BIO: David BARRICK, Huntingdon County, PA Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by JO Copyright 2008. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/pafiles.htm ********************************************************** __________________________________________________________________ Commemorative Biographical Encyclopedia of the Juniata Valley: Comprising the Counties of Huntingdon, Mifflin, Juniata and Perry, Pennsylvania, Containing Sketches of Prominent and Representative Citizens and Many of the Early Settlers. Chambersburg, Pa.: J. M. Runk & Co., 1897, pages 227-228. __________________________________________________________________ DAVID BARRICK, Petersburg, Huntingdon county, Pa., was born near Newville, Cumberland county, Pa., November 19, 1809, son of Henry and Mary (Naylor) Barrick. The Barrick family originated in Holland; they settled as immigrants in Maryland, long enough ago to be classed among the "good old stock" of that State; they always held a responsible position in the community. Henry Barrick is supposed to have been born in Maryland, but grew up and was educated in Huntingdon county. He learned the blacksmith's trade in Woodcock valley, near Huntingdon, and followed that calling in Huntingdon and afterwards in Cumberland county, where he married, and resided for several years. Then he kept a store for some time in Concord, Franklin county, Pa.; this was during the war of 1812, in which he was for a time engaged as a soldier. He next had a store and a tan-yard at Newton Hamilton, Pa. In 1831, Mr. Barrick removed to another part of the valley, bought and improved a farm, and there passed the rest of his life. He married Mary (Naylor) Weigel, a widow, of York, Pa.; she had four children by her first marriage. The children of Henry Barrick are: David; William, a farmer, deceased; Mary A., deceased, wife of John Keil; John, farmer, resides at Licking, O.; Elizabeth, deceased, wife of John Rusler. Mr. Barrick was a member of the Methodist Episcopal church. His politics were Democratic. Both he and Mrs. Barrick died in Mifflin county, Pa. Recalling his boyhood days, David Barrick describes the school-house where he was educated as a log building with a greased paper as a substitute for glass in the windows; the only school books a spelling book and an arithmetic-no reader. The sessions were limited to the winter months, and it being a "subscription school," each pupil paid the teacher two dollars per quarter for his instruction. When a half- grown boy, David Barrick assisted his father in the tannery by grinding bark. He also worked for him on the farm, and continued to do so up to the age of twenty-two. Then Mr. Barrick began business in a tanyard of his own, at Hollidaysburg, Blair county. He was succeeding well, and had a plant which, with its contents, was valued at more than $2,000. This was entirely swept away by the flood of June 18, 1838. But this loss was as nothing to the far greater and sadder loss of his wife and their two little children, who were carried away with the property, and drowned. Mr. Barrick sold out his interest and what remained of his property, and removing to Shavers Creek Manor, Huntingdon county, where he kept a store for four years with fair success. But his health suffering from confinement to the store, he sold it, and bought a farm of 500 acres in West township, on which he resided for twenty-five years, building two fine dwellings and making many other improvements. He farmed extensively there, raising the largest crops in the valley. In 1872, Mr. Barrick sold his farm, bought a handsome brick dwelling and two lots in Petersburg for $4,000; he has ever since resided there, enjoying well earned leisure and repose. He is energetic and progressive, interested in the improvement and general welfare of the community, especially in educational affairs; he has been in the school board, besides holding other offices; he was a candidate for the State legislature at one time, but was defeated. Mr. Barrick is a public- spirited and useful citizen. David Barrick's first wife, to whom he was married in November, 1833, in Mifflin county, near Lewistown, was Mary Kyle, a native of that county; their children, who were drowned with their mother, at Hollidaysburg, Pa., were: Jane A.; and James N. Mr. Barrick's second marriage took place at Shavers Creek, in 1841. His wife was Eliza J., daughter of William Myton, born in September, 1820. Their children are: Jane A., deceased, wife of John M. Johnson, farmer, of Barree township; David H., residing at present in Florida; Wilbur, died young; William M., dealer in horses, residing in New York City; and Elsie O., who died young.