BIO: Christopher DEAL, Huntingdon County, PA

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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 221-222.
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  CHRISTOPHER DEAL, Petersburg, Huntingdon county, Pa., was born in 
Saxony, Germany, in January, 1841. His parents were Hieronymus and 
Catherine (Harvey) Deal, natives of Saxony, where the father was a 
farmer. In 1843, he embarked with his family on a sailing vessel, bound 
for Baltimore, Md., where they arrived after a voyage of seven weeks. 
From Baltimore, Hieronymus Deal came to Huntingdon, arriving on a tug 
boat; he took up his residence at Petersburg, where, having nothing to 
depend upon, no resources for the maintenance of his family but his own 
labor, he rented an old house, and made his living for one winter by 
chopping wood and laboring on the forges of the iron works. Having by 
careful economy saved some money, Mr. Deal rented the Norris farm in 
Walker township, cultivated it for two years, then cultivated the Hance 
farm at McConnellstown for nine years, then the Creswell farm, near 
Petersburg, for three years. He now purchased fifty-five acres near 
McConnellstown, and settling down on his hard earned land, passed the 
remainder of his life in cultivating it and keeping a hotel in 
McConnellstown. His children are: Christopher; Stephen, residing with 
his elder brother; Catharine, wife of John Bardo, both deceased; and 
Maria. Mr. Deal was a Democrat, but of liberal views as to politics. He 
belonged to the Lutheran church, a man of sturdy industry and 
perseverance, honest and upright in his dealings. He died in May, 1887; 
his wife survived him for three years, dying at the house of her son 
Christopher in April, 1890.
  After a few terms in the common school, Christopher Deal began at 
nine years of age to work as a farm laborer, both for his father and 
for neighboring farmers. He also served as team driver; by these 
occupations he maintained himself until 1868, when he removed to a farm 
which he had rented in Porter township, near Barree. There he spent 
twenty-one years, farming and raising stock. He purchased his present 
place, 115 acres, in Logan township, in 1881, which property he has 
improved, and cultivated it for the past sixteen years. The course of 
well-directed and successful effort just described suffered a short 
interruption in 1862, when Mr. Deal enlisted in Huntingdon in Company 
A, One Hundred and Forty-third Pennsylvania Volunteers, Captain 
Campbell; he was in the battle of Culpeper Court House, Va., but was 
principally on guard duty, during his three months' term of service. 
Having at the end of that time received an honorable discharge, Mr. 
Deal returned to his home and continued in his vocation. He owns 
besides his homestead a farm now cultivated by his son-in-law, which he 
bought from John Frazer for $5,600. Mr. Deal has been a diligent 
worker, and has met with much success. His operations in live stock 
have been generally prosperous; he has eleven acres of pasture land, on 
which may be seen superior breeds of cattle, and he buys and sells with 
care and good judgment. In politics, Mr. Deal's sentiments are liberal.
  Christopher Deal was first married in Tyrone, Pa., in October, 1867, 
to Barbara, daughter of Marin Geisler, a native of Germany, in railroad 
employ. Mrs. Deal was born in Porter township. The children of this 
marriage are: Elizabeth (Mrs. George Pheasant); Annie, died young; 
Clara (Mrs. Henry Gross), of Porter township; and Emma (Mrs. Christian 
Rusler), of Logan township. Mrs. Barbara Deal died in 1877. Mr. Deal 
was again married, to Sophia N., daughter of Harman and Elizabeth 
(McDonald) Gross; she was born March 6, 1838, at Shavers Creek, 
Huntingdon county. Her father was a native of Germany, a farmer and 
miller; Mrs. Gross was of Scotch-Irish descent. The children of the 
second marriage are: George B., on the homestead; Alice; Abbie; Ellie; 
Florence; Kate; Maggie; Christopher H., who died young; and Olive N. 
Mr. Deal and wife are members of the Lutheran church.