BIOS: Noah BIESECKER, Quemahoning, Somerset County, PA File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Sharon Trosan Copyright 2006. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/somerset/ ________________________________________________ BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW, Vol. XXXII, Containing Life Sketches of Leading Citizens of Bedford and Somerset Counties, Pennsylvania. Boston, Biographical Review Publishing Company: 1899, pp 257-258. Noah Biesecker, a prominent agriculturist of Quemahoning, Somerset County, and a citizen of influence, was born September 14, 1826, in Jennerstown, Pa., a son of Daniel Biesecker. Daniel Biesecker was born in 1793 in Adams County, this State. While yet a youth he came to Somerset County, and in the town of Quemahoning worked at farming several years. Soon after his marriage he removed to Jennerstown, where he bought land and improved a fine farm, on which he was prosperously engaged in the pursuit of agriculture until his death, when sixty-six years old. He was a self-made man, an industrious worker and an able and successful manager. He was a Republican in politics, and a member of the Lutheran church, to which his wife also belonged. Her maiden name was Nancy Kimmel. She was a daughter of Solomon Kimmel, and was born on the homestead now occupied by their son Noah in Quemahoning. They had ten children of whom four are living; namely, Sarah, Noah, Mary and John. Sarah, widow of Aaron Friedline, has two children-Amanda and Jacob. Amanda is the wife of Aaron E. Shaffer, and has five children- Frederick, William, Frank, Sadie, and Edna; and Jacob, who married Nora Brubaker, has three children, the eldest being a son named Claude. Mary Biesecker is the widow of the late Michael Sipe, and has six children, namely: Edward, who married a Miss Trent; Daniel, who married a Miss Flick; Sadie, wife of A. M. Beam; Ida, wife of Edward Mowrey; Alice, wife of John Gallagher; and Clara, wife of Mr. Trent. The wife of Daniel Sipe died leaving four children. John Biesecker married Joanna Winters, and had two children, of whom but one is living; namely, Frederick W., who married Mary daughter of Edward Schull, of Somerset. Noah Biesecker received his education in the public schools of Jennerstown, and after the completion of his studies carried on general farming at the parental homestead until 1854. Coming then to Quemahoning, he assumed possession of the old Kimmel farm, on which his mother was born, and has since followed his independent calling with marked success. During his long residence here, as a far-sighted and Public-spirited citizen he has taken an active interest in the welfare and growth of the town. He is a steadfast Republican in politics, and from 1881 until 1885, inclusive, he was Associate Judge of Somerset County, having been associated with George Pile the first year and afterward with Judge Daniel J. Horner. In September, 1860, Mr. Biesecker married Elizabeth, daughter of John and Margaret (Mull) Winters. Her father died at the age of sixty-five years, and her mother at seventy-two. Mr. and Mrs. Winters had eight children, five of whom survive, as follows: Wendell, who married Mary Bowman, and has two children-William and Amanda; Elizabeth, now Mrs. Biesecker; Sophia, who is the wife of Thomas Gallagher, and has four children-John, Edward, Rebecca, and Ida; Julia, who is the wife of Herman Shaffer, and has five children-John, Barton, Robert, Ida, and Lillie; and John, who married Jane Bowman, and has seven children-Joanna, Maggie, Grace, Robert, Thomas, James and Jacob. Mr. and Mrs. Biesecker have had four children, two boys and two girls, all of whom have passed to the higher life. James E., the only child that grew to adult age, married Mary Cunningham, by whom he had one child, Elizabeth. Mr. and Mrs. Biesecker stand high in social and religious circles, the former being a valued member of the Reformed church, and the latter of the Lutheran church.