Montour County PA Archives Biographies.....GEARHART, Alexander Montgomery 1846 - living in 1899 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/pafiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Joy Fisher sdgenweb@yahoo.com July 7, 2005, 7:36 pm Author: Biographical Publishing Co. ALEXANDER MONTGOMERY GEARHEART, whose portrait appears on the opposite page, the popular station agent of the D., L. & W. R. R., and one of the most prominent and highly respected citizens of Danville, was born in Danville, July 26, 1846, and is a son of Bonham R. and Elizabeth S. (Boyd) Gearheart, grandson of George Gearheart, and great-grandson of Capt. Jacob Gearheart. The great-grandfather of our subject, born in Germany, immigrated to this country prior to the Revolutionary War, and located in the state of New Jersey in what is now known as Hunterdon County. As he had many friends in Eastern Pennsylvania he sold his property and with his family moved to Northumberland County by means of horses and wagons, encountering many difficulties and hardships on the way. Upon reaching the farm now owned by William F. Gearhart the party stopped to rest in a deserted log-cabin which stood there; upon examination they found the land very fertile and at once decided to locate there; Mr. Gearhart purchased land and, being an industrious worker, made money rapidly and, as his means justified, he purchased more land from time to time until he owned 500 acres. With the aid of his sons he set about clearing his purchase and built the frame house in which William F. Gearhart now resides, which was erected over one hundred years ago and the house is still in good condition. He set out an orchard which was completely destroyed in 1846 by a hail storm. He was a man of strong-constitution which has been one of the characteristics of the family up to the present time. He lived to old age as did his wife, Catherine Kline. He was the father of the following children: Jacob, born in 1763, died aged seventy-eight years; Herman, born in 1765, died aged seventy years; William, who died in 1854 at the age of seventy-eight years: George, the grandfather of our subject; Tunis; John, died in 1858 aged seventy years; Charles, born in 1783, died aged eighty years; Isaac; Catherine; Mary; and Betsey. The beautiful farm of 200 acres located one mile from Riverside, along the bank of the Susquehanna River, was the property of George Gearhart, the grandfather of our subject, it being a present from his father. He resided there throughout his entire life, following the pursuits of an agriculturist; his farm is now a part of South Danville. He was twice married, his first wife being Achie Runyan, who died young, leaving the following children: Bonham R.; Benjamin; Eliza; and Rebecca. His second marriage was with Phoebe Lutt, by whom he reared three children, namely: Achie, George, and Herman. Bonham R. Gearhart, our subject's father, was born on his father's homestead, and, after attaining a liberal education in the common schools of that township, entered Jefferson Medical College of Philadelphia, graduating therefrom before he attained his majority. Prior to his locating in Danville, he practiced his profession at Washingtonville, Turbotville, and Sunbury; he was regarded as one of the most skilful and successful physicians and surgeons of Montour County. He passed from this life, aged forty-two years, the cause of his death being pneumonia. His wife was Elizabeth S. Boyd, a daughter of William Boyd, a resident of Danville. She is now past her eighty-second year and is enjoying fairly good health. Her children were: Achie, deceased; William B.; George Me.; a daughter who died in infancy; Bonham R.; James B.; Jasper B.; our subject; and M. Grier. Alexander Montgomery Gearhart attended school until he was fourteen years of age and then began his business career as a newsboy on the railroad; later he became freight agent on the Catawissa R. R. at Danville; subsequently he was employed in the D., L. & W. R. R. freight office of that borough, and in 1869 became clerk, in which capacity he remained four years, when he was promoted to his present position, succeeding William Rote. Our subject served six years on the school board and was its treasurer for thirteen years; three years marked his service in the town council, one year as president. He is now treasurer of Danville Lodge, No. 127, I. O. H. Mr. Gearhart was wedded to Martha Y. McCoy, a daughter of Robert McCoy, a native of Northumberland County, Pa. Mr. McCoy was a carpenter by trade who came to Danville when a young man and carried on contracting many years, building some of the best business blocks and dwellings in the city. He erected the G. M. Shoop mansion; Conklin Block; Schultz Block; and many other buildings in the surrounding towns. He died in 1886 aged sixty-three years; his wife was Eleanor Vorise, a daughter of James Vorise, and she died in 1892 at an advanced age. They were the parents of the following children: Martha, the wife of our subject; Margaret, the wife of B. F. Rumbaugh; John B., of Danville; Samuel A., also a resident of Danville; Jennie, who married W. F. Jacobs; Arthur, deceased; and James, William, Annie, and Sally, who died in youth. Our subject and wife have reared two children: Nell Bonham married William L. McClure, teller of the First National Bank of Danville, and they are the parents of two children, Harold Russell and Donald Armstrong; and Jasper Greenleaf, who died aged four years. Mr. and Mrs. Gearhart reside in a handsome house on Market street, which our subject purchased from Thomas Reaves. Additional Comments: Extracted from: Book of Biographies of the Seventeenth Congressional District Published by Biographical Publishing Company of Chicago, Ill. and Buffalo, NY (1899) This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/pafiles/ File size: 6.0 Kb