| BEST FAMILY HISTORY |
| PETER BEST - born 1822, Toby township, Armstrong Co. PA. died August 1899, buried in Bethesda graveyard near Rimersburg, PA.. Lived in Clearfield co, Pike twp. during the 1880 census age 56 Mary M. (Weaver) Best, born 1834, died Oct. 5, 1893, age 48 in the 1880 census CHILDREN OF PETER AND MARY: Some children born in Butler County John H. Best - born 1850 William Best - born 1852 age 26 in the 1880 census *Joseph Alexander Best - born May 30, 1854, died Jan. 30, 1928, Clearfield, PA. Mary Olive Best, born 1857, died 1877, buried in Oak Hill Cemetery, Curwensville, PA Mary Olive married Robert Bloom b. 1851, died 1901 Elizabeth Best - b., 09/10/1860, d. 04/14/1952 married Robert Gustos Benniger, b. 10/26/1857, d. 06/18/1926 Alice Best - age 18 in the 1880 census, married David P. Rich, born abt. 1848, Union Co. PA. James Adam Best, age 13 in the 1880 census - Married Hannah Conner Chambers H. Best, age 11 in the 1880 census - Married Sallie Florence Johnson |
| *JOSEPH ALEXANDER BEST Born 05/30/1854, Butler Co. PA. Died 01/30/1928, Clearfield, PA. Married Mary Jane Irwin, born 05/12/1860 on 05/01/1875, she died on 10/14/1900 daughter of William Irwin b. 08/26/1828, d. 03/18/1909 and Sarah J (Neeper) b. 01/10/1837, d. 01/30/1910. Mary Jane's grandparents were John T. Irwin b. 11/27/1799, d/ 01/13/1861 and Rachel (Anderson) b. abt. 1801, - Mary Jane's siblings were: William T.; George; James; Daniel; Jesse; Anne; Martha (Best) Hollipeter |
| CHILDREN OF JOSEPH AND MARY JANE listed in green Sara Best b. 1876,Curwensville, Pa. children of Sara (Best) Shultz May R. Schultz; Myrtle V. Becker; Lillian Steinbacher; Roberta K. Krieger Margaret (Maggie) Best b. 02/25/1877 in Pike twp. d. at age 71, buried at Crown Crest memorial Park PA., married Conrad Thomas; Children: Milton b. 02/05/1896, d. 04/03/1979+ Maybelle (Leigey) b. 02/12/1903, d. 06/26/1980 children of Milton & Maybelle; Blair, Harold died 1981 & Neal W. died 05/09/1995 age 62 buried at Crown Crest Memorial Park, Hyde, PA all desceased.: Millard; Burton b. 04/24/1899, d. 07/26/1983 + Ruth (Rowles) children: Burton, Jr.; Robert A. and Kathleen: Clair; Mary (Dunlap); Malvina (Berry); Roberta Shrader Irvin Wallace Best b. 05/20/1879 d. 12/21/1925 in Lawrence twp, Clearfield, PA at 6 PM., married Zola Mae Painter b. 09/14/1883, d. 09/18/1966 Zola was the daughter of Simon & Susanna (Clouser) Painter. Both Zola & Irwin are buried in McNaul Cemetery, Curwensville, PA. Children of Irvin and Zola: William Best d. age 62; Ansel Best. 07/09/1905, d. 10/13/1966 married Bessie Maines on 04/30/1925, Bessie was the daughter of William & Charlotte Maines, she was born 10/28/1910; Sara (Best) Robacker: Anna Catherine (Mary) (Best) Daniels. b. 09/12/1913; Daniel; Olive (Best) married 1st. Etmore Aughenbaugh,born 06/26/1912, died 02/08/1994 in Shalersville, Ohio he was preceded in death by 8 brothers 2nd husband. Stormy Knight Clara Ann Best b. 06/08/1881, d. 09/02/1968, Clearfield, PA. married Harry Buck, children: all deceased For more info. on Clara see BUCK PAGE Click here to see photo of Joseph Best. |
| Lucy Viola Best b. 08/05/1885, died 07/03/1964, buried in Bradford Cemetery, Clearfield Charles Cleveland Best, b. 1885, married Minnie( Maybe) on 06/06/1905 Children: Joseph Allen Best, born 7/01/1902 , married Sara Irene Hite born 05/19/1912, d. 1/04/1980; Almeda B. (Best) Gallagher b. 12/31/1906, d. 12/26/1979, buried in St. Lawrence Cemetery, Houtzdale., married Edward Gallagher who died in 1973. Edith Ardella Best b. 1887, d. 1893 Elwood (Red) Harrison Best b. 10/18/1889 d. 04/15/1955 Spokane, Washington,, Married on 11/15/1919 In Hamilton, MT to Edna (Cramer), Edna was born 11/14/1896. died 08/15/1984 Edna's parents were Willsie Martin Cramer & Anna Eva (Anderson). Elwood & Edna's children: Harold Jay Best b. 10/30/1920 d. June 1999, 6 children,; J.C. Best 3 children; Geraldine (Best) Smithb. o2/6, 6 children; Willis Cramer Best, b. 07/07/1930, d. 07/07/1937; Jean Loretta (Best) Sodorff, 3 children and Don Ernest Best, 4 children JW (Ralph) Best b. 1891, d. 1893 Zella May Best b. 09/01/1893, married name Peters. Jasper Orion (Jack) Best b. 08/05/1895, Clearfield, PA. d. 08/15/1979 Kalispell, MT. Married Lois Engerberg b. 04/04/1904 d. 07/04/1981 children: 4 sons and 1 daughter. George Washington Best b. 07/1897, d, 1959 or 1961 children: George Best, Jr.; Joseph Best Sarah (Best) Sims; Gertruede (Best) Eager; Margaret (Best) Cordon. Click here to see photo. Benjamin Franklin Best b. 05/1900, Curwesnville, died 10/29/1987, buried in the Metropolitan Crematory, Alexandria,VA. |
| NOTE; Joseph Best married a 2nd time after Mary Jane died. He married. Sallie Robertson on 12/21/1916 They had one child, Edwin Ray Best who married Dorothy Kitchen on 09/02/1933 |
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| My g-grandmother Clara (Best) Buck passed away when I was 18 yrs. old. She was a very special, loving woman who loved her family and gave of herself for her family. She will always be loved respected and admired by her family. There was always room at Mom Mom's (Clara's) house and in her heart. I'm blessed to have known her. Thank you Mom Mom. Clara also served as a mid wife and helped bring many into this world. She raised many of her grandchildren. And had a profound influence on many of her g-grandchildren. She was quite a lady. |
| Special thanks to the Best family members who helped with this project. I have always shared my Best family information and will continue to share with everyone. |
| updated July 2008 |
| Special thanks to Shirley |