USA > Pennsylvania > Bedford County > History of Bedford and Somerset Counties, Pennsylvania, with genealogical and personal history > Part 34
USA > Pennsylvania > Somerset County > History of Bedford and Somerset Counties, Pennsylvania, with genealogical and personal history > Part 34
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fort and ease of its occupants. The barn is very large, accom- modating seventy-five head of stock and vast stores of hay and grain. He conducts a small dairy, and in the spring house there is a famous spring. He is a director of the First Na- tional Bank of Berlin, and for ten years has held a similar office in the Union Association and Fire Insurance Company of Som- erset county, one of the flourishing and prosperous companies of the county. He now serves in the capacity of school director, in which office he has rendered valuable service. He is a mem- ber of Mt. Zion Reformed church, of which he is trustee, and also serves as president of the Sabbath school. He is a Re- publican and his first vote was cast for the late Ulysses S. Grant.
Mr. Berkley married, October 30, 1884, Sarah Hay, born February 6, 1858. educated in the common schools of the town- ship, daughter of Philip Hay. Their children are as follows: Stuart. born July 16, 1885; was educated in the public schools and at the Berlin Normal school, and is now his father's as- sistant on the farm. Elizabeth, born February 3, 1886; was educated in the public and normal schools of Berlin, and at the Southwestern Normal school at California, Pennsylvania; she has taught school three terms; she resides at home. Grace, born November 27, 1888; also received a common and normal school education. and has received a teacher's certificate. Sherman. born November 20, 1890; is being educated in the public schools. As shown by the above statement, Mr. Berkley is a firm believer in the value and advantages of a good educa- tion, and he is well pleased to be able to give to his children better educational advantages than he enjoyed during his boy- hood. The family is highly respected in the community, and enjoy the acquaintance of a wide circle of friends.
WILLIAM WESLEY HAUGER.
William Wesley Hauger, born on the homestead farm at Beachdale, September 23, 1856, is a son of Simon and Rosanna (Rausch) Hauger, and grandson of Jacob and Elizabeth (Knepper) Hauger, members of the Lutheran church, who died at an advanced age. Their family consisted of the follow- ing named children: George, Jonathan, Peter William, Simon, Polly, Hannah, Rebecca and Tracy.
Simon Hanger (father) was born in the year 1830 on the same farm as his son, and was reared, lived and died there. He was educated in the public schools, and followed farming as a means of livelihood all his lifetime. He served as school director of his township, and was among the representative citi- zens thereof. He was a member, deacon and elder of the Re- formed church, serving in the latter capacities for many years.
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He was a firm adherent of the principles of the Republican party. In 1853 he married Rosanna Rausch, born in Brothers Valley in 1834, daughter of John O. Rausch, and four sons and five daughters were the issue: Isabel, who became the wife of W. P. Spangler, resides near Somerset; William Wesley, of whom later; Mary, married G. W. Smith, resides in Brothers Valley; Silas M., married Rebecca Cowen, resides in Berlin; James S., married Lizzie Coleman, resides in Pine Hill; Car- oline, married Elmer Rhoads, resides in Brothers Valley; Eliza- beth, married Charles Engelka, resides in Brothers Valley; Bruce, married Alice Baughman, resides in Beachdale; Lillie, married J. M. Gumbert, resides in Pine Hill. Simon Hauger, the father of these children, died December 29, 1891. He was survived by his wife, who now makes her home with her son, Bruce Hauger.
William Wesley Hauger, or Wesley, as he is called, was educated in the public schools. He was early a helper on the farm, working for his father until his marriage at the age of twenty-two. He then located on the farm near Beachdale that he now owns and still resides upon. The farm contains two hundred and sixty-one acres, well stocked with horses, cows, hogs and sheep. He has also a sugar camp of five hundred ves- sels, producing fifteen hundred pounds of maple sugar an- nually. He has held the offices of supervisor, treasurer, and is now serving his third term as school director. In politics he is a Republican. He is a member and deacon of the Lutheran church at Pine Hill, and a member of the Patrons of Hus- bandry at Beachdale. He cast his first vote for the late James A. Garfield.
Mr. Hanger married, October 20, 1878, Priscilla K. Cober, of Berlin, Pennsylvania, born April 22, 1860, daughter of Aaron J. and Rebecca (Knepper) Cober. Two children were the issue of this union: Clayton, died in infancy; Emma M., born May 25. 1892, now attending the public school. Mrs. Hauger was educated in the common schools of Somerset county. She is a member of the Brethren church. Emma M. is a member of the Lutheran church.
HENRY H. HAUGER.
Henry H. Hauger, who resides on a well cultivated and therefore productive farm located about one and one-half miles from Beachdale, is a grandson of Jacob and Elizabeth (Knepper) Hauger, who were residents of Brothers Valley, followed farming as a means of livelihood, and there reared a large family of sons and daughters. They were active and con- sistent members of the Lutheran church, and passed away at a good old age.
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William Hauger, son of Jacob and Elizabeth (Knepper) Hauger, and father of Henry H. Hauger, was born near Beach- dale, Somerset county, Pennsylvania, August 12, 1826. Being reared on a farm, he chose that occupation for his life work, and was very successful in the management of his estate. He was a member of St. Paul's Reformed church, in which he was a member of the boards of deacons and elders. He was a Re- publican in politics. He was united in marriage to Caroline Berkley, born June 20, 1824, and their children were as follows: Hannah M., who became the wife of Phineas Walker, and re- sides in Nebraska; Henry H., of whom later; George W., mar- ried Matilda Brant; Rebecca, deceased, was the wife of John Hoffman, also deceased; Catherine, who became the wife of Edward Baldwin, and resides in Brothers Valley; John, mar- ried Nora Marker, and resides in Garrett; Anna M., who be- came the wife of Albert Rhoads, resides in Brothers Valley; Mannus, deceased. The deaths of Mr. and Mrs. Hauger oc- curred June 28, 1899, and January 14, 1897, respectively.
Henry H. Hauger, eldest son of William and Caroline (Berkley) Hauger, was born on the paternal farm in Brothers Valley, Somerset county, Pennsylvania, November 16, 1851. He was educated in the common schools of the neighborhood, and remained on the farm with his father throughout his youth and early manhood, until his marriage at the age of twenty-two years, assisting with the various duties, and thereby gaining a thorough knowledge of agriculture in all its branches. In 1877 he purchased his present farm, which contains one hun- dred and fifty acres of arable land, well stocked with a fine grade of cattle. The farm is on the Ridge, about one and one- half miles from Beachdale, and is one of the finest in that lo- cality. As a citizen Mr. Hauger is active and public spirited. His support is given to the candidates of the Republican party, the principles of which he firmly believes in. He holds member- ship in St. Paul's Reformed church, is a member of the board of deacons, and actively interested in the work of the Sabbath school connected therewith.
Mr. Hauger married. June 1, 1873, Sarah J. Cygler, born March 25, 1855, educated in the public schools, a daughter of Samuel and Mary (Flickinger) Cygler, both of whom are de- ceased. The children of this marriage are as follows: Allen P., born March 24, 1875, married Jane Brant, farms in Brothers Valley; William J., born June 6, 1877, is a carpenter by trade, and resides in Somerset, Pennsylvania, he married Elsie Dietz; Reuben P., born November 6, 1879, a farmer, married Cora Nedrow, resides in Brothers Valley; Clinton S., born Decem- ber 21, 1882, married Mary Wegley, he is a farmer and resides in Brothers Valley; Mary E., born October 1, 1885; Carrie I.,
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born February 6, 18SS; Hilton H., born April 6, 1891; Charles R., born February 6, 1893; Nellie G., born September 27, 1895; Edna L., born December 22, 1897. The six latter named reside with their parents. All the children received a public school education, which qualified them for their various walks in life, and the younger members of the family are still attending the same.
WILLIAM J. BRANT.
William J. Brant, a farmer near Beachdale, was born in Brothers Valley township, Somerset county, Pennsylvania, Oc- tober 12, 1865, son of William and Amy (Stahl) Brant, and grandson of John and Elizabeth (Baldwin) Brant, whose fam- ily consisted of five children, all of whom are deceased but Francis, who married Mary Hauger, and resides on a farm near Beachdale. The names of the other children were as follows: Jesse, Conrad, John and William. John Brant (grandfather) was a farmer of Brothers Valley, a member of the Reformed church, a Republican, and his death occurred at an advanced age. His wife died at the age of forty years.
William Brant (father) was born in Brothers Valley town- ship, Somerset county, April 10, 1832. He was educated in the common schools adjacent to his home, and later learned the trade of a blacksmith, which line of work he followed until he attained middle age. when he became a farmer. He was a soldier in the Union army, returned home from the war sick and died a week later, August 6, 1865. He was a member of St. Paul's congregation of the Reformed church. He was a Re- publican in politics. By his marriage to Amy Stahl, May 7, 1854, the following named children were born: James P., a farmer of Brothers Valley, married Catherine Queer, who bore him six children; Clarissa J., who became the wife of Frank E. Mvers; Arminda B., who died in infancy; Albert E., a carpenter, who resides in Milford township, he married Ida Hauger. who bore him two children: Ida S., who became the wife of John L. Sevits, a farmer of Brothers Valley, and they are the parents of four children. Amy (Stahl) Brant was born December 26, 1834, a daughter of Peter and Rosanna (Hoover) Stahl. She was a member of the Lutheran church. On April 4, 1871. after being six years a widow, she became the wife of Samuel Bittner.
William J. Brant was educated in the public schools and worked on his stepfather's farm until his marriage, at the age of twenty-two. He then rented a farm for one year, and in 1890 purchased his present farm of about one hundred acres, where he has since resided. The farm is well stocked with Percheron horses. short-horn cattle and Berkshires. There is also an apple orchard and a sugar camp of two hundred and seventy
ยท
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vessels, producing in a good season one thousand pounds of maple sugar. He served three years as constable of his town- ship, having been elected on the Republican ticket. He cast his first vote for the late Benjamin Harrison. He is a member of the St. Paul's Reformed Church and Sunday school, in the work of which he takes an active interest.
Mr. Brant married, February 9, 1888, Huldah G. Enfield, born February 1, 1864, daughter of Freeman and Naomi En- field, of Milford township, and their children are: Lulu E., born November 11, 1888, was educated in the public and nor- mal schools and received a certificate to teach; Laura A., born January 21, 1890; Charles R., born October 14, 1892; Dolly N., born April 1, 1894; Iva M., born January 6, 1897; Gladys E., born May 16, 1902, and Harold G., born November 24, 1905. Mrs. Brant, who is a member of the Brethren church, was one of nine children born to Freeman and Naomi Enfield. Freeman Enfield is a farmer, a Republican in politics, has held many of the different township offices, and is a member of the Brethren church.
U. MADISON BRANT.
U. Madison Brant, owner of one of the fertile and well culti- vated farms in Berlin township, Somerset county, Pennsyl- vania, is descended from a family that settled in Pennsylvania very many years ago.
(I) John Brant, grandfather of U. Madison Brant, and the first of the family of whom we have any record, was a well- known farmer in Brothers Valley, a Republican and a member of the Reformed church. He married a Miss Baldwin, and they both died at an advanced age, he at the age of seventy-eight years. Among their children was a son, Francis, a sketch of whom follows.
(II) Francis Brant, son of John Brant (I) was born March 13. 1835, in Brothers Valley. He received a practical education in the common schools of the district. In politics he was a Republican, and a member and deacon of the German Baptist church. He married Mary Hauger, born May 19, 1836, daughter of Henry and Sarah (Beachley) Hauger, who was educated in the public schools of her native town. She is a member of the German Baptist church. Her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Hauger, lived to an advanced age, he being a farmer and a Republican. Mr. and Mrs. Brant live on their own farm, and also cultivate an adjoining one, on which one of their daugh- ters is living. Following are the names of their children: John H., married Lydia Gnagey, and is a farmer in the Valley ; U. Madison, of whom later; Edward, married Emma Cober, he is deceased; Minnie, married Henry I. Beachley, a merchant,
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and lives in Arkansas; Grace, married John H. Hentz, a farmer in Brothers Valley and assessor of the township; Amy, mar- ried Edward Beale and lives on her father's farm; Oliver, mar- ried Cora Rhoads, is a machinist, and also lives on the home farm.
(III) U. Madison Brant, second son and child of Francis (II) and Mary (Hauger) Brant, was born in Brothers Valley, August 4, 1860. He enjoyed the advantages of a good educa- tion in the schools of the township, and then assisted his father on the home farm. Here he remained until two years after his marriage, when, in 1885, he bought and removed to his pres- ent farm. The farm is one of the finest in the district, practical and progressive methods of cultivation having made it ex- traordinarily fertile. It consists of one hundred and eighty- one acres, and is well stocked with fine breeds of horses and cattle. There is also a sugar camp, with a production of two hundred gallons of maple syrup. The farm is underlaid with coal and the mines are operated by the Pennmarva Coal Com- pany. Mr. Brant conducts the cultivation of his farms in a most masterly manner. He is ready to give a trial to any new invention that promises to save time and labor, considering that increased production will amply repay initial expenditure. He is energetic and forceful, and though deliberate in forming opinions, he is able to maintain them by sound arguments in their favor. In politics he is a Republican, and at present (1906) holds the office of school director. He is a member of the German Baptist church, and was a member of Beachdale Grange, Patrons of Husbandry.
Mr. Brant married, December 9, 1881, Emma A. Coleman, born January 4, 1865, on the farm now owned and occupied by her husband, daughter of Henry and Mary (Wingert) Cole- man, the former a farmer in Brothers Valley township, a Democrat, and a member of the Reformed church. Mrs. Brant was educated in the public schools of her native town. The children of Mr. and Mrs. Brant are: Norman, born January 20, 1883, educated in the public schools; is a machinist; lives at Althouse, and married Hilda Hoover. Henry F., April 6, 1885, educated in the public and normal schools and in the Scranton Business College; taught for one year, then became clerk in a store and afterward bookkeeper for the Enterprise Coal Com- pany in Garrett; he married Harriet I. Boger, who died leav- ing him an infant of four months, which is being cared for by its grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. U. Madison Brant. Mary, June 7, 1888, married Jacob Yontzy, who is a stone mason and lives in Brothers Valley. Edna, November 16, 1889, educated in common and normal schools and is qualified to teach, lives
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at home. Charles, March 5, 1892. Claude, December 18, 1896. Roy C., December 12, 1904.
Norman and Henry F. Brant are now in the grocery busi- ness in Berlin, trading under the firm name of Brant Bros.
WILLIAM F. SHAFFER.
William F. Shaffer, a marble and granite dealer of Somer- set, Somerset county, Pennsylvania, was there born June 6, 1853, a son of John H. and Harriet (Stahl) Shaffer. She was raised by Judge Jerry Black, with whom she made her home until she was married. He is of German descent, his grand- parents having emigrated from that country at an early date. The father, John H. Shaffer, was born and lived nearly his entire life in Somerset. He learned the trade of hatter, and during the last five years of his life was in the employ of Abner Mckinley, a brother of William McKinley. He was a survivor of the Johnstown flood, and died in 1903, at the age of seventy- six years.
The educational training of William F. Shaffer was re- ceived in the public schools. When he was six years of age his mother died, and the entire care of the family, consisting of three brothers and a sister, was left to an aged grandmother. At the age of thirteen William was bound out to a farmer in Fayette county, and after two years in this employ, returned to his home in Somerset county, where, until he attained the age of twenty-one years he was engaged in working for his father and in attending school. He then entered into an ap- prenticeship with J. W. Wooley, of Somerset, to learn the trade of marble cutting, serving a term of three years at a wage of $6 per month. He completed his trade in 1880, doing journey work about three years, and then commenced in business for himself on a very small scale. At one time, finding himself without money with which to purchase stock, he obtained a loan of twenty dollars from a Mr. A. H. Coffroth, of Somer- set. During his first year in business Mr. Shaffer made all of his own designs on rough paper with a pencil, and also did all of his own work, including selling, setting and cutting. From this very modest beginning, Mr. Shaffer's business has ex- panded to monumental size, and is counted among the largest retail marble and granite concerns in Western Pennsylvania. He is a Republican in his political proclivities, and in religious faith is a member of the United Brethren church, which he has attended for thirty years. and in which he has been collector of preacher's salary for twenty-five years.
Mr. Shaffer married, in 1877, Mary C. Hecker, of Somer- set, and to them were born five children : Edward M. and Austin D., of whom further; Ira H., Ella M. and Emma J.
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Edward M. Shaffer received his education in the public schools, and at the age of seventeen entered into an appren- ticeship with his father for a term of four years. He was then admitted to the business, being given one-fifth interest. In the same year he married Suie Manges, of Jenners, Pennsylvania, and two years later his father sold him a full third interest in the business. On January 1, 1905, Mr. Shaffer sold a third interest in the business to his second son, Austin D., who was previously employed by the First National Bank, of Somerset, as head bookkeeper, in which capacity he was engaged for a period exceeding five years. On June 1, 1906, he was elected assistant cashier of the First National Bank of Somerset. He married Stella Burgess, of Pitcairn, Pennsylvania, the eldest daughter of Rev. T. W. Burgess, of the United Brethren con- gregation. In political relations Austin D. Shaffer has always voted the Prohibition ticket, and has always been identified with temperance reform. His brother, Edward M., is a Repub- lican. Their business is now conducted under the firm name of W. F. Shaffer & Sons, having previously been W. F. Shaffer & Son. They carry a full and complete equipment of modern machinery, including pneumatic tools, polishing machines, trav- eling cranes, etc., and they employ from ten to twelve skilled mechanics the year around.
PETER D. BEAR.
Peter D. Bear, a prosperous and well known farmer of Meyersdale, Somerset county, Pennsylvania, is a representa- tive of the fourth generation of this family in America, his an- cestor having come from Germany and settled in America.
(I) Daniel Bear, the great-grandfather of Peter D. Bear, and the founder of the family in the United States, came from Germany and settled in Lebanon county, Pennsylvania, where he raised a family of children, among whom was a son, Lud- wig.
(II) Ludwig Bear, son of Daniel Bear (1), was born in Lebanon county, Pennsylvania, and later removed to Somerset county, Pennsylvania, where he cultivated a farm, and owned and managed a distillery and a tannery, in all of which under- takings he was most successful. He was a Whig and a member of the Lutheran church. He was twice married; the name of his first wife is not preserved; his second wife was Catherine Shaulis, who died March 3, 1854. Ludwig Bear died Septem- ber 4, 1820. Hle had had five children by his first wife, and seven by the second, among whom was a son, Daniel.
(III) Daniel Bear, son of Ludwig Bear (2), was born Feb- ruary 18, 1800, near the Fritz church. He received a limited education in the common schools of his district, and was en-
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gaged in the occupation of farming from his earliest boyhood until his death, which occurred February 1, 1884. He was a member of the Lutheran church. He married, January 23, 1842, Eliza Deal, born September 4, 1820, daughter of Peter K. and Mary ( Keefe) Deal, who were the parents of ten children; Peter K. Deal lived in Greenville township, was a carpenter by occupation, a Democrat, and a member of the Lutheran church ; he and his wife lived to an advanced age. The children of Mr. and Mrs. Daniel Bear are: Jonathan, a farmer in Broth- ers Valley, married Lavinia Judy; William, also a farmer in Brothers Valley, married Catherine Hearsh; Mary, married Andrew Layman, of Laramie township, he is a farmer there; Peter D., of whom later; Catherine, deceased, married William Diedel; Rebecca, married William Hearsh, who is a miner in Meyersdale; Daniel, deceased, married Sarah Warner; Ezra, unmarried.
(IV) Peter D. Bear, fourth child and third son of Daniel (3) and Eliza (Deal) Bear, was born in Brothers Valley, Penn- sylvania, March 19, 1849. He had the advantage of a good common school education, and then assisted his father on the farm. This occupation he followed until his marriage at the age of twenty-four years. After his marriage he took up a number of lines of work in various parts of Somerset county, and continued this for about three years. At the end of this period he returned to his native township and purchased the home farm from his father; this farm, consisting of one hun- dred and thirty-three acres, and an extensive sugar camp, Mr. Bear has brought to a high state of cultivation, and each acre brings its full share of profit into his treasury. It is well stocked with excellent horses and short-horn Durham cattle. His poul- try yard is also of considerable size, and this is under Mr. Bear's personal supervision. There are veins of coal underlying the farm, but they are at a great depth. Mr. Bear is an ardent Re- publican, and cast his first vote for Ulysses S. Grant. He is supervisor of his district, and performs the duties of his office in an eminently satisfactory and capable manner. He is a mem- ber of the Fritz Lutheran Church, as are all the members of his family who are of an age to attend church services. He has held the office of deacon in that institution, and is a member of the Sunday school. He is a man of considerable influence in his town, taking an active and deep interest in the public affairs of his country, and more especially in those of the community in which he lives.
He married, January 4, 1874, Harriet A. Judy, daughter of Daniel and Elizabeth (Myers) Judy, who were the parents of ten children: Josiah, Rebecca, Franklin, Polly, Elizabeth, Phoebe, Isabel, Lavinia, Matthias, and Harriet A. Daniel
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Judy was a farmer and died at the age of fifty years; his wife Elizabeth died in 1892, at the age of eighty-three years. The children of Peter D. and Harriet A. (Judy) Bear are as fol- lows: Lely M., born May 13, 1875, married Clark B. Saylor, a blacksmith, has five children and lives in Summit township; Eliza E., September 1, 1876, married Calvin P. McGuire, a farmer in Upper Turkey Foot, and has three children; William E., May 16, 1879, is a farmer and resides with his parents; P. Sylvester, June 8, 1881, married Carrie Walker, and is ,a farmer in Brothers Valley, on the farm of E. J. Walker; Mag- gie B., August 19, 1882, lives with her sister-in-law, Mrs. Carrie Bear; Ada I., May 13, 1884, resides at home with her parents; Hattie A., June 1, 1886, at home; Peter L., September 14, 1887, assists his father on his farm; Bertha N., November 18, 1891.
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