BIOS: John Albert BERKEY, Somerset, Somerset County, PA

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History of Bedford and Somerset Counties, Pennsylvania; Bedford County by E. 
Howard Blackburn; Somerset County by William H. Welfley; v.3, Pub. The Lewis 
Publishing Company, New York/Chicago 1906, ppg. 29-31

John Albert BERKEY.

John Albert Berkey, of Somerset, Pennsylvania, commissioner of banking and 
attorney at law, is a representative of an old family which was planted in the 
state more than a century ago, locating in Berks county, whence his ancestors of 
three generations ago removed to Somerset county.  The family is large and 
widely dispersed, and numbers among its members many of the most prosperous and 
highly respected people of Somerset county and elsewhere.
Mr. Berkey was born in Jefferson township, Somerset county, January 31, 1861, 
son of Chauncey H. and Elizabeth Berkey.  He was reared upon the paternal farm, 
and began his education in the public schools, finishing in the Southwestern 
State Normal school at California, Washington county, Pennsylvania, from which 
he was graduated in 1884.  Prior to this, and at the early age of seventeen 
years, his educational preparation was so sufficient that he engaged in 
teaching, performing his duties most creditably in schools in the counties of 
Fayette and Westmoreland, as well as in his native Somerset, and closing his 
career in the educational field as principal of the Somerset borough schools.  
He would have undoubtedly made further advancement as an instructor, but he had 
a predilection for the law, and entered upon a course of legal reading under the 
able instruction of Coffroth & Ruppel, and was admitted to the bar in 1889.  He 
soon gathered about him a large and influential clientele, and now enjoys an 
extensive and remunerative practice.
He early entered upon public duties, being appointed by the director of the 
United States census to the collation and tabulation of the recorded 
indebtedness in Bedford, Blair, Cambria, and Somerset counties for the federal 
census of 1890.  In 1892 he was elected district attorney of Somerset county, 
and brought to the place qualifications of a high order, and most praiseworthy 
industry and perseverance.  Firm in his advocacy of Republican principles, he 
early found recognition as a party leader, and in 1899 was elected to the 
chairmanship of the county committee, in which capacity he rendered service of 
such value that he has since been continued as a member of the state committee.  
In 1902 he was cordially endorsed by the Republicans of Somerset county for the 
nomination of member of congress from the Twenty-third congressional district.  
The contest was warm and long protracted, and was only terminated by his 
withdrawal in favor of his warm friend and former fellow-student, Hon. Allen F. 
Cooper, who was accordingly made the nominee.  On July 27, 1905, Governor 
Pennypacker appointed him to the highly important position of commissioner of 
banking, in which capacity he is now acting.  A warm friend of education, Mr. 
Berkey has been for years a member of the board of trustees of the Southwestern 
State Normal school at California, Pennsylvania--the institution in which he 
made his preparation for his active career.  He is an active member of various 
benevolent and fraternal bodies--Berlin Lodge, No. 481, I.O.O.F., the Knights of 
the Goden Eagle, No. 181, of Somerset, the Knights of Maccabees of the World, 
the Royal Arcanum, the Modern Woodmen, the Junior Order of American Mechanics, 
and the Patrons of Husbandry.  In addition to his law practice and his official 
duties, he is largely interested in agricultural affairs, giving intelligent 
oversight to the conduct of several highly cultivated farms in Somerset county. 
Mr. Berkey married, April 3, 1887, Miss Anna M. Barron, daughter of John C. and 
Catherine (Gonder) Baron, old and respected citizens of Somerset county, which 
has been their ancestral home for more than a hundred years past.  Of this 
marriage was born three children--Mabel Ammons, Sue Elizabeth and May Jane 
Berkey.  Mr. Berkey is a communicant of the Lutheran church, and his wife and 
children are members of the United Brethren church.