BIO: Nathan Priest BARNETT, Huntingdon County, PA

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Commemorative Biographical Encyclopedia of the Juniata Valley: 
Comprising the Counties of Huntingdon, Mifflin, Juniata and Perry, 
Pennsylvania, Containing Sketches of Prominent and Representative 
Citizens and Many of the Early Settlers.  Chambersburg, Pa.: J. M. 
Runk & Co., 1897, pages 401-402.
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  NATHAN PRIEST BARNETT, retired farmer, and postmaster at Hubelsville, 
Clay township, was born in Carbon township, Huntingdon county, December 
9, 1824, son of Philip (2) and Rebecca (Horton) Barnett. His 
grandfather, Philip Barnett (1), was born in Germany in 1746, and died 
in 1845. His wife, Barbara Heeter, also a native of Germany, was born 
in 1749, and died in 1844. They were among the young men and women 
brought over in colonial times, by Virginia planters, and bound to work 
for a certain period of time to pay their passage money. Upon obtaining 
their freedom, they married and settled in what is now Carbon township, 
Huntingdon county. Philip Barnett served in the Revolutionary war. He 
discovered and mined the first coal found in the region where he lived, 
the famous Barnett coal, named for him. He was a Methodist. His remains 
and those of his wife lie side by side in the place of his own 
selection, on the farm where they spent their lives and reared their 
large family, named as follows: Christian; Jacob; Philip; Eva; 
Elizabeth; Mary; Susan; Barbara; and Esther.
  Philip Barnett, father of Nathan P., was born in Carbon township, and 
was a farmer and coal miner. He succeeded his father on the old 
homestead, and farmed it for many years. Then, selling out, he removed 
to Fulton county, where both he and his wife died; he reached the age 
of ninety-nine. He was for sixty-five years a member of the Methodist 
church, and class leader for many years. He married Rebecca Horton; 
their children are: Daniel, of McDonough county, Ill.; Eliza (Mrs. 
Joseph McLain), both died in Fulton county; Barbara (Mrs. John A. 
Osborn), of York county, Neb.; Nathan; Jacob, of Clearfield county; 
Catharine (Mrs. Thomas Duval), deceased; Sarah Ann (Mrs. Wesley 
Osborn), deceased; Elinor (Mrs. Simon Horton), of Illinois; Rebecca 
(Mrs. D. L. Whitehead), of Illinois; Susan J. (Mrs. John Miller), of 
Missouri; and three boys who died young.
  Nathan P. Barnett first attended subscription, then public schools. 
At an early age he began work on a farm, but later worked in a coal 
bank. His first store suit was worn after attaining manhood, his 
clothing as a boy having always been home-made. In October, 1849, he 
married Sarah Jane, daughter of John and Hannah Chilcoat. They settled 
at Eagle Foundry, Trough Creek valley, Huntingdon county, but later 
moved to a farm at Beavertown, and still later to one of 159 acres, in 
Fulton county, which he has since deeded to his son. He lived there 
twenty-one years, and then bought 117 acres in Clay township, on part 
of which he still resides; the remainder he has deeded to his other 
son. The place was then wild and barren, but is now a fine home. Mr. 
Barnett is a staunch Democrat, and has filled all the offices of Clay 
township; for four years he was auditor of Fulton county. He belongs to 
the I.O.O.F., at Waterfall, and is a consistent member of the Methodist 
church, being especially active in Sunday-school work. That he is 
strictly self-made is shown by the fact that he had but $40.00 when 
married. He is honored and esteemed by all who know him.