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BIOGRAPHICAL AND PORTRAIT CYCLOPEDIA

through from Pittsburg to Oil City. At the change of administration, being yet in his minority, he was removed on account of his not being of legal age. He then returned to the service of the Express company, where he remained until 1881, when he located in Johnstown, and where he has since resided. Foreseeing the city's growth, and being an excellent judge of property values, he amassed a comfortable competency in real-estate operations, and in 1890 built the Adair Opera House, one of the best play-houses in the interior of Pennsylvania. He lost heavily in the great flood, all his property being destroyed; but with characteristic energy he was one of the first to engage in rebuilding, and by this practical demonstration of his faith in the city's future encouraged others to do likewise. All the buildings lost in the flood have been restored, and he now owns eighteen houses in the city of Johnstown. His success shows what a penniless boy, with no capital but pluck and energy, can do.     Mr. Adair is a republican in politics, and an earnest defender of the principles of his party. His fellow-citizens have honored him with an election to the city councils, and he has been favorably mentioned for the mayoralty of the city. He inclines to the Methodist Episcopal church, whose services he attends. 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

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