BIOS: James M. SHOBER, Garrett, 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. 446/7

James M. SHOBER.

James M. Shober, a representative citizen of Garrett, Pennsylvania, was born in 
Brothers Valley township, Somerset county, Pennsylvania, in the house he now 
owns and resides in, September 6, 1855.  His early ancestors were natives of 
Switzerland, but his parents, grandparents, and great-grandparents were natives 
of this country.
His father, George W. Shober, born September 15, 1826, son of Jacob Shober, was 
a man of deep religious conviction.  He was a member and later a minister of the 
Church of God.  Although owning and conducting a farm of four hundred acres, he 
traveled over the country and preached in the churches of all denominations as 
well as his own.  Creed sat lightly on his shoulders, and all Christians were 
his brethren.  He was first a Whig and later a Prohibitionist, but with the 
exception of a few minor offices would not accept the public positions offered 
him.  On January 25, 1852, he married Leah B. Berkley, daughter of Solomon and 
Catherine (Boger) Berkley, and they were the parents of two sons and two 
daughters: Samuel U., married Sarah Kimmell; James M., of whom later; Laura V., 
who became the wife of Alexander Coleman; Eximena, who became the wife of Wesley 
Landis.  George W. Shober (father) died June 15, 1897. His wife, Leah B. 
(Berkley) Shober, who is a member of the Brethren church, is living at the 
present time (1906) on the old homestead.
James M. Shober was educated in the common and normal schools of the county.  
His intention was to make teaching his vocation in life, but upon making a trip 
to Richardson county, Nebraska, in 1880, he changed his mind and determined to 
become a western farmer.  On returning east to make his arrangements he found 
his parents so opposed to this plan that he abandoned it, and instead took the 
home farm and has remained on it ever since.  The farm is substantially the same 
in size as when he purchassed it--four hundred acres--but he has remodeled and 
enlarged the house and built the most commodious barn in the county.  The farm 
is well stocked with good horses and blooded Short-Horn cattle.  It is also 
underlaid with four veins of coal varying from four to seven feet in thickness, 
and the plant of the Somerset Coal Company is located on the farm.  W. D. 
Althouse leased the coal right of two of the veins and opened the first mine, 
but subsequently sold to the above named company.  These two veins return to Mr. 
Shober a royalty, while he retains all his rights in the other veins.  There are 
also large, fine orchards on the property, and a sugar camp of fifteen hundred 
vessels producing from four to five thousand pounds annually.  This farm has 
been in the possession of three generations of Shobers.  In politics Mr. Shober 
is strictly independent.  He is a member of the Royal Arcanum, of Berlin.  He is 
a member of the Maccabees, and is commander of the lodge located at Garrett, 
Pennsylvania.  He has passed all the chairs of the Protective Home Circle of 
Garrett, is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, Berlin, and member 
of Beachdale Lodge, Patrons of Husbandry, in which he has passed all the chairs.  
Mr. Shober is an independent, original thinker and possesses a strong, manly 
character.  He is now (1906) in his fifty-first year, alert and active, and 
Brothers Valley is rich in having such men as he within her borders. 
Mr. Shober married, December 22, 1882, Ada E. Coleman, born April 4, 1864, 
educated in the common schools, and died May 28, 1902, daughter of Jacob J. and 
Mary (Musser) Coleman.  Fifteen children were the issue of this union, five of 
whom--four sons and one daughter--died in infancy and early childhood.  The 
names of the surviving children are as follows: Lucy C., born in 1883, received 
her education in the common and normal schools and is now a teacher; Clayton P., 
born July 8, 1884, has chosen farming as his occupation and will succeed his 
father, making the fourth generation on the home farm; Melda V., born May 14, 
1891; Ivy L., born August 1, 1892; Etta L., born January 22, 1894; Etha Linda, 
born August 27, 1895; Galen M., born October 10, 1896; Helen M., born November 
2, 1897; James J., born april 29, 1899; Ada M., born May 2, 1902.