Dietrich; Francis J., of Barnesboro, married Elizabeth Weakland; Demetrius A., of Elyria, Ohio, married Mary Yinger; Ohilda E., deceased; Theophilus T.; Celestine C.; Mary T.; Maggie; Harry 0.; Alfred J. (all of whom are deceased); John A., of Susquehanna township, married Anastasia Dietrich: Michael D., of whom later; George L., of Pittsburg, married Dode Fenlon; Cecilia A., widow of M. D. Koontz, of Spangler; Annie A., wife of Henry Volk, of Carroll township; and Clara A., wife of Joseph R. Blair, of Elyria, Ohio. John Bearer, the father of this large family, lived to an advanced age, despite the fact that he had been, from the age of nineteen, the victim of a bodily affliction which increased with years and forced him, in the autumn of 1884, to submit to the amputation of one of his feet. When he had passed his eighty-fourth birthday and his wife had entered upon her seventy-seventh year, in the early part of 1905, a family reunion was held in which all the members, with the exception of two, participated, and which was an extremely joyful event, November 18, 1905, Mr. Bearer died. His widow is still living.
Michael D. Bearer, son of John and Elizabeth (Luther) Bearer, spent his early days on the farm with his nine brothers and six sisters. In 1846, when his father purchased the homestead, the forests were full of wild animals, including deer, bears and wolves, and game was sufficiently abundant to afford much sport. The tales to which the boy then listened of the days when they used the "candle dip," the "tallow candle," the reel and the old spinning-wheel, are now included among the fondest recollections of the man. Mr. Bearer received a meagre education at the country school, beginning with a three months' term, which was afterward extended to five. He was permitted to attend the normal school at Ebensburg one term, thus fitting himself to teach, which he did for six terms, during the winter months, working on the farm in the summers. In 1886 he entered the law office, of William H. Sechler, with whom he remained one year, after which he read law with M. D. Kittle, and thus passed his preliminary examination for admission to the bar. In 1887, while still reading law, he was appointed deputy county treasurer, under Thomas E. Howe, and also served under the next treasurer, C. J. Mayor. When he entered the office he was the youngest official in the county. After leaving the court house he engaged in mercantile business at Ebensburg, closing the business in the spring of 1897 for the purpose of engaging in the implement trade as the representative of the Johnston Harvester Company, of Batavia, New York. His knowledge of machinery and farm life were soon demonstrated, and the company sent him to take charge of their immense business in Michigan and Ohio. He was promoted from time to time, and finally sent to North Carolina, where he had full charge of the two Carolinas. Desiring to be at home, he resigned his position, refusing an offer to represent the company in their South American trade. In the spring of 1903 he was engaged by the Pennsylvania Coal & Coke Company as their purchasing agent, and bought up many acres of coal and surface land in Cambria county.
In 1903 he was appointed deputy sheriff, under Samuel Lenhart, and was still serving in that capacity when "The Grange National Bank of Patton" was opened, August 8, 1906. He was one of the organizers of this bank and was made its cashier, in consequence of which he offered to resign the position of deputy sheriff. The sheriff, however, refused to accept his resignation, and he is now filling both positions. He belongs to Johnstown Lodge, No. 175, Benevolent Pro-
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