Person Page - 1006

     Jonathan M. Byerly was born on 26 June 1858, Lower Mahanoy Township, Northumberland County, PA.^1,2 He married Louisa C. Emmerick on 8 January 1882.^1,3 Floyd, Biographical and Genealogical Annals of Northumberland County (1911) says:
"JONATHAN M. BYERLY was born June 26, 1858, in Lower Mahanoy township, and there received his early education in the local public schools, later attending a select school at Pillow, Dauphin county. In 1880 he received a license to teach from Professor Bowl, then superintendent of schools in Northumberland county, and began his career as an educator in Washington township, where he taught for two terms. Later he taught two terms in Lower Mahanoy township, and he made a reputation as a good disciplinarian as well as a conscientious instructor. From boyhood he had been accustomed to farm work, and he began farming for himself in 1882 in Lower Mahanoy, where he remained until his removal, in 1901, to his present farm in Jordan township. He still owns the place in Lower Mahanoy, which now comprises 114 acres of valuable land which he bought from the estate of his uncle, Benjamin Byerly. The latter bought a Wetzel tract of twenty-five acres to which he added until the farm reached its present proportions. Jonathan M. Byerly farmed that place until he removed to his present home, which he bought in the fall of 1900, from Michael Emerich, and which is a most desirable property of 134 acres of limestone soil. This place has been artificially fertilized under his management, and he has made a number of improvements which have materially enhanced the value of the property. Mr. Byerly is one of the intelligent, progressive and influential men of his district, where by his useful life he has won the respect of all who know him. He is a Democrat, has served as school director and has long been an active church worker, being one of the leading members of Zion's (Stone Valley) Church, where he and his family belong to the Lutheran congregation. He has served many years as deacon and elder, and was church treasurer for ten years.
"On Jan. 8, 1882, Mr. Byerly married Louisa Emmerich, daughter of Michael and Hannah (Tressler) Emmerich. They have had children as follows: Benedict Beecher, who died when ten months, four days old; Naomi Josephine, wife of John A. Latsha; Claudia Alveretta, wife of C. C. Miller; Hannah E; Elias M., married to Lizzie Paul; Ellen Salome; Isaac Theodore; Maud Helena, who died in her sixth year; and Mark
Jonathan, who died when ten months old."³ Jonathan M. Byerly died on 4 April 1955, Jordan Township, Northumberland County, PA, at age 96.^1,2
Newspaper obituary:
Native of Lower Mahanoy Expires
Jonathan M. Byerly, 97, Herndon R D., one of the oldest residents of the lower end of Northumberland County, died in his home between Mandata and Pillow.
Born June 26, 1858, in Lower Mahanoy Township, Mr. Byerly was a son of the late Elias and Elizabeth (Radel) Byerly. He was a lifelong resident of the Mandata area, where he was a farmer for many years before his retirement.
Mr. Byerly was president of the Byerly reunion since he organized the clan 21 years ago. His wife, the former Louise Emericlc, died 12 years ago.
Surviving are five children, Mrs. John Latsha, Herndon; Mrs. Hannah Hoover, with whom he lived; Elias Byerly, Herndon R. D; Mrs. Salome Wolfe, Harrisburg, and Isaac Byerly, Northumberland. Twenty-one grandchildren, 21 great-grandchildren and two greatgrandchildren survive, also.
Funeral services will be held Saturday afternoon at 2:30 in Zion Lutheran and Reformed Church, Hickory Corners. Rev. Herbert Frankfort will officiate. Friends may call at the Hoover Funeral Home, Dalmatia, from Friday evening until time of services. Burial will be in the church cemetery.
Shamokin News-Dispatch (Shamokin, Pennsylvania), 06 Apr 1955, Wed, Page 3.⁴
He was buried on 9 April 1955, at Zion (Stone Vallley) Lutheran and Reformed Church Cemetery, Hickory Corners, Northumberland County, PA.^1,2

     Louisa C. Emmerick was born on 31 August 1859.¹ She married Jonathan M. Byerly on 8 January 1882.^1,2 Louisa C. Emmerick died on 29 April 1943, at age 83.¹