BIOS: The BURKHOLDER 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. 424-426

BURKHOLDER Family.

James Wesley Burkholder, of Nicolay, is one of the representatives of a numerous 
family.  He is a son of Daniel Burkholder, who was born September 26, 1815, in 
Somerset county, and passed his life as a farmer and stock-raiser in Lower 
Turkeyfoot township.  He was a Republican and a member of the Methodist 
Episcopal church.
Daniel Burkholder married Catharine, born August 1, 1822, in Centerville, 
Milford township, daughter of Christian and Mary (Pritts) Cramer, and their 
children were: 1. Christian, served in Company K, One Hundred and Sixteenth 
Regiment, Pennsylvania Volunteers, and was killed at the battle of Cold Harbor.  
2. Mary Elizabeth, wife of Jasper Tannehill, farmer of Lower Turkeyfoot 
township; four children, Sherman Mead, William Earl, Nelletta and Robert 
Forrest.  3. William, of whom later.  4. James Wesley, of whom later.  5. 
Rosetta, died October 10, 1857.  6. Rebecca Jane, died November 24, 1857.  7. 
Phoebe Ann, married (first) James D. Younkin, died May 5, 1892; (second) Andrew 
Younkin: children by first marriage.  Daniel Garfield, James G. Blaine, Daisy 
Catharine, Grace and two who died in infancy, unnamed; by second marriage, one 
child, Edna. Mr. Burkholder, the father of the family, died September 13, 1858, 
and was survived many years by his widow, whose death occurred May 7, 1906.
William Burkholder, son of Daniel and Catharine (Cramer) Burkholder, was born 
April 3, 1848, near Centerville, and received his preparatory education in the 
common schools of his native township, subsequently entering Scio [sic] 
University, Scio, Ohio.  After completing his course of study he taught for two 
terms in the schools of Lower Turkeyfoot township and then engaged in farming, 
at the same time following the carpenter's trade.  He has now, for two years, 
been in mercantile business in Draketown.  Politically he is a Republican. 
Mr. Burkholder married, in June, 1898, Josephine, daughter of Richard and Sarah 
(Knight) Gorsuch, of McKee's Rocks, Allegheny county, Pennsylvania.  Two 
children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Burkholder: one who died in infancy, unnamed, 
and Marian, born August 12, 1901.
James Wesley Burkholder, son of Daniel and Catharine (Cramer) Burkholder, was 
born December 6, 1850, near Centerville, on the old Christopher Creamer farm, 
and was educated in Harbaugh's school house.  He is now engaged in farming and 
stock-raising.  He has been for sixteen years tax collector of his township, and 
for ten years has served as school director, to which office he has recently 
been re-elected for a term of three years.  He has served three terms as 
inspector and the same length of time as auditor, two terms as judge of election 
and one term as supervisor.  His vote and influence are given to the Republican 
party.
Mr. Burkholder married, April 30, 1871, Harriet, daughter of George and 
Catharine (Younkin) Firestone, and they were the parents of the following 
children: Ella Frances, born May 29, 1872; Christian C., May 14, 1873; Simon, 
September 18, 1875, died October 1, 1875; Minnie Catharine, April 15, 1877, died 
November 14, 1880; Charles Ross, January 31, 1879; James Harry Robert, July 4, 
1886.  Mrs. Burkholder died January 27, 1897, and on February 6, 1898, Mr. 
Burkholder married Jennie Hartzell, daughter of Melki and Annie Johnson 
Hartzell, and the issue of the marriage was as follows: Ida Elfretta, born July 
6, 1899; Daniel McKinely, June 30, 1900; Rebecca Jane, October 22, 1902; and 
Leroy Roosevelt, March 6, 1905, died March 7, 1905.