BIOGRAPHY: Joseph W. KYLE, Mifflin County, PA Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by P. S. Barr Copyright. All rights reserved. http://files.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://files.usgwarchives.net/pa/mifflin/ _______________________________________________ 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, page 563. JOSEPH W. KYLE, Milroy, Mifflin county, Pa., was born on the old Kyle homestead. He is a son of James and Rosanna C. (Taylor) Kyle. His grandfather, John Kyle, emigrated from Lorrademore, in the south of Ireland, to America, landing in Philadelphia. He came to the Kishacoquillas valley on horseback with his wife and child. Here he built a cabin and established his homestead, including 400 hundred acres of land in Brown township, which was afterwards divided between his two sons. His wife was Miss Crawford. Their children were: Margaret (Mrs. Hamilton Kyle); Crawford, of Brown township; and Joseph, who was born in 1781 on the homestead property, married Mary Brisbin, of Centre county, and had two sons, Samuel and John, both deceased. John Kyle was married the second time to Jeannette McFarlane, of Armagh township. Their children are: Mary (Mrs. John Thompson); James; Crawford; Elizabeth R. (Mrs. George McDowell); Margaret (Mrs. William McFarlane); Priscilla (Mrs. Henry Taylor); Joseph, who married Mary E. Davis, and resided on the homestead; Charles, who married Ann Campbell and resided in Clinton county. The father, John Kyle, spent the greater part of his life in farming. He served the township in various offices and was elected to the State legislature, and also as associate judge of Mifflin county. He was a man of ability, and faithfully served his fellowmen. He was for many years an elder in the Presbyterian church of East Kishacoquillas. His son, James Kyle, attended the district schools, and finished his course at the academy at Lewistown. He remained with his parents until his marriage. James Kyle was married, January 13, 1844, to Rosanna C., daughter of Henry and Priscilla (Turbett) Taylor. Their children are: Joseph; Priscilla J., who died aged twenty-three years; Rosanna McFarland (Mrs. G. A. Macklin), of McVeytown, has one child. James Kyle was born January 13, 1819, and died November 28, 1888. Joseph W. Kyle received his primary education in the public schools of Brown township; at the age of seventeen, he entered the Kishacoquillas Seminary, and remained there one year. He then attended Bellwood Academy, in Blair county, Pa. After remaining a few years at home, he spent over a year traveling through several of the Western States, whither he went in 1871. On his return, he farmed the homestead. Mr. Kyle is a Democrat, as were his ancestors; he served the township in numerous offices. He is a progressive and esteemed citizen, interested in all that concerns the community. He is gifted with much native talent for music, which he has cultivated to a high degree; he is noted throughout his neighborhood for his taste and skill as an amateur violinist. Joseph W. Kyle was married, January 18, 1877, to Elizabeth H., daughter of Joseph and Anna (Horning) Strode. Their children are: Charles Strode, born November 3, 1877; James Vance, born May 20, 1881; Anna Virginia, who was a twin, born July 13, 1888, the other twin died in infancy. Mr. Kyle and his wife are members of the Presbyterian church at Reedsville. Joseph Strode, the father of Mrs. Kyle, is the oldest postmaster in the United States. _____ TRANSCRIBER'S NOTE: In line four "400 hundred acres", should probably read "400 acres."