BIOGRAPHY: William R. BAREFOOT, Mifflin County, PA

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The Commemorative Biographical Encyclopedia of the Juniata Valley, Comprising 
the Counties of Huntingdon, Mifflin, Juniata, and Perry, Pennsylvania.
Chambersburg, Pa.: J. M. Runk & Co., 1897, Volume I, page 668.

  WILLIAM R. BAREFOOT, Mifflin county, Pa., was born in Armagh township, Mifflin 
county.  He is a son of Levi and Mary (McNitt) Barefoot.  William R. Barefoot's 
paternal grandfather, William Barefoot, moved from Lancaster county to Mifflin 
county, and settled on a farm in Big valley, Union township.  A short time after 
he removed to the farm now cultivated by William Brown and J. G. McNitt, near 
the Back mountains, in Armagh township.  It is supposed that he died at this 
farm.  William Barefoot had eleven children:  Peter;  Levi;  John;  Job;  James;  
William;  Rebecca;  Susanna;  Jemima;  Mary; and Margaret. William Barefoot's 
father, Levi Barefoot, married Mary, daughter of Robert McNitt.  They had two 
children:  William R.; and Robert.  After his wife's death, Mr. Levi Barefoot 
removed to Illinois, where he married.
  William R. Barefoot attended the district schools of Armagh township until he 
was nine years old, when he went with his father to Illinois.  He studied for 
four years at an academy in that State, and, at the age of thirteen, returned to 
Mifflin county to become a clerk in the store of Albert C. Mayes, at 
Siglerville, Pa.  Two years later he obtained a position in the store of Samuel 
McClintic, where he remained for eight years.  During these ten years, Mr. 
Barefoot had acquired a practical knowledge of business, and he now decided to 
open a store of his own.  This venture was so successful that in a short time 
Mr. Barefoot had gained a liberal share of the patronage of the community.  For 
nine years he was postmaster at Siglerville.  In 1887, after a successful 
mercantile career he purchased his present home, a farm of 125 acres.  William 
Barefoot is a practical and progressive farmer.  Not content with building a 
convenient modern house and a large barn, he has improved the quality of the 
land, by a complete system of drainage.  The whole farm is well cultivated, and 
all the appointments are in excellent order.  Mr. Barefoot's live stock is 
celebrated in the county.  His horses, cattle and small stock are of a fine 
breed and in good condition.  Mr. William Barefoot is a member of the Republican 
party, and although not active in politics, he is interested in all that 
concerns the community.
  William R. Barefoot was married November 28, 1879, to Mary, daughter of Robert 
and Margaret Susanna (Shaw) Sterrett.  Their children are:  Robert, born 
November 12, 1882, died September 6, 1889;  Mary, born April 12, 1890;  and 
John, born June 12, 1895.  Mrs. Barefoot's parents are both dead.  They had five 
children:  William;  Maria;  Mary;  Robert;  and John.  Mr. William R. Barefoot 
and his family attend the Free church at Siglerville, Pa.