The Republican., 1891-10-16
The BeaChX EanilX.

Correspondence of The Republican.
II there should be any disposition on the
part of your intelligent readers to hear any
thing additional on the subject of old fami-
lies of Garrett county, I do not know any
more worthy and interesting than that of the
Beachy race. The most prominent feature of
this paper will be the late John Beachy and
his immediate family. Still an effort will be
made to briefly outline the general race
The most remote ancestor we have been
able to obtain, was Abraham Bcachy,-a very
appropriate name for the head of an extern
Pennsylvania, and settled in what was known
in early times as brothers Valley" then a
large portion of Bedford county. He was of
the Amish faith, and so have been most Of
his descendents-very primitive in his ways
and mode of life, but thoroughly honest, and
thrifty in his notwithstanding, of course.
He died two generations ago on his fine estate
near West Salisbury.
There were four brothers, John, Jonas, Pc
ter and Christian. Jonas and Peter remain ed
in Pennsylvania and died there many years
ago, leaving great number of children and
descendants. John and Christian stepped over
into Maryland more than fifty years ago Some
time before leaving Somerset county, John
married Christina Livengood, then as now, a
very respectable and prominent family, with
its ramificatlons not only in many counties,
but States.
John was very industrious, thrifty and
clear-headed throughout life, and accumula-
ted quite an estate, especially in lands in the
the northern part of Garrett county, which
with much personal property descended to
his nine living children: Abraham j. Chris
tian j. Samuel j., John j.. Jonas j., Gideon
j., Elizabeth, Sarah and Susan. He was a
man of great stature and enormous physical
strength. He had the power of an ordinary
horse. Many incidents could be given of his
prOwess in this line. He once slew a trouble
some wolf by dashing its brains out against
q tree. But with all, he was strictly a man
of peace. His religion, If nothing else, held
him to that. Still he had his temptations in
the times when great many disputes were
settled or supposed to be settled by rough and
tumble fights. Once when q young man, he
was down east driving cattle with his plain
unique garb on. He met conceited fellow
who boasted he could down any man who
ever came from the mountains. A challenge
for a wrestle came to the quiet mountaineer.
Being long way from home. the Amish faith
slack kened little, and the banter was ac-
cepted, and in no time a pair of heels were
. dangling in the air, but not those worn by
Beachy. Still another trial OF forbearance
and religion: A neighborhood bully annoyed
the strong man to an unbearable degree. At
last the fellow was conveniently put upon his
back, with pair of powerful knees upon his
breast, and thus easily brought to subjection.
The fellow was known to complain of breast
trouble for some days, good brother in
authority called on the strong man to know
whether he had smitten anyone. No, he had
only kneed man little for the good of the
neighborhood. "Oh, well, that was hardly
any SIM" was the reply. A sound conclusion.
This useful and energetic man died away
from home in 1852. The writer was sent for
in his last moments to do little professional
work. Too late. His last words were; He
had more important thoughts than to deal
with his lands and property. And thus he
died. a true and brave christian.
Just here word about the Old-time priml-
tive form OF worship. If these plain. sincere
and honest people are not right. then the
Bible itselfis not to be relied on. Their faith