BIOGRAPHY: Charles B. FIKE, Mifflin County, PA

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The Commemorative Biographical Encyclopedia of the Juniata Valley, Comprising 
the Counties of Huntingdon, Mifflin, Juniata, and Perry, Pennsylvania.
Chambersburg, Pa.: J. M. Runk & Co., 1897, Volume I, pages 556 & 559.

  CHARLES B. FIKE, Mattawana, Mifflin county, Pa., was born in Wayne township, 
Mifflin county, November 8, 1858.  He is a son of Henry and Polly (Hartzel) 
Fike.  His father, Henry Fike, was born in Snyder county, Pa., in 1815.  He had 
a good education in German and English and taught school in both languages in 
Snyder county.  He learned carpentry and built several dwelling houses and barns 
in Snyder county.  He learned carpentry and built several dwelling houses and 
barns in Snyder county, and in the Juniata valley.  After working for some years 
on a rented farm, in Wayne township, he removed to Bratton township and bought a 
tract of mountain land, part of which he cleared and cultivated.  He also owned 
a team and hauled wood, ties and lumber.  Mr. Henry Fike was an old line Whig, 
but he afterwards joined the Democratic party.  He was married in Snyder county 
to Polly Hartzell, a native of Snyder county.  Their children are:  Delilah 
(Mrs. James Hesser), of McVeytown;  Catharine (Mrs. Andrew French), of Oliver 
township;  Mary (Mrs. Jacob Quarrey), of Hares Valley, Huntingdon county;  
William, deceased, was section foreman on the Pennsylvania Railroad;  Ellen 
(Mrs. Frederick Hesser), deceased;  Nancy (Mrs. Jacob Miller), deceased;  John 
S., resides at Three Springs, Huntingdon county;  Charles B.;  James L., died in 
youth;  and Joseph, died in childhood.  Henry Fike died near Ryde Station, 
Bratton township, February 12, 1873.  His wife died in 1885, at the home of her 
son, Charles, in Mattawana, Pa.
  Charles B. Fike received his education in the public schools of Bratton 
township.  He worked with his father on the farm until he was fourteen, when his 
father died.  After his father's death, Charles hired himself to a neighboring 
farmer, with whom he remained for three years, working during the summer and 
attending school in winter.  In 1876, he obtained a position in the floating 
gang on the Pennsylvania Railroad, under foreman Alexander Stewart.  Five years 
after, in 1882, at the age of twenty-two, he was appointed foreman by 
Superintendent A. P. Gest.  He was the youngest man who ever held the position 
on that section.  For fourteen years Mr. Fike filled this position to the entire 
satisfaction of the company.  He is a member of the Democratic party, and of the 
Junior O. U. A. M.
  Charles B. Fike was married, October 27, 1881, at Mattawana, to Ida H., 
daughter of Henry Grassinger, foreman of section No. 35, Pennsylvania Railroad, 
Mifflin county.  Their children are:  Edith V.;  Harry B.;  Arthur Cleveland;  
David Wesley;  James Willis;  Alden;  and John.  Mr. Fike is an active member of 
the Methodist Episcopal church, interested in all the work of the church in 
which he is a trustee.  He has been for many years a teacher in the Sunday-
school, and is at present its superintendent.