Abraham P. Beachy

    Abraham P. Beachy, who bears the name of his grandfather, who was the first one of the family to locate in the county, is a son of Peter A. and Ann (Livengood) Beachy.  He was born January 23, 1828, and reared on the old homestead, which is now in his possession, and he resides in the old stone house, around which cling so many tender associations and recollections, which was built by his grandfather, in 1809.  But few farms in the county have remained intact in the possession of a member of the family for three generations, as has this home farm.

    Mr. Beachy attended the subscription school of the well-known Jost. J. Stutzman, when a humble log cabin protected him and his pupils from the inclemency of the weather, and thus obtained a common-school education.  In those early days no idlers could be found in the community, and, as a consequence, Mr. Beachy was early taught habits of industry and thrift, which have resulted in his financial advancement.

    Having worked his father's farm of two hundred and forty acres on shares for three years, it was purchased by him, and from this time on he has been uniformly successful in his career as a farmer.  To his original purchases he added others, until he at one time was the owner of some six hundred acres, and engaged extensively in general farming, cattle-raising and dairying.  He and his brother John W. still jointly possess two hundred and fifty-seven acres adjoining Salisbury, on the south, they having laid out a portion of the farm into city lots, now graced by numerous dwellings.

    Mr. Beachy also possesses a section of find farming land in the State of Nebraska, and is one of the wealthy, honored and respected citizens of his native place.  He is a man of sterling worth, and had he been ambitious for political honors, could have filled important offices, he refusing all overtures looking towards political preferment, preferring the quiet of home life with its pleasant surrounding, to a public one.  A staunch friend of education, he has held the office of school director for seventeen years, and materially assisted in maintaining good schools.

    January 23, 1848, he married to Christiana, daughter of Samuel C. Lichty, who departed this life July 14, 1880, in the fifty-first year of her age.  They became the parents of seven children, six of whom survive. Samuel, Lucinda, Ann (Beachly), Peter A., Lloyd and Alice.  All reside in this county but Peter A. and Mrs. Beachly, who live in Nebraska.

    March 17, 1881, he was united in marriage to Matilda Yoeder, daughter of Henry Yoeder.  Mr. Beachy is a deacon in the German Baptist church, of which his former wife was a member, as well as the present.

Information taken directly from: "History of Bedford, Somerset and Fulton Counties, Pennsylvania 1884 "Waterman, Watkins and Co."

Provided by Ardi Deal