James D. Best and Tina May Keltz

---

---

Husband James D. Best ^{1 2}

---

            AKA: James B. Best 2
           Born: 13 Jul 1858 - Hempfield Twp, Westmoreland Co, PA 1
     Christened: 
           Died: 1917 - Texas 2
         Buried: 

---

         Father: Robert Cruson Best (1812-Abt 1865) 1 3 4
         Mother: Anna B. Bierer (1830-Aft 1906) 1 4 5

---

       Marriage: 3 Jul 1888 6

---

---

Wife Tina May Keltz ^{2 6}

---

           Born: 
     Christened: 
           Died: 
         Buried: 

---

         Father: David Keltz (      -      ) 2
         Mother: Jane Knox (      -      ) 2

---

---

Children

---

1 M Robert Edward Best ^{2 6}

---

           Born: 21 Sep 1888 2
     Christened: 
           Died: 
         Buried: 

         Spouse: Mary G. Ely (      -      ) 2
           Marr: 26 Oct 1914 2

---

---

General Notes: Husband - James D. Best

---

He received his education in the public schools and the normals of Greensburg, Pennsylvania. When but eight years of age his father died, and for the next seven years he made his home with his uncle, Capt. John Rinkey, of Stahlstown. In 1874 he returned to Hempfield township, where he worked in a brick yard and was also engaged in mining coal. He saved some money, attended normal school, passed an examination in 1879 under J. R. Spiegel, then county superintendent, and taught school for two years in his native township. In 1881 he became a fireman on the Pennsylvania railroad, and five years later was promoted to the position of engineer, which he filled until 1888, when he resigned to look after his political affairs. In the spring of that year he, by the solicitation of his friends, became a candidate at the democratic primary election of Westmoreland County for the nomination of clerk of the courts, and was successful over several competitors. In the general election held the following November, he was elected by a neat majority, being the only successful candidate on the democratic ticket. His election was secured by the strong support he received from the working classes, by whom he was well and favorably known.
He was a prominent member of Greensburg Council, No. 82, Jr. O. U. A. M.; Andrew Carnegie Lodge, No. 325, Brotherhood of Engineers of Pittsburgh; Knights of the Mystic Chain and the Odd Fellows. He was always a democrat, and was identified with the Evangelical Lutheran church.

---

General Notes: Wife - Tina May Keltz

---

from Ligonier, Westmoreland Co, PA

1 Samuel T. Wiley, Biographical and Historical Cyclopedia of Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania (Philadelphia, PA: John M. Gresham & Co., 1890.), Pg 48.

2 Fenwick Y. Hedley, Old and New Westmoreland, Vols. III & IV (New York, NY: The American Historical Society, Inc., 1918), Pg 196.

3 John W. Jordan, History of Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania, Genealogical Memoirs, Vol. II (Chicago, IL: The Lewis Publishing Company, 1906), Pg 589.

4 John W. Jordan, History of Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania, Genealogical Memoirs, Vol. III (Chicago, IL: The Lewis Publishing Company, 1906), Pg 162.

5 John W. Jordan, History of Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania, Genealogical Memoirs, Vol. II (Chicago, IL: The Lewis Publishing Company, 1906), Pg 590.

6 Samuel T. Wiley, Biographical and Historical Cyclopedia of Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania (Philadelphia, PA: John M. Gresham & Co., 1890.), Pg 51.