Page:Historical and Biographical Annals of Columbia and Montour Counties, Pennsylvania, Containing a Concise History of the Two Counties and a Genealogical and Biographical Record of Representative Families.pdf/685

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COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES

land, I'a., and they have two children, Harold G. and 11. Clay. W IL L IA M JE N N I S O N B A L D Y, presi­ dent of the Danville National Bank, is the representative of a name whose connection with the financial institutions of the borougli has been continuous since liis grandfather, Peter Baldy, S r., established the first bank there, in 1848. Danville can boast of one of the most beautiful churches in this section of Pennsylvania, erected as a memorial to this honored early citizen and his wife. H e was one of the foremost men of the borough in his day, and his descendants in every genera­ tion have upheld the high reputation he estab­ lished for business ability coupled with public spirit and unimpeachable character. Peter Baldy. S r., w as born in Sunbury, Northumberland Co., P a., son o f Paul and Catherine (Beam ) Baldy. In 18 14 he left his native place and located in Danville, where he followed his trade, that o f blacksmith, sev­ eral years. H e subsequently engaged in the genera) merchandise business, at which he was very successful, and at which he continued the rest o f his business life. H e did much for the borough of Danville, and did considerable building there. It w as in 1848 that he or­ ganized the first bank, of which he served as president until he resigned and was succeeded by his son Edward. During the Civil war Mr. Baldy gave liberally toward the support of the volunteer soldiers o f Danville, especially of the Baldy Guards, under Captain Ramsey, and (he Ecnciblcs, under Captain Shreeve. H e retired from active business affairs some twenty years before his death, which oc­ curred N ov. 24, 1880. M r. Baldy was alw ays especially interested in religious works. When a young man he was an active member of the Lutheran Church, but in t8z8, when Christ Episcopal Church was built, he became one o f its first vestrymen. H is son. Peter Baldy, J r ., was the first to be baptized in the churcli, and afterw ard he became the organist. Peter Baldy. S r.. was one of the mam supporters of the church. He bequeathed $5,000 for the support of the clergy of the church, $500 to the Sunday school, and $50,000 fo r a suitable memorial to liimscif and his beloved wife. H is will was conscientiously executed, and as a result one of the most beautiful churches in eastern Pennsylvania w as erected at Danville. M r. Baldy's wife, Sarah (H u rle y ), a daughter o f Daniel and Martha H urley, died in Novem­ ber, 1875. ill the eighty-fifth year o f her age. They were the parents of the following chil­

dren: Edw ard H urley, M artha H urley, Mar>' Catherine, Peter, J r ., H urley and Ellen Ann. H o w a k u H u r l k y B. n l d y w as a man of scholarly attainments. Graduating from Princeton College before he was o f age, he then took up the study of law with Josiah Comly, and was admitted to (he bar when twenty-two years o f age. immediately begin­ ning practice in the village o f Danville. He became known as one of the most successful law yers in this i>art o f Pennsylvania, his rqm latiun extending throughout (he State, and he gained high standing among the fo re­ most n iai in his profession. H e w as an elo­ quent orator. Energetic, farsiglited and cnlerjirisiiig, his activity in promoting Ihc wel­ fare o f Danville w as much appreciated. He was attorney fo r the early manufacturing con­ cerns in this part of the .State. H e succeeded his father as president of the Danville N a ­ tional Bank. In company with Charles P a x ­ ton he laid out a tract of land which is to­ day within the corporate limits o f (he borough. He accumulated a fortune. In 1872 he erected a handsome stone residence on West M arket street, one of the finest in the town at that time. H is death occurred Nov. 15 . 18 9 1. at the age o f seventy years. M r. Baldy m arried .Mary E . Jennison, daughter o f William Jcnnison.’ who was for many years connected with the Pennsylvania Iron W orks, at Philadelphia, but finally located in Danville, residing on the site of the present Methodist Episcopal p a r­ sonage. Five children blessed this union, namely: M ary J .. M rs. Grove, deceased; K a le G ., M rs. W atson; Edw ard H.. J r .. deceased; Emily, deceased; and William Jennison. T he mother of these died at the age o f tw enty-six years, and Mr. Baldy n urried (second) Ilcn rictta C. Montgomery, daughter o f Jo h n G. and Henrietta Montgomery, who came from one of the early families o f Pennsylvania. She was descended from one Robert Montgomery, who with his w ife. Sarah, emigrated from Ireland at the age o f thirty-two years and lo­ cated on the present site of the city o f H arris­ burg. Pa., where he engaged in the cultivation of the soil. His son, John, was born in County Armagh. Ireland, and w as but four years old when he came to .America with his parents. H e lived In the vicinity o f H arris­ burg all his life, and his death resulted from an accklent in 1792. when he was fifty-eight years old. B y his union with Christina Foster he had a son. David, the grandfather o f Mrs. Baldy. David Montgomery married .Agnes Shaw, by whom he had the following chil­ dren: Eliza. John G ., M argaret, WiUiam S..