BIOS: Cyrus Joseph FIKE, Somerset County, PA 

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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.