BIO: Joseph C. BIERLY, Centre County, PA

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Commemorative Biographical Record of Central Pennsylvania: Including 
the Counties of Centre, Clearfield, Jefferson and Clarion: Containing 
Biographical Sketches of Prominent and Representative Citizens, Etc. 
Chicago: J. H. Beers, 1898.
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  JOSEPH C. 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 
"Runaway" 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, 

COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.  236

Nicholas, settled in Ohio; and Anthony was the grandfather of our 
subject.
  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 
tailoress 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 Tylersville; (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.
  Anthony Bierly Jr., the father of the subject of this biography, was 
born September 8, 1787, and was but a child at the time of the removal 
to Centre county.  He learned the blacksmith's trade in Aaronsburg, and 
followed it for many years in Brush Valley and later in Rebersburg.  
His parents were well-to-do, and gave a liberal start in life to all 
the other children; but owning to some misunderstanding he received but 
little if any assistance from them.  He succeeded, however, and had an 
extensive business, employing several hands.  Of large build and active 
temperament, he was capable of doing an immense amount of work; but 
although he made a great deal of money he never became wealthy, as his 
kind and generous disposition was often imposed upon to his loss.  He 
was a stanch Democrat, and a leader in many local movements, serving 
for some time in the Home Militia as chief musician.
  In 1814 he married Miss Maria Kratzer, who was born near Shamokin, 
Penn., in February 1793, and died February 9, 1860; his own death 
occurred July 18, 1857.  Both were devout members of the Evangelical 
Church of Rebersburg, where their remains now rest.  They had eight 
children, as follows:  Melchoir, born July 20, 1815; John is a 
blacksmith at Tylersville, Penn.; William born September 19, 1818, is a 
farmer and shoemaker at Rebersburg; Susan, born June 20, 1824, is now 
Mrs. Joseph Miller, of Rebersburg; Rachel, born in 1826, married Rev. 
George Young, an Evangelical minister who died at Baltimore; George is 
a blacksmith and miller in Nittany Valley; Daniel, born September 9, 
1828, (now deceased), was a blacksmith at Tylersville, and Joseph C., 
born February 22, 1834, is referred to below.
  Joseph C. Bierly is one of the substantial citizens of Brush Valley, 
and the history of his life reveals a character which is well worthy of 
respect.  As a boy he attended the schools of Rebersburg but with no 
regularity.  From eight to twelve years of age he began to learn the 
blacksmith's trade.  Few men of his standing have had such meager 
opportunities and knowing as he does the value of an education he has 
ever been a firm friend of progress in our common school system, and 
his two sons have enjoyed every advantage that he could procure for 
them in their preparation for life's duties.  Mr. Bierly learned his 
trade in Rebersburg with his brother, Melchoir, receiving at the end of 
a of a three-years' apprenticeship, one pair of shoes and a Kentucky 
jean "womise." His annual vacation of two weeks he spent in the harvest 
field, earning a little money for clothes and other necessaries, but 
when his term as an apprentice expired he was in debt to the amount of 
$30.  He began work at Tylersville as a journey man at $15 a month; 
later he worked elsewhere, and being a thorough master of the trade he 
commanded excellent wages.  After saving a considerable sum of money, 
he returned to Rebersburg and formed 

COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.  237

a partnership with his brother Melchoir; later, however, he built a 
shop of his own and carried on his trade successfully for several 
years.
  In February, 1866, he was united in marriage with Miss Judith Meyer, 
a native of Brush Valley, born March 20, 1835, and a daughter of Henry 
and Hannah (Bierly) Meyer.  Desiring the wholesome surroundings of farm 
life for his family, Mr. Bierly purchased first from S. S. Wolfe, a 
farm of 140 acres near Rebersburg, and has since resided there, except 
during four years spent on the farm of his father-in-law, east of the 
same town.  Building a shop upon his property, which now includes more 
than 200 acres, he followed his trade for some years.  In the fall of 
1879 he had the misfortune to lose his left arm by accident, a fall 
entangling him in the machinery of a thresher; but this handicap has 
not prevented him from continuing his habitual activities, seeming in 
fact to stimulate him to greater efforts.  For thirty-seven years he 
gave much attention to veterinary practice, being a friend and admirer 
of that noble animal, the horse, of whose fine point he is an excellent 
judge.  His success in this line of work has been marked, his services 
being often sought from a distance.
  Despite his shrewdness and caution in business affairs, Mr. Bierly 
has at times met with reverses, one individual alone causing him a loss 
of $5,000, which would have been greater had he not sought the 
protection of the courts.  Quite and unassuming in manner, he yet 
impresses one as a strong character, and his influence among those who 
know him is great.  He is a stanch adherent of the principles of the 
Democratic party, but in local affairs he disclaims the necessity for 
partisan bonds, and votes for the best man.  He speaks with manly pride 
of the helpful influence of his estimable wife, attributing no small 
portion of his success in life to her.  Their two sons are a credit to 
them, and the money so freely spent in giving them a through education 
was well invested.
  PROF. H. E. BIERLY was born in the house now owned by Hon. Henry 
Meyer, Rebersburg, Penn., January 28, 1866.  He attended the common 
schools of Miles township, until he was eighteen years of age, not 
having a chance to attend the summer schools on account of too much 
work on the farm.  He then determined to get a better education, and in 
1884 entered Union Seminary (now Central Pennsylvania College), New 
Berlin, Penn.  This institution he attended most of the time between 
the years 1884-1888, during which time he nearly completed the 
classical course and prepared himself for Princeton University, which 
he entered in 1888 as a member of the class of '92.  He spent five 
years at Princeton University, four as an under-graduate, taking the 
"A. B. course", and one year as a post-graduate, studying physiological 
psychology, under Prof. Ormond, also the philosophy of religion, under 
the same professor.  The next year, 1893-94, he was unanimously elected 
"Professor of the Natural and Physical Sciences" in Belleview 
Collegiate Institute at Caledonia, Mo., where he taught one year, at 
the expiration of which time the Institute was partially closed. The 
next year he attended Harvard and Boston Universities, studying 
metaphysics under Prof. Royce and cosmology under Prof. James of 
Harvard University, and comparative theology and history of religious 
history of Christian doctrine, in the School of theology, of Boston 
University. It was then that he became acquainted with Pres. G. Stanley 
Hall, John Fiske, Joseph Cooke, Professors Carpenter and Davids, of 
Oxford University.  This year in Boston, and as a student of both of 
these Universities, was of the greatest value in his educational 
history.  The next year he was "Professor of Mathematics and Science" 
in Missouri Military School, Mexico, Mo., which was destroyed by fire 
at the expiration of that year.  During the following year he was 
engaged in writing a thesis on the "Origin and Development of the 
Conceptions of God", and in child-mind investigations in central 
Pennsylvania, in connection with Pres. G. Stanley Hall, of Clark 
University, Mass., and Prof. Earl Barnes, of Leland Stanford 
University, Cal.  At present (1898) he is professor of philosophy and 
science in Virginia College for Young Ladies at Roanoke, Va., one of 
the best of the Southern female colleges, in which he occupies a very 
responsible position, next to the presidents thereof.
  As a student, Prof. Bierly became intensely interested in philosophy, 
through Sir William Hamilton's lectures on metaphysics, the various 
works and writings of James McCosh, primarily, and through the edited 
works of Kant, Fichte, Schelling and Hegel, having a natural 
inclination to speculative studies.  At the same time he is greatly 
interested in biology, through a Natural History Society, which was 
organized by Prof. H. N. Conser, Ph.D., at central Pennsylvania 
College, and which led him to reading of nearly all the works of 
Darwin, Huxley, Romanes and Herbert Spencer.  It was the works of James 
McCosh that took him to Princeton University, whose lectures on 
metaphysics he attended in his freshman year, this being the last 
course on that subject given by McCosh, with whom he as a student was 
very well acquainted, and upon 

COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.  238

whom he called quite often, having received special recognition, 
encouragement and kindness from McCosh while alive.  While a student of 
Princeton University he made a special study of philosophy and biology, 
having taken all the branches the university offers on both philosophy 
and biology.  He took honors in the latter subject, and was offered a 
fellowship in osteology by the Chicago University, which he, however, 
did not accept, as he did not desire to give so much time in that 
particular line of investigation having decided to make the study of 
philosophy a life vocation.  He attended and was a member of the 
World's Congress of Philosophy held at Chicago during the World's Fair, 
at which time he became personally acquainted with Prof. Josiah Royce, 
professor of philosophy in Harvard University, who has been his private 
adviser and director in philosophy ever since.
  Prof. Bierly is a member of the Pennsylvania German Society, and of 
several Psychological and Scientific Associations.  He contributes a 
series of articles on the various conceptions of God for "The Preachers 
Helper".  Just now (1898) he is more extensively engaged in child-mind 
investigations than ever, with Pres. Hall, Prof. Earl Barnes, Prof. 
Royce also contributing a series of articles on child-mind study for 
several child-study magazines.  He has also addressed and lectured 
before quite a number of teachers' associations and institutes in 
Missouri, Pennsylvania and Virginia on various but mostly psychological 
subjects.  During the Bryan campaign in 1896, on account of not being 
hard pressed for work, he became very much interested in politics 
through his cousin, Hon. Willis R. Bierly, of North Dakota.  On account 
of the Democratic party splitting, Mr. Bierly was requested by the 
foremost politicians of the county to take a hand in politics and rally 
the Silver forces, as he did, and has done valuable service for his 
Valley and the county, having been elected president of the Bryan and 
Sewall Club of Brush Valley, which was composed of about two hundred 
members.  He is a member of the M. E. Church, which he joined while a 
student of Princeton University.  He was one of the three first members 
of the M. E. Church at Kreamerville, and rendered very effectual 
services in the building up on the Methodist Church at this place, 
having been appointed for this especial work, lasting several years, by 
the Quarterly Conference (Methodist).
  Edwin S. Bierly, the younger, was born at Rebersburg, Penn., in 1869.  
A few years after his birth his parents moved on a farm two miles 
southwest of Rebersburg, where his early boyhood was spent. After 
attending the schools of Brush Valley he in 1888 spent one winter term 
at Central Pennsylvania College with his brother, Elmer.  Here he 
completed the junior year of the Elementary (Normal) Department with 
the class of 1891.  Being unable to pursue his studies until January of 
1891, he then was admitted into the Junior class of the State Normal at 
Lock Haven.  At the middle of the spring term he was compelled to leave 
the Normal through sickness (the measles) contracted through his chum.  
He then returned to Central Pennsylvania College, and completed the 
"Elementary (Normal) Course" with the large class of 1892.  After 
attending Central Pennsylvania College several more terms as a student 
of the scientific course, he, on the following year, entered Dickinson 
College, Carlisle, Penn., where he remained during the winter term of 
1895; but had to leave college on account of sickness before the 
expiration of the college year.  He then remained at home the greater 
part of the year on account of sickness and then entered Dickinson 
Seminary at Williamsport; but after being there six weeks he was again 
compelled to leave school through lack of health.  Shortly afterward he 
was appointed general book agent for the "Minter Book Company", 
Harrisburg, Penn., and was quite successful in this work in the summer 
of 1896.  On October 8, 1896, he was married by Rev. Faus, his M. E. 
pastor to Miss Sadie Erhard, a daughter of Cyrus and Catherine Erhard, 
of Rebersburg.  Mrs. E. S. Bierly was and is a dressmaker by trade, but 
worked almost all the time in Lock Haven. She is a very industrious and 
ambitious young woman, and highly respected by all.  She has a good 
common school education, having attended the Normal Select School 
conducted by Supt. C. L. Gramley, at Rebersburg.  The following year he 
and his wife spent with his parents until January, 1898, when he 
regained his health and returned to Dickinson Seminary as a student of 
the Theological Department.
  In politics, he too is a "chip off the old block" namely a Democrat.  
He is a member of the M. E. Church and has always taken an active part 
in Church works at Kreamerville, his home Church, as one of the 
principal officials.