod, who was born October 28, 1798, in the village of Malmsheim, Wurtemberg-a few miles distant from the birthplace of her husband-and who with her parents George David Rokenbrod and his wife Catherine, had also migrated to the United States in 1804, but not in the same vessel that brought the Bierers over. Soon after their marriage, the young couple moved to Pittsburgh, Penna, and thence in the spring of 1817 to Uniontown, Penna, where he followed the occupation of cattle dealer and butcher up to the fall of 1849. He was also engaged in farming from 1828. In 1854, he sold the Gilmore farm, adjoining Uniontown, and in 1855 moved on the farm still owned by his family, where in 1861 he virtually retired from active business. Eleven children, seven sons and four daughters were born to them, and raised to maturity: Frederick Bierer, Barbara A Bierer, David Bierer, John Bierer, Catherine E Bierer, Everhard Bierer, George W Bierer, Jacob Bierer, Daniel Bierer, Rebecca T Bierer and Eliza J Bierer. The mother was lovely in amiability, refinement and devotion to her husband and children, and the father was a man of great individuality and force of character. The names of both were synonymous among their large circle of acquaintances for virtue and integrity. Both were members from early youth of the Lutheran church, and he remained a member of that church all his life. Mrs Bierer, as there was no Lutheran church at Uniontown, united herself about 1855 with the Protestant Episcopal church. By industry and economy, combined with good judgment in both, they secured not only competence but riches. His wife, Margaretta Bierer, died July 15, 1858. Everhart Bierer died August 2, 1876. All their children are living except Barbara A Bierer, who died March 27, 1883, and Jacob Bierer, who died March 27, 1885. On January 2, 1862, Everhart Bierer married his second wife, Mrs Ruth Shaw, a widow by whom he had no children, and who survived him until June, 1888. Everhart Bierer was always an enterprising and public spirited citizen, and though not a politician, was an active democrat most of his life, and was honored by his fellow citizens with several public positions. For a number of terms in succession, he was elected one of the directors of the Poor of Fayette county, and from 1858 to 1862 was Superintendent of the Eastern Division of the Cumberland or National road. He was one of the board of directors of the Bank of Fayette County-now National Bank of Fayette County-from its organization in 1858 to his death in 1876. During the Civil War he was unflinching in his loyalty to the Union cause, and became an ardent supporter of Lincoln's administration. Two of his sons, John Bierer and Everhard Bierer, served in the Union army, and none rejoiced more than he over the suppression of the rebellion and a reunited country. His remains with those of his wife Margaretta rest in Oak Grove Cemetery near Uniontown. (Note: Everhart is spelled Everhard also, as shown) p315 DAVID V BIXLER, the accommodating and efficient freight and passenger agent at Everson, Upper Tyrone, was born at Black Oak Town within one mile of McClelland town, Fayette county, Penna, March 9, 1840, and is a son of Jesse Bixler and Sarah Dean Bixler. The Bixlers originally came from Switzerland. Jesse Bixler was a distiller of Lancaster county, and in 1830 he removed to Cincinnati, thence to Black Oak Town where he was engaged for ten years by Perry Grove from 1840 to 1850. The last year of his services he was engaged in the distilling business at West Overton. Subsequently, he removed to Broad Ford, where he was engaged in the same business until his death in September, 1880. His wife was born near McClellandtown in 1816 and died August 1, 1889. In 1851 David V Bixler removed with his parents to Broad Ford, where he received his education in the common schools. He learned the trade of cooper, was engaged at that for twelve years when he entered the employ of the B & O R R Company. His first appointment in 1872 under that company was station agent at Broad Ford. Eighteen months later he was transferred to Mt Pleasant in the same capacity, after six months satisfactory service was went to his present position at Everson. In 1867 he was united in marriage to Miss Eliza Shallenberger, daughter of John Shallenberger, the latter a farmer of Connellsville township. Their union has been blessed with eight children: Hiester C Bixler, telegraph operator, Union depot, Pittsburgh; George S Bixler, car inspector for the B & O R R Company at Port Perry; John F Bixler; Charles S Bixler; Lula Bixler; Minnie Bixler; William Bixler and Roy Bixler. p415 WILFIELD SCOTT BLANEY of Dunbar is a son of Isaac Blaney and Sarah Victor Blaney, and was born in Monongalia county, West Virginia (then Virginia) April 22, 1848. William Blaney (grandfather) was a native of Virginia, where he died. Isaac Blaney (father) was born and reared in Western Virginia, was a farmer, a republican, and a member of the Methodist Protestant church. He married Sarah Victor. Four of their sons served in the Union army: John Blaney enlisted in 1861 and was killed at the battle of Fredericksburg: Lawrence Blaney served in the Seventh West Virginia, was in all the principal battles of the Army of the Potomac; Henry Blaney and William Blaney (twins) enlisted in 1863 in the Fourteenth Pennsylvania Cavalry, the former was killed at Piedmont, the latter was captured and passed six months in Andersonville prison. The father of Mrs Blaney, Frank Victor, was a native of Virginia. Two of his sons served in the Civil War, one, Lawrence Victor of the Seventy West Virginia Infantry, lost a leg in the Seven Days' Fight; the other, Jacob Victor, left an arm at Antietam. W S Blaney was educated in the subscription and free schools of Western Virginia. Mr Blaney removed to Fayette county in 1870 where he engaged in mining for ten years. His next business was farming, and in 1880 he purchased his present farm. In 1869 he married Miss Mary C Darnell, daughter of Samuel and Margaret Darnell, both of Morgantown, West Virginia. They have seven children: Jennie Blaney, a teacher in Dunbar township; Hattie Blaney, Walter Scott Blaney, Linda Blaney, Frank Blaney, Fred Blaney and Mary Mason Blaney. During the war he was engaged for eighteen months in teaming for the Union army. He is a hard-working, energetic farmer; is a republican and takes an active part in politics. 315 JOHN P BLYTHE, who prospected for gold on the Pacific Slope ere an iron pathway crossed the Rocky Mountains, is now a successful farmer of Washington township, Fayette county, Penna, where he was born January 18, 1817, and is a son of John Blythe and Ellen Fullerton Blythe. John Blythe emigrated from Ireland to Washington county in 1790 at the age of twenty three years. From Washington county he removed to Washington township, Fayette county, and purchased a farm. He married Ellen, daughter of David Fullerton, a Scotchman and an early settler in Eastern Pennsylvania. John Blythe reared a family of eleven children. John P Blythe received his education in the old subscription schools. He was engaged in farming until 1851. In the same year he went by water to California, where he spent four years in digging and prospecting for gold dust. He passed through the "Starving Time," when flour sold for $500 per barrel. He passed through many perils and after enduring much suffering he left the gold fields in 1855. He returned home via South America, where he remained several weeks and visited several of the principal South American cities. On December 17, 1857, he married Miss Margaret, daughter of John Bortner and Mary Shearer Bortner of Redstone township. The Bortners were of German descent and were early settlers in Maryland. Mr and Mrs John P Blythe have seven children: Anna V Blythe, born December 20, 1858, married Harmer Denny, June 30, 1885, and has one child; Humphrey F Blythe, born August 23, 1860, married Mary C Armel, July 13, 1886, and has one child; John F Blythe, born September 6, 1862; George R McClellan Blythe, born August 19, 1864, married Maggie Wells, February 7, 1889; Mary E Blythe, born September 19, 1866, married Charles M Ford, and has two children: James B Blythe, born August 4, 1868, and Ellen Blythe, born June 23, 1871. After his marriage, Mr Blythe removed in 1863 to Lynn county, Iowa, and from thence to Missouri, where he remained seven years. In 1874 he removed from Missouri to his present farm and began farming at which he is still engaged. His farm consists of one hundred and twenty acres of choice and well improved land. He and his family are members of the Presbyterian church. Politically he is a democrat and is one of the leading farmers of Washington township.