| Notes |
- 326 COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
CHARLES BEIRLY, a prominent agriculturist of Brush Valley, residing near Rebersburg, is a man whose patriotism has been tried amid the hardships and exposures of the battlefield, the camp and the march, and survived the still more trying test of hospital life. At the age of twenty-two, in obedience to his country's call, he enlisted, August 22, 1862, at Rebersburg, in Company A, 148th P. V. I. After a short stay at Camp Curtin, Harrisburg, for equipment and drill, the new recruits went to the front, their first experience in battle being at Chancellorsville. Mr. Beirly took part in the other engagements of his regiment until he was wounded in the evening of the second day at Gettysburg while he was crossing the stone fence. He was removed from the field in an ambulance, and spent nine months in a hospital in Philadelphia. Nothing daunted by this experience, he determined to remain in the service, but being incapacitated for active work in the field he was transferred to the Invalid Corps, and for some
time was on guard duty in New York City. Later he was detailed for hospital work at Washington, and he did not leave the service until the war was ended, being mustered out June 26, 1865.
Mr. Beirly is a member of a pioneer family of Brush Valley. The name is properly spelled Bierly, but at the time of his enlistment it was placed on the army rolls as Beirly, and he has since adhered to that form. He is a grandson of Anthony and Maria (Kratzer) Bierly, and a son of Melchoir Bierly, who was born in Miles township, July 20, 1815, and became a leading citizen there. At twelve years of age he began to learn the blacksmith's trade in his father's shop, and always followed that occupation. Melchoir Bierly was married December 3, 1836, in Miles township to Catharine Gephart, who was born in Berks county, Penn., November 1, 1811. Her parents, Daniel and Hannah Gephart, removed to Union county when Catharine was but a babe, and after nine years there they settled at Madisonburg, Centre county. Mr. Gephart followed the weaver's trade. Later they went to Seneca county, Ohio, and died there. Mrs. Bierly was the eldest of ten children — six sons and four daughters. Of the five children of this marriage, two lived to adult age: Charles; and Mary J., now the wife of William Brumgart, of Nittany Valley; three children — one daughter and two sons — died in childhood.
Melchoir Bierly was a Republican and strongly loyal, being an ardent admirer of Lincoln and opposed to slavery. In local affairs he was influential but he never sought office. He was a large man, well built, a hard worker, and was nearly eighty years when he died, January 11, 1894. He had but fifty cents when he was married, and he fought his own fight, winning a comfortable competence. He and his wife both united with the Lutheran Church, and were always in sympathy with religious and philanthropic work. Mrs. Bierly still lives in Rebersburg, and is well preserved for one of her age. Since his father's death our subject has given his mother a good home, and has cared for her with filial devotion.
Charles Beirly was born near Rebersburg, April 18, 1840, and attended the schools of his day at Rebersburg, John Burket being his first teacher. He had some difficulty in committing his lessons to memory, but was an apt scholar in some respects. He began to learn the blacksmith's trade when he was twelve years old, and when not in school he was to be found in his father's shop, where there was always plenty of business, several men being constantly employed. After his return from the army he resumed work at his trade.
Mr. Beirly was first married September 10, 1865, in Brush Valley, to Miss Amelia Snook, the daughter of Levi and Margaret (Wolford) Snook. They began housekeeping in Rebersburg, and Mr. Beirly became a partner in his father's business, which they continued until they came to his present farm in 1874. He rented the place at first from his father, and in November, 1893, acquired the title. The farm contains 106 acres, and Mr. Beirly has erected every building on it except the residence and corn crib. He owns a home in Rebersburg and also has a small tract of mountain land.
The children of the first marriage were:
Margaret J., now Mrs. C. O. Mayer, of Selins Grove, Penn.;
Warren M., of Franklin county, Penn. ;
Alvin M., who died at the of age sixteen years;
George A., who died in infancy;
and Charles H., a farmer of Brush Valley.
The mother, who was a devout Christian and a member of the Lutheran Church, died in November, 1874, and her remains now lie buried at Rebersburg.
For his second wife, Mr. Beirly was married, March 12, 1876, to Miss Mary M. Moyer, born in Penn's Valley Penn township, Centre county, May 12, 1845, daughter of Elias and Susan (Young) Moyer, who removed to Boone county, Iowa, when she was ten years old. She was reared there, and taught a subscription school when but seventeen years old. Her father died there in 1864, and soon afterward she returned with some of her family to Pennsylvania, where she met Mr. Beirly. She was the eldest of nine children — six sons and three daughters — and is now the only one of this family left in Brush Valley and Penn's Valley.
Two children were born of this marriage:
Lowell S.
and Orpha C, both at home.
Politically, Mr. Beirly is a Republican, but while he is a stanch member of the party he is no office seeker. He and his wife are prominent members of the Lutheran Church, and he has held the office of deacon therein. Socially he belongs to W. W. Beirly Post, G. A. R., at Millheim, of which he was one of the organizers. A substantial, industrious and honest farmer, he is one of the best of citizens, and he is held in high esteem by all who know him. [1]
|
1815 - 1895 (79 years)
[1, 2, 3] 
: Address
: Location
: City/Town
: County/Shire
: State/Province
: Country
: Not Set
