Blair County PA Archives Biographies.....Fair, Lemuel L. July 7, 1843 - ???? ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/pafiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Judy Banja http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00004.html#0000757 December 16, 2024, 1:41 pm Source: Biographical and Portrait Cyclopedia of Blair Co, PA: Philadelphia, 1892. Author: Samuel T. Wiley LEMUEL L. FAIR, the founder of Fair's addition to Juniata, on the north of Altoona, and who was a soldier in the Army of the Potomac, is a son of William and Mary (Cribbs) Fair, and was born in Indiana county, Pennsylvania, July 7, 1843. His paternal grandfather, Peter Fair, and his two brothers, John and Jacob, came from Germany to Philadelphia, which Peter soon left to reside a short time successfully in Blair and Westmoreland counties, after which he became one of the early settlers of what is now Black Lick township, in Indiana county, where he died in 1830, at seventy-seven years of age. He was a spy and scout during the last Indian troubles in Pennsylvania, and often gave notice to the frontier forts of threatened Indian attacks. He was one of the first jurors ever impaneled in Indiana county. His son, William Fair (father), was born in Black Lick township in 1798, and died there in 1885. He was a prosperous farmer, had been a useful member and officer of the Evangelical Lutheran church for over sixty years, and was an old-line whig and republican in politics. He was a stirring, energetic man, had held several of his township's offices, and married Mary Cribbs, a daughter of Jacob Cribbs, of German descent, who owned a farm and followed wagon making in Black Lick township, where he died in 1832, aged sixty-seven years. To Mr. and Mrs. Fair were born eleven children, six sons and five daughters, all of whom except two are now living. Mrs. Fair was born in 1805, has been a member of the Lutheran church for sixty-seven years, and is now residing with her son, the subject of this sketch. Lemuel L. Fair was reared on the farm, received his education in the schools of his native township, and was engaged in teaching, which he followed for some time. He went, in 1867, to Dakota county, Nebraska, where he was engaged in farming in the Missouri valley and in teaching until 1876, when he disposed of his property and returned to Indiana county to take care of his parents. After returning to his native county he purchased the home farm, which he tilled until 1887, when he sold it in order to purchase a farm near some city. After visiting several cities, he was most favorably impressed with Altoona, and accordingly purchased his present farm, just beyond the northern limits of the city. He has now laid out a part of his farm in town lots, in a plan known as Fair's addition to Juniata, which will be one day a part of Altoona. He has sold over one hundred and fifty of the lots, and circumstances seem to warrant that the entire number of those lots will soon be disposed of to those who are seeking city homes of their own. His farm is only twenty minutes' walk from the engine works in the northern part of Altoona. Mr. Fair still follows farming, and has a nice vineyard, which he intends to increase in size. On November 27, 1867, Mr. Fair married Mary, daughter of John Bridenbaugh, of Dakota county, Nebraska, and they have five children: John S., a student of Pennsylvania college; Mary V., attending Altoona High school; Elda May; H. Maud; and Philip W. In 1863 Mr. Fair enlisted as a private in Co. D., 206th Pennsylvania infantry, and served until June 1, 1864, when he was honorably discharged. He was in the battles of Fort Harrison and Spring Hill, besides many skirmishes. Lemuel L. Fair is a republican in politics, and has held several township offices. He owns, besides his farm, some valuable property in the village of Juniata. He is a member of the Evangelical Lutheran church; Grange No. 889, Patrons of Husbandry; and Fred. C. Ward Post, No. 46, Grand Army of the Republic. Additional Comments: Originally submitted 2001. Transcribed by Linda Shillinger LindasTree@AOL.COM This file has been created by a form at http://www.usgwarchives.net/pafiles/ File size: 4.3 Kb