BIOS: Cyrus Joseph FIKE, Somerset County, PA File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Candace Roth Copyright 2006. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/somerset/ ________________________________________________ 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. 266/7 Cyrus Joseph FIKE. The paternal ancestors of Cyrus Joseph Fike, of Meyersdale, were among the earlist settlers of Elk Lick township. His great-grandfather, Jonathan Fike, was a native of Switzerland, and crossed the ocean three times, settling near Reading, Pennsylvania. Later he moved to Elk Lick township, Somerset county, there being then not much cleared land, and bears and deer were seen almost daily. Both he and his wife were members of the Amish church. Christopher Fike, son of Jonathan Fike, was a native of York county, Pennsylvania, a farmer, and the founder of one of the Somerset county branches of the family. His wife was Christina, daughter of Peter Livegnood, of Elk Lick township. Christopher Fike and his wife were brought up in the Amish church, but later joined the Dunker church, now called the German Baptist church. Joseph Fike, son of Christopher and Christina (Livengood) Fike, was born in Elk Lick township, on the farm now occupied by William N. Moser. He followed the calling of a farmer. He married Sarah, daughter of Jonathan Miller, of Elk Lick township, and their children were: Elias, Susan, Samuel, Anna, Catharine, John, Cyrus Joseph (see forward), Jonas, Daniel and Mehlin. Cyrus Joseph Fike, son of Joseph and Sarah (Miller) Fike, was born May 25, 1839, in Elk Lick township, on a farm now owned by Henry Wilmoth, of Meyersdale. He received his education in the public schools, and at the age of eighteen left school and was employed by his father on the homestead until October, 1862, when he enlisted in Company K, One Hundred and Seventy-first Regiment, Pennsylvania Volunteers, and served nine months. In March, 1865, he was drafted, but after a short period of service was discharged. He made a brief sojourn in the west, working at different places, and in 1885 purchased the property on which he now makes his home. He is a shareholder in the Economy Telephone Company. With the exception of justice of the peace, he has held every office in the township, notably that of supervisor, in which he served three terms. He is a Democrat and a member of the German Baptist church. Mr. Fike married, February 20, 1870, Sarah, daughter of John Lephart, of Upper Turkeyfoot township, and their children are: William A. Wallace, Lloyd Byron, Ira Clinton, Allan Homer, and Alice Lulu.