My Genealogy Hound

GEORGE S. BARNER, a prosperous student-at-law of Shippensburg, Pa., is one of the enterprising young men of that locality. He was born in the borough of Shippensburg, Oct. 26, 1878, son of John L. and May Ella (Long) Barner.

(I) George Barner, his paternal grandfather, was a native of Pennsylvania, of German descent. In early life he was a carpenter, but later became a justice of the peace in Juniata county, Pa., in which honorable position he discharged the responsible duties for over thirty years. Naturally a man of his calibre, and holding the office he did, was prominent, and many of the improvements of his day were given his ready and effective support. He married Lydia Lehr, daughter of Peter Lehr, a farmer. The life of this excellent man was spent upon the farm, save for a period when he served in the war of 1812. Nine children were born to George and Lydia (Lehr) Barner, of whom John L., the father of our subject, was the youngest.

(II) John L. Barner was reared in Juniata county, Pa., where he was born July 16, 1844, and he received a good, common school education. At the age of twenty-three years, he removed to Shippensburg, and engaged as clerk for nearly two years in the employ of George H. Stewart, a dry goods merchant. When Mr. Stewart sold his store, Mr. Barner accepted a position in a similar capacity in the Cumberland Valley freight office of J. B. Hurst & Co., and remained with them for nearly two years. He was then appointed freight and ticket agent for the Cumberland Valley Railroad Co., which position he filled until August, 1881, since which time he has been engaged in settling the estate of the late Ira Long, and also in settling the estate of his father-in-law C. Long, late a wealthy citizen of Shippensburg.

In 1871 Mr. Barner was united in marriage to Mary Ella Long, daughter of Christian and Hannah Ellen (Atkinson) Long, and to them was born Oct. 6, 1878, one son, George Stewart, named in honor of Mr. Barner’s first employer in Shippensburg. Mr. and Mrs. Barner are members of the Presbyterian Church, and take an active part in the work of the church. For four years Mr. Barner has served as justice of the peace in Shippensburg, and he is also a notary public. In politics he is a Democrat, and he is a most worthy and highly esteemed man.

George S. Barner was very liberally educated, having been graduated from the high school of Shippensburg, when he went to the Chambersburg academy, where he was prepared for college. In 1898, he entered Washington and Jefferson College at Washington, Pa., from which he was graduated in 1903, and then entered upon his studies with the Hon. E. B. Watts, of Carlisle, it being his purpose to become a lawyer, and he has opened a large office in Carlisle in connection with his law studies. Mr. Barner is very popular socially, being one of the leaders in the best circles of the city.

Christian Long left him a large portion of his estate, which amounted to $300,000, and the young man has a brilliant future before him. He comes of excellent stock on both sides, and the various names are connected with the history of the State, in its development as a commonwealth.

He is at present a student in the Dickinson School of Law, class of 1906.