BIO: T. Franklin BAYER, Huntingdon County, PA Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Denise Phillips Copyright 2006. 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, page 74. __________________________________________________________________ T. FRANKLIN BAYER, Huntingdon, Pa., is a native of Franklin county, Pa., born in Antrim township, April 1, 1863. His parents were John N. and Mary E. (Miller) Bayer, both natives of Washington county, Md., and both deceased. The family is of German descent. It was about 1863 that Mr. John N. Bayer, who was a miller, removed to Franklin county. He was quiet and unassuming in manner, but he was a good man, and a useful citizen. The children of Mr. and Mrs. J. N. Bayer are: Sarah, Catherine, who died at the age of sixteen; John, died when four years old; David B., of Bloom Centre, Logan county, Ohio; Joseph M., of Baltimore, Md.; Adam M., of Gretna, Logan count, Ohio; Margaret Jane, residing with her brother, T. Franklin; and T. Franklin. Until he was seventeen years old, T. F. Bayer remained at home, and attended the public schools of his native county. His first business engagement after leaving school was as salesman in the grocery store of his brother, Joseph M. Bayer, at Hagerstown, Md., with whom, four years later, he became a partner. At the end of two years, T. Franklin purchased his brother's interest and conducted the business by himself until 1890. He then sold the establishment to its former proprietor, his brother, Joseph M., and removed to Cumberland, Md. There, in partnership with D. F. Grennawalt, under the firm name Grennawalt & Bayer, he embarked in the wholesale notion business, and continued in this connection for two years. In 1892 he sold his interest in this business, returned to Hagerstown, and purchased the interest of A. B. Barnhart, of the firm Barnhart & Sons, general merchants. The firm name was now changed to Barnhart & Bayer, which partnership lasted two years. In 1894 Mr. Bayer sold his interest to Frank E. Elliott, removed to Huntingdon, and engaged in the wholesale grocery business, the first enterprise of this kind in Huntingdon. His partner was Lloyd M. Kepler, and the firm name Bayer & Kepler. On October 1, 1895, Mr. Kepler sold his interest to John G. Beaver, and the name of the firm has since been Bayer & Beaver. Mr. Bayer is a member of the Royal Arcanum and of the Mystic Circle. His political views are Republican. Mr. Bayer ranks among the leading business men of the borough. T. Franklin Bayer has been twice married. His first wife, to whom he was united at Hagerstown, December 4, 1885, was Elizabeth M., daughter of Abraham B. and Hannah M. Barnhart. They had a son and a daughter, Fred B. and M. Elizabeth. Mrs. Bayer died April 14, 1889. Mr. Bayer's second marriage took place at Cumberland, November 30, 1892, to Mary E., daughter of John W. and Isabella Shaffer, of Cumberland, Md. They have no children. Mr. and Mrs. Bayer are members of the Reformed church.