Jacob Truby Sybert
JACOB TRUBY SYBERT, who is the oldest native-born citizen residing in Perry township, Armstrong county, Pa., was born Jan. 16, 1833, a son of Sebastian and Mary Ann (Truby) Sybert.Sebastian Sybert was born in eastern Pennsylvania, a son of Henry Sybert, and came to Perry township among the earliest settlers, about 1820. A carpenter by trade, he followed that calling together with boating on the Allegheny river for many years, also clearing up his farm of100 acres, doing all the improving for himself, for he was a very industrious man. He died at the age of sixty-six years. He married Mary Ann Truby, a daughter of Jacob and Mary Ann (Lauffer) Truby, also early settlers in Perry township, and they had the following children: Polly, who married Martin George; Elizabeth; Jacob T.; Susanna, who was the wife of Washington Daubenspeck; Margaret, who married William Fink and Arthur Robinson; Samuel W.; and Emma, who married William A. Kellar.
Jacob Truby Sybert was reared on the homestead and always led a busy life, being concerned in many activities. When twenty-one years old he began boating on the river, which at that time was a main avenue of transportation, and contracted to carry lumber and other products between Oil City, Pittsburgh and other points. From 1862 until 1866 he was principally engaged in carrying oil from Oil City to Pittsburgh. For many years he also was a pilot on the Allegheny river. In 1866 he purchased an interest in a coal mine in which he was concerned until 1873. In 1877 he embarked in the lumber business at Monterey, where he erected a sawmill and a planing-mill, and continued in that business until 1881. From that date until 1889 he was engaged in merchandising at Monterey, where he also served first as assistant and later, for four years, as postmaster. Since 1889, when he gave up mercantile business, he has lived more or less retired.
On March 6, 1856, Mr. Sybert was married to Mary Jane Coe, a daughter of Peter and Rosanna (Levier) Coe. Peter Coe, the great-grandfather of Mrs. Sybert, was born in Scotland Feb. 20, 1753, and after coming to America settled among the early pioneers in Washington county, Pennsylvania.
Benjamin Coe, son of Peter Coe, was born in Washington county, Pa., June 8, 1783, and married Susan McKibben. They were pioneer settlers in what is now Perry township, Clarion county, Pa., where he became a substantial farmer and for many years was a justice of the peace.
Peter Coe, son of Benjamin Coe and father of Mrs. Sybert, was born in Armstrong (now Clarion) county, Pa., Dec. 4, 1811. From early manhood until 1860 he was engaged as a mining and building contractor and then embarked in the oil business, in which he continued for many years, dying in 1890, in his eightieth year. he married Rosanna Levier, a daughter of Daniel and Rosanna (Say) Levier, who were pioneers of Butler county, Pennsylvania.
Eleven children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Sybert: Albert W., Oliver P., Daniel E., Edward M., Samuel C., Florence M., Harry A., Martin A., Adela H., Oscar J., and Cora, the last named dying in infancy. Florence M., now deceased, was the wife of A.A. Horner. Adela H. is the wife of John McCarty. Mr. and Mrs. Sybert have twenty-three grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.
Mr. Sybert has always been an interested citizen and one that could be relied upon for efficient public service. Prior to 1900 he was identified with the Democratic party, but since the issues of that period has been a Republican. For three years he served as a justice of the peace in Perry township, and has held every other township office except that of constable. He belongs to Lodge No. 884, I.O.O.F., of Monterey.
Source: Pages 649, Armstrong County, Pa., Her People, Past and Present, J.H. Beers & Co., 1914
Transcribed October 2001 by Lisa Strobel for the Armstrong County Beers Project
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