BIOS: Jonathan G. BARCLAY, Jefferson, Somerset County, PA

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BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW, Vol. XXXII, Containing Life Sketches of Leading Citizens of 
Bedford and Somerset Counties, Pennsylvania. Boston, Biographical Review 
Publishing Company: 1899, ppg 91-92.

  Jonathan G. Barclay, an extensive farmer and stock dealer of Jefferson, 
Somerset County, Pa., was born in this township, August 23, 1847, a son of 
George, Jr., and Mary (Miller) Barclay.  His great-grandfather Barclay, who was 
one of the original settlers of York County, Pennsylvania, was born and bred in 
Germany.
  George Barclay, Sr., son of the pioneer, was born in York County in 1790.  
Having grown to manhood, he engaged in farming and lumbering on his own account, 
and after his marriage located in Jefferson on the farm now owned and occupied 
by Josiah Berkley.  His wife, who maiden name was Catherine Barron, died in 
1858, aged fifty-seven years; and he died in 1859.  Both were faithful members 
of the Lutheran church.  They had three sons and two daughters, of whom George, 
Jr., was the youngest child.
  George Barclay, Jr., was born at the Barclay homestead in Jefferson, July 2, 
1824, and died in this township in his seventy-third year in 1896.  Using his 
brains as well as his hands, he met with success in his agricultural labors, his 
estate being greatly improved under his skilful management and its value 
materially increased.  He married Mary Miller, a daughter of David and Rebecca 
Miller, and they were both for many years among the most influential and active 
workers of the Lutheran church, in which he was an Elder.  He was identified 
with the Republican party, and served his fellow-townsmen in various offices of 
trust.  It may here be noted that he was a School Director twelve years and a 
Justice of the Peace thirty years.  He reared four children, namely: Jonathan 
G., of Jefferson; Wesley D., who married Amanda Weynd, of this township; 
Catherine, now deceased, who married Conrad Miller; and William, who died at the 
age of seventeen years.
  Jonathan G. Barclay obtained his early knowledge of books in the district 
school; and under the instruction of his father, with whom he remained until 
twenty-three years old, he acquired skill in the agricultural arts.  In 1869, 
when ready to establish himself as a householder, he bought his present farm of 
one hundred and fifty-seven acres in Jefferson, where he has since devoted 
himself diligently and profitably to general farming and to stock raising and 
dealing.  His estate ranks with the best in this part of the county.  Swerving 
not from the political faith in which he was reared, Mr. Barclay is a steadfast 
Republican.  He has rendered good service to his town as Assessor one term and 
as School Director, a position that he now holds for nine years.
  On September 12, 1869, Mr. Barclay married Eva Baker, daughter of Solomon and 
Susan (Bearl) Baker, formerly of Jefferson.  Her parents are not living.  They 
were members of the Lutheran church, and Mr. Baker was for fifteen years Justice 
of the Peace and at one time a School Director.  Of their four children, three 
grew to mature years, namely: George W. Baker, who married Julia Hunter, and has 
three children - Henry, Ludwig, and John S.; Mrs. Barclay; and Drucilla, who 
married William H. Barron.  Mr. and Mrs. Barron are deceased.  They had eight 
children, of whom six are living - Cora, Edward, Emma, Rush, Ryan, and Lottie.  
Mr. and Mrs. Barclay have had eight children.  Three of them died young; and one 
Clara J., who married Clarence R. B. Cramer, died in 1897, leaving two children 
- Mead C. and Pleasant B.  The three surviving children of Mr. and Mrs. Barclay 
are: George F., who married Ellen Laurence, and has one child, Milton; Maggie; 
and Harrison E.  Mr. and Mrs. Barclay are both members of the Lutheran church.