BIO: Levi GEARHART, 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, pages 100-101.
__________________________________________________________________ 

  LEVI GEARHART, Manor Hill, Huntingdon county, Pa., was born near 
Philipsburg, Clearfield county, Pa., October 30, 1843, son of David and 
Eliza (Fullerton) Gearhart.  Jacob S. Gearhart, his grandfather, was 
born in Germany; he came to this country when he was a young man, and 
first resided in Clearfield county, where he farmed 400 acres, his own 
property, near Philipsburg.  He also raised stock.  His wife was Miss 
Flegel, daughter of David Flegel, who was a soldier in the Revolution.  
Their children were:  Susan; John L.; David; Valentine; Eliza; Mary; 
Rachel; Cornelia; Asbury; Jacob; Alexander; and two that died in 
infancy.  Mr. Gearhart was originally a Whig, and afterwards a 
Republican.  He was an excellent man, a respected citizen, and a good 
member of the United Brethren church.  He died on the homestead in 
1864; his wife died at the same place in 1879.  David Gearhart, their 
second son, was well educated, both in English and in German.  He was a 
farmer and stock raiser, owning and farming 140 acres in Boggs 
township, Clearfield county.  He was a Republican.  His wife, Eliza 
Fullerton, was of English descent, and was a native of Clearfield 
county, born near the borough of Clearfield.  Their children are:  
Levi; George, residing in California; Mary, deceased; Margaret, 
deceased; Adeline, deceased; Peter, residing in Clearfield county; 
James, of Clearfield, Pa.; one child died in infancy.  David Gearhart 
died on the homestead in Clearfield county in 1861.  He belonged to the 
Methodist Episcopal church; was a Sunday-school teacher, and always 
interested in the affairs of the church.  Mrs. Gearhart was married 
again, to William Reese; both she and Mr. Reese died in 1880.
  Having acquired the rudiments of an English education in the common 
schools, Levi Gearhart supplemented that beginning by reading and 
observation, so that he may be called self-educated.  He grew up on the 
farm, and familiar with agricultural processes, so that when his father 
died he was well prepared to take full charge of the homestead, which 
he did for one year.  He then engaged as mill hand and log cutter in a 
saw-mill, and some time later undertook contracting in timber, at which 
business he spent sixteen years.  Mr. Gearhart then passed four years 
trading in Clearfield and Huntingdon counties, after which he embarked 
in the business of a general merchant at Manor Hill, which he still 
carries on.  He was postmaster for two terms, under President 
Cleveland.  For twelve years he has conducted the Manor Hill House.  
Mr. Gearhart is an enterprising, intelligent and honorable business 
man, and has fairly earned the success that crowns his efforts.  He is 
a Democrat; was auditor of the township for one term.
  Levi Gearhart was married at Osceola Mills, Clearfield county, to 
Jennie, daughter of Henry Kephart, a farmer, of German family; she is a 
native of Clearfield county.  Their children are:  Sylvester C., born 
February 29, 1868, educated in common schools of Clearfield county, at 
Houtzdale, Pa., at Mooresville, Huntingdon county, and the Stone Valley 
Academy; read medicine under George W. Lupfer, studied two terms at the 
College of Physicians and Surgeons, Baltimore, Md., graduated in the 
spring of 1895 at Jefferson Medical College, Philadelphia, with honors, 
and since August of that year has been in successful practice at 
Glasgow, Cambria county, Pa., is a member of P. O. S. of A.; Nora (Mrs. 
Merritt Codwell), of Clearfield county; and Adeline, at home.  Mr. 
Gearhart is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, of Manor Hill, 
and belongs to its board of trustees; he has been a class leader for 
twelve and a Sunday-school worker for twenty years, and has served as 
superintendent of the Sunday-school for several years.