The Banner Family of Paint Township, Pennsylvania

Joseph Banner, the founder of this family, was born in Germany, about 1813, died in Paint township, Clarion county, Pennsylvania, in May, 1864. After his marriage he lived for a time at Pittsburgh, and then at Bradys Bend, Armstrong county, Pennsylvania, finally settling in Paint township, Clarion county, where he lived on a farm and practiced the cultivation of the soil for the remainder of his days. He was a Democrat, and a communicant of the Catholic church. He married, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Kunegunda Heinlein, born in Germany, died in 1899. Children:

1. Mary Banner, deceased
2. Joseph Banner
3. George Banner, of whom further
4. John Banner, deceased
5. Anna Banner, deceased.

(II) George Banner

George, son of Joseph and Kunegunda (Heinlein) Banner, was born at Bradys Bend, Armstrong county, Pennsylvania, August 17, 1849. When he was three years of age he was brought by his parents to Clarion county, and finally to Paint township, where he grew to manhood on the home farm and attended the public school. After arriving at years of maturity he soon became interested in the oil and gas business, in which he was a large operator during the remainder of his life. For about thirty years he lived at Clarion, Clarion county, and was superintendent of the Clarion & Tylersburg Gas Company for about eighteen years of that time. He was also one of the leading figures in the creation of the Home Gas Company, of which he was superintendent for a number of years. He followed the varying fortunes of this line of business into different localities, and one of the most successful of his ventures was the oil strike in the Miola field. He owned and lived in a fine residence at the corner of Fifth avenue and South street. While he never sought political preferment he was an ardent Democrat and took an active interest in matters pertaining to the party. He was a member of the Catholic Mutual Benefit Association, and at his death one of the oldest members of his branch.

Mr. Banner died suddenly February 8, 1913, of heart failure after an illness of several months. The funeral services were held in the Church of the Immaculate Conception of Clarion, of which he was for many years a trustee, and requiem high mass was celebrated by Rev. Father Deckenbrock, who officiated. The obituaries of the papers published in the town in which he had made his home for so many years testified to the regard and esteem in which he was held by all in the community. We quote from the Clarion Democrat:

Mr. Banner was one of the best and happiest dispositioned men in the community. He was a plain, frank, open-hearted man, affable, agreeable and courteous at all times, and bore the reputation of an honorable and just man in all his dealings with men. His children inherit a rich legacy in the name he left with them.

He married, October 15, 1872, Barbara Rebecca, born in Bavaria, Germany, October 27, 1850, daughter of Matthias and Barbara (Herman) Blissel. Her father and mother were both born in Bavaria, Germany, and came to New York in 1853; from that city they removed to Pittsburgh, whence after a short residence they removed to Freeport, Armstrong county, Pennsylvania. For a while after that they lived at Worthington, in the same county, and they finally settled in Clarion county, where both died in 1904, he in April, she in March. Children of Matthias and Barbara (Herman) Blissel:

1. Julia Blissel.
2. Barbara Rebecca Blissel, married George Banner.
3. Mary Blissel.
4. John Blissel.
5. Catharine Blissel.
6. Frances Blissel.
7. George Blissel.
8. Anna Blissel.
9. James P. Blissel.

Children of George and Barbara Rebecca (Blissel) Banner:

1. Bertha Loretta Banner
2. Mary Josephine Banner
3. Georgia Katherine Banner
4. Mercedes Rosalie Banner
5. Edward Henry Banner, of whom further
6. Thomas Leo Banner, of whom further
7. Edith Christine Banner
8. Augustine Raymond Banner, deceased.

(III) Edward Henry Banner

Edward Henry, son of George and Barbara Rebecca (Blissel) Banner, was born at Elk City, Clarion county, Pennsylvania, June 27, 1882. He was educated in the Catholic parochial school and took a further course in the Clarion State Normal School, graduating from its business department in 1900. Until 1906 he kept books for the Dietz & Mooney Hardware Company, at Clarion. For the next three years he was with the Pearl Glass Company, at Clarion, as assistant manager and secretary. In April, 1909, he entered into the plumbing business at Clarion, with his brother, Thomas Leo Banner, as his partner, under the name of Banner Brothers. During the same period he has been employed by the Dietz & Mooney Hardware Company as clerk. Banner Brothers own the building known as the Alexander Building, and during the year 1912 remodeled it. Part of the building is used as a newsstand. In political affairs Edward Henry Banner is quite active, and he is an upholder of the principles of the Democratic party. During the presidential campaign of 1912 he was county treasurer of his party. He is a member of the Catholic church.

(III) Thomas Leo Banner

Thomas Leo, son of George and Barbara Rebecca (Blissel) Banner, was born at Clarion, Pennsylvania, September 13, 1884. His education was begun at the Catholic parochial school and continued at the State Normal School at Clarion. By trade he is a plumber. In April, 1909, he entered into partnership with his brother, Edward Henry Banner, to engage in this business at Clarion. He also is a Democrat. He married, November 29, 1911, Letitia, daughter of Charles and Mary (Staab) Maier, of Clarion. Both he and his wife are communicants of the Roman Catholic church. To them was born on February 3, 1913, a daughter:

1. Beatrice Katherine Banner.

See: Genealogy of the Allegheny Valley Pennsylvania

Source

Jordan, J. W. 1840-1921. (1913). Genealogical and personal history of the Allegheny Valley, Pennsylvania. New York: Lewis Historical Pub. Co.

This genealogy is based upon the source cited above. Only the structure and formatting have been changed for clearer presentation; the genealogical and biographical content has been preserved.