U.S. Data Repository http://www.us-data.org/ -- USGenNet Inc. -- Please read the U.S. Data Repository Copyright Statement on the following page: --------------------------------------------------------------------- Beachy, Jacob (1852-1941) --------------------------------------------------------------------- A History of Preston County West Virginia Biographical Department, Supplied by J. R. Cole Kingwood, W. Va., The Journal Publishing Company, 1914 by H. S. Whetsell Pages 808-809, JACOB BEACHY. The Beachy family are, and have been from time immemorial, Amish. This is a branch of the Mennonites, in earlier days known as the Waldenses, who were extirpated from England in the time of Henry the Second. They were noted for the simplicity and purity of their lives, and were driven from the island because of their faith in but two of the sacraments, instead of holding to seven, as the reigning church does. There are three brothers of this family who emigrated from Switzerland to America, but it is not known where each of them went but Jonas, the grandfather of the Beachys, who settled in Preston county. Jonas Beachy located in Pennsylvania, near Meyersdale, and many of his descendants are residing near that place now. He was born November 6, 1791. His wife, Sarah Gnegy, was born June 27, 1798, and died November 22, 1875. Their children were: (1) Benedict, born August 22, 1818; (2) Daniel, born April 20, 1820; (3) John, born March 30, 1821, died young; (4) Samuel, born November 1, 1825, now living in Illinois; (5) Susannah, born June 4, 1827; (6) Noah, born December 2, 1828, died young; (7) Lydia, born May 25, 1830; (8) Catharine, born September 23, 1831; (9) Elizabeth and Sarah (10) twins, born May 6, 1833. Sarah only is living. (11) Marie, born June 14, 1837, young; (12) Manassah, born June 14, 1837, died May 14, 1895. He was a bishop in the church for many years. He was married twice. His first wife was Barbara Swartzendruber, and his second wife was Elizabeth Hedding. Daniel Beachy, the father of Jacob, was born on the old home place in Somerset county, Pennsylvania, and died in Aurora, on the 8th day of January, 1897. His wife was Elizabeth Yoder before her marriage, and a daughter of Jacob and Gertrude (Blough) Yoder. The marriage of this couple occurred October 10, 1847, near Meyersdale, at the home of the bride. The children of Daniel and Elizabeth Beachy are as follows: (1) Jonas, born January 19, 1850, died February 5, 1899. He was unmarried. (2) Mary, born March 19, 1851. She was married to John Brennie, by whom she had three children. Her second husband was Emanuel Herschberger. No children by this marriage. (3) Jacob, born October 16, 1852. (4) Sarah, born March 10, 1854, married December 8, 1878, to Simon Lichty. They had nine children. (5) Lydia, born September 2, 1855, married to Simon Miller, December 19, 1882. They live on the adjoining farm to the old homestead and have six children. (6) Leah, born April 21, 1858; not married. (7) Matilda, born January 20, 1859, married Joel Maust, and lives in Somerset county, Pennsylvania. They have four children. (8 and 9) two deaths in infancy, a boy and a girl. (10) Lena, born November 6, 1863; not married. (11) Elizabeth, born January 13, 1865, died August 6, 1894. (12) Catherine, born January 7, 1869, married to Milton Herschberger, and lives in Somerset, Pennsylvania also. (13) A boy, born in April and died September 7, 1871. (14) Fannie, born April 8, 1873; not married. The Beachys have all been farmers. Mr. Daniel Beachy came to Preston with his family and settled near Aurora, in the spring of 1853. The farm was bought of Isaac Startzman, and is well adapted for grazing purposes, the use to which it has been put for many years. In 1780 the present house was erected, and almost ever since that time a large herd of cows has been kept for butter making. They have twenty- five Guernsey cows at the present time, and make butter for one woman in Washington, D. C., who has been buying their manufactured product for many years. She gets from them a very choice article, and pays a fancy price for it. She is a woman of business and makes cakes on a large scale, which she sells principally to the wealthy of the city at a remunerative price. The Beachys remain in the faith of their fathers and hold strictly to those simpler forms and rules of living. The perfection of Christian character is one of the great objects of their lives. The grandfather and father both were Menonite bishops, and their descendants to this day are known for the purity of their lives, their honesty, and upright character. --------------------------------------------------------------------- From Death Certificate, Preston County, WV #2686 FULL-NAME: Jacob D. Beachy BIRTH-DATE: October 16, 1852 BIRTH-PLACE: Garrett Co., Md. DEATH-DATE: February 3, 1941 DEATH-PLACE: Aurora, Union District, Preston County, WV MARITAL-STATUS: Single OCCUPATION: Farmer FATHER: Daniel Beachy (born in Somerset Co., Pa.) MOTHER: Elizebeth Yoder (born in Somerset Co., Pa.) CAUSE-OF-DEATH: Acute pulmonary edema / Influenza INFORMANT: Fanny Beachy (of Aurora, W.Va.) BURIAL: Cemetery in Aurora There's a tombstone in Beachy Cemetery, Preston County, WV JACOB BEACHY OCT 16, 1852 FEB 3, 1941 Other tombstones in the Beachy Cemetery (with surname Beachy) In memory of infant children of Daniel & Elizabeth Beachy: Moses, Susan, Daniel. Elizabeth Beachy; born Jan. 13, 1865; died Aug. 26, 1894 Elizabeth Yoder Beachy; born Oct. 12, 1825; died Jan. 28, 1892; wife of Daniel Beachy Fannie Beachy; 1873-1959 (shared stone with Leah Beachy) Jacob Beachy; Oct. 16, 1851; Feb. 3, 1941 Jonas Beachy; born Jan. 19. 1850; died Feb. 5, 1879 Leah Beachy; 1857-1951 (shared stone with Fannie Beachy Lena Beachy; born Nov. 6, 1862; died Apr. 6, 1918; Aged 55 years, 5 months. --------------------------------------------------------------------- If you've reached this file through a SEARCH, you can access other biographies for Preston County, WV by going to the following URL: http://www.us-data.org/wv/preston/bios.html ---------------------------------------------------------------------