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Below is a family biography included in the History of Allegheny County, Pennsylvania published in 1889 by A. Warner & Co. These biographies are valuable for genealogy research in discovering missing ancestors or filling in the details of a family tree. Family biographies often include far more information than can be found in a census record or obituary. Details will vary with each biography but will often include the date and place of birth, parent names including mothers' maiden name, name of wife including maiden name, her parents' names, name of children (including spouses if married), former places of residence, occupation details, military service, church and social organization affiliations, and more. There are often ancestry details included that cannot be found in any other type of genealogical record.
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FREDERICK ELK, coal-operator, post office East Liberty, was born near the city of Wurtemberg, Germany, Oct. 1, 1817, a son of Emanuel and Magdalene Elk. He was reared on a farm, and in 1839 set out for America, landing at Philadelphia. Here he joined the United States regular army, serving five years, and taking part in the Florida war, and traversing many of the southern states. He was discharged at Corpus Christi, Tex., in 1845, and, coming to this county, bought land in Penn township, also the coal underlying other lands, and has since carried on mining more or less extensively. He and his family are connected with the Lutheran Church at East Liberty; politically he is a democrat. In 1846 he married Caroline Johnson, born in Harrisburg, a daughter of William and Dorothea Johnson, of Holland and Germany, respectively. Their children are Emanuel and William (twins), in East Liberty; Catherine Isabel (Ferris), in Rochester; John Conrad and Adam, in East Liberty; Dorothea Caroline (Dale), in Brushton; Rachel A. Beckett and Louis (twins), in Homewood; Lucy A. (Farnof), in Rochester; George (deceased) and Amanda Elizabeth (at home).
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This family biography is one of 2,156 biographies included in the History of Allegheny County, Pennsylvania published in 1889 by A. Warner & Co.
View additional Allegheny County, Pennsylvania family biographies here: Allegheny County, Pennsylvania Biographies
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