BIOS: The SAYLOR Family, 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. 453-460

SAYLOR Family.

This was originally a German family and the name was spelled Syler.  The 
American ancestors settled in Pennsylvania about 1700. 
(I) Jacob Saylor was born in Berks county, Pennsylvania, in 1737.  He was a 
soldier in the war for independence, and his religious faith was of the German 
Reformed church.  He came to Somerset county about 1780. 
(II) Samuel Saylor, son of Jacob Saylor, born in Somerset county, Pennsylvania, 
in 1783, married and reared a family, and among their sons was one named Samuel 
S. Saylor. 
(III) Samuel Saylor, son of Samuel Saylor, was born in Somerset county, 
Pennsylvania, July 14, 1814.  He followed farming for a livelihood.  He reared a 
large family, many of whom have become prominent and prosperous citizens of 
Somerset county.  He was of the German Reformed church faith and in politics a 
Democrat.  He proved his loyalty to his country during the dark days of the 
Rebellion by serving under the nine months' enlistment as a member of Company E, 
One Hundred and Thirty-third Pennsylvania Infantry Regiment.  He died at 
Somerset, Pennsylvania, in 1882.  He was united in marriage to Caroline Berkey, 
daughter of Daniel and Kate (Zimmerman) Berkey, the latter named having been 
born in 1808, and died at the extreme old age of ninety-two years.  Mrs. 
Caroline (Berkey) Saylor died in 1880.  The Berkeys and Zimmermans are a 
numerous family in Somerset County, Pennsylvania.  Twelve children were born to 
Mr. and Mrs. Saylor, seven of whom survive, as follows: Andrew J.; Daniel; 
Franklin P.; James; William; Mary; and Emma.  The deceased are: Polly; 
Catherine; Rebecca; Lizzie; and Edmond.  The parents of these children both held 
membership in the United Evangelical church and were buried at Pleasant Hill 
cemetery, Somerset county, Pennsylvania. 
(IV) Franklin Pierce Saylor, son of Samuel S. and Caroline (Berkey) Saylor, was 
born June 30, 1850, in Somerset county, Pennsylvania.  His education was 
obtained at the common schools and at Central Pennsylvania College, the latter 
institution conferring upon him the degree of master of science.  He became a 
minister in the United Evangelical church, of which denomination he has been a 
member for thirty-five years.  In church life he has been a very active man.  He 
served as member of the board of examinations for ten years; member of the board 
of publication; was elected and served as presiding elder of his church; and was 
delegate to the general conference and board of missions.  From February 1864, 
to February, 1867, he was a member of the Sixteenth United States Infantry 
Regiment and made a good soldier, ever willing to perform any duty assigned him.  
In his political affiliations he has ever been counted a staunch Republican.  He 
served as prothonotary and clerk of the county during the years 1894-95-96.  He 
is a devout member of the United Evangelical church, as above noted.  The 
following orders claim him as one of their active members: R. P. Cummions Post, 
No. 210, Grand Army of the Republic, of which he was commander and chaplain; 
Knights of the Golden Eagle; Mystic Chain; and Junior Order of American 
Mechanics.  Being a man of ability and learning, he had much to do with public 
affairs, and he frequently appeared on the platform, rostrum and pulpit, ever 
advocating the right and denouncing the wrong in both church and state.  Aside 
from his pulit career he has been connected with a number of business 
enterprises, in which he has been successful.  He was nominated in June, 1906, 
for the legislature by the Lincoln Republicans, Democrats and Prohibitionists as 
the fusion candidate.  Being extensively acquainted all over the county, and 
having many friends in all parties and factions, his chances for election are 
excellent.  Having himself served three years during the War of 61-65, he also 
had one son, George W. Saylor, to serve in Company H, Fifth Regiment, 
Pennsylvania Volunteers, in the Spanish-American war. 
Mr. Saylor married, June 20, 1869, at Somerset, Pennsylvania, Harriet Jane 
Poorbaugh, the daughter of Samuel and Catherine (Ringley) Poorbaugh, which 
families are both of prominence in the history of Somerset county.  Mr. and Mrs. 
Saylor are the parents of the following children: Norman S., born February 13, 
1870, see forward; George W., born August 24, 1872; Libbie A., born December 3, 
1874, deceased, was a bright and accomplished young lady; Calvin W., born June 
30, 1877; Carrie V., born March 20, 1879; Mary Ada, born August 27, 1882; Frank 
C., born September 13, 1884; Harry D., born March 19, 1889.  These eight 
children were all well educated and settled and made homes for themselves in 
various places in Pennsylvania. 
(IV) James B. Saylor, lumberman of Somerset, Pennsylvania, was born September 2, 
1857, in Stony Creek, Somerset county, Pennsylvania, son of Samuel S. and 
Caroline (Berkey) Saylor.  His father, a cooper by trade, had a large family, 
and consequently the educational advantages enjoyed by his children were 
necessarily limited to the common schools.  After completing his education, at 
an early age, he followed farming for several years, but subsequently turned his 
attention to contracting in the lumber business, which has been his chief 
vocation during his life.  At first he took contracts to cut and clear from the 
stump.  He was interested with others in this line of work up to 1899, when he 
was elected sheriff of Somerset county for the term of three years.  After his 
term had expired he again engaged in the lumber business on his own account, and 
now operates a mill located about five miles from Somerset, having but recently 
located there, having operated mills at other points previously.  Besides his 
sawmill and general lumbering trade, which has become quite extensive, he also 
owns two tracts of farming land hard [?] by the borough of Somerset, which he 
farms in a successful manner, producing grain and grass.  Believing in a good 
old-time Democracy, he votes with that political organization.  His popularity 
in both parties, in fact, resulted in his election to the office of sheriff of 
Somerset county in 1899.  He made a most honorable and competent sheriff and 
retired from the political arena to the business pursuits of life.  He is an 
honored member of the Sons of Veterans, being made eligible by his father's 
service during the Civil war.  He is also a member of the Order of Elks, No. 
175; Royal Arcanum, No. 985; and the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. 
Mr. Saylor married (first) August 27, 1876, Emma C. Lape, daughter of John and 
Rebecca (Hoffman) Lape.  By this union were born the following children: Melda 
E., February 27, 1878; Nanne E., October 1, 1879; Parker, March 14, 1882; Sadie 
M., November 25, 1883; J. Scott, March 25, 1887; William E., April 22, 1890; 
Neva E., January 29, 1892; Emma G., December 3, 1893; died in the summer of 
1894, aged about eight months.  The mother of these children died December 21, 
1894.  Mr. Saylor married (second) September 6, 1900, Emma V. (Rhoads) Patch, 
daughter of Daniel and Caroline (Duppstadt) Rhoads and widow of ______ Patch.  
Mr. Saylor and his family reside in a comfortable and commodious house at 
Somerset, which is provided with all the modern improvements, and they enjoy the 
acquaintance of a wide circle of friends. 
(IV) Andrew J. Saylor, son of Samuel S. and Caroline (Berkey) Saylor, was born 
July 10, 1846, in Brothers Valley township, Somerset county, Pennsylvania.  He 
received a limited common school education.  During the Civil war he enlisted as 
a member of the same company in which his father served, Company E, One Hundred 
and Thirty-third Pennsylvania Volunteers.  After his nine months term of 
enlistment had expired, in 1864, he re-enlisted in Company H, Twenth-second 
Regiment, Pennsylvania Cavalry, in which he served until the close of the war.  
He was but fifteen years of age when he first enlisted in the Union army.  He 
was wounded at the battle of Fredericksburg, the ball striking him in his left 
shoulder.  He was then sent to Hammond General Hospital, at Point Lookout, 
Maryland.  After his return from the war he was married, and worked as a laborer 
at whatever came in his way.  Later he removed to the Ligonier valley, 
Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania, where he rented and farmed land for eight 
years.  He then returned to his native county and followed a number of 
occupations, including that of peddler and salesman of sewing machines, 
proprietor of a restaurant and manager and clerk in a store.  About 1880 he 
moved his family to Furnas county, Nebraska, for the purpose of taking up a 
homestead under his soldier right, which he did, but on account of the newness 
of the country and the homesickness of his wife, so far from relatives and 
friends of her childhood home in the east, he abandoned his claim and returned 
overland by means of a mule team and covered wagon, in which he and his wife and 
their six children traveled.  They were over eight weeks en route, the journey 
being made in the months of August and September.  Upon his return to Somerset 
county Mr. Saylor again rented farm land, and finally purchased a farm four 
miles to the east of the borough of Somerset, on which he resided until 1903, 
when he disposed of the same and purchased property just out of the borough 
limits of Somerset, where he still resides and conducts a grocery store.  At the 
present time (1906) he is serving as tax collector in Somerset township.  He is 
a member of Grand Army Post, No. 210, at Somerset, and has been a member of 
Royal Castle, Knights of the Mystic Chain, which castle is now defunct. 
Mr. Saylor married, January 6, 1866, Annie Pisel, who died in 1880.  Seven 
children were born to them, as follows: Jenny, Lottie, Mary, Benjamin, Harvey, 
Franklin and Belinda.  Four are now deceased.  Mr. Saylor married for his second 
wife Angeline Hofford, a widow, whose maiden name was Masters, and by this union 
six children were born, all of whom are living at the present time (1906): 1. 
James O., born July 10, 1880, is married and living in Chicago, Illinois, where 
he is taking a course in a medical college.  2. Leman G., born June 18, 1882, is 
a printer by trade, living in Johnstown, Pennsylvania, married Gertie Uhl, and 
they have two sons, Wilbur and Harold.  3. Lizzie A., born September 7, 1887.  
4. Homer E., born March 13, 1890.  5. Freeman, born June 23, 1892.  6. Paul 
Dewey, born Deceember 12, 1894. 
(IV) Daniel Webster Saylor, son of Samuel S. and Caroline (Berkey) Saylor, born 
July 3, 1854, at Rocksbury, Stony Creek township, Somerset county, Pennsylvania, 
acquired a good common school education and was reared on a farm.  He learned 
the trade of shoemaker, serving a three years' apprenticeship, and followed the 
same for a period of seven years.  He then entered the ministry of the 
Evangelical Association and served his church about four years in Somerset 
township.  About 1880 he migrated to Furnas county, Nebraska, where he claimed 
an eighty-acre tract of government land, upon which he lived, with a roadhouse 
for a dwelling.  His stay in Nebraska was about two years, but, owing to the 
lack of rain, he abandoned his homestead and returned with his family to his 
native place.  He then located in Meyersdale, Somerset county, and there engaged 
in coal mining for about seven years.  He procured a certificate as mine foreman 
and served in that capacity at Garrett, Pennsylvania, for a Mr. Shoofly for a 
year, when he voluntarily abandoned that work and returned to Somerset, near 
which borough he purchased a farm.  He then was variously engaged at farming and 
in the conduct of a meat market, grocery establishment and restaurant.  He 
conducted the basement restaurant in Knepper's block for about ten years and 
then sold it to his son, M. W. Saylor.  For seven months thereafter he operated 
a variety store, which he then sold to Hoffman & Co., and in September, 1905, he 
purchased the grocery and restaurant business of Messrs. Saylor & Young, of 
which he is still the proprietor.  In political belief Mr. Saylor has never seen 
a better party to support than the Republican, and has always cast his vote for 
its candidates.  He served two terms as township supervisor in Somerset township 
and one term of three years as jury commissioner.  He was formerly connected 
with the Evangelical Lutheran church, before the "split" in that body, but since 
then has held no regular church connection.  He is a member of the order of 
Maccabees and was a member of the Mystic Chain and Sons of Veterans until the 
local societies of those orders became defunct. 
Mr. Saylor married September 28, 1875, Sadie M. Rhoads, daughter of Daniel and 
Caroline (Duppstadt) Rhoads.  The ceremony was performed by Rev. Theodore 
Eisenhouer at Lambertsville, Pennsylvania.  They were the parents of fifteen 
children: Ward M., born February 16, 1877, married Mary Way, October 28, 1902, 
and they have a son named Kenneth Way, born January 14, 1904; Charles D., born 
March 3, 1878, died March 31, 1881; Grace E., born October 17, 1879, died 
October 31, 1881; Jennie B., born July 15, 1880, died July 15, 1881; Sadie C., 
born August 11, 1882, married Charles Snyder, June 23, 1903, and they have a 
daughter, Sarah Katharine, born November 20, 1904; Clyde R., born March 31, 
1884, mentioned hereinafter; Bessie E., born December 4, 1885; Minnie S., born 
March 28, 1887, married Alexander Saylor, August 16, 1905; Myrtle I., born 
December 31, 1888; Annie L., born August 10, 1890; Lloyd P., born March 20, 
1894, died March 11, 1895; Marguerite M., born June 23, 1896, died February 13, 
1898; Wilbert D., born December 20, 1897; Edythe E., born September 10, 1899; 
Daniel J., born November 29, 1902. 
George M. Saylor, son of Samuel Saylor, was born in Somerset county, 
Pennsylvania, Decemeber 27, 1829.  He received a common school education and his 
active career was devoted to the business of painting and paperhanging, which 
proved exceedingly remunerative.  He assisted in the building of the first court 
house in Somerset county.  He is a Republican in politics, a Lutheran in 
religion and an active member of the Masonic order.  In 1852 he married 
Catherine Sufall, daughter of John Sufall, above mentioned, and the issue of 
this union was the following children, namely: Anna L., deceased; Norah, 
deceased; Harry L. Y.; Florence; John T.; Robert G.; and Irwin W. Saylor. 
(V) Irwin W. Saylor, youngest son of George M. and Catherine (Sufall) Saylor, 
was born in Somerset, Somerset county, Pennsylvania, November 30, 1874.  He is 
indebted to the common schools of Somerset county for the educational advantages 
he enjoyed, attending the same until he attained the age of eighteen years.  He 
then served an apprenticeship at the trade of painting and paperhanging, 
becoming an expert workman, and at the present time (1905) is taking contracts 
for that line of work.  He is one of the young business men of Somerset who has 
achieved success by his own energy and enterprise.  He is a very congenial, 
well-informed man, of excellent business qualifications, and is highly regraded 
by all with whom he is brought in contact, whether in business or social life.  
He is a member of the Woodmen of America, Knights of the Golden Eagle and 
Benevolent Protective Order of Elks. 
(V) Norman S. Saylor, son of Franklin Pierce and Harriet J. (Poorbaugh) Saylor, 
was born in Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania, February 13, 1870.  He acquired 
his educational training in the common schools of his native place, and 
immediately after leaving the schoolroom engaged as a clerk in a general 
mercantile house and followed this occupation for seven years.  He then turned 
his attention to farming, in which he has since been engaged and in which 
occupation he has achieved the most gratifying success.  He has been a lifelong 
Republican in his political relations and has ever been ready to lend his 
assistance to all enterprises tending to advance the interest of the community. 
Mr. Saylor married, February 17, Miss Leora Sebert, born January 26, 1871, in 
Somerset county, a daughter of Solomon and Mary (Trent) Sebert.  Solomon Sebert 
is a native of Somerset county and a carpenter and cabinetmaker by trade.  He is 
a Republican in politics.  He and his wife have children as follows: Ella; 
Frank; Hattie; George B.; W. A.; John H.; Leora (Mrs. Saylor); D. W.; Lottie; E. 
E., deceased; Milton, deceased; and Charles, deceased.  Mr. and Mrs. Saylor ar 
the parents of the following named children: Ray S., born January 29, 1893; and 
Ruth S., born September 13, 1895.  They live at home with their parents. 
(V) Clyde R. Saylor, son of Daniel Webster and Sadie M. (Rhoads) Saylor, was 
born in Somerset, March 31, 1883.  He attended the common schools of his 
birthplace until reaching the age of seventeen, when he entered the ice cream 
business, in which he was engaged until his recent removal to Wilkinsburg, 
Pennsylvania, his dealings being both wholesale and retail.  His political 
affiliations are with the Republican party.  Mr. Saylor married, September 29, 
1903, Rosa A. Long, daughter of Oliver J. and Sarah (Fisher) Long, who are the 
parents of the following named children: Harvey; Rosa A., born January 2, 1879, 
in Somerset township, and became with wife of Clyde R. Saylor; Sylvester; Susan; 
Mary, and Irven.  Oliver J. Long, father of these children, was born in Shady 
township and is a farmer by occupation. 
Josiah Saylor, son of Joseph and Eliza (Hipple) Saylor was born in Somerset, 
Pennsylvania, June 1, 1840.  He received his education in the common schools of 
his native county, and his active career has been devoted to agricultural 
pursuits.  In 1861 he enlisted in Company A, Tenth Regiment, Pennsylvania 
Volunteers, served three years and was discharged June 11, 1864.  October 26, 
1864, he re-enlisted in Company G, Sixty-first Regiment, Pennsylvania 
Volunteers, and served until the close of the war, receiving his discharge June 
28, 1865. 
Mr. Saylor married, October 15, 1865, Mary Houpt, and the following named 
children were born to them: Annie E., deceased, who was the wife of Walter 
McFarland, of Allegheny (Greater Pittsburg), and had one daughter, Edna; Mr. 
McFarland is engaged in the transfer and storage business; Charles H., who 
married Anna Null and lives in Somerset.  Dollie B., deceased; Milton A., who 
married Ida Belle, daughter of Solomon and Sophia (Hemmington) Baldwin, the 
former a farmer; Milton A. and Ida Belle Saylor have two children, Margaret and 
Walter; Josie H., deceased; Louise, deceased; Bessie, deceased. 
Mrs. Saylor, on the paternal side is descended from German ancestors, her 
grandfather having emigrated from the Fatherland.  Her great-grandfather on her 
mother's side came from Scotland and settled in Westmoreland county, 
Pennsylvania, where his son, John McAfee, was born.  The daughter of John McAfee 
was ______ McAfee, who married ______ Houpt, son of ______ Houpt.  They were the 
parents of a daughter, Mary, who became the wife of Josiah Saylor, as mentioned 
above.