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JACOB A. BAIR. For more than a quarter of a century Jacob A. Bair has been the popular and efficient propietor of the "Williamstown Hotel" at the village of Vintage, Paradise township, Lancaster county. He had been a successful farmer in his earlier life, and as hotel keeper he soon became widely and favorably known to the traveling public, for he possessed these qualities of heart and mind which endear the host of the inn to his guests, and he is the representative of one of the old and honored families of Lancaster county. Jacob A. Bair was born in Leacock township, Jan. 30, 1832, son of William and Mary Ann (Trout) Bair, and the grandson of David Bair, in his time a leading farmer of Earl township. Mary Ann Trout, the mother of Jacob A. Bair, was a direct descendant in the fifth generation from Conrad Rutter, who migrated to America in 1683, locating first on the site of Germantown, Pa., which town he helped to found. He removed to Montgomery county, and later in 1716 came to Leacock township, Lancaster county, with his three sons, locating on 588 acres of land. His descendants were among the most honored and respected citizens of Lancaster, county, as clearly set forth in the history of the Rutter family. William Bair, the father of Jacob A., lived to the age of eighty-four years, and the mother died at sixty-four. To them were born the following children: Martin, deceased; David, deceased; Jacob A., whose sketch appears herewith; Samuel, who resides near New Holland, Earl township; Amanda, wife of Laban Rauck, of New Jersey; Elias, of Philadelphia; Mary Ann, wife of Harry Weidler, of Lancaster City; and Hannah, wife of Amos Brackbill, of Strasburg township. Jacob A. Bair was reared on the farm of one hundred acres in Leacock township, where his father lived most of his life and received his education in the common schools. At the age of twenty-one he began life on his own account by taking charge of a farm of his father's in Leacock township. He continued actively engaged in farming in Leacock and Paradise townships until 1876, when he removed to the village of Vintage, where he has since resided, all the while as owner and proprietor of the "Williamstown hotel." He has, by his long experience in that capacity, amply demonstrated that he is the right man in the right place. He is genial and whole-souled, and his hostelry is famed throughout the eastern part of Lancaster county. Mr. Bair is also a well-known sportsman, with a special fondness for fox-hunting. His pack of fox hounds are of the best, and he has in his stables the right kind of horses to follow. He has given considerable attention to horses of the track variety, and has won during the past few years some good races. Mr. Bair married in 1853 Miss Rachael Royer, daughter of John Royer, of Leacock township. To Mr. and Mrs. Bair have been born nine children, namely: Henry, who died at the age of twenty-two years; Josephine, wife of Henry Eby, of Philadelphia; Anna Mary; Catherine; Elizabeth, a stenographer with the Hazleton National Bank, Hazleton; Clara, Rachael, wife of Edward Livingston, of Point Pleasant, N. J.; Jacob, who married Miss Nora Russell, of Gap; and Clement, assistant clerk for the supervisor of the Pennsylvania railroad at Wall, Pa. Although now seventy years of age Mr. Bair has the appearance and activity of a man many years his junior. He is exceedingly well preserved and enjoys the friendship and esteem of a wide circle of friends.