BIOGRAPHY: Alexander B. EARHART, Cambria County, PA
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From Wiley, Samuel T., ed. Biographical and Portrait Cyclopedia of Cambria
County, Pennsylvania. Philadelphia: Union Publishing Co., 1896, p. 464-5
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ALEXANDER B. EARHART, chief clerk of the Cambria and Clearfield division of the
Pennsylvania railroad, is a son of William and Martha Porter (Barclay) Earhart,
and was born in Blairsville, Indiana county, Pennsylvania, June 14, 1856. The
family of which Alexander Earhart is a worthy descendant, is of German origin.
Anthony Earhart, paternal grandfather, was born in York county, Pennsylvania,
and in 1810 removed
to Indiana county, where he purchased a farm and for the remainder of his life
followed the avocation of a farmer.
Alexander Barclay, maternal great-grandfather, was born in county Antrim,
Ireland. He married Miss Ann Martin, of county Down, Ireland, and emigrated to
America. His son, John Barclay, who is grandfather of the subject of this
sketch, was born in Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania, in 1802. At an early day
he removed to Indiana county and located on a farm. He was one of the
progressive and prosperous farmers of that section, and commanded the respect of
all who knew him. He held the honored position of elder in the Presbyterian
church. He died in 1874 at the age of seventy-two years.
William Earhart, father, was born in York county, Pennsylvania, May 20,
1795, and removed with his parents to Indiana county in 1810. His ancestors for
several generations had been farmers, and as an avocation he followed in their
footsteps and became also a tiller of the soil. He died in 1867.
Alexander B. Earhart, whose name heads this sketch, was reared in
Blairsville, and attended the common schools of that place. He also took
advantage of a course at the Millersville State Normal school, in Lancaster
county, Pennsylvania. On leaving school he served an apprenticeship at marble-
carving and from 1872 until 1881 followed this business. In the latter year he
entered the service of the Pennsylvania railroad company, in the capacity of
clerk for a freight agent in Allegheny city, Pennsylvania. November 7, 1882, he
resigned this position to accept a position as clerk in the office of the
auditor of the Cumberland Valley railroad. He remained in this office until
March 13, 1887, when he resigned and accepted a position as clerk in the office
of the superintendent of the West Penn division of the Pennsylvania railroad in
Allegheny city. He filled this position until January 1, 1893, when he was made
chief clerk of the Cambria and Clearfield railroad at Cresson, which position he
occupies at the present time. He is a member of the Acacia Lodge, No. 355, F.
and A. M., Blairsville, Pa.
On March 27, 1879, he was wedded to Miss Emma C., a daughter of Martin
Ludwig, of Chambersburg, Franklin county, Pennsylvania, and to this marital
relation two children have been born: Vera Louise, born March 8, 1885, and Earl
Barclay, born March 20, 1895.