South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1913-08-18
OLD ASSOCIATE OF
FATHER SOR|N DIES
Thomas E. A. ByerIey, Pioneer
of st. Joseph County and AS
SiStant Builder of Little Log
Church at N0tre Dame.

In the death Of Thomas E. A. By
erley OF Roselawn on the Niles road
Sunday evening, South Bend and ST.
Joseph county lost one Of its oldest
settlers. one associated with the
pioneers Of the county who Iabored
during the days Of the red men when
this section of the state was a wilder
ness. One Of the closest associates of
Mr.. Byerley during his early days in
this country was the Very Reverend
Edward Sorin, founder Of the Uni
versity Of Notre Dame.
Mr.. Byerly's death follows close on
that Of his brother-in-law. the late
Patrick O'Brien, Mrs. O'Brien being
the only surviving sister of Mr.. Dyer
~.
Mr. Beverly was one Of the original
company Of men led by Father Sorin
who built the first log church at No
ire Dame back in 1912. Father Ba-
din, another Notre Dame pioneer,
| also was one Of the little band of cour-
ageous men who introduced the first
marks OF civilization TO St. Joseph
county. When but II years Of age
Mr.. Byerley accompanied Father Sor-
in TO Dowagiac. Mich, an Indian set
Element where he stood sponsor for a
| by Father Sorin.
The forests Of st. Joseph and Mar
| shall counties were the hunting
grounds of Mr.. Byerley. In company
! with Peter Navarro, another pioneer
of the county, he made long trips
/ hunting game across the old Indian
trails.
| Born I'm Austria.
| Mr.. Byerley was born in Trieste,
Austria, in 1928, being 81 years OF age.
He was the son Of Mr.. and Mrs. Sam
| uel Byerley, the latter a rich English
! ship merchant, who came TO America
| in 1892 bringing with him his son
| Thomas. On Father Sorins arrival
| In New York in 1S41 Mr. Byerley
resided in that city and there made
/ the acquaintance Of the adventurous
missionary, receiving and entertaining
him. Mr.. Byerley at that time had
| only recently become convert to the
Catholic church. while Mrs. Byerley
| had always been a Catholic. By a
| happy Incidence Mr.. and Mrs. Dyer
| ley found themselves in the infant
town of South Bend and close
neighbors of the priest and his asso-
ciates. Mr.. Byerley disposed of his
business in the east and brought the
remains of his fortune TO invest in
| this new country. They became the
continued and life long friends and
| assistants of the community of Notre
Dame.
The son Thomas received his educa-
| ton at Poughkeepsie, n. Y. and at
| Emmitsburg Md. In 1854 he went
| from st. Joseph county to Chicago
where he was employed as a book
keeper for two years. In 1860 he
made the overland journey to Pixies
Peak and in 1861 made the overland
| f-s,. q
| Bend has been his home.
Was Twice Married.
Mr.. Byerley was twice married In
| 1854 he was married to Miss Margaret
Garrett of Chicago, VINO only survived
| a little over a year. On Feeb. 4,
1856, he was married to Miss Anna
Rooney Of New York. who died four
years ago. Nine children were born
of whom two are living. They are
Mrs. George Foster of S. ST. Joseph st.
and Samuel Byerley Of Ridgewood, n.
j. One of the deceased children,
Thomas Byerley. jr.. who died six
years ago was for many years con-
nected with the shipping interests of
South Bend. Six children died in
their infancy.
For many years Mr.. Byerley was a
member of Notre Dame church.
| During his residence in South Bend
| liC was IlcilUtl VI 81. dNIith
church. During the last few years
he returned TO the original parish of
Notre Dame.
In his earlier days Mr.. Byerley was
a farmer and fruit grower. Retiring
from farming he devoted his later
years TO the cultivation OF flowers
During the past few years he has been
living with his grandchildren. Mary
and Philip Byerley.