Anthony Bierly[1]

Male 1743 - 1825  (81 years)


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  • Name Anthony Bierly 
    Born 22 Dec 1743  Germany Find all individuals with events at this location  [2, 3
    Gender Male 
    Died 07 Apr 1825  Rebersburg, Centre County, PA Find all individuals with events at this location  [2, 3
    Buried Saint Peters Lutheran and Reformed Cemetery, Rebersburg, Centre County, PA Find all individuals with events at this location  [2, 3
    Person ID I584  Kreider Moyer
    Last Modified 22 Mar 2022 

    Father Melchoir Bierly,   b. Abt 1720, Bavaria Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Family ID F279  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

    Family Anna Maria Warner,   b. 15 Nov 1762, Pennsylvania Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 3 Apr 1841, Rebersburg, Centre County, PA Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 78 years) 
    Children 
     1. Catharine Bierly  [natural]
     2. Sarah Bierly  [natural]
     3. Margaret Bierly,   b. 31 Oct 1773, Northumberland County, PA Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 1858, Dempseytown, Venango County, PA Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 84 years)
     4. Nicholas Bierly,   b. 19 Jan 1774, Northumberland County, PA Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 25 Jul 1848, Rebersburg, Centre County, PA Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 74 years)
     5. John Bierly,   b. 08 Feb 1779, Pennsylvania Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 27 Aug 1870, Clinton County, PA Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 91 years)
     6. Lizzie Bierly,   b. 22 Mar 1781, Pennsylvania Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 08 Mar 1860, Richland County, OH Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 78 years)
    +7. Rosina Bierly,   b. 08 Oct 1785, Pennsylvania Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 16 Feb 1871, Rebersburg, Centre County, PA Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 85 years)
     8. Anthony Bierly,   b. 08 Sep 1787,   d. 18 Jul 1857, Rebersburg, Centre County, PA Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 69 years)
     9. Ann Maria Bierly,   b. 12 Aug 1789, Northumberland County, PA Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 01 Mar 1873, Clinton County, PA Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 83 years)
     10. Eva Bierly,   b. 16 Nov 1793, Rebersburg, Centre County, PA Find all individuals with events at this location
     11. Mary Ann Bierly,   b. 25 Nov 1793, Centre County, PA Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 14 Sep 1861, Pennsylvania Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 67 years)
     12. Barbara Bierly,   b. 17 Jan 1796,   d. 08 May 1852, Buckeye Township, Stephenson County, IL Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 56 years)
    Last Modified 10 Aug 2020 
    Family ID F149  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  • Event Map
    Link to Google MapsBorn - 22 Dec 1743 - Germany Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsDied - 07 Apr 1825 - Rebersburg, Centre County, PA Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsBuried - - Saint Peters Lutheran and Reformed Cemetery, Rebersburg, Centre County, PA Link to Google Earth
     = Link to Google Earth 
    Pin Legend  : Address       : Location       : City/Town       : County/Shire       : State/Province       : Country       : Not Set

  • Notes 
    • Commemorative biographical record of central Pennsylvania, J.H. Beers & Co., (Name: Beers & Co, 1898;).

      page 235 COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

      BIERLY. The Bierly family has held for so many years a prominent place in this section, that the purpose of this work would not be fulfilled if the part which they have taken in local history were not given a place. Like most of the early settlers, they are of German extraction, the name having been formerly written Bherly. The founder of the line in this region, Melchoir Bierly, came from Bavaria, Prussia, with his wife, before the Revolutionary war, probably before the French and Indian war, and about the time of the Revolutionary war, located in Snyder county, near Mahantango creek. During that war they were obliged to flee from the Indians, probably at the time of the "Run away" in 1778, which has become a historical event, and they never returned, as Melchoir Bierly found employment in the iron works of Lancaster county, and made his home there. He met his death while crossing the mountains to visit friends. He had two sons, of whom the elder. Nicholas, settled in Ohio; and Anthony.
      Anthony Bierly was the progenitor of all the Bierlys in Sugar Valley, Clinton county, and Brush Valley, Centre county. He came from the region of the Mahantango, near McKee's Half Falls (now in Snyder county), in 1791 or '92, and leased from Col. Samuel Miles a tract of 300 acres of land a short distance north of the present site of Rebersburg. Tradition says that he was the first man to travel over the Brush Valley Narrows with a team after the completion of the road there, and a tedious journey it was, according to all accounts, the way being extremely rough, and for lack of other accommodations the party was compelled to camp out at night. On arrival at their destination a log cabin was constructed, and the work of subduing the wilderness and creating a home was begun. Naturally, Anthony Bierly became a leader among the pioneers of the locality, and his foresight and public spirit deserve recognition at this day. He was one of the leading men in the building, in 1804, of the first church in Rebersburg. He died April 7, 1825, aged about eighty-two years, and his wife, Anna Maria Warner, who was born November 15, 1752, passed away April 3, 1844, the remains of both being laid to rest in the Lutheran and Reformed cemeteries at Rebersburg. They had twelve children: (1) Margaret married (first) John Phillips, (second), Peter Greninger, and (third) a Mr. Carter, and died in Venango county, Penn. ; (2) Nicholas died near Rebersburg, July 25, 1848, in his seventy-fourth year (his wife, Lucy (Buchtel), died March 26, 1851); (3) Lizzie married Peter Berry; (4) Catherine, a taiioress by occupation, never married; (5) John, who was born in Northumberland county, February 8, 1779, married Catherine Berry, and died in 1870 in Sugar Valley, near Tylersvilie; (6) Sarah married (first) Henry Greninger, and (second) George Lesh; (7) Eva married Michael Ketner; (8) Rosina married Christian Gramly, and died in Miles township. Centre county; (9) Barbara married Fred Womeldorf, and died in Sugar Valley, (10) Anna married Philip Glantz, of Sugar Valley; and her death occurred there; (11) Anthony, Jr., is mentioned more fully below; and (12) Mary (Mrs. Michael Kahl) died in Brush Valley, and is buried at Rebersburg.

      Page 243 COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

      Anthony Bierly, ... was a man of note in his day, possessing an unusually keen intellect and forceful character. He was versed in the ancient science of Astrology, and practiced it for a time at Guy. In 1791, probably in the spring, he came to Brush Valley and settled with his family upon a tract of 300 acres, which was leased from Col. Samuel Miles.

      Mr. Bierly and his son Nicholas, our subject's grandfather, had come to the place in the fall previous to clear a portion of it and plant grain for the next summer's harvest. About half an acre had already been cleared by Mr. Strawbridge, who had also built a hut there, and when Mr. Bierly first came, there were a few huts standing in the woods through other parts of the Valley.
      Mr. Bierly's house was situated about half-way between the present homes of Peter S. and Anthony Bierly. There are upon the place several apple trees which were brought from the old-home, and one now measures thirteen and one-half feet in circumference. During the Revolutionary war Anthony Bierly while living on the Mohantango served in the militia, but it is not known what engagements he took part in. On one or two occasions, he with other parties followed Indians who had murdered white families. When he brought his family to Centre county he came through Brush Valley Narrows, over the road which Col. Samuel Miles had opened but a short time before, and it is said that Mr. Bierly was the first man. who traveled over it in a vehicle. He took an active part in the development and improvement of his locality, and was especially interested in the village of Rebersburg, which was established upon his tract of land. He died in 1825 at the age of eighty-two, and he and his wife, whose maiden name was Warner, were both buried in the Lutheran Reformed Cemetery at Rebersburg. Neither has a tombstone with an inscription. Their children, none of whom are now living, were: Nicholas, our subject's grandfather; John; Anthony, Jr.: Margaret, who married John Philips; Mary, wife of Michael Kehl; Sarah, who married (firsts Henry Greninger, and (second) George Lesh; Anna, wife of Philip Glantz; Barbara, wife of Frederick Womeldorf; Rosina, who married Christian Gramley; Elizabeth, wife of Peter Berry; Eva, wife of Michael Ketner, and Catherine, who never married.

      History of Centre and Clinton Counties, Pennsylvania; John Blair Linn; Philadelphia; Louis H. Everts; 1883.
      Anthony Berly (Bierly)
      (1747-1825)

      He was one of the pioneer settlers of Brush Valley. He leased a tract of three hundred acres, on part of which Rebersburg is now situated, from Col. Samuel Miles in 1791, and it is probable that he brought his family into the valley in the spring of the same year.

      They came from Mahantango Creek, now Snyder County. Mr. Bierly and his son, Nicholas, had been up during the previous fall to clear and put in grain a small piece of ground for the family¡¦s subsistence. A Mr. Strawbridge had cleared about half an acre; and built a hut on this tract when Mr. Bierly first came, and there were a few huts standing in the woods through other parts of the valley. Mr. Bierly¡¦s house was situated about midway between the present homes of Peter S. and Thony Bierly. There are several apple trees around the place which were brought from below, one of which measures thirteen and one-half feet in circumference.

      During the Revolutionary War Anthony Bierly served in the militia, but it is not known in what engagements he took part. On one or two occasions, he, with other parties, followed Indians who had murdered white families. This occurred while he was still living along the Mahantango. He came to the valley with his family through Brush Valley Narrows, over the road which Samuel Miles had opened but a short time before, and was the first man that traveled it in a conveyance. Anthony Bierly was a native of Bavaria; his parents and an only brother, Nicholas, came to America at the same time probably, but in what year is not known. His brother settled in Ohio somewhere. His father¡¦s name was Melchior, and he lived along the Mahantango also until the Indian troubles of 1778, when he left with the ¡§great Runaway,¡¨ and never returned from the eastern part of the State. His wife brought along a beautifully ornamented bottle from the old country, which is today a cherished relic in the family of a great-grandson, Melchior Bierly, of Rebersburg. Anthony Bierly was married to a Miss Warner; he died in 1825, and was eighty-two years of age; both he and his wife lie buried in the Lutheran and Reformed graveyard, Rebersburg, and neither grave has a tombstone with an inscription. Children:
      Nicholas
      John
      Anthony
      Margaret, married to John Philips; Mary, married to Michael Kehl
      Sarah, first married to Henry grenninger, and after his decease to George Leash
      Anna, married to Philip Glantz
      Barbara, married to Fredereick Womeldorf
      Rosina, married to Christian Gramly
      Elizabeth, married to Peter Berry
      Eva, married to Michael Ketner
      Catharine not married

      All the children are dead. (Meyer)
      Wife: Anna Maria Warner
      Parents: Melchior Bierly and Maria Barbara Ocker
      [1]

  • Sources 
    1. [S5] Commemorative biographical record of central Pennsylvania, J.H. Beers & Co., (Name: Beers & Co, 1898;).

    2. [S2] Genealogy of the Meyer Family, Meyer, Henry, (1890).

    3. [S29] Headstone photograph on findagrave.