page 1017.
JOHN B. BAIR,
a general farmer and one of the notable citizens of Leacock township, where he has been supervisor and school director, was born Jan. 24, 1848, on the farm where he is yet living, son of Joel and Leah (Bushong) Bair.
Joel Bair was born in Upper Leacock township, and was a farmer all his days. He died July 4, 1893, at the advanced age of eighty. His wife passed to her reward Nov. 18, 1884. She was born Nov. 12 1818, in East Lampeter township. Mr. Bair moved to Earl township, where he passed the remainder of his life. Both himself and wife were members of the Reformed Church, and they were buried in Rolands cemetery, in Earl township. To them were born: (1) Evanah married Diller Rank, a farmer in Chester county. (2) Israel is a clerk in New Holland, Pa. (3) John B. is mentioned below. (4) George W. is a farmer of Earl township. (5) Leah A. married Elam E. Kling, a farmer of Earl township. (6) Jason D. is a merchant in Leacock township. (7) Amos 0. died young.
The paternal grandparents of John B. Bair were Joel and Mary (Wolf) Bair. His maternal grandparents were John and Annie (Meyers) Bushong, of East Lampeter township. John Bushong was born in 1797, was a farmer, and died in 1868, and both he and his wife were buried in Heller's Church cemetery. The maternal great-grandparents of Mr. Bair, John and Anna E. Bushong, were also of Lancaster, county.
John B. Bair was married Nov. 11, 1872, in New Holland, Pa., by Rev. D. W. Gerhard, to Caroline C., daughter of John and Caroline (Eckert) Bair. She was born in Upper Leacock township April 23, 1852. To this union have come: Bertha Eckert, Anna Magdelina and Joel A., all at home.
John Bair, the father of Mrs. Caroline C. Bair, was a farmer. He died in December, 1893, at the age of seventy-seven years, following his wife, who passed to her reward in February, 1885, at the age, of sixty-six years. They were members of the Reformed Church. To them were born the following children: Levi E., who is living retired in Lancaster; Mary, who married Henry Bair, of Earl township, and is the mother of six children; Elmira, widow of John Royer, of Leacock township; John T., a resident of Earl township; Caroline C., wife of John B. Bair; Anna M., widow of David Kling, of Lancaster; George L., who died at the age of seven-teen years: and Rufus G., in the West. The paternal grandparents of Mrs. John B. Bair were George and Magdalina (Shafer) Bair; her maternal grandparents were Levi and Mary (Sides) Eckert.
John B. Bair remained at home with his until his marriage, when he engaged in farming on his own account. In the spring of 1874 they settled on the farm where they are found today, and where very satisfactory success has crowned their efforts. For the past thirteen years Mr. Bair has been school director, and for three years he has filled the position of supervisor. Both he and his wife belong to the Lutheran Church. In politics he is a Republican, and he is in every way a prominent and successful citizen, one whose career is well worthy of commendation, and who is highly esteemed by the community in which his useful life is passing.