William J. Bargerstock, a prosperous and enterprising farmer of Wayne township, Armstrong Co., Pa., was born on the land where he now resides, June 16, 1855, son of Henry and Mary (Neal) Bargerstock.

John Bargerstock, his grandfather, was born in Germany and brought his family to America, settling on the farm now occupied by his grandson, William J., as one of the pioneers of this region. He passed through the arduous experiences incident to life in the wilderness at that period, cleared the timber from his land, cultivating it until his death. His children were: Peter, who died in 1888, aged seventy-two years; John; Anna, who married Charles Ellenberger; Catherine, who married John Bittenger; Henry; and Elizabeth, who married Conrad Snyder.

Henry Bargerstock was born in Germany in 1827, and died in Wayne township Aug. 10, 1883, at the age of fifty-six years. His wife, born in 1836, died Nov. 12, 1872, at the age of thirty-six. Mr. Bargerstock came to America in 1832, at the age of five years, being brought here by his father. Growing to manhood on the farm in Wayne township, near Belnap, he inherited the homestead in time from his father, and made many improvements upon it. He put up all the buildings on it, and burned the brick with which he constructed the farmhouse. Until his death he operated the 160 acres with profit. His father had at one time owned 300 acres. Mr. Bargerstock married a daughter of William C. Neal, of Red Bank township, this county, and she bore him the following children: William J.; and Harriet Frances, who married James R. Orr and resides in Kittanning.

William J. Bargerstock attended the township schools and was brought up to farm work on the old homestead. After the death of his father he took charge of this property, now owning 110 acres of valuable land in Wayne township, on which he carries on general farming. There is one gas well on this property, and it is also underlaid with coal.

Mr. Bargerstock married Anna Hoffman, daughter of Reuben Hoffman, and after her death he married Jennie Farster, daughter of Joshua Farster. They have had two children: Mary Teresa, born Sept. 28, 1912, and Charlotte Edmona, born April 24, 1914. Mr. Bargerstock is a Democrat, has served as school director, and has also been treasurer of his township. A member of the Reformed Church, he is now serving as elder. An energetic worker and an intelligent citizen, Mr. Bargerstock is numbered among the leading men of his locality.

Source: History of Armstrong County, Pennsylvania by Robert Walker Smith, Esq. Chicago: Waterman, Watkins & Co., 1883.
Contributed for use by the Armstrong County Genealogy Project (http://www.pa-roots.com/armstrong/)

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